{"id":83406,"date":"2023-09-19T18:59:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T18:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mylifestylemax.com\/?p=83406"},"modified":"2023-09-19T18:59:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T18:59:07","slug":"im-a-frequent-flyer-and-here-are-11-silly-travel-myths-debunked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mylifestylemax.com\/travel\/im-a-frequent-flyer-and-here-are-11-silly-travel-myths-debunked\/","title":{"rendered":"I&apos;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &apos;silly travel myths&apos;&#8230; debunked"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>I&#8217;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &#8216;silly travel myths&#8217;&#8230; debunked, from &#8216;Tuesday&#8217; being the best day to book to not assigning a plane seat to get an upgrade<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Gilbert Ott is a frequent flier and\u00a0Founder of travel site godsavethepoints.com<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Here he reveals information that&#8217;ll help get your next trip off on the right foot\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:\u00a0Can a robot plan a holiday? Not really, discovers Which?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/15\/16\/75478563-12523381-image-a-42_1694791564545.jpg\" height=\"407\" width=\"306\"><\/p>\n<p>Gilbert Ott (above) has debunked 11 travel myths<\/p>\n<p>The internet is awash with travel myths that can make the already complicated process of trying to book a dream holiday a nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m Gilbert Ott, frequent flier and Founder of travel site godsavethepoints.com, and I\u2019m here to dispel 11 of the worst examples.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for information that\u2019ll ensure your next trip gets off on the right foot\u2026<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH ONE &#8211; to get flight upgrades, don\u2019t assign a seat<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Not only are you not going to land a cushy upgrade with this advice, you\u2019re probably going to get the worst seat in the cabin you paid for. Many airlines charge for advanced seat assignments, but there\u2019s no advantage to not assigning a seat at all when they become free to select at check in.<\/p>\n<p>Upgrades are dished out to top-tier customers or travellers who have been inconvenienced and it\u2019s almost never based on not having a seat.<\/p>\n<p>Long story short: you should always assign a seat as quickly as you can.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH TWO &#8211; there\u2019s one magical cure for jet lag<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/15\/16\/75479297-12523381-image-a-45_1694792102516.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Fasting, including resisting alcohol , is very sadly one of the best ways to avoid jet lag on significant time zone changes<\/p>\n<p>If there is, the closest thing is melatonin \u2013 but there\u2019s not. Fighting jet lag is about masterfully planning and orchestrating a series of events that keep you hydrated, get your eating cycles on destination time and send the correct signals to your brain about when you\u2019re tired and what time it really is. It\u2019s about light, diet, rest and invigorating your body, in a masterful concerto.<\/p>\n<p>Fasting, including resisting alcohol, is very sadly one of the best ways to avoid jet lag on significant time zone changes.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH THREE &#8211; all touristy things are bad<\/span><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a never-ending supply of tourist mistakes around the world, but being a snob is one of the biggest. Some places, no matter how touristy, are worth visiting even if just for the view, the scent, the history or the waves.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be so cool that you miss one of the best attractions and see what makes people happy by thinking you\u2019re Anthony Bourdain. There was only one.<\/p>\n<p>Be as willing to explore the pop culture stuff as you are to jump off the beaten path and you will be rewarded with a wealth of happiness and cultural understanding.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH FOUR &#8211; use home currency when paying abroad<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Travellers throw away billions of collective dollars every year by getting short-changed on credit card transactions abroad. It\u2019s called DCC, or dynamic currency conversion. The next time you hear \u2018it doesn\u2019t matter which currency you choose\u2019, they\u2019re wrong and usually lying.<\/p>\n<p>To avoid this frustrating travel myth, always choose the currency of the country you\u2019re standing in \u2013 not the currency you use at home. Just make sure you use a credit card with no foreign exchange fees too. Basically: pay in whatever currency is the local currency, every time.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH FIVE &#8211; all hotel booking sites offer the same price<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Hotels love offering \u2018best rate guarantees\u2019, but those are based on the best rates you can find publicly. The truth is: there are better rates out there in private. Travel agents and private hotel membership can offer rates that aren\u2019t shown to the general public via things called \u2018bed banks\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Though they sound dingy, they\u2019re worth learning about. They\u2019ve saved godsavethepoints.com up to $1,000 (\u00a3806) on just a three-night stay for us before. Never buy a hotel room without checking at least three websites, comparing the price with booking directly and then also looking into any membership sites, or travel agent perks.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH SIX &#8211; countries with travel warnings should always be avoided<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/15\/16\/75479295-12523381-image-a-43_1694792060295.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t let &#8216;travel warnings&#8217; stop you from seeing the world&#8217;s most amazing sights, says Gilbert<\/p>\n<p>Dreaming of going to Rome, Paris, Turks and Caicos, Cancun or the Taj Mahal on your next vacation? If you follow every travel warning, you\u2019ll never get there. Travel bans are different, but warnings at most levels are just warnings, not advice not to go.