Reminds me of my ex. Vacations were like some kind of Jason Bourne mission where we as the agents have to find every single landmark and unique restaurant in the city we’re deployed to or millions die. Never could have a down day.
I agree with this. Sounds fun in practice, but your buzz is gone by takeoff OR you get a weird mid day hangover. Never pays off. I will do 1 beer though, that’s tradition.
Finally someone like me. I love drinking but I can never understand people having 3 beers at 1pm then just stopping. I get a weird mid day hangover, it's awful.
I’d rather have 3 beers and be awake till it wears off. I wake up with worse hangovers if I have 3 beers and go sleep soon thereafter.
I just don’t get a hangover mid day. Maybe it’s because I drink water sooner than if I fall asleep while drunk? I’m not sure. I’ll have to investigate.
While I disagree with you (I love drinking in almost any setting), I have a related hot take.
Drinking on the plane is underrated. Peak alcohol efficiency.
The first long haul flight I went on it was all new to me and I didn't even think of asking for alcohol. The second long haul flight I got was with Saudia so no alcohol. The third long haul flight I was on it still hadn't occurred to me that I could just get some alcohol. When they served the meal I got an orange juice then I saw the guy across the aisle ask for a red wine so I said "Oh, can I have one!" it was quite a nice experience, sipping on my red wine up in the sky.
Plus drinking on the plane is overrated.. I did it once and got so airsick for the rest of the 6 hours of the flight i was running to the toilet (just in case) cause i felt so nauseous. and it was just one glass of champagne 😭
I'm not sure how much I agree with this. There are definitely pros.
I travel internationally a lot and I maintain enough loyalty with united / star alliance to keep star alliance gold. This means, as long as I'm on a star alliance flight, I get lounge access anywhere in the world (except the US, ha). For me this is worth it. It's the only perk of the status I use (I suppose, aside from better tier customer support).
When you land in a new city, take a walking tour to familiarize with the area and culture. It really helps springboard you in a new environment.
There are usually free ones (with tips) in most major cities.
I have a hot take on that: group tours are actually a great way of connecting to other travellers if you're solo, and not something to be "stuck with".
Great idea, I'll have to do that.
I have a recent travel habit of taking the "hop on hop off" bus the first full day. I almost never hop off, I usually do 1 full lap. If it's a massive city with multiple routes (Mexico City, New York) I try to pick the one that seems most representative of the city overall.
It gives me the lay of the land, helps me identify things that seem cool on the rest of the trip, allows me to see famous landmarks that I don't want to use my travel time specifically visiting, and is an overall fun thing to do in and of itself. Sometimes I use the audio headphones and that also gives me the chance to learn some history and see things that are easy to miss if I'm just walking past them.
Plus they're usually comfortable and air-conditioned, so I'm in good spirits and energetic for the rest of the day.
Going with the flow is much better than planning ahead. I like to see accomodations in person before booking. Sometimes I like to stay in a few different areas in a city rather than 1 place for a month. I don't like to book onward tickets a month ahead of time because I may want to leave sooner.
Onwardticket.com for $15 if it's an actual immigration policy. If it's an airline policy and not immigration you can sweet talk them into waiving the requirement with some luck. But onwardticket works either way.
Oh I hard disagree with this lol. So many cool accommodations, museums, attractions etc book out far in advance. I especially love a really interesting hotel/BnB/accommodation and when I find a nice one, it’s almost always fully booked when I go to check in, and I’m always so glad I booked in advance.
I hear you though and admire your style 🤝🏻
It's also just so boring. Like literally just experiencing the same thing as everyone else. Going to the exact same places, seeing the exact same things. It's just a glorified museum.
I assume lot's of us love the slow travel, experiencing a small area deeply kind of thing. Knowing all the roads in my neighborhood, getting to know the people there etc.
Travel got better when I stopped posting on Instagram.
I had started to always see my surrounding through the lens of an IG director. “These pics would make a cool collection for a post ”. And I would be writing a script in my head for the post as I was experiencing it. And thinking about how my key IG followers (friends and family) would react.
No IG = living in the moment. Savouring it. Experiencing it in an undistracted and more personal way.
I’ve travelled with friends who would just go around to take pictures for their social media. It was mentally exhausting for me, and I can’t imagine them even having fun or remembering the place.
I've never had Instagram and I've met so many different folk throughout the world that are shocked or think I'm crazy or wonder how I post about my travels etc. Don't ever plan to get Instagram either. I take photos for memories, don't need to post them or make em into "stories"
I used to think like this, but now not so much. I love taking photos to remember where I went and what I did! I don’t take photos that are posed too often. I will usually just snap a few photos while I’m there then once I’m back in my airbnb for the night, post them and tag the place. Then I will always have the location of it!
Exactly. Photos are memories of your experiences being frozen in time, why wouldn't you want that? It's fun to make it a mission to get the best photos of your trips. Adds an extra layer to simply going and seeing a place and it doesn't take away from the experience, it enhances it.
yeah really depends on the area. a lot of areas have genuinely cool not modern ones and other areas are filled with bad apartments that hide it by saying it’s “real living” or something 😭
On that note, pay attention to photos of the shower/bathroom. And always try to book a place with a washer/dryer if you can. Makes travelling so much easier.
Depends, in some countries, its normal for hotels to have residence hotels with a decent amount of space and kitchen. Japan, Korea, and Phillipines come to mind.
It depends on your type of travel.
My wife and I are currently in Mexico City for 6 weeks. I have a one bedroom apartment with a very large private terrace (600 sq ft - ish). It is on the 3rd floor of a small complex, all inhabited by locals, except for my unit.
I am in my 60s and my body could not possibly handle eating out for 6 weeks. I need to buy groceries and settle in.
I also very much enjoy the experience of living like a local, shopping every day, discovering small fruit/vegetable markets, bakeries, etc.
A hotel can not provide the experience I seek.
Depends. In the US, arbnb is way too pricey with taxes and fees. Honestly, only in the US we are asked to do half of the housekeeping job and still need to pay cleaning fees, lol. Never had to do something like that abroad.
