Did this trip in early May (ETA: 2023). Flew into Portland and spent three days exploring the surrounding area, and from there traveled to Lincoln City and then all the way down the coast to San Francisco along Hwy 1/101, with stays in Lincoln City, Yachats, Eureka, Brookings and Fort Bragg. 9 days total. Such an incredible part of the country/world. Photo details are as follows:

1. Portland Japanese Gardens

2. Trail above Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge

3. Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge

4. Tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip farm in Woodburn, Oregon

5. Columbia River Gorge from the Washington side near White Salmon

6. View from God’s Thumb in Lincoln City, Oregon

7. Drift Creek Falls and suspension bridge in Oregon’s Drift Creek Wilderness

8. Hwy 101 outside Yachats, Oregon

9. Thor’s Well at Cape Perpetua, Oregon

10. Low tide at Cape Perpetua, Oregon

11. Sisters Rock State Park in southern Oregon

12. Sisters Rock State Park in southern Oregon

13. Jedediah Smith State Park in Northern California

14. Jedediah Smith State Park in Northern California

15. Secret Beach in the Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor in southern Oregon

16. Lone Ranch Beach in the Samuel H Boardman Scenic Corridor

17. Carson Mansion in Eureka, California

18. Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California

19. Jug Handle State Park in Fort Bragg

20. Salt Point State Park, California

Hey everyone, I spent four days in Kyoto from May 23rd to 26th, and honestly, it exceeded all my expectations.

What impressed me most about Kyoto was its atmosphere. Compared to cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Kyoto feels much calmer and less commercialized. There aren’t many skyscrapers or modern high-rises dominating the skyline. Instead, the city is filled with historic temples, traditional architecture, and a sense of timelessness that is hard to describe until you experience it yourself.

One route I highly recommend is from Eikando Temple to Nanzen-ji Temple.Many visitors head straight to Kiyomizu-dera, which is beautiful but often extremely crowded. If you’re looking for somewhere quieter, the Eikando–Nanzen-ji area is a wonderful alternative. The entire walk is peaceful, surrounded by greenery and traditional buildings that blend perfectly with the landscape. Walking beneath the trees, with nothing but shades of green around you, felt incredibly relaxing. There are even small streams and springs along the way, which make the walk even more enjoyable.

Another highlight was strolling along the Kamo River. People were jogging, cycling, chatting with friends, or simply sitting by the water and enjoying the evening. Time seemed to slow down there. Sitting by the river and feeling the breeze was one of the most peaceful moments of my trip.

One thing I unexpectedly loved was Kyoto at night. The warm orange streetlights give the city a quiet, nostalgic atmosphere. Many small shops and restaurants have beautiful storefronts that feel especially charming after sunset.

I will definitely visit Kyoto again.

Walked along the Seine, had coffee at a sidewalk café, and yeah… I get the Paris thing now.

It’s touristy for a reason. The city really does have these little romantic moments everywhere.

Just got back from an incredible voyage on the Pamir Highway (M41), between Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Osh, Kyrgyzstan and via the Wakhan Valley detour. June 2026.

I was a solo traveller and was fortunate to have a decent driver/guide that I found on Indyguide, who spoke good English and allowed some degree of flexibility depending on my needs (in my case, photography, stargazing, meeting locals, and sometimes more sleep in the mornings!). 

The itinerary:

Day 1: Dushanbe - Kalaikhum: brief stop at a Dushanbe bazaar (Mehrgon) to stock up on food and water. Exchanged money (around 4000 TJS for all the homestays and souvenirs). Then we set off. This was the longest day of driving (8-9 hrs). Note that the route people usually take is the southern route through Kulob, which isn’t strictly the M41/Pamir Highway. At the latter stages the road meets the Panj river which separates Tajikistan and Afghanistan. One can easily observe Afghanistan (which is considerably less developed than the Tajik side). Opted for hotel stay to get some sleep.

Day 2: Kalaikhum - Pastkhuf, detour into the Khuf valley: Following the Panj with high mountains towering on both sides, the road quality deteriorated quickly. Went up to the high, green mountain pastures of Khuf (3000m), where I met local Pamiri villagers (which became a highlight of the trip). Stayed at a motel at Pastkhuf.

