Price comparison: Glenfiddich 30-year-old Scotch-Whisky

Founded in 1886, the Glenfiddich Distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in Dufftown, Scotland. Glenfiddich whisky is bottled at ages of 12, 15, 18, 21 and 30 years old (but the distillery has also bottled a number of rare whiskies 40, 50 or more years old). Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for a 750ml bottle of Glenfiddich 30-year-old Scotch-Whisky in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were highest in major cities in Asia except for Tokyo where prices were actually the lowest of all cities surveyed.

Price Comparison*

Singapore	S$773	US$551
Hong Kong	HK$3,919	US$504
Shanghai	3,038 Yuan	US$445
Rome	€279	US$393
London	219 Pounds	US$353
Frankfurt	€232	US$327
New York City	US$317	US$317
Manila	14,500 Pesos	US$311
Paris	€209	US$294
Brussels	€205	US$289
Tokyo	23,183 Yen	US$260

* 750 ml bottle of Scotch-Whiskey. Prices based upon exchange rates as of January 27, 2010.

Air New Zealand unveils its economy lie-flat seats for the 787-9

Here is a great idea that we hope will be adopted by more airlines. As recently noted on Flight Blogger and starting in November of 2010 when Boeing delivers its first 777-300ER to Air New Zealand, the first 11 rows in economy will feature a new "Skycouch" that will provide a lie-flat experience. To take advantage of this, two adults must purchase two seats and a third seat at roughly half the price and the target market for the offering are couples or a small families. The airline intends to offer the service on selected Auckland to Los Angeles flights and eventually Auckland to London (Via Los Angeles) starting in April 2011.

However, there are still questions about how they will manage the revenue on this unique offering. Nevertheless and if such an experiment does end up working, the “Skycouch” will definitely provide the best long-haul flight experience on the market for economy class passengers.

Five-fingered discounts

The Luxique travel blog has recently noted that that the Australian Hotel Association (AHA) is loosing millions of dollars every year due to theft in what is apparently known in the business as “five-fingered discounts.” And its not just little items likes pens or wash cloths. In fact, items that have disappeared from Aussie hotel rooms include everything from toilet flushing mechanisms to a TV set with base and a giant metal statue of a kangaroo. Moreover, men and women are equally guilty as women are more likely to take designer toiletries and towels while men are tempted by bottle openers, shoe shine kits, glasses and mini bar items.

Meanwhile, the same blog has also noted that the former US Ambassador in London, Raymond Seitz, likes to pilfer “Do Not Disturb” signs and has now amassed a collection of 500 according to Condé Nast Traveller magazine. Apparently though, he is now alone as there is even a website dedicated to “Do Not Disturb” sign collectors that was set up by someone who has collected 6,000 of them!

 

Transportation options in Mumbai videos

Mumbai is a huge and sprawling city but luckily there are various transportation options available to both visitors and residents alike to consider. This first Geobeats video gives an overview of the various public transportation options available in Mumbai:

However and as with cities everywhere, its easy to be taken for a ride by a taxi driver in Mumbai. Hence, this second Geobeats video will give you some useful tips for dealing with local cabbies:

Price comparison: A duplicate room key

The Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for having duplicate room key in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were highest in Europe and generally lowest (only a few cents) in Asia.

Price Comparison*

Frankfurt	€7	US$9.96
Brussels	€6.5	US$9.25
London	5.50 Pounds	US$8.98
Paris	€4	US$5.69
Rome	€3	US$4.27
Hong Kong	HK$22	US$2.83
Jakarta	23,333 Rupiahs	US$2.52
Bangkok	75 Baht	US$2.28
Singapore	S$3	US$2.15
New York City	US$1.70	US$1.70
Kuala Lumpur	2.50 Ringgit	US$0.75
Shanghai	5 Yuan	US$0.73
Manila	65 Pesos	US$0.30

* Prices based upon exchange rates as of January 20, 2010.

International Living’s 2010 Quality of Life Index

International Living magazine’s 30th Quality of Life Index has surveyed almost 200 countries across nine categories that include cost of living, culture/leisure, environment and safety/risk and here are the countries who topped out the list:

1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. United States
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10. Italy

France kept the top spot for the fifth year in a row while Australia jumped from fifth to second place due to the strength of its economic recovery. On the other hand, the USA dropped from third to seventh place due to the perception that the American dream is increasingly out of reach for many.

However, International Living also freely admits that they have a strong Western bias as the highest ranked Asia country (Japan) only comes in at 36th place.

