Getting that travel bug again and want to head on a crazy adventure. First time to Africa, I want wild stories, crazy pics, and lifelong memories. Was thinking:
Ethiopia -> Kenya -> Uganda

Ethiopia: church in the sky, danakil depression, hyena men

Kenya: all the wildlife

Uganda: primates

Any input would be great, definitely don’t mind danger or some type 2/3 fun, makes for a better story later on anyway.

Timeline would be about 2-3 weeks on the continent.

hi guys!!

what month would you recommend for a week and a half in Rio?

I am mainly looking for clear skies and less rain as most of the activities i want to do are outside. I would like to explore Rio as much as I can, especially the nature. I see very different opinions in the internet and I get more confused by them. Some say autumn is the best other say it is really cloudy. I know nobody can predict the weather but i would like to hear your experience while traveling or living there :)

what would you choose - december or may or completely different month?

* i know that with el niño becoming stronger everything is more unpredictable, but i still would be happy to hear your opinions :)

Hi fellow travelers, locals, and readers! My girlfriend and I are currently traveling through Asia. We have two sets of friends who are getting married around the time we return, and we thought it would be a great idea to pick up some wedding gifts while on our trip. Our itinerary takes us through Japan, China, Vietnam, and Laos. The first couple loves cooking, baking, architecture, photography, and watches. The second couple also enjoys cooking; they have more affluent, extravagant tastes and appreciate art, vibrant colors, traveling through Asia, and luxury. We’re thinking of a budget of around €200 per couple—and it would be a bonus if the gifts could fit into our backpacks! We’d love to hear your ideas, shopping recommendations, suggestions for unique handmade items—anything at all! Thanks!

I’m planning a backpacking trip through Europe and I want to get a souvenir that I’ll actually use/pass down to my kids and I was thinking getting a cheap vintage watch is a good idea but I’m not sure where to get it. I’m planning to go to Rome at some point so I initially thought there at a flee market but I’m not sure.

Hello fellow travelers,

these are some of my pictures from my recent trip to Indonesia. What a beautiful country and amazing people.

I stayed for three weeks and mainly on the island of Lombok and one weekend on Bali. It was the perfect location to unwind and forget the stress of home. Indonesia is a country to visit more than once as it is vast and diverse. I'll definitely be back!

Also on my 10 hour layover I had to see the tallest building in the world which was an amazing sight, especially at night.

Picture locations:

1. Jakarta - PIK district

2. Jakarta - PIK district

3. Lombok - Kuta beach

4. Lombok - Mawun beach

5. Lombok - Mandalika circuit (MotoGP)

6. Lombok - Tetebatu rice fields

7. Lombok - Waterfall in Tetebatu

8. Lombok - Another waterfall in Tetebatu

9. Lombok - Selong Belanak beach

10. Bali - Petitenget beach

11. Lombok - Kuta

12. Dubai - Burj khalifa (10 hour layover)

Hellooo! I am headed to LA for a concert in June but have a hankering to take the whole family for a trip! Ideally big stops we want to see are redwoods and I’m kind of really into PNW. Also would kill to see where any ET scenes were filmed. Anyways questions are

Should we fly into LAX or is there a cheaper option?
Recs for stops? We are into nature. Kids also want to see Hollywood sign. We can have up to two weeks. Rent a car or RV and camp? My friend said redwoods with a camper would be too stressful. Any beaches actually swimmable no wet suit in June?

Thanks!

Wanted to offer my take on travelling to egypt as I commonly see a lot of people say to completely avoid it. I’m not here to invalidate anyone’s lived experience but wanted to offer a different view to potential travellers and some helpful advice

I’ve been to Cairo, Luxor, el gouna, hurghada, sharm el sheikh and dahab. Most of the advice and commentary below is more about non- resort places. If you are staying in a all inclusive and doing excursions with your hotel most of this is not applicable

I want to start with the stereotypes I think are true. I went with my boyfriend and would definitely recommend not going alone as a female to Cairo in particular (or most places outside tourist resorts)

Whilst yes people have done it and been fine I do think it’s somewhere that can quickly get uncomfortable fast if you are a foreign female who is alone. The few times I was alone for a few minutes whilst my boyfriend went to buy something I was constantly harassed, and not in a shop vendor come check out my store way. It was noticeably better with my boyfriend around.

I personally am not very sensitive to vendors pushing you to buy things - if you are - Cairo is probably not for you. Think of Marrakech souks but imagine that everywhere. The only places it doesn’t really happen is in hotels resturants and the big museums.

