Musings
- Information Security Travel Guide
Stephen Northcutt, an Information Security Researcher, United Airlines 1k, Writer and Instructor, documents the struggles of the travel and hospitality industries as we all face rapidly increasing energy costs. He and his peers share their travel experiences and give you quick tips and short reviews of the companies they do business with as they travel. If you came across this article because of a Google search, what you want is probably here, just use find with your browswer (CTRL - F), it is easier than reading from top to bottom; however, you may get some useful tips if you stick around and read.
United Airlines Travelers News - Updated January 6th, 2009
Information Security Travel Guide: November - December 2008, Kauai to Italy, Washington DC and Richmond VA - Updated December 27th, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: October 2008, Kauai to Monterey CA and Richmond VA - Updated November 11th, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: October 2008, Kauai to Houston - Updated October 22nd, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: September 2008, Kauai to Las Vegas - Updated October 8th, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: August-September 2008, Boston, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Chicago, Branson - Updated September 23rd, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: July 2008, Quantico, Atlanta and Washington DC - Updated October 23rd, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: Tips for Traveling - Updated December 13th, 2008
Information Security Travel Guide: Tips for Traveling
December 13th, 2008
By Stephen Northcutt
One of the readers of the Security Travel Series asked me to put all the travel tips in one place, so here you go!
- [December 12, 2008] Kathy Northcutt shares her valuable experiences about clothes that travel well.
- Athleta’s Glissador Pant. I was skeptical that these pants would be worth their hefty price tag at first, but it’s hard to find tall travel pants, optimized for colder weather, so I gave it a go. We’ve been out on the road for nearly a month now and I’ve worn these pants more days than I care to admit because the fabric is so sumptuous, and the fit is so comfortable. The two vertical front zip pockets hold a hotel room key, some cash and my lens caps without making the pants look lumpy in front. There are no back pockets, rivets or seam lines that become uncomfortable on a long flight. I can scramble about the back country hill towns of Italy photographing by day, and wear them out to dinner by night. You can wash them by hand and they will dry overnight in a heated hotel room.
We were welcomed by a driving rain as we exited the Vatican museum in
Rome. A sign indicated there was a train station entrance 50m to the
left. We took off in that direction only to learn it was several
blocks. By the time we arrived at the station we were drenched and
chilled, but my pants did not cling or let the water soak all the way
through; they held their shape and dried in no time. [Our
hosts shared that the sign we believed was only installed for
crowd control on busy days at the Vatican. If you ever come out of its
museum seeking transportation, turn right, not left.] The only wear
these pants show after a month of continuous use is one small snag in
the back where a jagged rock must have caught its smooth fabric. If
there was anything more I’d like to see in these pants it
would be a tad bit more length to them.
From the Athleta catalog (item #42028): "Sleek and classy with details and
adornments designed to turn heads, the semi-fitted Glissador Pant could
easily become more than a workout favorite if you let it.
Thermal-weight Tech Stretch construction allows full range of
uninhibited motion, ankle zips make for easy on/off over shoes, and
forward side seams lend a flattering look. Pull-on elastic waist,
Athleta rivets at zippered handwarmer front pockets. Inseam: Regular:
31", Petite: 28", Tall: 34"."
- The joy of having a lightweight Merino wool baselayer. When we visited New Zealand several years ago I was taken aback by the cold winds coming down from Antarctica, even during their warmer season. After we scored tickets to an outdoor concert, we went shopping to augment the gear we had for keeping warm. It was in NZ that I learned about the joy of finely woven Merino wool. I have never been able to tolerate wool next to my skin and am often irritated by it, even with an underlayer shielding bare skin. Not so with whisper weight Merino wool. The feminine underlayer I purchased on that trip has traveled with me to cold destinations ever since. It dries in a matter of hours after wearing, packs in a sandwich bag, and is a godsend on cold nights and windy or rainy days. It adds no bulk to an outfit, but greatly increases my joy on the road. I’ve not found the New Zealand manufacturer online; they appear to make only baby clothes in 2008. I did find some possibilities at Overstock.com and Sierra Trading Post by searching on Merino wool base layer. The lightest weight varieties are sheer, so a camisole is in order if you choose to wear as an outer layer.
- Danskin’s turtlenecks. I hadn’t worn a turtleneck
since school days, but the thought of keeping my neck warm on this trip
led me to Danskin’s website. They have a number of
lightweight turtleneck leotards on clearance in a variety of colors.
