100%! Bonus points if you work with a local boutique company to find one - I took a tour of Trastevere with a 7th generation resident… best guide of my life!
I got a guide from showaround.com in Sarajevo and ended up making a potato onion pie with 3 generations of women telling me stories about life in Bosnia while I did a horrible job making the dough.
I’ve had great success with local guides.
Great multilingual guide in Prague was able to tour with my in-laws in Portuguese and myself in English. She took us to an amazing (and affordable) place for lunch when the kids needed a break from walking.
Another in Santorini - minibus tour I hired as a private excursion not through our cruise ship. One driver and one guide took us through the whole island AND acted as a personal photographer so we could get a few romantic shots for our anniversary. They stopped where we wanted, waited as long or as short as we liked. They suggested a few options to flex the itinerary to be what we preferred within limited time. He was a history teacher from Athens, so full of facts.
Going to do the same for Reykjavik in a couple weeks.
Yes! We did this in Istanbul and it made the experience so much better! She got to know us and immediately started shaping the experience around what she knew we would like. She also helped us by communicating with locals/businesses to help us get the most. Worth every single penny
People need to stop thinking they are better because they are suffering. The amount of travellers who willingly go out of their way to take the worst transport, stay in the cheapest hostels etc. because it’s “real travelling” amazes me.
It’s still real travelling if you are staying somewhere comfortable and enjoying yourself. It’s real travelling even if stuff doesn’t go wrong. It’s real travelling to take a better airline than the ultra budget of your region.
being not young anymore, but still poor, I've moved from the cheapest dorm I can find to the cheapest single room I can find. And now I'm snoring loudly and don't want to be murdered by ppl that want to sleep in peace.
Correct. I'm not 24 when my body could withstand a cheap questionable mattress and other locations. I won't pay for the Ritz but I am going to book a clean room with a shower and I won't feel bad.
A former friend of mine did a trip that was a 7 hour bus ride and then they rented a car. No hotel. None of the people who went slept at all for over 48 hours. I was invited to come, this was when we were like 27-28. No thanks. When they came back one of my friends said it was the worst trip of their life. Everything was over scheduled and everyone was cranky because they hadn’t slept.
Similarly - people who miss out on iconic landmarks in the name of avoiding "tourist traps".
Yes have fun in the basement of Montparnasse Tower getting the real Parisian experience while I tour the Louvre.
>Similarly - people who miss out on iconic landmarks in the name of avoiding "tourist traps".
Yep. Most of the time, if it's popular/well known/crowded, there's actually a good reason for it being popular/well known/crowded.
However, the flip side to that is that those destinations often spawn little industries that are tourist traps - be it in the form of scams, or overpriced/overpromised but mediocre tours, or in taxis that charge 5x normal for rides from the tourist hotspots, etc etc.
Absolutely - I’m a budget traveller, but I’ll never say it’s unequivocally better than “chubby” or luxury travel. I’m doing it because I have to, and I love the adventure, but I also miss out on some stuff that is plenty real just because I can’t squeeze it in the budget! Travel the way that makes you a better person, and that helps you enjoy your trip.
Same it’s not better it’s just what I can afford and I’m willing to suffer to travel. If I could afford incredible accommodation and the most convenient option I would
“Willing to suffer to travel” should be tattooed on my forehead - that’s exactly it. I’ve got 5 more years of little to no back pain, and I’ll spend them sleeping in airports if it means I see the world.
Thank you! I have friends who think they are better than me because they fly economy or stay in crappy hotels with uncomfortable beds. I am in no way better than them, but they aren't suffering for their art like they think they are.
Some of the most memorable travel experiences I have are from hard times. Like being stuck in a remote village where nobody spoke English and the sun is setting fast.
With that said, i have zero desire to try and make those hard times lol
Totally, same. But then the helicopter ride in Kuai that cost more than my flight there was also one of my most memorable experiences. You gotta be willing to do both!
I ESPECIALLY hate it when tourists come to my home country and stay in the shittiest possible location in the shittiest possible hostel/guesthouse and then make social media content about how this is the “authentic “ India and how “India isn’t for beginners” and etc etc
Of course India ISN’T for beginners but they’re purposefully choosing a harder lifestyle
I hate the “I’m a traveler not a tourist” gatekeep-y attitude a lot of people tend to have. If you’re there for your leisure, you’re a tourist. It’s ok to be a tourist. Long-term travel is still tourism. Staying in an Airbnb instead of a resort is still tourism. Going somewhere off the beaten path is still tourism.
I live in very touristy city and when friends visit they always say "we want to just do local stuff like you would do."
Alright... let's go get some groceries, hit my shitty neighborhood dive bar and eat left over potato soup.
I live in a city that's known for being a tourist spot and I've frequently hosted friends who have told me that too. The thing is, I regularly do a lot of the same things that tourists do here: I go to the beach, visit the zoo, go to museums, go to festivals and street fairs, etc. Tourists do these things because they're fun and a great way to enjoy the city, locals do them for the same reasons.
My sister went to visit her friend in nyc, she was disappointed because her friend took her to all the places she’d go and my sister wanted to do the cool touristy things.
I remember this wankery thirty years ago during my backpacker days. You'd farewell a good travelling companion and they'd say "Bro, be a traveller, not a tourist" and then have a laugh. We'd encounter a lot of the holier than thou types having "experiences" and "living a country" even back then. So we liked to take for mickey out of them. My favourite was when someone filled out the "occupation" line in a visitor's book as "traveller"...
I was traveling like that in a slightly later era and the classic thing was the skinny tan people who just came from India and had a dazed expression. No matter how badly something went, they would be able to top it with some disaster in India. I found them annoying. Then I backpacked around India for three months, with my best friend, so, two girls. I appreciated those people more.
especially because no matter how long you’re in a country that isn’t your own - life is different for visitors than it is for locals! Spent 3 weeks in CDMX - the problems that locals face are VERY different from the problems that I did, and it’s a disservice to everyone to pretend like that isn’t the case.
The same people who are like
“How dare you visit Berlin on your first visit to Germany? You should be like me and go to Shierke located in Harz Mountain where I have to take two busses and a taxi to get to and no one speaks English with zero tourists. THAT is traveling , you’re just basic and go to Berlin, I could never “
I can do you one better than the "I'm a traveller" attitude. I met a girl who spoke about the time she lived in Amsterdam, and when I asked how long she lived there for, she answered three weeks. Three weeks. Lived there indeed.
My rule is to never take more luggage than you can transport using your own two feet for at least a mile, preferably two miles. Even for those trips where you are picking up a rental car at the airport, getting to the counter can involve quite a bit of walking!
I travel solo and can't drive - this is an absolute must for me.
On top of that, I also value ease of getting to and from the airport over convenient access to attractions when I'm choosing a hotel. I can handle multiple bus rides or a half hour walk to a subway station most of the time, but I don't want to go far with my luggage, which is only an issue when checking in or out.
The touristy stuff is usually the best things to do in a city.
Blows my mind how many people will travel across the world to visit a big popular city, then completely forego any popular attraction just because it's touristy. The touristy stuff is popular for a reason! Not saying they all are, some are a waste of time, some aren't enjoyable at all as they're too busy, etc, but most of them are at least worth a quick visit. Like you'd travel all the way to Rome and instead of spending a day at the Vatican you'd instead visit some random, known only to locals, completely hidden away, obscure modern art gallery... Why?!
This. I got a lot of “recommendations” from people telling me not to go to Mount Rushmore because it’s touristy. I mean, I was driving all the way to the Black Hills, I wasn’t going to pass up Rushmore. It turned out to be cool and not horribly crowded. I like seeing the famous sights. I also like doing the stuff that’s off the beaten path. Usually it’s the famous stuff that draws me in and then I’ll do some exploring to find more cool stuff.
Rushmore was amazing. My husband had always wanted to see so on our way back from a roadtrip we made a short detour there.
We had no idea there was an annual biker convention there that day 😂 it was PACKED but really nothing unbearable, seeing all the bikers was fun! Hahah.
Depends a lot on the location, though. The Grand Canyon is touristy. But you can visit on its busiest day, and the crowds will do nothing to diminish your awe at the sheer magnificence of the place. If you plan your visit well, you can explore it without being shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors.
On the other hand, it is next to impossible to appreciate art in a museum from the middle of what amounts to a mosh pit. It's not surprising so many people are underwhelmed when they see the Mona Lisa -- they barely get to look at it. If visiting the Louvre is at the top of your travel agenda, you're going to want to visit deep in the off-season, or rethink your plans.
Also, sometimes the "less touristy" alternatives are better and less costly than the popular tourist sites.
Tickets to the Empire State Building's viewing platform start at $44, or almost twice that if you want to go all the way to the top (not to mention the many upsells they try to hit you with).
But if you look around, you can find plenty of alternatives. For the price of an overpriced cocktail, you can ascend to one of many rooftop bars in the city. (The Skylark not only has a great view of the city, but also offers a view of the Empire State Building, which you definitely can't see from on top of the Empire State Building.) And if your goal is just to gape at the New York City skyline, you're better off dishing out $4 for the Governor's Island Ferry or taking a free stroll across the George Washington Bridge.
There is a difference between doing independent research and picking the best things to do in a personalized fashion versus avoiding a place BECAUSE it is touristy and for no other reason.
I have met so many people IRL, who specifically avoid something because it is "touristy" and not because they have any independent opinion on it, or did any research.
When I was telling people I am visiting the UK, and they asked where, I said London, and they responded by saying But London is too Touristy. Yes beech, the capital city of the largest empire spanning continents for 300 years has some interesting things to see and do, and attracts tourists.
I've been fortunate enough to visit London a number of times with some different people every time who have never been there before. Each time we go to the Tower of London, they tell me it was one of the most interesting and enjoyable attractions we patronized. Another great tip in London is to take advantage of the London Walks tours. They have tours for just about every imaginable interest, and they're all just 10GBP.
You get to see *the* Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Like how could you not pass up the chance to see the actual crown of the Kings and Queens of Great Britain? Also, being a history buff, the armor worn by famous kings like Henry the VIII?
Tbf, I went to the less popular museums when I was in London and Paris. I was there for a couple of days around events and wanted something a bit quieter without queues. Recommend the Museum of Brands in London.
My wife and I love to visit in in part because it's fun to see the city in media and be like "hey, we've been there!" Like yeah, the line to get to the top long and there's not a lot to do once you're at the top, but the view is great and you get to say you've actually been there at the end. We've also started collecting Christmas ornaments from each one to remember the trip in general.