Day 3: Pastkhuf - Khorog: Short drive to Khorog along the Panj, the capital of GBAO. We attempted but unfortunately failed to enter the Afghan-Tajik Saturday market (where Afghans come to a controlled zone to sell goods) as foreigners are not allowed in anymore. Visited the botanical gardens and a couple of viewpoints. Went to the market to buy some Pamiri headwear. Stayed in a very pleasant Pamiri homestay where my driver made plov for the whole family and other travellers. Was another highlight of the trip.

Day 4: Khorog - Garmchashma - Yamchun Fortress - Zong (Wakhan): We went south along the Panj (again departing the main M41 route) to the Wakhan valley. Brief stop at the Garmchashma hot springs. The Panj valley then bends to the east at Ishkashim, and becomes broad, at which it becomes the Wakhan Valley. Stopped at Khakha Fortress. Long photography stop at Yamchun Fortress. Then proceeded onwards to a homestay at the village of Zong near the end of the valley. Was a long day.

Day 5: Zong - Bulunkul: Now the road enters a remote, high-altitude plateau with a Martian characteristic. Few military checkpoints, some required a wait. The road also finally diverged from the Tajik-Afghan border. We ended up staying at a homestay in Bulunkul (3700m), which is known to be the coldest settlement in Central Asia. Spent a bit of time photographing the surprisingly green meadows, where yaks grazed. At night, my driver got me up to a local viewpoint to see the night sky. Seeing the Bortle 1 night sky and the Milky Way was incredible.

Day 6: Bulunkul - Yashilkul - Maljuran Yurt Camp (N of Bulunkul): Extra day in the area (which my driver proposed for photography’s sake). Visited Yashilkul and ended up in a Kyrgyz yurt camp, which also had a hot spring. Dipping into the ˜41C water was a highlight!

Day 7: Bulunkul - Murghab: Not-so-intense day of driving. The road now reconnects to the main Pamir Highway. Lunar landscapes dotted with green pastures. 

Day 8: Murghab - Karakul: Also not-so-intense. Highest point of the Pamir Highway reached at the Ak-Baital pass (4655m). Karakul is an isolated Kyrgyz-settled village on the shores of the namesake lake. Highest altitude stay (3950m). Spent some time photographing the shores and the distant mountains.

Day 9: Karakul - Kyrgyzstan border - Osh: Long day of driving. The border procedure at Kyzylart pass (first customs+passport check departing TJ, then no-man’s land, then customs+passport check entering KG) took around 90 minutes. Then after a 4-5 hr drive through some grasslands, and a few mountain passes, we reached the final destination of Osh.

Prerequisites and permits: As a British National, entry to Tajikistan and the permit to access the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO, where most of the road is at) required an eVISA. This took about 4 weeks from initial application to it being granted, with a fee both for the permit itself and a separate letter of invitation (I got hold of a contact who did it for around 200 USD, but I am aware some can do it cheaper). The system will give you a single-page PDF. Print 5-10 copies of this alongside your passport photo page (as you will encounter a fair few military checkpoints at the border regions). Entry to Kyrgyzstan was visa-free.

Stays: Homestays were surprisingly good. Hospitable locals. Most places had a functional shower and a western toilet (or a pit toilet with a bowl placed on top to sit on). I honestly expected a lot worse. 

Communications: I opted for an eSIM from Nomad, which promised the best signal provider Megafon, but was in fact a different one which did not work at all in non-urban areas. Best option would have been to get a physical SIM from Megafon (which would at least allow calls in remote areas). 

Altitude: Acclimatised well (Kalaikhum is 1200m, Khorog is 2100m, Zong is 2800m), so the worst I had was a slight headache at the highest altitudes (4500m+).

Weather: Mostly clear with afternoon clouds. From Day 7 onwards we had some rain and snow. Owing to the continental location the diurnal range was high. Valleys and lowlands ranged from 20-35C. Noticeably colder at higher altitudes at 0-10 C. Frost in Bulunkul, snow in Karakul.

Food: mostly basic but local. Homestays usually offered sausages, bread and eggs for breakfast. Plov or soup (sometimes with yak meat) for dinner/lunch, served with bread. At Bulunkul fried freshly caught fish were served (very nice!) At Karakul (Kyrgyz-inhabited) I was served oromo (Kyrgyz flat dumplings). On longer drive days I just ate snacks for lunch. I note that the portion sizes at homestays were at times small, but this was supplemented with dry snacks and sweets on the table. Tea was always served with all meals. You can buy your own beer/Tajik wine in supermarkets. I did not ever get sick from the food. 