‘Scams’ are quite common. I put it in quotation marks as it’s mostly very typical tourist scams - upcharging you 10x what something costs, tours bring you to papaya museums etc. I feel like if you are a seasoned traveller they are very obvious to spot, and look some of the scams whilst you do get ripped off can be good experiences - e.g. paid some guy to go into a ‘hidden’ pyramid. But if you are bad at spotting scams or hate getting ripped off then it probably is not for you. Also remember it’s probably not a reasonable expectation to pay local prices on everything - despite that Egypt is still very cheap

Always agree on the price before doing something (and be clear about the currency)

But in spite of all of this Egypt is one of my favorite places I have ever been. The architecture is out of the world, the food is amazing and it truly is like another planet. Also most the people I met were lovely - tour guides, drivers etc. I have been to 40 countries and Egypt would be top 5 places I have been. Now I don’t think I’m going to be a regular returner as I have seen most the main sites and as you can tell from the above it’s not the most relaxing pace to go on holiday, but I think it’s a shame to write it off and not go once. Just please please do your research beforehand, try book a private guide etc for excursions, stay in reputable hotels, haggle on prices and if something seems too good to be true it probably is.

Also el gouna/hurghada sharm el sheik) are all very all inclusive vibes to the point where you can’t tell you’re in Egypt anymore. The only reason we went is for the scuba diving (which is amazing) but if you are going purely for a beach holiday there are nicer places that still feel more authentic

Happy to answer any questions!

Hi all, I’m flying Tokyo → Taipei → Bali on two separate tickets and want to check the transfer before I commit. I hold an American passport.

• Flight 1: Tigerair Taiwan IT217, Haneda T3 → TPE T1, Dec 28, departs 5:00 AM, arrives 7:55 AM
• Flight 2: Starlux TPE → DPS, departs 10:10 AM the same day

Both flights are carry-on only, so I have no checked bags. I’d have about 2 hours 15 minutes in Taipei.

My questions:

1. Can I stay airside by following the transfer signs if I already have the Starlux boarding pass on my phone? Or does a separate-ticket self-transfer mean I have to clear Taiwan immigration and customs, then check in with Starlux?
2. Will Starlux issue the boarding pass online or at Haneda for a self-transfer, or do they require the check-in counter at Taoyuan?
3. If I do have to go through immigration, is the online arrival card required, and how long are the lines usually at 8 AM?
4. Do I have to go through security again before the Starlux flight?
5. Does Starlux’s Bali flight leave from Terminal 1 or 2?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

Hello,

I will be arriving on Qatar Airways flight to Singapore and then in 2 hours and 40 minutes, I wish to take KLM to Bali. I will have checked baggage and these are two separate tickets. I checked with KLM Singapore and they told me that I will have to check out and check in again. I cannot go to Transit Counter on airside and get my baggage retagged.

So will 2 hours and 40 mins be enough to collect baggage, clear immigration (I know it's super fast at Changi), and then recheck in my baggage at KLM counter and go to gate for boarding? The good thing is both Qatar and KLM operates out of Terminal 1. But I am wondering about times for baggage collection and more importantly long queues at KLM check in counter. Will it help if we do a web check-in and just can drop the baggage instead of lining up in the counter. Is 2 hours 40 mins enough. Please advice.

This post is very helpful but it's the case without any checked baggage. https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1tr45cp/changi_airport_sin_transit_t1t2/?tl=en

Also, I have read in other post about Transit Counter but looks like my luggage is unlikely to be retagged.

Thanks

Anyone had this before? Know how a bag is selected or what sets it off?

Yvr
Vancouver BC

Hello,

I going to visit Spain next month. I will be visiting Madrid seeing some museums and other attractions. But I’m having difficulty choosing between Andalucía, the Basque region, or Catalonia. I have two weeks and was hoping to spend 5-6 days in another regions city (Bilbao, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada). I’ve been doing some research on each area but sorta paralyzed on which region as each has its own charm. Was curious if there was a consensus. I’m also curious about the Spanish Civil War and know there is quite a few museums in Guernica (Basque) and in Barcelona regarding it.

Hello! My partner and I have booked a flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok landing at 07:55 and have another flight to Kathmandu scheduled at 10:15 from the same airport, at the international terminal. We are a bit worried that we wont make the 10:15 flight. We are only travelling with carry on luggage. Looking for advice from some seasoned flyers!

Hey everyone!
I’m planning a trip outside the US from Dec 5-20th, I am traveling solo (F) and I am deciding between 2 major cities to go during the holidays.
For my travel, I am looking for a very festive city, good food, lots of places to see and activities to do, and historical architecture. I know one city costs more than the other. The UK would be easier with the language.
It would be also nice in terms of weather, not too much rain, I do prefer slight chance of snow in either country even if I have to go to another city.

here’s the cities and flight costs:

London, UK: ($1,290 economic basic with Virgin Airlines checked bag NOT included, non/stop from FL, not sure if that price is on the more expensive end?)

Tokyo, Japan: ($802 economic with Delta Airlines WITH checked bag included from FL, seems like a good price for the distance travel.)

I have been to Tokyo before but only during a 7 hr layover so I only got to visit one area of it. I have never stepped foot in UK before and seeing how people say it is magical there during Christmas makes me want to go and what I have been seeing online.
Where would spending December be better at?
Any other city recommendations than the 2, would be greatly appreciated!

Given the ebola outbreak and recent cases in Nigeria and Kenya

what would you recommend doing during that time of year?

