Today we look at common items you should bring with you when traveling, but may not; get a list of the 10 countries with the cheapest gas in the world; and take a look at five borders that pose some unusual problems.
8 items you never pack … but should
This article lists items that you probably wished you brought with you on your last trip, but didn’t. Personally, I already have three of these tool in my briefcase and use them all the time. Here are two in the list. Click this link for the other six.
Duct tape
From bandaging up exploded luggage to removing lint from clothing, duct tape earns its all-purpose reputation. Carry a small roll (about $5) with you to patch tears in shoes, bags or clothing; baby-proof your hotel room by covering outlets and securing drawers shut; hold together a well-worn guidebook when the spine gives out; and more.
Travel mug
To prevent damage, transport sunglasses or delicate souvenirs in an empty travel mug with a wide mouth — just make sure it’s got a secure screw top. During your trip, the mug can be an ecofriendly to-go cup or a great decoy for stashing valuables in your hotel room (a coffee-stained thermos is an unlikely target for thieves). OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug, $20.
Ten countries with the cheapest gas at the pump
Forbes Magazine presents us with this list of countries with the cheapest gas. The list is interesting, but the story behind the list is better. Is cheap really cheap for each economy? Click through to read the whole story.
Cheapest at the Pump
It’s not that way everywhere. In fact, in some countries gas is given away or downright cheap. The countries where you can find the cheapest gas at the pump, in U.S. dollars per gallon (2010):
1. Venezuela (7.6 cents)
2. Iran (37.9 cents)
3. Saudi Arabia (60.6 cents)
4. Libya (64.4 cents)
5. Qatar (71.9 cents)
6. Bahrain (79.5 cents)
7. Turkmenistan (83.3 cents)
8. Kuwait (87.1 cents)
9. Oman ($1.173)
10. Algeria ($1.211)
5 Puzzling International Borders
International borders are often complicated, just city limits in Boston where a friend of mine owns a restaurant with the bar in one town and the main dining room in another. It makes for interesting approaches to taxes and laws. Some countries’ borders are just as complicated in towns that may find couples sitting at a table having lunch or dinner with someone sitting in another country. Wild.
Here’s one example. Click through for the other four in this article.
Dutch-Belgian Border
The official border between Belgium and the Netherlands runs through living rooms, yards and cafés, so it’s possible – indeed, it happens more often than you’d think – to sit across a table having a cup of coffee with someone who is actually in a different country.
For a while, a Dutch law requiring dining establishments to close earlier than they did in Belgium laid the foundation for an absurd, nightly charade in some Baarle restaurants. At closing time in the Netherlands, patrons would have to get up and move tables, over to the Belgian side. … Baarle’s complex borderline has to do with how regional lords and dukes divided up their land hundreds of years ago
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
