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Tagged With "Johnny Cash"

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Re: 12 Countries ask vouchers instead of refunds

Professorabe ·
I have said it before and certainly have not changed my mind: why do airlines think they are above the law? There are plenty of other businesses suffering severely at present, but they do not have the option of hanging on to their customers' cash to keep themselves afloat. The way in which airlines have behaved over this issue is simply disgraceful and will have done nothing to engender goodwill amongst their customers. Indeed, many might - at a stroke - have destroyed the benefits of their...
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose

DrFumblefinger ·
While cashless transactions are convenient and popular, and I use them often, I am not supportive of this move. It is a little too much "Big Brother" for me. Consumers will migrate to the purchase platform of their choice. Cash, I'm sure, will become less and less popular with time. But it still has a place and I as a free individual want to make the decision on when and how I will use it. How will people make purchases if there ever is a complete shut down and hack of the bank's computers...
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose

HistoryDigger ·
Although I don't use cash every day, I sure want it when I need it. After living through Hurricane Katrina and the LONG power outage of the aftermath, I recognize when cash is crucial. And yes, DrFumblefinger poses a good question about the lack of cash during cyber warfare, which goes on regularly even if we choose to ignore it. Maybe we should go back to bartering for everything. But most of us have lost the art.
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Re: Norwegian bank is out of cash, on purpose

Travel Rob ·
On my last trip to London, I arrived at night and the Tube stopped running. The ticket machines for the buses weren't working and now the buses are cashless. Luckily the drivers let me on anyway, but I think as more places don't accept cash ,those type of scenarios will be more common.
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Re: Notes and Noticings from the road

Professorabe ·
I am looking forward to your comments on the costs (direct and indirect) of getting those Sterling and Euro notes. I often look at the buying/selling rates advertised at exchange places with sheer disbelief! You probably used other ways to obtain your cash, but I expect the banks still got a sizeable chunk of your hard-earned money.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala

DrFumblefinger ·
Thanks, PortMoresby! And we've not even been to the sacred tooth relic in Kandy, the medieval ruins of Polonnaruwa, the beautiful hill country filled with tea plantations and "The World's End", a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, nor any of the nice beaches (but keep reading -- reports on these are coming). Sri Lanka is a great destination, especially now that the civil war is over. I was doubly lucky to not only be able to visit a dear friend there but to have time to leisurely explore...
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Re: Canal Saint-Martin: Where Gumbo Was

PortMoresby ·
Well, now, am I disqualified from future participation in "Where in the World..."? I'd hate to have to cash out after an easy one like that. Tell me I can still play please.
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Re: 1000's Drawn to North Dakota

DrFumblefinger ·
I have not done that, Rob, but I do have some friends in North Dakota. The wages are good, but before anyone makes the jump there, be sure you understand the cost of housing and such. Apartments and homes are in short supply and expensive. But as you pointed out, so is labor. So if you can share an apartment with someone and are willing to work more than 40 hours a week, you can save a nice stash of cash. Don't just go. Educate yourself. There are excellent job opportunities in the Dakotas,...
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Re: When Debit and Credit Cards aren't your best traveling choices

PortMoresby ·
I've been places where it was not possible to use a credit card much of the time, even when I was told that I could, by the very people who then returned and said, sorry, not working, cash please. But Burma was the only place I can recall that was, when I was there a year+ ago, 100% cash. It's changing now, even there, I've heard. So this has been very interesting, reading about Argentina. Who'da thought?
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Re: When Debit and Credit Cards aren't your best traveling choices

DrFumblefinger ·
When you go to Sri Lanka, take cash along as well. The larger establishments will definitely take credit cards, but smaller business and restaurants won't. And ATM cards have been slow to find their way into the country, especially in remote locations. The currency there is more stable, but still you won't get the kind of spread we did in Argentina. Best to exchange it at a bank, or ask your hotel people how many US $$ things are.
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Re: Up, Up and Away: Airline miles cards with big bonuses

rbciao ·
I have a Delta American Express Platinum card that has served us well. The fee is higher than the gold card, but we can check two bags free, priority boarding, and a free companion pass yearly. We fly two or three times a year and the value of the waived baggage fee and the companion pass far exceed the $150 annual fee. The card also accrues one mile for each dollar spent and lately has offered cash back incentives. For example: spend $15 at Panera's using the card and receive $5 credit on...
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Re: Krumlov Castle, Český Krumlov, Czech Republic. Where Gumbo was #68

