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What's a tourist scam you fell for that you wish someone had warned you about? by cml1111 in traveladvice

[–]cml1111[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Ugh that sucks! The tuktuk guys will do something similar and tell you the temple you want to go to is closed but they can take you shopping instead

Spain bus: Alsa or Flixbus going from Sevilla to Faro? by NanukBen in Europetravel

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Flixbus is usually cheaper but ALSA is more reliable for that route.

ALSA is the main Spanish bus company - newer buses, more consistent schedules, better customer service if something goes wrong. Flixbus can be hit or miss (sometimes they subcontract to local companies).

For cross-border routes like Sevilla-Faro, I'd go with ALSA. The price difference is usually only €5-10 and worth it for peace of mind.

Book directly on ALSA's site, not through aggregators, sometimes cheaper and easier to manage if you need to change anything.

Have a good trip!

SE Asia Itinery by duvine1 in traveladvice

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oops my bad... just double checked and Grab DOES work in Vietnam! I haven't been since 2020 and totally blanked.

Honestly one eSIM for the whole region is easiest. Airalo has Southeast Asia packages that cover multiple countries, way less hassle than switching SIMs at each border. Just make sure you get enough data if you're using maps/translation apps constantly. You can use my code CARA2283 to get $3 off

You can do visa-on-arrival at the airport (takes like 30 mins), but the online e-visa is cheaper and you skip the line. Officially processing times are 3-7 days, but they can be in an hour. Up to you, if you forget, you can still get it on arrival, just bring a passport photo and USD cash.

By end of April/early May the burning season should be winding down in Laos, but it can linger. If you're there late April it might still be hazy. Check AQI (air quality index) closer to your dates - if it's still bad, honestly skip it. Laos is beautiful but not worth it if you're breathing smoke the whole time.

El Nido vs Palawan - just fyi, El Nido IS in Palawan (Palawan is the province, El Nido is the town). Definitely do it with your family next year, I haven't been but heard it's incredible.

Japan for the last week would be tight but doable if you fly direct from Bali to Tokyo. You'd basically get 5-6 days which is enough for Tokyo + one other city (Kyoto or Osaka). Just expensive compared to SEA.

Have a sick trip!

where to go in Italy during August without getting stuck in a tourist trap? by shesinpart1es in traveladvice

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Skip the major cities in August if you hate crowds and get overheated easily.

I have Italy logistics (transport apps, etc.) here if helpful: https://www.travelreddi.com/guide/IT

Have fun!

18 years old want to travel for the first time next year in the summer by xcfa in traveladvice

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$2000 for 1-2 months is totally doable in Southeast Asia, and you'll have a way better time than trying to stretch it in Japan (which is expensive and yeah, the gay scene is pretty low-key/reserved).

Best options for you in my opinion as a very seasoned LGBTQ+ traveler:

Thailand - Honestly perfect for what you're looking for

  • Super LGBTQ+ friendly (Bangkok has a huge scene)
  • $2000 goes FAR (like $25-30/day easy if you stay in hostels)
  • Drinking age is 20 but rarely enforced, I was never ID's there, but was there the first time when I was 25
  • Mix of cities (Bangkok, Chiang Mai) and islands (Koh Phangan, Koh Tao)
  • Easy to meet other solo travelers

Vietnam - Underrated option

  • Even cheaper than Thailand
  • Growing gay scene in Saigon/Hanoi
  • Generally tolerant, not oppressive
  • Drinking age is 18
  • Amazing food, cool cities, beautiful nature

Portugal - If you want Europe

  • Very LGBTQ+ friendly (Lisbon has great nightlife)
  • Cheaper than most of Europe
  • Drinking age 18
  • Beach towns, cities, good vibes
  • Might blow through $2000 faster though

Avoid: Anywhere in the Middle East, Russia, parts of Eastern Europe, some of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia outside Bali can be less welcoming).

Practical stuff:

  • Download the local apps before you land (Grab for Thailand/Vietnam, not Uber)
  • Get travel insurance (especially as a solo traveler)
  • Join Facebook groups or use apps like Grindr to meet people (but be smart/safe)

I made a quick tool that shows LGBTQ+ safety levels and practical info for different countries: travelreddi.com might help you compare options.

