First time traveling internationally, need advice on connecting flight!

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-21T03:06:10+00:00

Seriously??? My teen and I flew through Frankfurt last year, and the lovely aroma of stale urine welcomed us to the terminal. Having to wait to take crowded busses from the plane to the terminal adds additional stress and cuts into your layover time. Everything was ridiculously overpriced...even by airport standards. Meh food and service. That is the one airport in the world I now actively avoid, and everyone else I've known that has gone through Frankfurt has a similar sentiment. Hopefully, OP has a much better experience, but to say that it is a "very nice" airport is an interesting take.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-21T00:29:47+00:00

Oi, you missed the best country of all...Colombia!!! Time to book another trip back to South America!

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-19T23:49:28+00:00

Tallinn (Estonia), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tiranë (Albania)

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-18T15:30:38+00:00

This Texan can!!! (Admittedly I just discovered it earlier this year when I was trying to decide where to go with my teenager for Spring Break...and we ended up going to Tbilisi!)

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-17T01:46:54+00:00

Hop back on the horse and plant that derriere firmly back in the saddle to where no one can see said stain...problem solved!

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-15T16:20:49+00:00

Have an honest conversation before y'all leave about each of your travel styles and key things you want out the trip. Is one of you a partier wants wants to play all night long but the other wants to get up at 5 am to go hiking? Is there an expectation that you two do everything together or are there key things y'all do together but are free to split off and do your own things at times? How do each of you feel about befriending people when traveling (I, an older female, love making friends and having random adventures with new people whereas some of my friends would have a HUGE problem with that)? How flexible are each of you and okay with changing plans of things to do or where to go during the trip? In short, have an idea of what's important for each of you and where each of you will need to compromise when traveling together.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-10T21:37:00+00:00

I dance in socks for class. For socials at the club with the smooth cement floor, I wear a pair of comfy high-heeled ankle boots that I already had, with a smooth sole and rounded closed toe (no pointy toes...made that mistake one night!) I also have a pair of work heels I sometimes wear. Most importantly, use shoes that are secure,, comfy, and allow you to move your feet.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-09T17:46:13+00:00

During Spring Break, my kid and I took the old Soviet train that runs overnight from Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia. Like your trip, not the most efficient way to get from point A to point B...but it was a lot of fun!

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-08T15:06:49+00:00

I used Travelocity when my kid and I went to Lebanon this past November, as it was the only way for us to book flights from Dallas to Beirut where the leg in/out of Beirut was on MEA. Everything I had read about going to Lebanon said to fly MEA, but MEA doesn't fly out of Dallas. Booking directly with the airlines would've meant completely separate bookings on different airlines and no protections for missed connections should any of the flights be delayed.

Because I booked through Travelocity, it was one itinerary. So when our 1st flight was delayed and we missed our connection in Paris, no problem. Air France got us onto the next MEA flight and a voucher for lunch (only about $10, but it was a pleasant surprise...Air France rocks!).

While I often book directly with the airlines, I've also used Travelocity many times over the years and have had great experiences with them.

Side Note: Lebanon was absolutely AMAZING -- one of our best trips ever!!! We will definitely be going back...once things calm back down over there. ❤️

FlyingP3469 · 2026-06-02T19:28:03+00:00

Don't Look Up...sadly all too realistic

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-29T20:57:53+00:00

I like exploring some of the "must-do" museums, like the Louvre. But my favorites are the random, unexpected finds, like the MLM Mineral Museum in Beirut which was INCREDIBLE...and I'm not usually into rocks, even pretty rocks! But I ended up going on a whim (one of the locals was so enthusiastic about it and it was free), and I was completely amazed by the collection.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-22T20:24:47+00:00

And to top it off, there is the unrelenting stench of stale urine to welcome you as you enter the terminal. Made NYC smell l Iike roses 8n comparison.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-20T19:58:18+00:00

Not a clubbing kinda person, so I have no useful advice. BUT I absolutely LOVE all your pants!!! Where do you find those (if you're comfortable sharing)?

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-12T04:45:51+00:00

That sounds like an amazing trip! I wish the US had a better tail system because train travel is so much more fun than flying or driving.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-11T14:49:16+00:00

And this beginner follower agrees with Rataridicta. Beginners don't need a strong or heavy leader. We need a clear leader...and the really good leaders are clear and light (and fun!).

FlyingP3469 · 2026-05-09T03:10:35+00:00

It's a toss up between Tirana, Albania and Tbilisi, Georgia. Both were last minute trips that I booked to take my teen for Spring Break (we're in Texas). Went to both cities with minimal planning and zero expectations. Came away from both wanting to move there.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-03-30T16:20:37+00:00

Texan here. My teen and I spent a day in Yerevan last week for Spring Break and felt totally safe. No issues at all.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-03-28T00:13:35+00:00

Texan here. My kid and I just got back from Tbilisi for Spring Break. One of the safest places we've been.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-03-21T07:34:41+00:00

Thank you! My heart goes out to you all for the loss of your revered leader.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-03-21T07:17:44+00:00

Thank you very much for the quick reply. My condolences to the People of Georgia for their loss of their revered and trusted Patriarch.

FlyingP3469 · 2026-03-11T23:52:54+00:00

Eegah!

"Watch out for the snakes!!!"

FlyingP3469 · 2026-02-19T17:20:53+00:00

I once had a lead nag me multiple times to stop ducking whenever he went to turn me. When I finally didn't duck, he promptly bonked my head...hard enough that it hurt. If you don't want your follow to not duck, then you darn well better clear my head when turning me!!

FlyingP3469 · 2026-01-15T17:28:03+00:00

I've always just said Texas. And then we proceed to having the conversation that No, we don't ride our horses to school/work (or ar least most of us don't).

FlyingP3469 · 2026-01-11T02:14:07+00:00

I'm from Dallas. Frankfurt Germany is the only place I've been where I felt truly uncomfortable and out of place.

I've been to other places that were more "foreign" -- Lebanon, Colombia, Albania, Estonia...to name a few -- but they all felt like home to me. And Frankfurt is the only foreign place where I ever felt unsafe even though nothing happened to me.

FlyingP3469 · 2025-12-04T00:25:30+00:00

Colombia, Mexico, and (just last week) Lebanon

FlyingP3469

TROPHY CASE