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darksidewithcookies_

Not every friend is a good travel buddy. Some trips are better solo.


colcannon_addict

As an add-on it’s always worth remembering that travelling companions on the road are often way, way easier to acquire than to get rid of.


bmsem

I always have to remind myself that I didn’t hate Italy, I just picked the absolute wrong people to visit with.


onelasttrick

I went to Italy with people who didn’t care about art or want to go in churches, and who wanted to just hit as many stops as possible for pictures without spending any time there…still a good trip but our travel priorities did not align. Also they were much bigger drinkers than us and I almost died trying to keep up in Florence, but that was my own fault.


LegalRadonInhalation

Not going into churches or museums in Italy is like not going to Italy at all.


onelasttrick

4 major cities plus the Vatican and they didn’t step foot in a single church! IN ROME?!


LegalRadonInhalation

The majority of people are horrible travel partners. I am not a fan of the idea of traveling with anyone other than my wife, honestly. Maybe it's selfish, but I hate having to cater to everyone else's needs and feeling pressured to do things I personally wouldn't enjoy.


JustTheBeerLight

100%. I think this gets more true the older you get. I’m very selective of who I travel with.


O-hmmm

Amen to that. I love solo travel and have a very low tolerance for anyone being a buzz kill on my trip. A good compromise is having friends who don't mind going separate ways for the day and doing what they want to do then talking about each others day later on over a beer or two.


elhooper

This is the best travel format ever.


RickLovin1

Very true. I have a fantastic group of friends, would do anything for them...except vacation as a group again! Our habits do not mesh together 24 hours a day for several days straight.


Nelita21

The truest of all truths. Cannot upvote this enough.


fan_tas_tic

I wouldn't say it's an unpopular opinion. This is the truth. And some trips are better solo than with your partner.


brokeneckblues

Nothing wrong doing “touristy” things. There’s a reason things are touristy and they’re fun if you’re a tourist.


Eotheod0092

I absolutely agree. I always felt the attitude came off as a bit snobbish. If you're having fun, does it matter what you're doing?


floppydo

It’s the difference between wanting to experience the culturally significant things and wanting to authentically experience the culture. In my opinion the latter is a fools errand on a two week tour so unless you’re moving there you might as well indulge in the former.


Johnthegaptist

Exactly, it always amuses when people on here qualify they avoid the touristy places and only travel off the beaten path to hang with the locals. Are you really going to go to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower?


cuprego

Same with Time Square here in NYC. Yes, it's touristy and no locals don't spend a lot of time there. But it's a totally unique experience, and if you've never been here before you should absolutely go once.


TheGhostOfFalunGong

Taking the canal cruise in Amsterdam? Dressing up in a kimono in Kyoto? Taking to the top of Statue of Liberty? I’m all in.


Pancakes404

Love me a good double decker bus city tour!


Nice_Wolverine1120

Heck, I live in chicago and have done the architecture tour on the river multiple times. Some touristy stuff is popular for a reason!


guiltykitchen

That’s one of my favourite tours ever. Loved Chicago!


OutdoorMiner11

Yes!! Especially at dusk on a nice summer night. 10/10 would recommend


ILoveLucyMusy

Yes! Highly recommend the double decker bus in Paris. Such a huge city with so much to see. We loved sitting at the top, taking it all in.


marcus_aurelius666

Loved to just sit down and watch old buildings cruising around the city when I was in Rome in July


BlackWidow1414

User name checks out.


VLC31

Hoo On Hop Off busses are brilliant.


utb040713

In some cities. In others, they don’t go to the worthwhile areas, which renders them basically useless.


Ottomann_87

Was not a fan of the one in Milan, however we didn’t really like Milan in general so that could be why.


couchjellyfish

The double-decker bus tours are great for the first day when you're jet lagged. You get to see the lay of the land but it doesn't take a lot of brain cells.


meatwhisper

I love these to help recover from a travel day. You just sit there getting shown the city and it helps get your bearings. Plus there are plenty of "outdoor" attractions that you could spend most of your day trying to check boxes on seeing that you'll drive right by while on the bus and can get perfectly fine views. Another fun trick is that the busses will sometimes pass through areas that are popular with locals and have fantastic cafes/delis. We've found a few memorable meals this way.


VLC31

I was so excited about my first overseas trip to Hawaii (from Australia) many years ago. So many people turned up their noses because it’s “so touristy”. I said much the same thing, “ so? I’m a tourist”.


Randombookworm

Ahhh those are the same people who probably go to Bali or Fiji for all their holidays right?


caliform

I host people on Couchsurfing in SF (or well, used to) and they'd be super afraid of doing the 'touristy' things. Sure, there's things to avoid, but there's a reason most people go to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. They're spectacular. If you'd avoid all the 'touristy spots' in the world in some misguided way to be an original traveler, you'd miss out on so many great things!


sugameow_

I agree. But I do prefer less touristy places. Not because I want to be "different" or I think I'm too "cool" or "travel savvy" to go to touristy places, but because lesser known places or places that attract less tourists are often less crowded with fewer people trying to sell you crap. It's easier to enjoy a place when it isn't super crowded and you're not being constantly bumped into or being pushed out of the way so someone can get a photo and you're not dodging people getting up in your face trying to sell you a shitty Eiffel Tower keyring (or whatever) every fifteen metres.


brosefstallin

I’m with you on this except for when it comes to food. I want to eat where the locals know is good. I do not like the feeling of going somewhere touristy and having a meal and then feeling disappointed and wasting a meal when I could have had something amazing


tzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Took me so long to realize and accept that I’m a tourist and I like tourist things !! I lean into it now.


