Travel Tips

Airbnb Conditional Allowability per Rubin Observatory (as of 8/21/19)  Airbnb’s are conditionally allowable. They can only be used if there are no other allowable alternatives or some extenuating circumstance exists, such as medical
conditions documented with HR, etc.  Airbnb’s do not offer travelers the same kind of insurance and refund protection that hotels offer, therefore they are discouraged.

 

Do you have 6 months validity remaining on your passport? Many countries require that your U.S. passport have as much as 6 months validity remaining for entry. If your passport doesn't have the required validity, renew it today to avoid the cost and stress of waiting until the last minute. Please see the US Department of State website for more information.

 

For all pending travel it's advisable to check your carrier's website for flight delays, cancellations and unforeseen events which may affect travel. Any cancellations due to weather, mechanical errors and acts of terror should be exempt from change fees and normal cancellation policies. Various carrier rules and regulations apply.
 

When traveling domestic or abroad, as a back-up, print paper copies of your boarding passes. You never know when your phone will be in a dead zone or Wi-Fi is unavailable. Also, most domestic and international hotels will print your boarding passes, some with a nominal fee.

 

When traveling on a multi-leg flight, whether domestic or international, make sure luggage is checked all the way through to your final destination. Double check your luggage tags before leaving check-in. 

 

“TRAVEL TIPPING”

Most people, when they travel, are used to tipping when they eat at a restaurant but have no idea what to do for other tipping situations. Most professional service providers work for really low wages and depend on tips as the primary source of income. Here are some recommendations for tipping when traveling.

Restaurant wait staff - 15-20% depending on service. Don't forget about the buffet staff as well.
Hotel Bell Captain - $1-2 per bag. This can get confusing as one person unloads from the cab. The next person places it on a luggage cart and then passes it on to another. I wait until I get to the room and pay the last person who presents me with my bags.
Airport or train porter - $1-2 per bag.
Cab & Uber drivers - 10-15% of the fare, unless service is poor.
Courtesy shuttle drivers - $1-2 per bag.
Hotel Concierge - $10-20 per request.
Hotel Doorman - $3-5 if they call a cab
Housekeeping) - $2-5 per day- every day- not at the end of your stay. Sadly, only about 20% of travelers tip housekeeping and these people probably work the hardest of all the people on this list. Plus, they really affect the quality of your stay.

 

Please let me know of other people you like to tip when traveling. Is there someone I missed? 

 

 

Financial support for Rubin Observatory comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Support Agreement No. 1202910, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded Rubin Observatory Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).  The DOE-funded effort to build the the Rubin Observatory LSST Camera (LSSTCam) is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
NSF and DOE will continue to support Rubin Observatory in its Operations phase. They will also provide support for scientific research with LSST data.   




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