InternationalCouples.net

Why your parents/in-laws shouldn't worry about your relationship! Instead...

Being an international/interracial couple affects not only the couple itself but their parents and families also. If you are international newbies, you have probably not realized it yet but your relationship or marriage is going to affect the in-laws deeply, sometimes more than they would have desired.

 

The importance of choosing the right doctor

When thinking about a pregnancy, choosing the right gynecologist/doctor is paramount for international couples.

At some point or another, international couples tend to choose one of the doctors the were previously used by them. Unless they expatriate, of course.

The question is: is your doctor the right doctor for an international/interracial couple?

 

Getting pregnant while commuting

Getting pregnant can be a challenge and, indeed, it is a challange for many couples.

International couples, in particular, undergo a number of stressing factors which in general non-international couples do not. Frequent trips, dealing with partners brought up with different values and different cultures, differences in religion and approaches to life, all add to the stress. Also, ordinary occasions such as the Christmas Holidays can turn into long queues at the airports and generally require a rather detailed planning. That, also, represents a stress factor.

The Christmas Guide: extra legroom and priority boarding. Worth the money?

Christmas time is one of the peaks for airlines. In the online ticket rush, while seeking the best travel conditions, our fingers go fast on the mouse, ticking boxes one after the other. Extra legroom? Yes! Travel insurance? Yes! Priority boarding? But of course, Yes!

Naturally, extras are the real place where no-frills airlines make the most of their profits. But are they really worth the price we pay?

Picture Courtesy of Ryanair.com

To start with, it is sometimes a waste to purchase those services on short trips. If your flight takes 1 and a half hours then, why bother?!

EXTRA LEGROOM: this service, often referred to as "premium economy" gives you the possibility to strecth your legs and be further away from the previous seats (check the distances for the airline you choose clicking here). To get a hint of how is it going to be, try to place a chair at a similar distance from a wall and experiment how difficult or easy it would be for you to get out of those seats. Can you cope with it for a couple of hours? Is it going to be that bad? Will you be having lots of luggage? Regarding the cost, they can cost up to 40 or 50 pounds/euros/dollars according to the airlines and length of the leg/destination. On low-cost airline then, extra legroom could cost as much as the ticket itself! Are you sure is it worth it?

PRIORITY BOARDING: Priority boarding gives you the right to embark before other passengers. Explained like this, it looks like a no brainer. But there's more than meet the eye.

It makes sense on low-cost flights, because almost in every case, they don’t provide you with seats numbers. So, if you want to disemabark fast, you’d better seat in the first rows. Mind one fact, though. In many airports, passengers are brought to the plane by bus. So, unless they open the bus gates for such priority passengers first, there’s no reason why you should pay an extra for a service that you wont get.

Also, if you must wait for your checked baggage, what’s the point in paying for priority boarding?

I wish you all a safe trip!

The Christmas Guide for International Couples: travelling by car or train

Last year a number of the world’s most important airports and motorways closed down because of the bad weather, limited visibility and snow. This Christmas International Couples should try to anticipate the trend and put counter measures into practice. Can you be a step ahead? I think so. Here's a list of helpful (and often ignored) tips:

• Silly as it may sound: check the weather forecast!

• Always keep your “passenger rights” booklet at hand. Before starting your trip, try to find the time to go through the main areas of the passengers’ rights so as to get accustomed to the situations that may happen when travelling. (Your rights as passenger in Europe; Passengers rights US);

• When travelling by car/bus or train, even on short trips, bring along some sandwiches, fruit or some snacks/chocolate. Bring also some drinks and hot drinks in thermoses. Last year many passengers got stuck during the snow storms;

• Get a universal mobile phone charger for cars. If you can, try to get car thermoses as well;

• Make sure you have spare tires and tire chains!

• Keep your fingers crossed!

The Christmas Guide for International Couples: smooth flights

I'm sure all International Couples can handle trips very well. Nevertheless, a bit of a refresh wont hurt:

• If you are flying to your destination, visit the airline’s website and make sure you know what the maximum allowance for your checked-in and hand baggage is. Make also sure that you know the maximum dimensions for each piece of baggage. Also, note that many airlines tend to be foggy when talking exact measures or numbers. For instance, they may write that the weight of any one piece of checked baggage must not exceed 30 kilograms. What they mean is that 30 kgs is the overall maximum weight that you can bring. What they forget to mention, though, is that your fee covers only up to 15 kgs. Any exceeeding kg after should be paid as an extra;

• Mind the measures of your hand luggage if you don’t want to end up having to embark your luggage and pay the extra fee. Also bring a small lock along. If you have to embark your luggage (it could also happen when there’s no room left in the overhead compartments) at least you can be sure your content will be safe;

• Remind the every time you purchase a ticket, you you actually sign a contract and accept the travel conditions. Since you cannot claim that you didn’t know the rules, make sure that you’ve understood them well!

Enjoy your flight!

Getting comfortable at Munich's airport: the napcabs

Hi there!

Look at these pictures I took last week at Munich airport, Germany, while waiting for a connection to the UK. They are called napcabs, cabins for naps.

They are basically boxes that passengers can use to wind down before catching a connection. They are provided with an internet connection and are of course sound proof. An interesting alternative to those long hours spent trying to find a comfortable position on normal chairs.

With prices starting from 10 to 15 euros/hour with a minimum charge of 30 euros, definitely worth trying!

 If you happen to be in Munich airport, you can find them in a not-so-crowded area of terminal H.

Air passengers rights

Sometimes we're so eager to get somewhere, that pay little attention to our needs while travelling or know little on how to defend our rights as travellers.

The European Union is doing a great deal to cope with every type of troubles passengers could come across, both when travelling and while booking the trip. So, what to do if you're denied boarding, the flight has long delays or the price has hidden fees?

European air passengers can refer to the European passenger legislation. Almost any type of trouble or inconvenience is listed: people with disabilities, denied boarding, cancellation, long delays, baggage...

You can also find lists of the banned airlines here.

As the ads went "you'll discover that sometimes it's not where you're going that is important, but how you get there"!

Another trip's coming...

Hi there!

10 pm and still packing for my trip tomorrow night. It'll only take 1/2 hours but my proverbial mess isn't helping me...

Well, packing isn't my pie, really, but it should since I travel quite often! My wife is the one that usually performs the last check on by luggage to make sure I didn't forget anything. Problem is, she's not with me know, so I got no excuses...

Did I put the winter socks in...do I need that shirt...will I be comfortable in those trousers?

As I'm sure every International (or Transnational) Couple knows, the easiest thing is to have some clothing in both places. That allows you to travel more easily and with less luggage. Only for short trips, that is.

For men, probably a couple of shirts, a suit and a pair of jeans (in addition to the necessary for shaving and underwear). That should suffice for two or three days..

Well, I'm off now...I'll let you know if I forgot anything in a couple of days...:)