2014. június 30., hétfő

Just decided to go to Japan tomorrow, no experience traveling alone. Need help.


Hi, I've just made a decision to fly to Japan tomorrow. I speak no Japanese whatsoever, no idea how the transportation works, but I'm going. Can anyone tell me how big of a problem the language barrier will become? I speak Chinese, if that helps.






I know it's possible, but is it feasible: hopping around SEA by private boat.


Last time I was in SEA I was on a trip out to some more remote islands. We'd stopped for lunch on a beach when a group of guys basically just pulled up on a very small sailboat and swam in. First thought was "Well fuck, that looks like way more fun."


Here's what I've got so far in terms of "barriers to entry" on doing this:



  • buying a sailboat in SEA (no idea what this would cost)

  • learning to sail (obviously)

  • visas (how does this even work? I've only ever come into a country by air, excluding EU countries where it didn't matter)

  • docking legally and not hitting coral or something like a d-bag


Anyone know how much... oompf....(boat-wise) is needed to hop between, say, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia? (at their closest point) What would that set me back? How would I get rid of it when I was done?


How much more oompf to cross the Gulf of Thailand or the Java Sea and have access to the rest of SEA?






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Flights to South East Asia


Roughly how much would it cost for me to fly to Cambodia from either Miami or Atlanta. From there how much would it cost me to get to Bali from Cambodia/Thailand?






whats good to do in Samoa?


im going next week for 2 weeks. I have been there before but didnt do anything exciting. would mind getting more out of this trip.






I'm pretty sure there's more to it than that...


I'm thinking about moving out of the US after I finish college, and one of the cities I've been thinking about is Amsterdam. I told my mother about my thought, but she shrugged it off saying Americans only go there for weed culture. There's more to Amsterdam than weed, and I know it. But, what is there? I've never been there myself, and what is there culturally that can distinguish it from this stereotype?






Best place to travel by your lonesome?


I'm a female in my early 20's and looking to go SOMEWHERE in August. I had an original destination in mind but my parents are rather nervous about me going to that specific place by myself so out of respect for them I'm trying to find a different place to go. Any ideas would be much appreciated, thanks =)






7 day Europe Trip starting in Berlin. Suggestions on where to go after?


My wife and I will be heading to Europe in a few weeks. I have a last minute work trip, and she will be tagging along after to visit Europe for the first time. (We are from the US). She is planning to meet me in Berlin, and we have no other plans as of yet. These are some considerations:


Start Location: Berlin


Length: Seven Days


Budget: Outside of tickets, looking to spend around $2,000


Interests: We are looking for a trip with a mix of cultural element and places where we can enjoy ourselves and relax. A trip where could do a museum in the morning and wine tasting in the afternoon. We are foodies that love good wine and beer.


Likes/Dislikes: I have been to a few cities in England, Dublin, Brussels, Paris, South of France, St. Jean-de-Luz, Rome, Venice, and Sicily. I enjoyed all of them, but will likely skip England/Ireland for this trip to limit travel time.


Original Thoughts: One potential plan was to spend two nights in Berlin, fly to Paris for three nights, and then head to wine country for the remainder. Not sure if it is the right time to head to wine country though. Also, not sure if we are spending too much of our time traveling between places. Would love to hear thoughts on other fun trips starting in Berlin.


Thanks in advance!






Friends and I are trying to decide where to go for our next weekend getaway, in October. Limiting this trip to continental U.S. Help...


Where should we go? What's going on in your city in October (weekend of the 18th, specifically). Any cool events? Fests? We are in our late 20's and like nightlife, sports, music, partying, drinking. Trying to brainstorm some cities to visit, but nothing is jumping out. Sell me on your city. Thanks!






Where to go in Europe. Any suggestion? Maybe you can help?


Me and a couple of friends are going somewhere in Europe (from Sweden) and it's me who is gonna plan where to go and so. We have been in most countries in the west and south europe.


I was wondering if people have this destination that is a must to go to.


I will tell a little about what we priority:


-Food, we tend to spend most money on food when we travel. Somewhere you can order loads of good food for not a pocket draining amount.


-Architecture/museums


-Nature (prefer mountains, jesus christ I love mountains)


-You can get around with English


-Safe. I've done my share of crazy adventures, I want a safe nice place where people are nice and you can enjoy the company of newly found friends!


What isn't for us is too physical activities because of reasons.


Did something pop up in your mind? Would be really happy with suggestion from you!






Road trip from California to New York, suggestions?


I've never been on a road trip before but it's been a dream of mine since I was young! Any advice would be much appreciated!






Need help from any US citizen who successfully got married in Italy (or anyone who knows about the process!)


On July 5th, I will be flying to Italy to meetup with my fiance who has been au pairing in Caorle (near Venice) for the last month. We will be in Italy as late as August 5th and than have plans in Budapest until Aug 20th at which point we could go back to Italy until the end of August to make this happen. So our window to make this happen is most of July and August 1-5, and 20-30th.


Here's where I need to some help:




  1. Some sites say we need a document showing a "proof of divorce". Some sites say only if said person had been married in last 300 days, others say it is required. My fiance is a divorcee, but it was over 3 years ago. Any knowledge on this?




  2. We must obtain a "Dichiarazione Glurata" (document stating there is no legal impediment to your marriage according to the US state in which we are residents). Was this difficult to obtain in your experience? More specifically, do you know if we can obtain this in Venice (some sites only show Milan, Rome, Florence, and I think Naples) Lots of mixed messages on this.




  3. How do we go about finding someone to marry us? - we only want a "courthouse" style wedding, no church or religious person needed. How do we go about finding someone?




  4. Did you need a translator at any point?




  5. Overall, how difficult was the process? So far it seems like a major headache!!




Any additional tips or suggestions are welcome and thank you all.


PS: We don't have a lot to spend on this. We can do a few hundred for the documents but we are just trying to keep the cost as low as possible.


Thank you very much in advance for any advice offered. Google has given me SO much information on this that it's hard to know exactly what to do! Thanks again!






Hey everyone! It's my girlfriend's 34th bday next week and it's her dream to see the world, but money is tight and not sure when that will happen. So I was wondering if you could help out by wishing her happy bday in a picture from wherever you are in the world right now, home or away...


I hope I'm not breaking any rules here. But it would be a really cool gift for her since her can't go anywhere now.


If you would like to help you could just write down "Happy Birthday Christine, From (your location)" with your location in the background.


Feel free to include yourself in the pic or just the words. It doesn't have to be special picture, you don't have to be traveling at the moment. Anything you want, as simple or creative as you want. I'd really appreciate it and it would mean a lot to both of us. Thanks for reading!






1 week vacation UK/France Prepaid Mobile Options


I started looking into options for a cell phone (for emergency calls, calling restaurants/venues for booking/cancellation, etc) and while I'm finding a lot of options, I'm having a hard time figuring out what would be best for a 2-country vacation, over such a short time period.


I read the wiki entry for a foreign SIM on the sidebar as well, but I suppose my request is more aimed at finding a solution that will work for 2 countries in one trip. It looks like EE and Orange Telecom are both under the T-Mobile corporate umbrella so my first thought was to utilize something that might work with both networks.


Some info:


Planning on using my old AT&T GSM iPhone4, having it unlocked, and using a prepaid SIM.


Budget is ~$50USD.


Data would be nice for maps/looking up reviews/etc. - but not necessary if it blows the budget.


Hoping for a single-SIM solution, seeing as my stay is very short in both countries. ~4 days in UK, 3 days in FR. I will be in major cities for the duration of both stays. I expect to use the mobile in UK at least 2x as much as FR.






Coast starlight - train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Has anyone done it, would you recommend it?


I'm planning a trip through California and am considering a few different ways of getting from San Francisco to LA. Because of time constraints I must do the journey in one day, although I wish I could spend more time on it. The coast starlight is represented by Amtrak as being a scenic train, with nice dining cars, observation cars, etc. It seems nice, but I would like to ask the advice of you well-travelled folks first. The train takes 12 hours and follows a meandering route near the coast. Other options are: cheap flight, car rental, bus, night train. Thanks for reading, enjoy your next travels :)






I was warned about taking medication to Qatar and could use some advice.


I'm traveling to Qatar and stopping over in Doha. I heard some medications that are over the counter are illegal there. I was planning on taking a dose of anti-biotics, basic paracetamol, and an over the counter allergy nasal spray. I'd have them in my main heck in bag which I'd send straight through to Europe without taking it in Doha and wouldn't need to check-in again. I might have a basic allergy nasal spray with me in my carry on luggage as I get pretty terrible allergies from time to time.


Would they be ok to take?






Do I have any recourse for United changing my flight time?


In April, my wife and I booked a vacation to Orlando through Priceline for November. Far in advance of any scheduling conflicts. When we booked we had almost complete free reign over choosing which seats we would like.


Now 2 and a half months later we receive an email from Priceline that our itinerary has changed. When looking at the new flight we are being shifted 2 and a half hours later in the day. I was initially pretty angry as this cuts down on time for our vacation, but cooler heads prevailed as I thought maybe the operation of that particular flight was canceled. But then I decided to do a search for flights and the same flight is available for dates after my trip.


