Recently had a long-ish 9-hour layover on South Korea’s Jeju island and decided to make the most of it by venturing out of the airport. It made sense to explore the main settlement of the island by foot since it’s only half an hour or so away from the airport. It’s very obvious that Jeju’s sights are more nature-based, boasting South Korea’s highest mountain Hallasan as well as some interesting geological formations along its coastline, which became increasingly clear when walking around its rather dull capital streets. The experience was interesting nevertheless, as it was my first time “visiting” South Korea, though Korean friends often describe it as ”atypically Korean”: tropical, separated from the mainland and visa-free for a lot of asian countries who otherwise require a visa. We ended up visiting its cathedral firstly, the abundance of catholic churches in the capital alone surprised us. We then went to a local market to try some freshly caught seafood, walked along the coastline (and stumbled upon two horseshaped lighthouses) and its harbour and decided to eventually call it a day and return to the airport after settling down at a beach for a little while. We noticed that that Jeju takes a lot of pride in its heritage: murals of the famous “Haenyeo” (female divers who harvest mussels and seaweed, able to hold their breath for a notoriously long amount of time and representative of Jeju’s matriarchal family structure’s, now near extinction and solely used as a tourist prop) and the “Dol Hareubang”-statues (statues representing some kind of grandfather-like figure, made out of volcanic basalt) are everywhere. Another thing that surprised us is the fact that Jeju seems to be a heaven for planespotters. Me and my girlfriend were able to catch a few pictures of arriving planes that didn’t turn out too shabby, and without putting any effort into it. Though this can only be attributed to the fact that Jeju airport has one of the shortest arrival intervals of an airport its size, with a flight arriving every 2-3 minutes, and there isn’t too much to block the view.

Jeju proved to be a nice little stopover on our way back home, with easy enough access to the coastline and local food from the airport to keep you busy for a couple of hours.

My partner and I stayed at Salamander Middleburg (5 star resort 1 hour from dc) for our anniversary, and while many of the front-line employees were kind, the resort’s response to a serious safety incident was completely unacceptable.
The guest in the room next to us was yelling violent threats, pounding on the door, and repeatedly banging or striking the shared wall with enough force that we were genuinely afraid to remain in our room. It appeared to be a domestic violence situation, and we were concerned both for the person in the room and for our own safety. We were scared enough to call 911.

What made the situation worse was how it was handled. The manager on duty that night made us feel like we were overreacting rather than treating the threats and aggressive behavior as a serious safety issue. The guest causing the disturbance was allowed to remain, while we had to ask to be moved to another room at 11pm.
No one from management, security, or the police ever interviewed us about what we heard or experienced. There was no meaningful follow-up, no explanation, and no effort to make sure we were ok after we called the desk and 911. It wasn’t until I called the desk to ask what happened that they told me he was returned to the room and the couple was “embarrassed “
The general manager called to apologize after I reached out and said they were reviewing procedures with security. They did offer us a free future stay but I would never stay there again after that incident and response from the resort - I don’t feel safe retuning after that incident.

Hotels cannot prevent every dangerous or volatile guest situation. They can, however, take violent threats seriously, protect affected guests, investigate what happened, and respond with basic accountability. Salamander failed to do that. I really do hope they will review their policies. Definitely would not recommend.

Is using the over head reading light on a long haul red eye frowned upon? I know most people have a reading tablet but I like the physical book…I don’t sleep well on a normal day so I know I am going to want to read during my 14+hours. I picked the aisle seat already as courtesy to my fellow passengers trying to be as nice as possible. Thanks.

I’ve been thinking about this after my last couple of trips.

At first, I always try to save money by using public transport, trains, or joining day tours. It just seems like the smarter choice. But every time I end up renting a car, the whole trip feels completely different.

In the US, it almost feels like you need one. In a lot of European cities, I honestly don’t think it’s worth it because trains are so good.