Click on their sale attic- women’s and scroll down to the
bottom of the page. They’re currently selling for $12.99.
These are lightweight, pack in a sandwich bag, dry overnight, and add
very little bulk to an outfit. They are not as durable as their heavier
weight cousin, which is available in a full range of colors and sizes.
That one is not on sale - it runs $27.50, item # 2908. The downside to
the lighter weight clearance version is that its snaps are difficult to
connect. Snap them together before putting it on and just step into it.
Danskin offers free shipping on any order over $75.00, even to Hawaii,
and I found a 25% off discount code running last time I was there:
REINDEER8.
- MBT shoes. Hands down the most
comfortable shoes I’ve ever
worn. I walked seven miles in their sandals the first day they arrived,
straight out of the box. The rolling sensation created by the rocker
shaped sole takes some adjustment. Start out on flat surfaces while you
get
used to them.
Best sources I’ve found for Masai Barefoot Technology shoes
are Walker’s Warehouse.com, and Footwear etc. Both carry
discontinued styles whose prices will be gentler on the wallet.
Tips for Travel in Italy/Rome
- There are a number of pickpockets that work the Rome area; they are legend, so never keep your wallet in a back pocket. Most reliable hotels will allow you to keep excess cash in a safe; don't keep all your money on you. I actually use a travel vest; yes, I realize I really look like a tourist, but, first, the sheer number of pockets has to confuse the pickpockets and it lets me keep things like chapstick close at hand.
- For bags such as purses, keep the zipper facing your body.
- Pickpockets often work as a team; if someone approaches you to hand you something, or if a little girl drops a doll, or, or, or, keep moving, ignore what is going on, demonstrate you are alert and that you have a purpose.
- For the center of Rome tourist areas, if possible pick up the 175 bus versus 64; 64 is the "tourist" bus, so you know there will be pickpockets.
- Carry an umbrella, those portable folding ones make sense because shelter is not always available.
- Get on trains early to get a seat. Say you get to the train station and the next train is leaving in ten minutes, but another one is leaving in 30 minutes. Unless you are in a big hurry, the one leaving in 30 minutes might be a much better experience since you can visit and get a seat. Try to get a seat that doesn't face another seat, especially if you are tall. However, you cannot be too early; they post the schedule that tells you which "bin" (track) to find your train about 40 minutes before departure.
- Cross the street with other Romans and never hesitate. Both driving and street crossing in Rome are fine arts.
- If you want to blend in, consider wearing black. In Rome, as in many other urban cities, black seems to be the single most popular color for clothing.
- In cooler weather Romans tend to tie their scarves like so: Fold the scarf in half longwise; the side with the fold can serve as a loop, and pull the other end through the loop. Done.
- I switched my wedding ring to my right hand while in Rome; not everyone does that, but many people do.
- The biggest giveaway that you are American comes from opening one's mouth and speaking loudly. I will often mouth words like "Prego", but not actually say it out loud.
- The Rick Steves books still seem to be the best. He also has free audio tours you can download to your iPod via iTunes. This is much better than the audio headsets they rent at many attractions.
- Restaurants in Rome may disappoint. Use a guide book and, also, restaurants in Rome tend to do a better job with the antipasta and pasta: consider not ordering the secondi (meat course) to save both money and calories.
- If you are staying in or near Rome, Ostia Antica is a very fine substitute for Pompei and will save you hours in traffic; you can reach Ostia by train.
- The hop on hop off (hoho) may be a waste of your money. There are a number of mass transit deals such as the Roma Pass (three days of transportation via train, bus, metro that includes up to 40km outside of Rome), or the Roma PIU pass (same transportation for three days, but a number of museums are included or discounted), and one day transit deals. With these, you can hop on and hop off and save money, but you do not get to get to the top of a transit bus.
- If you have a Roma pass, avoid the right hand lane going into the Colosseum. Go left, look like you know what you are doing and when you get to the end, look for the turnstile and head straight for it. This is crucial in high season. The Colosseum may be one time to pay the extra pice for a guide. So is the Vatican museum, they just restricted to "secret" the door in the Sistine Chapel that keeps you from having to leave the Vatican and re-enter it to groups with a guide.
