Egypt was beautiful. We visited most of egypt in our 10 day trip. There were some bad things and more of good ones im gonna name some of them:

1. Sellers are really BAD. They are at every monument at every site at every street. Ive seen condiotions people live in but this is next level. We were sitting as a group in one caffe near Khan el Kalili and literally some of the sellers were just rotating 10 times same person of 5 different people like they havent asked us more than 3 times already. We didnt even say nothing and they would put it on the table. They would lie that something is 1 dollar u give them 5 and they wont give it back instead they give u more garbage.
2. Im the same skin colour as them so some of them wouldnt ask me but they would litterally drain group of people and my gf that i was in. Following, harassing, nagging anything to get some money.
3. Go with the tour group. We had a great guide from Egypt and from our country, we had bus everywhere tickets bought for us and no hassle that taxi will maybe cancel the ride and ask for more money

4. What to say about monuments, its really something you see once in your life. Loved every single one

5. Food was great

All in all i try to not give my time to sellers and dont want to think of them when i think of Egypt. I hope the goverment makes them get licenses for selling the same bookmark 15 times, barbaric. People in hotels are welcoming nice and hard working. Thats it, sorry for my English its not my 1st language. I will not be going to African countries no more, ive seen what i wanted. Love to most people in Egypt that dont harass they tourist.🇪🇬❤️

If you have any questions feel free to ask

Just came back from a week long trip in Paris. This is my second time visiting, and I thoroughly enjoyed what the city has to offer both times.

in my opinion, Paris is an ideal city to unwind, learn to live a slow life, spend time people watching, and eat amazing food. The city really shines at night time, parisian has perfected lighting fixtures and placement, it truly deserves the title City of Light. Go to any of the tourist attractions at night and you will be impressed: The Louvre, Notre Dame, Hotel De Ville, the Eiffel tower, or any random street and you will notice how beautiful lights are in paris.

Majority of pictures are taken in the Le Marais, Saint Germain, and St Martin Canal neighborhoods.

Food: we were lucky to sample different food at Marche des enfants rouges before it burnt down, we had plans to go visit again only to see it closed due to the fire. It was devastating.

1. Steak Au Poivre @ Bistrot Sauvageon. 10/10. Sauce was perfect.
   
2. Pastrami Sandwich @ Chez Alain Miam Miam. 7/10. I shouldnt have added lettuce to the sandwic, pastrami and cheese only next time.
   
3. Eggplant sandwich @ Levant Boulangerie. 7/10.
   
4. Whole fish @ Marche des enfanra rouges. Best fish I had in my life. 12/10.
   
5. Mackerel fish @ forgot. 4/10. Looks good, tastes like nothing.
   
6. Chicken sandwic @ Rotisserie Segar. 3/10. Chicken tastes good, has mertit. But it was cold and it’s gotten a lot more hype than it deserve.
   
7. Pastrami bagel @ Kaviar. 10/10. i’d eat anything at this store.
   

8. Confit de canard @ forgot. 10/10. Really good duck

9. Beef bourguigon @ forgot. 5/10. Wasn’t anything special.

10. Steak sandwich @ le relais de l’entrecote. 8/10. Better than I expected. there wasnt enough meat in the sandwich but i really liked the sauce and fries in it.

11. Spicy poulle sandwich @ SHWI. 10/10. Perfect chicken to bread ratio, amazing grill marks, tastes so good I came here three times.

sorry for any typos

We went on a 3 month trip through South America (Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Colombia). All was focused around Patagonia and I thought that would be our highlights. Don't get me wrong, Patagonia was worth the hype. The northern part of these countries however, we didn't investigate much. I did not know any of these places existed and I cried multiple times. If you want me to help with an itinerary let me know :) I will certainly go back some day.

Our itinerary (after Patagonia) in about a month was:

- Mendoza

- Salta

- Cachi

- Cafayate

- San Pedro de Atacama

- Salar de Uyuni

Edit: should have added “in my opinion” to the title. Everyone is entitled to their view.