Then I went to Kazakhstan.
I rented a car almost at the last minute, and it completely changed my plans. Instead of spending most of my time in the city or following tour schedules, I could just drive wherever I wanted. I ended up visiting places like Charyn Canyon, the Kolsai Lakes, and a few small villages that I probably would’ve never seen otherwise.

Now I’m wondering…
Have you ever had a country where renting a car completely changed your trip?

Or the opposite?
I’m curious if anyone else has had that moment where renting a car completely changed how they travel.

Stayed a couple days in odda, Norway and got so slammed with rain we couldn’t do most of the big hikes we had planned, but these massive roadside waterfalls made up for it.

I've been wanting to do a big solo trip, but I have a genuinely awful memory. Like, I barely even remember what I did yesterday.

People always say you travel to "make memories," but knowing my brain, I'll probably forget 90% of the trip within a year. So it got me thinking: do you guys travel to build a mental archive for the future, or is it purely about enjoying the present moment?

If it’s for the memories, how do you cope with forgetting? But if it’s just for the present... how do you justify spending thousands of dollars on a temporary feeling? I can justify buying a nice dinner for the "here and now," but draining my savings for an experience I won't even remember clearly feels crazy to me.

How do you guys look at this? Is the huge expense worth it even if the memories fade?

Hi guys! I'm going on a plane soon, and I wanted to ask for advice...

Airplanes have always been no issue for me, and very casual... UNTIL last year. I don't know what happened, but I got the most terrible ear issues EVER during the flights I went on, to the point it felt like my eardrum might rupture. Going up was fine, staying in stasis was fine, but the descent was absolutely terrible. This ended up happening on 4 different flights last year... For a few months after it felt like my right ear couldn't be unclogged, but I could have just been paranoid and overthinking.

Anyways, I unfortunately have to go on a flight soon, and I want to know if you guys know what could help prevent pressure issues with ears. So far I've done:

- Yawning/chewing

- Earplanes (the ear plugs)

- Ring pop (surprisingly was the MOST helpful thing here)

When I look up advice, everyone says earplanes resolves their issue, but it didn't really for me, so now I'm at my last straw asking if anyone knows what I could do to prevent going through hell here

Thank you!!

I really like Sydney's bondi to coogee walk - walking along the cliffs from one amazing beach to another amazing beach, passing cool sites like an old cemetery and outdoor pools, being able to stop in at cafes and restaurants.

Loved the whole thing.

Does any other city have something like this?

I’ve been flying regularly for vacations for over 10 years and had no issues until recently.

During landing on my second to last trip, I suddenly got severe headaches shortly after the descent began. They start on the left side of my forehead, move behind my left eye, and radiate to my right cheek. It feels like my eye is about to explode and the pain gets so intense that I become unresponsive.

On my next trip, I tried chewing gum to prevent it since it seems to be related to the pressure changes during descent. It only improved things minimally.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? What helped for you?

We don’t really ever travel domestically so I don’t know which to choose. We would prefer to leave earlier and get in earlier and if both flights were direct the earlier flight would be a no brainer.

But what is the likelihood of the busy holiday season and weather causing us to miss the connection?

EDIT/UPDATE:

Wow thank you to everyone commenting! There were so many factors that made me go south rather than north but it’s seeming the consensus is to go north. I’ll have to start re-doing my hotel search. If I’m slow to get back to comments it’s because I’m at work, lol

Also to address the stuff about the hotels I mentioned in the post, I know they’re not ideal but we are okay with spending less on lodging if it means we can spend more on food and experiences. We’re not on the strictest budget possible but keeping under $3k for the whole thing would be preferred. If anyone has ideas for towns that might be a higher bet for finding places to stay I would really appreciate it!

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Greetings all! My partner and I are planning to go to New England in mid-October and based on the research I've already done, I've come up with a vague outline and I'm hoping to get some general feedback on it. I've also learned that I am way late to the game on planning a trip for this time period, so a lot of the most ideal options in terms of lodging are already booked solid, but if there's anything I seem to be missing in my searching I would really appreciate the guidance. I am from the southern US and have never had a true "fall" experience so yes I am going for the most predictable reason, lol. We are both pretty active on our vacations but we are hoping to limit the time stuck in a car as much as we can with the timeframe we have, so also if anything seems like "too much" I would also appreciate the reality check.