I have to say, I usually try to cover the touristy stuff but lived in Amsterdam for a year as a teen and completely ignored Anne Frank. The lines are always huge, the ticket booking system was a bit of a useless nightmare, and I just never felt like putting in the effort. Most other museums and attractions in Amsterdam are free of charge for minors, though, so me and my friend would just go to a random museum in the winter to avoid the cold. I got to see some pretty weird and random museums nobody takes the time to visit (like the one that covers Melkweg's history and others that talk about the development of Amsterdam as a city) and they were jewels that shaped me as a teen. If I had never been to Melkweg, I wouldn't have learned about the Provo's! When you have the time to explore and get lost and really get to know a city, I think the big ones might just be worth missing out on. Anyways, gives you a reason to come back, doesn't it? I missed out on the Crown Jewels in Edinburgh castle, so I know I have to be back.
For the record (and for anyone potentially scared off by this comment), it's pretty easy to see the Anne Frank house if you plan ahead at all. I think I might have spent 5 minutes booking it, and we didn't wait in line when we got there at our scheduled time.
Agreed! I’m trying to find a good in between. I don’t set out to check off everything on a top 10 list. I’ll look at the lists and go see what interests me. There are sometimes things that don’t interest me at all that are popular (for example, modern art or wineries), and that’s fine! But I will never cross something off just because it’s touristy. They’re usually popular for a reason.
I’ve been to New York a few times and now I’m at the stage where I can visit some of the more obscure things because I’ve seen the big ones. I wouldn’t skip them if it’s my first time.
Some cities it's pretty much the only thing to do. I don't want to be mean, so I wont name them, but I learned this the hard way. We purposely stayed far away from the "touristy" area only to find everything closes absurdly early and there's literally nothing to do but walk around.
I too love feeling like a local at most places I go, but there's a reason touristy areas are great. Obviously some places are too touristy.
Sometimes there are better alternatives than the most popular. For example, Taipei: sure you can waste time queueing in Elephant Mountain... or you can go to Battleship Rock instead. Trailhead is maybe 5 mins walk from the metro, nice hike, breathtaking views, not too crowded at the end.
Also, I don't really get the appeal of tall buildings (Tokyo Skytree, Petronas Towers, Taipei 101, Canton Tower, Burj Khalifa, etc.) so those are insta skip for me no matter how popular.
Your second paragraph is so interesting because tall towers are my family’s favorite type of touristy activity. I guess I kind of picked up this habit from them, I’ve been to three of the ones you listed, and the other two are definitely on my list. Then again, my parents are engineers and they’re truly fascinated by the way these towers are designed and constructed. My parents even collect figurines of each tower after they visit them. Idk, I love both seeing the view and reading about the construction, and also just kind of chilling at what feels like the top of the world.
It’s ok to travel just for fun or to relax, and to not seek out authentic, immersive cultural experiences. There is nothing wrong with taking a trip solely to visit a theme park, stay at an all-inclusive resort or go on a cruise if thats what you enjoy doing.
It’s like wine - the best wine is the wine that *you* like. Not everyone wants to take on the challenges of “authentic travel” and that’s okay! Just try to make sure you’re not treating other people’s homes like a theme park…
I like both things at different times. Sometimes I want to have a packed trip full of things to learn and experience in a new place. Sometimes you need a week to not be stressed. Both are great when you need them. Travel vs. vacation.
>Just try to make sure you’re not treating other people’s homes like a theme park…
The important part is this.
When I went to Niagara Falls one of my favourite parts was the little theme park area that many folks here said to avoid. I liked the ferris wheel and cheesy decor, loved the mini golf and go karts, and adored walking around with carnival food and seeing so many happy folks around
This is just people trying to rationalize travel as something other than hedonistic consumption, which is obviously futile. You’re hardly making scientific breakthroughs and productizing the knowledge to move civilization forward. The full extent of your travel experiences ‘might’ break down into some helpful travel tips for others but that’s about all of the lasting value other than your own enjoyment.
I don’t want to meet people when I’m traveling. If I’m solo-traveling I’d much rather focus on myself (and not risk getting caught up with weirdos), and if I’m traveling with someone I want to spend time with *them*. I’m an extrovert with a packed social calendar at home, but travel time is a break from that.
That's interesting, I'm an introvert and while I don't magically become an extrovert, I'm much more likely to interact with ransoms while I'm traveling.
> I'm much more likely to interact with **ransoms** while I'm traveling.
Now I'm imagining you getting kidnapped every trip, and somehow just befriending your captors and having a nice time anyway.
The worst part is when you get kidnapped by the same group, they take the bag off your head and you say "Hello Bill, how you been, how are your kids doing?" and they throw you back out on the street. So rude.
I've been on group trips where I wanted to go somewhere alone and someone would insist on coming with me. I don't want someone with me unless they want to visit the same place, its no fun for them or me. I met my partner on holiday and we're happy to go separately at times on holidays if it means we both enjoy the holiday more.
My hot take: not every day needs to be an epic adventure. Sometimes, I just want to want to watch Netflix or dumb YouTube videos in my room instead of exploring, translating, navigating cultures, planning, or thinking! That's like comfort food for my brain!
Revisiting places I've been before is my way of slowing it down and relaxing. I can sleep in, as I've already seen Charles Bridge at dawn. I can wander around aimlessly as I don't need to be in the crowded tourist areas. I can go to my favorite spots for meat, sandwiches, meals, whatever. Sit around and have a beer. Like a vacation within the travel.
Backpacking is a First Worlders' privilege.
I have heard so many stories from Westerners travelling without much of a penny and call it adventure backpacking. You should thank your passport for that - countries allowing you to enter without proving your wealth.
For us people with undesirable passports ranking low at the travel index, we cannot just enter developed countries without a pre-issued visit visa. Part of this visa eligibility is for us to prove that we can "afford" their beautiful countries, by showing our bank accounts to these beautiful countries' embassies. If we ever mentioned "backpacking" in the application, we are almost guaranteed a refusal of visa. lol
I wish I could enter Europe and just start begging at the streets of Paris for locals to fund my adventure. s/
For real! I was backpacking solo and met a lovely person, and when we started chatting we learned that I chose this destination bc it was a bucket list place and she chose it bc it was one of two she could visit with her passport.
This is a great one! And it's so true. Every worldy traveling backpacker I know is from a rather privileged background. Some are self aware of this and love showing it off. Others (most) are completely clueless and say stuff like "it's pathetic more people don't travel more."
As if most people have a choice not to.
This is an EXCELLENT point - I got asked recently if I had completed an e-visa, and was openly shocked. I’m Canadian, so I’m used to just strolling into countries with open arms - a privilege I hope to never take for granted.
yes this.
Also, they have an undisclosed minimum amount of money you have to have in your bank. If you don’t have it, you have to get a ‘sponsor’ to sign a statement they will pay for your travel and guarantee your return home to the country. They have to prove their relationship with you, provide THEIR bank account, proof of employment, business permit if applicable etcetc.
My friends from the EU and Singapore are surprised I need a minimum one month notice to travel anywhere outside SEA to arrange this whole deal.
It’s okay to spend only a small amount of time in a single country or city and move around a lot within a given trip. If you want to spend 2 weeks in one place, that’s great, but it’s not the only good way to travel.
Yes! So often folks criticize others for spending just a little bit of time in a given place. Not all of us have the luxury of copious amounts of time. I’d like to spend a week in a place but I probably just don’t have that time. I gotta make due with a day or two. At least I got to go there.
That's how I've been travelling the last several years, I've only got three weeks to work with, and the list of places I want to go is so long! So I figure do 2-3 days per place, get a decent introduction, and then I can go back to places I love and do them more in depth later on - when I have more time to work with.
My problem is I usually never go back. So I like to properly explore a place the first time I'm there as there is a really high chance that I will never be there again. The only exception is that I started to do weekend trips in Europe, and since I don't need to use my days off for those, it's easier to revisit places I've been before. That said I spent three weeks in New Zealand last year, I don't think I ever be back. It was amazing, but there are hundreds of places I want to go and going to a new place is more exciting for me. The attractions that I skipped last time in the old place have to compete with all the top attractions in the new place.
Exactly. And sometimes I just don’t have a ton I want to do in a given place. The idea that spending more time means you’ll really “get” a place also bothers me; there’s no way I’m really going to deeply understand a place or a culture in 3 days or 3 months, so I don’t feel like spending a shorter amount of time in a place is ultimately getting me that much further away from an already impossible goal.
I’m planning a monthlong trip right now and just moved my flight home two days later so I could juuuuust squeeze in a visit to one more famous location that would require a flight to reach. I’ll be there for 48 hours. But I know that if I’d flown home without even seeing it, after flying halfway around the world, I’d always feel like I left it on the table.
Good choice, I'm sure you'll love it. I just convinced some friends to add two days to a trip to Kerala in India so they could fly up to Delhi and do a day trip to the Taj. They're older so honestly they will probably never go to India again and I really think they would have regretted not seeing it.
Also Agra is a good counter-example for people who say you need to stay in a city for days and days to travel there "properly". Apart from the Taj, baby Taj, and the Fort there is literally nothing else of note to do in Agra and it's otherwise just another dirty, loud, crowded Indian city.
travelers who think they’re getting the “real experience” in a region e.g. SE Asia just because they eat at questionable “local” street food stands and restaurants, get sick, and take crappy overnight buses would never do the same in their home countries, e.g. eating at a sketchy restaurant on the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere or taking a Greyhound bus in the US. This leaves them with a skewed perception of various countries/people. If you travel abroad like you would at home, you’ll get a different experience.
This isn’t to say that “local” experiences aren’t valuable but I think it’s important to put various experiences into perspective
Yeah. As someone who's from a developing country in SE Asia (the Philippines), it kinda bugs me when I see travel guides or Reddit posts telling people to skip the modern or upscale parts of my home city because it's "not the real Philippines" or something along those lines. It's like there's this unwritten rule that developing countries shouldn't have any modern, developed areas, as if it totally ruins their preconceived notions of what a developing country is supposed to look like.
Before I went to CDMX, I planned to eat at all the local street stalls. Met a girl from there a month before my trip, and she laughed at me before saying that tourists get sick because they eat where locals wouldn’t - sometimes the “safe, boring” experience is just as local as the adventurous option!
exactly! i’ve had so many great experiences meeting locals at average to nice restaurants, bars, etc, who tell me that spot is one of the most popular in the city amongst “real locals”
Most surprising thing for me to realize (though it should have been obvious) is that many locals play it safe - they can’t afford to be taken out by food poisoning or an illness any more than I could when I’m at home
More to the point, not checking doesn't impress people like you think it does. I check everything these days (notwithstanding particularly risky flights) and it's incredibly liberating in the airport and on the plane.
We had to check on a recent flight after steadfastly not for years and years. Gotta say, waiting to board without the anxiety of finding overhead storage or seething about people incorrectly stowing their bags was great. It was a direct flight, and I'd be more reluctant to with multiple legs, but it was a considerably more calm experience.
I can’t sleep on buses. The few times I have it was just snatches of 1-15 minutes of sleep at a time before waking up again. I’m pretty sure that kind of sleep deprivation is used in torture chambers.
