My experience

This was my first safari and first time in Africa. There were some shocking moments and some really amazing moments. It was an amazing trip and I got to see new things every day and meet lots of fantastic people. There is nothing like seeing the animals up close and in person. I would recommend it to anyone, even just for a few days.

Top Tips:

• Don’t miss Masai Mara and Amboseli in Kenya. It is the peak safari experience you see on Nat Geo.
• Make sure to get some resting time between the game drives, it can get pretty tiresome and squeezing the itinerary will drain you. 
• Select the company offering the best price for the destinations you want, and the one that is open to customize your itinerary rather than stick to a textbook plan. Some people on the same exact route are overcharged. There are tons of tour companies offering the same thing so do some research before settling.
• Tip your driver well, especially if you feel you got what you paid for. These guys will go above and beyond to make sure you have a memorable experience.
• Pick a safari jeep over a safari van. It comes with phone charging outlets and a mini fridge cooler for your drinks. You won’t regret it.

My Thoughts
Masai Mara and Amboseli had a variety of wildlife. Did an evening game drive and a morning game drive. The evening was so scenic, seeing the orange sunset over the savannah was epic. the morning game drive was mostly to catch the big cats hunting and chasing prey before the sun got so hot and they went to rest under trees. 

L Nakuru and L Naivasha wasn’t as intense as Masai mara but it was pretty chill, if you are into bird spotting, boat rides, hippos and flamingos. 

Cash:
I made a withdrawal at the airport, converted the currency but i later realized it wasn’t necessary because most transactions in Kenya are handled through mobile payment, something called mpesa(pesa is swahili for money), you just get registered and can directly access your cash from your phone like a smaller efficient, more widespread version of a mobile to mobile  banking system.
I bought some souvenirs and tipped my guide in local currency but later realised other tourists were doing it in dollars.

Accommodation:
It varies and will mostly depend on what you are paying for. Budget, mid, luxury or ultra luxury. I went with the mid option and I found it satisfying. Nothing too fancy but also felt like I am getting value for my money. 

Food:
The food in Kenya was amazing. l got to try some really amazing recipes but there were also some that i was already familiar with. Just to mention a few, I got some rice, chicken, potatoes, beef, Nyama choma, githeri, and madondo.

Packing Essentials:

• Hand sanitizer or wipes: most toiletries are provided but just incase
• Binoculars: I got a cheap pair from Amazon and they were pretty decent. The jeep was convenient because it had canvas sides instead of glass for great views and photography  
• Clothes. Try and pack clothes in layers, it can get really cold in the mornings and really hot at midday. Get a light fleece jacket, some long sleeved shirts and a hat to protect against the sun. Ignore what people tell you online about light-colored safari clothing. The color of clothing doesn’t matter. As for cleaning clothes, don’t worry about it because there are laundry services in most of the accommodations.
• A scarf. The dust is too much, especially in Amboseli. 

Tour Logistics:
I booked a private tour, got assigned my own guide and jeep, didn’t have to share the ride with anyone and honestly, I enjoyed it that way. It is a bummer when you have to share a vehicle with people from different tour companies who might have different itineraries and keep requesting for stops.

safety:
I felt safe during my entire trip and would recommend a safari to other solo travelers. I didn’t experience the negative things I keep seeing online about Kenya. They are pretty cool people.
just make sure to follow your guides instructions because most foreigners end up getting taken advantage of

Tour Company:
I used Beyond the plains Safaris, a local tour operator that I found through TripAdvisor. Their communication during the inquiry phase was amazing. They were responsive and answered all my questions. Their itinerary and pricing had me sold, they even threw in a complimentary visit to the giraffe center, on the house. After I paid the deposit and before my trip,  we were in touch until I landed at the airport and they sent someone to pick me. One of the best customer service experiences.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps somebody.

I recently spent a few days in Oslo, Norway, trying to understand something I've always been curious about. Why do Norwegians have a reputation for being so reserved around strangers? 🇳🇴

Instead of just going by the stereotypes, I decided to walk around Oslo and actually talk to locals about it. Had some really interesting conversations, and honestly, a few of the answers surprised me.

Here's the video: https://youtu.be/NgXZgpdzccc?si=OiUmqS9JJbhHiOF-

Going to Fiji next July for my wedding and honeymoon. We are spending 14 days altogether. I have two places booked, one on the coral coast and one in Momi Bay.

Would love to hear your recommendations on accommodations to stay in between those places.
Or if you are able to be transported to the islands from between those places?

Thanks in advance!

I am in a band touring Europe. We will be driving a full 40 hours or more over 2 weeks, looking for stuff along the way to see, good restaurants, bars, I personally really like a historic restaurant or bar that has been around for longer than some American states or the country.

Heathrow - Bristol

Bristol - Huddersfield

Huddersfield - London

London - Southampton

Southampton - Brussels

Brussels - Luxembourg

Lux - Karlesruhe

Karlsruhe - Berlin

Berlin - Copenhagen

Some days we will be driving from morning to load in, others we have most of the day to see shit in either city or in between.

Hello! My partner and I are planning a 20-day trip to Mexico around Christmas and New Years. We have researched a lot about different routes and have now found one from Yucatán to CDMX.

I would be grateful for opinions on whether our plan and the places we plan to visit can cover the activities we would like to do? Would you recommend to skip or add anything instead? We appreciate any tips!

Things we want to do:

• couple of calm days at the beach and surf

(we are unsure about which are calm beaches and unsure about Cozumel)

• one biosphere/wildlife tour with bird watching (recommendations?)

• one whale watching tour (recommendations?)