This leads me to believe that they just overbooked our flight and booted us off. So again, I am pretty angry. I know 2.5 hours in the grand scheme of things is insignificant, but had we known that this particular flight was booked we would have changed our vacation to different dates. Is there anything I can do in this situation? In all actuality I would prefer to be placed back on my initial flight rather than compensation, but something would be better than nothing.






Any tips for where to stay in Vis, Croatia?


My friend and I are planning on spending three nights in Vis, we are both 25 and we are looking for someplace to stay that is close to beaches and sights (we like the outdoors), but also close to restaurants, even though nightlife isn't a huge concern for us. We won't have a car. Does anyone have a suggestion for the best place to look for accomodation? So far I have looked into staying in Visa Town, but maybe there's another part of the island that I should also be looking. Any tips would be great!!






Going to the Black Forrest, need tips


I'm taking my dad to Germany in 3 weeks to Baden Baden and Freiburg to visit where his grandfather was born (We're Canadians).


Does anyone have any tips for things to do, places to stay? Been scouring the internet but getting advice from /r/travel is always a step above.






Visiting sister in Melbourne, Australia for 2 weeks, what to do?


Beginning: Melbourne


Tentative Plan: open to travel to the Great Barrier Reef (NE Australia I believe), and south (to Great White shark cage).


When: November, US Thanksgiving time


Interests: Anything basically, appreciate the outdoors. Clearly we are up for the extreme (shark caging), but would want to limit the number of expensive activities. Is there river rafting available anywhere?


Budget: Flexible depending on extent of activity


These are basically the two places I know I want to visit, but I am in need suggestions and opinions about my plans. Any help/comments are wanted!


Thank you






Looking at travel insurance from Fast Cover for my 5 week trip to the UK


I am unsure whether it is worth it to get a plan A or Plan E cover. Plan A is comprehensive but the only real benefit I can see from it is the fact that it covers other travel expenses and delays. Has anyone ever had to claim for that?






traveling from Athens to Istanbul Question?


I'm traveling to Istanbul from Athens at the end of July. I plan on being in Istanbul by July 20. I'm looking for the cheapest way to get there. So far i have found a bus company that does that trip for $80 USD. If anyone knows what is a cheaper way that would be helpful. Thanks.






Moved to new apartment, mailed passport to wrong room, two doors down. Asked him to tell me when mail for me arrived.. nothing yet. URGENT


Hey so I moved in to a new apartment about a month ago and needed to renew my passport because I am traveling to Europe in August. Anyway, I mailed it to Apartment room 832 instead of my room 834. I figured it out that or the next day and contacted my neighbor, explained I have "something coming to me" (didn't want to tell a stranger it's my passport) and that when he gets it to call me or leave a note on our door.


It's been almost a month, it seems and nothing. My trip is a little over a month away and I don't know how to approach this.


Help!






Advice on cellphone while traveling Europe


I will be travelling Europe soon. I have an iPhone 4 that is factory unlocked. I will be tavelling for 3 months and I will make about 1 country per 10 days. I really need internet on my phone for the length of the trip. I am wondering if any of you have already done this and if you have advices on what I should do and what would be the least expensive.


Really, the only thing I need is data.


example: Should I prepay for a complete month in each country I am and use it only the 10 days I am in that country ? Or should I prepay for a company and be on roaming the remaining month ?






SO and I are headed to South Jersey/Cape May Area and looking for things to do


My SO and I are headed to South Jersey, about 15 mins north of Cape May on the Delaware Bay. We already have a place to stay, but we're looking for activities/places to eat from Thursday, July 3rd to Saturday, July 5th.


We definitely want to spend our time on the beach. We're also planning on bringing our bikes and hitting up some of the local Wildlife Management Areas; and I would love to go whale watching while we're there! (Which whale watching company is the best?)


Any suggestions for additional activities, must-see places, or best places to eat would be appreciated!


Thanks!






5 month trip, lost luggage, what next?


I am backpacking around south east asia for 5 months, or I would be if Air New Zealand hadn't lost my bag. I reported it missing but have very little hope that they'll find it. It had 5 months of my life in it. If anyone who has been in a similar situation could advise me on a course of action it would be much appreciated. This was 2 days ago. I have 2 shirts, 2 pairs of underwear, and 1 set of shorts for 5 months. Fuck.






Cheap business class seats


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planning world trip over next several years and need your tips!


For the last 8 months I have been living in Australia and lucky for me I have met the love of my life, even more lucky for me he wants to come travel with me and see it all! I am 24[F] Canadian and he is 21 [M] Australian My Working holiday Visa expires in October and I am going home until after christmas to be with my family before we head out on a crazy adventure. The plan is to see it all, but as we aren't rich we need to work along the way. My next planned destination was Asia, I had planned on teaching english in South Korea but not sure if there would be anything for the SO to do.


Basically all I am looking for on any tips, must see's/do's that you guys have for me and any help at all!

We are both up for almost anything so throw it at us!


Thank you!!






Prominent Temples to Visit in Pondicherry


If you are also planning to visit the same places then South tourism.in is ready to assist you in the best way.






I'm going to be visiting West Virginia for a few months, looking to make some friends before I come out.


Hello all who may be reading this, I'm a Brit who has family in west Virginia and have been invited out for a few months to visit, as much as I love my relatives im gonna need some people my own age (22) to hang out with and show me a good old American time, I dont need anywhere to crash just looking for buddies, so if your West Virginian ( or close by ) pm me lets get to know one and other and hopefully have a good time when I get out there :) cheers






Round (road) trip from Vancouver BC to San Francisco, then Pacific coast highway to Anaheim and maybe Las Vegas in 14 days? Any tips


So I am planning a road trip beginning in Vancouver BC and leaving around the 8th or 9th of July. Plan is two spend 3 days/2 nights in San Francisco and attend a Giants game. Afterwards take Pacific coast highway, stopping in Monterey to see the aquarium. I plan on spending a maximum of 2 nights on pch and stopping in Santa Barbara for the second night. Last stop is Anaheim for about 4 nights to see Disneyland/Universal Studios. I have been to disneyland/universal about 7 years ago so I am not concerned about spending too much time there. I would like to fit in Vegas if we have spare time. I would like to spend time sight seeing and doing some fun activities but I am not much into nightlife or drinking/gambling. I just like Vegas for the buffets and catching a good show. Also does anyone have good recommendations for clean hotel/motels chains in the $100-$200 a night range? Thanks






2014. június 29., vasárnap

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Need advice. The thought of home already making me feel like a square peg in a round hole.


I've only been away for two months - just India and Nepal. I have 23 more days and I'm already feeling alienated from home. I'm just not interested. The country is nice, the city is nice, my friends are nice, my family is nice. They haven't done anything wrong. It just seems dull to me. I hate even typing that because it reads like such a dick thing to say. I should be thankful right? I've never had it like this on any other trip. I've always looked forward to going home, but this time it seems different. The extremeness of the places I've been to just make it feel like I'm leaving a world of vibrancy and going back to a world of black and white. I know this is stupid but if there's anyone out there that has advice this, it would really help.






Wages in Turkey?


Hi


My girlfriend and I are planning to work on a farm in Turkey as farmhands for 6 months. We would predominately be working with livestock.


Just wanted to see if anyone could give us an idea of a fair weekly wage for this kind of work.


Thanks!






Anybody know any LAX to Melbourne return sales going on?


Cheapest I can find with the least annoying stop over (IE no Asian, overnight stopovers) is $1793 USD with a small one hour stopover in Sydney. Any help getting a lower fare would be highly appreciated!






Traveling to Freeport in the Bahamas and staying at Memories Grand Resort in August. Any tips?


Booked through TravelExpress. Going with my girlfriend August 11-16. Very excited! Plan on staying at the hotel most of the stay as it's all inclusive and we upgraded to the more inclusive all inclusive package. Any advice or tips?






Traveling to Greece next week


I am traveling to Greece for 10 days next week and would like to know how much cash I should take. I was planning on exchanging $500. I've calculated excursions and activities that we're doing and they add up up $340. I would like to know if the remainder will be enough for food and transportation such as cabs or bus? Also, I heard that credit cards aren't really accepted anywhere. Will I be charged a crazy fee if I withdrawal extra cash from an ATM? Thanks!






Ideas for a 3-day solo trip in China?


I'm an American working in Beijing this summer and I don't have time before or after to do any extended travel. As a result, my only time for travel is on the weekends and my longest weekend will be the 3-day July 4th weekend coming up. I was wondering whether anyone has ideas about a good place to go for 3 days.


Places that I've liked: Hangzhou, Huangshan, Mutianyu Great Wall.


Budget: I would ideally like to stay below 1000 yuan for the whole trip including transportation.


If you can provide ideas about what to see/do, where to stay, and approximately what a trip like that would cost, that would be greatly appreciated. Also: it would be nice if WiFi were readily available as I may have to do some work over the weekend.






What is the the typical backpacker like in south america?


I'm wondering how the backpacking culture in south america compares to other popular regions, especially the people. (not asking about cost, hospitality etc)


Is the average a bit more mature than those western Europe? What is the demographics when is comes to nationalities? Is it mostly Europeans doing long trips? Also travelling style of the backpackers, do people tend to linger longer in a location compared to backpackers in Europe?






have 3-6 days off. where should I go?


in the end of july I will have 3-6 days off in a row. I will find out closer to the end of the month how many actual days I will have.


