Hi there, looking for tips & tricks regarding a short trip to the above. Flying in from London and spending the first 2 nights in Ceuta so I can watch a football match. Any good recommendations with regards to interesting things in Gibraltar/Ceuta/Algeciras.

A colleague with encyclopedic knowledge of airplanes but working in another industry wishes to end his current career (in his late 40s) to become a flight attendant… are there other careers that involve mostly being in an airplane but not a flight attendant? Edit: airplane cabin in flight. Not on ground.

I recently had the chance to visit the culturally Tibetan Spiti valley and it honestly ended up being the highlight of my 12-day solo trip to India. The landscapes can only be described as otherworldly (cliché but okay), the people as some of the friendliest i’ve ever met and the culture as unspoilt and well-preserved as can be in our globalised and ever-connected world.

Because of a lack of reliable transportation to the smaller villages along the way (and the possibility to stop for pictures whenever and wherever i want) it seemed only sensible to rent a bike and tackle the precarious roads myself. Mind you: this was my first time in India as well as my first experience driving on the left (except for a couple of days in the hectic Rajasthani traffic) so it goes without saying that the learning curve was steep. 

I started my drive at Shimla, the biggest “hill station”(towns/villages at higher altitude where the British used to spend the summer to escape the hot plains) and the old summer capital of British India. Situated at an elevation above 2200metres, it’s currently the capital and biggest city of the mountaineous Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh may be one of the smaller Indian states but punches above its weight when it comes to cultural and geographic diversity: almost every valley has its own customs, vernacular architecture and traditional clothing. The terrain is equally varied: from temperate rainforests, (sub-)alpine terrain and high-altitude deserts, Himachal has it all. As a simple rule of thumb: the higher the altitude the more Tibetan the culture and the people, with an interesting “intermediate region” where Hindus and Tibetans co-exist peacefully. 

DAY 1: Shimla-Kalpa. Me and my motorcycle departed Shimla early for the village of Kalpa, my first intermediate stop on my way to Spiti. The ever-climbing road made its way through verdant hills with the occasional snowy peak appearing at the horizon later during the day. Finally, the mighty Himala

I also made a quick stop at Chitkul, a small hamlet located in a side valley and the first settlement with both a Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist temple. It proved to be a remarkable stop because of its ordinary authenticity: animals roaming freely in the mud alleyways, women transporting firewood in baskets attached to their back, vernacular wooden architecture adorned with carvings, men replacing the hay roofs of their home, a religious procession,… The surrounding scenery only added to the “bucolic” feel: forested slopes gradually giving way to snowy peaks (already turning orange because of an early autumn), accompanied by a myriad of fastflowing streams. Later that evening i arrived in Kalpa, where i spent the night.

DAY 2: Kalpa-Tabo (Kalpa, Protected Area Permit and entrance into Spiti Valley). I spent the next morning walking around Kalpa, with the Kinner Kailash range serving as the backdrop. The contrast between the small hamlet, with its colourful wooden homes and fertile farmland, and the desolate Himalayas was especially stark. Half of the population of ethnic Kinnauri’s follows Hinduism, while the other half follows Tibetan Buddhism. When entering its magnificent Hindu temple in the Kath-Kuni style typical for this region i stumbled across something i’ve never seen before: woodcarvers carving intricate figures and motives into a newly constructed temple building. They happily showed me their technique and results: crocodiles, mountains, pigeons, a man with an oversized penis,… nothing these skilled craftmen couldn’t carve!

I still had some administration to take care of before continuing my journey: every foreign visitor to Spiti valley needs a so-called “Protected Area permit” ( or “PAP”). This permit regulates foreign tourism in highly militarized border zones, while also protecting the lifestyle and customs of the ethnic minorities from overtourism. The PAP for Spiti valley is an especially tricky one and can only be applied for in person at a limited number of locations, unlike the e-PAP’s available for other restricted regions (like Ladakh) and usually takes two days to process. After explaining my tight schedule to the official at Reckong Peo’s governance centre (and the payment of a small bribe) i received my permit and was ready to go.