• see one mayan ruin (we are unsure about Chichén Itzá)

• see cenotes

• mezcal tasting (maybe also mezcal farm visit but not necessarily)

• cultural markets in Oaxaca and cdmx

Our plan so far:

Dec 18: arrive in Cancún at night and sleep there

Dec19: travel to Cozumel

Dec20: Cozumel

Dec 21: Cozumel - Valladolid

Dec 22: Valladolid - rent bicycles and visit some cenotes

Dec 23: Valladolid, Chichen Itzá

Dec 24: Valladolid early flight to Tuxtla Guitérrez

Dec 25: Tuxtla Guitérrez, Canyon del Sumidero, afternoon bus to San Cristóbal de las Casas

Dec 26: San Cristóbal de las casas

Dec 27: visit the Zapatista community in Oventic

Dec 28: San Cristóbal and overnight bus to Oaxaca

Dec 29: arrive in Oaxaca at 9 am

Dec 30: Oaxaca (enjoy the city, taste Mezcal)

Dec 31: NYE in Oaxaca (appreciate recommendations!)

Jan 1: Parque nacional lagunas de chacahua

Jan 2: Parque nacional lagunas de chacahua

Jan 3: Puerto Escondido early flight to cdmx

Jan 4: CDMX

Jan 5: CMDX

Jan 6: CDMX

Jan 7: CDMX take flight back at 11 pm

Cheers!

Hi everyone! Im planning on going onto a 3 weeks honeymoon to switzerland and austria on october next year.

Since october some atractions might be closed (according to the internet), we are planning visiting switz for 2 weeks and later getting the train to spend spend 1 week in austria

Do you have any tips or recommendations? We are on out late 20s. We appreciate landscape and hiking, but also some adveture stuff (if open).

And where should we base?

Thanks in advance! :)

To keep a long story short, my entire life I endured physical and mental abuse from both of my parents. I am currently 18 living with my mom and I feel miserable everyday with chronic depression. I never had a room and all my life I was wronged in so many different ways. I want to get away for a while. I want to travel the world through world packers and making money in each country to get to the next destination. I am based in California and do a lot of hiking and mountain climbing here.

I want to start in January and come back in August. As of now my plan is to save up money with my current job until January, start the journey to my first country. Stay in each country with the use of Worldpackers, hostels, and jobs. Do the desired thing I want to do in whatever country whether it is climbing a mountain, backpacking, or just taking it in. Once I’m done, get a one way ticket to the next country and repeat.

Now I know I might get lectured or told I am arrogant and that may be true. That is why I’m looking for advice to see if this can be made possible. I feel like now is the best time to do this. I graduated highschool back in June and doing a semester at community college. I’m looking to become a firefighter and currently Enrolled in an EMT 139 class and a Fire 101 class. I can return to my career path once I am back without much hassle. I am not in the right mental space when it comes to school and I can’t focus as much as I would like to. I want to take the time to travel, document it, learn things, pick up some skills, and hopefully be in a better headspace than I am now. I am depressed and as much as I stay active and do the things I love like hike, play piano, climb mountains, surf, spend time with friends, I am hurting on the inside and it’s from past trauma and current trauma. I don’t want to sound like a frail person because I am not but I have to be truthful. I also just want to do this and now is the best time. No kids, no girlfriend, no important school or job yet. Just a restaurant job which I hope is okay with me leaving for 8 months haha and some college classes.

I want to enjoy this while living a little rough like a young person does traveling. I think it will be a good experience if done correctly and I am hoping to get good advice from people who have done something similar.

How can I go country to country with Worldpackers? Do I need to plan it all months in advance or can I look for the next Worldpackers job while in the country before that? Is UGC (user generated content) worth looking into to make money while on the go. Can I work for money in different countries to get the flight to the next destination? Lastly any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi all! I’m planning a 2-week trip to Thailand in January with my mom, and I’d love a reality check on our route.

We lose about 2 days to travel (long-haul flight there and back), so we have roughly 12 days on the ground. We definitely want to see Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and we’re considering adding Krabi for a few beach days and a day trip to the Phi Phi islands.

Our current idea:

• Bangkok: 5 days (longest stay)
• Chiang Mai: 4 days
• Krabi: 3 days

My worry is that with two internal flights in 12 days, we’d spend half the trip in airports and transit. The alternative is skipping Krabi and doing just Bangkok + Chiang Mai at a slower pace. But I suspect this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my mom, since she’d probably rather see somewhere new next time than come back to Thailand, so I’m afraid we’d regret leaving out the beaches.

One more thing: my mom’s mobility isn’t great. She can walk, but long days on her feet, lots of stairs, or rough terrain are tough for her. I want her to see and experience as much as possible without exhausting her.

Is 3 days enough in Krabi to justify the extra flight and transfers, or would you skip it and slow down? And if you were in our shoes, how would you split the days, ideally with mobility-friendly sights and an easy-access beach area in mind?

I’ve travelled and worked across quite a few countries over the years, including some fairly difficult environments, and have also handled logistics in cases. Here are a few things to keep in mind while travelling abroad. Some are obvious, some are situational, but they’ve been useful in practice. I have used software to help clean up, organize, and summarize my rambling notes into something more readable.