GarryRF ·
Cesky Krumlov like many of the cities behind the old "iron Curtain" seem to be frozen in time. I'm glad I visited eastern Europe before the arrival of McRonalds appeared on street corners. The Czech Republic has produced excellent cars for 50 years but was starved of cash by Moscow for many years. But it's just now become one of the top producers in Europe.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Aug 21st, 2014:The Cigar Man

Travel Rob ·
GarryRF, I could only think of the Visa Credit Card ads when I saw this great piece about Hector! Cost of one of the worlds finest cigars ,$10 . Experience of spending time with Hector, Priceless. My guess is , it's cash only in Hector's case.
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Re: Rose Hall Great House, Jamaica

GarryRF ·
Thanks Paul. A good story and some interesting photos to accompany it. In my visits to the various Caribbean Islands I have seen voodoo is still in practice. "my son had a stomach ache and the Doctor came to visit. He rubbed his legs with grass and the pain went away. He said the words too. He told me it was caused by not chewing his food enough before swollowing it" Going horse riding at first light I've seen burials on the beach. All ceremony gone home before the tourists arrive to sun...
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Re: Sick of Your Credit Card Being Declined While Traveling? Visa Offers New Service

DrFumblefinger ·
The credit card companies are shy about any purchases abroad of a substantial amount, because of they risk they pose. Even if I call and let them know my step by step plans, I can still run into trouble with one or more cards. I don't carry my cell phone on major international trips (yet) and don't like the idea of geotracking me. If someone has stolen wallet, they could just as easily have stolen my identity. PIN identifications works fairly well, but even that is not without glitches as I...
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Re: Airports, Airlines battle over passenger fees

DrFumblefinger ·
What I dislike are when fees are not used for what they're charged for. If airport improvement fees really are used to fix up and improve airports, I think most consumers are fine with that. But when they just get put into the general revenues of a city's cash pool, that bugs most of us. What a find far more unreasonable than this are the fees to change or cancel a flight. Often they approach or exceed the value of a ticket. That's really gouging the consumer.
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Re: Ferry Service to Cuba Approved by US

GarryRF ·
I hope so Paul. I'm happy to take stuff that I don't use anymore. I'm sure their families living in the US bring clothes and shoes. Medicines too. And of course cash. Did you know the Cubans have to pay income tax on gifts from their family ?
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Re: Airfares have remained flat for 20+ years

Paul Heymont ·
Another factor to keep in mind when considering why flying seems more expensive: while the base airfares are flat when you factor in inflation, earnings are not. Over the past 40 years, depending on measure, real wages (what you get when you factor in inflation) have actually eroded a bit, and at points a lot. Add to which the fact that "wages" as used in those figures includes benefits such as health care, which doesn't translate into spendable income. And add to which many other things...
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Re: Guide to Greek Holidays, Summer 2015-style

DrFumblefinger ·
That's all good information, PHeymont, thanks. No one knows how the Greek people will react to this, but there is a possibility of riots and demonstrations. Perhaps violence -- there is no way of predicting. The crisis will have a major impact on the Greek quality of life. I've heard some estimates that if Greece makes a new currency, it will have only a fraction of the buying power of the Euro, perhaps 25 cents on the Euro. That will obviously not be at all well received but its much too...
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants

Paul Heymont ·
Actually, that's only one way of looking at it...another is that it may push many people (I included) to resume cash tips. The "convenient" suggested amounts, which even now appear on many slips can be very deceptive, both because they usually place the normal or usual amount as if it were the lowest "acceptable" amount, but also because often—not always—they calculate percent not on the restaurant bill but on the total of the bill plus tax. The difference can be significant. Interestingly,...
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants

GarryRF ·
In the UK where we've had chip and pin cards for years we never include the tip with the total. Always cash to the waiter. We know how unscrupulous Restaurant owners can be.
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants

Travel Rob ·
It is safer that the card doesn't leave our sight with the chip cards and cash tips seem to be the answer. I don't know the statistics on the percent of people not carrying cash, but I know several young people that almost never carry cash.
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Re: Chip Credit Cards to Change the Way US Tips at Restaurants

JohnT ·
We've had suggested amounts for years on the machines. I was just in Ireland where tips weren't usually included as an option on the bill I never had the right amount of cash. Frankly maybe I'm lazy but I don't mind having the option on the machine. It's been a while. Nice to see you all (metaphorically that is).
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Re: Are ATM's at European airport going to cost you more?