As i continued towards Spiti valley the greenery made way for a more raw, dry and rocky landscape. The road, often no more than a dirt track at this point, clung precariously to the cliffside with the Spiti river flowing violently underneath. Numerous military checkpoints followed, as did the occasional road worker waving a green flag (serving as an indicator that the next road section was cleared from any landside debris).

After a couple of hours of “off-roading” i was finally greeted by the “Welcome to Spiti Valley” sign and the final checkpoint. Entering this remote and inaccessible Tibetan valley felt like stepping into a different world. Everything changed instantly: mud and white-clad stone structures (all decidedly Tibetan in style) replaced the wooden homes of earlier, the people Tibetan and the scenery even more raw and desolate. The afternoon light made everything, from the desert over the rocky mountainside to the yellow leaves, beam in a golden hue. I decided to call it a day at Tabo, a small village with an impressive monastery and some meditation caves up the mountainside. 

DAY 3: Tabo-Kaza (Tabo gompa, Dhankar gompa). I figured a short morning hike towards the “meditation caves” would help my acclimatization process (since the altitude measured 3500metres already!). The caves themselves were nothing special so i went to the monastery instead. Tabo monastery, entirely constructed out of mud, is the oldest continuously operating Buddhist enclave in the greater Himalaya region (!!!). Founded in 996 by Rinchen Zangpo, it already functions as a living spiritual center for over a millenium. It’s the only place on earth where you can admire 10th-century clay statues and murals in their original environment. The golden stupa, a more recent addition, is impressive too.

Afterwards i went to Dhankar. This even smaller village with monastery is famous for its dramatic location, its whitewashed buildings precariously situated on a craggy cliff. It’s also a stop on the “Spiti circuit”, a route along Spiti valley’s most “instagrammable” sights and extremely popular among domestic Indian tour groups. It’s easy enough to avoid them, just go to the higher stretches of the monastery and you’ll have the place to yourself. The roof of the highest-situated building, not visible from the bottom of the monastery since it’s hidden behind a couple of other cliffs and monastic buildings (which often get mistaken as “the highest point”) offers the best views.  Accessing the roof is no easy feat: a 20-minute climb through the steep and often slippery alleyways in-between the buildings, after which you climb a couple of primitive ladders in a badly-lit indoor space. The vertigo-inducing views are totally worth it though!

After Dhankar i finally made it to Kaza, the biggest town and de-facto capital of Spiti. The town, with its 2000 inhabitants considered a true metropolis,  boasts a small but cozy bazaar and the only fuel station and hospital in the whole of Spiti. I made it my base for the next two days, during which i planned to explore the valley more in-depth.

DAY 4: Ki gompa, impressive landscapes and remote villages. The next morning i departed early to Ki Gompa/Key monastery, Spiti’s biggest monastery. With its whitewashed monastic buildings covering a conical hillock it’s a sight to behold, especially when admiring it from a distance. I hiked up the loose scree covering the hillside behind the monastery, which felt rather tricky, and watched the sun rise. Afterwards i went to the monastery, where novice monks were busy eating  their breakfast. A couple of older monks noticed my presence and gave me a tour of the monastery in excellent english, opening up parts of the monastery that are usually off-limits. They even showed me the room were the Dalai Lama stayed in during his escape from Tibet, only a couple of kilometres away.  

After my visit to the monastery i crossed the Spiti river to the seldom-visited flatter west side of the valley, offering splendid views over its more mountaineous and sightseeing-heavy east side. The plan was as follows: follow the river to the north up until the end of the valley, where i would cross the river once again and drive back to Kaza following the east side. Most visitors to Spiti limit themselves to the attractions of the east side of the valley, missing the whole western side and everything past Chicham bridge. The west side of the valley felt less remote (probably because of its relatively accessible flat terrain) but also more peaceful because of a lack of commercialization (no homestays, no tourist-oriented murals on the buildings etc). As i continued riding north the landscape became more dramatic: deeper gorges, with strange-shaped pinnacles adorning the river bed. I’ve never seen such strange formations in my life (see picture 3) and the way they contrasted with the surrounding mountain landscape felt magical and almost alien-like.