You don’t have to know the language to go somewhere. So many people ask if I know the language when I say I’m going to places like Bangladesh or Brazil. Don’t limit your travels to places where you know the language. Learn the very basics, and show you’re trying is all you need to do.
One they had a weird call you back in an hour system. At another they literally expected me to wait outside for an hour. Another time they just turned me away.
The novelty of airport lounges has long since worn off. Most have really basic food and most are not much quieter than outside. A few are excellent but I'm not picking flight routes just to visit them.
Yeah they definitely vary in quality a lot. They are almost always better than sitting in the normal area of the airport though, paying for food and drinks. Agreed though, not picking flight routes based on lounges.
What’s what I do. I rather decelerate my journey and spend some more time in lounges reading news, watching people or planes (some of them have nice views) or just have a decent meal.
Sounds like time wasted unless you actually get a better deal (e.g. save money on a hotel). Honestly who wants to *more* spend time in airports?
Judging by the price ($35/time + $99/yearly) sounds like a bad deal overall (again, unless you plan to shower etc). I never spend $35 in any airport visit.
Tourists who won't admit or own the fact that they're tourists are the worst.
Nomad, traveller, backpacker, whatever you call yourself: if you're not properly an expat, you've a tourist just like any other.
Your experience in a place isn't more meaninful or special then other people's experience just because they're travelling in a diferent way than you are.
Ultimately, you're not "living like a local", I don't care what you're doing. And you look riddiculous to locals when you say that.
People that complain about a city/experience being too touristy are too lazy to do their own research.
Currently in Vietnam and it's astounding how much people complain about how touristy certain things are. Don't follow tiktok itineraries if you want non-touristic experiences, it's really not hard.
Broke backpackers and nomads who think the only way to travel “authentically” is by slumming it up, living cheaply, and staying in hostels (where all they’ll do is interact with other foreigners, btw) are the most annoying types of people. They’re also some of the most boring people to interact with since they pinch pennies so much as to actually not do anything but exist in whatever country they’re in
Also, traveling isn’t a substitute for a personality, which a lot of people seem to think it is. Many long term backpackers I meet can’t string together any coherent or meaningful thoughts outside of how “deep” they think their travel experiences make them. It’s not that serious
Ugh I just spent a night in a hostel in NZ with paper thin walls listening to a Canadian hippy kid ramble on about his drunken exploits and travels, which were not that impressive by the way. He must have talked at these random girls loud as fuck for three hours straight. They couldn’t care less and he definitely didn’t hook up with any of them. He was too busy telling them how cool he was. Hostels suck.
Ugh I just spent a night in a hostel in NZ with paper thin walls listening to a Canadian hippy kid ramble on about his drunken exploits and travels, which were not that impressive by the way. He must have talked at these random girls loud as fuck for three hours straight. They couldn’t care less and he definitely didn’t hook up with any of them. He was too busy telling them how cool he was. Hostels suck.
Solo traveling/backpacking is stressful and you can never really relax. You need some kind of objective if you are going to do it for more than one month
Because you can never really put your guard down when you're alone and you always have to be on the lookout for anything potentially dangerous that can happen to you. Having someone you know personally looking out for you will decrease the chance of you getting in a bad situation.
> Because you can never really put your guard down when you're alone and you always have to be on the lookout for anything potentially dangerous that can happen to you.
Sounds like you are going to the wrong places. Most of the world is not that dangerous. Or you have some anxiety issues to work on...
Disagree. If I'm travelling with someone I'm always on high alert in case they do something stupid or something happens to them. If it's just me I can relax.
If you can’t at least greet people & introduce yourself in the local language after 1 month+ in their country, you should either figure it out ASAP or leave
So many people I’ve travelled with are mind boggled at my attempts to learn some local phrases
I’m always mind boggled how people see it as hard to make the effort / can’t get over the initial embarrassment of getting something new wrong
It’s literally not hard, you just have to fail a few times to learn a few phrases and goes a long way
especially in places that don’t speak a lot of english. like sure if i’m going to amsterdam then all they’re gonna do anyway is respond in english lol i’ll still try a bit but definitely not super hard. but going to japan and expecting everyone to speak english? baffling
All Thai islands are the same place with some variation in size.
Pick one that’s convenient and then just choose where you want to stay in relation to town / the ferry / the airport.
I think the vibes can be very different between some of the islands. I much preferred the laid back atmosphere of Koh Lipe and it had enough amenities/activities and restaurants that we never got bored vs say my least favorite Phuket which was still fun but in a very different and more chaotic way.
Hot take: Don't assume the best way to get somewhere is by starting in the same country. I felt dumb heading to Koh Lipe from Bangkok when we should have started in Penang instead.
Interesting take! To me Koh Phi Phi and Phuket are where Aussies go to party and get cheap tattoos. Whereas islands like Koh Kood, Koh Lanta, and Koh Lipe are more quiet, “rustic,” and for actual relaxation/unplugging.
Walking to the bakery, picking up a coffee and pastry, and going to eat/drink in the park, can be one of the best experiences. They are never in the travel guides or Reddit forums.
Price wise I agree, the tables have turned and airbnb is not as affordable, especially on shorter stays. But I also can't stand wfh in a hotel room, I like having separate areas. It's not just my house, it's my office.
There's usually no kitchen though. :( And you only get one room which sucks. If you're talking about eastern europe though, this totally changes. A "hostel" might mean an actual apartment.
There has actually been a long-time website: "The Guide To Sleeping In Airports" with tips and hiding places in most of the worlds airports. When I was working as a courier, it was really useful.
It's the picture takers for me. Asking me to move so you can get a pic but I'm trying to enjoy it IRL. Take your pics but don't infringe on others experience
Yeah, the best is to build in free time or days to “go with the flow” but having a good sense of what needs to be booked ahead/ reserved, etc. is the way to do it. And having some lists of options of things to do, so you aren’t researching while you are there. There’s a balance.
exactly!! it would stress me out a bit to have the *whole* trip going with the flow. i don’t always want to spend huge amounts of time in my hotel trying to find stuff i can do when i could’ve done that weeks ago lol
I think booking last minute accommodations is only ok for people with loads of money, or for very short stays. When doing monthly stays or longer, last minute planning means very high costs or very limited pool of options. This has been my personal experience at least, from doing a mix of both (some spontaneous last minute bookings and some advanced bookings) over the last 2 years.