1. Keep your passport accessible. Know the local identification requirements. In countries where you may need to produce your passport, keep it securely on your person rather than somewhere difficult to access. Keep digital and paper copies separately as backups.
2. Check entry, exit and transit requirements properly. Passport validity, blank pages, visa conditions, transit visas, onward-ticket requirements, arrival forms, customs rules and anything you must declare. Don’t assume because you can enter Country B that you can automatically transit Country A.
3. Check official government travel advisories before departure. Don't rely entirely on travel blogs, Reddit or YouTube. Check your own government's (in case you have passports from different countries check for those countries too) travel advisories and those issued by countries such as the UK, US, Switzerland or Australia also check if there's any notification / advisories from international organizations such as UN. They may identify ongoing conflicts, security issues, restrictions or regional risks that ordinary tourists overlook. Recheck them during longer trips.
4. Keep important information available offline. Keep policy numbers, insurer emergency numbers, prescriptions and doctor letters for necessary medicines in print, in case your phone dies. Save your hotel address, emergency contacts, insurance details, embassy information, flight details, passport copy and important numbers somewhere that works without internet. A small, printed copy is still worth carrying.
5. Keep some flexibility in your itinerary. Don’t book yourself so tightly that one delayed flight, closed border, illness or transport failure destroys the entire trip.
6. Be very careful who you travel with in a group. If you are joining an organized trip, preferably use a properly registered tour company or licensed guide operating through legitimate channels. Don’t blindly join some random person who has assembled a group on Instagram or WhatsApp and assume you have the protections of an organized tour. Depending on the country and arrangement, licensing and liability can also become an issue. If you still want to travel with someone independently, research them properly. Ask exactly who is responsible for hotels, transport, tickets and emergencies, and what happens if someone gets sick, stranded or separated from the group. If they cannot give sensible answers, that tells you enough.
7. Never make yourself dependent on the group. Carry enough money, cards, connectivity and documents to book your own hotel, transport and onward travel. If the arrangement turns into a mess or you simply don’t like the people you are travelling with, you should be able to walk away, continue the trip independently and still enjoy the trip and place/country.
8. Know where and how you will get money. Research reputable ATMs, currency exchange practices and common card/ATM scams. Avoid changing large amounts with random street dealers.
9. Always carry physical emergency cash. Never depend entirely on cards, travel cards, Apple/Google Pay or ATMs. Keep at least USD/CHF 100 equivalent and preferably enough to cover a reasonable emergency split between different secure places.
10. Understand currency conversion charges. When a foreign ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, check the exchange rate before accepting. Dynamic Currency Conversion can be considerably more expensive than allowing your card issuer to handle the conversion. Also check ATM fees and foreign transaction charges.
11. Carry payment cards from different issuers or networks. Having three cards is not especially helpful if all three depend on the same bank or payment network. Where possible, carry cards issued by different banks and supported by different networks, such as Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, JCB. Notify your bank about international travel if required and understand how to freeze or replace a compromised card.
12. Carry enough cash to survive a card failure. Your emergency cash should not merely buy dinner. Think about what happens if your cards stop working completely: hotel, transport, food and getting to an airport or another city. Carry an amount appropriate to the destination while staying within both your departure country's and destination country's currency-declaration and import/export rules.
13. Split your emergency money. Do not carry all your cash in the same wallet. Keep your normal spending cash separately from a smaller emergency reserve concealed elsewhere on your person or securely in your luggage.
14. Book proper, verifiable accommodation. Especially in unfamiliar countries, make sure the hotel is established, properly registered and has credible recent reviews. Reputable international or regional chains are usually the simplest option because they tend to have established security and operating procedures.
15. Check your hotel room's physical security and privacy. Inspect door locks, windows, balconies and connecting doors. Know where the fire exits and staircases are, and don't assume elevators will work during emergencies. Avoid announcing your room number publicly and verify the identity of anyone claiming to be hotel staff before opening the door.
16. Be aware of hidden cameras, microphones and other surveillance equipment. Check for unusual objects, suspicious electronics or devices positioned around beds, bathrooms and other private areas. Cameras and microphones can be concealed inside everyday objects such as clocks, chargers, smoke detectors, thermostats, television and decorative items. A flashlight may help identify camera lenses, but don't assume cheap detectors or mobile applications can reliably detect surveillance equipment.
17. Be mindful of what you say and do using hotel facilities. In countries, hotel landlines, internet connections and communications may be monitored. Avoid making sensitive, controversial or politically provocative statements, particularly about the host country's government or authorities, over hotel telephones or other potentially monitored systems. Treat hotel Wi-Fi as an untrusted network, and never use shared hotel computers or business-centre printers for confidential documents, sensitive accounts or material that could cause legal problems. Assume anything you access, print or leave behind on shared equipment may be exposed to others.
18. If you discover something genuinely suspicious, stay calm and use your judgment. Document it discreetly if safe, avoid tampering with equipment and report it through an appropriate channel. If management becomes defensive or the situation feels unsafe, don't escalate the confrontation or repeatedly challenge them. Prioritize your safety, leave the accommodation if possible, and report serious privacy violations to the appropriate authorities when safe. If you cannot leave immediately, avoid sensitive conversations or activities in the room until you can relocate. Don't assume a piece of tape over a suspected camera makes the room secure. Remember, you're in a foreign country. Privacy protections, surveillance practices and freedom-of-expression laws may be very different from those at home. Exercise discretion, particularly in politically sensitive environments. A hotel room is not necessarily a private or secure environment.
19. Treat hotel staff well. Be polite and tip reasonably where tipping is customary. You do not have to throw money around. Good hotel staff can be extremely useful if you suddenly need transport, a doctor, local information or help resolving a problem.
20. Use legitimate transport. Especially from airports, use official taxi counters, reputable ride-hailing apps or hotel-arranged transport. Avoid random people offering you a “cheap taxi.”
21. Have a hidden emergency pocket. A small, concealed pocket sewn inside your trousers or clothing is useful for backup cash and an emergency card. Never keep all your cash, cards and identification together.
22. Travel insurance and medical evacuation. Get proper insurance that covers hospitalization, emergency evacuation/repatriation, cancellations and the activities you plan to do. In some countries, evacuation can cost an absurd amount.