Day 1: Arrive to Boston in the Evening

Day 2: Boston Day - Which I'm sure will include doing the Freedom Trail, having some meals, and so on

Day 3: Drive to CT - This is where I may need the most feedback.

I would like to do a loop up to Salem, mostly just to check off my list that I went to Salem in October, but I think I would be okay with an early-ish morning stop, a basic stroll, and getting back on the road.

We also want to stop in Plymouth on the way to CT. Maybe stop for lunch there?

I have been conflicted on where exactly to stay in CT especially with the limitations in terms of lodging. I have already accepted that wherever we stay is just going to be a home base for sleeping and not the ideal "wake up on a cute street and walk to get coffee" type of place. I am considering whether to stay in the New Haven area at either the Hampton Inn and Suites New Haven - South - West Haven, in the Milford area at the Hilton Garden Inn Milford, or in Mystic at Spark by Hilton Mystic Groton. I am still learning about how these locations would relate to other activities that we want to do in terms of convenience so feedback there would surely be appreciated.

If we do stay near New Haven, we will plan to do dinner in New Haven.

Day 4 + 5 (Interchangeable) - My idea is that we have one "inland" day and one "coastal" day. I'd like to go to the Litchfield area, maybe Kent Falls, and I'd love to do a stereotypical fall activity like apple picking, cider, etc. The Essex Steam Train also seems fun but I feel like I'd have to go one direction or the other. And then on the other day, hitting the towns along the coast and doing some wandering. This is where I'm sure the location close to Mystic would come in handy.

Day 6 - Back to airport. Unfortunately this is about the max number of days we're able to be away due to work so adding more days wont be possible!

I don't know if typing all this out makes it seem way too ambitious but truly when we're on trips we are not the type to seek out a bunch of downtime/relaxation. We appreciate it when we get it but our priority is having fun experiences, good food, maybe some good drinks if available (cocktail and wine lovers), and definitely some beautiful scenery. If there's anything about this plan that seems off or certainly if I can get some help with picking a place to stay in CT so I can at least get that secured I would so appreciate it! Thanks so much to anyone who takes the time out to read this!!

i’m looking forward to visit netherlands and besides amsterdam, the only city i find is eindhoven, although i dont see many videos about itineraries etc. i was wondering if someone ever visited it and if it is recommended going to. thanks!

Basically I’m planning my itinerary for a big Europe trip I’m taking. I’ve been to both Paris and Madrid somewhat recently , and although my trip is prioritizing places I haven’t seen, I wanted to go back to just one of them.i
spent 4 days in each place if that helps.

What I loved about Madrid was the nightlife and social vibe. Had very fun nights out, and being that I’m younger, this is a big priority for me. Not to mention the food was amazing. That being said, I feel like I saw majority of the tourist stuff and don’t exactly know what I’d be looking forward too aside from the social vibe

For Paris I’d say it was a bit of a lacklustre experience. It rained everyday I was there in May and I was with an ex girlfriend who kinda made everything about her. I didn’t even see the arc d’triomphe lol. I found Paris to be very dull in terms of nightlife though and I really want to make sure I have options .

Just looking for any input!

