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Receiving SMS online with SMS Expat (+ promo code)
If you’d like to sign up for SMS Expat, use the promo code TDM5C Travelers quickly ask themselves: what’s the best way to keep receiving SMS while abroad? This is mainly an administrative consideration, since receiving SMS is hardly used for anything other than getting validation codes from banks or other apps. The solution I use is to have a subscription Free Mobile : the rate is ultra-competitive, €2/month. However, there are a few drawbacks: SMS cannot be viewed online; you must insert the SIM card into a phone (which requires having a second phone, or having a dual-SIM phone, or swapping SIM cards every time you’re expecting an SMS—not…
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My Current Favorites [December 2021]: My Favorite Books about Japan
After spending months reading books that were a bit too political and too business-oriented, I wanted to find some lightness again, a bit of travel through novels or autobiographies. Here is my list of books about Japan that I really enjoyed. Some were read a few years ago, and I revisit certain passages from time to time. Memoirs of a Geisha I don’t know when my passion for geishas started; I’ve read quite a few books about geishas, the most glamorous and artistic women in Japan. They are not courtesans but artists: they excel in singing, dancing, musical instruments, and also in the art of conversation. I found two books…
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My Current Favorites [November 2021]: Christmas Gift Ideas
We’re spending Christmas in France this year, so I took advantage of our trip to buy myself some gifts, ones I can only find or receive in France or Europe. As usual, this post is not NOT sponsored. I bought everything with my own money Paper cutouts by Emi Hazlett This year, I decided to focus on the work of artisans and artists. For a long time, since I enjoy making things myself, I supported them only by buying their books, courses, DIY kits… but never the actual artwork. This year, for the first time, I decided to buy a piece by artist Emi Hazlett I discovered her work on…
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Turkey: How to get an HES code (for foreigners)
The HES code is a sort of Turkish “health pass” : a QR code you’ll need for sightseeing, taking public transport, going to restaurants (in theory, the only place we were asked for it was at the hotel), … Unlike in France, the QR code isn’t used to check that you’re vaccinated or have a recent negative PCR test. It’s used to track you. If someone tests positive, this tracking allows authorities to contact everyone they’ve crossed paths with to get tested. The process for getting an HES code is fairly simple, but there’s one catch: you need a Turkish SIM card (see our article on the subject). Once you…
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Uber: watch out for foreign transaction fees!
Looking at the search queries that bring traffic to this blog, I noticed some people are wondering about bank fees when using Uber abroad. The answer seemed obvious to me, but I realize it’s not, so here’s a quick post to give you an answer. When you book a ride on Uber (this also applies to food delivery), you’ll be charged in the currency of the country you’re in. If you’re in Paris, it’ll be in euros. If you’re in New York, it’ll be in US dollars. If you’re in Dubai, it’ll be in UAE dirhams… If you’re in the eurozone If you’re in the eurozone (France, Italy, Germany, Spain,…
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Food delivery apps in Dubai (with promo codes)
After a long day of sightseeing in Dubai, you don’t necessarily feel like going out for dinner. It can be nice to order meals on an app and have them delivered. Delivery services seem particularly popular in Dubai: you see couriers everywhere and the service is very efficient! Here are the 3 apps you should know and use Deliveroo Certainly the easiest to use for us French: it’s exactly the same app you might use in Paris, Bordeaux, Rennes, Nancy, … So you don’t have to install a new app or even create a new account if you already have one. The app is in French, which can be handy…
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Deliveroo in Dubai: review & promo code
If you’re interested in using Deliveroo in Dubai, just use this link: https://roo.it/jbm-tusc It will give you a promo code worth 60 AED (about 15 €) to use on your first 4 orders. After a long day of sightseeing in Dubai, once you’re back at your hotel or Airbnb, the last thing you want to do is head out again for dinner. Especially since, depending on where you’re staying, it can be quite far from a restaurant or a grocery store. That’s probably why food and grocery delivery apps are so popular. Among them: Deliveroo! If you already use the Deliveroo app in France, you’ll feel right at home. It’s…
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Shopping in Dubai: How to get VAT refunded?
Dubai has some of the largest shopping malls in the world. Take the famous Dubai Mall for instance, which spans 800,000 square meters and houses 1,200 shops! Needless to say, these places are a shopper’s paradise, and it won’t be easy to resist temptation given the endless shopping possibilities. The good news is that Dubai offers a tax-free shopping program for foreigners: you can claim back (part of) the VAT on your purchases. But don’t get too carried away: VAT in Dubai is only 5% (compared to 20% in France) There’s an administrative fee of AED 4.80 per receipt You get back 85% of the VAT (after the administrative fee…
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Careem Review: Uber’s Equivalent in Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Although Uber is available in Dubai, it’s always interesting to look into local apps. They may offer more services, better rates, etc. Regarding transportation, it’s always good to have at least two apps on hand in case of high demand: if no driver is available on one app, one might be available on the other. In Dubai, the alternative to Uber is called Careem. Careem has been around since 2012 and operates in more than a hundred cities across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. In addition to “cars with drivers,” Careem lets you hail official taxis, order food delivery, have your groceries delivered, send a courier, and even…
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Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Dubai (United Arab Emirates): how much does it cost? Where to buy one?
Are you planning to travel to Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE? You’ll probably want to get a SIM card to have internet access without paying a fortune with your French SIM card. Here’s how to do it. Buy a SIM card before you leave It’s not the most budget-friendly option but it might be the simplest one: you can buy a SIM card before your stay in Dubai in the UAE. Our partner Holafly (see offers and get a 10% discount codeNomad Bento offers a prepaid SIM card that they’ll send to your home before you leave. Their rate is €54 for 6 GB of data valid for…
