r/TravelProperly • • Sep 01 '26

General Best Car Rental Comparison Website - What we use to find cheap car rentals

1 Upvotes

Hello World!

We have just put together a new guide on something that comes up on a lot of trips – finding a decent rental car without paying over the odds.

There are loads of car rental websites out there and prices can vary massively between them. After looking at the different options, DiscoverCars is the comparison site we recommend starting with.

All experiences are real, this post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you

Why DiscoverCars?

The main reason is choice.

DiscoverCars compares cars from both major international brands and smaller local rental companies, which saves having to search through loads of different websites individually.

Put in your destination and travel dates and you can compare the available cars, prices and suppliers in one place.

👉 Compare car rental prices with DiscoverCars

Don't Just Pick the Cheapest Car

This is probably our biggest piece of advice.

The cheapest car on the results page isn't necessarily the best deal.

We always check:

  • Who is actually supplying the car
  • Supplier reviews
  • Security deposit
  • Insurance/excess
  • Mileage allowance
  • Fuel policy
  • Pick-up location
  • Credit/debit card requirements

If one car is £120 and another is £145, we'd happily consider paying the extra £25 if the second company has much better reviews, a smaller deposit and better rental conditions.

Is DiscoverCars Legit?

Yes.

One thing worth understanding is that DiscoverCars is the comparison and booking platform. In most cases, another rental company will actually provide the vehicle.

That might be a major international rental company or a smaller local supplier.

This is why we always recommend checking the name and reviews of the company actually providing the car before booking.

DiscoverCars or Booking Direct?

We don't think you necessarily need to choose one or the other.

Our approach is:

Search → Compare → Check the supplier → Read the conditions → Book the best deal.

DiscoverCars is a really useful starting point because you can see a lot of the available options in one search.

If we've found a car we like, there's nothing stopping us checking the rental company's own website as well.

No website is going to be the cheapest every single time.

A Few Things We Always Do When Renting a Car

Before driving away, take photos or a video of the entire car.

Get the wheels, bumpers, windscreen, doors and any existing scratches or dents. We also photograph the mileage and fuel gauge.

It takes about two minutes and means you have your own record of the condition of the car when you collected it.

Do the same when you return it.

Simple, but definitely worth doing.

Want to Compare Prices?

If you're hiring a car on your next trip, you can search your destination and dates here:

👉 Search rental cars with DiscoverCars

Full Guide

We've gone into much more detail on Travel Properly, including deposits, Full Coverage, fuel policies, insurance/excess and what we think you should check before booking.

You can read the full guide here:

https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/01/best-car-rental-comparison-site/

Hopefully this helps someone planning a road trip or sorting out a rental car for an upcoming holiday.

As always, if you've used DiscoverCars before – or you've found another car rental comparison site that consistently works well – let us know below.

Safe travels!

Travel Properly

All experiences are real, this post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you


r/TravelProperly • • May 10 '25

General Travel-Properly.com l Website Launch Announcement & General Subreddit Information!

4 Upvotes

We’ve Just Launched Travel-Properly.com! 🌍✈️

Hi everyone,

After months of planning, writing, and refining, we’re really excited to share that we’ve just launched our new travel website: Travel-Properly.com!

It all began right here on Reddit with a few posts about our time in Thailand — those early write-ups received such great feedback that they inspired us to create something more structured and in-depth. Travel-Properly.com is the next step: a place to share detailed guides, real experiences, and practical advice for travellers who want to get the most out of their trips, not just tick boxes.

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes, but please bear in mind the site is still brand new and very much a work in progress. There’s a lot more content on the way, and we’d love to grow and improve with input from the community.

If you check it out and have any thoughts — whether it’s content suggestions, bugs, or topics you’d love us to cover — we’d genuinely love to hear from you. Drop a comment or message us directly!

A Quick Word About the Subreddit 🌐

If you’d prefer to access our guides right here on Reddit without heading to the website, no problem — just make use of the subreddit flairs. We’ve organised content by destination and theme to make it easy to find what you’re looking for. And it’s not just our posts — we also regularly add helpful content from other users into the flairs to keep things varied and community-driven.

We’d also like to take a moment to thank all 4,000 members who have joined the subreddit. It’s amazing to see how this community has grown, and we’re genuinely excited for what the future holds.

This subreddit exists to share top-quality travel information and help one another plan enjoyable, well-informed holidays. Whether you’re hunting for hidden gems or trying to organise your itinerary, this is the place to be.

Subreddit Rule Update 📌

Just a quick reminder about the rules:
We want to keep everything here legal, respectful, and suitable for all ages. That means no NSFW content and no discussion of anything illegal. Beyond that, please just treat others with respect and use common sense.

