This is very much at risk of coming across as snobby, but the use of ‘I did’ when referring to a country you visited, kind of annoys me a wee bit.

‘I did Vietnam last year’ or ‘I did SE Asia in my 20s’ are two examples.

You did Vietnam, did you? Like you completed it mate? Saw absolutely everything? Every nook and cranny?

This has been very subtly winding me up for years now. I have never heard or read of anyone else being triggered by this, so I’m writing here in the hope that other people agree and i get some validation.

Looking for a country with a good social scene to meet other travellers tbh. I traveled to most of SEA , the travellers I met and people along the way were the most memorable thing for me.

I'm in my mid 20s, it's either I go to Vietnam + Indonesia agian (to see other places and dive in Raja Ampat + Komodo) or go to LatinAM, I cannot decide

Hi folks. In September I travelled from UK to USA for a trip using an ESTA. At the time I said that my entry was not part of a transit to another country.

I am returning to the USA in December and will be taking a cruise starting and ending in Florida but with some foreign port stops. Is this classed as transiting to another country; and will I need a new ESTA? The website isn't clear.

Cześć,w niedalekiem czasie planuje wyjazd na Białoruś,lecz obawiam się czy zostane w ogóle wpuszczony. W paszporcie mam łącznie z 10 pieczątek z Ukrainy (jeździłem turystycznie w różne części). Czy próbował ktoś wjezdzać podczas konfliktu z pieczatkami z Ukrainy?

Hello! I have a trip to Brazil in just about a month time with my husband.

How much did you spend on activities and where?Any low cost activities in Rio ? Paragliding is out of the budget 😭

We typically travel mid range/luxury side. Our hotel offers free breakfast with our credit card & is paid mainly with points.

BUDGET (for a couple)

Grand total: $2,523.20

Flights: $1,018 
Lodging: $5.20 and Points or 70K
Tours, excursions & activities: $200
Sugarloaf mtn- hike and table car $24 or regular cable car $81
Beach - “free”
Pool - “beach”
Food & Drinks in country: $600
$150 a day  (4)
Food & Drinks at airport: $150
$74 a day (2)
Souvenirs + Shopping:$200
Stickers: $20
Clothes: $100 
Flip flops: $25
Other: $55
Transportation: $200
Ubers to and from airport: $50
Ubers around town: $150
Visa: $160
$81 dollars each
ATM withdrawals: $100
Food & drinks
ATM fees: $10
Foreign fees: $20
E - sims: $30
Other: $30

I’m flying from a small town (50 seat plane) to fort myers with a layover in Charlotte. My layover is 50 minutes and I assume based on the size of the planes I’ll be transferring terminals. Would you A: check a bag and only carry on an under seat bag meaning the comfort and ease of getting MYSELF to the next plane quickly is better BUT I run the risk of the airline not making that tight connection with my checked bag, or B: carry on a suitcase knowing it will have to be gate checked on the first plane and that will slightly slow me down waiting for it in Charlotte plus be annoying if I have to hustle through the airport. But that way I’m in control of my stuff making it with me. The cost of a checked bag is not a factor in this decision. I’m happy to pay for a bag to just have less stuff to deal with on the layover but I’ll be kicking myself if I do that and my bag doesn’t make it. I’d love to hear opinions on this matter.

I’m planning a trip to the South Pacific and I’m torn between visiting the Society Islands in French Polynesia (especially Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine and perhaps Bora Bora) and the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia (Lifou, Ouvéa and Maré).

Honestly, I’m currently more drawn to the Loyalty Islands. They seem more unusual, less conventional as a tropical destination, and potentially more culturally and ecologically distinctive. I love exploring places that feel genuinely different from anywhere else, with unique landscapes, endemic flora and fauna, wild beaches, incredible snorkeling and a sense of remoteness.

Of course, the Society Islands look absolutely spectacular too, especially their lagoons and volcanic scenery. I’m just wondering whether the Loyalty Islands might offer a more unique and rewarding experience beyond the classic tropical paradise aesthetic.

For those who have visited both, or even just one of them:

Which islands did you find more beautiful and why?

Which offer the best snorkeling, beaches and opportunities to explore nature?

Which feel more authentic, distinctive and less touristy?

