Well, I bought my tickets this morning for the pilgrimage next year. Might should have bought last week when they were really down, but did okay on the price. I might could have gotten a bit better deal, but as it is I went through the airline to ensure I got a changeable and refundable ticket, and to ensure a few other things.
The really good deals out there by and large don’t include checked luggage and other delights, and they also often don’t include getting to the originating airport. My ticket includes true round-trip service, checked baggage, flexibility, and more. It does not include seat upgrades and other nice-to-do upgrades. I can live without those, and besides: it’s a pilgrimage and those are supposed to have a certain amount of discomfort to them.
I’ve also bought a new wallet. My current wallet is a military ID holder I bought in Iraq back in 2007, and it is starting to fall apart. I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth out of it.
What I’ve ordered is something that can hold my stuff, including passport, and is RFID blocking. That’s become a big issue overseas (particularly in airports and other transportation hubs) and is starting to be an issue here. I’ve also ordered some RFID-blocking sleeves for my cards, and even put a passive jammer on my Amazon wish list (upper right). The new wallet wasn’t expensive, and it gives me time to check it out well in advance. Plan to slip an airtag into it too.
The RFID scanning is one issue I can fight in advance. Pick-pockets are an issue I will have to deal with there. More than halfway tempted to find my old dummy wallet that I put in my back pocket. Looked real, but nothing much in it other than junk including airline drink coupons (expired) pretending to be cash. Other than the dummy wallet, I never carry anything other than tissues in my back pockets overseas. Front pockets, I’ve been known to put plastic grocery bags in them above contents to deter thieves. One of the best things to do is put the contents in a fanny pack, then wear it in front.
More soon, off to get a few more things done today.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.
I bought two pair of these pants 9 years ago and have gone to Europe many times with them, including several places fairly densely packed with pickpockets. They are comfortable and the front pocket zips up. I’d add the customer service was very good then. I have no stake in this business except being a happy customer:
https://www.clothingarts.com/collections/pickpocket_proof_business_travel/products/pickpocket_proof_business_travel_pants
Thank you for sharing this, and I am going to check them out.
Uh…..
What I’ve ordered is something that can hold my stuff, including passport, and is RFID blocking.
Plan to slip an airtag into it too.
Those two things are probably mutually exclusive; if the wallet blocks all intruding RF, I’m betting it’ll block signals to the air tag as well. There are stick-on air tag holders, one on the outside should work, but then you’ve got this tumor on the outside of your wallet that I doubt would be fun to sit on. And, any thief worth even a fraction of his salt would know to open the stick-on and pitch the air tag (or slap it on something headed the other way….). Worth a shot, though.
Iggy