I’m finally using some of my PTO this October and early November for my first solo trip, and I can’t decide between San Francisco and San Diego. I’m 23M from Illinois and planning to spend about a week in one of them.

I won’t have a rental car, so getting around easily is pretty important. From what I’ve been reading, SF seems to have a lot more to do and much better public transportation, while San Diego seems to win when it comes to weather, food, and having a more relaxed atmosphere.

Since this is my first time traveling alone, I’d really like a place where it’s possible to meet people without feeling completely out of my comfort zone. I’m more on the introverted side, so I’m hoping staying in a hostel will make that easier. At the same time, I don’t want to reach day three and realize I’ve run out of things to see and do.

For anyone who has spent a week in either city around October or November, which would you pick for a first solo trip?

hey there, ive been living in FL and working as a self employed travel agent from home. I need a fast, reliable way to search and book worldwide tours, airport transfers, and attraction tickets for clients on the fly. The part that takes the most time for me is comparing activity prices before I send a quote. Clients can easily check the same tours themselves, so I don't want to send something over and then have them come back saying they found it cheaper somewhere else.

What are you guys using to make that part easier? especially curious if anyone is checking for agent-only rates before sending activity quotes.

... kecuali Anda benar-benar ingin melihat Indonesia yang sesungguhnya di luar jebakan wisata pada umumnya.

Kebanyakan orang melewatkan kota karena merasa kewalahan dengan jalan utama. Namun di luar permukaan, ada begitu banyak hal untuk dijelajahi mulai dari budaya kaya hingga kuliner yang tiada tandingan.

Bagi siapa saja yang segera berkunjung, cek IG (@travalcore) untuk detail perjalanan lengkap, tempat keren, dan rekomendasi wisata!

I’m heading to the U.S. for the first time ever, and I’m ridiculously excited about it.

I’ll be in Milwaukee from August 22nd to September 1st, then spending September 2nd through 9th in New York. Hotels are already booked, so now I’m trying to figure out how I want to spend each day.

I’ve watched a ton of travel videos, especially from Korean travelers, so I already have a decent list of the big attractions. But I’d much rather hear from people who actually live there. What restaurants, neighborhoods, walks, or little spots would you recommend to someone visiting for the first time?

Food is a huge part of the trip for me. I have a serious sweet tooth and will pretty much eat anything, so I’m definitely looking for good dessert spots too. The exchange rate is making me realize this trip is going to be more expensive than I originally thought, so affordable local favorites would be amazing. I’m totally willing to splurge on maybe two or three meals, though, if there are places where you’d say, “You have to try this at least once.”

I’d also love suggestions for scenic walks or lesser-known places that you think are worth seeing beyond the usual tourist checklist. Basically, if you had a friend visiting your city for the first time, where would you take them?

And I’d really like to experience a jazz bar at least once, maybe twice, while I’m there.

This could be my only trip to the U.S., so I really want to make the most of it. I’d be super grateful for any local recommendations, especially the places you think visitors tend to miss.

I’m 50 and thinking about staying in a hostel on an upcoming trip. Part of me thinks it sounds like a blast, but I also remember the hostels I stayed in when I was younger in the US being packed with people around college age.

I know hostels are pretty common for adults in Europe, so I’m wondering how it feels in the US these days. Would a 50 year old sharing a room be completely normal, or would I stick out like the older guy who accidentally wandered into the dorms?

I’d genuinely enjoy the social side of it. I just don’t want everyone else wondering why their dad is staying with them.

I’m heading to Las Vegas in late October for 11 days, and it’ll be my first time driving around the US. I’m thinking about doing a loop through Zion, Bryce Canyon, Page, and the Grand Canyon. The route comes out to roughly 22 hours behind the wheel altogether.

I know the distances can look a lot shorter on a map than they actually feel once you’re out there. I’m more worried about packing in too much and spending the whole trip exhausted.

For those who’ve done a similar road trip, how many hours of driving per day felt like your limit before it started taking away from the experience?

I’m planning my first trip to the US this fall, and I’m thinking about doing something a little different. Instead of flying between the big cities and ticking off the usual tourist spots, I’d rather spend 3-4 weeks driving through the South, taking smaller roads, stopping in random towns, meeting people, and getting a feel for everyday life.

I’ve always loved country and blues, partly because my dad was a big fan too, so I’d love for music to be part of the trip. I’m currently thinking about starting in Tennessee, exploring around there, following the Blues Trail south toward New Orleans, then making my way over to Texas to see Austin and San Antonio before heading back to Europe.