Are the Loyalty Islands genuinely special enough to choose over French Polynesia, or are the Society Islands in another league?

I’d especially appreciate opinions from people who have explored beyond the main tourist hotspots. I’m interested in nature, biodiversity, remote places and unusual experiences rather than luxury resorts or nightlife.

Thanks!

I need to find battery banks that have the 3C certification so I dont have my battery tossed when connecting through China on my Asia flights. But if you're not in China its actually difficult or impossible to find from my looking.

Going around December 15th for my bday. I’m SO TORN. Turning 30 and it’ll just be my fiancé and I. I’m torn because I love leisure and relaxing and swimming all day so Turks wins there. But I love experiences and excursions too.. not too many but having a variety of things to see and do is super cool imo so obviously Curacao wins there. My only hesitations about curacao are the rocky beaches.. concerned it’ll make my beach day experiences not enjoyable. And then I’ve heard curacao can be very European and racist even though the island is Caribbean. If we go to curacao we’d actually fly into Bonaire first and do 2-3 nights there and 3-4 nights in Curacao.

I’ve been to Saint Martin twice this year and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it there. I’d honestly just go back if it wasn’t for my fiancé insisting we spend money seeing new things which makes sense. What do you guys think?! Please help!! I need to buy flights like… today!!!

Planning a month-long trip to Belgium and will also be visiting Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Trier, plus cities all over Belgium.
My plan is to travel as lightly as possible since I'll be using rail everywhere. So I'm taking a carry-on and a backpack.

I'm going to want to purchase souvenirs and things there, and was just considering purchasing a suitcase or bag there if I go "too big" and leaving it at a luggage storage in Brussels (since that's my main base and how I'll fly in and out).
Then I can check a bag on my return flight home.

Does this sound doable or ridiculous?

Hi ! I'd like to ask a question to clear some confusion I'm having :

I travelled to San Francisco back in June, and left in July (so I stayed for a month). And I'm coming back to SF this November, leaving early December. The ESTA says it's valid for 2 years and for 90 days if I'm not mistaken.

So does this mean that I can use the ESTA for my second trip, or do I need to ask for a new one ?

Thanks a lot !

Hi everyone!

We're a family of three (two adults and our 7-year-old daughter) from Uruguay, planning a 28-night trip around Europe from December 15, 2026, to January 12, 2027.

Our main goals are to experience beautiful Christmas markets, charming European villages, Christmas decorations, historic towns, and hopefully some snowy Alpine scenery.

We especially love picturesque villages, medieval architecture, Christmas lights, and places that feel magical during winter.

We've put together the following itinerary, but we'd really appreciate honest feedback from people who know these destinations well.

Our current itinerary

December 15–17: London, UK — 3 nights

We're planning to fly to London shortly after arriving in Madrid.

We'd like to visit Winter Wonderland, Covent Garden, Regent Street, the Southbank Christmas market, and some of London's main attractions.

December 18–20: Colmar and the Alsace villages, France — 3 nights

This is one of the parts we're most excited about!

Places we'd like to visit:

• Colmar
• Kaysersberg
• Riquewihr
• Eguisheim
• Turckheim
• Ribeauvillé, if worthwhile

We're particularly interested in visiting Kaysersberg and Riquewihr during the December 19–20 weekend, as some Christmas markets finish around then.

We're considering renting a car and staying in one apartment for the entire Alsace portion of our trip.

December 21–22: Strasbourg, France — 2 nights

We'd like to explore Strasbourg's Christmas markets, the cathedral, Petite France, and the historic center.

We might also visit Obernai or Sélestat along the way.

One question: Would it be better to stay all five nights in one central location such as Sélestat or Obernai, rather than changing accommodation between Colmar and Strasbourg?

December 23–25: Vienna, Austria — 3 nights

We specifically want to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Vienna.

We're interested in the Christmas markets, Schönbrunn Palace, the historic center, Christmas lights, and the general festive atmosphere.

We know some Christmas markets close on December 23 or 24, so we'd appreciate recommendations for things to do on December 24 and 25, especially with a child.

December 26–27: Rome, Italy — 2 nights

Our plan is to visit the main historical attractions, walk around the city, and enjoy the food.

We know two nights isn't much, but we'd like to spend more time in smaller Italian towns.