- The guys dressed like Romans in places like the Colosseum are not always nice chaps. Exactly why do you want a picture of yourself and a gladiator anyway? If you really do want a picture, get the lay of the land. Stand in the general area, pretend to be reading your guide book (stay alert, don't be a pick pocket magnet). And see how they treat other tourists and what they are charging. If you notice a gladiator with a customer focus that is not charging too much, go to them. Determine the price in advance.
- If you have knee or back problems, establish a "stair budget". Getting around in Rome means climbing a lot of stairs, so don't climb stairs unless you need to. For instance, at many of the Metro stations, they have an escalator. However, the Romans tend to fly through Metro and train stations and bound up the stairs since it is faster. Slow down, don't be part of the mad dash and take the escalator when you can.
General Travel Tips
- Holiday travel. This is a peak season and in 2008 routes
have been reduced, so you are likely to have some problems. Bring your
own water bottle, some food that you like, make sure you have warmth
with you, a jacket or something similar. Dress to travel, not to
impress. A delay in the airport is a significant possibility, have
something to read. Above all, be part of the solution, not part of the
problem; be kind, avoid anger that just leads to cancer and more anger.
- Always travel with your water bottle. Bring it to the airport empty. Make sure that you only buy carry-ons that can carry a water bottle. Put the bottle in your bag empty the night before you fly so that you do not forget it if you are in a hurry in the morning.I highly recommend carrying one water bottle made of nalgene (think backpack) for the whole trip. Not only does it save about $20.00 and is easier on landfills everywhere, but it is healthier. Any gain from the filtered water in throwaway bottles is lost and more because the plastic leaches out into the water. Also, nalgene can handle hot or cold. In the winter time, or when you have a scratchy throat, you can make tea in your water bottle.
- A source of hot water to make tea on the road is your hotel room coffee maker. Run at least two runs of water before making tea or it will taste like "cofftea". Consider adding a stick of Astragulus to your tea to keep your immune system up. Don't over do it though, I leave one stick for several days. If you are male and over 45 years of age, consider also adding Ginseng, I get mine from Shumachers.
- When choosing a hotel for travel, get as close as you can to your work place and also, when possible, use the chains; Marriott and Starwood have been better bets for me and you can even earn points.
- One travel tea to consider is Bigelow Cranberry Apple Herb Tea. No caffeine, and the main ingredient is Hibiscus, and "Studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea can effectively lower high blood pressure and reduce high cholesterol levels in many individuals.
- Toothpaste on the road. An alarming number of toothpaste vendors are changing their packaging to non-screwtop toothpaste tubes, so-called screwflips. These do not seal tightly, and it would be sad to have a toothpaste explosion in your bags. I prefer Crest toothpaste (notice all the pictures of their packaging only show the back of the tube), but keep getting the screwflip in Crest packaging; that is fine for home, but it will not work on the road. For the present, at least, the Arm & Hammer 7.2 oz. tubes are still screwtop. You can also refill travel size toothpaste tubes by gently pressing the air out and putting them "mouth to mouth" against a full one. I never thought I would end up doing such a thing, but I am not going to travel with a screwflip tube, so I do what I have to. By the way, if you are interested in search engine optimization and web marketing, do a few searches on things related to toothpaste and oral care; the vendors are really working for top position with Google, and it will be interesting to see how they do in a year or so. There is a fairly amusing blog on the screwflip subject if you have too much time. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/miles-kington/miles-kington-remembered-leaving-the-cap-off-the-toothpaste-is-getting-easier-790498.html?r=RSS
OK, this has been a fun trip down a rabbit
hole, but I am on
the hook for a
keynote to the Federal Reserve on Enterprise Security Architecture and
I will
start on that as soon as I brush my teeth - I feel a sudden need
*smile*.
- You can't take everything in the world with you on travel, but consider a surge protector, especially in the summer time. We just use a standard six plug protector. It would be terrible to have a lightning strike near your hotel and lose your laptop, cell phone, digital camera, all the things you leave on charge.
- When attending meetings or conferences, keep your room available till the afternoon. We leave a tip, (here is a good article on tipping, how much, and why), and a note that says please clean the room after lunch, usually about 1:30 PM. That way, you have your room as an option if you need to use the facilities. Hotel shared facilities are often kept clean, but when they aren't it is a real bummer.