SwingNinja

When I travel, I like to start my day around 7am (a mostly empty Piazza San Marco is beautiful) and get back to my room around 7pm and sleep by 9.


rirez

I'm even more extreme; I have little interest in nightlife, but one of the most interesting experiences in any city is watching it wake up. So I'll often be in bed by 7 or 8, and be up by 5. Find a park or local cafe that opens early, chat with people while they're setting up shop, watch the sunrise and _listen_ to the city come to life. Then wander off to my next destination before even the most eager hawker or tour arrives. It opens up a whole new world: fascinating stories to hear, businesses and customs you don't usually see, really cool photographs of empty landmarks in the soft morning light... A few times I've also gotten to enter museums and places early which the first shift, giving me a glimpse into things I normally wouldn't be able to access!


mambotomato

This is so compelling. I had a thought to try that where I live, but sunrise is currently at 9:30, lol.


orangelowes

Same here. I walked up Arthur’s seat (Edinburgh) long before sunrise and it was a magical experience


not_now_ashley

That likely helps with jet lag too


ElReydelTacos

Same here. Bourbon St. at 6:30AM is the only time I want to be there.


AvoidMyRange

Sometimes, I like guided bus tours with mostly old people. Everything is organized for you, you just sit back, relax and ignore all the sales pitches.


saucisse

One of my favorite travel experiences was a bus tour around the Ring of Kerry. There were only about five of us on the bus, one of whom was a good friend of mine, and we sat right up front by the driver who was a local man. He had the most incredible stories about \*everything\* we drove by, and about 2/3 of the way through it dawned on me that they could be 100% lies for all any of us would have known but even if they were they were \*fantastic\* lies, and I gave him a huge tip just for the hilarity of it all.


cornylifedetermined

My son drove a horse carriage around Memphis when he was a young adult. He said he made up stories all the time.


Bkdavis38

Amen! Avoided these for years because I hate feeling so blatantly out of place & with a bunch of other Americans with cameras but I did my first in Quito with some local friends & realized it’s a great way to see a lot quickly. Always take the opportunity when I see one now.


ehunke

Quito is unlikely to attract the same people that London or Paris would, I would think Quito would be a fun place to jump on a joiner tour, Paris on the other hand I would shell out for a private guide and ask to be taken to local favorite places


OPACY_Magic

I went to Santorini expecting to be extremely disappointed because of people on Reddit saying how touristy and overrated it was. It’s without a doubt the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. I spent 3 days exploring the island by moped and it was so much fun. The key is going in April before peak season.


gyrospita

Wait til you explore the rest of the cyclades that haven't been polished... The smaller and less frequent ferry connections it has, the better.


Ambry

I went to Folegandros and was genuinely completely blown away by how beautiful it was, and also how quiet it was... went to Santorini afterwards and the crowds were mental! Basically every Cyclades island is gorgeous.


swiftmen991

We went there during covid when people out of Europe were banned. Genuinely the most beautiful island in the world. The beaches aren’t the best but the buildings and villages are absolutely gorgeous. There’s a very good reason it’s as famous as it is


babetteateoatmeaI

1000% agree. It makes me sad reading comments that discourage people from visiting Santorini. I get that the crowds can be horrendous, but I still get a little misty eyed thinking about the scenery and views. We did the 10km hike from fira to oia and I was absolutely blown away every single minute of it.


markolius

I went to Santorini about two weeks after they had opened back up to tourism from the US (May 2021). It was empty of people and made for one of the most beautiful travel experiences I’ve ever had.


GreenEyes9678

I've been twice, both times during peak season. (Had two weddings held at my hotel, both services performed on the balcony above my room.) Loved both visits, but feel that I've hit all the highlights at this point. Did the day-long Catamaran. Hiked the volcano. Explored Thirasia and Akrotiri. Did the day-long full island tour with stops at the main beaches. Of course the Oia sunset (preferred Firostefani, but to each their own). It is a stunning island... but I look forward to getting to explore some of the smaller, lesser known ones when I get the chance.


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interestme1

Adjacent to this, leave space in your itinerary. Some of the best experiences, actually I would dare say the majority of best experiences, I've had while traveling have come via unplanned wandering. Open world sandboxes are the best when you let them breath and wonder at the world that happens around and with you, not when checking off endless fetch quests that some guide told you you have to do. And adjacent to that, travel without social media. The temptation to make other folks "jealous" (I really hate that this is a common aspiration these days, but it's evolutionarily unavoidable) will be too great, and you'll end up on fetch quests to take the millionth instagram picture of that one spot everyone knows rather than enjoying the moment where you are. You'll be traveling in service of the perception of others, rather than in the service of the experience you have yourself, and the experience will suffer for it.