PortMoresby ·
I'm working on a series right now for TG about planning a trip outside the US. One of the items I plan to discuss is arriving with no cash and using an airport ATM on arrival versus buying a starter amount of currency through an online dealer. I haven't made up my mind but the online currency vendor I'm thinking of using just got points for non-usurious rates.
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Re: Managing Your Money on the Road

Travel Rob ·
This is a great compehensive post. Time to try and cash the money order that you've been holding! LOL
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Re: Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee: The house Sam Phillips built

DrFumblefinger ·
One of the great iconic symbols in the history of R&R! Sam Phillips was an absolute genius. And sometimes most amazing to me is that all that talent lived in one small city. I think Memphis has only around 300,000 or so population. Memphis gave rise to soul, rhythm and blues, and of course rock and roll music. What a wonderful musical legacy! Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!
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Re: Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee: The house Sam Phillips built

Travel Rob ·
Thank you Ottoman. Great photos and thanks for this important piece of Americana.
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Re: Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee: The house Sam Phillips built

IslandMan ·
Thanks Ottoman for sharing your Sun Studios visit. I was there in 2007 and enjoyed every magic moment of it. My wife had to drag me away after the third day as we had to move on to our next destination (!). Being there was like stepping into the shoes of all the musical greats who had passed through those doors. My music collection has an abundance of Sun recordings and they are still my favorites.
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Re: Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee: The house Sam Phillips built

Paul Heymont ·
Actually, the importance of Memphis is long-standing and for good reason: it's on a flood-free bluff above the Mississippi. At different times in its history, both French and Spanish armies built forts there to control traffic on the Mississippi, and before the Civil War, it was the terminus of the only east-west railroad to cross the South...so it has always been a big transportation center. The railroad guaranteed its role in shipping cotton, and made it the center of the region.
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Re: Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee: The house Sam Phillips built

Ottoman ·
Well "I'm all shook up". "Thank you. Thank you very much" to all of you who liked and commented on my Sun Studio blog. I really appreciate your feedback. I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I enjoyed putting it together and posting it. Cheers and happy travels everybody.
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Re: The Do's & Don'ts of Traveling to a Third World Country

Mac ·
Excellent advice Karina. On the "cash or cards" issue, I have found that the pre-loaded cards (with cash) available from companies like Thomas Cook (UK) & Moneycorp are very useful as you can get cash from an ATM when you need it or use it like a credit card - but the big plus is if it gets lost or stolen you get a fast replacement with the full balance of your account transferred to the new card.
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Re: As if you didn't know: NY Gov calls NYC airports terrible

GarryRF ·
When I was stranded in JFK for 3 days trying to get back to England I found the Staff there were extremely friendly. No...No... not the TSA. The folks who worked at Starbucks and BK. The Airline Reps and the Skycaps. All generous to all the young kids who were waiting to get back to England too. They'd all spent their last Dollar before we boarded our original flight home. Then we returned 6 hours later with technical problems. The cash machines soon ran out of Dollars. I even had time to...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, December 6, 2014: Late November, Pescadero

PortMoresby ·
Sunny late November on the rural coastside of the San Francisco Peninsula. Normally too expensive for me, but it was off-season and I made a deal with the proprietor of a B&B near Pescadero for several nights while I visited my family nearby - midweek, cash, how could she refuse. A tiny cabin set in a garden, complete with kitchen and a deep bathtub, simply perfect. For more of PortMoresbys contributions, click here . ...
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Memphis, Tennessee: 1) Graceland