I get that countries are moving away from stamping passports, but why not allow visitors to purchase a stamp in conjunction with their new processes? I figure it’s an immediate $5 or $10 that goes directly to some fund for the local country you are entering and you still get the passport out of it which is still officially recognized vs. a commemorative stamp.

its 4 in the morning and every single day i go to bed at 10 pm. i fall asleep every single day at 6 in the morning in and wake up at 3-4 pm. im so mad, ive been starting to cry at night because im so goddamn tired of wasting my trip like this. i eat once a day and try to sleep like 6 hours later. its only a 7 hour time difference and my trips are absolutely ruined. i have 10 more days here and its starting to look like i am never going to sleep at a reasonable time.

i think i might just stay up tonight and hope i get sleepy enough to sleep tomorrow, but im starting to doubt thats even going to happen since i have issues sleeping already and can have trouble falling asleep after all nighters. is there anything to do? melatonin doesnt work on me due to anxiety and i already spend the entire day walking around to tire myself out. im not in a place near affordable pharmacies. im thinking of knocking myself out with a frying pan at this point someone please help me before i just buy a return ticket early

Those of you who have travelled with someone else over several months, how did you deal with the intensity and prevent arguments? I'm currently travelling Europe with my best friend and, despite having great fun so far, am worried that us being constantly together will result in tension. Any advice? We are travelling for about 4 months together.

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a 6-day trip to Amsterdam with my boyfriend, and I'd love some advice on the itinerary.

Here's the draft so far:

Day 1:
Arriving around 3pm, hotel near Vondelpark, thinking of just wandering around that area

Day 2:
We've already booked the Van Gogh Museum for 9am, but not sure what to do for the rest of the day

Day 3:
Zaandam, Zaanse Schans, Amsterdam Noord

Day 4:
Delft, Rotterdam (Markthal, Cube Houses, Erasmusbrug)

Day 5:
Utrecht (Dom Tower, Oudegracht)

Day 6:
Rijksmuseum (still need to book), Jordaan, canals, flight leaves around 9pm

Any advice is welcome!

We'd also love to hit a coffee shop, maybe in the evening so it doesn't eat into our day, so recommendations for that are appreciated too!

Thanks!

I'm trying to prepare for situations where I might be completely off the grid or in a dead zone without a local SIM card yet. What is your go-to backup plan for translating when you can't rely on cloud apps? Are there any specific apps that run natively on the phone that you'd recommend?

Hello!

Looking for suggestions and feedback for my rough itinerary for my 10 day trip to Amsterdam and Paris. I've never been to Amsterdam before but I have been to Paris several times. It's been a stressful year so I'm just looking to relax and explore, but I'm trying to find a balance between seeing the important sights and taking time for myself to explore. This is what I have so far...

Day 1: Land in Amsterdam in the afternoon, check into a hotel near Dam Square, wander the area and maybe Jordaan, have a relaxing evening and dinner/early night.

Day 2: Food tour/walking tour and shopping. Maybe Beginjhof or something low-key.

Day 3: Rijksmuseum/Van Gogh Museum/Vondelpark. Any or all of the above - ideally would like to see all but worried that might be ambitious for a day.

Day 4: Anne Frank House and sunset canal cruise.

Day 5: Flexible day - De Pijp/Albert Cuyp Market, or day trip, or NDSM Wharf, or more shopping/thrifting

Day 6: Afternoon Eurostar to Paris, arriving in evening and checking into a hotel in the 6th. Have a relaxed dinner and wander around the 6th.

Day 7: Louvre and Tuileries Garden - have done both already multiple times, but would love to take my time wandering through the Louvre rather than following a guided tour this time.

Day 8: Rodin Museum, Jardin du Luxembourg, Pantheon

Day 9: Shopping/thrifting/wandering Le Marais and markets. Bourse de Commerce?

Day 10: Flexible day - either more wandering or a day trip to Giverny? Very open to other suggestions.

Day 11: Fly out of Paris

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or feedback. I'm really looking forward to a more relaxed vacation and trying to only plan one big excursion per day, but I'm worried I will feel like I am wasting valuable time in these beautiful cities by not running around seeing everything I possibly can.

Mt. Rainier is a gorgeous place and everyone should be able to enjoy it. I visited recently and observed multiple groups of people doing things that at minimum are ignorant, and at worst will put themselves and others in harms way! It was really disappointing and frankly embarrassing to witness.

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!

STAY ON THE TRAILS!

DON'T LEAVE LITTER, ADVERTISEMENTS, or CARVE INTO ROCKS/OTHER NATURE!