I was wanting to go somewhere that's cheap and very culturally different from me (Born Brazil, raised USA). I've been to Western Europe and Northern Africa. I absolutely love Portugal, but it's kind of expensive compared to say, SE asia.


I've been to guatemala but never anywhere else in Central America.


I was thinking if I get 3 days I could go check out somewhere in mexico like guadalajara or something. if I get 6, i could get on a transpacific and head to vietnam, indonesia or thailand.


what say you guys? short amount of time, limited budget (let's say 80 bucks tops aside from airfare)


where would you go and why?






Traveling the UK (and maybe Ireland) for three weeks


I love to travel and my brother is going to school in London so I am taking advantage of that and going to the UK for three weeks next May. Yes I know it's early but I like planning things super early because it makes me super excited to draw out the planning process.


Starting in London and I plan to stay for about a week. Is this enough or too much? After that I plan on exploring as much of the UK as I can comfortably do. I just started the process of figuring things out so I don't really know where I am going so any suggestions of places I need to go or places I need to see are welcome. I would like to see Edinburgh and Stonehenge other than that I'm open to ideas. Should I try to make it to Ireland or would that be pushing it?


Budget: very high


Interests: I love history any sites that are really well preserved I would love to see. I also love theater and plan on seeing a few shows while in London.


I am not a hugely interested in art. I probably will spend a little time at the big museums but to see them but I don't I will do any more than that.


I also love food. Any great eateries in London or other cities? I love all types of food too so anything that looks interesting I'll try to stop by. I also just might have an orgasm every time I put clotted cream in my mouth.


This is just the start of my planning but I wanted some ideas of where to go from some experienced people. Thanks guys!






Moped rental in southern europe?


I am hoping to take a trip from Madrid all the way to Italy. Are there scooter rentals that I can take over boarders, and what kind of license do I need (Being in the US I have a US drivers license)? I was really thinking this would be the best way to experience Europe without restraints, and I'm obviously in the early stages of planning so I'm just getting a feel of plausibility and cost.






Some travel advice for New Zealand from an ex-pat living there


I frequently see travellers on here asking for advice on travel to New Zealand. I moved to Wellington, NZ in March 2013 from Canada to go to university and I've done a fair amount of travelling here since then. Here is some advice on a roughly 4-week travel itinerary covering both islands.


First, New Zealand has a really superb visitor information centre system in place. In almost every major town and city, there is a local "i-site" where you can go to get excellent information, book accommodation and activities, and get souvenirs. Frequently, if you book activities through the i-sites, especially if you book more than one activity in a region, you'll get a discount.


So, moving from south to north from Queenstown:


SOUTH ISLAND


Queenstown is a true adventurer's gem. Modern bungy jumping was invented there, so in the Queenstown area you can jump at both the world's first jump site (on a river) as well as the world's highest bungy (Nevis High Wire). The company you want to use is AJ Hackett and they have an office in the centre of town. It's worth going up the gondola to get a view of the city, and there are just SO many adventure activities to do. Jetboating, hang gliding, paragliding, parabungying (yes, that is bungy jumping from a parasail), concrete luge, giant swing. It's THE place to do something utterly ridiculous. The restaurant scene in Queenstown is also fantastic with a number of top chefs having restaurants there.


Milford Sound / Fiordland National Park / Te Anau - Kipling described Milford Sound as the "eighth wonder of the world" and it lives up to the praise. Worth a boat tour. A day trip from Queenstown is available through a company called Real Journeys. It feels like the fjords of Norway, except as an added bonus, there are penguins. A must see. The world-famous Milford Track goes from Te Anau to Milford Sound and takes 4 days to do (you are not permitted to go slower or faster). There are huts along the way with stoves so you just need your clothing and food. The Routeburn and Kepler Tracks are also in this region and are also supposed to be spectacular. An excellent choice for a multi-day hike if that interests you. You need to book the huts well ahead of time.


Wanaka / Haast Pass - Leaving Queenstown, heading north, you need to choose the east or west coasts. The east coast is flat farmland and not very interesting. The west coast is mountainous and stunning. I'd take the road through Arrowtown/Wanaka/Haast Pass and go up the coast. Stunning scenery. It's the most fun I've ever had driving a car.


Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers - along the west coast are two glaciers that come down from Mt Cook, the highest point in NZ. You can go hiking and heli-hiking on both of them. Coming from the south, you'll reach Fox Glacier first. I decided to hike on that one because it was much less developed/commercialized than Franz Josef, and as such my tour group was smaller. Either one is worth exploring.


Hokitika - a centre for the jade industry in NZ. It's a dumpy little town, but if you want any souvenirs made from jade, it's THE place to buy it. You have to drive through it anyway, so might as well stop. Incidentally: great whitebait fritters here.


Near Greymouth, you have a choice to continue up the west coast, or head east through Arthur's Pass. I think I'd recommend a longer, circuitous route going through Arthur's Pass, or the pass further north, and it's so that you can hit the following places:


Arthur's Pass National Park - gorgeous scenery as you cross the Southern Alps. Likely to see the kea, NZ's alpine parrot. Definitely look for them, but be wary as they have been known to strip the rubber caulking off cars.


(alternatively, take SH 7 through the Southern Alps)


Hanmer Springs - quaint little hot springs town


Kaikoura - whale watching town extraordinaire. Excellent sea adventures, including sea kayaking. There is a hotel near here that is entirely made up of treehouses. It’s not cheap but would be a neat experience


Marlborough - NZ's premier wine-growing region. There are probably 100 wineries here. NZ's version of Napa.


Queen Charlotte Track - at the northern end of the South Island, this area of isthmuses, peninsulas, islands and coves is probably one of the places you will definitely want to stop to do some hiking and/or kayaking. Worth reading about it ahead of time and booking something.


Abel Tasman National Park – also at the northern end of the South Island, another one of New Zealand’s Great Walks is here: the Abel Tasman Coastal Track. Both the Queen Charlotte and Abel Tasman Tracks are supposed to be stunning.


From this end of the South Island, you need to take a ferry to the North Island. The rental car companies do not allow you to bring your car from one island to another, so you’ll return your car at the ferry terminal, walk on board with your belongings, and then pick up a new car once you arrive in Wellington. There are 2 ferry companies: Interislander and Bluebridge, and each usually operates 2 boats. One of Interislander’s ferries lost a propeller in November and is currently out of the country being repaired; the replacement ferry they brought in has also had issues. This has meant that booking ahead for ferries is more important than usual.


NORTH ISLAND


Wellington – NZ’s capital city, the centre of its film industry, the centre of arts & culture, and the windiest city on Earth. Wellington is built into hillsides, but has a compact little downtown area. Wellington is worth a day, with the following highlights:


Miramar – this neighbourhood by the airport is home to the Weta Workshop, which is the design studio responsible for LOTR, Avatar and a host of other Hollywood hits. It’s a surprisingly small shop in an even more surprisingly suburban neighbourhood. It’s worth the $20 for the Inside the Workshop tour so that you can learn how the props are made for movies. Founder Richard Taylor and Sir Peter Jackson stop by regularly, and many of the staff have been extras in movies.


Parliament – Located at the north end of the CBD, close to the Railway Station, Wellington’s unicameral Parliament offers free hourly tours. The Executive Wing building is locally known as the Beehive and is a hideous example of 1960s architecture. Parliament itself is quite quaint and charming.


Te Papa National Museum – this superb museum is on the waterfront in the Te Aro neighbourhood and is free to enter. It’s quite large and has some great exhibits, including a massive giant squid, a $3 million hand-carved piano, a room that simulates earthquakes, and a lot more. It’s conveniently located next to…


Courtenay Place – this street/shopping district is the centre of Wellington’s restaurant, bar and club scene. Movie premieres for LOTR and The Hobbit shut down this street, where it was entirely covered in red carpet. If you go to one restaurant in Wellington, it should be Pizzeria Napoli on Courtenay Place itself. They serve just about the best pizza I’ve ever had.


Mt Victoria Lookout / Cable Car to Botanic Gardens – either one of these two options provide a great view of Wellington and its harbour. I prefer the view from Mt Victoria, but the Botanic Gardens are superb so that vantage point has appeal as well.


Heading north out of Wellington, you have 2 choices: SH 1, along the Kapiti Coast, or SH 2, through the Rimutaka Ranges. I would recommend SH 1 without a shadow of a doubt, as SH 2 can be a brutal road as it twists through the mountains, ascending 555 m, at times with no guardrails and a 100m+ drop. Don’t go there. Take SH 1.


As a side note: the police in NZ have no tolerance for speeding, and cars here (even rental cars) very rarely have cruise control. The police also actively seek out speeders, especially on downhill portions of highways, and there are hidden speed cameras even on sections of highway in the middle of the woods. You will get a speeding ticket for going 4 kph over the speed limit. Err on the side of caution and go 5 kph under the limit. Also, it’s worth noting that in NZ a dotted centre line on a highway does not mean that it is safe to pass: it only means that you are permitted to pass if you think it is safe to do so. Most of the time, it is not.


Bulls – on your way north, you will drive through the town of Bulls. They have fully embraced the name of the town, which is full of pretty funny signs. Worth stretching your legs just for a laugh.