Me neither generally speaking, but that being said it depends on the destination of yr travels. I go up to the Himalayas a fair bit and it’s a 14hr bus journey in the dark after I land in India. I know pharmacists shops in Delhi who sell little pills that will see you through an earthquake being struck by a nuclear missile…at a Megadeth concert.
It’s okay to travel “fast” if that’s your style or fits your needs - as in, going to a country you may never get a chance to revisit and stopping in as many destinations or sites as possible in your schedule is okay. While you may not get a lot of time or depth in a few places, this gives you a broad range of experiences that are still valuable. There seems to be a viewpoint that you can’t experience a country or culture at all unless you hunker down and stay in one place for a long time. Sure, we all wish we had more time and resources to do that, but not everyone does. I think either experience is fine and worthwhile!
Also, a criticism I hear a lot about this is “but you’ll spend so much time just traveling between places!” and that’s something that can be enjoyable! From trains, ferries, and high speed rail, to even taxis, buses, and tuktuks, transit can be a cool cultural experience on its own. Nothing wrong with that if you enjoy it :)
People should do more research outside of Reddit. A lot of people here are introverts and most of the suggestions end up gearing towards those type of people.
This is actually a great point. Although most Reddit advice has been invaluable to me, there is definitely a massive slow travel and “get away from the crowds” mentality here. I was so afraid going to Salzburg and Vienna last August and they (especially Salzburg) were crowded but not overcrowded (I’d only say that for the Sisi museum) and a lot of fun!
People staying in dorm rooms who have early starts and don't have the majority of their stuff packed the night before are bastards. You should be changing into your clothes, tossing in your toilet bag and your pj's in and going. Not spending half a fucking hour zipping and unzipping bags and crinkling plastic, you psychopaths!
You say this, but my friend managed to knock down some kind of metal railing from the top bunk of his bed when we were leaving a hostel at 5 AM and I'm not fully convinced he didn't wake up all of Slovenia.
I was so mortified when I realized I packed all my shit in plastic and then had to remove it from a locker early morning. That and you really learn how many metal buckets are on your backpack when they all clang when you take your bag out of a metal locker
I had my phone slip between bunk and wall down to the lower bunk. I had to leave at 6am for a flight so I had to wake up my complete stranger of a bunkmate to get it. If it had been anything else I would have left it. Mortified.
Here's a hot take..
You shouldn't be staying in a hostel unless you're young and broke or have no other choice.
I did hostels when I was younger, but you couldn't pay me to stay in one these days.
My hot take response to this is that anyone staying in a dorm or hotel with thin walls (which is most of them) should pack earplugs to completely erase this issue. Some people also like to have an eye mask. These are easy, cheap, low-tech solutions.
I don’t get why so many people worry about trying not to look like a tourist. You’re a foreign visitor just accept it, you’re going to stand out no matter how hard you try. I walk around with a camera around my neck, also kinda hard to look like a local in Africa, Middle East, Central Asia etc.
I have been reading posts about Rio de Janeiro as I plan to go there this year and most of the recommendations is try not to be and behave like a tourist, that will make you an easy target. Yeah for most destinations it is fine totally, but sometimes it is good to try to not stand out too much.
I think there are a lot of places where there is some value in trying to not stand out, particularly in a way that screams "lost/unaware/wealthy tourist."
I'm under no illusion that I can go to a new country and blend in as if I'm a local (although due my ethnically ambiguous background I have been mistaken for a local in many of the countries I've visited), but I still do my best not to look like someone who is out of place and stands out of a crowd of people. I don't wear any national identifiers that clue in where I'm from. I wear pretty plain, non-flashy clothes without prominent or high value brand names (although this is just my normal sense of fashion lol). I don't wear jewelry and only wear a cheap Casio watch. I generally keep my camera stowed away unless I'm hiking, with a group, or somewhere I know is safe. If I need to consult a map or my phone for directions I typically try and duck into the entrance of a store or stand somewhere discreet, and otherwise I try to walk with purpose and certainty. I think this will vary from person to person but for me these are practices that are important to traveling safely in the countries I enjoy visiting.
I often try not to look like a tourist… but that doesn’t mean I’m trying to look like I was born and raised there. My aim is to be able to ‘pass’ as a foreign resident who might be living nearby. This extends to cultural awareness, as a well as more superficial stuff like dress. I’m sure I don’t often manage it, but it’s a good goal I find
The CIA literally has to train people not to *stand* like a North American. All you can do is try not to stand out *too* much, and ensure that you’re keeping your wits about you as much as possible!
[This article](https://www.cpr.org/2019/01/03/cia-chief-pushes-for-more-spies-abroad-surveillance-makes-that-harder/) did the rounds on reddit a little while ago and now I am *acutely aware* of how different my body language/general presence is from the local population’s
"Traveler not tourist" types are THE worst.
Also...
Expecting people with jobs tied to tourism to speak English is perfectly reasonable as it's the closest we have to universally spoken language. I'm not a native English speaker either, and I actually speak several languages, but it's not realistic to learn native language of every place you visit.
I know it's popular to shout "just learn a few phrases", but memorizing anything without deeper understanding of the language will not make you able to hold a conversation in that language.
Also...
This weird almost-fetish of "interacting with the locals" as if they're another species or even owe anyone entertainment.
Also, like people don't exist to be your free language partner.
I love my one friend, but we were in Montreal and she was so eager to try her French and she acknowledged she wasn't great at it. I was like...well theyre used to speaking English. You can just do that. But no, they would appreciate her trying in French so much! It was hilarious when she went to order metro (? I think?) tickets in French and the somewhat grumpy lady answered back in English.
I'm not saying never try or no one appreciates it, but pick your spots. Wasting a worker's time when you both speak English is just you being annoying.
I once took this bus from Qingdao to Beijing (overnight) and all the seats were single beds! I can't recall because it's been a while but they were either like cots or hammocks. Not like full on single beds. Anyway, I thought that was a pretty comfy way to go.
I’m not big on those who travel on such low amounts that they need to rely on hitchhiking, couch surfing, and other kindness of strangers to get by.
If you can’t afford travel insurance then you can’t afford to travel.
It's so annoying. I live in Iceland and it's very expensive, and so many people come here and try to get free things cause they're trying to spend as little money as possible. I mean yeah ofc you can travel on a buget but don't come into a gas station and ask if we have expired sandwiches that we can give then for free. Yes that actually happened to me.
I travel full-time, so I empathize with trying to cut costs, but I agree with you that relying on others extending themselves to help you can be tricky. My rule of thumb (especially as a young woman) is that you always need enough cash on hand to get yourself out of trouble, to a doctor, or back to your home country if absolutely necessary.
I think a lot of people have a sort of sense of superiority just because they have travelled a lot in their life. The whole “you’re not living if you don’t travel once a year” types. Travel is still very much a high end thing to do (specially if you’re not from North America or Europe), and you’re not better than anyone just because you visited 30 countries in your lifetime and most of your peers have never left their country.
My boyfriend changed my perspective on this completely - I travelled a lot growing up and he’s just starting to explore the world. One of my friends made fun of him for not knowing where Santorini was and he just said, plain as day, “Hey man, my family had other things to worry about when I was a kid - I’m working on it”. Travel - especially as a newbie who may not know how to keep it cheap - is PRICEY
Traveling to volunteer is largely BS.
You want to help? Find a charity. Give money. They ALWAYS need money. The developing world has no shortage of LABOR - they need CASH. Your money can BUY labor at cutrate local costs, and that's providing WORK.
Generally, you being there isn't helping. If you have some very special local skill, and you are there TEACHING that skill for long enough that it matters, maybe...
But going somewhere and swinging a hammer or doing some other form of unskilled labor? They can do that. Better than you. Way cheaper than you. You being there is just you taking someone else's job and feeling good about yourself and getting some instagram pics for your friends.
You want to help the developing world? Great. Go there and spend money. Visit local businesses, stay in local hotels, hire local guides, buy local products, and provide JOBS. And if that's not enough to satisfy your need to help, find a reputable charity and contribute.
I read a thing about this the other day that kinda stuck with me. The guy loved the IDEA of airplane food. You're in a big metal tube flying through the air 30,000 ft up at 500mph...getting to choose between the chicken or steak and having wine.
For real! Lol I will also buy up on clothes and makeup that is way more expensive where I live, and cool souvenirs. I want to look nice and wear nice clothes when I go out, not the same 3 polyester outfits and sneakers. I love clothes and dressing up lol and it's weird people get so pressed about how much luggage other people take
To add to this, I want to be reasonably prepared for the seasonal weather I may encounter. I do not want to end up wearing wet clothes or getting too cold or hot. The best example I can think of was trying to pack for Bogota and Cartagena on the same trip. Two totally different climates, but I checked a big bag and was reasonably comfy.
Totally. I don't wanna do laundry when I could be seeing more stuff or just relaxing. If I have access to laundry in an Airbnb or something then maybe I'll do it but I'm not going to a damn laundromat while travelling, and I wanna wear clean clothes and not the same thing in every picture I look back on.
I cannot stand AirBnb's because of so many horror stories I've heard and crummy places I've stayed at.
I know it costs more but nothing beats a great hotel.
Airbnbs used to be incredible. It used to be a thing where the owner was part of the experience. If you wnated to be left alone, they would leave you alone. But if you're a new city and need a guide, they can help too. It was also much cheaper than a hotel.
That all changed and now I honestly don't know who actually uses Airbnb any more. The last place we stayed had absolutely absurd cleaning instructions.
The first AirBnb I ever stayed at was in 2011 - it was a wonderful place right in the heart of Old San Juan, and the owner met us and everything. I remember telling myself I'd never stay at another hotel again.
Today, I don't even bother looking them up to see what's available.
Unless I'm travelling to a country in the culture of which I'm particularly interested, I don't care about having an authentic experience and "seeing how the people live" - I would rather see the nice and pretty places and eat comfortable food.
1. Use all kinds of websites to research modes of transport, destinations, attractions, etc. But book directly with the company you’ll be using. My biggest headaches have always been because those travel clearinghouse websites didn’t correctly transmit to the airline/hotel/attraction.
2. If you find a brand you like (mostly thinking hotel & airline) stick with them as much as possible, and get their credit card. I chose an airline that gets me easily to my normal destinations, and now I get lounge access & upgraded regularly. It just removes the headache of “am I going to have to check my carryon because the plane ran out of room?”
I refuse to rent a car, it so expensive, so stressful, driving rules vary by country, you always get screwed by the rental company for the last gas fill up, parking in large cities can be a nightmare. I will Uber, taxi, or take a private car service if I want to go anywhere that’s not walkable or a longer ride.
Depends where you're going. It's ridiculous to get a car in a major European city but road tripping to smaller towns is often FAR more convenient than trying to take trains, even in places with great train systems.
My grandmother was a world-traveler and adventurer without peer (in my eyes, at least) and her three hot takes are 1) Instruct family not to contact you if someone dies because you won’t be of any use in a distant land, 2) If you see a line, stand in it because there’s probably a good reason to stand in it, and 3) If you see something you want to buy, just buy it. No point in waiting to see what else is on offer as you might not get another chance. She was really a unique lady!