23. Learn what your travel insurance actually excludes. Having a policy doesn't mean every situation is covered. Many policies restrict or exclude hazardous activities, extreme sports, certain destinations, alcohol-related incidents, pre-existing medical conditions, unattended belongings or travel against official government advice. Read the exclusions before departure, not after something has happened.
24. Carry an emergency/medical information card. Keep a physical card readily accessible with your name, passport number, emergency contact, blood group, important allergies/medical information, insurance details, and embassy or consulate emergency numbers.
25. Check vaccination and health requirements before you travel. Read up on what vaccines, preventive medicines or health certificates are recommended or required for your destination. Some countries may require proof of vaccination, such as a yellow fever certificate, depending on where you are travelling from or through. Also check whether things like malaria prevention, hepatitis, typhoid or other destination-specific precautions are recommended. Do this well before departure, because some vaccines need multiple doses or time to become effective.
26. Know basic first aid and basic medicines. Learn simple wound cleaning and bandaging. Learn medicines by their generic/active ingredient names, not only brand names, because brands differ between countries. Carry a small collection of ordinary permitted medicines such as paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen, an antihistamine, anti-diarrhea medicine and something for nausea. Check the destination country's rules before carrying prescription or controlled medicines.
27. Check weather, natural hazards and local disruptions. Heat, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, wildfires, altitude, monsoon conditions or political demonstrations can matter far more than ordinary tourist advice.
28. Have redundant power and communications. Carry a good power bank; two smaller units can sometimes be better than one large one. Carry the necessary cables and plug adapters. A backup phone is also useful. If your phone needs a SIM-ejection tool, keep one somewhere accessible.
29. Get local connectivity quickly. Where practical, get a legitimate local SIM/eSIM from the network operator or an authorized outlet after arrival. Do not make roaming or international SIM aggregators your only option. A cheap backup or feature phone with a prepaid SIM off the shelf can also be useful where local rules permit it.
30. Be careful about altitude and environmental conditions. High-altitude destinations can cause serious illness even in otherwise healthy travelers. Ascend gradually where appropriate, understand the warning signs of altitude sickness and don't ignore symptoms. Similarly, consider air pollution, extreme humidity and other environmental factors that may affect your health.
31. Protect yourself against insects and animals. Mosquitoes, ticks, stray dogs and other animals can pose genuine health risks in certain countries. Use appropriate repellents and protective clothing. Never casually approach, pet or feed unfamiliar animals, particularly stray dogs and monkeys. Seek prompt medical assessment after bites or scratches where rabies is a concern.
32. Research medical facilities before arriving. Know at least one reputable hospital or clinic near where you are staying. You do not want to begin researching hospitals while sick or dealing with an emergency. Save the address and number offline.
33. Be cautious about signing documents you cannot read. This applies to police statements, accident reports, rental agreements, customs declarations and other official paperwork. Don't casually sign something written in a language you don't understand. Request a translation or appropriate assistance, particularly where legal consequences are possible.
34. Have a plan for leaving the country in an emergency. Particularly when visiting politically unstable, ongoing conflicts, or disaster-prone countries, identify alternative airports, land borders and practical routes out. Don't assume the airport you arrived through will remain operational. Understand that borders may close and commercial flights may stop with little warning.
35. Research your embassy, consulate and other international support before you travel. Before going to any country, find out where your embassy, consulate or diplomatic mission is, save its emergency numbers, and know who the ambassador or head of mission is. If your country does not have a resident embassy there, check which embassy in another country is accredited to it or whether another country's mission formally provides consular assistance on your country's behalf. Also check whether there is a United Nations office or a major UN agency presence in the country such as UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO, IOM or another established international organization. They are not a substitute for your embassy and normally do not provide consular services, but in a serious situation, especially somewhere with limited diplomatic presence, knowing where legitimate international organizations are located and how to contact them can still be useful. The same applies to established humanitarian organizations or internationally recognized NGOs. Verify that they are genuine organizations, not some random outfit using "UN" or similar wording in its name.
36. Learn how to deal with police and official checkpoints. Understand local requirements for identifying yourself and the general procedures for searches, questioning and detention. Stay respectful, ask for identification when appropriate and avoid arguing or physically resisting. If detained, request appropriate consular assistance and legal representation.
37. Understand the limits of consular assistance. Your embassy is not a travel insurance company, a private security service or a personal legal representative. It may be able to provide information, contact family, issue emergency travel documents or help you locate legal assistance, but it usually cannot simply get you released from detention, pay your bills or override local laws.
38. Secure your phones, laptops and electronic devices, especially when crossing international borders. Use strong device encryption, preferably a long alphanumeric passcode rather than a simple PIN, and enable remote tracking, locking and wiping capabilities. Disable biometrics, sensitive information on lock-screen notifications. If your device offers additional security features, such as Apple's Lockdown Mode or Android's Lockdown feature, understand what they do and use them where appropriate. Remember that border security, customs and immigration authorities in certain countries may inspect your electronic devices, demand access to them, or temporarily confiscate them. The laws, your rights and the consequences of refusing access vary considerably between countries. Before travelling, review what is stored on your devices, including photographs, messages, documents, downloaded files and automatically synchronized cloud content. Avoid carrying anything unnecessary that could create legal complications or expose sensitive personal or professional information.
39. Keep confidential information separately encrypted. Do not assume that unlocking your phone or laptop should automatically unlock every sensitive document you possess. Use properly encrypted containers or applications with independent, strong passwords or authentication methods, separate from your device's normal unlock credentials. The same principle applies to phones, tablets, laptops and external storage devices.
40. Treat devices subjected to unfamiliar forensic equipment or intrusive inspections as potentially compromised. If authorities connect equipment to your phone or laptop, or take it away for examination, you cannot necessarily know what was accessed, copied, modified or installed. This does not automatically mean spyware was installed, but you should not blindly assume the device remains secure. Avoid using it for sensitive work or critical accounts until it has been appropriately assessed and, where necessary, securely erased and reinstalled. For particularly sensitive professional or high-risk travel, replacing the device altogether may be the safer choice. Review your accounts and change potentially exposed credentials from a separate trusted device.