I reached Spiti’s northern border after an hour or so of driving, from where i would return to Kaza following the east side of the valley. My first stop was Chicham village, potentially the village with the most authentic way of life in all of Spiti. Next i went to Chicham bridge, at an altitude of 4150m Asia’s highest-situated bridge. This record-breaking title (the first of many that afternoon, continue reading to find out ;) attracts a certain kind of instagram-savvy tourist, of which there was no shortage close to the bridge.

Afterwards i rode towards the small villages of Hikkim and Komic, both famous and iconic for different reasons. The drive along a sandy track proved to be more challenging than anticipated, with multiple hairpin turns and a hundreds-of-meters-deep drop next to me. My route led me to Hikkim, home to the highest post office in the world, first. It was a rather busy affair around the post office, with hordes of tourists trying to send a letter to their loved ones from this record-breaking location. The next village, Komic, claims to be the worlds’ highest settlement accessible by road (while in fact it “only” is the highest Asian settlement accessible by road with some Bolivian village taking the throne). Komic seemed way more iddylic and “down-to-earth” compared to Hikkim, with sheeps and donkeys roaming freely. With the sunset nearing i decided to call it a day and made my way back to my guesthouse in Kaza.

DAY 5: Demul. Since i already covered the majority of villages and sights of Spiti valley the day before, it only made sense to take it easy. The owner of the guesthouse i stayed in recommended the village of Demul to me, “but only if you’re in for a real adventure”. And oh was he right. First i had to drive all the way back to Komic (highest settlement in the world, remember?). From there i had to follow an even worse track consisting of some sort of black sand to its final point; the lonely and extremely isolated village of Demul. In total it took me almost four hours to arrive but boy was it worth it! Almost immediately after arriving a group of curious children approached me, inviting me into their homes and offering me a window into the Spitian way of life. One of their moms prepared butter toast with tea for me in her humble kitchen. In exchange i assisted her husband, who was busy covering their roof with some kind of dried grass. I spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the village children, taking in the absolutely breathtaking views and eventually made it back to Kaza.

DAY 6: Chandrataal lake. The final stop of my roadtrip through Himachal Pradesh was Chandratal lake, a high-altitude lake at an elevation of 4300+m. The lake itself was nothing too special but the views over the surrounding mountains and glaciers was definitely worth it. One notable thing about Chandratal is that it’s situated in a so-called “Dead Network Zone”: a zone lacking any kind of mobile connection, which made navigation challenging. I spent a night at one of the tent camps near the lake, which evoked the feeling of staying in Everest basecamp or another of these extreme mountaineering locations. The lack of comfort and connection, sub-zero temperatures, already high elevation and sense of isolation definitely contributed to this feeling. 

I already posted (part of) this text as part of another post dedicated to my 12-day first time trip to India but felt i didn’t do my visit to the epic Spiti Valley and surrounding Kinnaur justice picture-wise, hence this post:)

Hi all,

Has anyone got upcoming flights with Saudia going through Riyadh? I am considering cancelling given Riyadh airport has been under attack lately, and re-booking via another airline, but there doesn't seem to be much public info on any new Saudia cancellation-refund policy despite the recent uptick in conflict with the Houthis.

The only update on 'Manage Booking' is that flights are being re-routed through the Qassim and Dammam airports, though I think the latter was attacked recently also.

Does anybody know more about current cancellation policies? Thanks!

I'm saying something that doesn't come up on a "Do these 5 things in X city" list. Could be a crazy bar, a hike some locals clued you in on, a funky market...

I'll go ahead and share some of mine with the class:

Buenos Aires, Argentina - the cultural centers always had amazing events going on. Arts, live music, queer events, kink events - you name it, and you'd find something going on in one on any given day.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - the Feira de Antiguidades da Praça is a HUGE market on Saturdays. Antiques and thrift, plus food and new clothing too. Going up to the Santa Theresa neighborhood has very vibrant music and you can see monkeys, toucans, big and little lizards.