<\/p>\n<p>The United States issues travel warnings on four levels, and these \u201cLevel 2\u201d countries mean to simply exercise increased caution and be careful in large crowds. Basically, don\u2019t be an idiot \u2013 which is good advice anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>The world is too amazing to miss.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH SEVEN &#8211; there\u2019s a magic day or week to book travel<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Know this: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no joke, but they\u2019re the very closest thing you\u2019ll find to a magical day to book travel. Hint: it\u2019s not \u2018Tuesday\u2019. To score the best flight deals, it\u2019s often more about when you want to go than when you want to book, and setting price alerts to see when prices do change.<\/p>\n<p>Want to really win?<\/p>\n<p>Think about changing your travel plans to shoulder season months when airfare can be 43 per cent lower or better. As far as magic days, it\u2019s easier to talk about ones to avoid, like any number within seven days of flying, when last-minute penalties kick up, unless you book a package with hotels too.<\/p>\n<p>Also, don\u2019t be afraid to learn everything you can about Google Flights, so you can let the best deals you\u2019ve searched for come to your inbox. Setting price alerts early and sitting back and relaxing is often the best strategy to save.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH EIGHT &#8211; it\u2019s always cheaper to buy wine when you visit a country<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Wrong, and to the tune of 20 per cent in some places. It\u2019s true: it\u2019s cheaper to buy (great) wine in France than just about anywhere else on earth, but some countries are far more focused on exporting their precious grapes, than travellers guzzling wine on home soil.<\/p>\n<p>In Australia, it\u2019s actually 20 per cent cheaper if you buy the wine and have it shipped out of the country, which basically means it\u2019s the same price outside of the country too. If you want to stay extra savvy, Vivino is the best wine app for travellers, in our opinion.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH NINE &#8211; the airport is the best place to take money out<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/15\/16\/75479293-12523381-image-a-46_1694792113915.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Airport money exchange services use a consumer rate of exchange that is often 10 per cent worse than the actual current exchange rate offered at that moment between banks<\/p>\n<p>This is flat-out wrong. Despite the \u2018no fee\u2019, \u2018no commission\u2019 or other alluring neon signs you\u2019ll find, you\u2019re getting duped another way. These money exchange services use a consumer rate of exchange that is often 10 per cent worse than the actual current exchange rate offered at that moment between banks.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s almost always cheaper to take out one large sum with your debit card abroad, paying just one ATM fee, or ideally \u2013 none. By doing so, you\u2019ll get a \u2018bank rate\u2019 of exchange, which can save 10 per cent or more. Just tell your bank you\u2019re travelling first.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH 10 &#8211; the Northern Lights are only in Iceland<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/09\/15\/16\/75479291-12523381-image-a-44_1694792095624.jpg\" height=\"436\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The Northern Lights aren&#8217;t just in Iceland &#8211; they&#8217;re in Norway (above) too, points out Gilbert &#8211; and Canada and Lapland<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve have to give Iceland credit. Despite the Aurora Borealis existing since the dawn of time and covering vast swathes of the upper Northern Hemisphere, travellers seem convinced that Iceland is the only place offering the dazzling, electrically charged light display.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re wonderful there, no doubt, but there are so many other places to see them, and many that are cheaper. The Northern Lights are best viewed anywhere with minimal artificial light, so the more remote you can go the better. There are countless places to find them, such as Norway, Canada, or Lapland.<\/p>\n<p><span>MYTH 11 &#8211; frequent flyer miles are too complicated to bother with<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Why bother, right? No. Credit card points and airline miles may be complicated, but anyone not bothering with collecting them is simply a fool. At the very least, they\u2019re a rebate towards future travel.<\/p>\n<p>The way the industry is going, points are becoming easier to use and even have more defined value than ever. For example, Delta lets you use 10,000 points to take $100 off a flight. This is a myth too expensive to believe. You need to play the points game, and you can do it without even flying or having a credit card.<\/p>\n<p><span><span>The original version of this story appeared on <\/span><\/span><span><span>godsavethepoints.com<\/span><\/span><span><span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/travel\/article-12523381\/Im-frequent-flyer-11-silly-travel-myths-debunked-Tuesday-best-day-book-not-assigning-plane-seat-upgrade.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &#8216;silly travel myths&#8217;&#8230; debunked, from &#8216;Tuesday&#8217; being the best day to book<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":83405,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[653],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>I&amp;apos;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &amp;apos;silly travel myths&amp;apos;... debunked - My LifeStyle Max<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mylifestylemax.com\/travel\/im-a-frequent-flyer-and-here-are-11-silly-travel-myths-debunked\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I&amp;apos;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &amp;apos;silly travel myths&amp;apos;... debunked - My LifeStyle Max\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I&#8217;m a frequent flyer and here are 11 &#8216;silly travel myths&#8217;&#8230; 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