Friday, April 27, 2007

Meet Ivan from Customer Services...


If you've called our customer services then there's a good chance you've spoken to Ivan.

Why not learn a bit about him so next time, you can put a face to the voice! Try and guess what animal Ivan thinks he's most like, and then click here to find out if you were right...

1. Time at Mobal: Since 11th September - so 8 mths by time this goes out.

2. Job at Mobal: Customer Assistant - US Support Team

3. Best Mobal World Phone tip: If you do nothing else when you get your phone set the SIM pin up to give it that extra bit of security.

Visit www.mobal.com/support for our all our information and guides

4. Have you ever had a time when abroad when your cell phone has been invaluable? When my luggage didn't arrive at the airport. I was able to keep in touch with the airline and let them know my hotel to send it to when it finally turned up.

5. Your best holiday experience ever and why? Standing at the top of the Rock Of Gibraltar when the hot air from africa hits the cold air from Europe creating a wall of mist that you can look along or put your arm out into and not be able to see your finger tips.

6. Your worst holiday experience and why? France - Paris.... I love the tourist parts and the countryside outside Paris, but their are areas of within Paris that are not so nice.

7. Dream holiday destination: Ireland with its friendly atmosphere and people and its countryside.

8. Favourite travel tip or product: Visit Gibraltar is my only travel trip ... and take a day trip into both Morocco and Spain. It will be your best holiday ever...

9. If you could describe yourself as an animal, what would it be and why? A Cobra.... but because it displays itself as dangerous when threatened when really it is only a warning because it is scared. People see the outside only and get the wrong impression.

(Did you guess right?)

Want to know something about Mobal? Email it to me at michael@mobalphone.com

posted by Michael Furniss at 2:50 AM  

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Handy Tips For Your Mobal World Phone

This month we asked Wonder Woman to give you some handy tips for your Mobal World Phone...

The busy travel season is nearly here, so I thought it would be a good time to get you familiar with your Mobal World Phone again...

1. How to get half-price calls for life

Did you know we have a Refer A Friend Plan? Here's how it works:

Get an amazing 10% discount for each friend who orders a Mobal World Phone! To get the maximum discount — half-price calls for life, based on today's rates — all you need to do is get 5 friends to order!

Just visit www.mobal.com/referafriend and fill in the easy to use form

2. How to dial the + character

An important part of dialing from your Mobal World Phone is using the + key. It's really easy to do, but also really easy to forget. So here's a reminder of how to do it...

If your Mobal World Phone is a Nokia - press '*' twice quickly & check the '+' appears on-screen

If your Mobal World Phone is a Motorola & Siemens - press AND HOLD '0' & check the '+' appears on-screen

Easy!
3. How to check your Mobal World Phone is active before your next trip

You can check that your phone is active by dialing your Mobal World Phone number from another phone, if it rings or if you receive the message "it has not been possible to connect your call..." this means that the phone is still active but outside of a network area or turned off.

4. How to dial the emergency services from your Mobal World Phone, no matter which country you're in

The international emergency phone number is 112. This is the same no matter what country you are in.

Simply dial 112 from your phone, you don't even need to put a + in front of the number.

(Please note 911 will work as normal within the USA.)

If you have a different question check out our full support section at: www.mobal.com/support, email customer services at info@mobal.com or call customer services on 212-785-5800.

posted by Michael Furniss at 6:17 AM  

How To Avoid Hotel Bed Bugs

Last month Mobal Member Mary Watkins told me she'd heard bed bugs were making a Donny Osmond style come-back, and if I can could find out any information for her.

Well, I did a little reading around and found that the return of the bed bug is more than just rumour...

Bed bugs are back, and even in high-end hotels!!!

Why are bed bugs back?

Blame the mad scientists and tree huggers.

It seems that bed bugs were all but history as the old types of pesticides did a great job of killing every little creepy crawly that crossed their paths. But then environmentalist started saying this wasn’t fair, and forced the scientists started to create new types of pesticides just to kill the nastiest of the critters.

The bed bugs spotted their chance and made a new life for themselves, hitching around the world amongst the clothing of travelers.