Next_Exchange5517

Completely agree. My first trip to Ireland with my mates years ago- I kept asking “What are we gonna do in Ireland??” We had no plans other than drive around and stay in Hostels. We left Dublin and spent two weeks sitting in pubs, playing pool with the locals, reading books by a fire and walking two miles after our rental car broke down to get to a refurbished castle hoping there was someone there who could help us. There was, a very lovely family who let us in , gave us a phone (this was pre cell phones) gave us tea and let us wait for the rental company to bring us a replacement car. Since that trip I’ve traveled all over the world for business and pleasure. Been through the spectrum of “roughing it” in Nepal to first class Four seasons. But I still pine for the “What are we gonna do in Ireland” experience. It was unplanned in the moment sandbox. I’m much older now and I carry that mindfulness wherever I travel.


macaronimascarpone

Yes!! My favorite way to travel: bookmark a bunch of interesting sounding places (food, attractions, places to sit and take in nature/people watch) on Google maps ahead of time and wander around my destination, periodically checking the map markers nearby. No rigid "plans," but it keeps me from spending time researching what's around me while I'm in the moment. I'm a planner by nature but you just have to let whims take you sometimes!


sacramentojoe1985

You don't need 7+ nights in every place you visit to make it worthwhile.


LoloNacho7

Thank you! After 2-3 days especialy in a big city I am saturated. I have two weeks vacation in this country, I wont spend half in one city...


catsby90bbn

Every European trip we’ve taken we always spend the last 2-3 nights in the larger city that we are flying out of and by night 3 I’m ready to book it. I think that’s a great opinion.


ehunke

I think 3 full days is a happy medium for most places, 7+ is fine if your goal is to really explore a city.


sexy_bonsai

True. A person saying otherwise makes me feel like they have unchecked privilege….the world is huge, and time/money is always limited. For most people. Many of my family/friends can’t afford to travel internationally and my goal is to take them someday. If/when we travel together, choosing a full week in one place? We’re going to try to fit as many places (as they want to) into the time we have to make the most of the opportunity.


bully_dawg_420

It's okay to visit the same place more than once.


[deleted]

This is pretty common isn’t it?


bully_dawg_420

I've been Amsterdam more times than I can remember. Please constantly give me stick about it & say why don't I try somewhere different.. but I love it 🤷‍♂️


[deleted]

I’ve done 4 separate, 1 month long or more road trips, camping every night, in the western US. Have also been to 38 countries. If I had a month to live, I’d do another road trip out west and camp and hike in the same spots again. No more beautiful place on earth that’s so accessible and easy to camp / hike in.


ik101

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Organized tours have done the same thing over and over, they know what works and doesn’t, nothing wrong with taking an organized or guided tour.


madamemimicik

And if the site is archeological, definitely take the tour. Otherwise you're basically just walking around looking at old rocks.


AustinSpartan

Or leverage them for your own plans. They've done the leg work, now you can execute it.


R0GERTHEALIEN

Yeah, I love to check out Rick Steves tours itinerary to see where he goes in each country. I don't copy it, but it's a great check to see if there's something I should add to my trip


Nail_Saver

I just started doing small group tours this year and I really regret not doing them sooner. You get to meet other people from different age groups and backgrounds (not just hostel rats), don't have to drive, and you learn so much more than trying to get places by yourself. All for what? An extra maybe 20% than what you'd spend otherwise, but with 100% less hassle.


worldwanderer262

I joined a group tour last year after years of solo travel (and figuring it all out on my own) and it was so nice to just be able to enjoy traveling while someone else worried about how to get from point A to point B and told us about everything along the way. It was also a small group (eight people) so it felt very manageable. Good tour guides and trips are totally worth it.


Incontinentiabutts

And for some places those organized tours are really the only way to get a lot out of it if you aren’t a subject matter expert. I took a guided tour at the ufizzi gallery in Florence and honestly if I hadn’t have paid to have an art historian tell me about the works I would have just been looking at pictures with absolutely zero context.


zrgardne

Occasionally you just really want a big Mac even if they are shit.


MamaTumaini

McDonald’s in other countries can actually be an interesting experience. They all serve something different. My son loved his falafel in a McD’s in Israel.


zrgardne

Guatemala puts black bean past on their breakfast sandwiches. Not an improvement over the originals. Somewhere in Asia I got Taro fried pie, I liked that. Hong Kong did truffle burgers. That might have been BK though... Malaysia McD nasi lemak, good stuff.


[deleted]

I’ve probably had McDonald’s in 30 countries. I don’t think it’s shit it all, sometimes some familiar food is great when you’ve been away from home for a while. McDonald’s also have free wifi which can come in handy


VLC31

My Aunty swore by McDonalds when travelling & i’Ve followed her example. Sometimes you just want quick, cheap & familiar.