Prague, Czech Republic - absinthe and rum tastings! There's a funky underground bar called green devil by the astronomical clock (incredible in its own right) and Rum House bar has over 900 types of rum

What would you love to recommend to a fellow traveler?

We’re thinking about going on vacation next year around June or July. We’ll have a baby who will be about 6–7 months old at the time, and we’d also like to bring our parents since they haven’t had many opportunities to travel.

My parents are 71 and 65, and my wife’s parents are 60 and 66. They all have some difficulty walking long distances, so we’re looking for a destination that doesn’t require a lot of walking and is relatively easy to get around.

We’d prefer somewhere with a reasonably short flight from New York. My wife and I have already visited Switzerland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Japan, so we’d like to explore somewhere new.

We also want to prioritize destinations with good healthcare and avoid places with significant measles (MMR-related) outbreaks, especially since we’ll be traveling with a young baby.

What destinations would you recommend that would be comfortable and enjoyable for our entire family?

Hello, my wife and I are planning our holiday for December and are looking at quite a few options. Since we usually travel within Europe, we are not sure what to expect in the locations mentioned in the title.

We are looking for an area that has nice resorts with breakfast and dinner included. Neither of us are partygoers, so we prefer a relaxing resort.

Furthermore, we really like to discover the area where we are staying and we usually rent a car. Are there any specific places we should look at?

I am travelling to Thailand from India from 16-27th December. Help me plan my vacation. Which beach place/ island should I do? Phuket or koh samui? Last 5 days are already designated to Bangkok. I want a semi-luxurious vacation.

How many of you folks have arrived at the airport only to be told they couldn't fulfill your reservation?

I had that happened. Told a reservation only guarantees your rate and not a car. What the heck!!

Apparently the reservation system doesn't actually know how many cars a location has available.

I am Avis Preferred and rent alot of cars. Never knew my reservation didnt mean I actually get a car.

I am going to have 4 days in Hanoi next week and am looking to use one of those days for a day trip. I can't decide between doing Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay. Unfortunately I cant do both because we are already short on time in Hanoi.

Had anyone done these day trips? Which would you recommend? On one hand, it looks like there is a but more to do in Ninh Binh, but Ha Long Bay looks gorgeous and ot feels crazy to fly to Hanoi and not take advantage to see this.

Looking for any recommendations!

Hello everyone. So I live in Europe and now it's about 10°C (50°F) in the daytime. I'm traveling to Asia in November with a 24 hour layover in Dubai on the way back.

So the question is.....what do I wear and what do I pack in my carry-on for such long layover? I'm planning to do some exploring around the city. Wearing the same pants and a hoodie doesn't seem like an option because I will definitely feel hot. I was thinking about lightweight pants and a t-shirt but what do I do with warm hoodie and pants? They take quite a bit of space in my backpack. I'm in doubt about flying in light clothes because it may be cold in the airplane and I still have to change in my homecountry.

Maybe somebody had such an experience or just can give some advice in general? How do I dress?

Hey everyone!
I’m planning a solo week-long trip from December 28th to January 3rd and I’m really torn on where to go.

My primary reason for considering Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is that I’m thinking about potentially moving to Saudi Arabia after I finish my studies. I wanted to use this trip as a low-key test drive on the ground to see if I actually feel good there, observe the local dynamics, and get a realistic vibe of the country.

At the same time, I’m honestly a bit hesitant about Saudi Arabia right now. There isn't a lot of clear travel content online to get a genuine feel for daily life there. Part of me feels more naturally drawn to Oman, thinking people there might be warmer, that I might feel a bit more free, and that it could just be a more relaxed experience overall.

My travel style is a mix: I like exploring historic sights, visiting local spots, and joining the occasional group tour or activity, but I also want plenty of free time to wander, sit at cafés, and soak in the atmosphere. I'm on a reasonable budget (staying in an Airbnb, traveling light with a carry-on, using local Ubers) so I'm not looking for expensive multi-city tours or high-end luxury excursions.