Was told by the locals that this is not the typical tourist destination and you can feel that when you’re exploring. This place is full of vast landscapes, biodiversity, and a blend of seas. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful place. The throne of Aphrodite is located here 🐚 visited October 8-14!

Captions (in order of photos):

1. The island of kytheria, we stayed in Kapsali, a small local beach town
2. A local restaurant in kapsali that closed down for the season, October is near ending of their season but with a cool tree patio setup!
3. The strip of residences on kapsali - kytheria has only 3000ish residents on the whole island and there’s 26 “cities”
4. The beach of the Mediterranean Sea on kapsali
5. A local dish of chickpea salad with shredded greens and a lemon olive oil dressing
6. Another city, (the name is escaping me because it’s Greek) but the most beautiful views!
7. Very cool looking flower
8. Snails are everywhere! And so are their shells. Came across this collection of shells

9. An old tomb where they used to put dead bodies and when those bodies degraded, they would remove the bones into the sea and put in more bodies. This is from the bc era

10. The throne of Aphrodite - kytheria is known as her birthplace. This window to the sea is where she rose from the sea foam in mythology

11. A beautiful building in

    chora

12. 1

14. The cave of st. Sophia - a martyr who died of grief when her daughters hope, love and faith were killed. This cave is a church and it still holds artwork in worship. There’s 350 churches in the hills of the mountains on the island.

16. At the archeological museum in choy where old statues were discovered in the bc era

18. A local shop in choy where they had their featured thyme honey, olive oil, and canned fruits for sale.

20. This type of tree was all over

    chora

21. so stunning

16

1. Natural pomegranate growing on this tree, featuring a sunset!

Trying to be as specific as possible for this cause I have a real debate on my mind, I've got the option to stay at the RIU Plaza on Manhattan Times Square which would set me back 540$ if I book on Hotels dot com (but I get 11% cashback from my Fluz giftcard) so 480$ orrr I could book somewhere like Hyatt Place on Long Island City which would be around 330$ but I would be 25min away from Times Square (walking distance)

So in general is Midtown worth (in my case) the extra 150$ to have everything within walking distance or would you rather save the money and take the subway?

Just finishing up a road trip around Montenegro and wanted to share the route and some notes, since I found October info a bit thin when I was planning.

Route:

• Oct 4: landed in Podgorica, 1 night
• Kolašin, 2 nights
• Žabljak, 3 nights
• Dobrota, 2 nights
• Perast, 2 nights
• Petrovac, where I’m writing this from

Car: we rented a BMW X1 with full coverage. It isn’t a real SUV, but it was the right call. There were roadworks around Kolašin, plus endless serpentines, and it handled everything without any drama.

Podgorica: one night just to land and pick up the car. Not much to add. Hotel September was great for such goal

Kolašin: basically a small ski resort with no snow in October. It’s very quiet and a lot of places are closed, so keep that in mind. I wouldn’t plan a long stay there off season, but two nights was perfect. The roads around it are great to drive, with lots of views.

Kolašin → Žabljak: we got a flat tire on the way. Had to call a tow truck, and the tow plus a tire replacement came to €200 total. Not fun, but cheaper and faster to sort out than I expected. Moral: the mountain roads aren’t always kind to tires, so check the spare before you set off.

Žabljak: the highlight of the mountain part for us. We had bad luck with the weather and it rained a lot, but it was still amazing. Black Lake looks great even in the rain, and we went twice because once didn’t feel like enough. We also drove out to the Đurđevića Tara bridge. It’s under renovation right now, but it’s still worth seeing.

Dobrota: apartment with a view over the bay, and honestly the best place we stayed on the whole trip. It had everything we needed, including a washing machine, which in the middle of the trip was a big deal. If you’re doing a long loop, I’d recommend putting a place with laundry somewhere in the middle.

Perast: two nights at Hotel Conte. Fun experience: it feels like living in a castle, or more accurately in the servants’ quarters of a castle :) We took a 4-hour boat tour around the Bay of Kotor, and it was the best money we spent on the trip. It isn’t cheap, but I’d 100% do it again. Otherwise we mostly ate pizza with a ridiculous view, and the weather finally started cooperating.