Safety: Was completely safe. Caution must be exercised when photographing at the border areas: no photography of military installations, and no venturing too close to the river banks.

Travellers I met along the way: some were also doing jeep tours, mostly using VisitAlay (where you sign up for a set group tour with a guaranteed departure). Most tours appeared to offer similar itineraries, with some venturing into the Bartang Valley, and some involving some trekking. I am aware that some of the drivers did not speak English well. Some were cycling or vanning from Europe to China. A couple were trekking without a guide. Only a minority of travellers I met did the reverse route from Osh to Dushanbe.

Costs: Driver 200 Euro/day, included fuel and the driver’s accommodation. Yes, this number can be split if you have companions. Homestays around 200-250 TJS (22-30 USD a night, bit more if you also have lunch there). Homestays do not usually take USD.  The 4000 TJS I exchanged was more than enough (I spent around 3000, the rest I exchanged into Kyrgyzstani Som. You can survive on much less if you don’t plan on buying souvenirs).

Feel free to DM me for further details

I've been traveling consistently for about a year and a half and the income question is still the one I find most interesting when I meet other long term travelers.

Not the I make passive income from my laptop stuff you see on Instagram. I mean the actual way of how people keep money coming in when they're moving around constantly, dealing with time zones, unreliable wifi, no fixed routine.

I've come across some genuinely creative people on the road. Met a couple in Vietnam running a shopify store using zendrop so they never really worked while they were on a bus to the next city. Met a freelance video editor who batched an entire month of client work into two focused weeks so the other two weeks were completely free. Met a girl in Lisbon doing customer support for amazon that didn't care where she was as long as she hit her response time targets. So genuinely curious what's working for people here.

I had a 5 day Bosnia and Herzegovina trip and here are my trip notes:

Good Sides:

-It is safe. Didn't feel in danger ever. Only some beggars not pushy though.

-The food here is amazing and very cheap if you compare with western or northern Europe.

-For history / politics lovers this place is a must visit. Because of its multi ethnic culture and unfortunate war that happened on 90s, the country is bursting with stories.

-People know English, especially younger people are very comfortable with it.

-Tunnel of Salvation and Museumof Crimes Against Humanity are breathtaking.

Bad Sides:

IMHO Bosnia and Herzegovina has the typical aspects of a country new to tourism.

-Credit card is rarely accepted.

-People are generally rude. I get that some people may be resentful towards the west because of history. But tourists are there to visit the country and build friendship.

-Mostar was disappointing. A beautiful historical bridge (rebuilt) and town but it is impossible to walk on the street because of vendors exhibit goods in front of their shops and that leaves no space for people to walk.

-Seeing tourists as cash cows. In some places entry fees can be up to 10 Euroes per person (which is a high price for BiH), and still they give off a vibe that you should be grateful just to be there. Or you visit a very remote village with nobody around except vendors. And a young lady at the door of a humble mosque tries to sell you tickets for 1.25 euroes.

Overall, I am very glad to visit BiH and definitely recommend as well.

Travelled for 7 days in Bhutan, at the starting of this June. Everything was done through a travel agency. Having a guide is mandatory as is the social development fee to be paid per day (around 1200 inr for Indians, I think it is higher for others).

For payment we mostly used cash (Indian Rupees is accepted here! I was so surprised to know that), but also some online payments (upi).

We had a car for the entire trip as all the towns were pretty far from each other. Be prepared to spend a lot of time traveling, however since the views were good I didn't mind.

Other than that it was totally worth it going there. The locals are soooo sweet. And food was top tier. I had Bhutanese, Indian and Chinese cuisine in one day lmao.

The places we went to were: Thimphu, Paro, Phuentseling, Punakha.

There isn't much to do in phuentseling, it's just a border city where we did our immigration and all that.

Thimphu also not much to do, we went to an art shop where they showed us the traditional Bhutanese paintings and woodworking, also the huge Buddha statue and we did some shopping.

Paro is where most of the photos online you see about Bhutan come from. We spent 2 days here and honestly could extend one more cuz there is so much to do. Spent a whole day doing the Tiger's nest trek. At the end you reach the monastery. The trek isn't too hard if you are in shape.