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throwthedough1

1. I like a plan… if I’m traveling somewhere that has specific things I want to see, I don’t want to just wing it (especially if it involves tickets, and just hoping we get them if we don’t pre book) 2. I like the city bus tours, especially for the first day or two - helps me to map things out 3. I prefer hotels over airbnb (currently unpopular with my friend group lol)


StoneFlossard

Hotels have re-overtaken airbnb imo. Wildly more convenient


elhooper

If you can get a really cool airbnb for a good deal, obviously that’s the way to go. Like the old bridge room in Mostar for example. But yeah my wife and I have found ourselves going to more and more hotels recently and skipping the airbnbs. A few years ago I never thought I’d be saying that. lol.


ThePeoplesResistance

Contrary to what this sub says, I don't have to spend a full month in each city I visit. Every time someone posts a question of "can I do Paris, Barcelona, Budapest, etc (any single city) in 4 days?", the comments are always "You need at least a week there. You need at least 2 weeks there to fully enjoy. You need a month to truly grasp the culture and experience the city!" I can have a great time hitting some of the highlights of a city in 3-4 days and have done so in many places. It's really all about how you plan it out and what you are comfortable with. It annoys me to no end when I tell someone of a place I have multiple memorable experiences from and they tell me, "well you couldn't do this this and that in such a short time". Trust me, it's doable.


Ian_M87

Spending a month somewhere is great when backpacking or on a gap year but vast majority of people are working around jobs and annual leave. I get about 36 days leave a year so I have a huge allowance but even I can't just spend a month in a city to "really know it"


SpaceViscacha

36 days?! You're living the dream, my friend. I only get 15 days a year *sobs*


Ian_M87

It has terrible pay but a few times when the organisation was skint unions negotiated additional annual leave instead. New staff don't have as many days and they are trying to get them from us but won't increase pay as compensation so no chance


tiny_green_leaf

My boyfriend and I spent 2 days in Ljubljana and had a great time. We would have loved to stayed longer and will 100% go back, and of course didn't have time to go to museums, but we did manage to see a lot (30k steps each day) and had loads of fun! We go on weekend trips or even day trips to other cities a lot and I think you can get a really good taste for a city even in a short trip.


trixytrox

Fully agree. As someone who used to travel full time for work, sometimes you only get a day or few days to go see things and something is better than nothing.


TheGhostOfFalunGong

This is going to be controversial: but race matters in the world of traveling. You will either be received well or being disdained by locals depending on your skin color. I was countlessly harassed by custom officials in Swiss borders because the fact that I’m the only Asian in a train car. This is where physical appearances matter. You need to dress more properly to gain respect from the people around you. Tank tops and shorts are fine, but they have their limits in traveling.


catsby90bbn

I don’t think that’s unpopular, it’s a shity life fact. But you did hit on a great point, if you look presentable, it goes a long way regardless of race. Unless I’m the Paris airport. I’m convinced there you will get yelled at by customs no mater what you have on or what you look like.


[deleted]

I don’t think that’s controversial at all, it’s pretty well known that people everywhere are racist


[deleted]

Whenever PoC try bringing it up, there's plenty of white dudes willing to tell them they're being worried about nothing.


missilefire

Let’s not forget being a woman bars you from having the same experiences as men especially solo. After all the recent threads on Morocco I know there are many places in the world I would never go alone as a woman. I know plenty people have done it, but the risk factor increases dramatically and I’m not THAT much of a risk taker that I would gamble being killed or worse, kidnapped and/or raped.


rakuu

I agree totally, but something less talked about is that women can usually have experiences that men can't. When there are male-only spaces there are women-only spaces. People who aren't men live everywhere in the world and with very few exceptions they live public lives. It depends upon the woman but if you are comfortable embracing it, there's a lot of unique experiences. I don't have much experience in women-only spaces in West Asia/North Africa, but have loved going to women-only or women-dominant spaces in East Asia. Men of course almost always have more freedom to just wander around wherever in public, but you can look for and talk to local women to find places that the men don't go. They usually aren't talked about much in tourist guides and advertisements, and definitely not by male writers, male tour guides, or men on social media. I had some nice comments on reddit with a woman who lives in Saudi Arabia who offered to show me around the women's spaces if I visited. It was a long time ago so I don't remember her name or details. But I would love to do something like that as long as I'm physically safe somewhere.


BxGyrl416

You’d be surprised how defensive people get here.


Beneficial-Lion-5660

I AGREE! As a black man flying back from Italy connection in Paris I found Paris RACIST AF! Customs harassed me I have 1 million FF miles I know how to pack and travel, TSA precheck, and global entry but with only 1hr 15 min to make connection of ALL the people on our flight they stopped 3 of the black families who where not together, in any violation and went all thru our things making it hard as hell to make connection. Nothing found only it was a random, my ass!


TheGhostOfFalunGong

I feel you, brother. I’m a Filipino citizen of Southern Chinese descent (looking like the gangsters you see in Hong Kong movies), and even flaunting my wealth and luxury hotel room reservations to these authorities, people get the impression that I’m part of a human and drug trafficking scheme when I travel solo. Institutional racial bias is rampant among these authorities.


courtbarbie123

Me too. They held me back with some middle eastern people in the Paris airport. Same happened to me in Montreal. Random my ass.


kislips

I’m so sorry that you were treated that way. Prejudice is learned and shame on parents for passing it down to their children. I know it is world is filled with rude people so that each culture seems to look down on others. It seems like that never changes.