Petrovac: final stop, weather is good. Last night we drove up out of town to look at the stars, and it was unreal. Do it if you get a clear night.

Rough costs (for two people):

• Accommodation: under €80/night on average
• Car rental (BMW X1, full coverage): ~€1,000 for the whole trip
• Food and day-to-day stuff: around €60/day
• Surprise expense: €200 for the tow + tire

Quick takeaways for October:

• The mountains (Kolašin/Žabljak) are beautiful but quiet, and plenty of things are closed. Expect rain.
• The coast is still warm and pleasant, with far fewer crowds.
• Get a car with decent clearance and full coverage. You’ll be glad you did.
• If you only splurge on one thing in the bay, make it the boat tour.

Happy to answer questions if anyone is planning something similar.

Follow up to my last post about the three day Shigatse to Everest loop.

After three days above 4,500m, I figured dropping down to Lhasa at 3,650m would feel like a break. The headaches had mostly faded by the time I arrived, but I was still catching my breath on anything uphill. It took about two days in the city before I felt close to normal.

On the way into Lhasa, my driver made a couple of stops at sites I hadn't planned on seeing. One had a massive rock face completely covered in painted Buddhist figures, hundreds of them, protected under a tall wooden framework with a roof on top. There were potted plants lined up along the bottom, and for some reason those are what stuck with me more than the scale of the wall itself. Another spot had carved and painted figures embedded into a white monastery wall, bright colors against the whitewash.

In Lhasa, I spent more time than I expected on the rooftop at Jokhang Temple. The metalwork and painted details up close are something else. Down below, pilgrims were doing prostrations while tourists were lining up for photos. Those two things just happen next to each other there and somehow neither feels out of place.

Potala Palace was bigger in person than any photo prepared me for, especially the red section against the sky. But the actual experience of being there was mostly about climbing. I'd go up a flight of stairs, stop to breathe, look up at how much building was still above me, and keep going. Worth it, but I was glad when I reached the top.

A few things I'd pass along in case anyone's doing a similar route:

1. Book Potala Palace tickets in advance. They cap daily visitors and time slots go fast.
2. Jokhang Temple is better early in the morning before the crowds build up.
3. If you're coming in from higher altitude like the Everest region, give yourself at least a day to ease in before doing anything physical. I felt noticeably better by day two.
4. I had roughly two full days for Lhasa and it felt just enough for the main sites. Wouldn't want less than that.

The Shigatse to Everest drive was the highlight for scenery, but Lhasa had a different kind of weight to it. Glad I did both.

I’ve always wanted to visit Poland in some capacity and after finally making it to Krakow, I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation I had. It’s easily one of my favourite European city breaks so far.

I visited from the 7th to the 11th this month. The first thing that struck me was how warm and welcoming the place felt. We met so many lovely people, both locals and fellow travellers and one of the best parts of the trip was the number of new friends I made. I’m still in touch with several of them and we’re already planning to meet up again, which made the trip feel even more special.

The food was another highlight. I absolutely loved the pierogi and I don’t think you can visit Poland without trying as many varieties as possible. The fact the city is still relatively affordable compared with much of Europe made the experience even better.

Nightlife was amazing. A lot of the bars I visited reminded me of Berlin and Budapest yet still maintained its own identity. For example, Pub Pod Ziemia, a cellar rock karaoke bar which I frequented every night and met a lot of interesting people each time. Bars like Singer, Alchemia and Eszeweria that are cosy bars for all demographics, then you had the grittier bars such as Propaganda and Cafe Szafe. Those were just some I explored. If you want a good bar crawl, this is the place for it.

There’s also so much to see and do. From wandering around the beautiful Old Town and Main Market Square, admiring St. Mary’s Basilica, exploring the Jewish Quarter in Kazimierz and visiting Wawel Castle, I never felt short of things to fill my days with.