- I just read about the TSA Security Screener caught with 66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, 20 cell phones, 17 sets of electronic games, 13 pieces of jewelry, 12 GPS devices, 11 MP3 players, eight camera lenses, six video cameras and two DVD players. Guess he will do some time. TSA screener theft has been an issue in the past in Texas, JFK airport, and at least 30 other airports. So this travel tip is obvious, don't check valuables unless you have no alternative.
- (October 2008) I certainly hope United pulls through, but in these uncertain times, it may make sense to consider travel insurance. Web sites like http://www.insuremytrip.com/ will give you quotes from 19 travel insurance providers, and http://www.squaremouth.com/ which accesses even more; just read the fine print carefully, there are a number of complaints out there about insurance companies not paying up.
- If you have an early morning cab ride, say anytime before 7:00 AM, it is wise to book your cab the night before. When you book your cab, be certain to get the name of the staffer that you booked with and also ask for the name of the cab company and their contact information. That way if something goes wrong you have a chance to recover. If you go down in the morning and there is no cab, call the cab company first to determine what the situation is. If they cannot get a cab to you in short order, go back to the hotel and ask for the manager on duty, explain your situation and ask that the hotel transport you to the airport: be polite, but firm, most hotels have a car or van.
- When they tell you to keep your seatbelt on while seated on an airplane, they aren't kidding. I read the following in the New Zealand Herald, "Passenger laptop computers are now being investigated as a possible cause of the Qantas mid-air emergency off Western Australia on Tuesday. The Airbus A330-300, with 303 passengers and a crew of 10, experienced what the airline described as a "sudden change in altitude" north of its destination on Tuesday. The mid-air incident resulted in injuries to 74 people, with 51 of them treated by three hospitals in Perth for fractures, lacerations and suspected spinal injuries when the flight bound from Singapore to Perth had a dramatic drop in altitude that hurled passengers around the cabin." For the complete and somewhat graphic story, visit: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24469164-2,00.html
The reason they suspect laptops is that a similar event occurred in
July and the bluetooth mouse is believed to be the culprit. Risk
experts have long held concerns about so-called fly by wire systems, to
read more click this link and read the article titled Flight Control System Software Anomalies.
- Use Google Alerts when traveling. I am getting ready to go to Houston and I am flying on United Airlines. Even though I am a couple of days out, I log into my Google account and created two new alerts, one for Houston and the other for United Airlines. That way, as newsworthy things come up, I am prepared. But, one can do a lot more with Google! For instance, I hit the web page of the event I am going to and pull the address of the hotel, in this case the Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Galleria Area. If I take the address of the hotel (3201 Sage Road, Houston) and paste that into Google, a map comes up. When I click on the map, a bigger map comes up. Then, if I click Satellite, I can see from the aerial view that my hotel has a strip mall nearby (just look for the parking spots), but has residential on both sides (East and West) within a couple of blocks. Sometimes when there is residential fairly close it means minimal access to restaurants.
- Direct Flights: number of "direct" flights aren't. This Washington Times blog on the topic concerns Delta Airlines, but I have been on United Airlines flights where they say passengers continuing on to Tokyo will need to remove all their belongings for an aircraft change. This means competing for the overhead luggage space again (the link I just tossed you is for riskfactor, a great IEEE blog). The time to find out is when you are booking, be sure and ask if have them on the phone. Also, if you can see that the time between landing and takeoff is more than 30 minutes, you may be in for an aircraft change.
Airport Specific Travel Tips
- Thrifty and Dollar car rentals are not recommended at Dulles, I have heard (unconfirmed) horror stories of business travelers arriving at Thrifty at 7:30 AM to drop off their cars and it is still not open. That will mess up your travel schedule.
- Be certain to factor in the shuttle time to get to gates at Dulles, that is an additional five to ten minutes.
- If you are trying to decide between Dulles and Reagan National airport for Washington DC, keep in mind the Metrorail serves National, it may be cheaper when you factor in taxi costs to land at Dulles.
- According to one of my favorite Houston IAH travel tips pages, the best time to schedule a flight from Houston is just after lunch.
- Houston has more than one airport, know if you are going to Hobby or IAH. Also, Houston is huge, so taxis can be very expensive. The Houston Super Shuttle may be a wiser bet.
- The security line in Las Vegas McCarran Airport can be very long on Saturday/Sunday, try to arrive at least two hours early.
- When flying in and out of Monterey CA's airport, the shuttle type flights are in a different part of the airport and it is a long walk, make sure you know what type of flight you have before the cab drops you off.