Inquisitive Society

Hey guys, so my friend and I were all set for a trip to Montenegro, starting from Tangier, Morocco, and planning a layover in London because we don’t have a Schengen visa. The plan was to fly back the same way, and we were cool with landing in Morocco as long as we could catch another flight back to Tangier or maybe hop on a high-speed train. But now, my friend can’t make it on the original dates we had in mind.

I need some help finding a good alternative that fits our $300 budget, the same as the original flight I had found. Also, we need to be back in Morocco before the 18th of July, and we can’t leave before the 6th. Our stay in Montenegro can’t be more than a week but also not less than 5 days – it’s a delicate balance. This trip means a lot to both of us, and we’re super excited about it. Thanks a million in advance for any assistance!

Here’s what I’m on the lookout for in terms of flights: from Tangier to any airport in London, and then on to Montenegro. For the return journey, any airport in Montenegro to London, and then back to Morocco. Just a heads up, London isn’t a must, but since there aren’t direct flights from Morocco to Montenegro, or they come with layovers in Europe, we figured London would be a convenient stopover since we’ve got valid UK visas.

So, if anyone has any suggestions or tips on how we can make this work within our constraints, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks a bunch!

I’m planning to have $24k saved up by early October and $28.5k by mid-November. Considering that the weather in my country is cold from mid-October to mid-May, I aim to leave around early to mid-October and return by mid to late May. During my trip, I plan to stick to my usual spending habits, allowing for occasional treats and fun activities, but not extravagant touristy expenses for the entire six months.

To budget for my trip, I estimate my monthly expenses to be around $1.5k, with an additional $2k set aside for flights as I don’t intend to move around excessively. This budget plan amounts to $12.5k if I travel for two months, but I have a feeling that I should save more money as a precautionary measure, even though my expected expenses fall well below my total savings of $24k.

Considering the uncertainties that may arise, such as unexpected emergencies, I wonder if I should depart in October as initially planned or delay my trip by another month and a half.

Hey everyone, I’m back from my epic solo adventure exploring Southeast Asia for 8 months. I’m here to share my experience with you all. During my trip, I spent varying amounts of time in different countries: 29 days in Indonesia, 46 days in Vietnam, 57 days in the Philippines, 36 days in Laos, 20 days in Cambodia, 26 days in Thailand, and then another 28 days in Indonesia to wrap things up.

I had my trusty 50+6L backpack from Decathlon, which was a lifesaver throughout my journey. I made a conscious effort to minimize flights, opting instead for buses, trains, and boats whenever possible (although the Philippines made that a bit tricky). One of the highlights of my trip was getting my scuba diving certifications – I did both the Open Water and Advanced courses, and let me tell you, the underwater world is truly mesmerizing.

As a solo traveler, I mostly stayed in hostels, although I treated myself to a private room every now and then for some much-needed peace and quiet. If you have any questions about my trip – whether it’s about the apps I used, my itinerary, or anything else – feel free to ask. I’m more than happy to help out fellow travelers in any way I can.

Just to give you a bit of background about myself, I’m 28 years old, French, and I have a strong preference for the solo aspect of solo traveling. It’s a unique experience that allows you to truly immerse yourself in different cultures and push your boundaries in ways you never thought possible.

So, there you have it – my whirlwind adventure through Southeast Asia in a nutshell. If you’re thinking about embarking on a solo journey of your own, I say go for it. The memories, the people you meet, and the personal growth you’ll experience are absolutely priceless. And remember, I’m here to answer any questions you may have or offer any tips and advice to make your trip as amazing as mine was. Safe travels, fellow adventurers!

Hey, so I’m gearing up for my first big trip, and it hit me that I’ve got zero organization game when it comes to packing my stuff. It’s all just chucked into my bag, and I can already see the chaos that’s gonna cause when I’m actually living out of it for a few weeks. I keep hearing about packing cubes and little organizers, but honestly, I’m lost on what’s truly useful and what’s just clutter. I don’t want to go overboard and end up with a load of pouches gathering dust. So, for you seasoned travelers out there, what’s that one organizational thing you wish you’d snagged before your maiden voyage? The game-changer that made you think, “Why didn’t I have this sooner?” Whether it’s for clothes, cables, toiletries, documents, or whatever, I’m all ears. Just looking to pick up some wisdom from those who’ve been there, done that, so I don’t repeat their mishaps on my journey.

So, I’m in the midst of sorting out my travel plans, debating between Toronto and Montreal for an upcoming trip. Let me tell you, Montreal has been a real rollercoaster ride when it comes to finding a place to stay on Airbnb. A while back, I was scoping out some options, and I found apartments going for less than £1000 a month, while rooms were in the £400-£600 range. Seemed like a pretty good deal, right?