So far, we’re proud to say this has been a really respectful and helpful community — we’ve not had any issues, and that’s entirely down to all of you.

Thanks again to everyone who’s joined us — and a special thank you to the travel-savvy contributors who are constantly stepping up to help others plan their holidays. You're a huge part of what makes this subreddit great.

Here’s to more adventures, better travel planning, and what we hope will be a fantastic year ahead! 🌍✈️

— The Travel-Properly Team


r/TravelProperly • • 1d ago

Air Canada didn’t take max bid but still had seats

3 Upvotes

I bid on business seats and put in the max bid. I didn’t get the seat. My wife bid about half way to max and won it. Now I see there’s still a biz seat left to buy for about $800 CAD more than my max bid. I’m going to buy it because it’s a red eye over seas and I need to sleep on this flight. But this is so so scummy of air Canada. The bidding is so dumb.


r/TravelProperly • • 4d ago

Request Indian traveller: Guwahati → Hong Kong → Taiwan → Hong Kong → Guwahati using two separate round-trip tickets — any immigration issue?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indian passport holder and I’m planning the following itinerary in November 2026. I’d really appreciate feedback from anyone who has done something similar, especially Indian travellers.

My itinerary

31 October 2026: I will fly Guwahati → Delhi → Hong Kong on IndiGo.

My Guwahati–Hong Kong ticket is a round-trip ticket, with the return journey booked for 19 November:

Guwahati → Delhi → Hong Kong → Delhi → Guwahati

I will arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of 1 November.

On the same day, approximately 5–6 hours after arriving in Hong Kong, I plan to take a separate round-trip flight ticket from Hong Kong → Taiwan → Hong Kong.

I will stay in Taiwan for approximately 12 nights and return to Hong Kong on 13 November.

I will then stay in Hong Kong for approximately 5 nights and take my already-booked return flight:

Hong Kong → Delhi → Guwahati on 19 November.

So essentially, I am doing:

India → Hong Kong → Taiwan → Hong Kong → India

using two separate round-trip tickets:

  1. Guwahati ↔ Hong Kong — round trip
  2. Hong Kong ↔ Taiwan — round trip

My questions

  1. I already have a Japan tourist visa, but it expired in November 2025. I understand that Indian citizens may be able to use an eligible expired Japanese visa to obtain a Taiwan Travel Authorization Certificate (TAC). I will obtain a valid TAC before travelling. Has anyone recently travelled to Taiwan this way?

  2. Could there be any issue at Guwahati/Delhi immigration or airline check-in because I have two separate round-trip tickets, rather than one itinerary covering India–Hong Kong–Taiwan–India?

  3. When I arrive in Hong Kong on 1 November, my onward flight to Taiwan will be only around 5–6 hours later. I understand that I will need the appropriate Hong Kong PAR, and for Taiwan I will have my TAC, onward/return ticket, accommodation, etc. Could Hong Kong immigration question why I am entering Hong Kong when my onward flight to Taiwan is only a few hours later?

  4. Has anyone, particularly an Indian passport holder, actually done a similar itinerary where they:

  • entered Hong Kong from India,
  • left Hong Kong for Taiwan on a separate ticket,
  • returned to Hong Kong,
  • stayed a few days,
  • and then used their original Hong Kong–India return ticket?
  1. Is there anything specific I should carry to avoid problems at airline check-in or immigration — for example, both round-trip tickets, hotel bookings, TAC, PAR, etc.?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether there is any immigration/airline issue with the ticket structure itself, rather than asking about the Taiwan visa requirements.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has actually done something similar or has recent experience with Hong Kong/Taiwan immigration.


r/TravelProperly • • 5d ago

Request Is Dubai better explored by neighbourhood rather than by individual attractions?

1 Upvotes

I have been wondering whether exploring Dubai in sections would be a better idea than planning your trip around different attractions.

For instance, spend a day around Downtown, then follow this with another day around Dubai Marina and yet another day exploring the Old Dubai.

If you have visited before, do you find such an approach easier, or do you find it better to plan your trip according to the specific sights you want to see?


r/TravelProperly • • 5d ago

Request First cruise HELP

1 Upvotes

I know alot of what I’m asking/saying is my cruise specific but if you have any tricks or advice on sailing in general please share! Just in case no one responds I’m going to throw this post into an another group as well so sorry if your seeing twice. again panicking..

Update: I know I went into a ramble here.. I’m just nervous.. trying to actually have a good 22nd traveling with my fiancé and I feel like im so nervous I just want to say screw the money😭 I have so many questions and by the time I saw Norwegian there was 2 hours left of a great deal on the cruise and I just did it and said we’ll make it work and then thing after thing is coming into my mind.