One of my biggest recommendations would be the Wieliczka Salt Mine. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect beforehand but seeing the underground chambers, sculptures and incredible salt-carved interiors was an experience in itself. It’s absolutely worth making time for if you visit.

Overall, Krakow has everything I look for in a city break: history, great food, brilliant nightlife, affordability and genuinely lovely people. I came to experience Poland for the first time and left with fantastic memories, new friendships and every intention of coming back to explore more of the country.

Locations:
1. Main Market Square at sunset
2. Main Market Square/Town Hall Tower
3. Wieliczka Salt Mine
4. St. Mary’s Basilica interior
5. Wawel Royal Castle
6. Wawel Dragon Statue
7. Father Bernatek Bridge
8. St. Florian’s Gate
9. St. Mary’s Basilica/Adam Mickiewicz Monument
10. Krakow Pinball Museum
11. Grunwald Monument
12. Cafe Szafe
13. Eszeweria, Kazimierz
14. Grodzka Street

Hey y'all, I have a group of 14 adults over 21 looking to travel somewhere within the US. We're open to resorts and airbnbs, just trying to settle on location. We're trying not to spend more than $3k per person excluding travel costs, but we're flexible.

We're all from completely different parts of the country (literally coast to coast) so no distance is too far. Time of year is flexible as well - we're thinking summer or fall of 2027.

Some of the vague ideas that have been thrown around are natural hot springs and lakes, I just haven't traveled enough to know any good spots. Thanks 🙏

I sp​ent one week in Mexico City and after an overwhelming amount of conversations with locals in​ bars, uber drivers, random quesadilla ladies, and strangers of all sorts recommending these two cities, I decided to leave Mexico City and embark on a 1 week trip to visit Puebla and Oaxaca de Juarez.

What a fantastic recommendation from the locals.

These two cities were complimentary but different. One grander, more serious and more european. The other more colourful, playful and indigenous. Both with different but complimentary food cultures. Both with extreemly lovely people. Both take their heritage very seriously​.

​​​​C​ruising down the highway in a crammed collectivo, surrounded by a dense forest of wild cacti and looming mountains, will be one of my core memories.

1. A wedding c​ale​nda in downtown Oaxaca
2. Popo the volcano smoking from my hotel
3. Capi​lla​ del rosario
4. Biblioteca Palaxiofana, the oldest in the americas
5. A man with absolute aur​a​ on the pyramid of cholula
6. The world​s​ smallest volcano (actually a dead geyser)
7. ​The main church in Cholula
8. Pink corn pulque​ in a pulqueria in Cholula, as ordered for me by people I had met that night
9. A building covered in talavera tiles​
10. The sierra madre
11. A tiliche, a type of traditional oaxacan dancer
12. A​ beautifu​l​ neighbourbood​ of​​ Oaxaca
13. The aqueduct of Xochim​ilco...
14. Reaching the en​d
15. People crowded at the Tlacolula sunday tianguis
16. The pueblo magico of San Pablo de Mitla
17. The ruins of Mitla
18. A beautiful calm moment in Jalatlaco​​

Can’t recommend Yukon enough. It is truly a hidden gem of Canada. There’s so many things to see in and around Whitehorse.

Drove from Inuvik (our home) -> Whitehorse -> Haines Junction -> Haines AK and back.

Favourite activities: Carcross, Nordic Hot Springs Spa, Yukon Wildlife preserve, Chilkoot preserve (in Haines AK), hiking the kings throne in Kluane national park.

Pic location:
1: Kathleen Lake
2: Kathleen lake view from the Kings Throne
3: flight tour of Kluane Park
4: Haines AK
5: Haines AK
6: driving through Kluane Park
7: Atlin BC (day trip from Whitehorse)
8: Sam McGee trial outside of Whitehorse
9: Emerald lake outside of Whitehorse

Hello everyone. I'm planning on visiting Thailand this December, and I'm gonna have an 18 hour long layover in Beijing, from 7 am to approximately 2 am the next day. I've had long layovers before (in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul) and took advantage of the situation by visiting those cities. For some reason, however, I'm kind of intimidated by Beijing, mostly because there are a few sights I'd like to see and would like to make time for all of them. Should I hire a guide or is it possible to get around with public transport/ride hailing apps? Has anyone here done the same thing?