But then fast forward to when I actually tried to book something for July, and oh boy, the prices had skyrocketed. Suddenly, the apartments were starting at a minimum of £1600, and rooms were going for £900. It was like Montreal had decided to one-up Vancouver in the cost department. I figured maybe it was just a summertime thing, everything gets pricier in the warmer months, right?

Then, just recently, I decided to take another peek at the listings. Lo and behold, the prices had done a complete 180. Apartments were back to being under £1000, and rooms were back in the £400-£600 range. Talk about a wild ride. At this point, I had already settled on Toronto for my trip, but I thought I’d keep Montreal in mind for a future visit.

Fast forward to when I checked the prices for later in the year, and wouldn’t you know it, they had shot up again. It’s like playing a game of Airbnb roulette, never knowing what the prices will be from one day to the next. Has anyone else experienced this Airbnb pricing rollercoaster in Montreal? It’s enough to make your head spin!

Hey there! So, I’ve got a little travel conundrum and I’m hoping you can help me out. I’ve decided to go on a trip and snagged this awesome package deal through Expedia, which saved me a ton of cash. The deal includes both flights and hotel stay. The thing is, when I booked the package, it automatically set the number of hotel guests to match the number of tickets purchased. Since I only bought two tickets, I could only book the hotel for two people.

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. I checked the prices for adding a third guest to the hotel reservation separately, and it turns out the cost doesn’t change whether I put down 3 guests or just stick with 2. Strange, right? So, I reached out to the hotel directly to see if we could bring a third person along and they mentioned there might be an extra fee involved.

I’m wondering if there’s a way for the hotel to update the reservation from their end without hitting me with an additional charge, considering that Expedia is already billing me for four guests in the package deal. Or maybe, could Expedia’s customer support tweak the reservation for me without messing up the whole package booking? I don’t want to cancel everything and start from scratch if I can avoid it.

Thanks a bunch for lending an ear and any advice you can offer! Your help is greatly appreciated!

Hey there, so I’m kind of a flight enthusiast (yes, that’s me) and I’ve racked up a solid 40 flights in the past 4 years. From the bustling streets of Singapore to the stunning beaches of Sydney, the vibrant city of Shanghai, and the charming chaos of London, I’ve been there. Now, let’s talk about sleep—or lack thereof—on flights.

Out of those 40 flights, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve actually managed to catch some decent shut-eye. Three times, to be exact. The absolute worst was this 14-hour red-eye nightmare where I attempted to entertain myself by watching four movies, two episodes of some forgettable show, and then resorted to staring at the flight map for what felt like an eternity as the tiny plane creeped across the Pacific at a snail’s pace. Absolute torture, I tell you.

I’ve tried it all, man. Melatonin? Left me feeling like a groggy zombie the next day. Alcohol? Sure, it knocked me out, but the quality of sleep was just atrocious—I might as well have been in a coma. Eye masks, neck pillows, noise-cancelling headphones—the whole shebang. They’re all fine and dandy, but guess what? Yours truly was still wide awake, staring at the ceiling of the plane.

And don’t even get me started on turbulence. That’s a whole different level of anxiety right there. It’s like every bump and jolt is a reminder that you’re hurtling through the sky in a metal tube. No wonder I can’t seem to relax enough to catch some Z’s.

So, here’s the deal—I need some real solutions here, folks. None of that “just relax” nonsense. I want to hear from the seasoned travelers, the frequent flyers, the sleep-deprived wanderers who have cracked the code to getting some decent rest on a flight. What’s your secret? Lay it on me, because I’m all ears (well, eyes, technically, since I’m reading your responses, but you get the idea). Let’s help a fellow traveler out and put an end to this endless cycle of sleepless flights.

Hey there, folks! So, here’s the deal – I’ve been out of the US for 14 years now, just hopping around different spots in Asia. Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out, you know? That’s why I’ve been hanging out in a few places that I really dig, renting an apartment for a good chunk of time before moving on. Right now, I’m chilling in this cozy pad for nine months, but when the rainy season hits, I’ll sublet it out and circle back next year.

I’ve decked out my place with an air fryer, a trusty bicycle, and loads of plants – little luxuries that I couldn’t enjoy when I was living out of a bag. It’s been nice to settle into a routine, make some friends, get involved in local volunteering gigs, and even brush up on the local language. Having this sense of stability is seriously a breath of fresh air for me.

