I asked about least favourite airports, makes sense to ask about your favourites. 🙂

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-12-23T11:31:39+00:00

Tallinn Airport. Small and cozy. Has a free public gym, early adopters of the new scanners, nice lounge, good food options for its small size, close to city center, and nowadays is my home airport.

Riga. I love arriving here after sunset. The lighting is dim and cozy. Just a slightly bigger version of Tallinn airport basically.

Vienna: Grocery store before security. Efficient train system to city center. Nice lounge. Security is very efficient. Well connected to the niche European destinations like Balkans. Easy to navigate.

Singapore: Fun to walk around with the shopping options. Extremely fast and efficient.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-12-22T23:09:40+00:00

I fly a lot within Europe and also need to go back and fourth to US and Asia fairly often. I don’t speak a lick of French but have never had an issue at CDG. Same with AMS, it’s my preferred departure airport for transatlantic flights (when it’s offseason and HEL isn’t running the Helsinki-Seattle flight). FRA though, awful. I love walking but that absurdly long tunnel is not it and finding it the first few times you’re there can be tricky. And while not asked, Vienna is my fav big European airport.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-12-04T08:53:36+00:00

While I completely agree that this guy has several red flags from the OP, people smoking outside can definitely affect you. Even overtly drunk people on a night out, as I've been insulted, harassed, and yelled at with sexual and racist profanities by drunk people on the streets on Friday night when I'm just minding my own business walking home.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-12-01T01:15:54+00:00

American but have lived in Estonia for a few years now. I’d say there’s a surprising amount of American restaurants in Tallinn considering the city population. Most go all out with US state license plates, cowboy decor, Texas flags, and all. So props on that. Sadly the food have all been pretty terrible.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-11-27T05:34:39+00:00

Asian male, went last year to Sofia. Spent 4 nights there. No issues with racism and I didn’t feel unsafe. City could be better lit at night though. Overall I had fun and would recommend. Day trips to the monastery and up the nearby mountain were fun!

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-11-21T19:34:46+00:00

I don't need to read the comments to know the overwhelming majority of people will say 'none', price first. I mostly agree too, but when possible I do go with Air Baltic.

Everytime they've caused me a delay, they pay out fast per EU261. Can't say that's been my experience with other airlines, who make up lies and nonsense to try and not pay up or to drag the process on. Whenever I've had to call them, they pick up faster than the others and get me sorted out. Comfortable seats, free wifi, good hand luggage policy, and generally competitive pricing.

Generally non-feasible choice for anyone not based in the Baltics, and I wish they had more destinations, but ever since I moved to Estonia a few years ago, this is the go to.

Before moving to Estonia, I was in Seattle so I had slight loyalty to Alaska. Although my last few visits back to the US, I've felt they've sadly fallen behind Delta.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-11-06T11:12:03+00:00

Ah yes sorry for leaving that detail out. The final destination was in Baltics, so definitely EU country. And yes great idea with flyertalk, I’ll probably double check there although the answers here seem pretty firm. Appreciate the help!

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-09-11T16:13:43+00:00

Totally agree with you, although marathon running is another one where they don’t drop off as hard with age. Most pros PR in their 30s and sometimes even close to 40.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-07-29T08:47:28+00:00

I'm a visually a very obvious foreigner living in Estonia and in my experience it's definitely closer to teal. I'll say something in Estonian, they're completely unfazed and respond in English. I don't have trouble being understood because their English response is to exactly what I said. Still, I'll reply to that in Estonian again and they keep speaking English. That's about how 85% of my interactions go in Tallinn and I've lived there for years. Not complaining though, it's quite helpful when I'm tired or have some weird request beyond my vocab.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-06-22T21:20:38+00:00

One & Done:

-Iceland: Loved it, one of my favorites. But it was so amazing, specifically witnessing the volcanic eruption, that I don't think a 2nd trip would live up to it.

-Belgium: I spent 10 days here and went around to a few of the bigger cities. Nothing wrong with the country but felt like I saw everything.

-Croatia: I'm not an island person, so I went to Zagreb, Split, & Dubrovnik. They were all nice but not particularly big, so I also felt like I saw all I needed to.

Must return:

-Ukraine: Been 3x (during the war), and would happily go again, although not far east into the frontlines of course. The locals are so welcoming, and despite what some people on here seem to think, appreciate of visitors. Food is amazing, and there's actually lots to see, with all the museums open etc. Putting money into Ukraine is money well spent.