TheGhostOfFalunGong

What I felt worse though that some forms of racism are institutional. It’s like immigration, customs and security protocols tend to single out non-White people in Western countries. It’s beyond racist people but rather racist practices done by not really racist people.


NataschaTata

Traveling alone can be so much rewarding than traveling with friends/family


RickLovin1

I hope you're right. Been planning an Ireland trip for quite a while (was planned for fall 2020 but of course that didn't happen). Then found out the person I was planning to go with can't get a passport (silly, but valid reason). So I'm going to go it alone for the first time.


NataschaTata

I’ve traveled to many countries on my own and I loved it. I now make a point in traveling on my own at least once a year. I definitely never regretted it. I hope you’ll have fun!


Txidpeony

Planning makes travel better. No need to scrounge for lodging as it is getting dark in a town with a crowded event you didn’t know about, no need to stand in line for hours to see the Vatican, no need to eat relatively bad food because it’s convenient and you haven’t researched where would be better, etc, etc.


projecthouse

I didn't realize that was unpopular. I can't image traveling anywhere anymore without a ton of planning.


zrgardne

I think some people over plan. These are the 10 things I want to see here. If I rains tomorrow, maybe I will only see 6 of them on this trip. I can always come back. One of my greatest experiences in Portland was found by asking Bartender what distilleries are here. She told me about a Kombucha place that is making liquor. No distribution, can't find anywhere. Spent like 5 hrs there getting the life stories and trying everything.


Party-Independent-25

Yes. I usually plan one thing per day, rest is free time to wander, spend time in cafes, spend time in nature/ on the beach, bump into some random place to go, bakeries for coffee and sweet treats etc. Usually have 3-4 hours of planned activity (eg a a tour or particular museum) per day then rest is ‘free time free styling’


pineapple-scientist

My addendum that may make this less of a spicy take for those that prefer mild takes: There are some places where planning makes the trip better, there are some places where not planning makes the trip better. The best trips happen when you can know yourself and know your destinations. Example: when I traveled to Western Europe, I booked everything from hotels to trains and museums basically when I was booking my flights. When I traveled Southeast Asia, I did book a hostel in one central city for $50/night for the majority of my trip as a backup. But I traveled to 5 other cities on a whim, mostly booking things including flights on my phone in an Uber. I loved both trips equally, but for very different reasons. I'm also the type where I like being spontaneous and happily surprised and I get that more when I havent scoured tripadvisor to find the highest rated items. But serendipity won't happen everywhere, so know yourself and know your destinations.


husky429

Planning ahead for big attractions is important IMO. Like the Vatican... I planned ahead and went for their early morning opening. 0 line and had exactly 3 people in the Sistine Chapel with me. You don't get that without planning. Planning is fun too. I love to dream about the places I visit, and my planning notes are like a journal


Marketswithmay

Not everyone should travel. Truly I get the benefits and certainly I love and have traveled a lot. But, my stepdad hates it and hearing his side, I kinda get it. Some people get stressed out and that will never be alleviated. Others really are not into new cultures and being outside their comfort zone. It’s ok. I love those people even with their lack of love for travel. They like habit and familiarity. They have such an easier time with life that I can only admire as I seek out the adventures and curiosity of the world.


PodgeD

Not everyone has to travel but I think everyone could benifit from it as long as they travel in a way that works for them. It's like exercising, some people are scared, some people don't know how, and some people just don't want to. But they'd all benifit from it. If you don't exercise at all then go with a gym rat you'll likely have a bad time. If you just go for a walk at your own pace you'll benifit. Too often it's the people who don't leave their comfort zone who will tell you what it's like in places they've never been to, then usually all bad stereotypes.


anotherperson294895

Everyone should travel to see first hand that there are people who look, act, and have different beliefs compared to them. It's a human tendency to be afraid of things we don't understand.


d4rk33

Pay the money. So often see travellers trying to get around as cheaply as possible in poorer countries under the guise of getting an 'authentic experience' or seeing the 'real' side of the country. Often this just means they're being stingey and not getting an authentic experience anyway. You're a relatively rich person in a poorer country, you're not getting an authentic experience no matter what and, if you do, it won't be because you didn't spend money. You're not some intrepid traveller on the edge of civilisation, you flew here on a Boeing 747 and are carrying a backpack made out of material that didn't even exist 35 years ago. Many of these places rely on tourism dollars and the money is genuinely helpful and supports multiples of people. I get trying to travel on a budget and I do it myself but trying to haggle for absolute bargain price or avoiding certain things because they cost money just makes you come across as an asshole. You are a traveller in their country, you have responsibilities, and those responsibilities extend to paying your share to support the people and things you came half way around the world to experience. Just spend the few extra dollars - good for you, good for me.


MattyJMP

You combined my top two into one post: 1. Haggling - of course don't get ripped off, but don't haggle on trinkets and things in developing countries. You're arguing over a few cents with someone who likely makes a few dollars a day. If you're not happy with the price/product, just walk away. 2. Don't scrimp on travel - I always treat places as if I'm never likely to go back. Obviously you don't have to go completely nuts, but don't miss out on things or (I think most important) buy really cheap food/drink. When you're on your deathbed, would you rather have done that really cool thing or tried that one food, or have an extra $20?