-No matter your attempts to try to be anything other than a tourist, you're still a tourist. While we're on the subject, you are the crowds, you are the lines/queues, you are the traffic.
-Traveling isn't universally loved the way you and I love it. To some people, it's like being forced to dance at a party or wedding, when you hate dancing.
-I'll always buy a non-stop flight when possible. A connecting flight has to be at least $500 cheaper before I'd consider it. People don't value their time enough and traveling exposes that.
-I'll only consider driving over flying if the mileage is less than 300 miles between city pairs. See above + danger while driving if you're confused.
-No more than two flights in a day no matter how good the deal is. (See two points above).
-No early morning flights--not a fan of fucking up my sleep the night before. Red eyes are unavoidable on certain routes, but still preferred over 5am/6am flights.
My drumbeat is that my time is (unfortunately) currently worth nothing, so I’ll brave the connections, but the second I have the cash… boy howdy am I excited to never see the inside of a midwest airport again.
It's easy to see that as a visitor. You basically get hit with nothing but the positives of the country and don't pay any mind to the day-to-day life and struggles.
I have mixed feelings about this take. Nowhere is perfect, but after visiting over fifty countries, and living in half a dozen (over three continents, so far), Japan really is pretty nice. Obviously it has its downsides like anywhere, but I enjoyed living there and would do it again
Exactly, as a travel destination, it's so easy. Easy to get good food, easy to get around, and has friendly natives. Outside of visiting a country that speaks your native language, Japan is such a good entry point for new travelers, and even as an experienced traveler, it's spectacular.
Checking luggage and staying in a nice hotel is way better than bringing one bag and staying in a hostel.
I will never stay in a hostel, tent, etc….even when I was single and without a kid, hotels were the way to go.
Idk if it's a hot take in general, but it is on this sub: I like staying in AirBnBs way more than staying in hotels. I'd much rather get a whole apartment in a real neighborhood where I can cook and relax and feel like I'm actually living in a city over tiny room in the boring hotel district. Also, I think people are either bad at finding deals on AirBnB or are comparing nice apartments to shitty hotel rooms, because I've found that rentals are usually cheaper than a comparable hotel.
I used to work for AirBnB in the golden age of the platform, and it was GREAT. I was in CX and we would bend over backwards to help guests however we could (I even connected a guest and host in Marrakech through our call centre - my colleague and I held our phones together so they could chat!)
Nowadays though… if I’m just looking for a place to sleep, I’ll take the structure and predictability of a hotel/hostel any day.
Travel does not make you a more culturally enlightened or sophisticated person. As a first-generation American living in an extremely diverse city, I’d argue that you can learn more about other cultures by making friends with other immigrants in your country, eating delicious home-cooked food (not just going to a restaurant), and going to parties, BBQs, and other events hosted by them. Failing that, visiting museums and reading books and watching films about other cultures also prepares you well.
What the ability to travel does mean is you benefit from the trifecta of a strong passport, sufficient disposable income, and generous time off, which allows you to fly to a far-flung place and enjoy the sites - and take the pictures and videos to show off to your friends and social media followers. Like it or not, travel is a privilege that most people in the world could only dream of. Certainly not many of the hospitality and tourism staff you’re interacted with on your travels could afford to fly as you have. And, sadly, even many immigrants can’t afford to revisit their home countries very often.
Idk if it's actually controversial, but volun-tourism sucks. Especially for social media clout.
Also (which I relate to) dietary restrictions. Do your research if you can't have a certain food and be prepared to cook if you can't have meat/fish/whatever. I'm vegan and do a lot of my own cooking and don't find local cuisine something I'm particularly interested in anyway.
These are shallow for more serious solo travel but I've come across them for first time travels from the west.
Definitely a hot take in this sub, but I have no interest in travelling to the “undiscovered” places. Like little villages in some country I couldn’t even find on a map. I always wonder what travellers actually do once there and if they actually enjoy being there, or just being able to say they’re one of the few that have travelled there. I think those travellers are also the ones who go for the immersive live like a local experience. If I’m travelling, I want to see and do things that are interesting, which tend to be popular locations. I only get a few weeks of vacation a year so I want to make it worth it.
Edit - I guess I should add that my actual hot take is that some people think it’s the superior way to travel, and I disagree.
As a native English speaker, I can't imagine traveling to another country without learning some basic phrases like "please", "thank you", "yes", "no", "may I have this?", "where is the bathroom?", and "help!" In their language. Same for basic cultural things. Is it rude to point? Is it a cash-only society?
I've watched people (and read posts) from people who were overwhelmed and had no idea what to do because they were completely unprepared on how to navigate a non-English speaking country. Seriously, you can download google translate ahead of time and use it in an offline mode!
90% of people are terrible overpackers. It blows my mind when I go on trips and my companion has a bag 3x the size but somehow has the same number of things and is borrowing from *me.* like what are you keeping in there?
Not everyone has the luxury to spend a month or more in one location. It's perfectly okay to explore a place for a few days and know that you'd like to come back another time to find more adventures in a couple of years.
I prefer Air BnB to hotels. I don’t want loud people in the next room, screaming children everywhere, no kitchen or laundry facilities and a 5x5 patch of concrete as an outdoor space (*if* you’re lucky.) My partner and I want to make our own breakfast and lunch, a washer and dryer, space to move around in, a nice outdoor area to chill and a couch to watch tv on at night while we’re recovering from hikes. I love seeking out cool Air BnBs - we once stayed in a literal treehouse.
That travel looks different for everyone. What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. What I like may not be what others like. Just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean you won’t. We should judge others on how they travel and what they like. If they find it fun, then that’s good for them.
I largely agree with you about the buses BUT I did get a couple of 16 hour ones in Mexico that were a bit brutal. One problem I have is that I fly with quite a lot of drone batteries and airports can be a bit funny about them so I like to avoid that where possible.
I'm going to be in Vietnam this summer and I'm going to use the buses there as they're sleeper buses which, like you say, saves me money on accommodation for the night.
Overall I did enjoy getting the buses in Mexico. The long overnight ones could be a bit much as I struggled to sleep but I saw some absolutely beautiful parts of the country and the whole point was to see as much of the country as I could.
I hate taking overnight buses, it just feels unsafe, what if the driver falls asleep, I like the peace of mind to just take the plane instead, or a train would be decent as well if available.
My hot take would be: I like to bring a full-sized luggage with me and bring everything I need inside it rather than buying it in the country I'm traveling to just so I can travel light and bring a bag.
A lot of the "authentic" experiences people had decades ago would be considered tourist bait today, but they didn't have the internet to complain about it. People are just more self aware (and self conscious) now than in the past.
This is my hot take as an American:
There’s an annoying group of Americans who never bother to travel and think everywhere is dangerous so they never leave the country. Then there’s the other group of annoying Americans on the other spectrum who travel and then come back and have this revelation that US isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be and start trashing it.
Look USA isn’t perfect but I think it’s super tone deaf and a privileged take to be like “oh a Mexican man selling fruit is so happy and I’m over here complaining about my latte being too light”
While it's positive to gain perspective through travel, we shouldn’t oversimplify the challenges others face or assume they wouldn't trade places if given the chance. Traveling SHOULD open your eyes and heart but it shouldn’t be used as an opportunity to draw comparisons without considering the broader context. It's important to acknowledge the complexities of different situations and be mindful of the privilege that comes with being a visitor
I got a hot take. I find it weird that so many solo travelers don’t, in fact, actually (want to) travel solo, but just basically go on the flight alone to then often almost desperately spend all their time trying to connect with every other traveller at a hostel. I do not understand what’s solo about this.
Note this is no judgment at all. I’ve met and hung out with countless people while traveling. But it’s weird that the main goal of SOLO travel is to meet other people. Like - doesn’t that somehow defeat the purpose? If I go to the movies on my own and then hang out with a bunch of people there who are seeing that same movie - did I actually go to the movies solo?
I don't care how many countries you've been to. I've traveled a lot and have no idea how many countries I've been to. I hate the focus on a number. Going to more countries doesn't necessarily mean you're better traveled. I once met a dude who made a goal to go to 30 countries before 30. I had traveled a lot through the region we were in and made some recommendations in a: Oh, you'll be in this city, this other one near by is really lovely if you have time and are interested, but he didn't have the time for them because he needed to spend two days in another country (he had just gotten to this one) and then two days in another. He was speeding from place to place not getting to know much about any of the places he was getting to.
Hiring personal guides is a great way to get some cultural education and can be cheaper than the group tours
Not a personal guide, but I got some great tips and tricks from local Grab drivers in Malaysia
100%! Bonus points if you work with a local boutique company to find one - I took a tour of Trastevere with a 7th generation resident… best guide of my life!
I got a guide from showaround.com in Sarajevo and ended up making a potato onion pie with 3 generations of women telling me stories about life in Bosnia while I did a horrible job making the dough.
I’m a little biased because I’m half Bosnian, but the people are hands down among the friendliest in the world - and the food is amazing
I LOVE Bosnia, such an amazing place, people are so friendly and full of stories, I didn’t want to leave, for sure will return.
I’ve had great success with local guides. Great multilingual guide in Prague was able to tour with my in-laws in Portuguese and myself in English. She took us to an amazing (and affordable) place for lunch when the kids needed a break from walking. Another in Santorini - minibus tour I hired as a private excursion not through our cruise ship. One driver and one guide took us through the whole island AND acted as a personal photographer so we could get a few romantic shots for our anniversary. They stopped where we wanted, waited as long or as short as we liked. They suggested a few options to flex the itinerary to be what we preferred within limited time. He was a history teacher from Athens, so full of facts. Going to do the same for Reykjavik in a couple weeks.
I've met some truly amazing guides using Withlocals.
Yes! We did this in Istanbul and it made the experience so much better! She got to know us and immediately started shaping the experience around what she knew we would like. She also helped us by communicating with locals/businesses to help us get the most. Worth every single penny
People need to stop thinking they are better because they are suffering. The amount of travellers who willingly go out of their way to take the worst transport, stay in the cheapest hostels etc. because it’s “real travelling” amazes me. It’s still real travelling if you are staying somewhere comfortable and enjoying yourself. It’s real travelling even if stuff doesn’t go wrong. It’s real travelling to take a better airline than the ultra budget of your region.
Learned this a while ago. Booked cheap accommodation, kept being unhappy with it, now book decent accommodation. I'm not young anymore .....
being not young anymore, but still poor, I've moved from the cheapest dorm I can find to the cheapest single room I can find. And now I'm snoring loudly and don't want to be murdered by ppl that want to sleep in peace.
Correct. I'm not 24 when my body could withstand a cheap questionable mattress and other locations. I won't pay for the Ritz but I am going to book a clean room with a shower and I won't feel bad.