Travelers who then stayed in nice hotels…

How to spot bed bugs

Bed bugs like to hang out in mattresses, carpets, cracks in wood, behind wallpaper and in clothing. They also like to hang out sucking your blood just before dawn. They’re a reddish-brown color, oval, wingless and can grow up to a quarter of an inch.

What to do if you’re bitten by a bed bug

A bed bug bite will be small, red and itchy, but the # 1 thing is don’t be a little baby about it. Bed bugs don’t carry any diseases so they’re not going to kill you. Put a brave face on. If you do have any discomfort then bites can be treated with tropical emollients, corticosteroids and antihistamine.

Bed bug bite spray
This healthcare website sells a spray to repel and calm bed bug bites

How to avoid bed bugs in the first place

I’ve looked around the web and you can buy a number of chemicals to eradicate bed bugs, but they’re not really the sort of thing you can carry around when you’re traveling. If you spot bed bugs then notify your hotel and ask to more rooms.

Disposable mattress covers:
One way that the travel experts help prevent bed bug bites is by using disposable mattress covers to keep contact with the bed to a minimum.

The same healthcare company also sells disposable mattress covers, check them out here

Got a travel topic you want to know about?
Email it to me at michael@mobalphone.com

posted by Michael Furniss at 6:08 AM  

The Mobal World Phone Story Of The Month

"They looked at each other and thought they hit the mother load of terrorist activity in progress..."

There are so many lessons you can learn from Dr. Deak's story, I don't know where to start!

* Don't speed in your rental car
* Don't be cheeky to French or Italian police
* Don't have boot full of suspcious looking electronic devises

And...

* Don't travel without your Mobal World Phone.

To learn these lessons, read the whole tragi-comedy of Dr. Deak's story here...

"Hi Michael,

As a matter of fact I did have a very serious then funny incident whilst traveling through Europe.

I have a high tech company in Brooklyn, NY and I had business all throughout Europe. I found myself at the entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel 11.7 km long. The entrance is in Italy, but the exit is in France. I paid 32 Euro Dollars to go through the 2 lane tunnel with a speed limit of 70 km/hr.

Well I usually try my best to drive the speed limit +/- a few kms.

As I was halfway through I noticed a flash of light going off behind me and thought it was some tourist wanting to get a shot of the tunnel inside to boast to mates, etc. Moments later another flash set off thoughts of how those bloody tourists could waste time taking photos of a tunnel; buy a post card is my motto.

When I finally exited the tunnel, there standing on the side of the road were two policemen, one Italian, one French officer.

They waved me to pull over and the Italian announced that I was speeding through Mont Blanc Tunnel and wanted to see my driver's license and proof of rental.

First they inspected my luggage and asked me where I was traveling from, I said Milan on business. I am the inventor of a battery-less and wireless remote electrical control switch that I am licensing to several companies in the UK and EU and I had a lot of strange looking electronic devices and samples of various components all very foreign looking to the untrained eye.

When they looked at the items they looked at each other and thought they hit the mother load of terrorist activity in progress. I thought I hope the bloody hell they don't come up with the idea that I was trying to blow Mont Blanc.

They inquired if I could prove what I said. The only thing that entered my mind was that I happened to have stored the Director of Engineering of this Italian company in my Mobal World Phone, it was about 10:30 PM and I hoped he would answer.

I pleaded with him to verify my purpose to the police, which he did as he spoke with the Italian officer.

They were completely satisfied and the Italian officer then wrote me a ticket for speeding at 75 km/hr for 35 Euro Dollars, I paid cash.

As I was getting up to leave the French officer said: "Not so fast monsieur, you wer also speeding at 72 km/hr through the French side of the tunnel and that will cost you 45 Euro Dollars. I said why 45 is it because France had more square miles then Italy?

He wasn't amused, I paid the 45 in cash, repacked my luggage and was on my way.

Bon Voyage! I hope you enjoyed how Mobal saved my posterior."