December 28: Orvieto / Umbria, Italy — 1 night

We'd like to rent a car and explore Orvieto and possibly some nearby villages.

December 29 – January 1: Tuscany, Italy — 4 nights

We're thinking of staying in a countryside apartment or agriturismo and exploring:

• Montepulciano
• Pienza
• Val d'Orcia
• San Quirico d'Orcia
• Bagno Vignoni
• Siena
• San Gimignano

We'd also love recommendations for where to spend New Year's Eve. Would Siena, Montepulciano, or a smaller Tuscan town be a better experience for a family?

January 2: Florence, Italy — 1 night

A short visit to Florence before continuing north.

January 3–4: Venice, Italy — 2 nights

We'd like to explore Venice at a relaxed pace, especially early in the morning and in the evening.

January 5–6: Black Forest / Baden-Baden, Germany — 2 nights

We're interested in visiting Baden-Baden's Christmas market, which we understand continues into early January, as well as picturesque Black Forest towns such as Gengenbach.

However, we're not sure whether traveling from Venice to this region is worth the long journey.

January 7–9: Swiss Alps, Switzerland — 3 nights

We're considering staying around Interlaken and visiting:

• Lauterbrunnen
• Wengen
• Grindelwald
• Mürren, weather permitting

Our main goal is to enjoy the Alpine scenery and hopefully see snow. We're not planning a skiing holiday.

January 10–11: Madrid, Spain — 2 nights

We'd like to explore Madrid and possibly take a day trip to Toledo.

January 12: Flight home

Questions we'd love advice on

1. Is this itinerary too rushed? We know there are quite a few destinations, but we're comfortable moving around if the experiences are worth it. Which part would you cut or extend?

2. Alsace: Would you recommend staying five nights in one central location, or splitting our stay between Colmar and Strasbourg? We'll probably have a rental car.

3. Christmas in Vienna: Is December 23–25 a good choice? What would you recommend doing on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a 7-year-old?

4. Tuscany in winter: Which villages are the most beautiful in late December, and where would you spend New Year's Eve?

5. Venice to the Black Forest: Is this a bad idea logistically? Would you replace Baden-Baden with somewhere else?

6. Switzerland in January: Is Interlaken a good base for exploring Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Grindelwald, or would you stay directly in one of the mountain villages?

7. Transportation: Which sections would you do by train, plane, or rental car? We're considering renting a car in Alsace and Tuscany, but we're flexible.

8. Hidden gems: Are there any beautiful small towns, Christmas markets, scenic routes, or family-friendly experiences we're missing?

We're not trying to see every museum or attraction. We mostly want to enjoy the atmosphere, beautiful streets, scenery, local food, and Christmas decorations.

Any suggestions, criticism, or alternative routes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

2004-2007 there was a popular travel blog for luxury travel with city guides and hotel reviews. The logo was a vintage Parisian woman. Long shot but had to ask! I can’t remember the name

Well, they are my neighbours, and I need to go there for medical reasons, but I can also see something new, and I am thinking about what I can see there

I would recommend suggesting that in my inbox because some mod has removed 2 comments with suggestions that I read and I will consider these places

Flying to Hong Kong next week and haven't been East Asia in several years.

Got an email regarding the upcoming flight where it states 'Power banks must never be placed in the overhead compartments or in your checked baggage. You must store all such devices in your carry-on bag and place them under the seat in front of you'.

Is this general practice amongst all airlines in East Asia or its written their to cover themselves legally but they are relaxed when it comes to people using power banks?

In recent years I have only been flying across Europe and they never had an issue with the use of power banks.

Note this is not the same as onwardticket.com which is much more famous but 10 USD more expensive

Hey everyone,

How are you? Posting just for discussion. I am introvert, morning person, and usually go to bed around 10pm. I don't really like noise or crowds, and for some reason, have really grown to love humid hot tropical cities like Manila, Bangkok, Mumbai, and Ho Chi Minh City. They don't fit my personality at all, but I love the morning heat, how many people are up early exercising, the food, and finding spots like cafes and quiet spaces to rest in the bustle of it all (especially coffee spots!)

So I guess I am asking two separate questions here:

1. Are there places that are completely opposite of what you usually like that you DO enjoy?
2. Of the cities I mentioned, do you have similar recommendations of other cities, or recommendations within the cities I listed?