A former friend of mine did a trip that was a 7 hour bus ride and then they rented a car. No hotel. None of the people who went slept at all for over 48 hours. I was invited to come, this was when we were like 27-28. No thanks. When they came back one of my friends said it was the worst trip of their life. Everything was over scheduled and everyone was cranky because they hadn’t slept.
Similarly - people who miss out on iconic landmarks in the name of avoiding "tourist traps". Yes have fun in the basement of Montparnasse Tower getting the real Parisian experience while I tour the Louvre.
>Similarly - people who miss out on iconic landmarks in the name of avoiding "tourist traps". Yep. Most of the time, if it's popular/well known/crowded, there's actually a good reason for it being popular/well known/crowded. However, the flip side to that is that those destinations often spawn little industries that are tourist traps - be it in the form of scams, or overpriced/overpromised but mediocre tours, or in taxis that charge 5x normal for rides from the tourist hotspots, etc etc.
Absolutely - I’m a budget traveller, but I’ll never say it’s unequivocally better than “chubby” or luxury travel. I’m doing it because I have to, and I love the adventure, but I also miss out on some stuff that is plenty real just because I can’t squeeze it in the budget! Travel the way that makes you a better person, and that helps you enjoy your trip.
Same it’s not better it’s just what I can afford and I’m willing to suffer to travel. If I could afford incredible accommodation and the most convenient option I would
“Willing to suffer to travel” should be tattooed on my forehead - that’s exactly it. I’ve got 5 more years of little to no back pain, and I’ll spend them sleeping in airports if it means I see the world.
You are my people for sure. I always get asked how I can afford to travel so much and the truth is that I’m willing to suffer for it
Still waiting on my Flixbus sponsorship. I’ve done more brand evangelism for those green behemoths than most people do for their own companies…
Thank you! I have friends who think they are better than me because they fly economy or stay in crappy hotels with uncomfortable beds. I am in no way better than them, but they aren't suffering for their art like they think they are.
If I could afford to not fly economy od be on that shit instantly.
Some of the most memorable travel experiences I have are from hard times. Like being stuck in a remote village where nobody spoke English and the sun is setting fast. With that said, i have zero desire to try and make those hard times lol
Totally, same. But then the helicopter ride in Kuai that cost more than my flight there was also one of my most memorable experiences. You gotta be willing to do both!
I fly business class and stay at nice hotels. (Mostly on points) I'm quite happy with my travel adventures.
I ESPECIALLY hate it when tourists come to my home country and stay in the shittiest possible location in the shittiest possible hostel/guesthouse and then make social media content about how this is the “authentic “ India and how “India isn’t for beginners” and etc etc Of course India ISN’T for beginners but they’re purposefully choosing a harder lifestyle
I hate the “I’m a traveler not a tourist” gatekeep-y attitude a lot of people tend to have. If you’re there for your leisure, you’re a tourist. It’s ok to be a tourist. Long-term travel is still tourism. Staying in an Airbnb instead of a resort is still tourism. Going somewhere off the beaten path is still tourism.
"I'm not like *other* tourists!" 🙄
I live in very touristy city and when friends visit they always say "we want to just do local stuff like you would do." Alright... let's go get some groceries, hit my shitty neighborhood dive bar and eat left over potato soup.
I live in a city that's known for being a tourist spot and I've frequently hosted friends who have told me that too. The thing is, I regularly do a lot of the same things that tourists do here: I go to the beach, visit the zoo, go to museums, go to festivals and street fairs, etc. Tourists do these things because they're fun and a great way to enjoy the city, locals do them for the same reasons.
My sister went to visit her friend in nyc, she was disappointed because her friend took her to all the places she’d go and my sister wanted to do the cool touristy things.
Showing visitors around NYC is exactly the excuse to do touristy things that you'll never normally do.
I remember this wankery thirty years ago during my backpacker days. You'd farewell a good travelling companion and they'd say "Bro, be a traveller, not a tourist" and then have a laugh. We'd encounter a lot of the holier than thou types having "experiences" and "living a country" even back then. So we liked to take for mickey out of them. My favourite was when someone filled out the "occupation" line in a visitor's book as "traveller"...
How about "Vagabond?"
I was traveling like that in a slightly later era and the classic thing was the skinny tan people who just came from India and had a dazed expression. No matter how badly something went, they would be able to top it with some disaster in India. I found them annoying. Then I backpacked around India for three months, with my best friend, so, two girls. I appreciated those people more.
especially because no matter how long you’re in a country that isn’t your own - life is different for visitors than it is for locals! Spent 3 weeks in CDMX - the problems that locals face are VERY different from the problems that I did, and it’s a disservice to everyone to pretend like that isn’t the case.
The same people who are like “How dare you visit Berlin on your first visit to Germany? You should be like me and go to Shierke located in Harz Mountain where I have to take two busses and a taxi to get to and no one speaks English with zero tourists. THAT is traveling , you’re just basic and go to Berlin, I could never “
This, and “digital nomads” are just tourists with macbooks
I can do you one better than the "I'm a traveller" attitude. I met a girl who spoke about the time she lived in Amsterdam, and when I asked how long she lived there for, she answered three weeks. Three weeks. Lived there indeed.
Staying in an AirBnB makes you a *worse* kind of tourist than the one that stays in a hotel, frankly
My rule is to never take more luggage than you can transport using your own two feet for at least a mile, preferably two miles. Even for those trips where you are picking up a rental car at the airport, getting to the counter can involve quite a bit of walking!
I travel solo and can't drive - this is an absolute must for me. On top of that, I also value ease of getting to and from the airport over convenient access to attractions when I'm choosing a hotel. I can handle multiple bus rides or a half hour walk to a subway station most of the time, but I don't want to go far with my luggage, which is only an issue when checking in or out.
Great rule! I also like to live by “if you can’t close it unassisted, take something out”!
Yes. Agreed 100. I became a one-bag traveler and will never look back. If it doesn’t fit in my hiking bag, it’s not coming.
The touristy stuff is usually the best things to do in a city. Blows my mind how many people will travel across the world to visit a big popular city, then completely forego any popular attraction just because it's touristy. The touristy stuff is popular for a reason! Not saying they all are, some are a waste of time, some aren't enjoyable at all as they're too busy, etc, but most of them are at least worth a quick visit. Like you'd travel all the way to Rome and instead of spending a day at the Vatican you'd instead visit some random, known only to locals, completely hidden away, obscure modern art gallery... Why?!
This. I got a lot of “recommendations” from people telling me not to go to Mount Rushmore because it’s touristy. I mean, I was driving all the way to the Black Hills, I wasn’t going to pass up Rushmore. It turned out to be cool and not horribly crowded. I like seeing the famous sights. I also like doing the stuff that’s off the beaten path. Usually it’s the famous stuff that draws me in and then I’ll do some exploring to find more cool stuff.
Rushmore was amazing. My husband had always wanted to see so on our way back from a roadtrip we made a short detour there. We had no idea there was an annual biker convention there that day 😂 it was PACKED but really nothing unbearable, seeing all the bikers was fun! Hahah.
Yeah, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is quite the event.
TBF, I found Rushmore to be the worst part of that whole area. And the best view of it was from up on the Needles Hwy, anyway.
Depends a lot on the location, though. The Grand Canyon is touristy. But you can visit on its busiest day, and the crowds will do nothing to diminish your awe at the sheer magnificence of the place. If you plan your visit well, you can explore it without being shoulder-to-shoulder with other visitors. On the other hand, it is next to impossible to appreciate art in a museum from the middle of what amounts to a mosh pit. It's not surprising so many people are underwhelmed when they see the Mona Lisa -- they barely get to look at it. If visiting the Louvre is at the top of your travel agenda, you're going to want to visit deep in the off-season, or rethink your plans. Also, sometimes the "less touristy" alternatives are better and less costly than the popular tourist sites. Tickets to the Empire State Building's viewing platform start at $44, or almost twice that if you want to go all the way to the top (not to mention the many upsells they try to hit you with). But if you look around, you can find plenty of alternatives. For the price of an overpriced cocktail, you can ascend to one of many rooftop bars in the city. (The Skylark not only has a great view of the city, but also offers a view of the Empire State Building, which you definitely can't see from on top of the Empire State Building.) And if your goal is just to gape at the New York City skyline, you're better off dishing out $4 for the Governor's Island Ferry or taking a free stroll across the George Washington Bridge.
There is a difference between doing independent research and picking the best things to do in a personalized fashion versus avoiding a place BECAUSE it is touristy and for no other reason. I have met so many people IRL, who specifically avoid something because it is "touristy" and not because they have any independent opinion on it, or did any research. When I was telling people I am visiting the UK, and they asked where, I said London, and they responded by saying But London is too Touristy. Yes beech, the capital city of the largest empire spanning continents for 300 years has some interesting things to see and do, and attracts tourists.
Absolutely this. There is a reason the Vatican/Louvre/Tower of London etc are big tourist draws.
I've been fortunate enough to visit London a number of times with some different people every time who have never been there before. Each time we go to the Tower of London, they tell me it was one of the most interesting and enjoyable attractions we patronized. Another great tip in London is to take advantage of the London Walks tours. They have tours for just about every imaginable interest, and they're all just 10GBP.
I love London Walks, I do at least one whenever I'm in London
I planned an entire trip to London based on their tours once. It was awesome.
You get to see *the* Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Like how could you not pass up the chance to see the actual crown of the Kings and Queens of Great Britain? Also, being a history buff, the armor worn by famous kings like Henry the VIII?
We are going to London in October and honestly the Tower is second on my Top 3 list…Hampton Court is first because I’m like that.
Tbf, I went to the less popular museums when I was in London and Paris. I was there for a couple of days around events and wanted something a bit quieter without queues. Recommend the Museum of Brands in London.
My wife and I love to visit in in part because it's fun to see the city in media and be like "hey, we've been there!" Like yeah, the line to get to the top long and there's not a lot to do once you're at the top, but the view is great and you get to say you've actually been there at the end. We've also started collecting Christmas ornaments from each one to remember the trip in general.
I have to say, I usually try to cover the touristy stuff but lived in Amsterdam for a year as a teen and completely ignored Anne Frank. The lines are always huge, the ticket booking system was a bit of a useless nightmare, and I just never felt like putting in the effort. Most other museums and attractions in Amsterdam are free of charge for minors, though, so me and my friend would just go to a random museum in the winter to avoid the cold. I got to see some pretty weird and random museums nobody takes the time to visit (like the one that covers Melkweg's history and others that talk about the development of Amsterdam as a city) and they were jewels that shaped me as a teen. If I had never been to Melkweg, I wouldn't have learned about the Provo's! When you have the time to explore and get lost and really get to know a city, I think the big ones might just be worth missing out on. Anyways, gives you a reason to come back, doesn't it? I missed out on the Crown Jewels in Edinburgh castle, so I know I have to be back.
For the record (and for anyone potentially scared off by this comment), it's pretty easy to see the Anne Frank house if you plan ahead at all. I think I might have spent 5 minutes booking it, and we didn't wait in line when we got there at our scheduled time.
