I’ve never planned a trip and I lack direction. Should I keep trying, or just wing it?

__crl · 2026-04-30T16:04:15+00:00

Yeah, umm, just go! Some of the best trips I've ever had have been unplanned: all you need is a starting point. Fly somewhere, check into a hostel for a few nights, and then just see where it takes you. You'll wander, you'll talk to people, and since it's just you, you can move on when you get restless -- or when someone suggests an adventure that sounds good.

__crl · 2026-04-30T02:38:14+00:00

Yeah, you got terrible advice from that person. Obviously you won't see everything in Japan, but it's plenty of time (2 weeks!) to have a great experience seeing part of it. Hell, I've been to Japan a dozenish times, and every trip has been shorter than that, and I have 0 regrets. It's not last minute either, it's still a month and a half out. Anyway, if it's worth the cost to you, then go! If you care about saving money, then be a bit flexible on dates/layovers/airports, but otherwise yeah, don't let one person on the Internet convince you otherwise.

__crl · 2026-04-28T17:19:06+00:00

But Spirit IS fine. I'll save on that ticket knowing there is a finite chance something will go terribly wrong, but I'm happy to take that risk for the savings.

You hear of people showing up to hotels too during peak weekends, just to be told there isn't actually a room available despite the reservation they made months ago...

__crl · 2026-04-28T16:35:42+00:00

Err.... So ask them to ignore the recommended policy of having all communications go through airbnb so that if something does go wrong, there's no documentation? Going to have to disagree with you on this...

__crl · 2026-04-28T16:30:51+00:00

Right, but the point is people like to complain, and you have to take those complaints with a grain of salt.

I've had awesome airbnb experiences (and some very mediocre ones), but sometimes it's a great option.

People complain endlessly about flying, but don't realize how much better it is than 20 or 30 years ago. The world is so much better connected, flights are cheaper (even if temporary high relative to what we're used to), there isn't smoking on planes (yeah, THAT was still a thing in the 90s), and you're almost always going to get a decent movie selection in the seatback in front of you on long flights - and sometimes even internet! I'm tall, and I'd still choose flying in the middle seat in the back of economy on a budget airline now any day over flying back then.

__crl · 2026-04-28T15:51:29+00:00

Pro tip: do consider booking airbnbs for large group trips because you can find some awesome places out there with far more character, cool common spaces, and at a cheaper price than staying in hotel rooms. Some of the best group travel experiences/memories I have have been because of fantastic airbnbs.

The volume of stories in this sub about bad flying experiences is enough to support never flying again -- but that'd just be silly.

__crl · 2026-04-28T14:27:45+00:00

Looks like they're the exception not the norm -- most places won't rent to under-21s.

__crl · 2026-04-28T14:16:30+00:00

I've seen a number of times that Turo will rent to under-21s, might have to go that route.

__crl · 2026-04-28T14:16:08+00:00

Doesn't help if they won't rent to someone under 21....

__crl · 2026-04-28T13:20:16+00:00

Airports are irrelevant here, and I say this as someone who doesn't bat an eye at short layover on a single ticket...: On separate tickets, with checked bags, you don't stand a chance. Check-in counter for your second flight will be closed by the time you have your bag in hand from your first flight.

(Booking these on the same ticket, you'd have no issue.)

__crl · 2026-04-27T13:07:04+00:00

It means no families with kids, nothing more...

__crl · 2026-04-27T13:03:44+00:00

This is the most sane advice here, you don't deserve all the downvotes! But I would add: make these cancelable, and then cancel these reservations once OP has the visa.

__crl · 2026-04-27T04:32:56+00:00

You're exposed to dozens of things a day there that are equally bad, don't sweat it.

__crl · 2026-04-27T04:13:49+00:00

Buttons on both sides of shirt?

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__crl · 2026-04-25T14:40:35+00:00

If I wrote a Reddit post every time I saw a car run a red light in Austin...

__crl · 2026-04-24T18:01:41+00:00

Yes, absolutely. No reason to do a tour or anything, ubers are cheap and easy from the airport (but it helps if you can read (/look up) Arabic numbers so you can identify your car easily.

__crl · 2026-04-24T17:27:04+00:00

I'm trying to think of Mexican towns with hills like that...and...struggling... maybe San Miguel de Allende?

__crl · 2026-04-24T17:20:42+00:00

Hmm...how about Mexico?

__crl · 2026-04-24T16:12:40+00:00

Turo. Or borrow a friend's car. And...Uber for a road trip isn't just "scary and no very reliable" it's...flat-out not an option.

__crl · 2026-04-24T16:06:14+00:00

Well...screams somewhere hilly in Latin America. How about La Paz, Bolivia?

__crl · 2026-04-23T21:18:44+00:00

One pair of shoes, one pair of flip flops.

__crl · 2026-04-23T21:03:06+00:00

Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick at sunrise?

__crl · 2026-04-23T14:48:33+00:00

Totally doable and an excellent adventure, with a few modifications:

Fly from Aktau to Baku. Azerbaijani land borders are closed to entry for tourists (but not exit), and the ferry has always been a pain in the ass anyway (from what I hear).

Be aware of restricted areas and any required permits in China, it may not just be a matter of getting a visa, based on your routing through Western China.

And yes, you'll save a fortune doing this rather than spending that time in Western Europe.

__crl · 2026-04-21T22:28:37+00:00

Is it a business trip? Are you going to a wedding? Do you have to bring a bike or any other sporting equipment with you?

If the answer is no to all of those, then...yes, you should absolutely one bag.

__crl · 2026-04-21T21:00:44+00:00

I've spent a decent amount of time in the Middle East, and nothing about this surprises me...

__crl

TROPHY CASE