Hey Folks. I’m a Canadian that lives in Canada and I really want to spoil my parents for their next birthdays on Nov 28 and 29. I asked them both 3 things they haven’t experienced or tried and would like to try or experience once and here’s what they said in order of preference/importance:

Dad:
1- piloting a plane
2-traveling the world
3- writing a book

Mom:
1-Ice Skating
2- skiing
3-canoeing

I would love to bring them to a place where they can experience as much of the experience they haven’t had the chance to try as possible. Budget is 500-1000 CAD.

Does anyone know any places that provides that unique experience? I recognize you need a license to pilot a plane and traveling is expensive but even if it’s like one different country, an experience that kind of replicates driving a plane, and provides ice skating and skiing experience, if anyone knows of anyone places I could take them to for their birthday please let me know.

Thank you

I (F) have some time free next summer and want to travel while also learning a skill! I’ve seen a lot of people get their scuba license in Thailand or Surfing is Costa Rica. Just wondering what fun course exist out there for 2-3 weeks where you get to learn with other travellers.

About me: I’m in my early twenties, like to dance and cook but not crazy about extreme sports. Looking for somewhere with nice weather too.

If heights are no issue, then taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride around the pyramids in Teotihuacán is truly an amazing experience.

The whole trip to Mexico City was amazing in whole but to have this be our last day truly ended in a high note (pun intended). The whole experience started with getting picked up from our hotel at around 3:30am as we had to pick up others as well. A couple hours drive to the hot air balloon station, I little bit of wait as other groups arrived. As they started to load us in you could see the well oiled machine of workers teaming together to get each balloon in the air. Timed perfectly as to not hit each other

As you’re in the sky you get the most amazing view over the land and the pyramids and the swarm of hot air balloons. As your eyes may want to be fixated to the pyramids I also recommend glancing behind to the sunrise!

Later as part of our tour we got to have a quick breakfast in a cavern and a quick lesson on the agave and its importance to the area and its people.

Finally the tour took us to the pyramids where we were free to explore. As we walked around the size truly surprised me. My imagination paled in comparison to the actual size of these monuments. The sun pyramid was closed off as too many visitors walking on it would create too much damage. But the moon pyramid was still able to walk up the steps walking up the steps was no easy task given the short width and steepness of each step. Once on top though is another beautiful scene of everything.

As I was there I could only imagine what it was like in its prime and if any of the builders could imagine people in the sky looking down on their work. This will be a trip to remember.

After nearly 15 years of marriage and a few kids, my wife and I are finally going to enjoy a long trip alone, together. We've done weekend getaways alone and trips with the kids, but this will be our first long getaway. So, to celebrate, we're escaping to Italy for about two weeks!

And I'm terrified that I've forgotten how to travel internationally or that I'll forget the most basic essential needed for a successful trip, like a power outlet adapter. We've tried to research on our own, but I figured I would turn to reddit directly instead of spending another day reading Google summaries and search results, which are mostly pulling from reddit posts anyway. So, here's what I have so far:

Itinerary:

A good friend, who travels more than we do, helped us to book accommodations. If I remember correctly, we only chose ones that could be cancelled up until the trip, and the friend decided how long we would spend in each place. After looking at them again, I'm not opposed to removing a destination in order to spend more time in the other cities. However, the flights have already been booked, so beginning in Venice and ending in Rome are set in stone.

Two days in Venice. Flying into Venice from the US via London on Nov. 17. We'll arrive midday. Accommodation is on the northern island near Parco di Villa Groggia. From what I've read, I'm leaning towards buying a water taxi pass, but open to suggestions.

Two days in Carate Urio. I don't know much about this destination other than being a peaceful, lakeside getaway.

Two days in Florence. Looks like our accommodation is a little southeast of Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. As a kid, my family visited Rome, Florence, and Venice, which is largely what inspired this trip, and I remember Florence having the best museums.