Wanganui River Road, Whanganui National Park – As a slight detour on the way north, we really enjoyed the quiet farming countryside along the Wanganui River Road within Whanganui National Park. At least 10 km of it is rough gravel, so be forewarned, and it takes longer than you think.


Tongariro National Park – You certainly can’t miss this portion of the North Island, with 3 active volcanoes. This is Mt Doom from LOTR, Mordor itself. There are skifields on Mt Ruapehu, with the best approach at Whakapapa. Mt Tongariro itself was used for Mt Doom. There is a very popular hike through this park called the Tongariro Northern Circuit, portions of which can be done in a single day. It’s a great opportunity to see alpine lakes and volcanic landscapes in person.


From Tongariro, the best route to take isn’t easy to determine. There are great things to see in Taupo, Rotorua, Matamata, Tauranga and Waitomo Caves. I will list what there is to see and do and I guess you'd have to select your route accordingly.


Tokaanu – If you do some hiking in Tongariro, you may want to stop briefly in Tokaanu on the shore of Lake Taupo, as there is a decent hot spring there (privately run) to soothe their muscles. Otherwise, this area is kind of dumpy.


Taupo – A tourist town if I ever saw one. The entire Lake Taupo is the caldera of an extinct volcano, but this means there is ample geothermal activity in the area. You can go jetboating, skydiving (NZ’s most popular skydiving destination), see Huka Falls and go boating in the river, cycling, kayaking, parasailing. There are a number of restaurants. We particularly enjoyed some of the honey manufacturing, as well as the fantastic hot pools at Wairakei.


Rotorua – One of my favourite places in NZ. This is where zorbing was invented (get in a giant plastic ball and get rolled down a hill). The Agrodome allows you to get up close and personal with some farm animals, including sheep, alpaca, cows, dogs, deer and more. The Polynesian Spa in Rotorua is world-renowned. Hell’s Gate is another geothermal area with heated mud pools. You can go whitewater rafting or sledging (a personal favourite of mine, basically tobogganing on a whitewater river). While in town, attend a Maori cultural performance and dinner. I’ve been to two of them, Mitai and Tamaki, and highly recommend the Tamaki Maori Village. It was very informative, interactive and had a great earth oven feast.


Hangarua Spring – on the north shore of Lake Rotorua is a gorgeous fresh water spring and a redwood forest. Worth a short detour.


Tauranga / Mount Maunganui – One of the warmest parts of NZ, the largest port and a fantastic beach, this is a decent little city. The hike to the top of Mount Maunganui isn’t very long and affords great views. The beaches are decent, as is surfing. There are some decent restaurants and shops, particular in the Mount. Phil Rudd, the drummer from AC/DC, owns the Tauranga Bridge Marina and has a restaurant there. You can frequently find him there if you want an autograph.


Matamata – The town of Matamata itself is quaint farming country, but you come to Matamata to see its i-site building and to go tour the Hobbiton Movie Set, which is about 15 minutes outside of town. The tour costs $75/each and lasts around 3 hours, but it’s fantastic. The set is still fully built since they’re still using it for the Hobbit movies. If you see one LOTR film spot during your trip, it should be this one.


Waitomo Caves – this is a little awkward to access, off SH 3 due west of Rotorua, but it’s a pretty incredible place. You can do a massive rappel into a cave called The Lost World and you can go blackwater rafing in a cave full of glowworms. If you go through this area, Bosco’s Café in nearby Te Kuiti is a sure bet for a coffee or dinner.


Kawhia Harbour – in NZ, there are a few beaches where there is geothermal activity under the sand. The most popular of these is on the Coromandel Peninsula. A little-known spot is along Kawhia Harbour, and you’re likely to find yourself alone on the beach. Dig down 1-2 feet in the sand, let the hole fill up with hot water, and you’ve got your own private hot tub on the beach.


Coromandel Peninsula – I haven’t been here, so can only speak from its reputation. A very popular spot for Aucklanders to go on the weekend, Cathedral Cove (near the town of Hahei) is supposed to be one stunner of a beach. The most popular hot water beach is just south of there at a place named, you guessed it, Hot Water Beach. Here, you can rent a bucket and a spade to dig your own hot tub. This place can get very busy, especially on weekends.


Auckland – the largest city in New Zealand, and not well liked by the rest of the country. (Kiwis outside of Auckland refer to their inhabitants as JAFAs: Just Another F’ing Aucklander). Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium is quite spectacular, and the view from the top of One Tree Hill (now missing its tree) is great. However, I don’t think the city is worth spending much time in.


(continued in the comments)






I just booked a trip to Reykjavik for next June. Is there any local Icelanders or experienced travelers that can tell me a little about what I should expect and look for?


When I arrive in Iceland I'll be 20 and finished with my first year in college. I'll be spending 3 weeks at a hostel in Reykjavik. What are the young people's scene like? What are the little things that you enjoy/dislike about Iceland? Where do I get an interesting meal? What's up and what's down in "the land of fire and ice"


Now,


I'm mostly interested in the interior and Northern region. I want to hike and mountaineer. I've spent the last 6 months in Colorado doing just that. (I scaled a 14,000 footer (Sneffels) on New Years eve.) Are there any trails around Hörgársveit I have to pursue? I've looked but can't find much consistent information.


Any Icelandic info/tips/stories are welcome.


PS- First post :)






Looking for cheap and easy trip suggestions from Paris (x-post from r/paris)


I will be in Paris for about a week and am looking for somewhere else to visit for a few days while I'm in Europe. Where can I get to relatively cheaply/easily from Paris (budget for travel is preferably <$200 roundtrip)? I'm fine with traveling by train or airplane, but I'd prefer no stopovers and not having to rent a car.


Destination-wise: culture is a must, beaches are a plus (especially on the Mediterranean). Will be spending 2-3 days there, so must be enough going on to keep me entertained. No preference whether it is somewhere else in France or another country.






Hey r/travel, I'm visiting Europe and need some help.


Hello everybody. I'll be traveling through Europe from August 10th to September 20th and need some help. On the 21th I have to be in London. I've done a lot of research, but I need some help in some things. Hopefully I can learn a thing or two from your past experiences. Here's the list of places and days I have planned:


Barcelona - 3 nights. I leave on the fourth day. So it's three full days in Barcelona.


Milan - 5 nights. I'm going to visit Cinque Terre from here, and one of these 5 nights I'll probably spend it there. So It's actually 4 nights Milan 1 Cinque Terre. Then I come back to Milan to take the next flight.


Dubrovinik - 2 nights.


Rome - 5 nights - Includes a visit for the whole day to Capri


Florence - 3 nights


Venice - 3 nights


Munich - 5 nights. Includes a visit for the day to the castle of Neuschwanstein.


Viena - 3 nights


Budapest - 3 nights


Krakow - 4 nights. Includes a visit for the day to Auschwitz.


Prague - 3 nights.


I still have about 2-3 nights that I'm not sure what to do.


Questions:


I was planning on making the following flights: Barcelona-Milan, Milan-Dubrovinik, Dubrovinik-Rome. After that, I'm unsure what to do. I've seen that train is an excellent way to travel Italy, so I thought I'd do Rome-Florence, Florence-Venice.


But after that,


1)How do I get from Venice to Munich? Is train the best option? If so, what company can take me there?


2)Say I get to Munich from Venice. Is Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Krakow-Prague the best route? Is train feasible, or is something else recommended? I've checked RyanAir and Easyjet, but they don't travel between these cities.


3) Am I spending too much time traveling? If traveling by train throughout Italy and Central Europe is the answer, I guess I'll try taking nightly trains.


4) If the past answers have been "Yes, train works". Then I guess Eurorail will make it all cheaper, right?


Honestly, any feedback is welcomed. If you don't wanna answer any question and just wanna throw your opinion please do. Anything is useful :)


And thank you so much for reading this.






Which places should I go to in Honduras?


I' am planning to spend around 3 weeks in Honduras. Which places besides Roatan do you recommend?






13 hours in Shangai. I would help with my 'must see' list


My wife and I arrive in Shangai at 5am and leave at 8pm. We are hoping to get some authentic experincies in and make it back safe in time for our evening flight. We love dim sum, bubble tea and history if that helps. Thanks everyone.






I want to spend 2015 truly helping 365 people in 365 days.


Seeing all 50 states would be a plus but not a necessity. I won't get into the details of why I really need to do it but it has to happen. I don't know how I will fund it all yet, and it is only a seed of an idea at this point, but I need to put it out there and take any suggestions and advice I can.






More time and less money, or more money and less time while travelling in Asia? That's my dilemma right now.


Hi!


I recently graduated and have gotten myself a decent job in my hometown (so I will be staying with my parents), I'm on a one year contract and will earn $3300 after taxes each month. I reckon I'll be earmarking $3000 of those for travelling. I don't really intend to work for the full 12 months and quitting the job won't be a problem. So my simple question is, for how long should I work until I leave for Asia?


I have to be back for law school in August next year and this job starts the first of August this year. So should I work for five months and travel for seven months with $15 000 or work for 8 months and travel 4 months with $24k. Or really any combination between.


I have never really done any backpacking before and while I will be trying to keep costs down and stay in decent hostels I reckon I will spend more money than your average backpacker.


So I guess a tl;dr would be if you could do your travelling over again. Would you rather have had more time or more money?