Cheers, Dr. David Deak, CEO

Do You Have An Interesting Story To Share?
Email it to me at michael@mobalphone.com

posted by Michael Furniss at 5:54 AM  

4 Travel Websites You Need To See

Is this website telling you the truth about travel? — They say that if you left a million monkeys with a million typewriters for a million years, between them they would produce the works of Shakespeare. Well we have our own example, and it's called Wikitravel. By letting monkeys like you or I write about our travel experiences, and then other monkeys edit what you said based on their experiences, the theory is we'll end up with the truth in the end.

Looking up somewhere you've visited and see if you agree with what's been written…
www.wikitravel.org

The proof that Americana still exists — I've just come back from spending the week at a hotel near Chicago O'Hare airport, and let me tell you, it ain't like the America I saw the Fonz hanging out in Happy Days. Thankfully I found this website that proved to me that America still has a bit of Happy Day's left.

See if this website takes you back down memory lane…
http://www.roadsidepeek.com

How to travel with just 1 bag — So, you've just landed after spending what seemed like an eternity in your cramped airplane seat. You feel like you've spent the night in a hobo's pocket (see my P.S. in the introduction). All you want to do is get to your hotel room and sort your life out. But no. Standing between you and salvation is the dreaded baggage handler. It's almost like they purposefully put your bag aside until the end. But there's a way to escape this terrible purgartory.

Learn how to travel with just 1 bag...
http://www.onebag.com/

The guide to sleeping in airports — "This flight is delayed". Oh how those 4 little words can strike us with such dread. When you hear these words the number 1 thing you need to do is bag yourself the best place to set up camp and wait it out. This website has reports from nearly every airport in the world on the best and worse places to lay your head...

Will your next flight be delayed? Check out the airport you're visiting for the best sleeping spots...
http://www.sleepinginairports.net

posted by Michael Furniss at 5:51 AM  

8 Must Know Travel Tips From Mobal Members

Karen Kohn sent me these travel tips:

1) Where to find an endless supply of disposable travel items

"Before traveling internationally, I buy some clothes and paperback books at garage sales or thrift stores so that I can toss them as I go to lighten the load for souvenirs (or I save "older" clothes that I don't mind tossing). I leave these items in a hotel room with a note saying that these items were left on purpose and to either take them or toss them if they can't be used."

2) How to organize your souvenirs

"I travel with lots of Ziploc bags and after purchasing something as a gift, I put the item(s)in a Ziploc bag and write on it the name of person for whom it is intended.

Need Ziploc bags? Amazon.com to the rescue! Click here

I also cut out 2 sheets of cardboard to fit the bottom of my suitcase. I wrap string around the sheets so that when I buy art, I can slip the artwork in-between the cardboard and then secure with the string. I also carry bubble wrap for additional packing material for breakable souvenirs. Both of these I started doing when I ran into trouble in Peru trying to use my limited Spanish to ask for cardboard. They thought I was asking for "hardboard"!"

3) How to ensure you have something to wear, even if your luggage gets lost

"Additionally, before traveling I review my checklists for carry-on and checked baggage. When my husband and I travel together, we pack 1/2 of each person's clothes in a suitcase so if one
suitcase gets lost, we still have clothes for each of us in the remaining suitcase. I always carry on all medications in addition to changes of "undies", one shirt, and pajamas for my husband and myself in case all luggage is lost. While I have not had the displeasure of losing luggage,YET,
by packing this way I begin a trip with more peace of mind."

Need to update your luggage? LuggageOnline.com are offering up to 72% off!

J Forn sent me this tip:

4) How to guarantee you blend in with the locals

"I pack only a few essential items when I travel abroad. As soon as I arrive I find stores that sell used clothing. I buy what I need for the duration of the visit and then leave it in the hotel when I depart for another destination. This way if I am in Germany I wear typical German clothes. When I get to Italy I buy used clothes there. I buy underwear and socks at discount stores and leave them behind as soon as they are dirty. This way I can travel with a small suit case and not be saddled with one that is heavy and I don't have to worry about laundry."

If you need some hardwaring but comfortable travel clothing, check out Protravelgear.com

Margaret Kioseff sent me this tip:

5) A second way to ensure you have something to wear, even if your luggage gets lost

"I strongly recommend carrying a small bag with a change of clothing for a day or two when traveling internationally or to any location requiring a change of planes. Suitcases are often delayed. It is no fun arriving in a strange city in another country with only the clothes on your back."