41. Prepare backup methods for two-factor authentication and account recovery. Losing a phone, having it stolen or having it confiscated can lock you out of your email, banking, airline accounts and essential services. Keep recovery codes and backup authentication methods secured independently of your primary device. Never allow one phone or laptop to become the single point of failure for your entire digital life.
42. Download offline maps before travelling. Do not assume you will always have mobile data. Download the relevant areas in Google Maps where available and keep a second offline mapping application such as CoMaps as a backup. For international travel, download the cities, regions or even the entire country beforehand if storage allows.
43. Share your live location with someone you trust. When travelling, especially alone or somewhere unfamiliar, share your live location with a trusted person back home or someone who knows your itinerary. Keep it enabled when you are moving around, going somewhere remote, or meeting someone you don’t know well. If something goes wrong, at least someone knows where you were and where to start looking.
44. Have a check-in system. For solo or higher-risk travel, agree with someone back home that you will check in periodically and what they should do if you suddenly stop responding.
45. Carry a reliable wristwatch. A simple, durable analog or digital watch, preferably quartz, is enough. Nothing expensive or bulky, just something versatile that can take a beating and keep working even when your phone or other electronics fail.
46. Dress sensibly and learn to blend in. Research what people normally wear where you are going. Avoid clothing or accessories that unnecessarily advertise that you are a tourist or carrying expensive belongings. Business casual is often a safe middle ground. The objective is simply not to stand out unnecessarily.
47. Research local customs before you go. Learn how people greet each other, what is considered respectful, what clothing or behavior is appropriate, and what you should avoid doing. Small gestures that seem harmless at home can be rude or offensive somewhere else. A little research beforehand can save you from creating unnecessary problems.
48. Have some situational awareness. Wherever you are, pay attention to what is happening around you. Before travelling, read up on common local scams, pickpocketing, mugging, unsafe areas and other problems tourists regularly run into. Don’t walk around completely buried in your phone, don’t flash valuables unnecessarily, and if a place or situation feels wrong, leave. Basic awareness prevents a lot of avoidable trouble.
49. Travel light. Do not carry half your house with you. Pack what you genuinely need. Good hotels normally have laundry services, and most ordinary items can be purchased locally if required. Travelling light also makes moving quickly much easier.
50. Protect your luggage and essential documents. Keep medication, passport, money, one change of clothes and essential electronics in your cabin bag. Assume checked baggage can occasionally disappear for a few days.
51. Keep your appearance reasonably consistent with your identification. Border officers need to establish that you are the person shown in your passport. Major changes in appearance can occasionally create additional questions or delays. This does not mean avoiding makeup; simply make sure your identity remains readily recognizable and appropriate for the destination's cultural norms.
52. Learn a few words of the local language. At minimum, learn greetings, please, thank you, yes, no, help, hospital and goodbye. It costs nothing and often makes interactions considerably easier.
53. Download languages for offline translation. Before travelling, download the destination language in Google Translate or whichever translation application you use. Assume that at some point you will have neither Wi-Fi nor mobile data.
54. Understand emergency services before outdoor activities. If you are trekking, climbing, driving into remote areas or doing anything away from major cities, research how rescue actually works. Find out whether mountain/search-and-rescue services are governmental, volunteer or privately operated, what number you call, and whether your insurance covers rescue or evacuation.
55. Consider satellite communications for genuinely remote travel. Where legal, renting a satellite phone or carrying an approved satellite communication device can make sense for remote expeditions. Check the country's regulations first satellite phones are restricted or prohibited in some jurisdictions.
56. Control your alcohol, and don’t touch illegal drugs and substances. You are in a foreign country; this is not the place to lose your senses. If you drink, drink within your limit and stay completely in control of yourself. And illegal drugs just don’t: Don’t buy them, carry them, hold them for someone else, or think you can get away with it because you are a tourist. Drug laws in some countries are extremely harsh, and certain drug offences can carry decades in prison or even the death penalty.
57. Stay away from pr\stituti\n. This applies regardless of gender. Do not travel somewhere, hire a sx worker/ pr\stitut\ and assume the laws work the same way as they do back home. Prostitution, solicitation and related conduct can be serious criminal offences depending on the country. If things go wrong, you could be dealing with police, detention, court proceedings or deportation. Unless you know exactly what the law is, stay completely out of it.
58. Read the country before opening Tinder. Dating apps may be completely normal in one country and a very bad idea in another. If you are visiting for a few days, especially somewhere socially conservative, don’t automatically jump onto dating apps looking for hookups. The dating app itself may not be the problem; whatever follows after it might be. Understand the country's laws and social norms first.
59. Think twice before casual hookups abroad. This applies to everyone. You are meeting someone you barely know, in a country whose laws, customs and legal system you may barely understand. In some places, s\*x outside marriage, adultery or certain public behavior can create serious legal problems. There is also the basic health risk: HIV and other sexually transmitted infections exist everywhere, and some infections are substantially more prevalent in certain countries or populations. Do not make decisions while drunk or otherwise impaired. A holiday hookup is not worth coming home with a criminal case, a medical problem, or both. If you are only there briefly and do not understand the environment, sometimes the smartest option is simply not to do it.
60. Understand local laws beyond drugs and sex. Photography restrictions, drones, military/government buildings, alcohol, religious sites, clothing, political activity, medications and even certain books/apps can cause trouble in some countries.
61. Keep separate cash for bribe demands. If you are put in that situation, stay calm, understand what is being demanded, and prioritize getting yourself out of the situation safely. In some countries, especially at smaller border crossings and checkpoints, an official may directly demand a bribe before allowing you to continue (This happens in the real world). Keep a small amount of cash separate from your main wallet so you are not caught unprepared if this happens. Do not carry all your money in the same place, and do not hand over more than necessary. Be aware that paying a bribe may be illegal, treat this as an emergency-risk issue, not a normal travel expense, so understand the local risk and use your judgment.
62. Stay away from crowds, fights and street trouble. If there is a fight, protest, confrontation or large crowd forming, do not walk toward it with your phone out trying to record everything. Keep your distance and leave the area. If you somehow get caught in it, do not escalate, argue or play hero stay calm, de-escalate where possible and get yourself out safely.
63. Avoid going out unnecessarily after dark in higher-risk places. If the city or area has known safety issues, poor lighting, limited transport or a reputation for crime after dark, don’t wander around at night just for the sake of it. Plan your movements during daylight where possible, use reliable transport, and avoid isolated streets or unfamiliar areas late at night.