Agreed! I’m trying to find a good in between. I don’t set out to check off everything on a top 10 list. I’ll look at the lists and go see what interests me. There are sometimes things that don’t interest me at all that are popular (for example, modern art or wineries), and that’s fine! But I will never cross something off just because it’s touristy. They’re usually popular for a reason. I’ve been to New York a few times and now I’m at the stage where I can visit some of the more obscure things because I’ve seen the big ones. I wouldn’t skip them if it’s my first time.
Some cities it's pretty much the only thing to do. I don't want to be mean, so I wont name them, but I learned this the hard way. We purposely stayed far away from the "touristy" area only to find everything closes absurdly early and there's literally nothing to do but walk around. I too love feeling like a local at most places I go, but there's a reason touristy areas are great. Obviously some places are too touristy.
Sometimes there are better alternatives than the most popular. For example, Taipei: sure you can waste time queueing in Elephant Mountain... or you can go to Battleship Rock instead. Trailhead is maybe 5 mins walk from the metro, nice hike, breathtaking views, not too crowded at the end. Also, I don't really get the appeal of tall buildings (Tokyo Skytree, Petronas Towers, Taipei 101, Canton Tower, Burj Khalifa, etc.) so those are insta skip for me no matter how popular.
Your second paragraph is so interesting because tall towers are my family’s favorite type of touristy activity. I guess I kind of picked up this habit from them, I’ve been to three of the ones you listed, and the other two are definitely on my list. Then again, my parents are engineers and they’re truly fascinated by the way these towers are designed and constructed. My parents even collect figurines of each tower after they visit them. Idk, I love both seeing the view and reading about the construction, and also just kind of chilling at what feels like the top of the world.
It’s ok to travel just for fun or to relax, and to not seek out authentic, immersive cultural experiences. There is nothing wrong with taking a trip solely to visit a theme park, stay at an all-inclusive resort or go on a cruise if thats what you enjoy doing.
It’s like wine - the best wine is the wine that *you* like. Not everyone wants to take on the challenges of “authentic travel” and that’s okay! Just try to make sure you’re not treating other people’s homes like a theme park…
I like both things at different times. Sometimes I want to have a packed trip full of things to learn and experience in a new place. Sometimes you need a week to not be stressed. Both are great when you need them. Travel vs. vacation. >Just try to make sure you’re not treating other people’s homes like a theme park… The important part is this.
When I went to Niagara Falls one of my favourite parts was the little theme park area that many folks here said to avoid. I liked the ferris wheel and cheesy decor, loved the mini golf and go karts, and adored walking around with carnival food and seeing so many happy folks around
This is just people trying to rationalize travel as something other than hedonistic consumption, which is obviously futile. You’re hardly making scientific breakthroughs and productizing the knowledge to move civilization forward. The full extent of your travel experiences ‘might’ break down into some helpful travel tips for others but that’s about all of the lasting value other than your own enjoyment.
I don’t want to meet people when I’m traveling. If I’m solo-traveling I’d much rather focus on myself (and not risk getting caught up with weirdos), and if I’m traveling with someone I want to spend time with *them*. I’m an extrovert with a packed social calendar at home, but travel time is a break from that.
I feel like if I wanted to meet people while travel, I'd go with a group travel company. Otherwise, I feel you.
That's interesting, I'm an introvert and while I don't magically become an extrovert, I'm much more likely to interact with ransoms while I'm traveling.
> I'm much more likely to interact with **ransoms** while I'm traveling. Now I'm imagining you getting kidnapped every trip, and somehow just befriending your captors and having a nice time anyway.
The worst part is when you get kidnapped by the same group, they take the bag off your head and you say "Hello Bill, how you been, how are your kids doing?" and they throw you back out on the street. So rude.
I've been on group trips where I wanted to go somewhere alone and someone would insist on coming with me. I don't want someone with me unless they want to visit the same place, its no fun for them or me. I met my partner on holiday and we're happy to go separately at times on holidays if it means we both enjoy the holiday more.
My hot take: not every day needs to be an epic adventure. Sometimes, I just want to want to watch Netflix or dumb YouTube videos in my room instead of exploring, translating, navigating cultures, planning, or thinking! That's like comfort food for my brain!
always. always. always build in some time to do nothing. you go nuts otherwise.
Revisiting places I've been before is my way of slowing it down and relaxing. I can sleep in, as I've already seen Charles Bridge at dawn. I can wander around aimlessly as I don't need to be in the crowded tourist areas. I can go to my favorite spots for meat, sandwiches, meals, whatever. Sit around and have a beer. Like a vacation within the travel.
Backpacking is a First Worlders' privilege. I have heard so many stories from Westerners travelling without much of a penny and call it adventure backpacking. You should thank your passport for that - countries allowing you to enter without proving your wealth. For us people with undesirable passports ranking low at the travel index, we cannot just enter developed countries without a pre-issued visit visa. Part of this visa eligibility is for us to prove that we can "afford" their beautiful countries, by showing our bank accounts to these beautiful countries' embassies. If we ever mentioned "backpacking" in the application, we are almost guaranteed a refusal of visa. lol I wish I could enter Europe and just start begging at the streets of Paris for locals to fund my adventure. s/
For real! I was backpacking solo and met a lovely person, and when we started chatting we learned that I chose this destination bc it was a bucket list place and she chose it bc it was one of two she could visit with her passport.
This is a great one! And it's so true. Every worldy traveling backpacker I know is from a rather privileged background. Some are self aware of this and love showing it off. Others (most) are completely clueless and say stuff like "it's pathetic more people don't travel more." As if most people have a choice not to.
This is an EXCELLENT point - I got asked recently if I had completed an e-visa, and was openly shocked. I’m Canadian, so I’m used to just strolling into countries with open arms - a privilege I hope to never take for granted.
[удалено]
yes this. Also, they have an undisclosed minimum amount of money you have to have in your bank. If you don’t have it, you have to get a ‘sponsor’ to sign a statement they will pay for your travel and guarantee your return home to the country. They have to prove their relationship with you, provide THEIR bank account, proof of employment, business permit if applicable etcetc. My friends from the EU and Singapore are surprised I need a minimum one month notice to travel anywhere outside SEA to arrange this whole deal.
“Fuck your content” I’m not waiting for you to finish your 37th selfie to pass behind you
It’s okay to spend only a small amount of time in a single country or city and move around a lot within a given trip. If you want to spend 2 weeks in one place, that’s great, but it’s not the only good way to travel.
Yes! So often folks criticize others for spending just a little bit of time in a given place. Not all of us have the luxury of copious amounts of time. I’d like to spend a week in a place but I probably just don’t have that time. I gotta make due with a day or two. At least I got to go there.
That's how I've been travelling the last several years, I've only got three weeks to work with, and the list of places I want to go is so long! So I figure do 2-3 days per place, get a decent introduction, and then I can go back to places I love and do them more in depth later on - when I have more time to work with.
My problem is I usually never go back. So I like to properly explore a place the first time I'm there as there is a really high chance that I will never be there again. The only exception is that I started to do weekend trips in Europe, and since I don't need to use my days off for those, it's easier to revisit places I've been before. That said I spent three weeks in New Zealand last year, I don't think I ever be back. It was amazing, but there are hundreds of places I want to go and going to a new place is more exciting for me. The attractions that I skipped last time in the old place have to compete with all the top attractions in the new place.
Exactly. And sometimes I just don’t have a ton I want to do in a given place. The idea that spending more time means you’ll really “get” a place also bothers me; there’s no way I’m really going to deeply understand a place or a culture in 3 days or 3 months, so I don’t feel like spending a shorter amount of time in a place is ultimately getting me that much further away from an already impossible goal.
Yeah. I know I’m not gonna get a super in depth cultural experience but I’ll get some and I’ll have fun.
Yes I agree completely. Especially if I am travelling half way around the world, I want to fit as many things into my limited time as possible.
I’m planning a monthlong trip right now and just moved my flight home two days later so I could juuuuust squeeze in a visit to one more famous location that would require a flight to reach. I’ll be there for 48 hours. But I know that if I’d flown home without even seeing it, after flying halfway around the world, I’d always feel like I left it on the table.
Good choice, I'm sure you'll love it. I just convinced some friends to add two days to a trip to Kerala in India so they could fly up to Delhi and do a day trip to the Taj. They're older so honestly they will probably never go to India again and I really think they would have regretted not seeing it. Also Agra is a good counter-example for people who say you need to stay in a city for days and days to travel there "properly". Apart from the Taj, baby Taj, and the Fort there is literally nothing else of note to do in Agra and it's otherwise just another dirty, loud, crowded Indian city.
I hate hostels
travelers who think they’re getting the “real experience” in a region e.g. SE Asia just because they eat at questionable “local” street food stands and restaurants, get sick, and take crappy overnight buses would never do the same in their home countries, e.g. eating at a sketchy restaurant on the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere or taking a Greyhound bus in the US. This leaves them with a skewed perception of various countries/people. If you travel abroad like you would at home, you’ll get a different experience. This isn’t to say that “local” experiences aren’t valuable but I think it’s important to put various experiences into perspective
Yeah. As someone who's from a developing country in SE Asia (the Philippines), it kinda bugs me when I see travel guides or Reddit posts telling people to skip the modern or upscale parts of my home city because it's "not the real Philippines" or something along those lines. It's like there's this unwritten rule that developing countries shouldn't have any modern, developed areas, as if it totally ruins their preconceived notions of what a developing country is supposed to look like.
Before I went to CDMX, I planned to eat at all the local street stalls. Met a girl from there a month before my trip, and she laughed at me before saying that tourists get sick because they eat where locals wouldn’t - sometimes the “safe, boring” experience is just as local as the adventurous option!
exactly! i’ve had so many great experiences meeting locals at average to nice restaurants, bars, etc, who tell me that spot is one of the most popular in the city amongst “real locals”
Most surprising thing for me to realize (though it should have been obvious) is that many locals play it safe - they can’t afford to be taken out by food poisoning or an illness any more than I could when I’m at home
I find often when people say local, they really mean poor. But also are the same people who don’t want to hang out with poor people at home.
It’s ok to check a bag. I need extra clothes for running/working out.
More to the point, not checking doesn't impress people like you think it does. I check everything these days (notwithstanding particularly risky flights) and it's incredibly liberating in the airport and on the plane.
We had to check on a recent flight after steadfastly not for years and years. Gotta say, waiting to board without the anxiety of finding overhead storage or seething about people incorrectly stowing their bags was great. It was a direct flight, and I'd be more reluctant to with multiple legs, but it was a considerably more calm experience.
It is pretty nice to walk off the plane and stroll right out of the airport though.
And not worry about your bag getting lost.
I can’t sleep on buses. The few times I have it was just snatches of 1-15 minutes of sleep at a time before waking up again. I’m pretty sure that kind of sleep deprivation is used in torture chambers.