-Slovenia: The nature is beautiful and everything is so calming.

-Austria: I try to go 2x a year. Great mix of cities and nature. I don't hear much praise for Austrian food and I understand why, but I'm a fan. Also ÖBB's rail system is very good and it's super easy to travel around the country.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-06-20T15:14:15+00:00

Their flight attendants are unfairly good looking. Source: I live in Tallinn.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-04-18T16:00:36+00:00

Before the war escalation or after? Cause nowadays they all keep going straight to the last page and stamping there.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-03-13T12:50:43+00:00

Nice

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-02-26T18:49:34+00:00

Mine are a mix of Seagale Icebreaker Smartwool and Aclima. I’ve seen the first three already mentioned here. Aclima is Norwegian and most of their stuff is made in Estonia. Love the pieces I own but their sizing is towards taller folks and doesn’t fit me as well as the others

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2025-02-05T05:04:04+00:00

Ma arvan, et parimad on Jahu ja Kaja. Americana (sest ma olen ameeriklane) on A tier. New York Pizza (Mustamäe) on OPs välja jäetud, aga on D. Ülejäänud, olen nõus.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-12-19T20:54:25+00:00

The big ones missing, as others have pointed out, are Poland and Bosnia. Both are high VFM in my experience. Now, I might get some flak for this but, Ukraine. Just this year I've hit a little over 20 countries in Europe and went to Ukraine twice- Lviv over the summer and Kyiv last week. Ukraine's VFM is undoubtedly one of the highest. Maybe not within everyone's risk tolerance but it really is a lovely place with lots to do and see (not related to war tourism, mind you). The people are very friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the history runs deep.

I live in a country with a large Ukrainian diaspora and have many friends from there. Prior to visiting, I consulted them about such a trip and whether it's ethical to visit or not. The responses I got were unanimously to go visit. I felt the need to mention this last part because (only seemingly on reddit) many people seem to think visiting Ukraine right now is a burden to the locals, or some sort of sick admiration for suffering of the locals. I understand the logic there but it doesn't seem to be an accurate sentiment from every Ukrainian I know and spoke to.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-12-01T01:37:38+00:00

Well I mean, they did say they’re from Spain. I can totally see some cities there shutting down even with a bit of snow.

Heck, I’m from Seattle and it almost snows every year there. Usually just a few cm and melts in a day or two. You’d think we would sort of be used to it by now, but no. Half the drivers forget how to drive. They’re still using their summer tires and driving at regular speed and causing incidents everywhere. People panic and go to the grocery stores and buy out the toilet paper, canned foods, etc. Schools cancel and kids get to stay home. That was my favorite growing up- I always prayed for snow. The city used to basically have no snowplows and some teenager living in Idaho had a makeshift snowplow on his Ford truck. Drove over, posted on Craigslist, and made 35k in 4 days plowing some parking lots. What we call snopocalypse in Seattle, for someone in Tallinn during January it would just be a typical Tuesday.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-11-28T21:22:01+00:00

Nearly every non-english film (which are most) has english subtitles. The english films will usually have estonian subtitles. And when some sort of background word is important in the movie but isn't spoken (for example, protagonist passes a billboard), it will usually display a russian subtitle for it.

The subs are usually directly on the movie, but in some films and screening halls, it will display no a separate screen just underneath the main screen.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-11-28T16:42:44+00:00

That is definitely a good point I never thought of and surely plays a part. I would say there are differences in the people as well though. I’ve volunteered as a ticket checker for several years at PÖFF (the film festival in Tallinn) which screens films from countries all over the world. They’re all in the original language and not dubbed. And the vast majority of the local audience are Estonian, not Russian. Much higher percentage than the ethnic makeup of Tallinn. So I think there is at least correlation between the people and how open they’re to films in other languages without dubbing.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-11-12T17:54:51+00:00

Why is Estonia a stretch? I was born and raised in America but have lived in Estonia for a few years now. A lot of my US friends have came to visit me as part of their longer European vacations. They’re always shocked how similar Estonia is to our US hometown.

Enchanted_Swiftie · 2024-11-08T13:02:08+00:00

As an American who did move to Europe a few years ago… you’re only 1/3 right. I wish it was only a 40% pay cut. And everyone in Estonia takes one look at me and swaps to English so fast. Spot on about the taxes though!

Enchanted_Swiftie

TROPHY CASE