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Michael Gebicki

Michael Gebicki

The Tripologist

Michael Gebicki is a Sydney-based writer and photographer who has been writing travel articles since 1982. Michael is Traveller's resident Tripologist, answering your travel questions and offering expert tips and advice.Connect via email.

Car rental companies in Europe may require more details than your licence shows.

Hiring a car in Europe? Beware this little-known catch

Checking the fine print of the major car-hire operators, there’s one requirement that may be problematic for Australian driver’s licence holders.

  • Michael Gebicki
Wearing a crop top on a plane could be enough to get you kicked off, as two women in the US discovered.

Banned for a crop top? Airline dress codes have double standards

Dressing to fit the occasion signals to the world that you know what’s appropriate. But kicking women off a flight for wearing a crop top, or no bra?

  • Michael Gebicki
Keisha Village, Kanazawa.

Your questions: Where’s a good base to see less-travelled parts of Japan?

For a complicated trip and without a lot of time and effort to construct your itinerary, you would be better off talking to a specialist travel agency.

  • Michael Gebicki
Choose the timing of your booking and flight correctly and you could make large savings.

What is the best timing to get a cheap flight? Here’s what the data says

Airfares are getting cheaper, but getting the best price will depend on various factors. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

  • Michael Gebicki
If you want to enter Australia on a UK passport, you’ll need a visa.

Your questions: I’m Australian, but can I enter here on my UK passport?

“I have Australian and UK passports but only the UK passport is up-to-date.”

  • Michael Gebicki
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The couple missed their Thai Airways flight by a month.

The simple flight-booking mistake that cost one couple almost $12,000

When Australian couple Sean Davidson and his wife checked their airline booking, they got a nasty shock. The oversight would eventually cost them $11,840.

  • Michael Gebicki
US Border Control officers in Washington, DC.

Entry to the US gets easier (for some)

Entry to the USA is about to get easier – for a select group of Australians – but there’s already a scheme for smoother entry not many know about.

  • Michael Gebicki
August is prime time for tourism along the Adriatic coast.

Your questions: Is there an Adriatic coast route that avoids summer crowds?

We’re hoping to see some of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Albania in a hire car over August. Is there a less-travelled road trip you can recommend?

  • Michael Gebicki
My passport has already started to curl.

I just paid $400 for a new passport and it’s already damaged

I picked it up a day ago, and now it resembles a yoga pose. For the world’s most expensive passport, is this really acceptable?

  • Michael Gebicki
Eurail passes can be great value but it depends how you intend to use it.

Your questions: Should we get a Eurail pass before we leave for Europe?

My husband and I are travelling to Europe, planning to stay for about three weeks, catching trains for day trips and overnight stays.

  • Michael Gebicki

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/by/michael-gebicki-hvf4s