Top of our list of best planners for bloggers is Trello, the ideal option for anyone who wants platform that’s free, intuitive and flexible.

More of a general project manager than a dedicated blog planner, Trello is nonetheless ubiquitously used in the amateur blogosphere. The platform itself is really just a series of boards with post lists.

Posts function like cards that can be smoothly moved between boards. There is a wide selection of management tools available for each post, such as setting deadlines and collaborative features.

This brings us to Trello’s greatest strength as a blog post planner; it’s great for multiple users interacting on single projects. So if you’re just starting out as a casual blogger, or looking to build a small team from scratch, then try Trello before investing time and money in an expensive or time consuming blog content planner.

After all, you can always upgrade to one of their premium plans, which run between around US$10-20 a month.

Asana

Another excellent free option, Asana is an excellent planner for bloggers working in small teams, with a pleasant to use interfacte for project overviews, assigning roles, deadlines, comments, pooling resources, automation for routine tasks and more.

Like Trello, Asana employs a simple, intuitive (and actually a little fun) drag and drop format. They also throw in a few extra bells and whistles under their monthly plans, with hover at a fairly typical range of US$10-20.

Notion

Another general project manager, Notion is arguably the best blog planner for most average bloggers.

It might feel a little one size fits all, but Notion is very easy to learn, share tasks, organize collaborative calendars and assign projects. It has a handful of useful SEO tools, and can help you track everything from hashtags to other content channels.

Notion’s free version is wildly popular, and plans are available for less than US$10 a month.

Hootsuite

The premiere social media oriented blogging planner, Hootsuite is commonly used by everyone from influencers to news websites and small businesses. Manage, plan and schedule social media posts over multiple platforms from one screen.

Their duplication feature is particularly popular, allowing you to recycle and repost fresh takes on old material across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. Teams can share projects, create ads optimized for social media and track performance across your social media footprint.

It’s no surprise Hootsuite is used by professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds, though prices are a little higher than many of its competitors.

Their individual plan is around US$29 a month, and their business plan will set you back around US$600.

DYNO Mapper

With a strong SEO focus, DYNO Mapper features daily keyword tracking, Google Analytics integration and an intelligent content audit that can help you get the most out of your material.

Another smart feature of DYNO is its accessibility tool, which scans your website and suggests improvements to bring your content in line with US standards for ease of use, including for visually impaired users.

Specifically, its intelligent technology helps bring your website into compliance with both the American Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the crucial Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. Together, this ensures all users have the best possible experience on your blog.

DYNO also helps you optimize your calendar, generate sitemaps and collaborate across projects.

All this comes at a cost though, as DYNO is easily among the most expensive blogging planners out there.

Prices range from around US$59 to over $300 a month. A free trial version is also available.

Monday

With clients like Coca Cola, Universal Studios and EA Games, Monday is often considered the gold standard in content planning. This extremely comprehensive platform offers everything you’ll ever need to manage anything from your personal travel blog to sprawling media empire.

Monday’s automation features are second to none for marketing campaigns and sales processes, not to mention AI-assisted organization of workflow and tasks for employees.

Collaborative spaces allow for real time content editing across multiple platforms, and their content manager is easy to use with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Plans vary depending on team size, starting at US$480 a month for basic plans for individuals, to US$1000 a month for their pro plan. Specialized contracts are available for large enterprise clients.

Concured

If you’ve ever wanted to just hand control of your blog over to an artificial intelligence, then Concured might be your newest robot friend. Concured’s AI boasts the ability to engage in deep learning to actually understand your content.

Whether it be text, video or audio, Concured will become your biggest fan by reading your content, comparing it to competitors, suggesting improvements from SEO to style and also offering advice on new content. 

This smart little machine promises to triple your page views and increase your conversion rate by a factor of 10.

Pricing and trials are available on request via Concurd’s personalized demo system. They do, however, make public on their website a return on investment calculator, which purports to estimate how much the AI can save your business based on input data such as page views, average sale value, existing conversion rates and the like.

Even if your theme is more about self discovery or quality time for your relationship, at least keep it consistent and focused. Heck, even if your theme is all about slobbing it out at home, at least do it right: buy yourself a new pair of pajamas and invest in any kind of twist on Neflix and chill formula.

Try setting up a projector in the backyard, or a sofa bed in the living room. If you’ve got kids, consider planning out your movie binge ahead of time, and printing out cinema style tickets to be distributed before each viewing.

Set up a screening schedule just like at the movies, and hand out sacks of popcorn individually. It’s all about the presentation, and a bit of forethought can turn a mediocre movie binge into a family event to remember for years. 

Do the touristy stuff you’ve never done before

When was the last time you visited a museum in your own city? What about all those cheesy tourist traps you’ve never dipped your toes in because, after all, you’re a local?

Wherever you live, there are undoubtedly historic sites worth your time, parks you’ve never visited and local specialties you’ve never had the impetus to try. 

A staycation is the perfect opportunity to get to know your own territory a bit better, though admittedly it can be a bit of a head scratcher as to where to start. Be like a tourist, and try getting yourself a guidebook for your own city or state.

 You may also want to consider starting by looking into any tourist buses or other deals that combine various destinations in one. Depending on where you live, these can be very affordable ways to see a lot in a short period of time. 

How can I enjoy my staycation at home?

First, you need to abandon all semblance of normal life and the responsibilities it comes with. First, the don’ts:

On your staycation, never do any of the following:

Answer any work calls, emails, messages...whatever

You work while you’re at work, not while you’re on vacation. If you are interrupting your staycation with those “it’ll only take a moment” little crumbs of responsibility, then you might as well go back to the office. Never respond to any work-related communication during your vacation.

No chores

Just because you’re staying home, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to do housework. Just like your job, it’s going to have to wait.

Don’t just do what you’d normally do anyway

It’s a staycation, not an extended slouch on the couch. If you treat your staycation like a lazy weekend, then you’re not really going on vacation. Put some effort into it, and plan something genuinely memorable.

The do’s:

Handle all work matters before you go on vacation. If you leave unfinished business behind at the office, then you’ll probably end up having to deal with it right at the moment you finally start relaxing during your vacation, thus breaking the first rule of how to enjoy a staycation.

Clean up first

Make sure your home is in a good state before you start your staycation. Whether you’re traveling locally or locking yourself indoors, make sure your house is refreshing and ready.

Staycation how you vacation

Act how you would normally act on a normal vacation. If you like to carefully plan every detail of your usual holidays, then try to do something similar with your staycation. Likewise, if your typical vacations include any kind of opening ritual (we all have them), make sure you replicate it during your staycation.

Such rituals can range from a simple drink with friends to a nice meal with the family, a sleep in, polishing your hiking boots, throwing a party – whatever you do to start a typical trip, make sure it’s part of your staycation plan.

Otherwise, it just won’t feel like you’re on vacation.

What do you do on a staycation night?

Staycations for couples really come into their own at night. After a day of adventure, a couples staycation can be an opportunity to reconnect and fall in love again.

To start your romantic staycation, consider preparing a campfire, either at home or responsibly at a camping site. If starting a fire sounds intimating to you, just roll some toilet paper into a few cone shapes, then fill with cooking oil and place among some kindling.

Slowly heap your heavier wood on top, leaving plenty of space for the fire to breathe. Then, arm up your s’mores.

Once it gets too cold outside, the obvious next step is to watch each other’s favorite movies – and enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if you can’t stand your partner’s favorite flick: take one for the team and find a way to like it.

Alternatively, one of the most idea couples staycation ideas is to settle down with your favorite books.

Even a chapter or two over a bottle of wine can make for a lovely couples staycation evening.

Breakfast in Bed

In the morning, one of the most fun staycation ideas for couples  enjoy breakfast in bed with your partner. Set yourself a sneaky alarm, and quietly tip-toe out before they wake up.

If you’re not much of a cook, one of the easier, but still fun staycation ideas for couples is to order in. One of the few silver linings of the pandemic has been the mushrooming of food on demand options.

A few years ago, ordering breakfast delivered might have been slim pickings, but not anymore. 

Try a picnic

Speaking of food, when was the last time you went on a picnic? Even if you don’t want to leave the house, there’s always space for a picnic either in the backyard, lounge room or even the bedroom.