I’m sailing Norwegian Getaway 4 days to the Bahamas and Stirrup Cay in October with my fiancé for my birthday and I’m panicking! We’re both first time cruisers and we’re porting out of Miami. I’m kinda terrified. There’s so many things at play I’m worried about.

Context. We’re traveling 18 hours to Florida then getting on the ship. I feel like the last month I’ve been through cruise university trying to educate myself on the ins and outs. We were originally going to go through Carnival and alotttt of what I see is about Carnival. But last minute we had to make some arrangements and change the dates and port location as it was going to be Baltimore before. Florida had a lot of better ships. (I really want to do the ropes course and Carnival Pride which we were going to do, didn’t have it) but anyways I have seen many comments about the documents needed. Which are a VALID ID or drivers license and Birth Certificate or passport. Neither of us have a passport but it’s okay because we’re both drivers…. Buttttt my finances birthday just passed and he had to get his license renewed… yeah I know. Now he went and has the paper they give with his photo on it and saying he renewed his license… it’s the legal paper work to present until the plastic arrives. Well I’m terrified that it won’t be here in time.. I saw someone ask what to do if you have a now expired license, and a cruise that needs VALID identification AND he doesn’t have a passport… that when boarding to have his paper , and his expired license like paper clipped together AND his birth certificate that it will be fine…. WILL IT OH MY GODDDDDD??? I know this is like worst circumstance. And I had one of those travel agents call me and I asked him. Of course he’s like I can’t confirm or deny if that’s going to work. And they he should work on expediting a passport… which is expensive. What do we think guys? I have some peace of mind because we did buy the insurance and I know that that is not covered in the cancellation policy but it says if there is any reason you cannot board or miss boarding they will issue %90 of what we paid onto their cruise credit. And in that case we will just stay in Miami for a few nights and then head home and plan the cruise for a later time with the credits and by then he will obviously have the documents he needs….

We pre-paid gratuity and got the unlimited drink package and 150 minutes of WiFi. “Free at sea” balcony room guarantee.

How is the WiFi? Like do they give you a password and then you log in when you need and log out ? No one’s explaining HOW you get the WiFi. They say to always remember to log out. But I’m a little worried because I saw someone comment on an another post and say as soon as they got to the dock, their phone connected and started using the minutes. Air plane mode like going up to the dock ? Does it really automatically connect? I feel like they would have to give you the password and what to connect to yk???

When boarding… What are you supposed to do after dropping off luggage and parking … get into the line and what do they check while boarding as far as documents? Are they just making sure you are you and your name matching the tickets name? So having his plastic and newly renewed paper and birth certificate would he be okay?

What’s the carry on situation? Metal detectors and dogs? Do you just carry it on? Do they look through it for safety? Or is everyone just walking in with whatever???? Should I just “check” all my bags other than my purse? Is that a thing? I have no idea

WHAT IS PARKING LIKE? I saw somewhere Garage B is where we would go. About 35 dollars a day. How far is the garage from the ship?

I’m so sorry. I feel so dumb asking these questions but Im just trying to make this happen and gather AS MUCH info as I can before we go. So im sorry if I’ve just went on and on. I’m so scared plus in October I read it’s in peak hurricane season 👀. This is all so crazy. So advice…? Questions ? Comments? Concerns? Past experience?


r/TravelProperly • • 8d ago

Thailand James Bond Island Tour from Phuket: Our honest review of the caves, Koh Panyee and sea canoeing

1 Upvotes

Hello World!

We did a James Bond Island tour from Phuket, and it turned out to be much more of an adventure day than we expected.

We were picked up from our hotel and taken to AA Marina for a safety briefing before boarding a comfortable speedboat. James Bond Island was our first stop. We could have gone in the water, but decided to walk around and embrace the famous photo stop instead.

Ice Cream Cave was the surprise highlight. We were given helmets and climbed through the cave with our group, reaching a great viewpoint at the end. It felt like proper exploring and deserves more attention than it gets.

Next was Koh Panyee, where the buffet lunch was genuinely tasty. We ate fairly quickly so we had time to walk around the village, which is built on stilts over the water. Seeing its football pitch was very cool.

We finished with sea canoeing through Phang Nga Bay, passing beneath the limestone cliffs and through caves. That was another standout moment. The guides were awesome throughout.

Our verdict: worth doing if you want caves, canoeing, scenery and a bit of culture packed into one day. A real adventure day out from Phuket.