3 day trip suggestions for college students from DFW?


Some friends and I looking for a place to go with 4-6 friends for a Friday, Saturday, Sunday getaway so that we can be back before Monday morning. We can go basically any weekend this summer (as long as it's before school starts on August 25th). We are obviously looking for a relatively cheap trip, but we are all willing to spend about $120, maybe a tiny bit more for doing any fun, active activities. We are starting in Fort Worth and would really like to get out of Texas, so not really trying to go to Austin or anything like that. We are looking for a place to camp and hike more than likely, but honestly just open to anything fun that we can make a memory out of!


So far I've been looking at places within a 400-500 mile radius, and nothing has really popped up. We were thinking of making the trip to Missouri and seeing Lake of the Ozarks or even going to Arcadia Valley. We are really looking for a scenic place. The original thought was to go to a place like Big Sur, Yosemite, or even make the trip up to Portland and go exploring around there, but all of those trips are too long of a drive. Anything similar/comparable to those places would be fantastic, but obviously the south/southwest is not the same as the west coast.


Any suggestions on destinations or trip ideas would be greatly appreciated, we are really trying to make the most out of our time left in college, and the summer is the time to do these trips! Thanks so much in advance for any help!






Looking for a good neck pillow and perhaps some advice about sleeping


I'm flying this summer with a 42 hour layover in Rome. I really want to sleep on the flight so as to be as awake as possible in Rome. Can anyone recommend a neck pillow that they really like? I just saw the Evolution Pillow. Is it worth the extra money?


Any advice about helping me sleep on a long flight? Eat? Don't eat? Anything?


Thanks.






[Flying] Any truth to dressing formally=better service?


Planning to travel soon and taking a fairly long flight. About 2-3 eight hour flights. I'm travelling economy and wanted to know if there's any truth to getting better service when I dress formally?






Ask r/travel: What is the best laptop replacement tablet for a traveling photographer?


I'm a photo enthusiast who is planning on traveling to Vietnam, Isreal, etc. I am concerned with bringing my 15 inch MacBook Pro for security/weight/size reasons.


I use a GoPro Hero 3+ and a Nikon d800, and am wondering what the best tablet is to offload pictures from the respective memory cards.


I've seen recommendations for the iPad, iPad mini and Nexus 7.


My concerns with the iPads are that they won't be compatible with Nikon RAW. It seems like they are made for point and shoot cameras that store JPEG formats.


Does anyone have any advice for me?






Short trip to Malaysia for 10 days, is George Town worth more than a day trip?


I'm coming in from Singapore (where I'll have previously spent a week or so), but could reduce this as appropriate to say, 4 days, in order to get a closer to 2 weeks in Malaysia perhaps.


My plan was to head to Kuala Lumpur for 7 days, and George Town for 3 days, before heading into Thailand via a train to Hat Yai.


While Kuala Lumpur is obviously a place to go to, I'm less sure about George Town (although I know that I'll have to head there eventually to catch the train into Thailand).


Should I keep my current (short) route, or is there a better place to head to instead of Georgetown? If I extended the trip by a couple of days by cutting down on Singapore, where should I head?


Context if it helps: first time in the region, will be 18 at the time of travel, backpacking on a budget.


Thanks,

C.






Advice for first time traveler. (going to Tokyo)


Hi, I'm 23 years old and I've never gone traveling before.. (never even been to an airport.) So I decided to throw myself into the deep end and booked myself a week in Tokyo. All the Flights, Hotel and Insurance are sorted, I've got a couple of lonely planet guides and maps.


But with just 9 days to go any tips or advice from you guys would be greatly appreciated.






Berlin / Rome travel advice


Hey all!


Long time lurker here. Travelling to Europe in the next few weeks for the first time and thoroughly confused.


My company is sending me to Berlin for a conference (which runs from 21-27 July), and so I decided to take a few days extra off, to do some sight seeing, and may be some more travelling. Hence, I booked such that I reach Berlin 18th July in the morning, spend a few (3) days sight seeing, then attend the conference for a week, and after the conference, head out to Rome for 4 days, and then return.


Past few days though, as I was checking on things to do in Berlin, I realize there is a LOT. I'm a history buff, so love museums, lately been interested in photography, so there is that, and from what I can see, there are some great places quite close to Berlin where you could go treking or picnicing by the lakes. I'd love to do these things, and that makes me realize that may be I should not visit Rome, and just spend more time in Berlin.


Just wanted some advice if that makes sense, or will I be bored by the end.


Sorry for the wall of text, but any inputs would be much appreciated. Thanks!






Flying to NZ in 4 weeks, no plan, what to do?


20 Year old Male. Flying to Auckland from London in 4 weeks, saved up some cash and got a working visa. Don't have a plan, just wanna work my way around the country. Going solo, if anyone is around, Let me know, Will be willing for car sharing etc. any tips or anything? All abit daunting!






Traveling and Loneliness


I've been a nomad for three years, before that I had some bad social anxiety I was working on for years. I'm an introvert and basically have no friends.


I've just gotten to the point where I'm really lonely. Even though I know it's better for meeting people, I don't normally stay in hostels, usually apartments, and whenever I have stayed in hostel, have always gotten my own room. I've just had issues staying in a room with 8 other people or whatever due to my social anxiety so have avoided it.


Usually when I meet people it's from a walking tour, but that or staying at hostel is hit or miss. I don't drink and not the party type. After a while even those 3 day friendships or whatever you develop seem superficial since you'll most likely never see these people again. Feels like what's the point after a while.


I'm just not the extroverted outgoing type that will become comfortable around people and open up right away. Has anyone else had issues like this and overcome them? I've kind of settled down in areas for a few months to try and work them out but have been unsuccessful my entire life.






Other than your towel, what's the one thing you won't travel without?


Just booked my flight to Mexico, it's the start of another big trip for me. But I have become very complacent with my packing.


What's the one thing that has made travelling better for you?


(probably don't need to say things like passport, or money either :D)






Just a couple looking to book a holiday tonight in desperate need of help! Please!


In desperate need of some advice from anyone that has traveled as a young group or couple to a destination in Europe that offers sun, fun and sights to visit during the day.


Need to book this trip tonight if it's going to happen so you may consider a matter of urgency.


We're 23, flying from London, travelling for a week first week of September...


We were possibly thinking Dubrovnik but not sure if it will keep us busy for an entire week?? (If anyone happens to know this too...)


Thanks guys.






If you had to take a 2 week vacation, whereafter you would work remotely (as a programmer) for another 2 weeks, where would you go?


I'm from South Africa and itching to travel to any location worldwide, preferable with breathtaking nature and views, for 2 weeks. Thereafter I want to stay in said location (or closeby) and work remotely (to kind of extend my holiday, but not have to take 100% leave).


Best time would be September 2014.






Is Paris good for walking and gathering creative ideas?


Or it's very crowded and there're no places to walk alone mostly? I just need some time alone, walk a lot (and sit from time to time), ponder my existence and gather creative ideas in beautiful artistic places. I am not really that interested in seeing tourist places, that's not the most important thing. Is Paris a good place for me for this? I want to leave in a week or a few days.






Travelers of Reddit: What is your worst story of lost luggage?


I have a friend who flew from Chicago to Salt Lake City but somehow her luggage ended up in Saudi Arabia. It got me wondering what are some of the worst/craziest/funniest/mind-blowing stories you have about losing luggage?






Is it a good idea to have pictures of my credit cards encrypted on a thumb drive while traveling?


Anyone do this?






Looking to reorient my life around traveling, looking for some advice/guidance! (Canada)


Hello folks,


So I used to be one of the lucky few who had a job that allowed for lots of travel. Now the company I used to work for is going under, and I'm back on the job market.


Nobody else seems to offer the kind of schedule I used to have, and I can't bear to think that I'll be stuck in a 50-week a year job, with 10 days vacation every year for the next 5-10 years, right in my 20's where I want to travel the most.


I'm looking to reorient my career to have a stable enough job at home, but keep that freedom to travel, but have no idea what kind of job I could do to help me get there.


Do any of you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions on how to go about doing that? Have any of you done it successfully?


Thanks!






Any suggestions on what to do for a day pack?


I'm starting to do single day trips quite often and was wondering what is suggested to carry around in a backpack/daypack if I'm just visiting cities for a day. All that I can come up with is a small first aid kit and a water bottle.


My typical trips would be to fly out on the first flight in the morning, take public transit or a taxi from the airport into the city, go sightseeing and fly back home on the last flight of the day.






Gulf Shores, AL - 4th of July trip


My friend and I are looking to go to Gulf Shores for the 4th of July this year. We're wondering what we could do during our 3 night stay and where the best place is to see fireworks. We will be camping out in Southport. If anyone could offer some advice, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!






Help Needed: 20 Day Travel from London --> Rome


Hey Guys!


My girlfriend and I are flying into London and leaving from Rome. We have a total of 20 days. So far, we've only decided to stay in London for 4 days, Paris for 5, so that leaves us 11 total days left (7/04 -7/15). I'm 26yo male, she is 24yo female.


We do need to end up in Rome as that's where we're flying out of.


My questions:


1) Where should we stop in between Paris and Rome? * I'm hoping for a place that has beautiful nature and possibly some fun adventurous activities for both of us (we are both beginners in this type of activity, so nothing too crazy)


2) If this was your trip, where would you go?