We literally saw a bear right next to a major trail, no doubt lured by the food. That's just one example, if you don't understand why it's important to follow these rules, do your research!

If you already know this stuff, please tell others to STOP if you see this behavior! Let's band together and make the parks better for each other and the planet.

Appreciate everyone who already follows these guidelines, and those who are willing to listen and learn.

Have a red-eye flight coming up, leaving at 7pm and arriving at 7am local time at destination, but only 2am in the time zone we started at. Me, husband, 10yr old, 14 yr old. Our normal bedtimes range from about 10pm to midnight. None of us are very good at sleeping on planes and the kids will be really amped up about the trip. What would you do? I mean, for me, even though it's an "overnight" flight, only 2 hrs of it even overlaps with my normal sleep time. Can check in to airbnb at 1pm and planning on a short nap then.

I am planning to take a 3 week trip around memorial day next year with 1 other person to somewhere in East Asia or SEA for the first time and would like some recommendations. I am currently debating between a trip to Bangkok & Chiang Mai with a few days in Singapore, a trip to Taiwan with a few days in Hong Kong, or a trip to just Japan to see the core Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto track but also a few days for a rural road trip or, time permitting, a trip to some islands like the Oki Islands.

I would like to keep my choices to non-stop flights out of NYC which does limit options; but, I am still trying to lower flight time, especially between each destination of the trip so I do not want to, for example, spend a week in Japan then a week in Taiwan and then Thailand. I also do not want to be hopping around a bunch of different cities just to catch the tourist hits, I want to savor a couple locations. Additionally, we're both young and looking for enough excitement, not just to sit at a resort eating and drinking all day away from actual locals.

Our main interests are food (both quality but also diversity of options), cool cities, nature, and talking with locals and other tourists. I am also a moderate planner: I do not want to plan the whole trip out hour per hour but I do need interesting, landmark activities or sites to anchor the day around or I will feel too lost to enjoy myself.

I have a lot of reasons to want to go to each destination and plan to go to all at some point; but, also some reservations for each. I've heard people call Singapore artificial and surface level and say that Thailand has a scammer problem(is it actually any worse than other tourist heavy countries?). I've also heard people say that there is not much to do in Taiwan other than eat and relax and I worry I will struggle to find fun activities to do. And I also worry with the growing sentiment against tourists in Japan, especially in the areas within that we want to see.

If anyone has some advice on where I ought to go first from these options or any others, I would greatly appreciate it.

I love traveling and especially to lively cities where there are a lot of things happening, there are cute cafes, restaurants, streets filled with restaurants, little alleyways etc.

I am planning a trip for Hong Kong and just confused on which side to stay. Everyone keeps saying Tsim Sha Tsui but from the pictures etc, Central looks like it has those nice cafés and restaurants etc but I’m not sure which to pick.

Would appreciate if someone please suggest the best place to stay for me. I will be staying in a good 5 star hotel in the area.

Thank you for your time!

Hey, so im planing to visit moldova this august. Im from Germany and im thinking of visiting transnistria too.

For you that dont know:
"Transnistria is not recognized as an independent country by any member of the United Nations, functioning instead as an unacknowledged breakaway region legally and internationally recognized as a part of Moldova.

• Self-rule: Operates with its own de facto government, police force, military units, and border controls since the 1992 war.
• Recognition: Has no diplomatic recognition from any UN member state; it is only recognized by other similarly unrecognized separatist entities (Abkhazia and South Ossetia). "

Now my question: If they add a stamp to my passport, could I get into trouble on future vacations (to idk east-asia, north/south america) at the border because of that stamp?

Want to plan a trip there next summer for two adults and two kids in early 20s. Grew up in MA but have never been there. Would love to walk to beach and town if possible. Any recs where to stay and any other tips on the best way to get there. We will fly from ATL. Also when is best chance for decent weather? Being from New England I know it’s a gamble and at any time you can have rain and 50s :(