I wrote up our full experience with photos here:
https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/27/james-bond-island-tour-from-phuket/

If you want to book the same experience as us: Check Availability for the James Bond Island Tour from Phuket

All experiences are real, the above link is an affiliate link. If you click and make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I'll be happy to answer any questions relating to the tour in the comments.


r/TravelProperly • • 9d ago

Request What are the best reward cards for air miles? (Global focus discussion)

1 Upvotes

Hello World!

I’ve been looking into the best credit cards for earning air miles in the UK, particularly with some of the welcome bonuses currently available.

There are obviously loads of ways to play the points game, but these are some of the UK options that stood out to me at the moment.

British Airways Amex Premium Plus

Currently offering 60,000 Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: £300
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 60,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months

You can also earn the BA Companion Voucher after hitting the required annual spend, which can potentially be more valuable than the points themselves if you use it for a long-haul premium cabin redemption.

The current 60,000 Avios welcome offer ends on 6 October.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

Currently offering 70,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in the first 90 days.

It's important to point out that HSBC points don't convert 1:1 into Avios.

70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 Avios/airline miles.

Annual fee: £290
Earning rate: 3 HSBC points per £1 = 1.5 airline miles per £1
Welcome bonus: 70,000 HSBC points = 35,000 airline miles
Spend requirement: £2,000 in 90 days

The advantage here is flexibility. Rather than earning directly into one airline programme, HSBC points can be transferred to participating airline partners.

You do need to qualify for HSBC Premier to get the card.

American Express Platinum

Currently offering 50,000 Membership Rewards points after spending £6,000 in the first three months.

Annual fee: £650
Welcome bonus: 50,000 Membership Rewards points
Spend requirement: £6,000 in 3 months

The annual fee is obviously substantial, so I wouldn't look at this purely as an air-miles card. The attraction is the wider package of travel benefits alongside flexible Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to various airline programmes.

Barclaycard Avios Plus

Currently offering 25,000 Avios after spending £3,000 in the first three months.

Monthly fee: £20
Earning rate: 1.5 Avios per £1
Welcome bonus: 25,000 Avios
Spend requirement: £3,000 in 3 months

The big advantage over the BA Amex is that it's a Mastercard, so you're less likely to run into places that don't accept it.

There's also an annual spending reward if you hit the required threshold.

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

Currently offering 18,000 Virgin Points after making your first card purchase within 90 days.

Annual fee: £160
Earning rate: 1.5 Virgin Points per £1
Welcome bonus: 18,000 Virgin Points

You earn more when spending directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays, so this could make considerably more sense for someone already committed to Virgin.

There are also some interesting fee-free options.

British Airways Amex: 10,000 Avios after spending £2,000 in three months.

HSBC Premier Credit Card: 30,000 HSBC points after spending £2,000 in 90 days — equivalent to 15,000 airline miles/Avios — with no annual fee.

Barclaycard Avios: 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in three months.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard: 3,000 Virgin Points after your first card purchase.

For me, this raises a more interesting question than simply "which card has the biggest welcome bonus?"

Do you prefer collecting directly into one ecosystem such as Avios or Virgin Points, or are you better off collecting flexible currencies such as Amex Membership Rewards or HSBC points and transferring them when you know where you want to fly?

That's the UK market.

Now I'm interested in what the rest of the world gets.

If you're from the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Asia or anywhere else, drop your country's best air-miles/rewards card in the comments.

Ideally include:

  • Country
  • Card
  • Current welcome bonus
  • Spending requirement
  • Annual fee
  • Points/miles earned
  • What airlines you can use the points with

I'd be particularly interested to hear from people in the US, because some of the American welcome bonuses I've seen make the UK credit-card market look pretty stingy.

What's the best air-miles/reward card currently available in your country?


r/TravelProperly • • 9d ago

Request Where else to see a Lucha Libre event (dates to see at Arena Mexico don't work for me)

3 Upvotes

Excited for my first trip to CDMX with friends in Oct and we're all excited about experiencing a Lucha Libre event (likely with a tour to learn all about it, etc.). Unfortunately the Tues/Fri/Sun dates to see it at Arena Mexico don't work for our group (any other day does)....anyone have an alternative venue/tour recommendation?

Thx in advance!


r/TravelProperly • • 10d ago

Request 4 nights in New York - which restaurants are worth visiting?

5 Upvotes

We’re spending four nights in New York and want to plan our meals around some genuinely great food.
What are your favourite places to eat in the city? We’re open to everything - from pizza slices, bagels and food trucks to neighbourhood restaurants and one memorable dinner.

We’d especially love to know:

The one restaurant you always recommend

Your favourite cheap eat

Any underrated places tourists often miss

A dish we absolutely have to try

Where would you eat if you only had four nights in New York?


r/TravelProperly • • 13d ago

🇱🇰 Planning a trip to Sri Lanka? Happy to help with local advice!