Two days in Campiglia D'orcia. A strong recommendation from our friend. Pretty sure we would get disowned if we removed this from the itinerary. Will probably be a good breather mid-trip.

Three days in Rome. Flying out the morning of Nov. 29. As a kid, I think we went to one too many ruins where someone kept mentioning how great it used to be. I think we probably have to hit to Trevi Fountain and the Sistine Chapel. I need to look at all my notes again, but I'm pretty sure the consensus was to get a guided tour for parts of the Vatican including the Chapel. Would appreciate any tips about avoiding lines and waits (maybe not so much a concern in November).

Interests:

Wife: foodie in a Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat kind of way. Thinks that homecooked meals are art (not in a fancy, deconstructed kind of way). So, definitely looking forward to enjoying slower meals with real ingredients and good wine. I've seen recommendations for TheFork app for reservations and to look for restaurants that aren't full of only tourists. This is her first time visiting Italy. So, we'll visit some staples, but her dream vacation is more laid-back beach than packed full of sightseeing. Enjoys the idea of going to some museums but walking / exploring the rest of the days. Also, is a midwife, so maybe I'll see if we can stop somewhere like Museo di Palazzo Poggi during our travels.

Me: got to live in Germany as a kid. So, I'm interested in history (ancient, military, political, religious, etc.), but also a little desensitized from getting to visit castles on field trips. I'm mostly looking forward to enjoying experiences and making memories whether or not we visited the top 10 landmarks. Also, much dumber when it comes to food. I'm looking forward to some great bread and delicious sweets.

Travel:

Probably the biggest clear question that I have, but how should we get around. My wife is convinced that we should rent a car. I know we wouldn't have that until after Venice, but even then, I'm not keen on trying to navigate Italian cities or parking. If we keep the booked accommodations in the cities, is there any benefit to renting a car? Any must-know tips for public transport?

Necessities:

Things that I know about / already have: passports, REAL ID, modest clothes and head scarf for visiting cathedrals, comfy shoes, backpack and water bottles for walking around, anti-pickpocket bag, rain gear, warm layers, apparently some wipes in case somewhere doesn't have TP.

Things that I DON'T know about / already have: [please fill in here].

Im traveling to colombia in Nov. I just wanted to make sure there was no entry restrictions/ req. I looked it up on google and this showed up. I’ve never heard anyone having to pay $100+ to enter colombia. Is this real? Do i need this? i have an american passport.

As the first stop in my Central Asia tour, Almaty was a pleasant surprise and a wonderful start to the journey. My research indicated that while Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan; Almaty is really the spot to check out instead. There are more people, it's seen as the business hub, and it's usually way warmer.

Almaty means "father of Apples" in Kazakh, in reference to the wild apples that grow in the region that are thought to be the ancestor of most modern apples that we eat worldwide. You'll see apple motifs all over the city. You'll also see remnants of its Soviet era past. The city is also surrounded by mountain ranges, which makes the cityscape quite unique.

I found the food and specialty coffee scene to be quite good in the city, especially some really nice cafés where the food options were just as top tier as the beautiful ambiances (SIX Coffee + Wine, Fika, and Akku come to mind).

Lastly, it's clear that the highlight of visiting this region is getting out into nature. The easiest I would say is to go up to the mountaintop Kok Tobe recreation area by cable car to see the Almaty TV Tower and its surroundings, or to see the year-round Medeu ice arena. The real deal however, is to take a tour well out of the city area to see the Charyn and Black Canyons, as well as Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes.

The Shot List:

01 – Façade of the Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera & Ballet Theater
02 – One of the many green and lush walkways all over the city
03 – A mural showing traditional Kazakh clothing
04 – An example of apple-themed decor found everywhere
05 – Another mural displaying a Kazakh historical warrior
06 – The Independence Monument (aka: Golden Warrior Monument)
07 – Entrance of the Almaty Museum of Arts
08 – 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park (WWII memorial)
09 – Almaty TV Tower, seen from atop Kok Tobe
10 – Charyn Canyon (1/3 the size of The Grand Canyon)
11 – The walk over a stream toward Kaindy Lake
12 – You can get your photo taken with a hawk at Kaindy Lake
13 – Another stoic hawk at Kolsai Lake
14 – Kolsai Lake as the sun is setting

What one hotel or hostel amenity do you wish would be standard in every place??? Many still provide irons and ironing boards….six kinds of tiny shampoos and lotions AND bar soaps?!?!