Couple staycation ideas don’t get much better than collecting up a few of your favorite snacks and munchies from the supermarket or farmers’ market. It’s definitely one of the most romantic staycation ideas at home.

Scavenger hunt

You may want to consider combining two great staycation ideas for couples  into one: a picnic with a scavenger hunt. If you’re looking for staycation ideas for couples with kids, then this is the one to really pay attention to. Kids love following clues and finding treasure.

Give it a theme, put together a few clues and hide your prizes around the house.

 It’ll give you and your partner a cornucopia of free time to relish the more romantic staycation ideas.

What is the perfect staycation?

Remember the number one rule of a staycation: make sure it’s a real vacation. Even if you can’t leave your front door, you can still travel anywhere you’d like by creating a theme room. If you have a spare room, prepare for your staycation by converting it into an indoor oasis.

A few hammocks, some beach towels, a short trip to Home Depot and a little bit of imagination can easily turn a corner of your home into a tropical beach.

You get extra points if you layer the floor with sand and somehow figure out a why to keep it from tracking through the rest of your house!

If you don’t have a spare room, a yard or patio can offer even more avenues for your creativity for staycation couple ideas .

For a cool staycation married couples with kids option, make your yard, room or other space into a home safari. Decorate your space according to the destination: lush ferns and flowers for the Amazon, taller, more disparate foliage for an African escape, and anything with pine for a mountain retreat.

For the kids, get some plush animals and hide them around your space for them to find. For an extra treat, consider setting up a projector and watching a movie related to your destination, and consider preparing some country-specific cuisine.

Even with the costs of effectively renovating a chunk of your home, it’s still a cheap staycation for couples or families.

Final thoughts

Whether you choose to stay at home or explore your immediate surroundings staycation ideas don’t start and end at merely an extended weekend. Make the most of your vacation with a little planning, preparation and direction. Whichever ideas for staycations  you opt for, make it memorable.

Shoulder Bags and Purses

Travelon Anti-theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag

Lightweight and secure

Travelon has a great reputation for producing high, quality, high tech bags for travelers, and their Mini Shoulder Bag is one of the best purses for travel you can get.

This anti theft travel purse is small and innocent-looking, but under the hood you’ll find it has a range of features aimed at keeping your stuff secure.

For one, it’s the only truly pickpocket proof purse on this list, and is made with Travelon’s slash resistant material. Even the sharpest of subway razors won’t be able to cut through the lightweight mesh lining inside the bag.

Meanwhile, the main compartment can be locked shut, thus making it a totally theft proof purse.

Along with the main compartment, the Travelon also has a side flap pocket, and a smaller zipper pocket for odds and ends. This is also an extremely lightweight travel purse, but isn’t particularly spacious.

It does, however, boast a large RFID protector pocket, which can be used to shield everything from your passport to bank cards from suspicious scanners.

All up, this is our favorite over the shoulder travel purse.

Kattee Urban Satchel Tote

Stylish but versatile

I’m calling it: this is probably the best travel purse for Europe. This bronze leather purse has some classic class. It doesn’t look at all like a travel purse, with its broad, slouchy design.

However, look closer, and you’ll see why this stylish travel purse is great on the road. The main compartment can be secured nicely, and contains a series of internal pockets that are perfect for stowing valuables.

There’s a detachable shoulder strap, but you’ve also got carry handles for when you just want to have fun. Next to the Rebecca Minkoff Julian mentioned below, this is our best stylish travel purse.

Crossbody bags and purses

NOTAG Crossover

No style, all utility

If the Kattee tote is the most stylish option on this list, then NOTAG admittedly comes in at the other end of the spectrum. Its simple, practical design could be described by some as retro, but in the vein of early 90s minimalism.

It has who knows how many zippers, with little compartments all over the place for odds and ends. It’s also fully waterproof, and durable enough to survive a tornado (I think).

No carry handles here, just one shoulder strap that’s long enough to be extended to a crossover. It’s straight forward, and one of the best lightweight purses for women who prize functionality.

It’s also our best purse with lots of pockets, and our best lightweight purse for travel.

Baggallini Everywhere Bagg with RFID

Style, utility and security

One of the best purses for travel out there, the Baggallini Everywhere was specifically designed as a low key, high function handbag. It has one large, top zip closure, along with multifarious smaller pockets on the flank. 

It’s not particularly bulky, and you can easily fit an article of clothing or two, plus a camera. There’s space in a side pocket for a water bottle, while the smaller pockets are useful for small items you’ll be using throughout the day.

With a crossbody design and RFID technology, the Baggallini Everywhere could almost be described as an anti theft purse. The main opening is easy to keep watch over. Its also water resistant, making the bag a pretty reliable workhorse.

 However, this bag isn’t slash proof, and the lightweight material is food for subway razors. With 16 colors to choose from though, this workhorse can match any color palette you’re dressing in.

Overall, the Baggallini Everywhere is one of the best travel purse crossbody options.

Roma Leathers Multi-Pocket Crossbody Purse Bag

Beautiful leather and intelligent design

This leather crossbody travel purse is compact, versatile and stylish. Made of genuine cowhide, this small travel purse doesn’t offer as much space as some of the others on this list, but still has enough space for the essentials.

It has four exterior zip pockets for small, quick-to-reach items, while at the back you’ll find a handful of slip pockets. These are a good size for phones, but not secure in the slightest.

It also has a somewhat goofy front pocket that can work as a small wallet; but again, it’s not the most secure of apertures.

The Roma Leathers comes in four colors, including ivory, black, brown and tan. A good women's travel purse should always offer some durability, and the heavy leather Roma brings to bear here will survive whatever you throw at it.

TravelSmith RFID Crossbody Bag

Small and slash proof

This cute travel purse is compact and secure, and aimed squarely at security-conscious travelers. It’s perhaps the best anti theft purse on this list, with a slash proof strap, and double zippers that can be secured with internal hooks.

Once secured, this bag can be locked down like Fort Knox. It also has an RFID protected pocket.

Unlike most RFID blocking bags on this list, the pocket isn’t some tiny slip for just for credit cards; instead, it’s a chunky thing big enough to hold a passport. 

The TravelSmith might look petite, but it’s just about the best secure travel purse you can get. That’s why it’s also the best small travel purse on this list. It’s also our best small crossbody purse for travel in general.

MOSISO Multipurpose Crossbody Hiking Bag

Sporty and waterproof

Is it a purse? Is it a messenger bag? Is it both? The MOSISO is the ideal crossbody travel purse for short forays into the great outdoors.

Verging on day pack size, this crossbody bag has everything from twin water bottle holders to pockets specially designed to hold your iPad.

The flexible shoulder strap is nicely padded, and can be used either as a straight shoulder bag or crossover. The strap itself is likewise made of a breathable material designed to keep sweat to a minimum.

This is the only women's crossbody travel purse on this list with such a feature.

Meanwhile, the rest of the travel purse is waterproof. It’s not quite Gore-Tex and won’t hold up under extreme rain, but is more than enough to keep your camera dry during an afternoon shower.

Versatile and functional, the MOSISO travel purse bag has a sporty look that will appeal to hikers, but might look a little out of place around town. Nonetheless, with 23 colors to choose from, this is the best purse for traveling abroad when you know you’ll be packing the hiking boots.

It’s a travel purse with water bottle holder that will stick with you all day.

Travelon Anti-theft Crossbody Bucket Bag

Secure and spacious

If the Travelon Mini just doesn’t have enough space for your daily needs, then consider sizing up to their take on the classic bucket bag. 

Like the Mini, the Travelon Crossbody Bucket Bag is slash resistant and contains an RFID proof inside pocket, and is among the best crossover purses for travel. This makes for a seriously secure travel purse.

The main strap is likewise slash resistant, and can be adjusted as either a shoulder or crossbody bag. Outside the protected main compartment, there’s a water bottle mesh holder on the front, and a lockable side zip.

A smaller slip pocket can also be found on the side. Together, this makes for one of the best womens purses for the security aware traveler.

It’s also arguably the best crossbody purse specifically designed for travel, and as you'll see at the end of this post, it's our favorite and the one Liza takes everywhere.