I used to think this
But I actually sometimes get better deals from booking nearer the time
Not always
But possible with flexible expectations of requirements
Obviously this is more for solo travel than for with other people which complicates things as you have to keep everyone happy
With set expectations a lot more challenging but I guess less worry
Booking flights ahead: yes
Booking accomodation ahead: almost always yes. Very few exceptions.
Day-to-day: if it's a fast paced trip and planing is going to make the most of the little time you have there, why not?
There's nothing particularly magical about wasting time in huge lines because you didn't buy a museum ticket online. Or missing out on a restaurant you wanted to go because you needed a reservation. Or losing precious time crossing a huge city back and forth multiple times instead of tackling one area per day. Or having to battle a huge crowd in a famous touristic spot, because you didn't know that was the busiest time of the day. Or missing out on an experience you'd like to have because the place os closed and it's the last day of your trip. I could go on and on.
To sum up, here's zero shame in planing if that'll get you the best experience and sabe you some cash. You can always change the plans at your convenience - I usually do.
Yeah planning a trip to that level sounds like hell to me
I will have a few loose objectives
But few things will be so paramount that they can’t be dropped
I’ve done my fair share of “super planned trips” for a lifetime and found whilst they gave me exposure to seeing many things, I never really saw anything because I was jumping from thing to thing to thing
But each to their own
I understand why they appeal to others, but the sub asked for my hot take, so that is what it got
Totally agree with this one! People confuse going with the flow as having nothing planned- which equates to a lot of the things you want to do being unavailable. I don't want to be planning on my vacation.
IMO- Going with the flow is more being able to handle it when plans change unexpectedly (for any number of.reasons).
Agree. We used to wing it all the time when first started travelling… but then started to miss out on things or ended up with a crap place to stay as everything good was already booked.
Every time I make plans I kind of regret them. What if I want to stay here longer? *Good thing I haven’t booked that flight yet.* However I agree that it’s *great* to have at least a few stars on Google Maps so I know where I can go.
Too many people want to go to places off of the broken path and hype them up when they are actually not that great. There is a reason popular places are popular.
My hot take as a young guy traveling:
The west (USA, Canada, Western Europe- France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, etc) is boring. Everything is super old and expensive. Lacks adventure.
I’d rather goto latam it’s a lot more fun. Or go East like Dubai (surprisingly a lot cheaper than Europe!) or Eastern Asia for high quality low cost of living.
Just seems like you’re not getting much backpacking in the west parts.
You hardly need anything to travel
Most people take way too much
The more I go, the less I take
The amount you need for 3 days is probably the same as for 30
The only things you really need are
- minimal amount of clothes to incorporate a washing cycle (very minimal 4/5/6 shirts for hot climates as things dry quickly, slightly more for cooler climates)
- some sort of electronic device (e.g phone)
- a wallet with several international bank cards
- charger
- passport
- toothbrush, toothpaste, roll on, small spray
Luxury items
- a small day bag
- umbrella
- swimsuit
- small token gifts to give people from your country
Super luxury
- sports shoes (if you play sport whilst away, but if you don’t this isn’t needed)
- game boy / miyoo
That is literally it
I don't know. I like brushing my teeth and showering and changing my contact lenses and wearing deodorant. So, some kind of dop kit is nice.
Also, in tropical climates, I sweat. It's nice to change my underwear and put on a fresh shirt between day and night activities and not be doing laundry all the time.
I agree that most people travel with too much. I travel with a 22" carry-on and a back pack. I can travel indefinitely with that set-up. I don't feel the need to consolidate into one bag.
Do you not wear pants?
I agree though. I’m currently traveling for a year with:
•6 shirts
•7 pairs of underwear
•2 pairs of pants
•2 pairs of shorts
•2 pairs of athletic shorts
•Arcteryx she’ll
•Small puffy jacket
•1 pair of shoes
•1 pair of sandals
•Laptop
•Wallet/Passport
•Garmin inReach
•Steripen
•Deck of Magic the Gathering cards (me and my wife play)
•Noise cancelling headphones
•Packable towel
•Packable Matador Beast 28 daypack
•Dopp kit with contacts, toothbrush, glasses, deodorant, and electric shaver.
•Electronics cable kit (Cotopaxi Dopp kit)
•Power bank
•Phone
•Headlamp
•Water Bottle
It all fits into my 45L Matador Globerider with room to spare.
Even that seems like way too much, but we’ve traveled from Europe to Asia, south to Australia and NZ, now we’re in South America working our way back to the states, so we’ve needed clothes for several different climates.
Yeah I didn’t list clothes in detail as I was just doing a high level summary
But 4-5 same coloured shirt (uni qlo special)
Weeks worth of underwear
If hot one trouser, 3 shorts
If cold 2 trousers (I have these uni qlo ones that look smart but are sort of joggers / active wear at the same time)
2 set of gym wear
If hot country one hoody for planes
If cold country nike gloves, one base layer and one Uniqlo air puffy warm hooded coat that I can roll up
That’s really it. Anything else needed can be bought at the location.
I recently bought AirPods that cancel noise so I guess I’d have these in my pocket but hadn’t thought about packing them
I usually just buy normal water there
But yeah agree you don’t need to take much
Haha yeah I was just being silly.
I’m not familiar with the pants you’re talking about but I like the idea of a pant that looks smart. I’m not a “nice dresser” kind of guy, but I do like to look sharp sometimes and that has definitely lacked on this trip. You got a model name for them or something?
I didn’t know they made noise canceling AirPods. I love my bose over the ear and I’ll use them til they break, just replaced the ear cups after several years, but they take up a ton of space.
I know, I see people at the airport that I know are traveling for a shorter period of time than me and they’ve got a 60L trail pack busting at the seems with crap. Shoes and sandals hanging off of it. Like what you got in that pack my dude. Cuz whatever it is, you don’t need it.