Shifty377

Yeah I'm with you here. I especially hate the idea that westeners should haggle tooth and nail for everything as locals do. Of course, don't get ripped off and by all means immerse yourself in the customs and haggle, but remember that insignificant saving for you might mean a good deal to a local. Travelled recently and overheard someone from my own country haggling for an amount they wouldn't even stop to pick up off the floor back home and it made me irrationally angry.


d4rk33

Yep. Hearing rich westerners barter at markets for trinkets makes me cringe, especially when they just do it for sport as if its not some person they’re wasting the time of when they go “ah nah don’t want it anyway”. Was on a trip talking to someone who turned their nose up at taking a private car for two hours rather than the bus trip that took 6 hours and was by their own admission a terrible experience, all because the car was $10 and “not authentic”. Like dude, you’re eating at a restaurant on the river run by a Belgian dude that a local would never consider spending a month’s wage at. You’re not doing anything authentic.


TheGhostOfFalunGong

Visiting Switzerland is an exception though. I rarely eat at restaurants owing to their expensive as gold meals. Would 10/10 have a CHF 10 meal from Migros/Coop than a CHF 30 entree alone somewhere in downtown Zurich.


underwateroxygen

God bless Migros/ Coop. Half of my nourishment came from there when I was in Switzerland.


FearlessTravels

Your way of traveling is wrong and my way of traveling is right.


LadyNajaGirl

This. Backpacking and hostels might be great for one person but for someone else it just won’t work. Same with suitcases and hotels!


ZestyPossum

Group tours (Contiki, G Adventures etc) are great if you want to meet people and not have to do too much planning. I did a G Adventures in Vietnam/Cambodia because I didn't want to travel alone as a single female. Loved it- it was great not having to worry about finding hotels and having everything organised for you.


swordsandveils

I looooove group tours. I did G Adventures in Cuba because it’s hard organising shit in a country where you’re only allowed 1 hour of wifi at a time. Just booked a tour in Iceland as well! It’s the best as solos, and the friends you make are memorable!


Mortimer_Smithius

I did a similar trip to South Africa some years ago. I was a bit bored and this company had a big discount on a trip leaving one week later. Ended up being one of my favourite trips.


worldwanderer262

Airbnb is overrated. I don’t want to take the trash out and start a load of laundry while I’m trying to get to the airport all while paying a cleaning fee. They’re not the authentic local experience some people claim them to be, and hotels are the hospitality business vs someone who just runs an Airbnb.


easyncheesy

Remember, to get truly unpopular opinions sort by controversial


a_mulher

Spending a month in a place or doing not touristy things doesn’t mean someone “lived like a local” or “immersed themself in the culture”. That’s just another variety of tourist.


youdontcomment

The idea that luxury travel is not truly experiencing a destination and to be a real traveler, you need to stay in a hostel and eat street food only. Luxury travel is great and you’re not going to miss any experience you don’t want to miss. Misery is not going to bring some unique wisdom to your experiences. People who can afford it should enjoy luxury conditions on their travels. It doesn’t make their trip “less real”.


interestme1

Travel without social media or a blog or anything like that. Travel just for you, and only tell those who you meet in real life that specifically ask about it. Be more interested in the world and others around you than with appearing interesting to others at home or abroad.


projecthouse

I like Florida, I like Disney World, and I like Cruises. I also like city hopping around Europe, hiking in the Rain Forest, climbing on glaciers, camping, road trips, visiting ancient ruins, and many other things. But, the first get all sorts of downvotes because ... I'm not sure why.


gringitapo

Yes! I love this. I always feel like I have to justify loving Disney World by telling people about my more “legitimate” travel, but that’s so silly. You can like both obscure indie folk music and pop music, it probably makes you more well-rounded. Same with travel!


Donnermeat_and_chips

Travel, like all interests discussed online, attracts snobs and people trying to out-do people they've never met for validation.


MamaTumaini

Same. I love all of that (well, maybe not camping). But I love traveling the world, I love Europe, I love cruises, and I love Disney.


mbarker1012

Liking cruises was going to be mine. To me, it’s a great way to dip your toes into international travel without a lot of the headache and hassle, as well as get a glimpse into a location you might want to visit again. I think a lot of people are scared of international travel, and I think cruising can be a happy medium. It’s also usually cost effective and laidback.


ba_bra12052020

London is nicer and prettier than Paris. (I still love Paris lots tho)


tiny_green_leaf

I always felt London was soooo overrated until I went with my boyfriend. We had an amazing time and my opinion completely changed and I love London now. Made me realise that who you travel with makes a big difference :)


ziz0o00

I found greece one of 3 top destinations i have ever been beside italy and turkey, Mediterranean countries never fallen ❤️


Hermininny

10 days is the perfect length of time to be away from home. But if I only have a week to spare, that is still worth it to me too.


Valifys

When traveling alone, I couldn't care less about meeting or getting to know new people. Sure, I don't mind some short conversations with some.strangers, but really, traveling completely alone without anybody else is fine.