Backpacks

Rebecca Minkoff Julian

Stylish

The Julian is a lightweight travel backpack purse with a budding cult following. This stylish purse is floppy, fun and has enough space for your daily needs. 

The high quality leather is a sleek black that goes with anything, but is discreet enough to not draw undue attention.

Speaking of security, the main zipper can be secured to the top of the bag, making it harder for would-be thieves to unzip your bag behind your back.

If you’re looking for a big purse for travel, then this is it. It’s also easily the most fashionable travel purse on this list.

CLUCI Backpack Purse

Spacious, cheap and cute

For under $40, this medium-sized, rectangular backpack purse is more than big enough for the essentials, and can be either worn on the back, or as a shoulder bag.

It’s one of the biggest purses on this list, and is made of a durable vegan leather. It comes in more than 20 colors, and has both a large compartment and a smaller front pocket.

There’s a few smaller pockets both inside the main compartment and to the side for little bits and bobs.

There’s also space on the side for a water bottle. Not a bad pick for anyone who likes to carry everything they could possibly need throughout the day.

So, what happens if you hit six months, and have somehow found yourself overstaying?

First Steps if You Might Overstay Your UK Visa

The first thing to do is stay calm. Believe it or not, the UK isn’t particularly strict on short overstays. In fact, until late 2016, the Home Office had an explicit policy of allowing overstayers a 28 day grace period.

Under this policy, anyone who accidentally overstayed had a comfortable 28 day window to either leave, or apply for a new visa. This has since been reduced to a 14 day window to make new visa arrangements.

Even then, technically speaking you’re supposed to have some kind of good reason for your overstay.

Nowadays, UK officials are still usually fairly understanding, and with a bit of luck you won’t have any issues if your overstay is just a few days.

If you somehow manage to stay past your 14 day grace period, you’re still not necessarily guaranteed to end up in hot water.

Fines For Overstaying Your UK Tourist Visa

It’s unusual to be deported in your first three months of an overstay, and criminal prosecutions are rare. During this time-frame, the most likely outcome of an overstay is little more than a grouchy look from immigration officials on the way out, and some additional hurdles if you ever try to apply for a UK visa in the future.

Even that might not happen, and in the past inspections of passports on departure often weren’t all that thorough.

Having said that, immigration has tightened its game significantly in recent years. If you’re caught overstaying a month or two, there’s a very real risk of being banned from the UK for a period of time. You might also have difficulties applying for a visa even years down the road.

Whether its an overstay of just a few days or a few months, the best policy is to be honest and apologetic. As mentioned, the UK is pretty tolerant on short overstays, and honesty can go a long way even after a particularly long period of illegally remaining in the country.

The real problems can arise if officials suspect you’re hiding something. Lying to immigration officials can lead to much more serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment in some circumstances.

Summary

So, the general message here is: be honest, be nice, and do everything to can to either get a new visa or leave as soon as possible.

First Steps if You Think Your Might Overstay Your India Tourist Visa 

Unfortunately though, an overstay is considered a criminal offense.

Unlike countries like the UK, there’s no grace period; and unlike Schengen, there’s no flexible areas where officials might turn a blind eye to the innocent, accidental overstay.

Instead, Indian officials are notorious for making examples of travelers, even those who overstay for extremely short periods of time.

On top of this, airline and immigration staff are required by law to report overstays, so don’t expect much mercy if you try to quietly sneak out of the country.

Once you overstay a visa in India, you have very few options. A one day overstay is no different to one month, meaning you’ll be treated like an illegal immigrant from the first hour of your overstay.

If you do try to leave, expect officials to physically remove your luggage from the plain, and detain you. Hence, you’re better off just heading to a police station and turning yourself in.

Fines for Overstaying an India Tourist Visa

For most overstayers, the best case scenario is a US$30 fine plus the cost of a visa extension, followed by a mountain of paperwork and long periods of waiting around at a police station, before being cut loose.

If you’re unlucky, you might be hit with a travel ban. In rare, extreme cases, prison time isn’t totally unheard of.

While India is on the stricter end of the visa spectrum, there are a few ways to avoid the bureaucratic nightmare of an overstay. 

The first is to try applying for an extension before your visa expires through the Foreign Regional Registration Office.

Extensions of 15 days aren’t too hard to get on grounds of illness or injury .

All you’ll need is a medical certificate (you can buy fake reports pretty much anywhere) , and you’re good to go.

If all else fails, the only other option is bribery and corruption. However, in most major Indian airports this is extremely risky, and can land you in a world of trouble.

Unless you really know what you’re doing, this option is a disastrously bad idea.

Summary

Even if you somehow manage to successfully bribe your way through departure, expect to pay out far more than you would for simply coughing up that $30 fine.

Having said that, legend has it the officials at the land crossings with Nepal are a little more open to turning a blind eye to overstayers on their way out … assuming you’re willing to pay.

First Steps if You Might Overstay Your Malaysia Visa

These offices are located across the country, and are usually quite helpful. Under most circumstances, Malaysian officials are understanding, and visa extensions aren’t too hard to obtain.

If it’s too late, and you’ve already overstayed, then don’t sweat. First of all, you might be eligible for a special pass, which can be obtained from an immigration office.

A special pass is basically a lot like a standard visa extension, only it’s granted after the visa has already expired.

This option is useful if you’re in a situation where you’ve missed a flight, or otherwise been unable to leave the country for some unusual reason like a medical emergency.

Depending on your exact circumstances, you’ll probably have to pay a fine, and you’ll be give a special pass allowing you to remain in the country until a set date.

This date is usually set for the day of the next earliest flight you can get hold of. So, the easiest way to guarantee a special pass is to head to an immigration office ASAP, with some cash, a ticket for a new flight out, and a decent excuse up your sleeve.

Fines for Overstaying a Malaysia Visa

Whether you go to an immigration office or just try leaving late, you’ll have to pay a per day fine. If your overstay is seven days or less, the penalties are pretty reasonable.

You’ll be hit with a fine of around RM30 (approximately US$7) per day you’ve overstayed. You’ll also be barred from returning to Malaysia for two days per day of overstay.

For example, if you overstay one day, you’ll be fined RM30, and be banned from returning for two days. Likewise, a seven day overstay will cost you RM210, and you won’t be allowed back into the country for two weeks.

Overstays start to get serious after 30 days. If you’ve been in Malaysia for more than a month without authorization, you can face a fine of up to RM10,000 (US$2300) and a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Summary

In other words, if you overstay, try getting a special pass immediately, or just pay the small fine on the way out at the airport.

If you sort out your problem within a week, everything will be fine. If you don’t, then things can snowball very, very quickly.

Visits can and often are extended, requiring little more than a little paperwork on your behalf.

First Steps if You Might Overstay Your USA Visa

Your first port of call should be the Citizen and Immigration Service, which can provide special extensions even after your visa or travel authorization has expired. In particular, what you’ll want to try to get is a “period of satisfactory departure”.

These are often granted to travelers in situations like flights that have been delayed for more than 24 hours, medical emergencies and other run-of-the-mill traveler woes.

They can also be issued in circumstances like being the victim of a crime, or just not being able to reach the airport due to bad weather. Whatever your reason, make sure to bring as much evidence as possible.

This can include a medical certificate, police report, or even just a news clipping proving something like bad weather.

If you’re granted a period of satisfactory departure, you’ll basically be given up to 30 days to leave the country. If you do this, then there are absolutely no further repercussions or penalties. You’re off, Scot-free!

Fines for Overstaying a USA Visa

If for some reason you don’t get a period of satisfactory departure, then the penalties can rack up quickly. Sometimes overstays of one or two days can be almost entirely ignored, though you shouldn’t rely on this.

Nonetheless, the first 180 days overall are fairly mild. If you come to the US under the visa waiver program and overstay for less than 180 days, you’ll probably be forced to apply for an actual visa next time you come.

You might also have trouble generally obtaining any US visa, and can expect a little extra scrutiny whether you interact with the Citizenship and Immigration Service.

In particular, you’ll probably have a lot of hassle trying to get a work visa, or something similar.