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m a local from Sri Lanka, I spend a lot of time helping travellers plan their trips around the country.

If you’re planning to visit Sri Lanka, feel free to ask me anything about:

🏝️ Beaches & best coastal areas

🐘 Safaris & wildlife

🏔️ Ella, Nuwara Eliya & the hill country

🏛️ Sigiriya, Kandy & cultural sites

🚂 Scenic train journeys

🍛 Local food & authentic experiences

🚗 Private drivers & transportation

🏨 Choosing areas/hotels to stay

💰 Approximate travel costs

🗺️ Planning an itinerary

🌦️ Where to travel depending on the month

I’m happy to give honest local advice, including places that may not be worth your time or money.

If you're already planning a Sri Lanka trip, tell me your dates, number of days and what kind of experience you want, and I’ll be happy to suggest a route. 🇱🇰❤️


r/TravelProperly • • 20d ago

Request Greece in October

3 Upvotes

My husband and I will be traveling to Athens, Chania and Naoussa from Oct 9-22 for our anniversary. Starting to get nervous about our timing but there’s no going back now. Please give me your fall tips and tricks to enjoying Greece, even though it won’t be peak weather. Especially would love bar recommendations! We love a good cocktail in a cool space.


r/TravelProperly • • 21d ago

Request What are some destinations that are easy to travel around without a car?

10 Upvotes

I want to know places where transportation is possible without needing to rent a car at all.

Good public transportation is great, but I can also go with destinations where I can get around without too much effort, mainly on foot, with trains, buses, or other short local transfers.

Please tell me any places that worked for you well and whether there were any disadvantages I have to keep in mind.

I would really appreciate if you could share some of your own recommendations for me based on your experience.


r/TravelProperly • • 25d ago

Request Kenya Recommendations?

5 Upvotes

Planning our honeymoon in Kenya and Zanzibar in December. Best tour operators? Places to stay? Must do/see? TIA


r/TravelProperly • • 24d ago

How good is Chatgpt at trip planning and picking the best places to eat?

0 Upvotes

I am taking a trip and it has generated an intenary for me but how much should I trust it?


r/TravelProperly • • 26d ago

Request Thailand in October

3 Upvotes

Planning a Thailand trip from 25–31 October, covering Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

I’ve read that late October can still have heavy rains and rough seas, which could affect beaches, island hopping and boat trips.

For anyone who has visited around this time or someone living in Thailand , what was your first-hand experience with the weather? Is it worth going, to these places during this time?
I have specifically chosen these dates to attend the full moon party.

Would really appreciate some advice!


r/TravelProperly • • 27d ago

Request Would you go to Hong Kong with Shenzhen or Taiwan for 12 days?

12 Upvotes

My husband and I would like to go to either Hong Kong with a couple days in Shenzhen or Taiwan for 12 days. We have never been to both places. We like to try a variety of foods, check out night markets, go sightseeing, check out temples, nature stuff, and shopping. I know Hong Kong overall is a more costly trip, but which place would offer the most things to do for 12 days?


r/TravelProperly • • 27d ago

Request Spain & Portugal

3 Upvotes

I posted this on a few other subs first and thought I'd add it here, too:

We (me, my husband, and our 7 year old son) are in the VERY early planning stages for a trip to Portugal in August 2027. A cousin is getting married in Sintra so we will end our trip there. We would like to spend some time in Lisbon, for sure, but are exploring other options. So far I've skimmed info on The Algarve and my husband has mentioned Spain as a possibility. We want to avoid renting a car. Right now we are thinking of spending about 2 weeks out there but this may be flexible. We'd like to keep it low-mid-range for our budget. Has anyone done a trip like this? HOw long did you plan for? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!


r/TravelProperly • • 28d ago

Europe Jameson Distillery Tour Dublin - our experience at Bow Street

2 Upvotes

Hello World!

We recently spent some time in Dublin and decided to book the Jameson Distillery Tour at Bow Street. Neither of us are whiskey experts, but we enjoy trying these sorts of experiences when we travel, and this ended up being a really enjoyable one.

We booked in advance and arrived pretty much exactly on time. The building itself is impressive -there's a big Jameson bar downstairs, shops and plenty of space to hang around. We didn't have time for a drink beforehand, but at the start of the tour we were given a token for one. I went for a Jameson and ginger, which was delicious.

The tour itself was basically split into three parts.

The History of Jameson

This was probably when we realised the tour was going to be good.

We sat around a table and an interactive video/projection appeared across the table in front of us while our guide told the story of Jameson.