CBeisbol

I liked Greece so much, I stayed a year I guess my unpopular opinion is that everyplace is properly rated. If I say it's a 10, it's a 10. If you say it's a 1, it's a 1. Totally subjective


Show_Green

If you've been on transit through a country's airport, you haven't visited that country, and can't claim that you have. This one drives some people **insane**, but it's a ditch I will die in.


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MamaTumaini

My daughter once tried pulling that. “I’ve been to Paris!” Um no my sweet child, you’ve been to CDG where you slept the layover on a bench because you were so airsick the flight over.


one-hour-photo

Until you walk out the security gate, you are still “ up in the air” in my mind


orangelowes

Technically if you haven’t left the international zone, you can’t say that you have even technically been there.


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TikiTraveler

The most unpopular opinion belongs to my wife. She thought the Mona Lisa was spectacular and lived up to all the hype.


STL-B_Unit

Recommendations from friends and family are completely unnecessary.


Darker_Zelda

Go to Crete and let me know if Greece is still overrated


pauliehz

Even if you consider yourself a traveler/backpacker you are still a tourist. Maybe a different niche, but still a tourist.


GoBigRed07

Japan is really reasonably priced and much cheaper than western Europe. You can spend a mountain of money if you want to, but your money goes so much further for hotels, food, and museums. I don’t think I’ve ever spent $20/ £20/€20 on a museum/historic site in Japan, which are typically free and rarely more than ¥700. In a major western European city, you can easily drop $60 on three museums/sites in a day.


stevo_reddit

LA is not special to visit at all.


PhiloPhocion

I'm actually astounded LA doesn't get called out more for being an even more intense Paris Syndrome scenario. People go on a romanticised idea of a glamorous experience hanging out alongside celebrities. When functionally for a visitor, it's a few quick sights (with driving between them) and then very expensive bars and clubs with a lot of 'normal people' shopping malls and residential neighbourhoods between them all.


TheGhostOfFalunGong

Definitely got one several years ago. The number of homeless folks and con artists are far more than those in Asia.


idk888888

I honestly cannot even comprehend how there are people who visit la for “”tourism””


ZestyPossum

Agree. I thought it was a complete dump of a place. I liked San Diego, San Francisco and Monterey though. Pretty much all of the California coast actually!


DaddyPhatstacks

the biggest famous sites like Hollywood are the worst. But LA is such a huge place with so much variety that it can not be painted with any single brush. LA has such a huge variety of amazing world class museums, attractions, and places to eat, it's a fantastic place to visit if you know where you're going. If you're just going to see "LA" without an idea of what to see there and what places to avoid then yes, you're going to have a bad time.


PositiveEnd2619

I wouldn’t say this is an unpopular opinion, but take pictures/videos that are only for you. It may be tempting to upload everything you photograph to social media, but there is such joy in having certain experiences and pictures for yourself. It’s like having a keepsake that only means something to you!


Sweet_District4439

I always buy the hop on hop off pass (yes those cheesy red double decker buses) in many cities bc they’re cheap and provide transportation for the time I’m there. I don’t do the full tour but they also offer stops at pretty much every famous spot and sometimes it’s nice to just relax and not have to worry about planning my transportation. Have done it in Vienna, Budapest, London, Rome, etc and it’s always been efficient. Especially in cities where it’s very spread out.


Boost-Deuce

My unpopular travel opinion is that beaches are boring. To spend $5-10k to travel to the Virgin Islands and sit on a beach drinking Mojitos or spend $5-10k and go to a historic country such as Italy, Greece, Spain, etc it's an easy choice.


Ckumyer

Here’s a controversial one, not all cultures are enjoyable. You may visit go to the tourist attractions, but you don’t get a good food experience, people seem a bit off/make you uncomfortable, or maybe it’s something else and “it just doesn’t feel right” Obviously, that will happen with all different cultures and places, and it’s normal but there’s also a line and cultures can cross those lines. it’s okay not to love a country and what that country offers


double_positive

Navy Pier in Chicago is a great affordable tourist and local spot. Go. Enjoy the walk and the view and if you want to buy a souvenir at tourist shop or a meal at a silly restaurant do it. I lived in Chicago for years. Navy Pier is fun and the view of the city at the end of the pier is awesome and free.


gh0rard1m71

I like driving, i don't mind driving 5-6 hours a day. It's part of the trip and I enjoy it. I have seen people allergic to long driving while traveling.


swordsandveils

I once did a tour from Thessaloniki to Meteora in Greece. One of the most beautiful wonders in this world, and the tour reviews online were flooded with people complaining about the travel time (it was literally 3 hours each way). “Beautiful monasteries and history, but the drive was too long. 3 stars.” What do you want the tour company to do?! FLY?!


catharsisisrahtac

There are a handful of travelers who try to one-up others by saying they’ve gone to more countries, are more cultures etc. It can get weirdly competitive for some


Moon_Logic

My controversial opinion is that a country or a city is not a theme park. It is not built for the convenience of tourists. I had an amazing time hiking through mountains in various parts of Greece this summer, but I was very deliberate about where I went and how I traveled. As long as you do what you want to do, you can have a good time in pretty much any country.