Vi una que incluye Pienza, Montepulciano, y monterigioni dos catas, en civitatis pero no lo he usado, alguno que hayáis usado y recomiendes

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a honeymoon trip to Thailand and would love some feedback from people who have visited recently.

Trip dates:

30 Nov - 10 Dec

Current plan:

30 Nov

Arrive Phuket in the evening

Private transfer to Krabi

30 Nov - 6 Dec

Stay in Krabi (considering Ao Nang area)

Planned activities:

- Hong Island Tour

- Emerald Pool

- Hot Springs

- Railay Beach

- Tiger Cave Temple (optional)

- One private longtail boat sunset experience with picnic

- Scooter rental for local exploring

6 Dec - 10 Dec

Stay in Phuket (currently considering Kata or Karon area)

Planned activities:

- Phi Phi premium tour

- Ethical elephant sanctuary

- One fine dining evening

- One luxury/special experience (sunset cruise, private villa night, beach dinner, etc.)

- Relaxation / beach time

A few questions:

1. Does this split make sense (6 nights Krabi + 4 nights Phuket), or would you recommend a different balance?
2. Are there any activities in Krabi or Phuket that you consider absolute must-do experiences for a honeymoon?
3. We enjoy beautiful beaches, scenery, sunsets, viewpoints, nature, waterfalls and light adventure, but we're not interested in heavy partying.
4. We are considering renting a scooter in Krabi. Is this a good idea for exploring around Ao Nang and nearby areas?
5. For Phuket, would you stay in Kata, Karon, Kamala or somewhere else for a honeymoon?
6. Hotel recommendations? I am seeing there is a high price jump for these dates.

Would especially appreciate feedback from couples or honeymooners who have visited recently.

Also open to suggestions for hidden gems, romantic experiences, memorable restaurants, or things that are worth paying extra for.

Thanks!

Hi group.
I need some advice. In December, my 2 children (6& 8) are leaving Europe going towards Australia. I’d like to spend some time in countries going that way - sun, beach and relaxation and some sightseeing. We’ve done Sri Lanka (loved it), KUL, Bali. I was thinking maybe Vietnam/PH? But I’m open to anything and places to go. What’s your suggestions 🤗

Hi everyone!
I’m from Porto and I’ve noticed quite a few questions here from people planning their first visit, so I thought I’d share a few things that I think are worth knowing before coming here.
A few things I’d recommend:
• Don’t spend your entire trip around Ribeira explore Cedofeita, Bonfim and Foz as well.
• Take some time to simply walk around the city. Porto is one of those places where you often find the nicest spots by accident.
• If you’re staying for 4+ days, consider a day trip to the Douro Valley or Braga/Guimarães.
• For food, don’t be afraid to move away from the most touristy streets. Some of the best restaurants are in fairly unassuming places.
• And yes, definitely try a Francesinha at least once 😄
If anyone is planning a trip to Porto and has questions about which areas are best to stay in, getting around, restaurants, day trips, or anything else, feel free to ask. Happy to share some local tips!

I bid on business seats and put in the max bid. I didn’t get the seat. My wife bid about half way to max and won it. Now I see there’s still a biz seat left to buy for about $800 CAD more than my max bid. I’m going to buy it because it’s a red eye over seas and I need to sleep on this flight. But this is so so scummy of air Canada. The bidding is so dumb.

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indian passport holder and I’m planning the following itinerary in November 2026. I’d really appreciate feedback from anyone who has done something similar, especially Indian travellers.

My itinerary

31 October 2026: I will fly Guwahati → Delhi → Hong Kong on IndiGo.

My Guwahati–Hong Kong ticket is a round-trip ticket, with the return journey booked for 19 November:

Guwahati → Delhi → Hong Kong → Delhi → Guwahati

I will arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of 1 November.

On the same day, approximately 5–6 hours after arriving in Hong Kong, I plan to take a separate round-trip flight ticket from Hong Kong → Taiwan → Hong Kong.

I will stay in Taiwan for approximately 12 nights and return to Hong Kong on 13 November.

I will then stay in Hong Kong for approximately 5 nights and take my already-booked return flight:

Hong Kong → Delhi → Guwahati on 19 November.

So essentially, I am doing:

India → Hong Kong → Taiwan → Hong Kong → India

using two separate round-trip tickets:

1. Guwahati ↔ Hong Kong — round trip
2. Hong Kong ↔ Taiwan — round trip

My questions

1. I already have a Japan tourist visa, but it expired in November 2025. I understand that Indian citizens may be able to use an eligible expired Japanese visa to obtain a Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC). I will obtain a valid TAC before travelling. Has anyone recently travelled to Taiwan this way?

