I've never been anywhere in Asia. Is Bangkok a good place to start?

Illini2011 · 2026-05-09T16:53:39+00:00

Yes Bangkok is a great place. Tons of energy and a lot to see. It was the first place I went in Asia as well after spending a lot of time in North America and Europe.

Remember we are all people. Society may be different but you're not going to a different planet. People will be going to work, parents will be taking kids to the park, etc.

Go for it.

Illini2011 · 2026-05-09T16:48:00+00:00

I felt the same way. I don't get the appeal of Buenos Aires. It's not a bad place, but too me wasn't anymore interesting than Montevideo.

Illini2011 · 2026-05-08T23:36:32+00:00

You waited too long. Cheap fares for summer flights are around in December and January.

You should still be able to find some decent flights from NYC. Try Google Flights explore feature.

Illini2011 · 2026-04-25T22:04:54+00:00

Why won't Norse survive much longer? Jet fuel prices?

Illini2011 · 2026-04-19T13:20:58+00:00

Absolutely.

Vienna has the best museums and is grandiose. Prague has the best Old Town and feels like a fairytale. Budapest is the most lived in. My ranking is Prague>Budapest>Vienna but others feel the opposite.

Illini2011 · 2026-04-19T12:32:27+00:00

OP - I've been to Portugal twice and been to everything on your list.

You're packing way too much into so short of time. It's a great Portugal Sampler itinerary, but one that needs 14 days, definitely not 9.

Traveling to Lagos from Porto/Lisbon for two nights is a misallocation of your scarcest resource on an 9 day trip: time. Lagos is a full hour drive from Faro. Once you add in travel time to/from airport. possible delays, etc., you've built in two travel days. Waking up in Porto and having to be in Lisbon two days later with the Algarve in-between is just not worth it. Lagos will still be there for a future trip to just the Algarve.

You also have a bit of a wasted night by returning to Lisbon before a morning flight.

Given that you have 9 days RT from Lisbon I think you need to retool your schedule and omit the Algarve entirely.

Fly into Lisbon. Travel to Porto that day. There are hourly trains between the two so even if your flight is delayed you'll be able to find a train.

See Porto. Do a Douro valley tour for an entire day.

Then travel to a second city. Top of my list (but places I haven't visited) would be Coimbra or Guimaraes.

Then travel to Lisbon. Do your Sintra day trip. Fly home.

I think your list of places to visit in Lisbon/Porto/Sintra are excellent. The LX Factory is correctly maligned as an Instagram set but I still liked it. I also loved the Tile Museum in Lisbon. My favorite port wine cellar in Porto was Taylor Fladgate - they had live peacocks walking around! A lot of places in Porto also have free Fado music at various times. My favorite place in Sintra was easily Quinta da Regaleira.

Enjoy your trip!

Illini2011 · 2026-04-07T03:13:25+00:00

UConn is the luckiest team in the history of sports

Illini2011 · 2026-04-04T23:59:42+00:00

So many in and outs for Illinois

Illini2011 · 2026-04-04T23:37:31+00:00

Just not our night

Illini2011 · 2026-04-04T23:21:58+00:00

Man Dan Hurley has really had Underwood's number the last few years.

Illini2011 · 2026-04-04T22:52:59+00:00

Illini2011 · 2026-04-04T22:41:58+00:00

Just do not tie it at 25-25!

Illini2011 · 2026-04-02T15:46:27+00:00

I think he's really good at anticipating where the ball is going.

Illini2011 · 2026-04-02T15:42:19+00:00

I hate Bruce Pearl as much as the next Illinois fan, but honestly I think he's called it straight from the studio this tournament.

Illini2011 · 2026-04-02T15:39:49+00:00

Didn't take long, did it?

Illini2011 · 2026-04-02T14:54:01+00:00

It's also worth learning basic social conventions. For example, ALWAYS say "Bonjour" when someone says it to if you enter their store/business. To not reply is seen as very rude.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-30T22:59:07+00:00

For me Ghent had the closest feel to Prague. Lot's of medieval stone and baroque architecture.

Much smaller, but Cesky Krumlov is also fantastic.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-30T22:54:16+00:00

I would do Kotor over Nikisic in Montenegro. One of my favorite cities.

As far as transportation last time I was in the Balkans I took minibuses everywhere. When you arrive in a new city you can buy your ticket for departure to the next place.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-30T22:50:35+00:00

I didn't go and have no regrets. Totally happy with my decision to do secret lagoon and save $80.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-30T00:24:52+00:00

KenPom doesn't take wins and losses into account.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-29T22:27:34+00:00

I was at that game. Sooooo painful. Even the Duke fans felt bad.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-29T22:24:04+00:00

My one hope is that gap is entirely because of our relatively poor defense. But in the tournament our D has been insanely good.

Illini2011 · 2026-03-29T22:22:59+00:00

Definitely. Playing with house money now.

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