This is because the onus will basically be on you to convince US officials that you won’t overstay again.

Things start to get really dire after 180 days. At this point, you’ll almost certainly be hit with a three year travel ban. Once you overstay for 12 months, you can then expect a 10 year ban.

You might also be forcibly deported, which is not a fun experience. Finally, overstays exceeding a year can result in a permanent travel ban. Ouch!

SUMMARY

The lesson here is to contact the Citizenship and Immigration Service the moment you suspect you might need to overstay. Get an extension, and leave in the required period. If you don’t, your predicament will only get worse over time.

First Steps if You Might Overstay Your Philippines Visa

The Bureau of Immigration can arrange 29 day extensions in a relatively painless manner, and two month extensions are also possible under some circumstances.

The standard 29 day extension will set you back roughly PHP3000 ($60). Apparently, there’s supposed to be an additional stamp fee of around PHP100, though it’s inconsistently applied.

It’s also worth noting extensions can only be applied for before your travel permit or visa expires.

If you’ve already overstayed in the Philippines, the easiest thing to do is just head to the airport, and be prepared to pay a fine on the way out.

Fines for Overstaying a Philippines Visa

Like many other countries, the Philippines charges overstayers depending on the amount of time they’ve been traveling without authorization.

Uniquely though, you’ll be fined per month of overstay, not per day. It’s also rounded to the next month. For example, a one day overstay is considered a one month overstay, while a one month and one day overstay is charged at the two month rate.

At the time of writing, the rate was PHP500 (US$10) per month. The payment process is likewise pretty painless. At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, you’ll simply be directed to a window off to the side, where you hand over the cash, sign a few documents, and you’ll be on your way.

It’s a similar story at other international airports across the country.

Summary

Overall, the Philippines is one of the more simple countries in terms of overstays. However, some travelers have reported being given a hard time by immigration officials.

This mostly involves being given a wag of the finger and a stern speech about responsible travel. If you’re particularly unlucky, you might be forced to wait an hour or two to pay the fine.

But if things start to go South make sure you contact your Embassy quickly, as a Filipino prison is not something you want to experience.

Further reading: The best things to do in the Philippines: Manila, Cebu, Bohol and Mindanao

PIN for Later

Getting this done is isn’t always an easy feat, but airplane bassinets can be serious help if you're traveling with a baby that's a few months old. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then this article may be about to change your life when it comes to long haul international flights to Europe or Asia.

If you're familiar with the idea of an bassinet airplane cot, then read on to find out how you can get hold of one on most flights.

What is an Airplane Bassinet?

An airplane bassinet seat or cot, is, put simply, a portable bassinet (small bed) for the baby that can be attached to a specific part of the airplane’s wall. I think of them as the airplane equivalent of a baby car seat. 

You wouldn’t put your little one in a car without a safety seat; and likewise, you probably shouldn’t put your little one on a plane without a bassinet for the baby in flight.

In fact, it’s worth noting that while babies under 2 fly for free (only pay taxes) many airlines don’t even allow babies to have standard seats of their own, making a bassinet on flight all the more important. 

The standard airplane bassinet weight limit is around 20 pounds (9 Kg), so your baby should be pretty secure throughout the flight.

For anyone wondering though, without an airplane baby bassinet you’ll probably have to hold your baby throughout the flight. Again, this might not necessarily seem like a big deal on short haul flights.

However, after 12 hours of cradling a newborn over the Atlantic, you’ll begin to understand why a plane baby bassinet is kind of a big deal.

How Big is an Airplane Bassinet?

The standard airplane bassinet size is 71cm x 31cm (28in x 12in), and the depth is approximately 26cm (10.5in).The weight limit is 11kg (25lbs). Age limit used to be two years old, but this has recently changed and the limit is now usually 18 months old.

The reason for this (as explained to me by a flight attendant) is that two year old kids were waking up while their parents were sleeping, sitting, and falling from the bassinet.

Do Airlines Have Bassinets for All Babies on Board?

Remember the saying, ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch?’ Well, that applies to getting a bassinet for your infant in flight.

To be sure, almost all carriers offer bassinet flights at no extra cost, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay through effort. It’s just not as simple as just turning up and expecting the cabin crew to hook you up with one of these cots of pure salvation and joy.

As many frustrated parents have discovered, most flights typically have 2-4 travel bassinets available for the airplane (and just as many bassinet seats available), but there are airplanes with just one.

So, if you just turn up on the day expecting to secure the only baby bassinet on plane, then you might be in for a rough surprise as they are provided on a first come first served basis.

Note too that business class seats don't always have a baby cradle, and seats booked with frequent flyer points are seldom extra comfort seats or bulkhead seats that offer a child seat position for babies that are more than a month old.

How Do You Get a Baby Bassinet for Your Flight?

To make sure you get a bassinet for a baby flight there’s a few simple rules to follow. Most important, book early and request upfront that you need an aircraft bassinet.

Note that airport customer service can't help with this, as this is specific to each airline and airplane.

If the carrier customer service agent can’t deliver, then you may want to consider booking a different flight. Bear in mind it’s very common for a bassinet seat in flight to be unavailable on short haul flights, especially any trip that’s shorter than two hours.

It might still be worth asking for a baby travel bed (airplane bassinet) if you’re interested, but just be aware that the flight company might not be able to deliver.

On a long haul, however, some kind of airplane bed for baby should be readily available.

Which Airlines Have Bassinets for Infants?

Pretty much any airline that travels long haul international will have them; definitely all major airlines do. 

Tips for Booking Bassinet Seats

Since you need to explicitly ask for a seat with bassinet facility, booking your flight can be a little tricky. If you book online, you’ll probably need to call the customer contact center and ask for a bassinet seat.

What does bassinet seat mean, you ask? The bassinet seat is the seat next to the part of the wall where the actual baby travel basket/cot will stand, which are also known as a " bulkhead seats ".

The easiest way to explain this to the carrier is to either book over the phone or in person, so you can deal with an actual human being instead of a machine.

While speaking to said human being, it also helps if you know exactly what seat you’re after. This is because you need the specific seat with a nearby bracket for mounting the travel carry cot.

One useful tool here is seatguru.com, which can show you the layout of the specific airplane the baby and you will be traveling on. Otherwise, one other general tip is to aim for a seat just behind a bulkhead – ie, the parts of the wall that separate different sections of the plane.

There’s usually actually a handful of seats on most flights that will fit the bill and be compatible with a traveling bassinet. However, there could likely only be one bassinet bed on the airplane so, along with securing a compatible seat, you’ll also need to reserve the one free bassinet for baby.

Unfortunately, when it comes to airlines, saying something once doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it.

I recommend reserving an infant bassinet at the time of booking, then calling the company a few times before the flight to confirm your reservation. Carriers will often prioritize the youngest baby on board for the bassinet, which is why it’s so important to book early, and continuously insist on your bassinet.

If some other baby turns up at the last minute, then tough luck to them! Seriously, you need to be a bit pushy.

I’d also suggest you watch out for codesharing, which can really throw a spanner in the works at the last minute. Codesharing is when you’re put on a flight that’s not quite the same as the one operated by your carrier.

This is particularly common if you have any layovers. In this case, make sure you have the specific details of every different aircraft you’ll be flying on.

If there's a last minute unplanned aircraft change, there's a chance the seat you were assigned does not have the bassinet in the new plane.

This happened to us last December 2018 when flying from Madrid to Mexico City. The new airplane had the bassinet in the central seats instead of the window seats we were assigned, and the airplane was full.

What did we do?

We politely asked passengers if they were willing to change seats explaining the problem (which they had witnessed when we spoke with the flight attendant). One passenger was not willing to help out (for some odd reason he wanted the aisle seat on the window side, not the central side) but a mom and daughter were happy to help out. Problem solved.

Throughout all of this, don’t be afraid to be a difficult customer, and don’t worry about seeming pushy. You need that bassinet, and there’s nothing wrong with calling a dozen times to demand a bassinet for infant in flight.

It’s just an unfortunate fact that facilities for infants in flights are all too often lacking, so you gotta do what you’ve gotta do. Even after following all these tips though, you might still miss out on the bassinet.