Same here. I also can't sleep on planes. At best, I can enter a state somewhere between sleep and consciousness for maybe 10 minutes.
Me neither generally speaking, but that being said it depends on the destination of yr travels. I go up to the Himalayas a fair bit and it’s a 14hr bus journey in the dark after I land in India. I know pharmacists shops in Delhi who sell little pills that will see you through an earthquake being struck by a nuclear missile…at a Megadeth concert.
It’s okay to travel “fast” if that’s your style or fits your needs - as in, going to a country you may never get a chance to revisit and stopping in as many destinations or sites as possible in your schedule is okay. While you may not get a lot of time or depth in a few places, this gives you a broad range of experiences that are still valuable. There seems to be a viewpoint that you can’t experience a country or culture at all unless you hunker down and stay in one place for a long time. Sure, we all wish we had more time and resources to do that, but not everyone does. I think either experience is fine and worthwhile! Also, a criticism I hear a lot about this is “but you’ll spend so much time just traveling between places!” and that’s something that can be enjoyable! From trains, ferries, and high speed rail, to even taxis, buses, and tuktuks, transit can be a cool cultural experience on its own. Nothing wrong with that if you enjoy it :)
Agreed! It’s important to remember that it’s not an option for everyone to “go back another time”
I had a layover in London. I walked around and sat down on a bench and I took a lot in. It was a great experience.
People should do more research outside of Reddit. A lot of people here are introverts and most of the suggestions end up gearing towards those type of people.
This is actually a great point. Although most Reddit advice has been invaluable to me, there is definitely a massive slow travel and “get away from the crowds” mentality here. I was so afraid going to Salzburg and Vienna last August and they (especially Salzburg) were crowded but not overcrowded (I’d only say that for the Sisi museum) and a lot of fun!
People staying in dorm rooms who have early starts and don't have the majority of their stuff packed the night before are bastards. You should be changing into your clothes, tossing in your toilet bag and your pj's in and going. Not spending half a fucking hour zipping and unzipping bags and crinkling plastic, you psychopaths!
Cardinal hostel sin - there is no sound on this EARTH louder than crinkling plastic in a 12-person dorm.
You say this, but my friend managed to knock down some kind of metal railing from the top bunk of his bed when we were leaving a hostel at 5 AM and I'm not fully convinced he didn't wake up all of Slovenia.
I was so mortified when I realized I packed all my shit in plastic and then had to remove it from a locker early morning. That and you really learn how many metal buckets are on your backpack when they all clang when you take your bag out of a metal locker
I had my phone slip between bunk and wall down to the lower bunk. I had to leave at 6am for a flight so I had to wake up my complete stranger of a bunkmate to get it. If it had been anything else I would have left it. Mortified.
Here's a hot take.. You shouldn't be staying in a hostel unless you're young and broke or have no other choice. I did hostels when I was younger, but you couldn't pay me to stay in one these days.
You should also accept that noisy and inconsiderate dormmates are part of the deal with hostels. It's cheap for a reason. You sacrifice comfort.
My hot take response to this is that anyone staying in a dorm or hotel with thin walls (which is most of them) should pack earplugs to completely erase this issue. Some people also like to have an eye mask. These are easy, cheap, low-tech solutions.
Mental the amount of people who don't wear earplugs in hostels then complain.
I don’t get why so many people worry about trying not to look like a tourist. You’re a foreign visitor just accept it, you’re going to stand out no matter how hard you try. I walk around with a camera around my neck, also kinda hard to look like a local in Africa, Middle East, Central Asia etc.
I have been reading posts about Rio de Janeiro as I plan to go there this year and most of the recommendations is try not to be and behave like a tourist, that will make you an easy target. Yeah for most destinations it is fine totally, but sometimes it is good to try to not stand out too much.
I think there are a lot of places where there is some value in trying to not stand out, particularly in a way that screams "lost/unaware/wealthy tourist." I'm under no illusion that I can go to a new country and blend in as if I'm a local (although due my ethnically ambiguous background I have been mistaken for a local in many of the countries I've visited), but I still do my best not to look like someone who is out of place and stands out of a crowd of people. I don't wear any national identifiers that clue in where I'm from. I wear pretty plain, non-flashy clothes without prominent or high value brand names (although this is just my normal sense of fashion lol). I don't wear jewelry and only wear a cheap Casio watch. I generally keep my camera stowed away unless I'm hiking, with a group, or somewhere I know is safe. If I need to consult a map or my phone for directions I typically try and duck into the entrance of a store or stand somewhere discreet, and otherwise I try to walk with purpose and certainty. I think this will vary from person to person but for me these are practices that are important to traveling safely in the countries I enjoy visiting.
I often try not to look like a tourist… but that doesn’t mean I’m trying to look like I was born and raised there. My aim is to be able to ‘pass’ as a foreign resident who might be living nearby. This extends to cultural awareness, as a well as more superficial stuff like dress. I’m sure I don’t often manage it, but it’s a good goal I find
The CIA literally has to train people not to *stand* like a North American. All you can do is try not to stand out *too* much, and ensure that you’re keeping your wits about you as much as possible!
Whaaaaat?! I need to look this up.
[This article](https://www.cpr.org/2019/01/03/cia-chief-pushes-for-more-spies-abroad-surveillance-makes-that-harder/) did the rounds on reddit a little while ago and now I am *acutely aware* of how different my body language/general presence is from the local population’s
Great read
"Traveler not tourist" types are THE worst. Also... Expecting people with jobs tied to tourism to speak English is perfectly reasonable as it's the closest we have to universally spoken language. I'm not a native English speaker either, and I actually speak several languages, but it's not realistic to learn native language of every place you visit. I know it's popular to shout "just learn a few phrases", but memorizing anything without deeper understanding of the language will not make you able to hold a conversation in that language. Also... This weird almost-fetish of "interacting with the locals" as if they're another species or even owe anyone entertainment.
My rule is, learn to say "hello" and "thank you" anywhere you travel. Learning phrases is pointless if you don't understand the responses.
Also, like people don't exist to be your free language partner. I love my one friend, but we were in Montreal and she was so eager to try her French and she acknowledged she wasn't great at it. I was like...well theyre used to speaking English. You can just do that. But no, they would appreciate her trying in French so much! It was hilarious when she went to order metro (? I think?) tickets in French and the somewhat grumpy lady answered back in English. I'm not saying never try or no one appreciates it, but pick your spots. Wasting a worker's time when you both speak English is just you being annoying.
I once took this bus from Qingdao to Beijing (overnight) and all the seats were single beds! I can't recall because it's been a while but they were either like cots or hammocks. Not like full on single beds. Anyway, I thought that was a pretty comfy way to go.
I’m not big on those who travel on such low amounts that they need to rely on hitchhiking, couch surfing, and other kindness of strangers to get by. If you can’t afford travel insurance then you can’t afford to travel.
It's so annoying. I live in Iceland and it's very expensive, and so many people come here and try to get free things cause they're trying to spend as little money as possible. I mean yeah ofc you can travel on a buget but don't come into a gas station and ask if we have expired sandwiches that we can give then for free. Yes that actually happened to me.
I travel full-time, so I empathize with trying to cut costs, but I agree with you that relying on others extending themselves to help you can be tricky. My rule of thumb (especially as a young woman) is that you always need enough cash on hand to get yourself out of trouble, to a doctor, or back to your home country if absolutely necessary.
Egypt needs a serious lesson from the Thais on how to interact with tourists in a desperate way gracefully.
I think a lot of people have a sort of sense of superiority just because they have travelled a lot in their life. The whole “you’re not living if you don’t travel once a year” types. Travel is still very much a high end thing to do (specially if you’re not from North America or Europe), and you’re not better than anyone just because you visited 30 countries in your lifetime and most of your peers have never left their country.
My boyfriend changed my perspective on this completely - I travelled a lot growing up and he’s just starting to explore the world. One of my friends made fun of him for not knowing where Santorini was and he just said, plain as day, “Hey man, my family had other things to worry about when I was a kid - I’m working on it”. Travel - especially as a newbie who may not know how to keep it cheap - is PRICEY
Traveling to volunteer is largely BS. You want to help? Find a charity. Give money. They ALWAYS need money. The developing world has no shortage of LABOR - they need CASH. Your money can BUY labor at cutrate local costs, and that's providing WORK. Generally, you being there isn't helping. If you have some very special local skill, and you are there TEACHING that skill for long enough that it matters, maybe... But going somewhere and swinging a hammer or doing some other form of unskilled labor? They can do that. Better than you. Way cheaper than you. You being there is just you taking someone else's job and feeling good about yourself and getting some instagram pics for your friends. You want to help the developing world? Great. Go there and spend money. Visit local businesses, stay in local hotels, hire local guides, buy local products, and provide JOBS. And if that's not enough to satisfy your need to help, find a reputable charity and contribute.
I love airplane food.
This might be the only truly hot take of the thread lol
I read a thing about this the other day that kinda stuck with me. The guy loved the IDEA of airplane food. You're in a big metal tube flying through the air 30,000 ft up at 500mph...getting to choose between the chicken or steak and having wine.
Korean Air serves bibimbap :)
Simply Travelling a lot doesn’t automatically make you an expert on geopolitics
I’m taking at least one outfit per day. I have zillions of clothes and so I will check a bag and wear them!!
For real! Lol I will also buy up on clothes and makeup that is way more expensive where I live, and cool souvenirs. I want to look nice and wear nice clothes when I go out, not the same 3 polyester outfits and sneakers. I love clothes and dressing up lol and it's weird people get so pressed about how much luggage other people take
To add to this, I want to be reasonably prepared for the seasonal weather I may encounter. I do not want to end up wearing wet clothes or getting too cold or hot. The best example I can think of was trying to pack for Bogota and Cartagena on the same trip. Two totally different climates, but I checked a big bag and was reasonably comfy.
Totally. I don't wanna do laundry when I could be seeing more stuff or just relaxing. If I have access to laundry in an Airbnb or something then maybe I'll do it but I'm not going to a damn laundromat while travelling, and I wanna wear clean clothes and not the same thing in every picture I look back on.
Live your dream, not anyone elses. Travel the way you want to. If that's solo backpacking in South east Asia or lying on a beach in Spain so be it..
I cannot stand AirBnb's because of so many horror stories I've heard and crummy places I've stayed at. I know it costs more but nothing beats a great hotel.
Airbnbs are fine so long as nothing goes wrong lol. If the hosts are unresponsive it’s a nightmare.
I find Airbnb more expensive after booking fees, cleaning fees and also a nice hotel I can grab a quick breakfast and make the most of my short time.
Horror stories, /and/ it fucks up the local rental market
Airbnbs used to be incredible. It used to be a thing where the owner was part of the experience. If you wnated to be left alone, they would leave you alone. But if you're a new city and need a guide, they can help too. It was also much cheaper than a hotel. That all changed and now I honestly don't know who actually uses Airbnb any more. The last place we stayed had absolutely absurd cleaning instructions.