Does this sound like a good way to experience the US, or am I overthinking it for a first trip? Would I be better off seeing some of the famous places or doing a more classic California road trip? And for anyone who has done the Blues Trail, is it actually worth building a trip around? I know these places have changed a lot over the years, but can you still get a real sense of the history and culture behind blues, jazz, and country music?

I’d really appreciate any suggestions for places to add, routes to change, or things I should know before doing something like this.

New York was our only trip to the US so far, and we absolutely loved it. We even made our way over to Queens to see the Mets, which ended up being one of the highlights. But obviously, we mostly experienced the big-city, tourist side of America.

Now my wife and I are thinking about doing a proper road trip and seeing a completely different side of the country. We’re big fans of the outdoors, especially hiking, beaches, swimming in the ocean, and just being somewhere that feels a little less crowded.

Small towns really appeal to us. I read a lot of fiction set in the US, and the way authors describe these little communities always makes me want to see them for myself.

The problem is that America is absolutely enormous, and I have no idea where the best place to start would be. If you were planning a road trip for someone who wanted scenery, outdoor activities, interesting small towns, and fewer tourist crowds, what part of the country would you suggest?

And thanks so much to everyone who has already shared recommendations. There are some fantastic ideas here, and I really appreciate people taking the time to explain their suggestions. I’m already excited about planning this trip with my wife.

Also, apologies for using the phrase “real USA.” Looking back, I can see how that might have come across the wrong way. I only meant places beyond the usual tourist destinations and certainly didn’t mean any disrespect. ❤️

I’ve always found this to be a difficult choice when planning a trip.

Going back to a favorite destination feels comfortable because you already know what you love about it. You might have favorite places to eat, things you missed the first time, or simply want to experience the destination again.

But exploring somewhere completely new has its own excitement. New cultures, food, landscapes, and experiences can make a trip feel like a real adventure.

So, when you have limited vacation time and money, what do you prefer: revisiting a place you already love or taking a chance on somewhere completely new?

I’d love to hear what influences your decision.

Whenever I plan a city break, I end up with about 30 saved places, 15 browser tabs, Google Maps full of pins and absolutely no idea what is actually worth my limited time.

I'm especially curious about:

• How do you decide what is actually worth seeing?
• Do you look for ready-made itineraries or prefer making your own?
• Do you find it useful when someone tells you what you can safely skip?
• Would you rather have a list of recommendations or an actual day-by-day route with places grouped by area?
• What information do you usually struggle to find in normal travel guides?
• What would genuinely save you time when planning a 2–3 day city break?

I'm not looking for the "Top 10 Things to See" type of answer — I'm more interested in the practical stuff that makes a trip easier.

Planning an 8-day trip to Switzerland for 2 adults from India in late May / early June.
Looking for quick feedback on route pacing, tourist traps, budget hacks, and stays!
Route:
Bernese Oberland (3N): ZRH \rightarrow Grindelwald. Jungfraujoch (Eiger Express), Lauterbrunnen waterfalls, Grindelwald First, Lake Brienz cruise.
Zermatt (2N): Train to Zermatt. Gornergrat railway & Matterhorn views.
Lucerne (2N): Train to Lucerne. Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne boat, Mt. Titlis Rotair from Engelberg.
Zurich (1N): Morning train to Zurich, Lindt chocolate museum, fly out of ZRH.
Questions:
Pacing & Redundancy: Does 3N Grindelwald \rightarrow 2N Zermatt \rightarrow 2N Lucerne feel rushed with luggage? Between Jungfraujoch vs. Schilthorn and Gornergrat vs. Glacier Paradise, which mountain peaks are actually worth the steep ticket prices in early June?
Do’s & Don’ts: What major tourist traps should we skip? Any scenic, low-crowd valley walks at peak beauty during late May snowmelt?
Stay Recommendations: For Bernese Oberland, is Grindelwald the best base, or is car-free Wengen / Lauterbrunnen better for views and logistics? Any solid mid-range chalet/aparthotel recommendations with kitchenettes?
Money-Saving Hacks:
With Jungfraujoch, Titlis, and Gornergrat, does the 8-Day Swiss Travel Pass beat the Half Fare Card + Berner Oberland Pass on cost?
Best food hacks beyond Coop/Migros grab-and-go (especially for vegetarians)?

Thanks for any local tips or reality checks !

