Employee 1.1 has never been overseas - he's about to leave for Sopot, Poland - travel tips needed

Vodka and busty women. Take together for best results.

just saying been there wrote:

Also, sometimes the menu at McD overseas is vastly different than here in the USA. You'll see local adaptions, beer, etc. It's actually kind of interesting in that sense. Some of them are pretty comfy too. In Europe, I've seen ones with couches, fireplaces, neon mood lightning, you name it.

You know what they call a Quarter Pounder

with cheese in Poland?

I live in Chicago and there are more Polacks here than anywhere except Poland. Maybe he can take a few back as tour guides.......and leave them there.

Ok here's an update. We may need to eventually call the embassy.I called him during his layover in Chicago and was like, "You do know your ATM will work over there."Reply: "No but i think i'll be fine. I have $60 and a credit card."The kid is very frugal but $60 for a week?I said, "Dude, what airline are you on? Unless it's an American carrier, you're going to get free drinks . I know you don't really drink but order a beer."He was like, "I don't care about drinks. I wish they have free food. I just spent $8 on a sub."I just started laughing. "They definitely will have free good. Probably dinner and breakfast."He couldn't believe it.I then hung up. Considering he only has $60, i hope he called the CC company to let them know he'll be overseas. I texted him about that but never heard back.I got a text from him on the plane it read:

Employee 1.1 wrote:

This plane is as big as a house. Crazy

foobar___ wrote:

You know what they call a Quarter Pounder

with cheese in Poland?

A banquet?

Welcome to the world of Western Union money transfer!

Even works in the former east.

Give him time off to do some training for his upcoming marathon!

I would tell him don't reveal that he is part of the LR media effort to discredit the US in Sopot.

That wasn't a typo moron alert wrote:

A Duck wrote:

[

Condemns. Polish women are hot and want a green card.

If they are hot, why do you condemn them?

lol.

Precious Roy wrote:

Learn a few key phrases in Polish. Everyone in Poland speaks English, but they appreciate it if you make an effort to say a few basic things in Polish ("excuse me"; "do you speak english?"; "please/thank you"; "good afternoon", etc.).

Many restaurants and stores outside of heavily tourist areas may not take magnetic swipe credit cards. Go to an ATM every morning and get just enough money to get through the day.

This is too funny. You do realize that most everyone in Poland speaks English, right? Okay, the older folks maybe not so much since most will speak broken Russian as a second language. But anyone under 30 definitely is well spoken.

And as far as credit cards, the U.S. is wayyyy behind. They all use chips in their cards as opposed to our bar code scan (much less secure).

Do you think they all live in huts with no electricity???? Poland has some beautiful areas. I suggest you spend a little time in Old Town in Gdansk. Very old city with a lot of shipping history. Right next door to Sopot (tri-city area is Sopot, Gdansk, and Gdynia).

Do everything possible to avoid looking and sounding like an American

To avoid scams/pickpocket:

- always, especially at the airport or railway station, keep a hand on your bags and worthy items

- DONT get caught up in conversations with strangers. There will be some nice looking men and women who are trying to talk to you. after the conversation everything of worth will be gone

- a new method of scam is: women will talk to you, maybe beg for some donations for disabled people, then hug you, shake hands and say goodbye. What you don't know: before the conversation they put their fingers in their 'you know what'. So if you call the police after the robbery they will report that you tried to abuse/ra-pe them and since you got their DNA on your fingers you're f**ed in a foreign countries local police station.

This is the exception of course, its neither a polish problem nor are ALL friendly people trying to scam you but at any crowded place in the world thats brings some money there is also this type of crime.

Some general tips:

-eat local, don't go to big food chains. You are a guest and its the best way to support this people

- be sure you can't pay with credit cards. get some polish money or maybe euros. just ask the locals which currency is accepted

(1) Buy a "Rush 24" or "Rush 12" backpack from 511 Tactical. You will never need another backpack. These are professional, military grade packs.

(2) Carry the following items in your backpack AT ALL TIMES:

(a) Condoms.

(b) Lube. (Astroglide is best)

(c) Switchblade or hunting knife of some kind.

(d) Pepper spray.

(e) Hot sauce. (european food is bland)

(f) Extra shirt, extra shorts.

(g) Basic Toiletries in a ziplock bag: Eye drops, hand gel, lotion, tooth brush/paste/floss, spray deodorant or cologne.

(h) Clean hand towel.

(3) Learn the very basics of the language:

(i) Hello

(ii) You are beautiful.

(iv) How much?

(v) Please.

(vi) Thank you.

(vii) "F*** off" or "Get out of here."

(4) NEVER use your credit card outside the USA, mainly for security reasons. KASH IS KING, and do not put all of your daily funds in one spot. Put some in your front pocket, some in your shoe and some in your backpack.

(4) STAY SOBER. Your limit is ONE beer or ONE drink/shot.

(5) Never tell anyone on the street what hotel you are staying at or what your full name is. Keep a low profile.

(6) If you have an opportunity, make friends with a local policeman or government official.

wtf, he is not going to vietnam he is going to watch some athletics

MrGambinus wrote:

wtf, he is not going to vietnam he is going to watch some athletics

HEY HOMO, what part of "European food is bland" did you not read?

Rojo: Credit cards and ATM cards are the last thing that your employee should be carrying. He should have American Express travelers checks or CA$H.

In Eastern Europe, ATM scams are rife. Some of them art illegally fitted with skimmers that capture the card's data.

Registering with the embassy is nuts.

One of my favorite running/travel stories was being asked to "take a dive" at a local 10km in Vientiane, and the guy who asked me to lose the race was the goddamn American Ambassador himself!!! Do not trust the USA Embassy. They do not give a ***k.

I never carry much US cash when traveling abroad. $60 sounds about right since it's just going to sit in his wallet until his return trip. I pick up the local currency at the airport using a credit card, and then use either my cc when comfortable or currency if I'm in small establishments. Currency can be replenished at the local banks.

I would worry about just having one cc card. If that gets deactivated by the bank or stolen, which could happen since he's never made a purchase overseas, he'll have some tense moments until reactivating or replacing.

My only tip that I didn't see above is to use the likes of Viber for phone calls and texting, which is free but you do have to be connected to wifi to use. As soon as you land shut off your data over cell carrier (forget the exact name) so that your phone isn't constantly downloading e-mails and notifications through the cellular system.

dR Trollingwood wrote:

I never carry much US cash when traveling abroad. $60 sounds about right since it's just going to sit in his wallet until his return trip. I pick up the local currency at the airport using a credit card, and then use either my cc when comfortable or currency if I'm in small establishments. Currency can be replenished at the local banks.

I would worry about just having one cc card. If that gets deactivated by the bank or stolen, which could happen since he's never made a purchase overseas, he'll have some tense moments until reactivating or replacing.

That's nuts. Getting a cash advance on your credit card is crazy, with the fees, horrible exchange rate and the interest rate. I always bring a combination of Benjamins and AMEX travelers checks when I travel out of the USA

Mayeroff is back!!!

If we get you back along with Bill Eamick, this place will be a heck of a lot more fun!

Hope you are well.