Jaded Travellers are on the look out for
more interesting destinations to go to.
There are also some
intricacies of visa requirements, currency and other
concerns.
Here are some of requests for information
that we have been asked. It is a sort of FAQ, and some of
the questions are not that trivial.
The links will
open in a new window, either on this site or others. Please
read our disclaimers before using this information for any
purpose.
Number of Sovereign
States 204
Number of
Member States of the UN 193
Number of European Union
Member States 27
What are Dependent States?
Number of Euro currency
Members 17
Number of Schengen
Area Members 25
Europe
Visa/Currency/Political Summary
The Commonwealth of Nations (British) 54 countries,
1 suspended
The Commonwealth Realm 16 countries
Tallest Buildings
Best Museums and Art Galleries
Greatest Cities
of the World
List of
World Cathedrals
Tallest Church and Cathedral Spires
Oldest Hotel - World
Oldest Hotel - Europe
(and
well worth
seeing!)
The Freddie Awards are annual awards for Loyalty
Programmes, named after budget airline entrepreneur
Sir
Freddy Laker
Skytrax awards are the largest independent user-voted
recognition awards for Airlines and Airports
What are :
The World's Best Airlines ?
The World's Best Airports ?
Are Schengen Visas valid for travel through/entry to Switzerland?
Yes.
Do visitors need a tourist visa before arrival in Sri
Lanka?
No. However, from January 2011, this may change
at short notice. Please refer
Immigration
Do I have to pay airport tax in Sri Lanka? No. Rs. 1,500 is
included in your ticket for a stop of over 24 hours.
Can I get a free upgrade? Usually, no. It may be possible to
get an upgrade if you have enough frequent flyer miles
to do so. Please book your upgrade online early, as
availability is limited. Certain airlines also upgrade
at the gate, based on your tier on busy flights, or you could just be lucky.
Can I get a window/bulkhead seat? We will try to get it for
you, if the airline allows it, and you give us the request
early enough. There are restrictions for bulkheads, such as you would have
to be willing to open the emergency door in the unlikely
event of an emergency, and you may be seated next to an
infant bassinet.
Is there
seasonality on tickets out of Colombo? No. Though some airlines
do have higher fares for a few weeks during (northern hemisphere) summer,
and
major holidays such as Avurudhu and Wesak.
Are Jet fuel prices
going up or down ?
If we knew this, we would not be in the travel business.
See:
Jet A1 fuel price trend
Can Tourama get UK, Australian, US or Schengen
visas ?
Unfortunately not. There is a biometrics (fingerprinting) requirement for
Australia, UK
and the US, which requires the passenger to be present in
person. We recommend
that you visit the accredited
VFS / TTS for these purposes. We can assist with visas
for Embassies and
Consultates,
marked with a
only.
There is no guarantee that the application will be
successful, and you may still have to go personally.
Do I need to have my full name including middle names in
the booking?
No. Just any first name (what you are called) and a last
name/surname are enough. There is a 26-character name limit
which can be included in your reservation, so you might be
denied
boarding if the name booked is too long. What airlines
and consulates mean
by "full name" is "not initials". Many countries also no longer accept
initials for airline reservations, and any first name is required,
when making your visa application.
Why are the seats on SriLankan Airlines'
planes not in alphabetical order?SriLankan Airlines is
an All-Airbus carrier. Seat letters are based on Boeing
seating arrangements, which usually have three seats on either side. Airbus planes have only two. Therefore, two letters
for the middle seat on each side
have to be omitted for uniformity. The letter "I" is
also excluded because of confusion with the number 1. You can
find recommended seat maps at
www.srilankan.aero, on
SeatGuru
and on
SeatExpert.
What's the world's longest commercial flight?
19 hours 10 minutes, on the all-Business class Singapore Airlines
SQ21/22 between Singapore and Newark, NJ,
USA by Airbus A340-500.
What is the telephone number of the Emirates Business Class Chauffeur Drive
service at Heathrow? Heathrow/Gatwick 0844-800-2777
What are the limitations on Chauffeur on Emirates
Business Class in London? It depends on the destination.
There are
Mileage Limits.
Which is cheaper/better, a Package or piecemeal travel
arrangements? It depends on your requirement. Read
Packages.
How long should the involuntary stop be, to get a Stopover
at Emirates airline expense? Here are the
Rules
Can I leave the airport while in transit to another
destination? If you have the necessary immigration
clearance, you can do so. Within 24 hours, you can (usually)
continue your journey without paying airport taxes when you
return to the transit lounge.
Is travelling while pregnant, safe?
Yes,
usually until the 36th week, if there are no complications.
Please check with your gynaecologist, and preferably get a
letter approving fitness, to show your travel agent.
How do I avoid "Delhi Belly"? Here are the
precautions to avoid indigestion
How to get to
Timbuktu (Mali),
Zanzibar (Tanzania),
Kathmandu (Nepal).
Is the Leaning Tower of Pisa the only such in the world ?
No, far from it.
What is the most beautiful church in the world? St.
Peter's (Peterskirche),
Vienna, Austria
Is there another Colombo somewhere? Yes. In
Paraná, Brazil.
Where does Airline Toilet Waste go?
Septic Treatment Storage Tanks, for disposal at
destination
Bookmark:
http://www.tourama.net/trivia
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