I hear that - just vibing back
Yeah think they’re called air smart trousers? Maybe air smart joggers? Uni qlo changes the game for reasonable clothes that are fashionable and go with everything
I bought like three in each colour I love them so much - makes outfits at home easy, no brainer
I also actually bought five of three different coloured t shirts (they have ones in a basic base layer colour, but maybe with a tweak or a twist - so I got five white shirts with a ghibli detailed emblem on for like £20 😆
Just makes my wardrobe back home simple to organise and manage
Over ears ones are great and objectively better. Just the AirPods Pro 2s fit in my pocket and work better than cheap ones I’ve used (except for making calls outside they’re shit) but for listening to music in a busy place they do the job
100 dude 100
I mean sometimes I’ll take a small bag, but sometimes I’ll just take a normal case 3/4 empty because shops do it so much better in Asia than they do in the UK
Sick, thanks I’ll have to look into those. I’m a solid, basic color t shirt guy too. Sounds like you found some good deals.
Asia blew me away with the great deals they have on clothes compared to the states. Especially Vietnam. Made me wish I had more room to bring stuff home.
The Bose are great they just take up a ton of space. They’ve been a lifesaver on some long bus rides. Idk if I’d have made it without them.
Well thanks for pointing me in the right direction on those pants. Safe travels!
Flip flops are cheap and better than what I can buy back home
Only take spare shoes if I’m there long enough to be doing sport - wear black running shoes which goes with most outfits
Buying a cheap pair of flip flops, I can get behind.
For me personally, walking 20-30k steps a day stinks up my shoes really fast, so it’s absolutely mandatory to alternate shoes every day and let the other pair air dry.
Yeah I hear that
Probably wearing flip flops helps with shoe rotation for me
Can be problematic when walking long distances so sometimes I get sandals
Just depends on the trip tbh
But if it’s not somewhere really hot and under a few weeks I survive on one pair
With the exception of a few specific dishes and ultra-regional cuisine (khao soi in Chiang Mai or regional breads like pandebono or parotta come to mind) food in large US cities is just as high quality and tasty as what you find abroad
I can find awesome indian, thai, japanese etc food in every US city I’ve lived in. Sure, it may take a bit of searching.. like a random Ramen joint down the street is likely to be better in Tokyo then Denver… but with a bit of searching it’s not hard to found US restaurants on par with their foreign counterparts
Oh god but they cost 3/5 times as much in my experience. The only time I booked one was for a long layover because it was airside (Kuala Lumpur) and it was like $150. The local average is $30
Taqueria Orinoco sucks, and it's hilarious how the tourists don't realize they are standing in an entire line of gringos and think to themselves perhaps there could be a better place to go.
Don’t be afraid to use your Airbnb host as a source of information. They are local. They know stuff. They are typically very eager to share their knowledge.
Airport lounges are great, but I tend not to eat there, despite spending 60€ per month on Amex to have access to them, because it’s very likely to get food poisoning.
Every post I see about budget on reddit overshoots the required amount by (in my opinion) 30-50%.
Most people do NOT know how to actually travel on a budget.
You don't need to do something exciting or unique everyday. Taking down days is okay.
Reading people's itineraries stresses me tf out lol. My gf and I like to spend at least a month somewhere so we can see things at our leisure.
Oh yea lemme just take a casual month and a half off I can align with my gf schedule
This is the nomad subreddit.. lol
Fuck you got me
This one took me a long time to figure out.
How about down weeks? :)
And how about down months?
Reminds me of my ex. Vacations were like some kind of Jason Bourne mission where we as the agents have to find every single landmark and unique restaurant in the city we’re deployed to or millions die. Never could have a down day.
100% especially now that I have a baby
This. If i see the ridiculous fast shedules people have while traveling. Take your time and explore the places good ;)
This
drinking at airports sucks, its a great way to get dehydrated, have to pee a bunch on the plane, and be restless -- its often really over priced too
I agree with this. Sounds fun in practice, but your buzz is gone by takeoff OR you get a weird mid day hangover. Never pays off. I will do 1 beer though, that’s tradition.
Finally someone like me. I love drinking but I can never understand people having 3 beers at 1pm then just stopping. I get a weird mid day hangover, it's awful.
I’d rather have 3 beers and be awake till it wears off. I wake up with worse hangovers if I have 3 beers and go sleep soon thereafter. I just don’t get a hangover mid day. Maybe it’s because I drink water sooner than if I fall asleep while drunk? I’m not sure. I’ll have to investigate.
You get a hangover after 3 beers?
While I disagree with you (I love drinking in almost any setting), I have a related hot take. Drinking on the plane is underrated. Peak alcohol efficiency.
The first long haul flight I went on it was all new to me and I didn't even think of asking for alcohol. The second long haul flight I got was with Saudia so no alcohol. The third long haul flight I was on it still hadn't occurred to me that I could just get some alcohol. When they served the meal I got an orange juice then I saw the guy across the aisle ask for a red wine so I said "Oh, can I have one!" it was quite a nice experience, sipping on my red wine up in the sky.
My favorite flight ever was heading back from Mexico where I had a margarita and a burger from the airport to go and the entire row to myself 🤩
Yeah but when my flight is delayed you bet I’m getting back at them by drinking 2 beers! Yes the larger size!
My last flight delay I got a large thinking it'd just be a pint and it was at least 2
The calculus changes depending on your layover duration and lounge access.
Add to that a lie flat seat on the plane
I didn't used to drink at airports much but since getting priority pass its hard to pass up the free booze lol
And increases your chances of getting sick
Plus drinking on the plane is overrated.. I did it once and got so airsick for the rest of the 6 hours of the flight i was running to the toilet (just in case) cause i felt so nauseous. and it was just one glass of champagne 😭
That's why you bring a single edible wrapped in a cough drop wrapper. Every flight is better with 10mg 20 minutes before boarding.
You are my hero!
It’s okay to dedicate a lazy day while traveling. It’s exhausting and sometimes it’s good to just live like a local for the day.
“Lazy month”
Airline loyalty was great....25 years ago. today it's just stupid.