3) How long do you think we should stay at location answered in #1? In #2?


4) How long do you think we should stay in Rome?


Any help is greatly appreciated!






Travelling the Americas, how to decide on route based on weather?


I will be travelling from December 2014 till the end of May/mid June 2015. I'd like to do a motorcycle trip through the Americas. Originally the goal was South America, but I plan to buy the bike in the States and go from there. Anyway, I'm trying to work out an easy way to understand what the weather is going to be like over such a vast area so I can plan my route.


Has anyone worked out an easy way to understand what the weather is like?






Making my way back up Eastern Europe! Any highlights you suggest?


Hi all - just wrapping up my time in Greece right now and will be flying to Istanbul shortly!


Honestly, I'm just traveling to these countries because I'm in the area - I haven't done much research and more just want to knock it off my "checklist".


I'd love to hear about some suggestions!


Rough Itinerary:



  • Istanbul (No where else in Turkey - I'd love to make another trip here though)

  • Bulgaria

  • Macedonia

  • Kosovo

  • Montenegro (Already been here - just going in so I don't run into Kosovo/Serbia border issues later) But happy to take a suggestion!

  • Serbia

  • Hungary (Budapest, at least)

  • Romania (Possibly! If I have time)

  • Slovakia

  • Czech Republic

  • Berlin


Also - if you would like to suggest a country that looks like it may be close enough, feel free to throw it out! (Already have done Croatia, Bosnia, Albania & Montenegro)


Thanks, looking forward to your suggestions and stories!






Help make my Europe itinerary efficient (please)


In October, I'll be landing in Paris. I have no return date or location booked yet. I have cities in mind that I'd like to visit, but don't know the most efficient way to travel between them. The cities are flexible, and I'm willing to add another/drop any if it would cut down my cost (trying to keep a budget of $4000 USD for food/room/travel while in Europe).


I've looked at Ryan Air, EuRail, etc. but it's just so complex for me, that I'm hoping someone local or with experience could answer this easily. My question is, using Air and Rail, what would the most efficient route between these cities be:




  • Paris




  • Rome




  • Florence




  • Venice




  • Amsterdam




  • Munich




  • Barcelona








2014. június 28., szombat

Munich in September? Hoping to AVOID Oktoberfest.


I'm trying to plan a trip to Germany in September but hoping to avoid Oktoberfest. Currently thinking about flying in to Munich in early September and making my way up to Berlin.


How will Munich be in early September? Will it be more expensive because of Oktoberfest? Will places be closed?






Being frugal in the Benelux region


Hi there! I am a student currently getting ready to go live abroad in The Hague, The Netherlands for the next 6 months. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on saving money in one of the most expensive places to live? Or best/cheapest ways to travel, save money on food, entertainment, etc... Any advice I am all ears for! Thanks in advance :)






I'm going to Europe for 20 days. I'm going to see Paris and 2 other cities yet to be decided. Where should I go?


My girlfriend and I just are going to Europe this September. We're going for 20 days. We're going to spend a little over a week in Paris, and we want to spend about 5 more days in 2 other countries / cities. Right now the idea is to go to Ireland and maybe Prague, Berlin or Budapest. We've also thought about Florence or possibly somewhere in Spain. I've been to London and Amsterdam before, so I think we're skipping those two places. Does anyone have any strong recommendations for other cities? We pretty much just want to see the sights and immerse ourself in the culture (food, nightlife, etc.). Any recommendations or thoughts would be helpful and welcome. Thanks!






Have you taken any cruises and if so, what were your experiences?


I am looking for vacation ideas for January and my wife and I are looking into cruises from either Florida or Texas. We are looking for 7-10 days and will be travelling with 11 and 12 year old boys.






Strategy behind purchasing plane tickets?


I typically use one of well known travel search engines to find my plane tickets. This time, I didn't pull the trigger right away like I usually do. I checked ~72 hours later and the tickets had gone up $80 a piece.


Is there a pattern to the fluctuation of these prices? Are there certain days or times that I should be watching? How close to or far out from the trip should I purchase tickets? Or is it all unpredictable?


Trip info: Heading from Seattle to LAX/Orange County in October.






Any highlights I am missing traveling from Montana, Nebraska, Minisota, South and North Dakota, Wyoming, Illinois?


So i am leaving from sheridan and would like to a visit as many places that are worth visiting on my way back to NY. Any ideas, parks, monomunts and other must see you recommend, i already have Mount Rushmore , yellowstone and a few places in chicago and on my list?






(Urgent) Can I cancel a Delta flight and get a full refund?


I had bought roundtrip tickets to another state in the US (I'm from FL) for August.


Today I found out my Grandma might die tonight so in a scramble I bought one way tickets to that same state for tomorrow.


Can I cancel my August trip and get a full refund? I didn't even notice that August is only a month away, and I'll probably be in my family's state for a couple weeks to deal with my Grandma so it doesn't make sense to go to my family's state, then fly back home, then go to my family's state again in August.






Can anyone help me avoid time change fee with Southwest on a same day flight?


I am flying from Sacramento, CA to Chicago this Tuesday 07/01/2014. I have a flight booked at 3:00PM that cost me $267 one way. I would like to change the flight to a 7:00am flight. I called Southwest and they said it is a $184 fee to change the flight because prices went up.


My ticket cost $267 at time of purchase. Tickets on both the 7:00am and 3:00pm are now $451. My logic of thinking is that all I want to do is shift my time, my ticket on the 3:00pm flight will come open, and the company will still get the $451, whether its on the 7:00am flight or the 3:00pm flight.


Can anyone lend any advice to me to switch my flight, avoiding this fee?






7 Hours to kill in Oslo Norway. What should I do with such a small window of time?


A male friend and myself (also male) have a long layover in Oslo and wish to explore instead of sit in the airport waiting. We will be going in 6 days and arriving in Oslo at 8 in the morning. Is there anything you would recommend seeing that isn't a long distance from the airport? Also seeing as how I have never been there before if you think this is a poor decision your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!






Camping - Sleeping along the Pacific Coast Highway.


Going Cross-Country, FL to CA in August.


Going to take the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego upwards to SF.


I want to camp along the coast a couple of nights. Basically, I want to illegally sleep on a beach or two because that sounds perfect.


Getting a ticket, or in trouble, murdered, or eaten doesn't sound too cool.


I'm sure some of you have stealth-slept on a beach or in a park.


Any advice on that, or what I should be doing/seeing along the PCH?


Thanks!






How do I travel with a family?


In a few years I want to do a round the world trip with my (hopefully three) children. By then the youngest will be six and I believe that is a good age to start a big trip. My questions are: How do I do it? What do I need for a family of 5 to travel for a year? My plan was to fly into the UK, buy a camper van and travel around the continent, ending with meeting family in India and flying back. How much money do we need? Where do I even start? Some websites and books would be helpful as well. We are all Canadian, although my husband can claim Irish citizenship and I am trying to convince him to do so. I also plan to homeschool on the road and want to spend the summer somewhere warm like Spain or Morocco.






Do airlines ever weigh your carry-on baggage?


I'm flying to Bangkok in a little over a month, and one of my three flights from the US -> BKK is on China Eastern.


I'm using an Osprey Porter 46, so my bag is be within the size limits for all airlines, but China Eastern's weight limit is 5kg (!). I'll almost definitely be packing more than 11lb.


Has anyone ever seen China Eastern weigh carry-on bags?






Planning a Holiday from UK under £1000, any recommendations?


Hi all! :D


My and my missus are looking at getting away in august for a couple of weeks and thought that the source of all knowledge (reddit) might have some great ideas!


What places have good beaches, as easy to fly to as possible, and have cheap cost of living?


Please recommend any good destinations? :D


WANT - good/great beaches(or lakes), sunshine, bit of culture, the cheaper the cost of living the better, some activities available, a few restaurants and places etc to look around


DO NO WANT - super touristy places, rave club land ibiza like destinations (we aren't big drinkers or clubbers)


You get a lot more for your money in places like thailand so you can get a great hotel which we love, but don't like the idea of the huge travel time (15-25 hours flights, then 12 hour bus to some palces). Any alternatives?


We've looked at some places in europe, like italy etc which looks ok, but will of course be a lot more costly once there compared to further destinations like thailand.


Hope you can help!! :D


TLDR -


a couple going away in august for 2 weeks


sunny beach destination


under £1000 each


the cheaper the cost of living the better






Has anyone here traveled cross country (US) by hitchhiking, walking, or any of the sorts? I am very interested in doing it with as little money as possible and wanted some info from the previously experienced. [xpost /r/askreddit]


Like the title suggests, I am thinking of traveling from West coast U.S.A to the East coast with as little money as possible to see how far I can get. I kind of just want a general idea of how I can achieve this.What supplies I might need and what things to watch out for. Any rules I need to follow, any tricks of the trade would greatly be appreciated.






Driving from Lisbon to the Albufeira via Evora - Tips?


I'm headed to Portugal tonight and as part of my trip I'm renting a car and driving down to the Alvarge. Ive been told to stop in Evora on the way because it is magnificent. Any tips on what to do in Evora or in Albufeira / surrounding area?