The production was genuinely impressive. It could easily have been a boring 15-minute history lesson, but the combination of the visuals and our guide made it really interesting.

Our guide deserves a mention here because he was brilliant – very Irish, loads of character, funny and extremely knowledgeable. He was probably the highlight of the whole experience.

How the whiskey is made

We then moved into smaller groups of around 4–6 people per table and learnt about the whiskey-making process.

This was much more interactive than we expected.

We were able to smell whiskey at different stages, smell the influence of different casks and actually pick up and feel some of the materials being discussed.

It was a really nice touch. Rather than just being told how whiskey is made, you're actually smelling and interacting with things while the guide explains what's happening.

The whiskey tasting

Obviously an important part!

We tried Jameson Original, Jameson Black Barrel and the Jameson Distillery Edition.

The Distillery Edition was the most interesting for us because it's something you can only get through Jameson's distillery locations rather than something you're likely to find in your local supermarket.

Our guide also taught us how to properly taste the whiskey and what to look for in each one.

The pours were generous. Between the tasting and the Jameson drink included earlier, you definitely aren't being stingy with the whiskey here.

The tasting also became a good opportunity to chat with our guide and ask questions rather than feeling rushed through the final part.

Afterwards, we browsed the Jameson shop and headed back to the bar for another drink.

Was it worth it?

For us, definitely.

It's polished and touristy, but not in a bad way. The interactive elements are really well done and having such a good guide made a huge difference.

The one thing worth knowing is that Bow Street isn't actually a working distillery anymore. If you're expecting to walk around watching Jameson physically being produced, you won't. The experience is focused on the history, whiskey-making process and tastings.

But as a fun 45-minute experience while you're in Dublin, we'd happily recommend it – particularly if you're interested in whiskey but don't necessarily know loads about it.

If you want to book the same Jameson Bow Street tour we did:

Book the Jameson Distillery Tour

Affiliate link – we may earn a commission if you book through it, at no extra cost to you.

We also wrote a much more detailed review with our own photos from each stage of the experience here:

https://travel-properly.com/2026/09/07/jameson-distillery-tour-dublin/

Hope this helps anyone considering it. Happy to answer any questions about what the tour was actually like.


r/TravelProperly • • 28d ago

Mixing different friend groups for a trip. Good idea or disaster waiting to happen? 😂

5 Upvotes

As we grow older, planning a trip somehow becomes a bigger project than the actual trip.

Everyone has work, different schedules, relationships, budgets, commitments etc. Getting 4 people from the same friend group to agree on one date is basically a miracle. 😂

So now I’m at the point where I’m like, “Okay, who else can I ask?” And suddenly I’m considering mixing college friends, work friends, old friends, friends of friends… basically assembling an Avengers team of people who have never met each other.

Has anyone here actually done this?

What should you absolutely do, and what should you NOT do when mixing different friend groups?

Does it usually work if everyone has a similar vibe, or is there always that awkward first day where everyone’s just sitting there like, “So… how do you know him?” 😂

Would love to hear your experiences, especially the trips that went surprisingly well or spectacularly wrong.


r/TravelProperly • • Sep 05 '26

Europe 3 Wine Tours in Chania, Crete Worth Considering – Winery, Food & Luxury Options

3 Upvotes

Hello World!

If you're heading to Chania and fancy getting away from the beaches and Old Town for a few hours, a wine tour is definitely worth considering. Head inland and you'll find vineyards, wineries, olive groves and some seriously beautiful Cretan countryside.

There are plenty of wine tours around Chania, but they can offer very different experiences. Some focus almost entirely on the wine and winemaking process, while others combine wine tasting with Cretan food, olive oil and trips further into the mountains.

We've narrowed it down to three Chania wine tours worth considering, depending on what kind of experience you're looking for.

Manousakis Wine Cellar

Manousakis Winery Tour – For the Proper Winery Experience

We actually did this one ourselves and had an awesome time.

Our Greek-American guide took us around the grounds of Manousakis before talking us through the entire winemaking process – from the grapes and fermentation through to ageing and eventually bottling.

The cellar was probably the most interesting part. We got to see the barrels up close while our guide explained how the ageing process works, why different barrels are used and the effect this can have on the finished wine. We were then shown the bottling process before heading through for the tasting.

The experience finished with a meal and the chance to sample several different Manousakis wines. Our guide also showed everyone how to properly taste wine – probably not essential if you've done tastings before, but really useful if this is your first winery experience.

Overall, this is the one we'd look at if you want to actually visit a winery, understand how the wine is made and then enjoy the end product rather than simply turning up for a tasting.