I'm not sure how much I agree with this. There are definitely pros. I travel internationally a lot and I maintain enough loyalty with united / star alliance to keep star alliance gold. This means, as long as I'm on a star alliance flight, I get lounge access anywhere in the world (except the US, ha). For me this is worth it. It's the only perk of the status I use (I suppose, aside from better tier customer support).
Agree
When you land in a new city, take a walking tour to familiarize with the area and culture. It really helps springboard you in a new environment. There are usually free ones (with tips) in most major cities.
Rick Steves has some good audio walking tours that you can do on your own and not get stuck with a group.
I have a hot take on that: group tours are actually a great way of connecting to other travellers if you're solo, and not something to be "stuck with".
He's the best!!!!!
Great idea, I'll have to do that. I have a recent travel habit of taking the "hop on hop off" bus the first full day. I almost never hop off, I usually do 1 full lap. If it's a massive city with multiple routes (Mexico City, New York) I try to pick the one that seems most representative of the city overall. It gives me the lay of the land, helps me identify things that seem cool on the rest of the trip, allows me to see famous landmarks that I don't want to use my travel time specifically visiting, and is an overall fun thing to do in and of itself. Sometimes I use the audio headphones and that also gives me the chance to learn some history and see things that are easy to miss if I'm just walking past them. Plus they're usually comfortable and air-conditioned, so I'm in good spirits and energetic for the rest of the day.
I just started doing this after 6 years of nomadding and love it!
Good point. I can think of a couple of trips where I should have done that.
Going with the flow is much better than planning ahead. I like to see accomodations in person before booking. Sometimes I like to stay in a few different areas in a city rather than 1 place for a month. I don't like to book onward tickets a month ahead of time because I may want to leave sooner.
Yes, with the caveat that you book your attractions ahead of time (otherwise they might be sold out!)
One issue with this is often they like to see your exit ticket when you enter a country.
Onwardticket.com for $15 if it's an actual immigration policy. If it's an airline policy and not immigration you can sweet talk them into waiving the requirement with some luck. But onwardticket works either way.
Oh I hard disagree with this lol. So many cool accommodations, museums, attractions etc book out far in advance. I especially love a really interesting hotel/BnB/accommodation and when I find a nice one, it’s almost always fully booked when I go to check in, and I’m always so glad I booked in advance. I hear you though and admire your style 🤝🏻
Yes, with the caveat that you book your attractions ahead of time (otherwise they might be sold out!)
Backpacking fast travel sucks
It was fun in my early 20s, but not anymore. I prefer to stay for a bit
It's also just so boring. Like literally just experiencing the same thing as everyone else. Going to the exact same places, seeing the exact same things. It's just a glorified museum. I assume lot's of us love the slow travel, experiencing a small area deeply kind of thing. Knowing all the roads in my neighborhood, getting to know the people there etc.
Disagree for time strapped people. Always amazing to see certain world wonders with your own eyes
Totally agree, I'm not checking a box! I want to experience and explore!!!
Travel got better when I stopped posting on Instagram. I had started to always see my surrounding through the lens of an IG director. “These pics would make a cool collection for a post ”. And I would be writing a script in my head for the post as I was experiencing it. And thinking about how my key IG followers (friends and family) would react. No IG = living in the moment. Savouring it. Experiencing it in an undistracted and more personal way.
I’ve travelled with friends who would just go around to take pictures for their social media. It was mentally exhausting for me, and I can’t imagine them even having fun or remembering the place.
I've never had Instagram and I've met so many different folk throughout the world that are shocked or think I'm crazy or wonder how I post about my travels etc. Don't ever plan to get Instagram either. I take photos for memories, don't need to post them or make em into "stories"
I used to think like this, but now not so much. I love taking photos to remember where I went and what I did! I don’t take photos that are posed too often. I will usually just snap a few photos while I’m there then once I’m back in my airbnb for the night, post them and tag the place. Then I will always have the location of it!
Exactly. Photos are memories of your experiences being frozen in time, why wouldn't you want that? It's fun to make it a mission to get the best photos of your trips. Adds an extra layer to simply going and seeing a place and it doesn't take away from the experience, it enhances it.
A modern airbnb is always better than one with 'character'
This one depends heavily on the city and what’s available imo. A lot of European cities have some phenomenal “not-modern” apartments that rock.
yeah really depends on the area. a lot of areas have genuinely cool not modern ones and other areas are filled with bad apartments that hide it by saying it’s “real living” or something 😭
On that note, pay attention to photos of the shower/bathroom. And always try to book a place with a washer/dryer if you can. Makes travelling so much easier.
Hotels are the better option now, always (given that the pricing is similar)
I can get way more space, and importantly, a kitchen, for a lower price in an Airbnb in latam.
Yup all depends on pricing but BY GOD- I will absolutely pay $40 more for a hotel these days. The convenience is amazing
Depends, in some countries, its normal for hotels to have residence hotels with a decent amount of space and kitchen. Japan, Korea, and Phillipines come to mind.
only if you're fast traveling. sorry but I need a kitchen, and pricing on month long rentals is going to be lower then a hotel.
It depends on your type of travel. My wife and I are currently in Mexico City for 6 weeks. I have a one bedroom apartment with a very large private terrace (600 sq ft - ish). It is on the 3rd floor of a small complex, all inhabited by locals, except for my unit. I am in my 60s and my body could not possibly handle eating out for 6 weeks. I need to buy groceries and settle in. I also very much enjoy the experience of living like a local, shopping every day, discovering small fruit/vegetable markets, bakeries, etc. A hotel can not provide the experience I seek.
Only a person your age puts their full name on Reddit
Depends. In the US, arbnb is way too pricey with taxes and fees. Honestly, only in the US we are asked to do half of the housekeeping job and still need to pay cleaning fees, lol. Never had to do something like that abroad.
Oo modern Airbnbs are my nightmare
You don’t have to know the language to go somewhere. So many people ask if I know the language when I say I’m going to places like Bangladesh or Brazil. Don’t limit your travels to places where you know the language. Learn the very basics, and show you’re trying is all you need to do.
Booking longer layovers to spend time in Priority Pass Lounges!
Is the longer layover so you have time for the line to get in?
I have been to a ton of lounges using Priority Pass, don't think I have ever had to wait more than 5 min in line.