But man, let me tell you, the heat in Asia is starting to get to me. It’s been a real struggle, especially for my partner. I’ve been toying with the idea of checking out Eastern Europe and South America, but honestly, I’m just too darn exhausted to even think about starting that whole process. My partner isn’t much help in the research department, and I’ve been the one doing all the travel planning up to now. I’m just about ready to call it quits on that front.

We’ve done the whole Australia thing for a year, spent three years in Subsaharan Africa, and even did a stint in Mexico for four months. But no matter where we go, I always find myself gravitating back to Asia. It’s where I feel most at ease as an Asian person, where the food is top-notch (bonus points for all the vegetarian options), and, most importantly, where I feel safe. Safety is my number one priority, you know?

I can’t shake this feeling of getting too comfortable in Asia, though. It’s all so familiar and cozy, but I know deep down that I need a change. I reckon I should take a good long break, maybe stay put for a solid 2-3 years, and then I might be ready to take on a whole new continent. Anyone else out there feeling the same way? Let me know!

Hey there, so I’m all set to embark on this epic 3-month journey through Western Europe starting from April and cruising all the way to June. Originally, my game plan was to roll with an Osprey 40L backpack along with a handy dandy packable day bag. But, twist in the plot, I’ve decided to dedicate a solid week in late June to conquering the Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites, chilling at those cozy refugios along the way.

Now, here’s where I’m hitting a bit of a roadblock – trying to figure out how to handle my luggage situation for that specific hiking week. I mean, let’s be real, lugging around a 40L on those trails sounds like a one-way ticket to Sore Back City. Oh, and just to give you a visual, I’m a 5’7 gal. My initial thought was to stash my main pack in a locker and just roll with the 20L packable bag for the trek. But then I started second-guessing if a structure-less 20L bag would cut it comfort-wise for multiple days of hiking. Decisions, decisions.

But wait, there’s more – downsizing to anything smaller than a 40L for the entire trip seems like a bit of a stretch. I mean, I’m hitting that sweet spot between cold and hot weather, planning to snag some souvenirs, and let’s be honest, I ain’t about that one-outfit-for-three-months life 😂. So, I’m willing to go ultra-minimal for the Alta Via week, but the struggle is real. Should I bite the bullet and cart around a separate, sturdy 20L hiking pack for the rest of the journey instead of the day bag? Or is that just a recipe for a major headache and major inconvenience?

So, here’s where I need your sage advice – anyone out there tackled a hut-to-hut hike like the Alta Via 1 smack dab in the middle of a longer European adventure? How did you crack the code on stashing your stuff and packing smart just for those trail days? Hit me up with your wisdom, y’all!

Hey guys, long time reader, first time sharer here. So, I’m gearing up for a week-long trip to Morocco from July 9 to 15, rocking a 32L backpack. Gotta lug around some camera gear for work, but keeping it light. Here’s the lowdown on my agenda:

– July 9: Catching a flight on Royal Air Maroc from the US to Casablanca
– July 10: Touching down in Marrakesh after the Casablanca leg
– July 11: Overnight chill in Aroumd
– July 12: Marrakesh exploration day
– July 13: Overnight stay in Essaouira
– July 14: Another day soaking up Marrakesh vibes
– July 15: Time to head back home

I’ll have air-con in my stays and planning on doing some DIY laundry in the sink as the days roll by. Now, onto the gear situation:

– My trusty Osprey Transporter 32L backpack
– A basic sling from Amazon, about 2.5 liters
– Packing cube for clothes
– Tech pouch
– DOPP kit
– Packable tote
– Dry/wet bag

For the threads, here’s what I’m bringing along:

– Kicking it in New Balance Sneakers on the flight
– Wrangler All Terrain Cargo Pants
– Uniqlo Airism tee
– Sun hoodie
– Rocking my Trucker hat
– Also packing:
– Wrangler ATG pants
– Quick-dry athletic shorts
– More Uniqlo Airism tees
– Columbia fishing shirt
– Comfy cotton tee for sleep
– Columbia windbreaker
– A bunch of undies and socks
– Chacos Z/1 Classic
– Packable sun hat

In my DOPP Kit, I’ve got the essentials covered:

– Sunscreen
– Hand sanitizer
– Electrolyte packets
– Anti-chafe cream
– Deodorant
– Soap bar
– Dental hygiene kit

The tech stuff I’m toting:

– MacBook Pro 14-inch
– Epika travel adapter
– Charging cables
– Sony XM4 headphones
– Canon EOS R
– Canon RF 24–105 f/4L
– Canon batteries and charger
– Small power bank

Rounding it out with a few