The one thing I wish was standard is a luggage scale. How handy would it be to be able to just know the weight of your bag before you got to check in at the airport and realized you were going to have to adjust the weight distribution to eliminate overweight baggage charges?

Just put a luggage scale in the lobby!!!!!

Hi all, seeking any advice for how to best approach a leisure trip to Switzerland next July. We will be a party of 8: family with 2 grade school kids + 4 grandparents (70+ years old). Some of the grandparents struggle a bit with too many stairs, and the others can only walk 5-10 minutes before needing a rest.

Let's say we have two weeks, how would you best advise us to get some great countryside vistas without struggling too much to get around. Should we base somewhere in the countryside? Rent a car (is this possible for 8 pax?) Are we better off in the urban centers and then taking tours with transportation provided? The only certain thing is we'd like to visit CERN in Geneva.

Any suggestions are welcome, thank you for your help!!

Hey seasoned travellers! I have a birthday upcoming in the next 2 years and for it I want to do a luxury level travel trip of 14 days for myself my wife and two kids (8/10 at travel time). I’m looking for insight to decide between Italy and France for the 14 days which will include time in chateaus, little bit of city, and then either French Riviera, Mallorca in Spain or Italy and Lake Como area depending on the country we decide. We have a budget of around $15-20kUSD so not wealthy but actively dedicating a healthy budget for an unforgettable experience and historical enjoyment.

I know this might seem broad and I don’t even know exactly what I’m looking for but if anyone has done both countries with kids or even without and has some advice or thoughts I would love to hear your comments!

Thanks very much.

Spent a couple of weeks living out of the van exploring Colorado this fall, and I'm honestly kicking myself for not doing it sooner. If you hate crowds, want perfect 60–70°F hiking weather, and want to see the aspens turn pure gold, forget the summer chaos and go in the fall.

We put together a killer route that hits three national parks, some insane natural hot springs, and way too many local breweries. Sharing the breakdown below in case anyone's planning a trip.

Our Route:

1. Denver (2–4 days)
2. Fort Collins & Boulder (2–4 days)
3. Rocky Mountain National Park (2–3 days)
4. Glenwood Springs (2 days)
5. Maroon Bells / Aspen (1 day)
6. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (2 days)
7. Great Sand Dunes National Park (1–2 days)

A Few Random Highlights & Lessons Learned

Skip the mega-touristy hot springs: Everyone goes to the big commercial pools, but the Yampah Vapour Caves in Glenwood Springs are unreal. It's a natural underground rock chamber heated by mineral springs to 112°F at 100% humidity. Feels like an ancient, crystal-studded steam room. If you want pools, Iron Mountain Hot Springs has 16 smaller riverside pools where we literally watched a bald eagle pull a fish out of the river about 20 feet away.

The best food/drink combo in the state: If you're in Denver or Fort Collins, find TRVE Brewing Co. Their sours/saisons are top-tier, but the best part is Music City Hot Chicken attached to the back. Get the incendiary spice level and thank me later.

The North Rim of Black Canyon is better: Everyone piles into the South Rim, but the North Rim is wildly dramatic, rugged, and gets so little traffic that parts of the river below only get 33 minutes of sunlight a day. Plus, on the drive there, stop in Paonia for barrel-aged sour saisons at Chrysalis Barrel-Aged Beer.

Hope it helps!

I met a woman who flew international business class on United from NY to Athens with a broken lie-flat seat. Totally non functional incline. Around 3.5K for round trip ticket. Flight attendant offered $150 voucher.

Question for experienced travelers but with no clout. What would you do to get some significant compensation if this happened to you or is it a lost cause?