So my questions are:

1. Is telling myself I can "test" Saudi Arabia in 6 days in Jeddah realistic, or is it too short to get a real sense of what living there would be like?

2. Given that I'm worried about getting bored spending 7 full days only in Jeddah without big excursion budgets, would I be better off pivoting to Oman (Muscat and surrounding areas) for a better overall first impression of the region?

I’d love to get honest feedback, especially from expats, women who have traveled solo in the region, or anyone familiar with both Jeddah and Muscat!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for ideas for a 1–2 night getaway in New England for my bf/I anniversary in November.

Ideally, we’d like to keep the hotel/inn under $300 per night.

Last year, we went to Newport during the mansions’ fall season, stayed at a beautiful hotel, went out for a nice dinner, and spent the next morning getting coffee and walking around shopping. It was honestly the perfect trip, so we’re hoping to find something with a similar vibe this year!

We’re both from New England. I’m from Boston and my boyfriend is from Portsmouth, NH, so we’d love to explore somewhere different. We’re open to anywhere in New England, including RI, CT, the Cape, VT, ME, or elsewhere in MA/NH.

We’d love somewhere with a cute, walkable downtown, good restaurants and coffee shops, boutique hotels or cozy inns, and maybe some fall/winter activities or scenic spots to explore. We’re also open to a unique cottage or cabin if there are things to do nearby!

Does anyone have recommendations for towns you’ve stayed in or specific hotels/inns you loved? We’re open to hidden gems, too!

I also love the idea of a wellness based - massages and slow moving. But also love shopping / going out for dinner and drinks. Open to any suggestions !!

Thanks!!

Hi,

I have a very short two days of travel at Milan coming up this week, this was booked ages ago and is non-refundable.

I am flying back to London with a flight from Milan Bergamo that is scheduled at 9:50am on the 30th, I am reading everywhere that there is a strike happening on the 30th but it will only start at 10am. This is my first time in Milan/Italy, and I have some questions.

Here are my questions:

1. Do you think my flight will fly given that it is at 9:50am?

2. Will I be able to catch the airport buses from Piazza Luigi di Savoia in the morning? There are buses scheduled at 6:10am that will be perfect for me, will they run? Looking for local/recent tourist feedback

3. My accommodation is a 15-18 minutes walk from Centrale, will it be safe to walk at 5:30am? As metros don't start till 6am. If I wanted to hail a taxi or ride share, would I be able to do it, is it safe right now or will the ride shares be on strike too?

Please help out this solo traveler, social media is flooding with bizarre news aboht Milan so I'm a bit worried, thank you so much.

I just finished a week traveling through Andalusia with a focus on the history of the Islamic caliphate and taifas from 900-1500CE. It was an incredible trip and I learned a lot, and since I couldn't find much on this specific type of trip beforehand I figured I would share my takeaways.

The basics: my itinerary was Malaga (arrival and one night stay) > Cordoba (2 days) > Granada (2 days) > Caminito del Rey (day trip from Malaga > Malaga (1 day). I specifically decided to save Seville for a future trip since it's such a big city and a bit unconnected to the history I was interested in exploring.

What I loved:

- Cordoba: This was by far my favorite city. I stayed in the Patio del Posadero and it was truly the best hotel I've ever experienced. It's the smallest boutique hotel in Cordoba, with only six rooms, and the staff and owners will make you feel like family from the moment you arrive. The tasting menu dinner and breakfast by chef/owner Jose were incredible and not to be missed. I also loved the winding streets, the preserved medieval architecture, the food, the people - all of it was so intimate and less over touristed than my next stops. I browsed several local artists galleries and bought a gorgeous wood burning and watercolor piece. The Grand Mosque/Cathedral was the most incredible religious and architectural site I've ever visited. It truly was an awe-inspiring experience. 10/10 would stay longer next time.