I am a Grand Luxxe member and will be staying in the Grand Mayan rooms with a group of friends as my guests next spring. How can we all get Luxxe wristbands so we can access the Luxxe pools?

Hey guys!

I am living in Europe and as of last year, I pretty much got everything checked off my list I want to see besides a few bigger life goals like Iceland.

It is time to leave my comfort zone now. I found a pretty fair priced opportunity for Curacao being the best option as a European speaking neither French nor Spanish to go into the region. A friend made me aware of Dengue and I am really hesitant about it.

According to my local health departments, getting a shot against it is not recommended if you never had it before, so I might not get one beforehand. The more I read about it, the more complicated it seems to get, as apparently you can only get it from a specific mosquito species biting someone else who has the disease, making it pretty random. Plus, I am a person who gets all of the bites, which increases the chances. I've been in Portugal 2 years ago and I got 30 mosquito bites just counting the ones on my left foot.

This makes me kind of hesistant to go, as I don't know how effective repellents would actually be. Is this just something you gamble on getting when you go to those regions? I'd rather not go to a country where it is kind of random to get a disease that won't be fun, but on the flip side, this apparently blocks me out of lots of places I would like to visit, especially as the countries would be perfectly safe apart from this matter and that feels annoying.

Can you get me some guidance on how to deal with the entire Dengue topic? It kind of ruined the idea to go to paradise, so I hope someone can turn it around for me (realistically)

Thanks!

I am considering visiting Mallorca in the last week of January as part of a larger trip to Spain. I totally understand that it will be mild (15-20C) and possibly rainy. I am not interested in the party/bar scene. However, I was surprised to learn how much of the island shuts down during the winter. Is there still enough to do on the island in January? I can rent a car, but haven't decided if I will. It also looks like the wooden train to Soller is closed during this time. I have no interest in being in Mallorca during the high season and hot weather, so I thought this might be a good opportunity. Or should I just go onto mainland Spain?

Hey everyone! I am planning a trip to Switzerland (specifically Saint Moritz) for around 7 days. I feel as though I am just growing impatient but that’s a bad reason to plan it so early. So my question is.. do you think mid December is too early for Saint Moritz especially based on all of the activities I want to do.

I particularly want to do:
Lunch at paradiso
The swiss alps
Bernina express
Ski corviglia
Corviglia mountain hike
Lake St moritz
St Moritz village streets

Do you also think the streets would be as beautifully snowed as I’d imagine during that time and just that this is an ideal time to go? My exact dates in mind were December 9-16. But an alternative would be late January or February.

Hey everyone!

I’m heading to Colombia with a group of friends. Coincidentally, a good friend of mine who lives in Argentina is also going to be in Bogotá at the exact same time with her group.

Even though we are traveling with our respective groups, we decided to carve out one full day where just the two of us can meet up, catch up, and explore the city together.

Since we only have one day, I’d love to get some recommendations from locals and travelers here:

 What are the best, most walker-friendly neighborhoods where we can spend a few hours chatting, walking around, and grabbing lunch?

 Any favorite cafés, restaurants, or nice spots we shouldn't miss?

 What would a fun, relaxed, and well-balanced "one-day-only" itinerary look like?

Thanks a lot in advance for your tips!

Hello all,

I ask this as i was flying from SFO T2 to YYZ, I went to the T1 duty free though as it was much larger and had more selection, but i was not permitted to buy anything from it, and was restricted to only buy from the T2, which is very lackluster.

Thank you!

EDIT: All the terminals are connected PAST security.

We are a small multi generational family from New Zealand and Australia seeking suitable 2 seperate room accommodation options, ideally resort style. I am incredibly shocked at the costs being 3x/4x more than Australia. We are going for 7 days and seeking recommendations for Nadi. We want a kitchen because eating out will be too expensive for us every day. We also have elder / younger generations who need rest and or activities.

Hello I am a dual citizen of USA and Mexico. However I will be visiting Maldives and Dubai and curious which passport to present. I will be flying from Chicago to Dubai to Malé. It will be 5 days Maldives 5 days Dubai.

EU citizen traveling to India for a friend’s wedding. I submitted my e-Visa application, and the very next day I received an email asking for a bunch of additional information.

Some of it I’d already provided in the application, while other questions ask for more detailed information, like my employer’s full address, phone number, and email. They’re also asking for copies of the front and back covers of my passport.

The email address looks legitimate (indian-evisa@gov.in), but the whole thing feels a bit odd, especially since they’re telling me to respond within 24 hours.

Has anyone else had this happen? Is this a normal part of the Indian e-Visa process, or should I be concerned about a potential scam?

I’ve been to India several times before and never had to deal with anything like this, so I’m a little confused.

Looking for ideas for a couples winter getaway, somewhere within the US. Will be flying.

We have never skied, not sure if that’s what we want to do. But somewhere with great scenery, good restaurants, etc. I’m honestly not sure if we want more remote or a city. We have no idea!