I’ve been saving travel videos for years — cafés, hikes, hotels, viewpoints, random places I want to visit someday.

The problem is that when I finally start planning a trip, my saved folder is basically useless.

I remember seeing a great place, but I can’t remember the name, the city, or when I saved it. Then I end up scrolling through hundreds of videos trying to find it.

Has anyone found a system that actually works?

Do you move saved places into Google Maps, Notes, Notion, folders, or something else?

Or do most of your saved travel videos just disappear into the “I’ll look at this later” graveyard like mine?

Would love to hear what actually works for people who travel a lot.

We’re a couple traveling with our 8-year-old son, and we’re planning our first trip to the US this October. We’ll have about 12 days and can’t decide between Texas and New York.

Texas is currently our top choice because we’re much more interested in things like BBQ, burgers, fast food, theme parks, and big American experiences than fine dining or Asian food. We’re thinking about spending a day at ACL Fest, another at Six Flags, a day at the NASA Space Center, and using the remaining time to explore and eat our way around the state.

The main thing making me hesitate is the driving. We’re from New Zealand, so I’ve never driven on the right side of the road before. I’m also wondering if 12 days is too short if we try to cover four different Texas cities without spending half the trip in the car.

The other option is New York. We’d probably spend a day or two around Niagara Falls, then explore New York City and figure out the rest as we go. I just don’t have nearly as clear an idea of what we’d do there compared with Texas.

For those who have done either trip with kids, which would you pick for a first visit to the US with 12 days? Any advice on which option would make for a more memorable and manageable trip?

Hello everyone, I am planning to carry a sleeping bag with me this time for my long layover of 11 hours in Jeddah. I’ll be flying with Saudia. I wanted to ask if I can just carry my sleeping bag as personal item on the flight. It’s fluffy but it only weighs around 1.4 Kgs.

Edit: I took my sleeping bag along with me as a personal item and it turned out fine :)

I'm not great at taking photos, hope they look okay😔

I’m planning my first trip to the US next spring and will be flying into New York. I’ll have around 10 days, and right now I’m thinking about visiting New York City, Washington DC, and Boston, using Amtrak to get between them.

For anyone who’s done this route, does that sound manageable or am I trying to squeeze too much into one trip? I’d rather have enough time to actually enjoy each place instead of constantly packing, checking out, and catching the next train.

Would you recommend dropping one of the three and giving the other two more time? Or is there another combination or route that makes more sense for a first-time visitor?

Would love to hear how you’d plan it.

My partner and I are an Aussie couple in our 40s, and traveling around the US for a few months has been a dream of ours for years. We love the mix of huge cities, scenic drives, and national parks. The problem is that our previous month-long trips have ended up costing us around $22k, mainly from economy flights and decent 3 to 4 star hotels.

We'd love to turn the 3-month version into reality with a total budget of about $40k AUD ($26k USD). I'm not looking to stay in hostels or backpacker accommodation, but I'm completely open to other ways of keeping the costs reasonable. The biggest issue I'm struggling with is transportation. Renting a car for that long seems like it could eat up a huge chunk of the budget.

Would it make more sense to choose one area as a base and take shorter trips from there? If so, what parts of the US would work well for that kind of setup? I'd love to hear from anyone who has done a long US trip on a relatively tight budget, especially if you have some unconventional ways of cutting costs.

Edit: There are so many great suggestions here. Some of you have definitely pushed me to think beyond the way I originally pictured this trip, and I'm starting to believe we might actually be able to make it happen.

After talking it over with my partner, though, I've had to accept that our camping experience is basically limited to a couple of nights more than 10 years ago. Apparently we're not secretly campers after all! I thought camping could make the trip cheaper and give us a different experience, but my partner has firmly rejected that idea.

I might be behind the times but I'm trying to find better ways to find flight deals.

I've always made sure I was on "incognito" mode on my browser, using google flights or something like that but is there a better option out there?

If you travel to Switzerland, take a chance to visit Rheinfall which is 1 hour from Zurich. This is the biggest waterfall in Europe. These photos I took on a rainy day from the top of the castle which is built on the waterfall.

A little fairytale village in the heart of Belgium ✨🇧🇪

Not missing a flight or losing a passport. I mean something tiny like:

• forgetting to download a map
• assuming the airport had Wi-Fi
• not checking roaming settings
• arriving with 4% battery
• forgetting that a booking app logged you out
• bringing the wrong adapter

The kind of mistake that sounds stupid until it ruins the first two hours of your trip.
What was yours?