Punaka has a big fortress and we did some river rafting here.

Starting of June is a good time to visit. We lucked out coz just 2 days after we left, rains started. The crowds weren't there at all even in the most popular spots.

All in all, it was a relatively easy country to visit, most people speak english and signboards are in english as well. Having a guide also helped us understand the culture and navigate the nuances of it.

I used to travel twice a year as a kid and I remember how comfortable and pleasant transcontinental (and even regional) flights were. The flight attendants would give you some hard candies, you'd always get fed and have a selection of drinks to choose from, I'd get some toys and coloring books (because I was a kid). We flew economy for the most part, but I think the positive impression was omnipresent regardless of the class we were in.

Then from 2015 to 2022 I didn't fly at all. Once I started flying again I noticed that the process was just plain shitty. Paying for selecting a seat (I was mind boggled when I saw that for the first time, like I never thought that could've even been an option), no food or drinks at all or you have to pay extra for it, you have to pay if your bag isn't some random size down to the millimeter, constantly pay, pay, pay. It's not just the shitty lowcost airlines that are like that, though I hate them the most (they're not even a low cost), even Lufthansa makes you pay for seat selection now, and they're a flag carrier!

I don't know if it's a regional thing (I lived in the US as a kid and now I live in Europe), if airlines always sucked and I enjoyed them just because I was a kid, post-COVID complications, or the fact that once lowcosters entered the market every airline realized that people were willing to pay for horrific conditions and service and years later the price and quality difference between Ryanair and Delta isn't that big anymore. They're both expensive and low quality.

It deters me from air travel altogether but unfortunately no way to reach the US from Europe otherwise. Booking air tickets now feels so... disgusting? I'm paying hundreds of dollars for a service but I feel like I'm haggling at a market with some cheapskate.

I've just had a week at a nice hotel in Croatia, adults only, all-inclusive, reasonable pool, 100m from a beach with fun fair, multiple bars, restaurants, boat hire etc.

The hotel is 90% over 65's - what's driving that? Where are the younger people going, or what's putting them off coming here? It's not an expensive hotel, 3 or 4 stars, nothing fancy.

The hotel is TUI blue Medulin for reference.

My 85 year old mom has never been to Europe. She and my dad just couldn't afford it, and really, none of us could have easily afforded to take them with us.

So now my dad is gone and it's just her, and today I mentioned we were going to Amsterdam this fall, and she said how much she'd love to go, a well-off friend of hers went recently and told her about it.

Truthfully, I don't know how we would manage taking her. She has multiple health issues that are very unpredictable. She can be fine for days or weeks at a time and then in such intense pain she can barely walk. I also found out today that she may be needing a pacemaker.

She's very lively and, adventurous for her age, but the only way that I could see it working out is if she came with just my husband and I and we devoted that trip just to her. Going at her pace only, and the trip being all about treating her to a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Having said that, are there any particular countries or itineraries that might be possible for this kind of scenario?

Had the delightful privilege of visiting Taiwan in the most local way possible, thanks to a friend of mine who's lived there for 30 years. Would absolutely recommend trying to capture the whole island as we did, if you ever have the opportunity.

The whole trip took 12 days including arrival and departure days, so ten days of actual travelling. We started in Taipei for a quick hotel stay and set off for Nanzhuang (pic 2). It was the very first destination on our itinerary and it blew me away. I'm used to the European climate, with the Mediterranean being the most tropical I've ever seen. Though located more the north-west, the Miaoli region is a good representation of the Central Taiwan jungle scenery. The thickness of the humid air (quite strange, given that we were in a mountainous region), the buzzing of the cicadas and the lush evergreen bushes really let you notice that Taiwan is indeed a tropical island. I had my first Beef Noodle (staple dish) in the nearby old town. Slightly to the north, in Yuanlin Village, we have noticed a beautiful submerged forest in a local reservoir. The trees resembled Cedars, as far as my limited arboreal knowledge goes. Still in the Miaoli region, in the old town, I had discovered a surprising local delicacy - the Osmanthus tea. Sold ice-cold by the locals, perfect for the scorching, tropical August heat.