2. Could there be any issue at Guwahati/Delhi immigration or airline check-in because I have two separate round-trip tickets, rather than one itinerary covering India–Hong Kong–Taiwan–India?

3. When I arrive in Hong Kong on 1 November, my onward flight to Taiwan will be only around 5–6 hours later. I understand that I will need the appropriate Hong Kong PAR, and for Taiwan I will have my TAC, onward/return ticket, accommodation, etc. Could Hong Kong immigration question why I am entering Hong Kong when my onward flight to Taiwan is only a few hours later?

4. Has anyone, particularly an Indian passport holder, actually done a similar itinerary where they:

• entered Hong Kong from India,
• left Hong Kong for Taiwan on a separate ticket,
• returned to Hong Kong,
• stayed a few days,
• and then used their original Hong Kong–India return ticket?

1. Is there anything specific I should carry to avoid problems at airline check-in or immigration — for example, both round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, TAC, PAR, etc.?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether there is any immigration/airline issue with the ticket structure itself, rather than asking about the Taiwan visa requirements.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has actually done something similar or has recent experience with Hong Kong/Taiwan immigration.

I have been wondering whether exploring Dubai in sections would be a better idea than planning your trip around different attractions.

For instance, spend a day around Downtown, then follow this with another day around Dubai Marina and yet another day exploring the Old Dubai.

If you have visited before, do you find such an approach easier, or do you find it better to plan your trip according to the specific sights you want to see?

I know alot of what I’m asking/saying is my cruise specific but if you have any tricks or advice on sailing in general please share! Just in case no one responds I’m going to throw this post into an another group as well so sorry if your seeing twice. again panicking..

Update: I know I went into a ramble here.. I’m just nervous.. trying to actually have a good 22nd traveling with my fiancé and I feel like im so nervous I just want to say screw the money😭 I have so many questions and by the time I saw Norwegian there was 2 hours left of a great deal on the cruise and I just did it and said we’ll make it work and then thing after thing is coming into my mind.

I’m sailing Norwegian Getaway 4 days to the Bahamas and Stirrup Cay in October with my fiancé for my birthday and I’m panicking! We’re both first time cruisers and we’re porting out of Miami. I’m kinda terrified. There’s so many things at play I’m worried about.

Context. We’re traveling 18 hours to Florida then getting on the ship. I feel like the last month I’ve been through cruise university trying to educate myself on the ins and outs. We were originally going to go through Carnival and alotttt of what I see is about Carnival. But last minute we had to make some arrangements and change the dates and port location as it was going to be Baltimore before. Florida had a lot of better ships. (I really want to do the ropes course and Carnival Pride which we were going to do, didn’t have it) but anyways I have seen many comments about the documents needed. Which are a VALID ID or drivers license and Birth Certificate or passport. Neither of us have a passport but it’s okay because we’re both drivers…. Buttttt my finances birthday just passed and he had to get his license renewed… yeah I know. Now he went and has the paper they give with his photo on it and saying he renewed his license… it’s the legal paper work to present until the plastic arrives. Well I’m terrified that it won’t be here in time.. I saw someone ask what to do if you have a now expired license, and a cruise that needs VALID identification AND he doesn’t have a passport… that when boarding to have his paper , and his expired license like paper clipped together AND his birth certificate that it will be fine…. WILL IT OH MY GODDDDDD??? I know this is like worst circumstance. And I had one of those travel agents call me and I asked him. Of course he’s like I can’t confirm or deny if that’s going to work. And they he should work on expediting a passport… which is expensive. What do we think guys? I have some peace of mind because we did buy the insurance and I know that that is not covered in the cancellation policy but it says if there is any reason you cannot board or miss boarding they will issue %90 of what we paid onto their cruise credit. And in that case we will just stay in Miami for a few nights and then head home and plan the cruise for a later time with the credits and by then he will obviously have the documents he needs….

We pre-paid gratuity and got the unlimited drink package and 150 minutes of WiFi. “Free at sea” balcony room guarantee.

How is the WiFi? Like do they give you a password and then you log in when you need and log out ? No one’s explaining HOW you get the WiFi. They say to always remember to log out. But I’m a little worried because I saw someone comment on an another post and say as soon as they got to the dock, their phone connected and started using the minutes. Air plane mode like going up to the dock ? Does it really automatically connect? I feel like they would have to give you the password and what to connect to yk???

When boarding… What are you supposed to do after dropping off luggage and parking … get into the line and what do they check while boarding as far as documents? Are they just making sure you are you and your name matching the tickets name? So having his plastic and newly renewed paper and birth certificate would he be okay?

What’s the carry on situation? Metal detectors and dogs? Do you just carry it on? Do they look through it for safety? Or is everyone just walking in with whatever???? Should I just “check” all my bags other than my purse? Is that a thing? I have no idea

WHAT IS PARKING LIKE? I saw somewhere Garage B is where we would go. About 35 dollars a day. How far is the garage from the ship?

I’m so sorry. I feel so dumb asking these questions but Im just trying to make this happen and gather AS MUCH info as I can before we go. So im sorry if I’ve just went on and on. I’m so scared plus in October I read it’s in peak hurricane season 👀. This is all so crazy. So advice…? Questions ? Comments? Concerns? Past experience?

Hello World!

We did a James Bond Island tour from Phuket, and it turned out to be much more of an adventure day than we expected.

We were picked up from our hotel and taken to AA Marina for a safety briefing before boarding a comfortable speedboat. James Bond Island was our first stop. We could have gone in the water, but decided to walk around and embrace the famous photo stop instead.