Airport security humor

With the recent underwear bombing attempt on an airliner still fresh in everyone’s mind, we have an an important message from Transport Canada (A division of the US Department of Homeland Security) to repeat should you be traveling to Canada or from Canada to the USA as new “rules” are in effect:

Moreover and if you are traveling to and from the USA, just remember that the Transportation Security Administration is there working hard to make sure you enjoy a safe flight and you can count on them to do what they are trained to do: Overreact to tiny threats while ignoring the really big ones….

Price comparison: Ice skating

While ice skating is a popular winter activity in northern latitudes, ice skating rings can increasingly be found all over the world – even in cities located in the tropics or in the desert. Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for 2 hours of ice skating with skate rentals in various cities in Asia and around the world. Surprisingly, the survey found that prices were highest in (icy) London and other European cities and lowest in Asia. In fact, prices in London, the highest price city, were about US$35.56 while prices in Kuala Lumpur were only about US$3.88. In other words and if you are in London, skate outdoors and if it is summer, wait until winter!

Price Comparison*

London	22 Pounds	US$35.56
Rome	€16	US$23.16
New York City	US$19.13	US$19.13
Brussels	€12	US$17.37
Paris	€10	US$14.48
Frankfurt	€9.5	US$13.75
Singapore	S$18	US$12.59
Shanghai	58 Yuan	US$8.54
Bangkok	250 Baht	US$7.56
Manila	300 Pesos	US$6.55
Hong Kong	HK$50	US$6.45
Jakarta	42,000 Rupiahs	US$4.58
Kuala Lumpur	13 Ringgit	US$3.88

* For two hours and includes skate rentals. Prices based upon exchange rates as of January 13, 2010.

Dress codes in Japan

If you are traveling to Japan, you may be wondering how to dress appropriately and how the dress code in Japan compares with other countries you have visited. Hence, the Conde Nash Dress Code Guide (which is available on the Conde Nash website and is also downloadable in pdf format) offers a very handy and useful reference guide for how to dress appropriately in a number of countries around the world.

According to the guide, the Japanese word for a dress shirt is “wai shatsu” which literally comes from the English word “white shirt.” This in and of itself should give you an idea of the range of colors worn in the Japanese workplace. And although the Japanese government has launched a Cool Biz initiative that is intended to lower the cost of air condition, the initiative has largely been met with resistance.

On the other hand and on the street, nothing is considered “over-the-top” while the casual (aka sloppy) American look is generally not acceptable. Hence, men should be clean shaven and spend time on their hair while women should be seen wearing makeup, heels and plenty of frills.

And should you be attending a party, remember that the Japanese love labels like Agnès B. and Louis Vuitton while stylish designs by local designers like Yohji Yamamoto are also popular.

And remember: Japanese sizes tend to be significantly smaller than their counterparts in the USA. In other words, someone who needs a medium in the USA might need to wear an extra large in Japan.

Limited Stay Visas for Indonesia

Should you be coming to Indonesia for work or for other purposes such as research or to make an investment, a single entry Limited Stay Visa may be appropriate. Once the visa is obtained, its holder can extend it and obtain a temporary permit (KIMS/KITAS) once he/she arrives in Indonesia. In addition and if the holder of the Limited Stay Visa is planning to exit and re-enter Indonesia within a valid period, a single/multiple exit and re-entry permit can be obtained.

The requirements for Limited Stay Visas are the following:

1. Original passport valid up to 24 (twenty-four) months form the date of issuance of the visa. Validity of the passport depends on the intended length of stay.
2. A Copy of flight itinerary.
3. The Copy of Notification of Authorization from Indonesian Immigration in Indonesia. The notification of Authorization is usually obtained by the sponsor/individual/organization in Indonesia Immigration grants the Authorization.
4. The Letter from the sending company mentioning the purpose of the stay in Indonesia.
5. The Letter from sponsor/agent in Indonesia mentioning the purposes of the stay in Indonesia.
6. Passport contains at least one blank visa page. Amendment and endorsement pages cannot be used for visa purposes.
7. Application form (in duplicate) must be completed and signed by the applicant. The application form could be downloaded from the website.
8. Two recent color photographs (passport size_ on picture-quality papers.
9. For Visa application by mail, please read carefully:
   • Visa application by mail should enclose a self-stamped and addressed envelope for Express mail only. The Embassy of Indonesia will not process a visa application by mail unless there is an enclosed a self-stamped return envelope. The Embassy of Indonesia is not responsible for any applications that are lost in transit.
   • Before you mail the application, please remember that the application must be send along with the applicant�s passport. The Embassy would attach the visa in the passport. No passport, no visa.
   • Please be advised that we will return your application and passport if we found there are no blank visa pages on the passport. This will delay your application processing.
10. For Non-US Citizen: Please provide Copy of US Permanent Residence/Visa/Valid I-20 from schools/Universities. Please be advised that applicant with B1/B2 visa would not be processed. Such applicant suggested for obtaining Indonesian visa from country of origin/country of residency.