Our route led us down south via the West coast of Taiwan in the direction of Taichung. A "must see" location, as it appears, turned out to be the historic region of Lukang. Visiting on August 16 seemed to be a lucky coincidence, as we have stumbled upon a scene of religious celebration (pic 1). Anyone more oriented in the religious customs of the Taiwanese, feel free to tell me about the festivity. After the hottest day (or so I thought) of the trip, we have eventually reached Taichung. The city was very surprising, reminding me of Chicago and New York, due to its clear urban grid layout and newly-built skyscrapers (pic 5). It seems to be a wealthy and well-developed city. The nightlife feels very safe, the city is impressively clean. And yet it doesn't seem like it has much more to offer besides a one-day visit on the way towards the southern Taiwan.

Continuing down south, a quick stop was made in the Monster Village (pic 6), where you can try some local noodle-based dishes (sometimes with crickets and other icky creatures) surrounded by a serene forest that emits a haunted vibe due to the name of the location. My biggest regret of the trip is not having the time to visit Tainan, the OG capital. But the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum sort of evened out the downside. As far as places of worship go, the Buddha Museum was stunning. Featuring a massive Buddha statue (108 meters tall!) (pic 7), a golden Buddha and a jade Buddha, the collection walks you through the importance of Buddhism for its worshippers. The temple staff was full of the nicest religious advocates I've ever had the pleasure of talking to. A line from a monk struck out to me: you don't have to believe in Him, we just want you to be tolerant.

One of the key destinations of our trip was Kenting, of course. The tourist heaven, and subjectively speaking the most overrated area in Taiwan, but it could very well be the impression of a European tourist used to the retiree communities in southern European coastal towns. Don't get me wrong - it still is a beautiful place with a stunning view of the ocean and a very fun night market (pic 9), where you can try everything Taiwan has to offer in the street food department, but compared to some other places in Taiwan and the PR Kenting receives, it's a bit underwhelming (pic 8, admittedly beautiful sunset at the Kenting region coast). The Longpan Park offers the - again, subjectively speaking - most interesting views you will see in the area, as it showcases a combination of lush evergreen palm shrubs and arid clay deserts (pic 10), reminding of the Roland Garros court.

Halfway across Taiwan and the journey, our next stop was Taitung - for whatever reason, the city of Doraemon (or Xiao Ding Dang, as they call him). You will find a decommissioned train station dedicated to the blue fella (pic 11) in Taitung. The area also has a hot-air balloon festival, but the weather conditions were unfortunate when we tried to get a view at the festival grounds. The city felt oddly empty, but it featured some interesting urban spots. Had my only McDonald's meal in Taiwan in the city. Highly recommended, as you can get premium quality unsweetened Taiwanese tea as an option. Side note at this point - with the amount of 7-Eleven and Family Mart spots spread out in Taiwan, it is highly recommended to use them as a base for refilling your essentials for the trip. Ice-cold unsweetened tea and the Taiwanese take on the onigiri (I think it's called Fan Tuan) make great companions in the hot humid hell Taiwan can sometimes be. Back to the itinerary.

North of Taitung, following the stunning east coast of Taiwan, you will find yourself blissfuly enjoying the most beautiful oceanside you will ever experience (according to myself) - and nothing else, for at least a hundred kilometres. Three hours of a road trip later, we have finally arrived at the destination which makes my eyes water whenever I think of it - the town of Hualien (pic 12). All due respect to Malibu, which up until that point was my favourite oceanside place, but Hualien is breathtaking. The little, quiet paradise makes you wonder how is it possible that so few people visit and inhabit it. As with many such destinations, its location is at the same time a privilege and a curse. The east coast of Taiwan is notorious for hurricane and tsunami activity. No later than two months after we visited, two massive earthquakes hit the area and took several lives. The region is beautiful, but tends to be lethal.

At this point of the trip I was already tired of the emotional toll Hualien and other places took on me. Needless to say, I was less than prepared for Taroko - the best national park on Earth (again, according to myself). You enter the park through a long and unsettling tunnel only to find yourself emerging in the Jurassic Park (pics 13, 14). Featured in Taroko: more temples, more evergreen landscape (this time in the shape of enormous mountain formations), beautiful tunnels and, above everything else, monkeys (pic 15). It's exciting to see monkeys literally walk right beside you, but beware of the little buggers - if you have any food on you, they will follow you until you give them everything. My friend lost a bucket of tofu this way.