Please give me your opinion on my European itinerary


Hi r/travel! My wife and I are planning a trip to Europe in December/January. I know the weather is very cold in some places at that time of year, but we are set on it and are willing to endure it. I may as well mention that we are both young: I'll be 27 and she'll be 24. I've been to Europe twice but she hasn't been there. We wanted to create a balance between the must-see places which I'd like to return to (Paris, Rome, etc.) and some new places for myself. The maximum amount of nights we can spare is 23. Also, we want to take advantage of the EURail 4-country pass (what do you think about this?). Also, we "must" begin and finish in the same city, since that cuts airfare costs. Anyway, after much thinking this is how we have defined our itinerary up to now:


Nights City


3 Paris


3 Florence


4 Rome


2 Venice


2 Salzburg


4 Vienna


2 Munich


2 Heidelberg


1 Paris


If you look at these cities on a map, they more or less form a nice little path around Switzerland.


We are definitely willing to tire ourselves a bit in order to see more places. But what do you think? Is it too much? Any suggestions on some of the cities? (Especially the smaller ones)


Thanks!






Traveling to Israel in Aug. with a group for 2 weeks and extended my trip 5 days.


Where should I go with the extra 5 days? I'm thinking Cyprus…Greece… or Egypt Budget isn't a big issues...I want to make the most of my trip. I love the outdoors, good food and friendly locals! Thinking about Cyprus since it’s smaller and figure I’ll want to revisit the larger destinations with more time to spare Is it wrong to buy tickets last minute once I'm in Israel? Will I have to worry about having flights sold out? Hostels? Should I try to find people willing to rent a room as opposed? If so, how do I find them? Advice? First time leaving the country!






Here goes nothing!


Hi everybody! I've spent a lot of time browsing this subreddit over the past two years, taking in all the experiences of all the wonderful people who share their adventures on here. I've travelled a bit before, but the past five years I've been pretty stationary in Montreal (where I grew up) working hard at school and saving money, and now I can finally say, I've put in motion my first big adventure out into the world.


This September I'm leaving to do a semester abroad in Cork, Ireland, and it'll be the longest time I've spent a way from home. I've booked my flights, put deposits on my residence, and I've finally let it sink in that it's really happening.


I really just wanted to share this with r/travel as a thank you for inspiring me over the years, and would love if anybody has any experiences with study abroad, Cork or Ireland in general, travel tips for a first-timer, or any other suggestions of places I can visit (I really hope to try and get some cheap flights to other parts of Europe that I've never been to).






10 Hour layover in Iceland need advice


I have a ten hour layover in Iceland in september and would like to see Reykjavík and the blue lagoon. Is this possible to do within ten hours and if so what would be the cheapest and most efficient option?






Hi guys planning on taking a trip to Puerto Rico next month and need some advice.


What's up travelers! Next month I'm planning on taking a solo trip to Puerto Rico in August for a week and after doing a little bit of research I have some questions for anybody who has been there before.


I was planning on buying a plane ticket to San Juan initially but I'm just wondering if this is the place I should spend the majority of my trip there other cities I should try and check out while I'm there (Culebra, Fajardo, etc.)?


My budget for this trip is about 600 dollars, with my round trip tickets probably going to run me about 350 bucks I'm looking for some pretty cheap accommodations. Any hostel recommendations (doesn't have to be anything fancy)?


Any must see destinations? I've heard that the El Yunque rainforest and Old San Juan are worth checking out.


That's all for specifics but if you guys have any other general advice/tips feel free to let me know, thanks for the help.






Driving from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL. Looking for suggested stops on the way


My girlfriend and I will be driving from Portland Oregon to St. Joseph Michigan (Chicago in title for visibility) and I am looking for suggested stops, camping places, or otherwise.


The places we 'need to be' are below, in the order we plan on stopping. There's some debate on how to get across the lake from Oshkosh (North, South, or ferry across...), any input would be welcome.


Portland -> Yellowstone -> Badlands -> Oshkosh -> St. Joseph


We'll be driving a truck with a mattress in the back, so we'll be 'camping' along the way in the back of the truck. Timeline is ~4 days, departing Portland late day on the 3rd of July, or early on the 4th. We'd like to be in St. Joseph by the 8th at the latest.


I am particularly interested in camping suggestions, hiking suggestions, and 4th of July locations for impressive fireworks and festivities (somewhere near Montana or Wyoming).


Our budget isn't fixed, but I am anticipating gas should be our highest cost. Food and camping should be cheap, so if there's a 'must see' that costs a bit of an entry fee we'd be open to that.


I look forward to your suggestions!


Thanks!






Looking for Peru advice


Hey everyone, I'm a 24 year old fairly healthy dude from New York now planning a trip to Peru! What I'm looking for out of this trip:



  1. Seeing Machu Picchu (I'm cool hiking but wouldn't want to overnight camp more than a night if possible)

  2. Lake Titicaca

  3. Perhaps a beach if this is a thing

  4. Perhaps renting a motorcycle or scooter and riding for the day

  5. Mountains!


I'm considering hiring a tour company for some or all of my journey so recommendations are welcome. I'm planning on going from August 28th to September 7th. Thanks for any advice to help me reach my goals!






Can I wash a second degree burn in Taiwan tap/shower water?


I got a second degree burn on my hand from the water machines at the university in Taichung City. Can I wash my hands with the water like when i use the shower and such? Here is a picture of my hand currently






Ease of finding jobs in New Zealand


To those of you who have gone to New Zealand and supported one's self with an apartment/renting a room. I am wondering how easy it is to find a job to support one person in NZ. I am leaving in January and will be travelling the country (hitchhiking) and camping around for about the first month. After that I will be WWOOFing. During the time of volunteering I would like to spend the extra time not on the farm looking for a job to possibly get a place of my own.


Is this a sound way to go about things?


Anyone have any other ideas?


What are your experiences in the job search and supporting yourself in NZ.


Note, I do have a working holiday visa good for one year.






Advice for a couples getaway on a budget.


My girlfriend and I are looking to get away for a week towards the end of August/early September. She's away at the minute so we can't book one together now, instead we're looking to grab a last minute deal.


We're not too bothered what board the room is as we'd like to eat out and explore the local culture - our budget would probably stretch as far as £700 ($1200) each.


It'd be nice to travel outside of Europe, but it's not imperative given our budget. I haven't booked last minute before so I'm not entirely sure how low the prices stoop, does anyone frequently book last minute and have an idea?


edit: We're from the UK.






Looking for locations to celebrate a 50th birthday in February 2015...


Hello all,


Looking for a fun, unique location to celebrate a 50th birthday.


We live in Southern California and birthday is coming up in February of 2015. 2 adults and 2 kids (15 and 11 years old). Have 1 week.


Warmth and beaches would be best, but not required. Short plane ride would be best, but not required.


Keeping costs down would be great as well, but not required.


Any suggestions?






Rome2Rio.com Shared Itineraries


Anyone else here on /r/travel think it would be a nice idea to have the option to save and share your current & past itineraries? Personally, as someone who has never traveled abroad before, I find it might be useful to look at other travelers' routes to get a better idea of where I might want to go and how to go about doing it. For instance, going from London > Amsterdamn > Florence for a smoother transition than London > Florence > Amsterdam; etc.


Edit: Also, to see the total cost of their trip to give an estimate of what it may cost another person to follow that same itinerary.






Alaskan Celebrity Cruise - Excursions


Booked a Celebrity Solstice cruise to Alaska with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway. Would love some advice on reasonable excursions to do in each port. My boyfriend and I are going - he had a knee replacement and cannot do any major hiking - mild walking is fine.






Is it possible to change the name on a British Airways flight?


I have booked a flight with my sister this summer to Bermuda to visit some family who live out there. However, I have just been offered an amazing opportunity at work and therefore I can no longer go on holiday. Although my sister is happy to go on her own, I would hate for the ticket to be wasted and therefore I would like to change the name so my sister can travel with her friend.


We are flying with British Airways from Gatwick, but we booked it through Budget Air. However, when I phoned up budget air, and said I would be willing to pay any name changing fees, they said it was impossible because changing names is against Aviation law (which i'm sure isn't true because my friend managed to change the name on her flight to Ibiza last summer.)


Is it impossible to change names? Has anyone managed to change the name on a British Airways flight before?






Cruise mediterranean sea, any things i can't miss?


Hi guys, i am going on a cruise for 13 days and im visiting the following ports:


Venice Dubrovnik Kotor Corfu Naples Civitavecchia Livorno Monte Carlo Marseille Barcelona


Because i haven't been to most of those places i was wondering if any of you veterans could give me some advice on what things to visit, and which are not worth the trouble?


Thanks in advance!!






What websites do you use to plan your route?


I'm looking to travel round central america and would like to plot a vague route of our journey. I know you can do some of it on google maps, but I'm looking at including some parts by road, others by air, and even maybe some by boat. Any suggestions?






Does anyone know if Osprey delivers its Porter 46l backpack to Brazil?


I'm going to Patagonia in January 2015 and I really want to buy the Osprey Porter 46L backpack, since its the standard carryon size and fits everything I'll pack for this trip. Does anyone know if Osprey delivers directly to Brazil or is there another way or online shop (like REI) that does it?






17 year old New Zealand boy wanting to travel, i need some help and opinions.