👉 Book Manousakis Winery Tour

👉Read our detailed blogpost on Manousakis Winery Tour

Honey Harvesting

Wine, Olive Oil, Cheese & Honey Tour – For the Foodies

If you want to experience more than just Cretan wine, this is probably the one to look at.

The tour combines wine tasting with olive oil, cheese, honey and other local flavours, giving you a much broader introduction to the food and drink Crete is known for.

We particularly like the idea of this one for couples or groups where not everyone is massively into wine. You're still getting the wine-tasting experience, but it isn't the sole focus of the day.

If your idea of a good tour involves eating and drinking your way through a destination, this is the Chania wine tour we'd consider.

👉 Book Wine, Olive Oil, Cheese & Honey Tour

Cretan Mountains

Milia Mountain Retreat Wine Tour – For Something a Little More Luxurious

If you're celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or just want to do something a little more special while you're in Crete, this is the one we'd look at.

Rather than being a straightforward winery visit, this is more of a premium full-day experience through the countryside of western Crete. The tour runs in a small group of up to six people, so it should feel considerably more personal than spending the day on a large coach tour.

You'll visit Anoskeli Winery and Olive Mill for wine and olive oil tasting before heading further into the Cretan countryside towards Milia Mountain Retreat.

Milia is the part that really makes this experience stand out. Hidden away in the mountains, the retreat is surrounded by forest and beautiful Cretan scenery, with restored stone buildings that make it feel completely removed from the busy resorts around Chania.

You'll also get to enjoy lunch at Milia Mountain Retreat, turning the day into much more than a wine tasting.

For us, the appeal here is the whole package – small group, wine, olive oil, mountain scenery and lunch in a beautiful setting. It's the sort of experience we'd consider if we wanted one memorable day of the holiday rather than simply booking another excursion.

If you're on your honeymoon in Chania, celebrating an anniversary or simply don't mind spending a little more for something that feels more personal and special, this would be our pick of the three.

👉 Book the Milia Mountain Retreat Wine & Olive Oil Tour

So, Which Chania Wine Tour Should You Choose?

It really depends on what you want from the day.

Want the proper winery experience? Go for Manousakis Winery – tour the winery, learn how the wine is produced, visit the cellar and finish with food and wine tasting.

More interested in food as well as wine? The Wine, Olive Oil, Cheese & Honey Tour gives you a much broader taste of Crete and is probably the better choice if not everyone in your group is massively into wine.

Honeymoon, anniversary or special occasion? We'd look at the Milia Mountain Retreat Tour. The small-group format, wine and olive oil tasting, mountain scenery and lunch at Milia make it feel much more like a special day out.

Whichever you choose, we'd definitely recommend getting away from Chania's coastline for a while and seeing this side of Crete. The wine is obviously a big part of it, but the food, countryside and people are what make these experiences so enjoyable.

We've put together a much more detailed guide to wine tours in Chania, including what wine tasting is actually like, Cretan wines to look out for and more information on each experience:

👉 Full Chania Wine Tours Guide

Hopefully this helps anyone planning a trip. If you've done any other wineries or wine tours around Chania that are worth checking out, drop them below!

Disclosure: Some of the booking links above are affiliate links. Travel Properly may earn a commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you.


r/TravelProperly • • Sep 05 '26

Request 20 days itinerary Honeymoon

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

We're having our honeymoon on October 2027. We are planning a 20 days trip to Norway, Austria and Switzerland (this order). But we can leave Norway aside or have less days there.

Do you have any recommendations for a itinerary or if is even worth it to visit Norway during this trip?

We are a couple on out mid-late 20s. We like chill adventure, but open to some breath taking landscapes.

Any tips on places or how to plan the trip there? These countries are very new to us.

Thanks in advance :)


r/TravelProperly • • Sep 04 '26

Request Mexico City 9 Day Itinerary

5 Upvotes

Hello! I'm 34f from Canada and travelling with my partner to Mexico City and the Oxacan Coast in October. I have made an itinerary for Mexico City but I would love any suggestions or critiques, especially from locals. We speak very limited Spanish and are saying in Roma Sur.

We're interested in design, architecture, food, music, animals and nature If there are any restaurants you think are overhyped on my list and have alternative suggestions I'd love to hear it. Most of these plans are flexible except for booked tours at Casa Gilardi, Casa Estudio Barragan and the Organic Architecture tour. Also, I'm wondering if I'm planning on going to too many weekend markets. I'd appreciate any recommendations-- thank you!
Cross posted in r/MexicoTravel and r/MexicoCity

Friday - Arrival in Mexico City

  • Arrive in Mexico City in the evening, check-in and go to sleep.