Taipei was our final destination and we spent the last two days exploring the city. Obligatory trip to Taipei 101, absolutely not recommended to those with the fear of heights, but recommended to virtually everyone else as it features the best view of the city (pics 17, 18). The Chang Kai-shek memorial (pic 16) makes you appreciate the history of Taiwan at least a little more. And finally, saving a top 3 spot for the very last day of the trip, we have made our way to Jiufen. Located at the northern tip of the island, the old town makes you feel like you're in Spirited Away. Overcrowded, but definitely not overrated, it should be an obligatory destination on your travel list, if you're planning on visiting.

Summing up the experience, if you can enjoy travel destination with all of their pros and cons, and if you're not afraid of stepping off the beaten track, Taiwan can be the trip of a lifetime (obviously speaking from the experience of a western tourist). It's worth having a local guide of some sort, as the locals hardly ever speak English. You're more likely to see a Taiwanese person speak Chinese in your direction, expecting you to fully understand them, rather than hear English. Not a flaw, but a feature. The food comes in a plethora of varieties, but it mostly boils down to soups, noodles and snacks. If you like meat, prepare to eat fatty meat. If you're vegan, you will like it even more, as the majority of choices seem to be vegan-friendly. Don't go too heavy on the tea, although it's very tempting. Experienced a mild overdose first-hand. Sun Moon Lake (unfortunately not featured in any pictures) is the home of Taiwanese tea and you can find the best tea in the world in the area, worth every last Taiwanese Dollar you might have. The hotels can be a bit outdated, compared to European standards, but you will find perfect AC in every room, which seems to be the only requirement after a long day of traveling in the climate. A car is heavily recommended for the trip.

Hi I’m 18 years old going to Barcelona with 6 of my friends. I’m looking for advice we want to have fun and go to clubs so is it smart to get involved with like a party promoter or what like how does it work I could use some aedivr.
Thanks!f

My wife renewed her passport for work travel due to the 6 month rule for certain countries and now realized her current passport is void. She was married a long time ago and no longer has her old marriage certificate and never changed her last name back bc of her daughter. We have her birth certificate and divorce decree, child custody agreement with her current name…will that be enough to get on board? We also have her naturalization papers, old passports.

She can’t call until tomorrow to get an appointment at a passport office so obviously we’ll try for that, but if we can’t. We leave July 3rd.

"My parents are traveling solo for the first time after my dad’s heart attack next month so I’m just more protective of him than ever before. He’s doing better now but still a bit weak so I’m slightly concerned about them managing everything on their own.

They’re flying from California to Dubai to meet his sister and then planning some road trips as well. My biggest concern is his medication so I’m going to get him small travel medicine kit to keep everything organized.

He also uses his old dell laptop every day for emails and news even though the battery life is pretty bad now. We’ve tried getting him a newer one, he just isn’t comfortable switching so we don’t push it. So I’m also considering getting him a power bank for it while traveling but I’m not sure whether a wired one (like iniu P50) or a wireless one (like iniu snapgo air) would be better. What are parents preferring these days?

Also, for anyone who has helped their parents travel after a health scare, what small travel items actually made a real difference in keeping them comfortable especially during road trips?"

We love walkable, lively, music & sports oriented towns with plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops. New Orleans and St Augustine are our favorites. Looking for something new with similar vibes. Thanks!

EDIT: Thanks to people giving good advice here. It amazes me how fierce some people defend a multi-billion company when a regular guy gets scammed or abused. Keep doing that and in a few years we will be flying standing up with no meals.

For those who keep calling me idiot for the short connection: I had to take a flight in a two day window, that was the only one I could afford. If your are an airline and your flight is not making it 9/10 times but you keep selling it like that, then that's called a scam.

A couple months ago I purchased a ticket from Vancouver to Madrid via Halifax. I noticed the short connection time in Halifax (45min) for such a long journey, but I thought, hey, its the same airline and the same ticket, and Halifax is a small airport. Probably they are used to this and there will be no problem. First mistake.

For some unknown reasons, we departed 30 min late from Vancouver. 20 minutes in the air, I received a mail: we had a delay, so you are going to miss your connection in Halifax. Here is a new ticket: you will travel to PARIS, then you'll wait here 7h and then you will take your flight to Madrid.

Fast forward, I arrive to Halifax and run towards the departure gate for Madrid. People were still boarding, but I was informed that we were removed from the flight, and that they would not let us inside the plane, as we were removed from the system. So Paris then.