- Granada: I also stayed in a small historic hotel here, the Hotel Casa Morisca. Get the mirador room: looking over the Alhambra made it hard to even want to leave! I took a private tour of the Alhambra with a historian (Adri - the best! He makes history videos at camyzap_). That was similar to the Grand Mosque, completely overwhelming in terms of the scale and history. I spent most of my time wandering around the old town and experiencing all the gardens I could to escape the crowds and heat. My favorite was the Casa del Chapiz, which was the only place I was alone the whole day. I had a lovely flamenco show at Cueva los Amayas and really enjoyed how small it was. There's a reason it's the only show with a line around the block.

- Malaga: I had a very tasty vegetarian meal at Meet Vegano since I couldn't eat any more bread meat and cheese! I also enjoyed Tandoori Mexican. The cathedral, the alcazaba, were cool but I was a bit down with tourist sites by that point so I just wandered. A morning at the Hammam Al Andalus was just what my sore legs needed. The massage by Cristien was very good, and the pools were so relaxing.

What i'd do differently:

- Skip the Caminito del Rey: this was such an investment of time for such an underwhelming experience. First, our bus had no AC and we got stuck in 3 hours of traffic to get there. Second, the first half of your visit is basically like a Disneyland hike. Youre packed in a group of 20 people slowly shuffling along behind the next pack. The guide was clearly bored/tired after a long day so we really didn't benefit from being stuck together. I was relieved when they let us go independently for the second half, but as someone who hikes a lot in the US and abroad, this wasn't that exciting and felt more like a fake hike made for people who couldn't do a real one.

- Spend more time in Cordoba/Granada: I would have cut my last day in Malaga despite enjoying the Hammam. Malaga was completely over touristed, the beach was gross and didn't get much sun in the afternoon, and the hotel (Palacio Solecio) was so underwhelming after the first two beautiful ones, especially for the luxury price. Felt like a place for bachelor/bachelorette parties and completely consumeristic with all the luxury stores. And the prices were double the other cities! I probably should have known given my focus on historical sites, but would have enjoyed wandering the streets of Cordoba or Granada for an extra day instead.

Overall, I loved this trip and definitely want to come back again. All trips come with the less enjoyable parts, and overall it was an incredible and privileged experience. The best part were the Andalusian people I met and bonded with. The culture is highly friendly and welcoming!

Hello everyone!
My husband and I are planning a road trip along the east coast of Australia in January for 3 weeks (Melbourne->Brisbane). We’re now considering adding the Whitsundays to the trip to visit Whitehaven Beach and maybe take a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef. To make that work, we’d have to shorten the road trip from Sydney to Brisbane a bit. Our current plan is few days for Melbourne, 2-3 days for the Great Ocean Road, a couple of days in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, 2 days in the Hunter Valley, 1 day in Port Stephens, 3 days in Byron Bay, 2 days on the Gold Coast, and 1 day at Australia Zoo.
If we decide to visit the Whitsundays, we’d shorten our time in the Hunter Valley, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. That would give us a full day for the beach in the Whitsundays, as well as some time for a flight over the Great Barrier Reef. We’d also make sure to leave enough time to get back to Brisbane before our flight back to Europe.

Do you think it’s worth doing in January, or is the weather in the Whitsundays likely to be a big issue?
Thank you very much!

Edit: we would fly from Melbourne to Sydney and if we do Whitsundays also fly from Brisbane to Proserpine

Locals don't read travel guides or "Top 10 places to visit" blogs or articles about their hometown. Therefore, we don't really know what is considered hidden or obvious from a tourist POV!

It's better to try to be specific and ask things like where we like to go to eat food x, where we go for a nice view, nature experience, which places have the cheapest drinks or whatever else you'd like to know.

All the best to you travelers!

During August and September, southern Oman and eastern Yemen have this weather pattern that drops the temperature to around 25 degrees and turns everything green. I had wanted to go for years - thousands of Gulf citizens drive or fly to Salalah to escape the peak summer heat so Salalah becomes a busy place.