DrFumblefinger ·
  3764 Elvis Presley Blvd.  It’s an address most Elvis fans know by heart because that’s where you’ll find Graceland .  Graceland is THE place every Elvis must visit at least once in their lifetime.  Not only was...
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Memphis, Tennessee 3) The rest of the city

DrFumblefinger ·
        There’s a lot more to Memphis than Graceland, although  Graceland is by far the city’s most popular attraction (which I’ve previously discussed here ).   A city of about 650,000, Memphis has a...
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Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards

Paul Heymont ·
For some of us, credit cards are more than a convenient way to pay—they are the lifeline to free travel through loyalty programs. Between points for purchases and bonuses for opening or upgrading credit card accounts, it's possible to get quite...
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Walla, Walla: “So nice they named it twice!”

DrFumblefinger ·
What’s a Walla Walla?  It’s a Indian name meaning “many waters”.  It’s also the name of a charming city in southeastern Washington; nestled close to the Columbia and Snake River valleys, and with a river of its...
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TripAdvisor up for sale? Priceline, Expedia might be interested...

Paul Heymont ·
TripAdvisor, the travel info source you either love or hate, is clearly a giant of the industry...and it might be available for the right price. It's controlled by cable-and-more giant Liberty Media and John Malone, its head.   Malone separated...
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Airbnb now open for business in Cuba

Paul Heymont ·
Jumping ahead of the airlines and hotel chains, Airbnb has opened its first list of lodgings available in Cuba, mostly rooms in existing "Casas Particulares," which are private rentals of rooms in homes. Airbnb, famous for "disrupting" the lodging...
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The Colby Trophy Room, Museum of Science, Boston (Where Gumbo was #116)

DrFumblefinger ·
    Gumbo was visiting the interesting Museum of Science in Boston.  It's especially a great museum to explore with children, but fun for everyone!  There are many fascinating exhibits and demonstrations that take a full day to...
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Nashville, Tennessee.....the Elvis tour continues!

DrFumblefinger ·
  Until I attended my first medical meeting in Nashville, I'd never thought much about visiting this mid-sized city, an oversight on my part.  Nashville's a fun destination in many ways, especially if you're a fan of Country music.  I...
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And the airline with the best food is.....

DrFumblefinger ·
For anyone who flies mostly in North America, airline food is all but a thing of the past.  You might get some pretzels or snack mix, or if you're desperate and starved might shell out some cash for a stale sandwich or something equally...
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Welcome to the town of Dawson City, Yukon

My Thatched Hut ·
  Dawson City owns its existence as a direct result of the Klondike gold discovery in 1896 in the nearby creeks. Dawson was founded in 1897 and incorporated as a city in 1902.  By 1898, the population was almost 40,000. It was the largest...
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Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Toronto

DrFumblefinger ·
  One of Toronto’s newest big attractions is Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada , with underwater creatures and habitats from across the globe.   It's in a fabulous location, on the harborfront adjoining the CN Tower, Rogers Center and...
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Airlines, Airports split over new fees

Paul Heymont ·
You'd think the airlines had never heard of a fee they didn't like, but now they've found one. Maybe what they don't like about it is that the money goes to airports, not airlines. The charge, which the airlines call a "tax" is the Passenger Facility...
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Bidding for Airline Upgrades?Qantas Latest to Offer Service

Travel Rob ·
Qantas is the latest airline to offer bidding for airline upgrades . Their product, Bidding Now Upgrades , gives frequent  fliers  the option of bidding for upgrades using  points and cash. It’s now available by invitation only...
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Easyjet 'Hands Free': travel gift or ripoff fee?

Paul Heymont ·
Easyjet offers Hands Free for a price. Is it a helping hand, or just another nickle-and-dime fee?
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Louvre Abu Dhabi almost ready to open

Paul Heymont ·
Five years behind schedule, the Gulf nation's branch of the Louvre opens Nov. 11.
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Svartisdal, Norway, Part 2

Amateuremigrant ·
Bob Cranwell continues his tale of visits to the Svartisdal region in Norway, and some of the potential perils of hiking around this beautiful piece of geography.
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Paris: 2017 Best Baguette winner is chosen

Paul Heymont ·
The winner of the annual Best Baguette in Paris has been announced. The award gets cash and a special responsibility.
 
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