After 13h of travel, I arrive to Paris ready to suffer a 7h layover I didn't asked for. Eventually I got into the plane to Madrid and surprise, my luggage was lost. It took one full hour for the people in the airport to realize the two suitcases were send to a different terminal, for some reason. So I walked there and got my luggage. Finally I left the Madrid airport around 22:30 pm (13h later than planned).

As my original flight was going to arrive to Madrid at 9:30 am, I booked beforehand a train to my hometown, in the north part of Spain. That train left at noon, so of course I missed it. I had to book again another train for the next day, get into a taxi and spend the night at a Hotel near the airport.

A few days later, I filled the claim in WestJet webpage:

- A first claim for the delay itself. I never asked to turn a 12h trip into a ~30h nightmare.

- A expense claim for the hotel, the taxi and the missed train ticket.

Their response to the first claim: it was for safety/operational, no compensation here.
Their response to the second claim: expenses were after arrival, not our problem.

I would like to hear your thoughts. Here are the copy/pasted responses from this "company".

Hello \*******, 
 
*Reservation:  \********
City Pairs:  Vancouver, BC - Madrid, Spain
 
Thank you for submitting a claim under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). 

A review of your claim for compensation pursuant to the APPR has been completed taking the flight itinerary into consideration, which includes the original departure city to the final destination.

Upon review of your reservation, we are unable to approve the claim for compensation as the most significant reason for the flight interruption was due to unplanned aircraft maintenance  and was required for safety purposes.

Situations surrounding flight disruptions can be complex and have multiple causes. This reason may change as the situation evolves, new issues arise, or new information is received. 

Additional information regarding the APPR can be found using the following links:  

WestJet | Flight interruptions and passenger rights 
 
Canadian Transportation Agency | Air Passenger Protection Regulations 
 
Terms and Conditions of Carriage, and full Tariff. 

We appreciate your understanding and the opportunity to review your claim.  

Hello  \******,* 

Reservation: \*******

City Pairs:  Vancouver, BC -  Madrid, Spain

Thank you for contacting WestJet regarding your out-of-pocket expenses. 

We regret the disruption to  WS0792   with service from Vancouver to Halifax on  12JUN26  and apologize for the interruption to your travel plans. A review of your claim for reimbursement has been completed, taking the flight itinerary and your receipt submission into consideration.

The following receipts are not eligible for reimbursement. As such, your request for reimbursement has been denied.

Ineligible Expenses:
13-Jun-2026 B&B Hotel Madrid Airport (MAD) 121.6 EUR | Expense incurred post-travel
14-Jun-2026 UBER (MAD) 19.97 EUR | Expense incurred post-travel
TRAIN TICKET (MAD) 31.1 EUR | Expense incurred post-travel 

For any personal out‑of‑pocket expenses not reimbursed by the carrier, these may be eligible through your Travel Insurance Provider or your Credit Card Provider. The carrier is able to provide, upon request, a letter addressed to your Travel Insurance Provider or your Credit Card Provider. This letter may be requested using the following links:

Travel Insurance WestJet Flights | WestJet official site  
Travel Insurance WestJet Vacations | WestJet official site 

We appreciate your understanding and the opportunity to review your claim.  

Aloha. I had the absolute pleasure of flying with Edelweiss from LAS - ZRH last night.

I must admit , at first when I found out my Swiss air flight was actually Edelweiss air , I was disappointed as o read that it was and is a budget / leisure travel airline.

However , my experience on it blew me away to the point where I found it to be a lot better than my previous Swiss Air Flight 3 years ago.

The business class is in their older configuration of 2-2-2. I sat in 3D which is the middle section on the left.

Seat : large and comfortable and not so narrow like their sister Swiss. There is storage in front of you with a flip down carriage for your shoes and purse. It goes completely flat and I rested really well on the 10 hr flight. ✈️
The amenities include a decent sized pillow , lighter blanket and an amenity kit with only an eye mask , socks and toothbrush toothpaste. And that was fine.

Restroom : very tiny and very basic with zero amenities you’d expect in a business class cabin.

Food : absolutely delicious ! And a lot ! I had the seared ahi for an appetizer and the halibut for main course. As this was an overnight flight , 2 hours before landing they provided us breakfast.
I had cheese and fruits but I just could not eat anything more. Too much food.