Ultimately, the carrier and its cabin crew will decide who gets the bassinet, and there are all kinds of situations where you might have to accept missing out. Having said that, by following these tips I’ve had a pretty good success rate of 100% securing the bassinet for myself.

How to Use a Bassinet and What to Expect

Once you’ve gone through the arduous process of making sure you get that holy grail of air travel, the free bassinet, things are pretty straight forward. After take off, the cabin crew will usually set the bassinet up for you.

This will typically take place shortly after the seat belt sign goes off, though you might need to give a passing flight attendant a bit of a nudge. The bassinet can then remain up until the last hour or so of the flight, when the crew will take it down in preparation for landing.

Technically speaking, the cabin crew are also supposed to take down the bassinet during turbulence (fortunately our son was not born yet when our plane was hit by lightning and began to plunge), or any time when the seat belt light is on. 

However, in practice, there’s a lot of flexibility when flying with a baby, and it’s pretty common for the crew to leave the bassinet undisturbed during minor turbulence. If you feel uncomfortable with this, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

On the other hand, if pushy crew do try to remove your baby for seemingly harmless turbulence, you can resist. Generally, I just politely point out that if they move the baby, they can expect a round of screaming and crying. 99 percent of cases, that basically ends the conversation.

Putting that aside though, it’s always worth remembering that safety comes first – if cabin crew seriously think the baby needs to be moved, then it might be a good idea to just go along with it, and listen to the professionals.

Finally, the airline should provide blankets and a pillow with the bassinet, though you might want to bring your own bedding. My little one always slept better with a familiar pillow from home, though this isn’t necessarily an issue with all kids.

If you're picky about cleanness you might want to bring an airplane mattress mentioned above.

Airline Bassinet Policies

As mentioned before each airline has its own policy and rules when it comes to bassinet regulations, use and specific sizes, though they all tend to be the same. Below are the rules major airlines enforce (in theory) when it comes to their use.

This information has been copied straight from each website.

Aer Lingus

Max weight allowed 10 kgs (22 lbs)

“Bassinet seats are offered for transatlantic flights, however they’re subject to availability and require pre-booking. You could also consider opting for increased comfort by purchasing a dedicated seat for your infant at a child rate.

Bassinet seats are unfortunately not available for infants with confirmed seating. For more information, please contact your local reservations office. * Bassinet seats are not available on Boeing 757 aircraft.”

Aeromexico

On board, our priority is that you and your family travel with greater safety and comfort. We offer this service so that you can travel with ease and confidence, and so that you may relax during your flight.

• A limited number of cribs are available upon request and subject to availability.
• We provide cribs for infants weighing no more than 24 lbs.
• Cribs are complimentary, but availability is not guaranteed.
• During the check-in process, crib availability will be confirmed.
• Priority boarding will be required.
• Infants must be lap-held during takeoff and landing.
• An AM Plus seat must be purchased to qualify

Aeroflot

Max weight 11 kgs (26 lbs) suitable for under one’s only

“At check-in, seats next to cot positions are first allocated to passengers who have made an advance booking. Before mounting a cot, our staff will check your infant’s weight and inform you about the rules for using the cot during the flight. 

Infants carried in a cot must be placed with their legs towards the aisle. During take-off, landing and in turbulence the infant must not be left in the cot.”

Air Canada

Max weight 12 kgs (25lb)

“If you’re travelling with a young (or small) infant in Economy Class, you may request a bassinet in advance of travel by contacting Air Canada Reservations. However, we are unable to confirm availability until the time of your flight’s departure.

• Bassinets are assigned on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability at time of flight departure.
• Bassinets may be provided on the following aircraft:
  • Boeing 787-9 (789)
  • Boeing 787-8 (788)
  • Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
  • Boeing 777-200LR (77L)
  • Airbus A330 (333)
  • Boeing 767-300ER (763)
• For safety reasons:
  • Bassinets can be used only for infants weighing less than 12 kg (25 lb) who are unable to sit upright.
  • The cabin crew is responsible for installing the bassinet once the seat belt sign has been turned off.”

Air France

Max weight 10kg/22lbs. Must measure less than 70cm/27″

“You can request a bassinet on long-haul flights in the Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, subject to availability. 

To check availability and submit your request for a bassinet, please contact us by phone as soon as possible after booking your flight, and at least 48 hours before your departure.”

Air India

Max age – must be under two and fit in these bassinet dimensions. 71cm x 36cm x 19cm

“The preferred seat select scheme is available on the website on select routes operated by Air India. The paid seat selection doesn’t include Bassinet seats for infants which are free of charge.”

Air Mauritius

Up to 12 months old and/or weighing up to 11 kg,

” Please note that our baby cots can accommodate infants up to 12 months old and/or weighing up to 11 kg, depending on whichever condition is more restrictive.

Two infants accompanied by one adult may travel only if one of the two infants is over 12 months and is able to sit in a car seat approved for use on an aircraft. If this case applies to you, you will need to inform us at the time you book your flight and pay the applicable fare for the seat occupied by the child.”

Air New Zealand

“On international flights our Boeing 777-200, 777-300, and 787-9 aircraft may offer seats with bassinets that are:

• Designed for infants up to 8 months old and 11.8kg (26lb)
• Made up with sheets, a pillow and blankets
• 73.66cm (29in) long and 34.29cm (13.5in) wide

If you’re booking online, just select a seat with a bassinet icon from the bassinet row. Not all seats in this row have bassinets, so please select carefully. You’ll be asked to confirm the infant will meet the age and weight limits when they fly. If it turns out they don’t, you may be asked to move and will not receive a refund on any seat select fee. 

If you are travelling with an infant aged between 8 and 15 months who does not weigh more than 11.8kg (26lb), we may be able to allocate you a bassinet seat when you check in.”

Air Seychelles

“Baby bassinets may be requested for infants up to 6 months of age and not weighing more than 11kg / 25 lbs. Bassinets are subject to availability. Requests should be made at the time of reservation.”

Alitalia

“Some long-haul flights offer on-board bassinets, for children less than 76 cm long and weighing no more than 11 kg, which can be requested when booking. For operational reasons, this service might not be guaranteed on board, even if booked. In this case, the child must travel in the adult’s lap.”

American Airlines

“Bassinets are available on a first come, first serve basis at the gate for travel only on 777-200, 767-300, 777-300 and 787 aircraft.”

Read more information on flying with a baby on American Airlines here.

Asiana

• Business Smartium Class Seat: height of 71 cm or below + weight of less than 10 kg
• Other class seats: height of 76 cm or below + weight of less than 14 kg

The baby bassinet can only be used after making a reservation, and reservations may close early due to limited quantities. If the specifications are exceeded, the baby bassinet cannot be used in the cabin even if an advance reservation was made, and the infant must sit with their guardian.”

Avianca

“Age: 12 months old or less
Height: Less than 74 centimeters
Weight: Up to 11 kilograms

Your baby must meet the height and weight requirements when travelling so that he or she does not exceed the size of the cradle (29.5 X 13.38 X 8.82 inches or 74.93 X 33.99 X 22.40 cms), and your request is not denied. 

When making your reservation through the call center or at counters. There is a limited quota per aircraft. The service is available for all routes operated by the A330 or B787. The quota on each aircraft is three cradles. 

Due to operational matters, the plane assigned for you trip may vary. In this event, we cannot guarantee the service. Flights operated by Avianca Ecuador S.A. do not offer this service.”

British Airways

“Our carrycots and child seats are for infants from birth up to 2 years old. You can reserve a carrycot/child seat position in advance on long haul flights only, as our short haul aircraft do not have carrycot/child seats.

Child seats and carrycots are supplied free of charge, but are subject to availability on-board the aircraft on the day. They will be given to the people sitting in the carrycot/child seat positions on a first-come, first-served basis.

Even if you’ve reserved this type of seat, we may have to move you on the day if there is a person with a greater need who requires it, such as a wheelchair user.

How to reserve carrycot/child seats

Please reserve a carrycot/child seat position in advance, using Manage My Booking. The carrycot seat positions are marked on the seat maps with a baby icon.