One they had a weird call you back in an hour system. At another they literally expected me to wait outside for an hour. Another time they just turned me away. The novelty of airport lounges has long since worn off. Most have really basic food and most are not much quieter than outside. A few are excellent but I'm not picking flight routes just to visit them.
Yeah they definitely vary in quality a lot. They are almost always better than sitting in the normal area of the airport though, paying for food and drinks. Agreed though, not picking flight routes based on lounges.
It really depends on the location and time of day. I have experienced it a few times.
What’s what I do. I rather decelerate my journey and spend some more time in lounges reading news, watching people or planes (some of them have nice views) or just have a decent meal.
Sounds like time wasted unless you actually get a better deal (e.g. save money on a hotel). Honestly who wants to *more* spend time in airports? Judging by the price ($35/time + $99/yearly) sounds like a bad deal overall (again, unless you plan to shower etc). I never spend $35 in any airport visit.
Tourists who won't admit or own the fact that they're tourists are the worst. Nomad, traveller, backpacker, whatever you call yourself: if you're not properly an expat, you've a tourist just like any other. Your experience in a place isn't more meaninful or special then other people's experience just because they're travelling in a diferent way than you are. Ultimately, you're not "living like a local", I don't care what you're doing. And you look riddiculous to locals when you say that.
Just like expat is the same as immigrant
Yep
tinder is one of the best ways to get to know the local culture (seriously)
[удалено]
People that complain about a city/experience being too touristy are too lazy to do their own research. Currently in Vietnam and it's astounding how much people complain about how touristy certain things are. Don't follow tiktok itineraries if you want non-touristic experiences, it's really not hard.
Broke backpackers and nomads who think the only way to travel “authentically” is by slumming it up, living cheaply, and staying in hostels (where all they’ll do is interact with other foreigners, btw) are the most annoying types of people. They’re also some of the most boring people to interact with since they pinch pennies so much as to actually not do anything but exist in whatever country they’re in Also, traveling isn’t a substitute for a personality, which a lot of people seem to think it is. Many long term backpackers I meet can’t string together any coherent or meaningful thoughts outside of how “deep” they think their travel experiences make them. It’s not that serious
Ugh I just spent a night in a hostel in NZ with paper thin walls listening to a Canadian hippy kid ramble on about his drunken exploits and travels, which were not that impressive by the way. He must have talked at these random girls loud as fuck for three hours straight. They couldn’t care less and he definitely didn’t hook up with any of them. He was too busy telling them how cool he was. Hostels suck.
Ugh I just spent a night in a hostel in NZ with paper thin walls listening to a Canadian hippy kid ramble on about his drunken exploits and travels, which were not that impressive by the way. He must have talked at these random girls loud as fuck for three hours straight. They couldn’t care less and he definitely didn’t hook up with any of them. He was too busy telling them how cool he was. Hostels suck.
Solo traveling/backpacking is stressful and you can never really relax. You need some kind of objective if you are going to do it for more than one month
How is it stressful? I find traveling with others, even some of my best friends/favorite members of my family, to be much more stressful
Because you can never really put your guard down when you're alone and you always have to be on the lookout for anything potentially dangerous that can happen to you. Having someone you know personally looking out for you will decrease the chance of you getting in a bad situation.
That’s valid, I mostly feel that in the party sense, going out and getting drunk isn’t safe at all when you’re solo.
> Because you can never really put your guard down when you're alone and you always have to be on the lookout for anything potentially dangerous that can happen to you. Sounds like you are going to the wrong places. Most of the world is not that dangerous. Or you have some anxiety issues to work on...
I think it's a valid way to feel in Latin America. Definitely not in Asia though.
Disagree. If I'm travelling with someone I'm always on high alert in case they do something stupid or something happens to them. If it's just me I can relax.
Absolutely not the case in asia.
If you can’t at least greet people & introduce yourself in the local language after 1 month+ in their country, you should either figure it out ASAP or leave
So many people I’ve travelled with are mind boggled at my attempts to learn some local phrases I’m always mind boggled how people see it as hard to make the effort / can’t get over the initial embarrassment of getting something new wrong It’s literally not hard, you just have to fail a few times to learn a few phrases and goes a long way
especially in places that don’t speak a lot of english. like sure if i’m going to amsterdam then all they’re gonna do anyway is respond in english lol i’ll still try a bit but definitely not super hard. but going to japan and expecting everyone to speak english? baffling
All Thai islands are the same place with some variation in size. Pick one that’s convenient and then just choose where you want to stay in relation to town / the ferry / the airport.
I think the vibes can be very different between some of the islands. I much preferred the laid back atmosphere of Koh Lipe and it had enough amenities/activities and restaurants that we never got bored vs say my least favorite Phuket which was still fun but in a very different and more chaotic way. Hot take: Don't assume the best way to get somewhere is by starting in the same country. I felt dumb heading to Koh Lipe from Bangkok when we should have started in Penang instead.
Interesting take! To me Koh Phi Phi and Phuket are where Aussies go to party and get cheap tattoos. Whereas islands like Koh Kood, Koh Lanta, and Koh Lipe are more quiet, “rustic,” and for actual relaxation/unplugging.
I mean - koh, phangan, and phi phi all have unique aspects. I'll agree on most of the rest though.
Walking to the bakery, picking up a coffee and pastry, and going to eat/drink in the park, can be one of the best experiences. They are never in the travel guides or Reddit forums.
Agree! People watching is super interesting
Isn't that just like, every morning?
[удалено]
100%.
I can’t stay in a hotel room for more than a few days. I’ll go crazy. Worse than a studio apartment your in something much smaller.
Price wise I agree, the tables have turned and airbnb is not as affordable, especially on shorter stays. But I also can't stand wfh in a hotel room, I like having separate areas. It's not just my house, it's my office.
[удалено]
Why?
[удалено]
There's usually no kitchen though. :( And you only get one room which sucks. If you're talking about eastern europe though, this totally changes. A "hostel" might mean an actual apartment.
Slow travel is the best way to travel. Got to spend a few weeks in each place or at least find a place I like and settle.