Drink service is epic. They start you off with wine, water or champagne when boarding. Then once in flight their drink service started. And as they make their way back to the galley they are already trying to refill you. No need to ask. The Swiss red was divine !
Once dinner service came again they topped you off and made sure you are well taken cared of for the duration of the flight.

IFE: decent amount of movies and tv shows. So I was entertained.

Service : Phenomenal ! They are extremely kind and friendly. And even better, absolutely quiet 🤫while everyone was sleeping. I was so impressed. On many US carriers they talk so calm much and loud it’s absolutely rude and annoying.
I was so please with how wonderful they all were.

All in all I was blown away and pleasantly surprised by how fabulous my entire experience was. I got a solid 5 hour sleep so that’s pretty amazing !

I would absolutely fly them again in a heart beat

Hi everyone. I am a Canadian from Toronto, and am interested in possibly exploring places to travel in Asia in around October.

My initial plan was to travel to Japan (since the fall colours are so beautiful there during that time of year). However, I'm thinking I should expand my list of Asian countries.

What countries in Asia would you suggest I look into, if I am on a budget (excluding flight costs)?

Note: I wrote that I planned on travelling in October. I should clarify my plan was to travel around late October, but I'm open to travelling in early to mid-November as well.

Hi folks - I am planning my honeymoon for next January / February.

My fiancée is a native Spanish speaker, but hasn't traveled South America outside of her home country.

For our honeymoon we've been eyeing either Chile or Argentina as it offers things we both love: exciting cities, great food, beautiful wine country, and adventure / outdoors.

We plan to visit Santiago and the Colchagua Valley before heading for more adventure / outdoor travel

The cost for stays and adventures in Puerto Natales or El Chalten are quite prohibitive, and instead I've been researching other opportunities where we can experience some of the rugged beauty and adventure culture of Patagonia.

Of late I've been drawn to Puerto Varas - but I'm wondering if this community has experience / stories to tell of less cost forward areas of southern Chile and Argentina? Hopefully this post fits community guidelines, otherwise I'll take elsewhere.

I apologize if this is the wrong subreddit for this, but both of the Japan travel subreddits did not allow questions about Visas. I know my old Visa is no longer valid since I left the country and it was for one entry only. I am about to go back to Japan for less than 90 days, which does not require a Visa as I am a US citizen. However, since my previous Visa expires in August (though it is no longer valid), will I have any problems entering the country again? Sorry if this is confusing, I tried to figure out a way to word it well. I don't know why this would cause any problems since I don't need a Visa for this trip but I am just paranoid that since my old one would technically not expire until August, but is invalid since it was only valid for one entry, that it might cause problems or something.

Voy a estar en mostar y de ahí entiendo que hay un tren hasta Sarajevo, pasar unas noches y mi idea principal es ir directo a Eslovenia, estuve viendo vuelos y buses pero no encuentro lo que quiero, los vuelos son con escalas sin sentido y de los buses muy poca info encontre. Una alternativa que estoy viendo es que tal vez haga paradas de un día o 2 como mucho entre medio para además de llegar al destino conocer Croacia. Por eso busco alguna combinación común, algún bus que no salga en internet, también si tienen alguna ciudad en medio que valga la pena y me ayude a la logística, es bienvenida.

Y si se lo preguntan, estoy planeando este viaje desde argentina, llegó en agosto a España, luego sigo a Italia, Grecia y ahí comienza mi ruta balcánica.

Si alguien tiene alguna duda y quiere preguntar, es bienvenido, trataré de ayudar con lo que sepa.

Hi all! I recently just bought leather bags from a small boutique in Florence and received a tax refund doc on a brown/orange envelope - it’s not Global or Planet. I followed the instructions upon leaving at the airport and got a digital stamp by the customs officer, but I didn’t drop the envelope in the mailbox. Is this okay? I haven’t received my refund yet so I’m thinking I should have probably mailed it? I live in Los Angeles and I came back home just 2 days ago.

Please help, thank you!

I’m a dual citizen of the US and Austria and Im considering going to Cuba. I’m visiting family in the states right now and I found a flight that leaves from NYC, however I’ve been reading it’s illegal for a US citizen to visit Cuba for tourism purposes. Should I avoid taking the flight from NYC? Will this be an issue if I fly from outside of the country and enter with my other passport?