The carrycots supplied by us are:

• suitable for babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)
• can only be used for an infant who is lying down
• available on all long haul flights (except on the London City to JFK service)
• not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)
• If you have reserved your seat at a carrycot position, you can ask the cabin crew for a child seat.The child seats supplied by us are:
• suitable for older babies who weigh no more than 12.5kgs (27.5lbs)
•  
• available on all long haul flights (except on the London City to JFK service)
•  
• adjustable to a variety of reclined positions
•  
• not to be used during taxi, take-off, landing and turbulence (when the fasten seatbelt sign is on)

Cathay Pacific & Cathay Dragon

• “All our aircraft are equipped with special baby bassinets. A bassinet measures 76.20cm (30″) x 38.10cm (15″) x 20.32cm (8”) and can carry up to 12kgs
• Please note however a baby older than 6 months may feel uncomfortable in a bassinet
• A request for a baby bassinet (BSCT) can be made at time of reservation if passenger is travelling with an infant.”

China Southern

• “Baby bassinet service is available for infant age between 14 days and 12 months who is no more than 70 centimeters in body height and no more than 12 kilograms/25 pounds in body weight.
• Request for Baby bassinet service must be made at least 24 hours before flight departure. (Please note that Daylight Savings are not considered by the system for this deadline.
• Baby bassinet service is ONLY available in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class on flights over 3 hours and operated by A380/A330/B777/B787 aircrafts.
• To ensure safety and service of the flight,there is a limit on the number of bassinet available on each flight. We ask for your understanding if your request is denied due to the limit had been reached.”

Czech Airlines

“In a baby cot with load capacity of 11kg and sizes of 75 x 34 x 22cm (but only on Airbus A319/A330 Business Class and on Airbus A330 Economy Class). Please request the cot via our Contact Centre during your seat booking.”

Delta

“For some of our smallest passengers on some international flights, we offer onboard baby bassinets. They’re ideal for babies weighing up to 20 lbs. and up to 26 inches long.

• Onboard bassinets, also known as SkyCots, are available free of charge for passengers in select seats on equipped aircraft for some international flights
• SkyCots can be requested by contacting Reservations before arriving at the airport and then speaking with the gate agent at the boarding gate, but cannot be guaranteed due to a limit of two SkyCots per aircraft and weight restrictions
• Please note that all infants must be held during takeoff, landing and whenever the seat belt light is on.”

El AL

“The bassinet can hold an infant whose weight does not exceed 18 kilograms and who can fit into the bassinet in a lying position (cot dimensions: length – 74 cm; height/depth – 22.5 cm; width – 34 cm).
For your child’s safety, please inform the flight crew of the infant’s current weight before the bassinet is installed.

The bassinet will be installed after takeoff and will be removed by the crew before landing.
Whenever the “Fasten Seatbelt” sign is illuminated, flight attendants will personally instruct you to remove the infant from the bassinet and hold him/her in your arms.

The flight crew will do whatever it can to assist you but cannot watch over the infant throughout the flight. Responsibility for the infant’s safety is that of the accompanying adult.
EL AL may refuse to provide a bassinet if the flight attendants believe it would be a safety hazard for the infant.”

Emirates

“Our bassinets are approximately 75 x 33 x 22cm (29.5 x 13 x 8.8 inches) in size and can hold babies weighing up to 11kg (24.2lbs). Whilst our bassinets are designed for babies up to two years old, we won’t be able to provide one if your baby doesn’t fit safely. Please note bassinets are limited in number and subject to availability.”

Etihad

“If you’re travelling with an infant who will weigh less than 11kg on the day of travel, you can request a baby bassinet when you book your flight. Your infant must also fit comfortably in the bassinet. Our cabin crew will confirm that your infant safely fits in the bassinet before affixing it at your seat position.

Please request your bassinet when you book your flight, as we have a limited number available on each flight. We allocate bassinets on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like to add a bassinet request to an existing booking, go to Manage my Booking and update the ‘Special Requests’ for your Infant.

Please note: For safety reasons, you may only use bassinets during the flight when the seatbelt sign is switched off and when the cabin crew permit you to do so. Please follow the instructions from the cabin crew.”

Eva Air

• “Baby bassinets are available aboard all EVA Air aircraft, but for safety reasons, height and weight limitations apply. Please advise us of your baby’s date of birth, height and weight when you make your reservation.

• B777	70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide (only for Royal Laurel Class) 77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide	14KG 16KG
  B787	70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide	14KG
  A332	76.8CM Long x 28.3CM Wide (only for 20W) 77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide	14KG 16KG
  A333	77.8CM Long x 34.9CM Wide 70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide	16KG 14KG
  A321	70.8CM Long x 29.8CM Wide	14KG

Finn Air

“Finnair has baby baskets on all intercontinental flights. Baby baskets are recommended for infants not older than 6 months. In order to use a baby basket, please reserve a seat suitable for cot/bassinet through Manage booking. 

You can also reserve the seat through our Customer service or a travel agency. Seats are chargeable. Our cabin personnel will give you the baby basket and help you install it after you have boarded the plane.”

Garuda Indonesia

A “baby bassinet is available on Garuda Indonesia selected aircraft and it’s free of charge. Passenger must request well in advance via Garuda Call Center. Due to limited numbers of baby bassinet available on each aircraft, baby bassinet service is based on first come first served.

Passenger will be informed by check-in staff regarding the limited numbers of bassinet. Maximum weight of infant that can be accommodated in one bassinet is 9 kg.”

Gulf Air

“Infants up to 7 months old, weighing no more than 10 kg and not more than 26” in length can travel using the onboard bassinets* (carry-cots). Please request a bassinet when you book your ticket to ensure availability and to obtain advance confirmation.

Should the baby – irrespective of age and advance confirmation from the airline – exceed these set limits, our Cabin Crew will not allow the use of a bassinet as this is perceived as being unsafe and not in compliance with civil airline safety regulations.

Remember to pre-reserve a bassinet on all flights during your journey, not just the first sector.
*Please note that bassinets are not available in Falcon Gold cabin on our new Boeing Dreamliner 787”

Hawaiian

“Bassinets are available on most of our international flights.

To use our bassinets, your child must be:

1. Under the age of 2 years old and
2. Cannot weigh more than 20 lbs (9 kgs).

The bassinet is 32” in length, 14.5” in width and 7” in height.

Reserve Your Bassinet on A330 Flights

You may reserve bassinets on our A330 international flights to/from the following cities:

• Auckland, New Zealand (AKL)
• Beijing, China (PEK)
• Brisbane, Australia (BNE)
• Incheon, Korea (ICN)
• Haneda -Tokyo, Japan (HND)
• Narita – Tokyo, Japan (NRT)
• Osaka-Kansai, Japan (KIX)
• Sydney, Australia (SYD)

To reserve a bassinet, the accompanying adult must purchase a bassinet-compatible Extra Comfort seat. Please follow the below instructions to complete your reservation:

1. Call Hawaiian Airlines Reservations
2. Request to reserve a bassinet for your international flight
3. If available, the accompanying adult must purchase an Extra Comfort seat in Row 14 (14 AB, CD or EG, HJ)
   • If you prefer, you may purchase a bassinet-compatible Extra Comfort seat online and reserve the bassinet over the phone once you have a confirmed seat in Row 14
4. Once your seat is purchased and bassinet is reserved, your reservation will be confirmed

If you’d prefer not to purchase an Extra Comfort seat, you may see an airport customer service agent at check-in (on the day of departure) for bassinet availability. If available, Hawaiian Airlines will accept up to two (2) requests per flight. Confirmed bassinets will be assigned during the boarding process. Priority will be given to the customer with the earliest check-in time.*

*Bassinets are not guaranteed if requested upon check-in.

Request a Bassinet on B767 Flights

Due to the configuration of the B767 aircraft, bassinet requests for the following cities cannot be reserved in advance.

• Sapporo – Chitose, Japan (CTS)

Bassinets are not available on flights to/from Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG) and Papeete, Tahiti (PPT).

To request a bassinet, please see an airport customer service agent at check-in (on the day of departure) for bassinet availability. If available, Hawaiian Airlines will accept up to two (2) requests per flight.

Confirmed bassinets will be assigned during the boarding process. Priority will be given to the customer with the earliest check-in time.*

*Bassinets are not guaranteed if requested upon check-in.