If it's bags you need then check out LuggageOnline.com again

Gaylen Bennett sent me this tip:

6) The essential extra every car rental should include

"When we arrived in Italy we rented a car we asked for a portable GPS unit - which they gave us, only requiring a deposit on the unit. It worked wonderfully and we would have NEVER found all those out-of-the-way places we were able to see using our GPS. And, of course, we never travel out of the US without our Mobal phone (and charger!)"

Get lost when traveling? Get your own portable GPS system from Amazon.com and navigate like a local everytime!

Betty Sheldon sent me this tip:

7) Great way to collect souvenirs and have an adventure while you're doing it

"Even after 40-plus years of travel, I’m still fond of collecting postcards, receipts, brochures, etc., which serve as mementos and reminders of my trips. But all these items start to weigh a lot more than I want to carry around in my purse or luggage. So I now take with me several self-addressed 9”x12” (or larger) envelopes. When I’ve collected an envelope’s worth of these items, I find a local post office and send the package back to myself at home. This not only saves on suitcase weight at the end of the trip, but also becomes an adventure, as I have to find the local post and communicate what I want to do, giving me a wonderful chance to mingle with the locals. This may occur two or three times during a trip, but I have never yet failed to receive my packages, even from some seemingly remote areas where not a word of English is spoken."

Amazon.com even stock something as ordinary as envelopes!

Maitland Zentgraf sent me this tip:

8) 2 essential items to take on a cruise ship

"We have cruised on five different cruise lines and learned there are NO room clocks on cruise ships. Taking a travel alarm is a good idea.

Amazon.com, as you've come to expect, have a wide choice of travel alarm clocks from just $5

Also, it is VERY dark on a cruise ship so we have now added a glow in the dark nightlight to our packing list. Comes in very handy for the middle of the night trips to the bathroom. It can be difficult to leave the bathroom door open a crack with the light there left on, as many of us do in hotels, because the movement of the ship may swing it closed, so the nightlight is very helpful."

While you on Amazon, you could get yourself a night light too

Tell me your travel tips!
Email them to me at michael@mobalphone.com

posted by Michael Furniss at 5:24 AM  

Friday, April 13, 2007

The Ultimate Travel Booker's Toolkit

Are You Ready For Your Foreign Trip? Take Advantage Of Mobal’s Travel Partners’ Offers

As a Mobal Member you now get access to exclusive offers from our travel partners. Below are a few things you may not have sorted before you leave…

Hotels — Get up to $100 off your hotel booking:

Travelocity offer a guarantee to beat the price on over 700,000 hotels

Orbitiz offer a $100 off Mega Deal


Flights — Could you find your flight cheaper?

Can you find a cheaper flight on Travelocity?

Can you find a cheaper flight on Orbitz?

Car Rental — It’s not too late to save money on your deal

Find last minute car rental deals on Travelocity

Find last minute car rental deals on Orbitiz

Find last minute car rental deals on Enterprise Rentacar

Find last minute car rental deals on Thrifty

Insurance — Don’t skip it, and get it for a great price

Check out the Travel Insurance Center


Luggage — The right luggage will last you a lifetime, and you can get 70% off

Luggage Online are offering up to 72% off

Travel Safety — A few precautions like having a security pouch for your money and documents, or having a good lock for your luggage, you can prevent most crimes

Check out ProTravel Gear’s travel safety items

Travel Health — The difference between a great trip or a disaster can be your health

Check out ProTravelGear’s travel health items

Travel Comfort — From the flight to your hotel bed, a few items can make the world of difference in how you feel

Check out ProTravelGear’s travel comfort items

Travel Clothing — This can save you luggage space, keep your wrinkle free, and keep you comfortable in different environment

Check out ProTravelGear’s travel clothing items

I hope you find a great deal

Happy traveling!

Michael Furniss

P.S. If you can recommend any travel services or products you use and would like me to try and get a special deal, email them to me at michael@mobalphone.com

posted by Michael Furniss at 4:35 AM