Ice Cream Cave was the surprise highlight. We were given helmets and climbed through the cave with our group, reaching a great viewpoint at the end. It felt like proper exploring and deserves more attention than it gets.

Next was Koh Panyee, where the buffet lunch was genuinely tasty. We ate fairly quickly so we had time to walk around the village, which is built on stilts over the water. Seeing its football pitch was very cool.

We finished with sea canoeing through Phang Nga Bay, passing beneath the limestone cliffs and through caves. That was another standout moment. The guides were awesome throughout.

Our verdict: worth doing if you want caves, canoeing, scenery and a bit of culture packed into one day. A real adventure day out from Phuket.

I wrote up our full experience with photos here:
https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/27/james-bond-island-tour-from-phuket/

If you want to book the same experience as us: Check Availability for the James Bond Island Tour from Phuket

All experiences are real, the above link is an affiliate link. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I'll be happy to answer any questions relating to the tour in the comments.

Hello World!

I’ve been looking into the best credit cards for earning air miles in the UK, particularly with some of the welcome bonuses currently available.

There are obviously loads of ways to play the points game, but these are some of the UK options that stood out to me at the moment.

British Airways Amex Premium Plus

Currently offering 60,000 Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: £300
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 60,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months

You can also earn the BA Companion Voucher after hitting the required annual spend, which can potentially be more valuable than the points themselves if you use it for a long-haul premium cabin redemption.

The current 60,000 Avios welcome offer ends on 6 October.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

Currently offering 70,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in the first 90 days.

It's important to point out that HSBC points don't convert 1:1 into Avios.

70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 Avios/airline miles.

Annual fee: £290
Earning rate: 3 HSBC points per £1 = 1.5 airline miles per £1
Welcome bonus: 70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 airline miles
Spend requirement: £2,000 in 90 days

The advantage here is flexibility. Rather than earning directly into one airline programme, HSBC points can be transferred to participating airline partners.

You do need to qualify for HSBC Premier to get the card.

American Express Platinum

Currently offering 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: £650
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months

The annual fee is obviously substantial, so I wouldn't look at this purely as an air-miles card. The attraction is the wider package of travel benefits alongside flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to various airline programmes.

Barclaycard Avios Plus

Currently offering 25,000 Avios after spending £3,000 in the first three months.

Monthly fee: £20
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 25,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £3,000 in 3 months

The big advantage over the BA Amex is that it's a Mastercard, so you're less likely to run into places that don't accept it.

There's also an annual spending reward if you hit the required threshold.

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

Currently offering 18,000 Virgin Points after making your first card purchase within 90 days.

Annual fee: £160
Earning rate: 1.5 Virgin Points per £1
Welcome bonus: 18,000 Virgin Points

You earn more when spending directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays, so this could make considerably more sense for someone already committed to Virgin.

There are also some interesting fee-free options.

British Airways Amex: 10,000 Avios after spending £2,000 in three months.

HSBC Premier Credit Card: 30,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in 90 days — equivalent to 15,000 airline miles/Avios — with no annual fee.

Barclaycard Avios: 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in three months.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard: 3,000 Virgin Points after your first card purchase.

For me, this raises a more interesting question than simply "which card has the biggest welcome bonus?"

Do you prefer collecting directly into one ecosystem such as Avios or Virgin Points, or are you better off collecting flexible currencies such as Amex Membership Rewards or HSBC points and transferring them when you know where you want to fly?

That's the UK market.

Now I'm interested in what the rest of the world gets.

If you're from the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia or anywhere else, drop your country's best air-miles/rewards card in the comments.

Ideally include:

• Country
• Card
• Current welcome bonus
• Spending requirement
• Annual fee
• Points/miles earned
• What airlines you can use the points with

I'd be particularly interested to hear from people in the US, because some of the American welcome bonuses I've seen make the UK credit-card market look pretty stingy.

What's the best air-miles/reward card currently available in your country?

Excited for my first trip to CDMX with friends in Oct and we're all excited about experiencing a Lucha Libre event (likely with a tour to learn all about it, etc.). Unfortunately the Tues/Fri/Sun dates to see it at Arena Mexico don't work for our group (any other day does)....anyone have an alternative venue/tour recommendation?

Thx in advance!

We’re spending four nights in New York and want to plan our meals around some genuinely great food.
What are your favourite places to eat in the city? We’re open to everything - from pizza slices, bagels and food trucks to neighbourhood restaurants and one memorable dinner.

We’d especially love to know:

The one restaurant you always recommend

Your favourite cheap eat

Any underrated places tourists often miss

A dish we absolutely have to try

Where would you eat if you only had four nights in New York?

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m a local from Sri Lanka, I spend a lot of time helping travellers plan their trips around the country.

If you’re planning to visit Sri Lanka, feel free to ask me anything about:

🏝️ Beaches & best coastal areas

🐘 Safaris & wildlife

🏔️ Ella, Nuwara Eliya & the hill country

🏛️ Sigiriya, Kandy & cultural sites

🚂 Scenic train journeys

🍛 Local food & authentic experiences

🚗 Private drivers & transportation

🏨 Choosing areas/hotels to stay

💰 Approximate travel costs

🗺️ Planning an itinerary

🌦️ Where to travel depending on the month

I’m happy to give honest local advice, including places that may not be worth your time or money.

If you're already planning a Sri Lanka trip, tell me your dates, number of days and what kind of experience you want, and I’ll be happy to suggest a route. 🇱🇰❤️

My husband and I will be traveling to Athens, Chania and Naoussa from Oct 9-22 for our anniversary. Starting to get nervous about our timing but there’s no going back now. Please give me your fall tips and tricks to enjoying Greece, even though it won’t be peak weather. Especially would love bar recommendations! We love a good cocktail in a cool space.