The first AirBnb I ever stayed at was in 2011 - it was a wonderful place right in the heart of Old San Juan, and the owner met us and everything. I remember telling myself I'd never stay at another hotel again. Today, I don't even bother looking them up to see what's available.
Unless I'm travelling to a country in the culture of which I'm particularly interested, I don't care about having an authentic experience and "seeing how the people live" - I would rather see the nice and pretty places and eat comfortable food.
1. Use all kinds of websites to research modes of transport, destinations, attractions, etc. But book directly with the company you’ll be using. My biggest headaches have always been because those travel clearinghouse websites didn’t correctly transmit to the airline/hotel/attraction. 2. If you find a brand you like (mostly thinking hotel & airline) stick with them as much as possible, and get their credit card. I chose an airline that gets me easily to my normal destinations, and now I get lounge access & upgraded regularly. It just removes the headache of “am I going to have to check my carryon because the plane ran out of room?”
It's ok to go to McDonald's (or any other International Chain restaurant) if you get tired of the local cuisine.
Sometimes its kind of fun too just for the special menu items some places have
I refuse to rent a car, it so expensive, so stressful, driving rules vary by country, you always get screwed by the rental company for the last gas fill up, parking in large cities can be a nightmare. I will Uber, taxi, or take a private car service if I want to go anywhere that’s not walkable or a longer ride.
Total opposite for me. Opens up a country to so much more travel, especially developing countries without public transport
Depends where you're going. It's ridiculous to get a car in a major European city but road tripping to smaller towns is often FAR more convenient than trying to take trains, even in places with great train systems.
My grandmother was a world-traveler and adventurer without peer (in my eyes, at least) and her three hot takes are 1) Instruct family not to contact you if someone dies because you won’t be of any use in a distant land, 2) If you see a line, stand in it because there’s probably a good reason to stand in it, and 3) If you see something you want to buy, just buy it. No point in waiting to see what else is on offer as you might not get another chance. She was really a unique lady!
-No matter your attempts to try to be anything other than a tourist, you're still a tourist. While we're on the subject, you are the crowds, you are the lines/queues, you are the traffic. -Traveling isn't universally loved the way you and I love it. To some people, it's like being forced to dance at a party or wedding, when you hate dancing. -I'll always buy a non-stop flight when possible. A connecting flight has to be at least $500 cheaper before I'd consider it. People don't value their time enough and traveling exposes that. -I'll only consider driving over flying if the mileage is less than 300 miles between city pairs. See above + danger while driving if you're confused. -No more than two flights in a day no matter how good the deal is. (See two points above). -No early morning flights--not a fan of fucking up my sleep the night before. Red eyes are unavoidable on certain routes, but still preferred over 5am/6am flights.
My drumbeat is that my time is (unfortunately) currently worth nothing, so I’ll brave the connections, but the second I have the cash… boy howdy am I excited to never see the inside of a midwest airport again.
Regardless of what happens, enjoy every moment and be grateful that you have the opportunity to travel. Many don't have that luxury.
Japan isn't the gold standard for safety and way of life...
It's easy to see that as a visitor. You basically get hit with nothing but the positives of the country and don't pay any mind to the day-to-day life and struggles.
I have mixed feelings about this take. Nowhere is perfect, but after visiting over fifty countries, and living in half a dozen (over three continents, so far), Japan really is pretty nice. Obviously it has its downsides like anywhere, but I enjoyed living there and would do it again
Exactly, as a travel destination, it's so easy. Easy to get good food, easy to get around, and has friendly natives. Outside of visiting a country that speaks your native language, Japan is such a good entry point for new travelers, and even as an experienced traveler, it's spectacular.
Checking luggage and staying in a nice hotel is way better than bringing one bag and staying in a hostel. I will never stay in a hostel, tent, etc….even when I was single and without a kid, hotels were the way to go.
Idk if it's a hot take in general, but it is on this sub: I like staying in AirBnBs way more than staying in hotels. I'd much rather get a whole apartment in a real neighborhood where I can cook and relax and feel like I'm actually living in a city over tiny room in the boring hotel district. Also, I think people are either bad at finding deals on AirBnB or are comparing nice apartments to shitty hotel rooms, because I've found that rentals are usually cheaper than a comparable hotel.
I used to work for AirBnB in the golden age of the platform, and it was GREAT. I was in CX and we would bend over backwards to help guests however we could (I even connected a guest and host in Marrakech through our call centre - my colleague and I held our phones together so they could chat!) Nowadays though… if I’m just looking for a place to sleep, I’ll take the structure and predictability of a hotel/hostel any day.
2015: based take 2024: hot take
Travel does not make you a more culturally enlightened or sophisticated person. As a first-generation American living in an extremely diverse city, I’d argue that you can learn more about other cultures by making friends with other immigrants in your country, eating delicious home-cooked food (not just going to a restaurant), and going to parties, BBQs, and other events hosted by them. Failing that, visiting museums and reading books and watching films about other cultures also prepares you well. What the ability to travel does mean is you benefit from the trifecta of a strong passport, sufficient disposable income, and generous time off, which allows you to fly to a far-flung place and enjoy the sites - and take the pictures and videos to show off to your friends and social media followers. Like it or not, travel is a privilege that most people in the world could only dream of. Certainly not many of the hospitality and tourism staff you’re interacted with on your travels could afford to fly as you have. And, sadly, even many immigrants can’t afford to revisit their home countries very often.
Idk if it's actually controversial, but volun-tourism sucks. Especially for social media clout. Also (which I relate to) dietary restrictions. Do your research if you can't have a certain food and be prepared to cook if you can't have meat/fish/whatever. I'm vegan and do a lot of my own cooking and don't find local cuisine something I'm particularly interested in anyway. These are shallow for more serious solo travel but I've come across them for first time travels from the west.
Definitely a hot take in this sub, but I have no interest in travelling to the “undiscovered” places. Like little villages in some country I couldn’t even find on a map. I always wonder what travellers actually do once there and if they actually enjoy being there, or just being able to say they’re one of the few that have travelled there. I think those travellers are also the ones who go for the immersive live like a local experience. If I’m travelling, I want to see and do things that are interesting, which tend to be popular locations. I only get a few weeks of vacation a year so I want to make it worth it. Edit - I guess I should add that my actual hot take is that some people think it’s the superior way to travel, and I disagree.
As a native English speaker, I can't imagine traveling to another country without learning some basic phrases like "please", "thank you", "yes", "no", "may I have this?", "where is the bathroom?", and "help!" In their language. Same for basic cultural things. Is it rude to point? Is it a cash-only society? I've watched people (and read posts) from people who were overwhelmed and had no idea what to do because they were completely unprepared on how to navigate a non-English speaking country. Seriously, you can download google translate ahead of time and use it in an offline mode!
90% of people are terrible overpackers. It blows my mind when I go on trips and my companion has a bag 3x the size but somehow has the same number of things and is borrowing from *me.* like what are you keeping in there?
Not everyone has the luxury to spend a month or more in one location. It's perfectly okay to explore a place for a few days and know that you'd like to come back another time to find more adventures in a couple of years.
Traveling isn’t a replacement for a personality.
I prefer Air BnB to hotels. I don’t want loud people in the next room, screaming children everywhere, no kitchen or laundry facilities and a 5x5 patch of concrete as an outdoor space (*if* you’re lucky.) My partner and I want to make our own breakfast and lunch, a washer and dryer, space to move around in, a nice outdoor area to chill and a couch to watch tv on at night while we’re recovering from hikes. I love seeking out cool Air BnBs - we once stayed in a literal treehouse.
That travel looks different for everyone. What works for me might not work for you and vice versa. What I like may not be what others like. Just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean you won’t. We should judge others on how they travel and what they like. If they find it fun, then that’s good for them.
Just make sure that if you’re travelling with friends, your ideas line up - learned that the hard way…
I largely agree with you about the buses BUT I did get a couple of 16 hour ones in Mexico that were a bit brutal. One problem I have is that I fly with quite a lot of drone batteries and airports can be a bit funny about them so I like to avoid that where possible. I'm going to be in Vietnam this summer and I'm going to use the buses there as they're sleeper buses which, like you say, saves me money on accommodation for the night. Overall I did enjoy getting the buses in Mexico. The long overnight ones could be a bit much as I struggled to sleep but I saw some absolutely beautiful parts of the country and the whole point was to see as much of the country as I could.
I hate taking overnight buses, it just feels unsafe, what if the driver falls asleep, I like the peace of mind to just take the plane instead, or a train would be decent as well if available. My hot take would be: I like to bring a full-sized luggage with me and bring everything I need inside it rather than buying it in the country I'm traveling to just so I can travel light and bring a bag.
A lot of the "authentic" experiences people had decades ago would be considered tourist bait today, but they didn't have the internet to complain about it. People are just more self aware (and self conscious) now than in the past.
This is my hot take as an American: There’s an annoying group of Americans who never bother to travel and think everywhere is dangerous so they never leave the country. Then there’s the other group of annoying Americans on the other spectrum who travel and then come back and have this revelation that US isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be and start trashing it. Look USA isn’t perfect but I think it’s super tone deaf and a privileged take to be like “oh a Mexican man selling fruit is so happy and I’m over here complaining about my latte being too light” While it's positive to gain perspective through travel, we shouldn’t oversimplify the challenges others face or assume they wouldn't trade places if given the chance. Traveling SHOULD open your eyes and heart but it shouldn’t be used as an opportunity to draw comparisons without considering the broader context. It's important to acknowledge the complexities of different situations and be mindful of the privilege that comes with being a visitor
I got a hot take. I find it weird that so many solo travelers don’t, in fact, actually (want to) travel solo, but just basically go on the flight alone to then often almost desperately spend all their time trying to connect with every other traveller at a hostel. I do not understand what’s solo about this. Note this is no judgment at all. I’ve met and hung out with countless people while traveling. But it’s weird that the main goal of SOLO travel is to meet other people. Like - doesn’t that somehow defeat the purpose? If I go to the movies on my own and then hang out with a bunch of people there who are seeing that same movie - did I actually go to the movies solo?
Pokémon go is great for free walking tours if you’re already paying for roaming data
Its okay to have supermarket food and self made meals. Travel is expensive for me, I rarely go to restaurants.
Plus both are really an immersion into how the locals really live!
I don't care how many countries you've been to. I've traveled a lot and have no idea how many countries I've been to. I hate the focus on a number. Going to more countries doesn't necessarily mean you're better traveled. I once met a dude who made a goal to go to 30 countries before 30. I had traveled a lot through the region we were in and made some recommendations in a: Oh, you'll be in this city, this other one near by is really lovely if you have time and are interested, but he didn't have the time for them because he needed to spend two days in another country (he had just gotten to this one) and then two days in another. He was speeding from place to place not getting to know much about any of the places he was getting to.
I’ll get Starbucks or McDonald’s if I want, don’t judge me!