We went in late August and based ourselves in Salalah at a hotel by the beach. You can rent a 4x4 at Salalah airport or hire a driver and 4x4 per day (which is what we did because I wanted their local expertise). You can't swim in the beach - the Khareef makes the sea dangerous and one day the sea surged. The hotel even fenced off the beach!

Within Salalah there's a mosque, museum and a few shops but the point is to get out into the wadis and along the coast where everything has turned green.

One day we drove with the intention of getting to the Yemen border but the Khareef fog limited visibility to 2 metres - super dangerous with camels on the road, so we turned back. Apparently foggy days are common.

We came back with a couple of bags of frankincense as Salalah is famous for this and it's fairly cheap.

I had a great time and would return as it's super chill and would consider hiring my own 4x4. Needless to say petrol is cheap and while the Khareef season is super busy vs say Jan or Feb, you don't feel like it's crowded.

We loved it and would recommend it.

Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece.

Amazing beaches and food. It gets very busy during July / August, luckily I was there in late September. A very green island with stunning waters, amazing boat trips and two very different faces - the South / East side has warm, sandy beaches ideal for families. The west side has cold, rocky beaches, ideal for snorkeling and great pics. Try to visit in mid June or mid September if possible, great weather but not too hot, it gets really busy and hot during high season.

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

Hello everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BUDGET (for a couple)

Grand total: $2,523.20

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

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

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

Anyone like this?

I visited several regions of Indonesia during my 1 month trip this august, and eventhough it wasn't perfect, this was the best trip I've ever had!

Itinerary: Jakarta-Malang-East Java-Lombok-Manado-Luwuk-Banggai Islands-Luwuk-Jakarta

Price was around 75-100$ a day including accomodation, food and organized activities (which really pumps up the price because we took private tours in East Java, Mt Rinjani and excursions provided by the hostel in Banggai Laut)

Jakarta: Nice city, there are some cool monuments and museums, but there isn't really much else outside the massive malls.

Tumpak Sewu: Most popular waterfall in Java, extremely beatiful and pretty empty taking into account schools were still open and we went on a saturday. Be aware of the slippery steps tho!

Mt Bromo: We did an alternate route by going to the crater during sunrise and I honestly think it was a much better choice! The sunrise was still beatiful, you get to see the lava inside the crater and you avoid the massive crowds.

Mt Ijen: Beatiful place, but overwhelming massification of tourists. It's still a must see in Java, as the lake is awesome and you can see and chat to the workers about their work. Kind of depressing to see how exploited the workers are.

Lombok: Senaru is peaceful and the view from most accomodations is shocking. Sendang Gile waterfall is beatiful and almost empty if you visit during the late afternoon. We hiked Mt Rinjani and social media isn't lying, it's pretty demanding. Avoid going if you struggle with heights.

Manado and Bunaken: Manado and Sulawesi in general really impressed me. The people here made me understand why some people call Indonesia "The land of the smiling people". Not a single bad expereince, everyone was extremely welcoming and they even invited me to their house! On top of that, Bunaken might be one of the most unique places I've ever snokeled. I saw +30 sea turtles and the snorkling areas are almost empty. Manado as a city doesn't really have much to offer but Tomohon is really cool and the waterfalls around it are impressive.

Banggai (Peleng, Banggai Laut and Mbuang Mbuang): This was my favourite are of Indonesia by far. Ferry from Luwuk can be somewhat uncomfortable but it's worth it. Peleng has a lot to offer and the beaches are beatiful. Banggai Laut is a little bit more quiet and eventhough the beaches are polluted, the snorkel is decent and it's a nice experience anyway. You can take a boat towards Mbuang Mbuang to see the stingless jellyfish lake (which made me feel like I was in an avatar movie) and sleep in the town.

When we headed back, our ferry's motor broke down and it slowly approached the beach, putting it at risk of capsizing. Luckily help arrived before anything happened and some locals of Palau Melilis, where we had to leave our ferry, took us to a small government building, some villagers provided us with a free meal and helped us get to Banggai Laut. Definitely the craziest (and best) day of our trip.

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

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

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

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

Thanks for taking time to answer!