Iberia

“For babies less than 8 months old. There are a certain number of cots for infants who weigh up to 11 kg on each Iberia aircraft on inter-continental flights. These cots, like the seats for the adults who accompany the infant, do not have to be booked online. Please book a cot through an Iberia Office in your country, where you can also get information about booking a seat for yourself in the designated cot area in advance. Depending on the cabin class, booking a seat will incur an additional cost.”

JAL

“Our bassinets are ideal for infants weighing up to 10.5kg (age 2).
Dimensions (length: 72 cms, width: 30cms, and depth: 15 cms). *Please note that bassinets are available in limited numbers and reservation may not always be possible.”

KLM

“For intercontinental KLM flights, on board carrycots can be reserved via My Trip or by contacting us. These are suitable for babies that are no longer than 65 cm and weigh no more than 10 kg on the day of the trip. Although we’ll do our very best, we cannot always guarantee the availability of a carrycot when you board the aircraft.”

Korean Air

“Availability: International flights only (Economy Class and Prestige Class on some aircrafts)

Service conditions: Weight – less than 11kg(24.25 lbs), Height – no longer than 75cm(2.46 ft)

Request deadline: 48 hours before departure.

Note: Even if the request was made in advance, an infant who is taller or heavier than the allowed limit will not be given a bassinet in flight.”

LATAM

“You may request this service if your infant weights no more than 10 kilos and is under 71 cm.

Please note that we have one bassinet ready on each of our Boeing 767 and 2 on our Boeing 777 and 787 aircrafts. We would like to remind you to request the bassinet 48 hours before your trip through our Contact Center, as the service is subject to availability on each flight.

Service Conditions

• If you request this service you have to purchase the preferred seat for bassinet use. Companions that require to travel next to you will have to pay for their seats too.
• If you travel with other passengers we will assign the seats in accordance with availability and the conditions of the fare paid.
• The bassinet service is only available for flights operated by LATAM.”

Lufthansa

“On our entire long-haul fleet we have special baby cots available to you. The bassinets are perfectly suited for babies up to 14 kg in weight and up to 83 cm in length. The number of bassinets on board is limited. You can reserve the baby cots up to 48 hours before flight departure. Please note that a seat reservation fee for the seat with bassinet may apply depending on your ticket condition. For further information please contact our Lufthansa Service Center.”

Malaysian

“A number of bassinets are provided onboard, depending on the aircraft. Due to safety and storage reasons, passengers are not allowed to carry their own bassinets into the cabin. Should you need one for your infant, reservations can be made at the time of your initial ticket purchase for a bassinet provided by Malaysia Airlines.

This service must be requested through the Reservations/Ticket Counter/Call Centre at least 24 hours before departure. Please call 1 300 88 3000 if you are within Malaysia or +603 7843 3000 if you are overseas.”

Miat Mongolian

“Max weight size 11 kg (24.25 lbs)75 х 34 х 22.4 cm (29.5 x 13.38 x 8.82 inch)

Babies who weigh no more than 11kg/24,25 lbs and not more than 75 cm/2.46 feet tall can travel using the onboard bassinet.”

Norwegian 

Limited amount of bassinets on board the Dreamliners (B787) and they are available on long haul flights only. The dimensions are: height 17.8cm x Depth 36.8 cm x Width 81.3cm. Maximum age is 9 months and maximum weight is 12 kg

Qantas

“As bassinets are limited, please ensure that you request this at the time of booking. Bassinets on Qantas flights are approximately 71cm long, 31cm wide, 26cm deep, and have a weight limitation of 11 kg. If your infant is too large for a bassinet and is travelling on a parent’s ticket then they must be nursed.”

Qatar Airways

“Qatar Airways provides bassinets for infants. Please contact your nearest Qatar Airways office to request bassinet seats. Please note that the maximum body weight of the infant should not exceed 11 kgs (24 Lbs) and the age must not exceed 24 months. Additionally, the infant must fit within the confines of the baby bassinet.

*Bassinets are not available in the First Class cabin on-board the Airbus 380.  To check availability of a Bassinet position seat on a specific aircraft and within a particular cabin, please contact the nearest Qatar Airways office.”

Singapore Airlines

“We encourage you to request for a bassinet when you book an infant ticket, as only a limited number of bassinets are available on board and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Each bassinet measures at 768mm (L) x 298mm (W) x 158mm (H), and can support a maximum weight of 14kg.”

South African Airways

“Infants not exceeding 6 months of age, 10kg and 75cm are eligible for a baby bassinet on a first come first served basis. We highly recommend eligible customers reserve a bassinet during or shortly after booking their flight.

At a bulkhead seat, a cabin crew member can help to position a baby bassinet after take-off, once the seat belt signs have been switched off. The crew member will be required to confirm the age, weight and length of the infant prior to bringing the bassinet, to ensure the safety of the infant.

A bassinet cannot be used during take-off and landing and can only be used during the flight when the seat belt signs are off. If the seat belt signs are illuminated, the infant must be removed from the bassinet.”

Sri Lankan

 “There are a limited number of bassinet seats available in a flight. You will receive a bassinet seat subject to availability. If bassinet seats are not available, then the passenger will be given a choice to select other seats as per their requirement. Please make sure that you request for a bassinet seat at the time of your booking.”

Swiss Air

“Baby bassinets are available in all flight classes on long haul flights and in Business Class on European flights. They are approved for babies of up to 8 months and weighing a maximum of 11 kg. The number of cots is limited.”

TAP Portugal

“You can ask us to provide a cot if you are travelling with a baby. This service is free only on TAP-operated flights.

The following rules apply for the use of cots:

• They are only available on long-haul flights and Business Class of some medium-haul aircraft;
• The baby must not weigh more than 11kg/24lbs and the baby must be no more than 12 months old;
• The cot dimensions are 75cm / 29 in long by 34 cm / 13 in wide and 22.4 cm / 8.8 in high;
• The baby must always fit comfortably inside the cot;
• The cot can never be used during take-off/landing and during periods of turbulence;
• There are designated seats on the aircraft for cots and their number is limited. Therefore, please inform us when booking of all the flights on which the infant needs a cot;
• The number of seats available for cots varies from one type of aircraft to another and if there is availability. This information is immediate and it will be confirmed when you book;
• Each adult may take only one baby.”

THAI

“The Bassinet for babies less than 6 months of age, weighing less than 10 kg and not exceeding 62 67 cm in length.”

United

“A limited number of complimentary bassinets are available for use on international aircraft only. Bassinets are large enough to hold an infant weighing 22 pounds (10 kg) or less. They may not be used during taxi, takeoff or landing, or when the seatbelt sign is illuminated.

Bassinets are available for customers traveling international segments in United Polaris® business class on select 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft and in United Economy® on 757, 767, 777 and 787 aircraft. Bassinets are not available for customers traveling in United Polaris first class, United First® or United Business® at this time.

Customers can request a bassinet by calling the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) within the United States or the appropriate Worldwide Contact Center. We will provide accompanying seat assignments for an adult traveling with an infant and up to one travel companion.

You can arrange these seat assignments with the United Customer Contact Center or with a United representative at the airport free of charge. Bassinet availability is limited, and these arrangements are not guaranteed, so we recommend requesting a bassinet early for your flight.”

Virgin Atlantic

(Table from Virgin Atlantic website)

Economy and Premium sky cots

Upper Class sky cots

Virgin Australia

(Table from Virgin Australia website)

“Bassinets are available onboard all our international long haul flights and on domestic flights operated by A330 aircraft, subject to availability. Our bassinets are designed for use by one infant at a time and size and weight restrictions listed below apply.

Bassinets are limited, so please request a bassinet for your infant at the time of booking. Pre-allocation of bassinets is on a first come, first served basis. Please contact our Guest Contact Centre to request a bassinet”.

​

Final Thoughts

To recap, if you’re traveling with a baby long haul, then you should insist on getting a baby bassinet for airplane travel.

Book early (remember they are provided on a first serve basis), speak to a human, and make it clear from day one that you need a bassinet. 