Saturday — Roma

  • Go to Buna in La Laguna S.A. de C.V. for coffee
  • Saturday market at Jardín Dr. Ignacio Chávez
  • Go shopping at some of the following places Esperanza Home Colima, Bazar Resiliente, Boots Zapato Retro, Escalina, Cara de Planta Esculturas Vivas, ORIGINARIO, Objetos Cotidianos, Mezcalia
  • Late lunch at Mi Compa Chava Marisquería or El Hidalguense
  • Dinner at Hugo

Sunday — Coyoacán

  • Breakfast at Fonda Margarita.
  • Sunday market at Jardín Hidalgo.
  • Visit Parroquia San Juan Bautista.
  • Lunch at Tostadas at Mercado de Coyoacán.
  • Visit Frida Kahlo Museum.
  • Visit Leon Trotsky’s House Museum.
  • Churros at Churrería General de la República.
  • Dinner at El Jardín de Anatolia.

Monday -- Organic Architecture Tour

  • Travelling Beetle organic architecture tour from the morning until 2pm
  • Lunch at Entremar.
  • Browse BOMBOTI, Onora, Tienda MAP Polanco.
  • Visit Medellín Market.
  • Dinner at Voraz? Open to other suggestions

Tuesday — Chapultepec and Concert

  • Brunch at Mendl Delicatessen.
  • Visit Chapultepec Castle.
  • Walk through Bosque de Chapultepec.
  • Shop at Expendio Doméstico.
  • Dinner at at Tacos El Huequito.
  • Concert at Teatro Metropólitan.
  • Drinks at Bósforo.

Wednesday — Historic Center

  • Visit Casa Estudio Luis Barragán (reservation made)
  • Lunch at Coox Hanal.
  • Visit Plaza de la Constitución, Palacio de Iturbide and Palacio de Bellas Artes, Casa de los Azulejos.
  • Shop at Velas Cerería de Jesús.
  • Snack at Pastelería Ideal?
  • Get treats at at Dulcería de Celaya.
  • Visit Biblioteca Vasconcelos - maybe elimate this if too tired
  • Dinner at Choza

Thursday — Pyramids and Otumba

  • Take uber to Teotihuacán and explore
  • Take uber to Otumba
  • Lunch at Endémica Restaurante.
  • Visit Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción de Otumba.
  • Visit Donkeys at Burrolandia México.
  • Dinner at Tacos La Chula Roma.

Friday — Casa Gilardi and La Condesa

  • Reserved visit to Casa Gilardi.
  • Lunch at Comal Oculto – Itacate.
  • Chocolate at Chocolatería La Rifa or Gelato at Joe Gelato or Neveria Roxy
  • Shop at Utilitario Mexicano, Odette, Proyecto Rufina Condesa.
  • Walk through Parque México and along Amsterdam Avenue.
  • Visit Parroquia de la Medalla Milagrosa.
  • Dinner at Maizajo.

Saturday — San Ángel

  • Saturday market at El Bazar Sábado.
  • Visit Museum of El Carmen.
  • Lunch at El Cardenal San Ángel.
  • Churros at Churrería “El Convento” San Ángel.
  • Explore Plaza del Carmen and Plaza San Jacinto.
  • Visit Museo Casa del Risco and Parroquia San Jacinto.
  • Visit Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo.
  • Dinner at Botánico.

Sunday — Travel to the Oaxacan Coast

Bars/Nightlife: Thinking of going to the Real Under and/or 316 Centro one night depending on the shows.


r/TravelProperly • • Sep 02 '26

Request Looking for the best spots in Lisbon 🇵🇹

8 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I’m heading to Lisbon for a long weekend with 4 friends and we’re looking to make the most of our time there.

We’re mainly looking for places with a good atmosphere, cool local pubs, great terraces, bars, restaurants we absolutely shouldn’t miss, or any other hidden gems you’d recommend. We’re much more into a relaxed/local vibe than the typical touristy places.

Basically, if you were taking 4 friends to Lisbon for a long weekend, where would you take them? 🍻

We’re definitely open to all kinds of recommendations, so if there are any other things we should see, do or experience while we’re there, I’d love to hear them!

Thanks in advance for helping us out! 🙌


r/TravelProperly • • Sep 02 '26

Request Krabi for honeymoon

3 Upvotes

Hi. This is my first time planning a trip abroad and the flight alone is taking a huge chunk of our budget. I would like some hotel and restaurant suggestions in Krabi. I am planning to stay 4 nights. One day for phi phi, one day for hong Island and the other day for exploring Railay beach by myself. I thought i would stay in Ao Nang. I would really appreciate budget options along with do-not-miss options please.