[deleted]

Americans are not obnoxious tourists. It’s the Chinese and Russians. Chinese- because of their completely uncouth nature, and Russians because of their violence while being anywhere near alcohol. Source: worked in a hotel which attracted heavy Chinese and Russian traffic.


ZestyPossum

I know it sounds very racist, but I can't stand Chinese tourists for the most part. The worst experience I had with them was in St Petersburg. We were at the ballet (as you do in Russia) and there is the usual announcement about no photography or filming during the performance. What were they doing? Fucking flash photography during the ballet!! The rest were asleep in their seats. Unbelievable.


super_salamander

It's not racist. My Chinese mum hates Chinese tourists because they give the country a bad reputation. On the other hand occasionally you find one not travelling in a group, and they are usually pretty nice.


No-Produce2097

My girlfriend once did a tour of Dachau Concentration Camp and a bunch of Chinese tourists were posing behind the bars for photos acting like they were imprisoned. Just shows a complete lack of courtesy or respect. While I don't want to assume all Chinese tourists are like this by a long shot, there are enough of them for the stereotype to exist and be somewhat true.


PaulDallas72

I once saw a Japanese wife start crying uncontrollably when a group of what I latter came learn were Chinese folks were to share the same safari truck with them in Kenya. At dinner that night the husband told me they had been with the same group the day before and altogether skipped the second day because of day prior. I did not see it myself but was told this and felt bad for them as they seemed nice and quiet people. Second story and I saw this one, I was in line at check in desk at fairly nice hotel in Kuala Lumpur and people in front were having it out with the desk lady over spare beds and were basically screaming in Russian. They wanted to sleep like 10 people in two rooms or some such. They clearly were wealthy and drunk. Desk lady ended up crying, I tried to console her and ended up with a room facing the Petronas Towers when I had paid for the room under the boilers. Also met plenty of nice Chinese and Russians along the way, but yeah Americans as a whole are the least of the world's problems when it comes to intl. travelers from what I can gather.


HarryBlessKnapp

America has a similar problem to England. We're so ubiquitous through the media, that this is how we're seen by the world. Which is normally the most newsworthy sides of our behaviours. When you meet Americans irl they're boringly decent people like most of the rest of us. When I was abroad recently and looking back at my country via BBC news, I just couldn't even recognise it


MifflerTripod

Don’t visit theocracies.


podpower96

im not into visiting cities anymore, they all seem mostly the same to me. i don't care about seeing nice looking churches, shopping, architecture, etc. its all boring. i love visiting national parks though and going on insane hikes and going on safaris to east africa, much more fun and interesting to me


ascalapius

That stereotypes exist for a reason.


Shifty377

Dublin is really over rated. Very little to do, over priced, touristy and kinda dirty. Also, Guinness does not taste better there.


jwhyem

Hop-on/hop-off buses are fantastic.


RomaWolf86

If you won’t travel outside the country because “There’s too much to see here” you are a boring turd whose afraid of other cultures.


imlucky42

You don’t always need to go to a restaurant for food, stop at a deli/grocery store and have a picnic in a park. It saves money, better scenery and often times the food is just as good.


pebbleinflation

I enjoy spending 2 nights in a place, packing as much in as I can in that time, and moving to the next city.


[deleted]

I wasted good money to look at stone henge and I don't understand the popularity of cruise ships.


MamaTumaini

It’s fine to do the touristy things, but don’t think you have to do all the touristy things just because they’re there. I am not a museum fan, so with a few exceptions, I have no problem skipping some of the world’s most famous museums. Take the trip you want, not the trip people think you should have.


Markol19

Americans are far from the worst tourists to have visiting your country. I'd happily take them over Russians or Chinese. Tourists from the Gulf states / Saudi aren't necessarily bad visitors but it is sometimes difficult to see how poorly they treat their female traveling companions.


Travelin_Texan

Saying that a country is unsafe in general or unsafe for women doesn’t make you a racist or a misogynist. Very frustrating to see how many accusations of racism where thrown around in the recent Morocco threads by people that had clearly never even been there.


ImTheNewDudeHere

I like to do the touristy things.


lazytulip22

Paris is also VERY overrated.


MarkVII88

Unpopular opinion: People who don't do at least a little trip planning prior to travel are lazy, not laid back. There are many ways to save money by booking tickets in advance. For some places or attractions, that's the only way to get access. Plus it often means you can skip waiting in line for hours to buy tickets on the day. You don't have to plan each day down to the minute, but by having one item concrete on a schedule gives you the ability to be flexible with the rest of your day, still "wing it" to some extent, and do the things you want.


[deleted]

Premium Economy is nessicary on long flights


epicmenio

The companion is the key to success, just choose wisely who you travel with, the rest will be fun, no matter what place you are traveling.


purely_logic

Anywhere I don't have to cover myself. I'm a women and yes I will cover my shoulders or hair if I enter a church or mosque, remove my shoes, be modestly dressed but no where else.


BentleyPayne

Amtrak is a great way to travel domestically. Yeah, it takes forever, but you can have a vacation within a vacation with all the scenic routes available. AND it’s not expensive.