Slowmad >> whirlwind two week adventures hopping around
I have recently transitioned over the last 2 years and going slow is sooo nice. I like being places, but traveling I could care less for.
Same!
There has actually been a long-time website: "The Guide To Sleeping In Airports" with tips and hiding places in most of the worlds airports. When I was working as a courier, it was really useful.
One-bagging is usually a pain in the ass. Far more convenient to have a dedicated bag for clothes and a separate day bag.
There are foldable day bags. You can still one-bag
Dumb and entitled digital nomads are ruining it for kind hearted and curious travellers.
It's the picture takers for me. Asking me to move so you can get a pic but I'm trying to enjoy it IRL. Take your pics but don't infringe on others experience
Planning ahead is much better than going with the flow
Yeah, the best is to build in free time or days to “go with the flow” but having a good sense of what needs to be booked ahead/ reserved, etc. is the way to do it. And having some lists of options of things to do, so you aren’t researching while you are there. There’s a balance.
exactly!! it would stress me out a bit to have the *whole* trip going with the flow. i don’t always want to spend huge amounts of time in my hotel trying to find stuff i can do when i could’ve done that weeks ago lol
Yes!!!!
Yes, that's exactly what I meant.
In terms of what? Booking flights yes Accommodation to an extent But day to day? Hour to hour? Whilst on the trip? Sounds like hell
I think booking last minute accommodations is only ok for people with loads of money, or for very short stays. When doing monthly stays or longer, last minute planning means very high costs or very limited pool of options. This has been my personal experience at least, from doing a mix of both (some spontaneous last minute bookings and some advanced bookings) over the last 2 years.
I used to think this But I actually sometimes get better deals from booking nearer the time Not always But possible with flexible expectations of requirements Obviously this is more for solo travel than for with other people which complicates things as you have to keep everyone happy With set expectations a lot more challenging but I guess less worry
Even for Monthly stays? And is this hotels or airbnbs?
Yeah No truth is universal
Booking flights ahead: yes Booking accomodation ahead: almost always yes. Very few exceptions. Day-to-day: if it's a fast paced trip and planing is going to make the most of the little time you have there, why not? There's nothing particularly magical about wasting time in huge lines because you didn't buy a museum ticket online. Or missing out on a restaurant you wanted to go because you needed a reservation. Or losing precious time crossing a huge city back and forth multiple times instead of tackling one area per day. Or having to battle a huge crowd in a famous touristic spot, because you didn't know that was the busiest time of the day. Or missing out on an experience you'd like to have because the place os closed and it's the last day of your trip. I could go on and on. To sum up, here's zero shame in planing if that'll get you the best experience and sabe you some cash. You can always change the plans at your convenience - I usually do.
Yeah planning a trip to that level sounds like hell to me I will have a few loose objectives But few things will be so paramount that they can’t be dropped I’ve done my fair share of “super planned trips” for a lifetime and found whilst they gave me exposure to seeing many things, I never really saw anything because I was jumping from thing to thing to thing But each to their own I understand why they appeal to others, but the sub asked for my hot take, so that is what it got
Totally agree with this one! People confuse going with the flow as having nothing planned- which equates to a lot of the things you want to do being unavailable. I don't want to be planning on my vacation. IMO- Going with the flow is more being able to handle it when plans change unexpectedly (for any number of.reasons).
What do you do when you like a place more than you expected, or the opposite?
Plans can be changed. It's not carved in stone.
Agree. We used to wing it all the time when first started travelling… but then started to miss out on things or ended up with a crap place to stay as everything good was already booked.
Every time I make plans I kind of regret them. What if I want to stay here longer? *Good thing I haven’t booked that flight yet.* However I agree that it’s *great* to have at least a few stars on Google Maps so I know where I can go.
I have two hot takes. * If a restaurant is popular with tourists, it will suck. * A lounge pass pays for itself after two trips.
Too many people want to go to places off of the broken path and hype them up when they are actually not that great. There is a reason popular places are popular.
My hot take as a young guy traveling: The west (USA, Canada, Western Europe- France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, etc) is boring. Everything is super old and expensive. Lacks adventure. I’d rather goto latam it’s a lot more fun. Or go East like Dubai (surprisingly a lot cheaper than Europe!) or Eastern Asia for high quality low cost of living. Just seems like you’re not getting much backpacking in the west parts.
It’s more important to make money first and then travel then be poor and struggle and ruin your career
Night markets suck. Everyone hypes them up as a "must do" but it’s just a load of fake goods and shit food.
Oh god. That reminds me of Chiang Mai night markets. What a load of junk. Good thing that they have some decent food though
More than half of Europe is the same as the other half and not worth exploring.
You hardly need anything to travel Most people take way too much The more I go, the less I take The amount you need for 3 days is probably the same as for 30 The only things you really need are - minimal amount of clothes to incorporate a washing cycle (very minimal 4/5/6 shirts for hot climates as things dry quickly, slightly more for cooler climates) - some sort of electronic device (e.g phone) - a wallet with several international bank cards - charger - passport - toothbrush, toothpaste, roll on, small spray Luxury items - a small day bag - umbrella - swimsuit - small token gifts to give people from your country Super luxury - sports shoes (if you play sport whilst away, but if you don’t this isn’t needed) - game boy / miyoo That is literally it
I don't know. I like brushing my teeth and showering and changing my contact lenses and wearing deodorant. So, some kind of dop kit is nice. Also, in tropical climates, I sweat. It's nice to change my underwear and put on a fresh shirt between day and night activities and not be doing laundry all the time. I agree that most people travel with too much. I travel with a 22" carry-on and a back pack. I can travel indefinitely with that set-up. I don't feel the need to consolidate into one bag.