Hey im fairly new to reddit, im not sure how many people will see this but i hope i can get some opinons and stuff :) thank you to anyone who reads and replies.


Ok so this time last year i was packing my bags and going on my last family holidays to thailand and singapore. (last one that my parents were taking me and my siblings on a holiday as we are older now). I had a amazing two week stay in Phuket thailand, A little food poisoning ruined a couple of days. But i feel in love with it, i feel in love with travelling going on adventures and ever since ive craved it. It was the walking around by myself and sitting on the beach and watching the sun set in another country that really sucked me in. Now at the moment I'm in my last year at school, and I have a part time job, I have 3 grand saved in the bank but I hope to have about 10+ around April next year as I will be working full time from November onwards. With around 10 grand how long could i go for? where could I go? i've been to most of Australia. Im not sure where i want to go or of the expenses, or am i doing this at the wrong time? should i go to uni instead? am i making a bad decision? please help me






So I'm putting all my stuff out on the street tomorrow, including my 48k bmw, and I am leaving for the coast on a plane, and I am never coming back.


I also plan to change my name so my parents can never find me or contact me again. I am giving up about 72k worth of things in this house, but I do not have the energy to sell it all. I put my car and my keys on it, so someone will take it, and I have started to put my stuff outside. I was going to off myself tonight, but I decided I would rather go cruising on a boat for a while instead. Fuck this world. Fuck my parents, and fuck having stuff. It's fucking worthless. And the only thing that's worth anything is your brain. And my brain isn't worth a fucking shit. So I need to figure out how to make it worth something to people. Don't worry about me, I'm a millionaire. But I am getting out of here. I will never come back to Texas. This place has been nothing but hell for me.


I wish you all the best in your life, but I am disappearing now.






2014. június 27., péntek

All-Inclusive Resorts in America?


Does anyone have any experience in finding good deals for resorts that are in the USA?


I live in the Southeast and I can't seem to find half-way affordable all-inclusive resorts.






So, visiting Canada for a few months, but I'm a little confused on what to tell the boarder patrol


So I'm headed to Canada in a few days to spend a few months with my boyfriend. We plan on moving together, as soon as it's possible, and hes hired an immigration lawyer to work on getting permanent residency.


My main concern is being denied entry. Of course I'm not going to risk being barred from the country by attempting to stay longer than allowed, but I haven't been able to find good examples to prove I'd be willing/capable of going back to the US.


Hes financing everything, I quit my job a few months ago as it was horrible and I planned on eventually moving anyways, and he can support us. I've kind of been getting rid of my assets as well. I was going to return my car to the creditor, I've been living with long-time friends,etc. Dropped my apartment a few months ago. I don't have a "real" bank account anymore. I use prepaid Greendot card, as its more convenient as I'm not working and get money sporadically.


So..yeah. xP. First time flying, I have all of my documents, and my recently issued passport.


I spent just about all of my actual cash preparing. And whenever I go back to the US I have my friends who I live with now more than willing to let me stay, and my Shudder parents.


All advice appreciated. I've been looking forward to this for a long time I haven't seen him for a few months. This is my first time really traveling far, and first time flying. A bit nervous. I asked him to contact his immigration lawyer on Monday, hopefully she'll be available to answer questions asap aswell, but just in case not!






Travelers to North Korea with Korean language skills, did it change/improve your experience and how?


I've heard that some people get the chance to be pretty comfortable around their North Korean tour guides and that they are sometimes willing to do things that are actually not on the schedule. I'm guessing having some knowledge of Korean could even further enhance the possibilities of seeing things that are actually off-limit.


I realise this is a very limited group of people, but if you have got anything to share on the subject, please.






Minor question on hotels


Are there any at all that allow minors (I will be traveling with friends, none of us are 18)? The credit card is in my name, matches by passport, etc. Everywhere I've looked to book doesn't permit <18 at all.


Ideally, I'd like to go somewhere in Seattle or Dallas.






Converting dollars to euros?


Hi there, I am traveling to Europe for the first time ever and I am wondering where I can get the best rate to exchange dollars to euros. I have Chase and Bank of America if that helps. Some people end up getting a debit card loaded with money already and use an atm later over there, is the better option?






Buying silk in Thailand


I'm headed to Chiang Mai from Hong Kong on the 5th of July and plan on heading south from there with no set plans until the 25th when I return to Oklahoma. I want to get my girlfriend something really special and I thought what better than a dress made of Thai silk (also following in the footsteps of my grandfather who got a dress made for my grandmother in Thailand in the 1960s when he was an officer in the Air Force). Does anyone know the best place to go in Chiang Mai or Bangkok? How much can I expect to pay? Are there any common scams to watch out for? What can I expect in terms of turnaround, will I be able to get it done while I'm there or will I have to get it shipped back?






One month with a car in the USA


G'day redditors. Was hoping to throw out there for some suggestions on places, routes and things to do in the good old USA. My partner and I have a car on rental for a month, starting today until late July, ending up in Billings, Montana.


At the moment we are in San Diego! Doing the zoo safari tomorrow and then who knows!? Hopefully you.


So, we've been to San Fran, Yosemite and LA thus far and hoping to end up in Montana end of July. Where should we go? What could be our route? What do you suggest? We have a month for an adventure!






Hostel or Hotel suggestions for London


Hello r/travel, my wife and I will be visiting London, England for ten days during late July this year before heading on to Paris, France. We are coming from the USA as first time travelers if that helps any. I'm trying to find good Hostels/ hotels that won't break our budget, any tips?






I randomly decided today that I am going to Thailand the first week of September. What should I do?


I plan on stepping off the plan and just winging it. Traveling solo. Budget of about $500 for 5 days. Some wiggle room with that though. I like to drink but also would like to kick it at the beach and check out some mountains. I want to avoid touristy areas.






4 days between Venice and London, where should I go?


I'm traveling around europe by train and I have 4 days where I don't know where to go. Any places you guys would recommend?






How much money do I need to backpack Europe for 3 months?


I want to backpack Europe for 3 months at the end of my freshmen year and was wondering how much, on average, it costs? I plan to visit Eastern and Western Europe. I am going to stay in hostels, but am open to couch-surfing occasionally, and plan to using the Eurail to get around. I am from the US, but please do not include the flight of a ticket in the price.






Ft a Lauderdale FL / Houston TX (round trip road trip) 09Aug to 17Aug


I am looking to drive to Houston TX area (Montgomery TX to be exact) in middle of August. I know the 18 hour drive will be a long one with my two kids (Denise/9 & Daniel/8) in the backseat. Thus, I am hoping I can find a trustworthy driving partner willing to give $50 towards gas on the way up and $50 towards gas on the return and help share driving duties. You do not have to live exactly at origin Ft. Lauderdale FL or exactly at destination Montgomery TX.... if you are simply along the way I can pick you up on the way up and drop you off on the way back. Preferably you live at a point where you can help for the majority of the 18 hour drive from FL to TX. Airline tickets for this origin / destination are close to $450 each so this is perfect opportunity for you to visit family or friends for $100 total in gas assistance and enjoy a nice road trip.


If interested, please PM thru reddix.com


Have a blessed day, Mark






Looking for Feedback - Spain/Portugal Itinerary (16 days)


I'm traveling to Spain solo in a couple weeks, and was hoping for some feedback on my tentative itinerary.


Day 1: Land in Madrid 9AM, explore city, take overnight train to Lisbon


Day 2-4: Stay in Lisbon 3 nights, maybe take a day trip to Sintra


Day 5-7: Flight to Seville, spend three nights


Day 8-9: Morning bus to Granada Day 8, stay there overnight, Alhambra tour on Day 9, stay in Granada overnight


Day 10-14: Fly to Barcelona in the morning on Day 10, stay 5 nights


Day 15-16: Morning AVE train to Madrid, spend two nights


Day 17: Morning flight back to US from Madrid


tl;dr 3 nights Lisbon, 3 nights Seville, 2 nights Granada, 5 nights Barcelona, 2 nights Madrid


This is my first longer solo trip, so I'm looking for feedback or suggestions.. obviously it can be pretty flexible and I'm sure my wants will change throughout the trip. Just want to get some feedback as to whether you guys think this is too much to tackle in 16 days or if it seems reasonable.


Thank you!






What do I need to do NOW to scuba dive on a trip later this year?


I'm in the planning stages for a trip this fall/winter and I plan on going scuba diving and mountain biking. Based on threads I've seen here, I am looking at Costa Rica primarily and perhaps Nassau.


Do I need to get a scuba certification here in the states first? I have no equipment or training whatsoever and I'd like to be able to jump in and do my thing with a professional diving company wherever I end up going. Also, if anyone has any advice or recommendations on such a company and specific locations, please advise! I'd kind of like the comfort of a sort of guided experience.


Is Costa Rica going to be good for mountain biking as well? Can I rent a bike and hit some trails in the rain forest?


Thanks!






About to start planning a 10 day honeymoon to Europe. Need help!


Hey /r/travel, I need your help planning out a 10 day European honeymoon. My fiancee and I are not the beach types so we want to get some culture. We definitely want to do Ireland, but we're not sure where to start. I'd also love to do maybe 2 days in each city to get as much exposure as possible.


Need suggestions for cities / countries!


Thanks!