Fees for Limited Stay Visa are payable by cash or money order and are the following:

1. Up to 6 (six) months: US$50.
2. Up to 1 (one) year: US$100.
3. Up to 2 (two) years: US$175.

Processing a Limited Stay Visa can be completed in three working days if hand delivered to an Indonesian Embassy while it can take five working days or longer when done via mail. It should also be noted that an Indonesian Visa must be used within 90 days from the date of issuance.

Although obtaining a business visa for Indonesia can be a fairly straight forward process, business travelers should still consult with the nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate General to obtain the most up-to-date and accurate information as rules may be different depending upon your nationality.

Price comparison: IMAX movie tickets

IMAX films and IMAX theaters are increasingly a part of every avid movie watcher’s life. In fact and as of 2009, there were some 320 IMAX theatres in 42 countries around the world.

Hence, the Asian Wall Street Journal’s weekly Arbitrage column has recently conducted a survey of prices for an IMAX movie ticket in various cities in Asia and around the world. The survey found that prices were highest in London followed by Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai. However, prices in Manila, Singapore and Jakarta were anywhere from half to a quarter of the price of tickets in the most expensive cities for tickets.

Price Comparison*

London	14 Pounds	US$21.58
Hong Kong	HK$158	US$19.99
Tokyo	1,800 Yen	US$19.58
Shanghai	123 Yuan	US$18.06
Paris	€11	US$15.08
New York City	US$14.50	US$14.50
Frankfurt	€9	US$12.93
Seoul	13,500 Won	US$11.84
Bangkok	350 Baht	US$10.56
Manila	400 Pesos	US$8.71
Singapore	S$10	US$7.16
Jakarta	50,000 Rupiahs	US$5.37

* Prices based upon exchange rates as of January 6, 2010.

The odds of a terrorist attack on a commercial airliner

Here is an interesting and reassuring piece of trivia (courtesy of Gizmodo): The odds of a terrorist attack on a commercial airliner.

Man with Indian passport visits every country on earth (and takes really lousy pictures…)

If you are not a citizen of a so-called “first world country” and are having difficulty traveling due to your passport, the Hemingway Never Ate Here blog as recently noted that a 55-year-old Indian citizen named Kashi Samaddar has spent nearly seven years and £350,000 to visit all 194 countries in the world to set a new world record. However, the real purpose of his trip was to prove that an Indian (obviously one with plenty of money and time on his hands) with an Indian passport could see the entire world.

You can read the the full story about his adventures and why he set out to establish a new record in the Daily Mail. Apparently though, the picture below was the best picture he could take of London and don’t even ask to see the other pictures!

Useful videos to help learn basic Thai phrases

Should you be visiting Thailand soon, you may want to visit the Travel Linguist site on YouTube as it contains numerous resources to help you learn some of the Thai language. In this first video, you will learn 10 useful Thai survival words:

In this second video, several important Thai words related to safety are covered:

Finally, this third video covers how to give directions in Thai:

Dress codes in Singapore

If you are traveling to Singapore, you may be wondering how to dress appropriately and how the dress code in Singapore compares with other countries you have visited. Hence, the Conde Nash Dress Code Guide (which is available on the Conde Nash website and is also downloadable in pdf format) offers a very handy and useful reference guide for how to dress appropriately in a number of countries around the world.

According to the guide, the dress code for business meetings in Singapore is actually super casual. Ties are rarely worn and jackets aren’t required while both men and women wear oxfords and slacks. For women, the wearing of trendy peg-leg pants is considered acceptable.

On the street, 20 to 30 years olds can be found wearing hot pants or board shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. Polo shirts by well known designers and anything from casual mass-market stores are also worn.

And finally, upper class party goers usually sport brand name items with women being known for collecting Hermès bags and wearing their hems high while men wear designer jeans such as G–Star Raw and Dr. Denim.