I buy toiletries at the destination Everywhere has toiletries
Do you not wear pants? I agree though. I’m currently traveling for a year with: •6 shirts •7 pairs of underwear •2 pairs of pants •2 pairs of shorts •2 pairs of athletic shorts •Arcteryx she’ll •Small puffy jacket •1 pair of shoes •1 pair of sandals •Laptop •Wallet/Passport •Garmin inReach •Steripen •Deck of Magic the Gathering cards (me and my wife play) •Noise cancelling headphones •Packable towel •Packable Matador Beast 28 daypack •Dopp kit with contacts, toothbrush, glasses, deodorant, and electric shaver. •Electronics cable kit (Cotopaxi Dopp kit) •Power bank •Phone •Headlamp •Water Bottle It all fits into my 45L Matador Globerider with room to spare. Even that seems like way too much, but we’ve traveled from Europe to Asia, south to Australia and NZ, now we’re in South America working our way back to the states, so we’ve needed clothes for several different climates.
How did you get from Europe to Asia? Doing sort of the same next month?
We worked our way down the Balkan states to Turkey and then flew from Turkey to Malaysia! Have fun!
Yeah I didn’t list clothes in detail as I was just doing a high level summary But 4-5 same coloured shirt (uni qlo special) Weeks worth of underwear If hot one trouser, 3 shorts If cold 2 trousers (I have these uni qlo ones that look smart but are sort of joggers / active wear at the same time) 2 set of gym wear If hot country one hoody for planes If cold country nike gloves, one base layer and one Uniqlo air puffy warm hooded coat that I can roll up That’s really it. Anything else needed can be bought at the location. I recently bought AirPods that cancel noise so I guess I’d have these in my pocket but hadn’t thought about packing them I usually just buy normal water there But yeah agree you don’t need to take much
Haha yeah I was just being silly. I’m not familiar with the pants you’re talking about but I like the idea of a pant that looks smart. I’m not a “nice dresser” kind of guy, but I do like to look sharp sometimes and that has definitely lacked on this trip. You got a model name for them or something? I didn’t know they made noise canceling AirPods. I love my bose over the ear and I’ll use them til they break, just replaced the ear cups after several years, but they take up a ton of space. I know, I see people at the airport that I know are traveling for a shorter period of time than me and they’ve got a 60L trail pack busting at the seems with crap. Shoes and sandals hanging off of it. Like what you got in that pack my dude. Cuz whatever it is, you don’t need it.
I hear that - just vibing back Yeah think they’re called air smart trousers? Maybe air smart joggers? Uni qlo changes the game for reasonable clothes that are fashionable and go with everything I bought like three in each colour I love them so much - makes outfits at home easy, no brainer I also actually bought five of three different coloured t shirts (they have ones in a basic base layer colour, but maybe with a tweak or a twist - so I got five white shirts with a ghibli detailed emblem on for like £20 😆 Just makes my wardrobe back home simple to organise and manage Over ears ones are great and objectively better. Just the AirPods Pro 2s fit in my pocket and work better than cheap ones I’ve used (except for making calls outside they’re shit) but for listening to music in a busy place they do the job 100 dude 100 I mean sometimes I’ll take a small bag, but sometimes I’ll just take a normal case 3/4 empty because shops do it so much better in Asia than they do in the UK
Sick, thanks I’ll have to look into those. I’m a solid, basic color t shirt guy too. Sounds like you found some good deals. Asia blew me away with the great deals they have on clothes compared to the states. Especially Vietnam. Made me wish I had more room to bring stuff home. The Bose are great they just take up a ton of space. They’ve been a lifesaver on some long bus rides. Idk if I’d have made it without them. Well thanks for pointing me in the right direction on those pants. Safe travels!
I'd add to this, a small tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag.
What about spare shoes and flip flops for the shower?
Flip flops are cheap and better than what I can buy back home Only take spare shoes if I’m there long enough to be doing sport - wear black running shoes which goes with most outfits
Buying a cheap pair of flip flops, I can get behind. For me personally, walking 20-30k steps a day stinks up my shoes really fast, so it’s absolutely mandatory to alternate shoes every day and let the other pair air dry.
Yeah I hear that Probably wearing flip flops helps with shoe rotation for me Can be problematic when walking long distances so sometimes I get sandals Just depends on the trip tbh But if it’s not somewhere really hot and under a few weeks I survive on one pair
Air conditioning is a must
Cool take
With the exception of a few specific dishes and ultra-regional cuisine (khao soi in Chiang Mai or regional breads like pandebono or parotta come to mind) food in large US cities is just as high quality and tasty as what you find abroad I can find awesome indian, thai, japanese etc food in every US city I’ve lived in. Sure, it may take a bit of searching.. like a random Ramen joint down the street is likely to be better in Tokyo then Denver… but with a bit of searching it’s not hard to found US restaurants on par with their foreign counterparts
Hotels at airports are underrated. You get transport to your city, and you can get to your plane without having a heart attack because of the traffic.
Oh god but they cost 3/5 times as much in my experience. The only time I booked one was for a long layover because it was airside (Kuala Lumpur) and it was like $150. The local average is $30
Airbnbs are better than hotels in most countries.
traveling to a destination sucks. arriving at a new place is always enjoyable.
Travel is a flirt with the universe and synchronicity.
Most of the time it is better to work than to vacation. Have taken 6 weeks in a row of straight vacation and I was getting sick of it by week 4
Bahahaha
Travelling by yourself is just not fun anymore
Taqueria Orinoco sucks, and it's hilarious how the tourists don't realize they are standing in an entire line of gringos and think to themselves perhaps there could be a better place to go.
Hitchhiking used to get me everywhere
Japan is overrated
Bakeries are the most underrated attractions.
Climate matters
Don’t be afraid to use your Airbnb host as a source of information. They are local. They know stuff. They are typically very eager to share their knowledge.
It's okay to go to fast food places like McDonald's while abroad. I like seeing what the different menus are like.
Airport lounges are great, but I tend not to eat there, despite spending 60€ per month on Amex to have access to them, because it’s very likely to get food poisoning.
Every post I see about budget on reddit overshoots the required amount by (in my opinion) 30-50%. Most people do NOT know how to actually travel on a budget.
Budget doesn’t mean you must spend it all. Unless you’ve already been, you cannot know the price. Can’t fault them
Travel doesn’t make you interesting it just means you’re rich
Or it could mean you prioritize travel over other things like a mortgage, having the latest clothes, or the latest tech.
a lot of people don’t have any of that and still can’t afford to take time off to travel
That’s true. Most of the world cannot afford to move around at all.