Book a seat that has bassinet facilities (there aren't that many), and call at least once to confirm the bassinet is yours (and yours alone).

You might need to check what kind of airline you’ll be traveling on (some low cost airlines with long haul flights like Wow Air don't have bassinets), and make sure you’re familiar with its layout.

It's always a good idea to have backup plan that includes plane activities for flying with a toddler though.

Be persistent but polite, insistent but ready to accept that you might not always get the bassinet if you haven't planned ahead. Like traveling with car seats, you have to do some extra work! And most importantly of all, have a good flight!

Travelling with two passports as a dual citizenship owner has many advantages, but very few disadvantage. As a dual citizen you belong to an exclusive club, as it is estimated that just 1% of the world’s population carries two or more passports.

Of all the advantages of dual citizenship there is one that stands out above the rest: you get to travel (and stay) in a wider range of countries without the need of a visa.

As a dual passport holder myself (USA and EU) I have learned first hand how, with the right combination of passports, it is possible to travel extensively without the need of applying for expensive visas that can sometimes take weeks or months to process, and money.

And this, is the greatest advantage of them all.

Common Problems and Reasons for Concern

Having two passports doesn’t come without its burdens, and using the right passport at the right times can sometimes be a confusing process- and there are several important factors to keep in mind.

The first is whether or not the countries you hold passports for allow dual citizenship.

While most countries are fine with dual citizens, a few countries will not recognize this concept. Saudi Arabia, for example, has been known to confiscate foreign passports from its citizens. Other countries, such as Norway, force their naturalized citizens to renounce their other citizenships.

In several Asian countries (namely South Korea and Singapore), dual citizenship is recognized only up to a certain age (typically around 21), at which point you must decide which citizenship to retain- and renounce to the second citizenship. 

In any event make sure you’re aware of how much time you can spend in the country you’re visiting no matter what passport you’re using and be aware of consequences if you overstay your tourist visa.

How to Properly Use Each Passport

Assuming you carry passports from countries that both recognize dual citizenship, there is little to no risk of any incidents arising from your dual citizenship status when traveling as long as you use your passports correctly.

As a general rule, you should enter and exit each of your citizenship countries with your corresponding passport.

When traveling to foreign countries you should always enter and exit any country with the same passport (although sometimes I have sometimes forged this rule). Not doing so is a common mistake made by dual citizenship holders and can be the source of an immigration nightmare.

In addition to having to explain yourself, some travelers are forced to purchase a plane ticket on the spot and ‘deport’ themselves immediately.

Scenario 1: Traveling between countries you have passports for

For example, if you hold an EU and US passport and are taking a trip to the US:

1. ​Exit Europe with your EU passport
2. ​Upon arrival in the US, show you US passport at the US immigration check
3. ​When you return to the EU, show your US passport again upon exiting the US.
4.  Enter the EU with your EU passport.

Scenario 2: Traveling between two countries you don't have passports for

Some time ago I was traveling in South America on an extended trip, and shortly before the trip began the US had decided to request a visa to all Brazilian nationals. As a reply, Brazil began doing the same. So what passport did I use when traveling from Uruguay to Brazil and back?

1. I had entered Uruguay with my US passport, so I exited Uruguay with the same passport.
2. Since Brazil now requested a visa for US citizens, I showed my Spanish passport upon entering the country (I saved 115 USD).
3. When leaving Brazil I showed my Spanish passport at customs.
4. And when entering Uruguay I showed my US passport again.

Scenario 3: You have a passport for one of the two countries you're traveling between.

​Assuming you don't need a visa for the country you are visiting with at least one of the two passports you own, the process is very simple (in which case you'd follow scenario 2) choose the passport you like most, or the one you think is friendlier. 

It may be the passport of the country you're departing from, so you'll simply have to show that same passport at every customs post you go through. Simple!​

Conclusion

Many travelers are concerned about what will happen to them if immigration officials discover they are traveling with multiple passports. In a vast majority of countries, this can at worst cause a lot of confusion.

The best way to prevent any hassle is to not volunteer any information regarding your dual citizenship status, especially when dealing with domestic airlines and travel companies that do not have a lot of experience with foreign passports.

Learning how to travel with two passports as a dual citizen is advantageous for a number of reasons.

As long as you take the necessary precautions and research the dual passport policy for the countries that you plan on traveling to, using two passports is a safe and legal way to explore the world.

Maybe the signal will be better at the stairway? By the elevators? Where’s the darn router for the third floor?

While the hotel’s internet setup is crucial for getting the best speed available, there are a few things you can do to improve your hotel Wi-Fi signal strength when what’s being delivered is a far cry from reality.

Let’s look at several things you can do to books your wifi signal.

Buy a USB Wireless or Long Range Antenna

I have a USB wireless antenna and they certainly make a difference; it’s the easiest ways to improve wifi signals anyhwere. Costing  10-50 USD they will improve the signal a lot (specially the long range antennas), depending on the model you buy. Expect to increase the range at least 200 m!

Plug the Computer

When running on its battery laptops slightly cut the energy supply to the resources that require most power. You will notice this when the screen becomes slightly darker, but it is not only there that the laptop is saving some energy. By plugging it in you might get the extra boost of energy that could well be enough for you to be able to do what you want to do quicker.

Go for a Walk

No, I don’t mean head to streets to do some sightseeing hoping that the hotel internet connection speed has picked up while you’re out and about, I mean with your computer.

Walking around the room, down the hallways or to the lobby will at some point get you closer to where the router is, hence improving the connection dramatically.

Sure, this is not the most convenient way, but if you don’t mind working at the lobby or in some unusual spot in the hotel it certainly is the fastest.

Tools like Netspot (Mac) can show you via a heatmap locations where the internet connection should be stronger and JiWire  is perhaps the largest guide to hotspots worldwide.

It may even help you by pointing out a nearby hotel that has free internet access where you’ll be able to work at comfortable at the lobby. For free.

Connect to Hidden Wireless Networks

This might not be as applicable in your hotel room, but if at an airport, train station or bus terminal you could find one of these that companies provide to their workers without encrypting the signal and but simply hiding the public name.

Asking around won’t probably help you much, but Netslumber  (Windows) and Kismac (Mac)  can uncover those hidden gems that might be around.

Convert Your Laptop Into a WiFi Signal Predator

On some computers it is possible to alter the amount of power devoted to the network adapter and make other changes such as altering the aggressiveness of the card’s search efforts of finding wireless signals.

For Windows PCs, click “Start,” “Control Panel,” “Administrative Tools,” “Computer Management,” “Device Manager,” then find your wireless card in the list of devices; right-click on it and choose “Properties.” Click the “Advanced” tab,” set “Transmit Power” to “Highest,” set “Roaming Aggressiveness” to “Highest,” and click “OK.”

Try Out a Wi-Fi Extender

You can use a broadband speed checker and find out how fast or slow your connection is. Once you’ve confirmed the exact speed, you can consider a wi-fi extender that could save your life. Moreover, if you’re a digital nomad and work from literally anywhere.

There are cheap wi-fi extenders that you can find for around $25-$30 and improve the Internet speed. And if this still doesn’t work, you can complain at the front desk or just clean up your PC. A good spring cleaning comes in handy since your browser stores cookies and cache info every time you open a certain website.

Additionally, an update of your most used browser can do wonders as well. Your browser might have an outdated version that slows down the loading of any website access. So, updating to the latest version can help you solve the issue.

Make Your Computer  the Ultimate WiFi Signal Machine

This might me a little trickier but if you’re into technical stuff you might find DD-WRT the ultimate tool to transform your router into the definitive signal predator by changing the router’s installed firmware from the under-performing manufacturer’s to the increasingly popular DD-WRT open source firmware.

Setting it up is not super easy, but thankfully this  guide on how to set up OpenVPN on DD-WRT will walk you step by step on how to do it. I have not tried it myself but from what I’ve heard it does wonders and may be the definitive push for the best hotel internet connection speed.

Improving wifi signal strength can be a bit of a pain, but some of these tricks are very easy to implement and will go a long way wherever you are.

PIN for Later!

Do you have any tricks you’d like to share with us? Product recommendations? Please share them with us in the comments section below, and this post too if you likes it or think others might find it useful!