10 travel fixes for international trips
Small problems that catch out first-time international travellers, each with a short answer, an interactive drawing you can tap and turn, and the sources we checked. Last checked 2 Nov 2026.
How do I avoid excess-baggage charges at the airport?
Weigh your bags at home with a luggage scale and keep each one under your airline’s limit. An interactive, sourced travel tip.
See the fix and the drawingWill my Indian plug fit in Dubai, Thailand, Vietnam or Bali?
Indian three-pin plugs (type D or M) don’t fit the wall sockets in Dubai, Thailand, Vietnam or Bali. See which adapter pins to slide out, and why you need an adapter, not a converter.
See the fix and the drawingHow do I avoid the long check-in queue at the airport?
Check in online, or at a self check-in kiosk that prints your boarding pass and bag tag, then hand your tagged bag in at bag drop. An interactive, sourced travel tip.
See the fix and the drawingHow do I spot my suitcase when so many look alike on the carousel?
Put a name tag with your phone number on the outside and the same details inside, peel off old flight tags, and keep your bag claim sticker until your bag is in your hands.
See the fix and the drawingCan I use the e-gates at foreign airports with an Indian passport?
Not every passport can use e-gates abroad (the UK’s eGates don’t take Indian passports). Check the e-gate rules for your passport before you queue.
See the fix and the drawingWhy does Vietnamese coffee take so long, and how do I order it?
Coffee in Vietnam drips slowly through a small metal phin and is strong, high-caffeine robusta. Order cà phê sữa đá, take a seat and let the phin finish dripping.
See the fix and the drawingDo tuk-tuks in Thailand use a meter?
Tuk-tuks in Thailand don’t run on a meter. Agree the fare and the route with the driver before you get in, or take a metered taxi or a ride booked through an app.
See the fix and the drawingCan I pay by card for a Dubai Creek abra?
The traditional abra crossings of Dubai Creek (Bur Dubai to Deira Old Souq, and Dubai Old Souq to Al Sabkha) take cash only, not bank cards or nol cards.
See the fix and the drawingWhy don’t the lights and AC work when I walk into my hotel room?
Look for the key card slot on the wall by the door and put your room card in it: it switches the room’s power on. If nothing happens, ask reception.
See the fix and the drawingShould I accept rupees when a foreign ATM offers to charge my card in INR?
Abroad, an ATM may offer to charge your card in rupees, which is almost always the costlier choice. Choose the local currency and let your own bank convert it.
See the fix and the drawing