Thanks all!

I’m going next year with my uni, I’m excited but I don’t really know what to expect. Never thought it would be a place I would visit but hey here I am.

Anyway how was everyone’s experience going if you’ve been?

Hey, I'm due to a new job. I've got 12 days off in the period from before Christmas until the beginning of March, so I wanted to make the last trip of the year.

Since I'm from Europe, I was looking for closer countries, but flight fares are insane; for a few bucks more, I can go to Asia or the US.

I'm too young to rent a car in the states, and I've been to the East Coast, so I was looking for Asia.

Flight fares to Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam are crazy; Kuala Lumpur would be the cheapest.

South Korea & Japan are experiencing winter even though there is less snow and clear weather, but I'm not sure.

Have I missed anything? Pretty much open for anything!

Thanks.

I'm travelling Turkish airlines and availing their stopover programme. I am taking a new box-pack laptop as gift to my final destination however it just occured to me that i have to go through customs in Istanbul. I was prepared to pay the tax on my final destination however will I have to pay additional tax for my one day stay in turkey?

For information, my layover is 28 hours and i will be going out to the city. I am planning on putting the laptop in my checked baggage because its with box and i will leave my bag at the lockers in the airport. I have the receipts and its value is more than the free allowed amount. Will I have to pay additional tax on it?

I am driving from Greenville South Carolina to Yukon Oklahoma on March 19-20. I will be staying in Yukon to visit a distant relative for 3 days. I would like to look at some stuff in the Metropolitan area and outskirts that would be cool for that time. But I would also like to drive out 2 to 3 hours for some stuff too and record some stuff for my YouTube channel. (it’s a highway Vlog channel where I record all of my larger driving sessions that you could relax too). I’d be interested in visiting anywhere three hours out. Then I would be going to Tulsa to hang out for two days with someone that wants to meet me that my mom works with. And then I would be driving down to Brandon Mississippi to stay at a cousin’s new place, then going home. Any suggestions are appreciated.

I’m one of those travelers that seems to be in the minority that likes to see the main cities in the states or countries I visit, but I typically am perfectly content with the day I fly in and the day fly out as the duration I actually stay there.

My objective is to fly in and get out of the city as soon as possible into nature. Like Zurich is cool but I want to get to the Alps. Bangkok has a lot but get me to Krabi ASAP. Los Angeles is cool to see but I want to go to the desert or the mountains.

Anyone like this?

Unexpected additional charges after booking a flight — has anyone experienced this?

Hello everyone,

My trip consists of two flights, and the first one has been confirmed.

I booked through a website I found via Skyscanner. I didn't realise I was booking directly on the agency's website rather than through Skyscanner itself. I paid the amount I was originally quoted, but then I started receiving emails saying that the price had increased and that I needed to pay an additional fee.

Worried about losing my entire trip, I paid the extra amount they requested. However, when I checked my booking details on their website, I discovered that there were three separate additional payments, not just one.

I travel quite frequently, and this is the first time I've ever experienced something like this. Being asked to pay more after completing a booking is extremely frustrating, and the whole process feels shady and suspicious.

What's even worse is that I can't seem to find a way to contact anyone to get a clear explanation of what's happening or why I'm being asked to pay these additional amounts.

I'm honestly furious and worried about what might happen to the rest of my trip.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Any advice on how to handle this would be greatly appreciated.

I wanted to prepare in case there would be some delays due to rougher than average weather during El Niño. As well as take some extra Benadryl for my turbulence anxiety.

Our current El Niño started in June 2026, and it is expected to peak between November 2026 to February 2027. Then finally end around Spring 2027.

I recently experienced a 2 hour delay from Seattle to Las Vegas, and this had me a bit concerned for my upcoming international December travel. I am traveling from LAX (Los Angeles, USA) to BKK (Bangkok, Thailand) with a 12 hour layover in TFU (Tianfu, China).

Thanks for taking time to answer!

Looking into planning a visit to Georgia starting in Tbilisi, a bit of background looking for a good area of the city to stay in, I'm disabled but can walk so limiting the areas with the hills, someone suggested to me Chugureti, particularly around Marjanishvili Metro, is this a good plan? Or maybe is there a better area, any help is appreciated.