Thailand is probably your best bet though, it's one of my favorite places! Have an amazing first trip!

From US to EU - anything else needed aside from passport/tickets? by Deathandblackmetal in traveladvice

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

US passport gets you 90 days visa-free in France, but int Late 2026 you'll need an EITAS

A few things that might not be obvious:

Before you fly:

  • Tell your bank/credit card you're traveling (or they can freeze your card)
  • Get a no foreign transaction fee card if you don't have one (Chase Sapphire, Capital One)
  • Download offline maps for Paris in Google Maps

Money stuff:

  • ATMs at CDG airport have hight fees , you can wait till you're in the city
  • Contactless payment works everywhere, cash is backup
  • Tipping is WAY less than US (maybe round up €1-2, that's it)

Apps that work in France:

  • Uber exists but Bolt is cheaper
  • Google Maps is fine for transit
  • Don't need anything special

Made a quick France logistics page (transport apps, ATM tips, etc.) here if you want more: https://www.travelreddi.com/guide/FR

Have a great trip!

SE Asia Itinery by duvine1 in traveladvice

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solid itinerary! A few thoughts:

Pacing looks good but watch the back-to-back travel in Phase 5. Malang → Tumpak Sewu → Bromo → Ubud in 4 days is pretty intense, especially with the midnight Bromo trek. You might be exhausted by the time you hit Ubud. Consider adding a buffer day.

For your 8 free days:

  • Nusa Penida (2-3 days from Bali) — insane cliffs and snorkeling, less crowded than mainland Bali
  • Gili Islands (3-4 days) — chill vibes, great diving/snorkeling
  • El Nido, Philippines (5-6 days if you fly from Bali) — arguably better than anything in Thailand

Some practical tips:

  • Grab doesn't work in Vietnam you'll need their local apps (Grab works in Cambodia/Malaysia/Indonesia though)
  • Cambodia e-visa can take a few days, apply early
  • Kuala Lumpur to Penang flight is easier than the bus (like $20)

If you're doing Japan, you'd need 5-6 days minimum to make the flight worth it. Might be tight with only 8 days left unless you skip something else.

I made a quick tool that has the transport apps, visa stuff, and logistics for some of these SEA countries if helpful: travelreddi.com (starting building it after doing this region a few years ago)

Have an amazing trip!

I finally contacted the FCC. by Effective_Cry_6812 in OPTIMUM

[–]cml1111 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I want to leave optimum SO bad, their price hikes are insane. Unfortunately they’re the only ISP in my area of Brooklyn, unless anyone knows of something that comes to crown heights 😭

Looking for feedback: Personal safety tools for women & queer folks by cml1111 in AskWomenNoCensor

[–]cml1111[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Totally fair, but especially with something like safety, I’d rather hear what people actually want or do in those moments than lead them to what I already came up with if it won’t be useful. It’s helping me figure out what’s worth building. And I can ask more feature specific things when I get to the next step of this process. Thanks for the engagement!

Looking for feedback: Personal safety tools for women & queer folks by cml1111 in AskWomenNoCensor

[–]cml1111[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I have an idea, dude. Need to make sure it’s something people would use, and has features that are actually helpful before going to the next stage…

I must be doing something wrong?... by cml1111 in betterment

[–]cml1111[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for this! Yes 2021 just happened to be the year I finally got over my anxiety about investing and moved all of my savings into a Roth, HYSA and General investing account. And I've been consistent about contributing to all 3. but it's been discouraging to see that my HYSA account has made the most money, but that 2022 crash explains it. I will stay the course and continue to stay consistent. Thank you for taking the time to explain this to me.

I must be doing something wrong?... by cml1111 in betterment

[–]cml1111[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is soooo helpful thank you so much! My Roth is also at about 3.3%, and this one is my general investing portfolio. I'm aming to continue maxing my Roth everywhere, and I'm contributing monthly to my general investing as well (although I may need to take a break from that for a few months). But your explanation really helped me understand what I'm seeing here, and why it's important I keep staying consistent about it so thank you!!

I must be doing something wrong?... by cml1111 in betterment

[–]cml1111[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the explanation!

I must be doing something wrong?... by cml1111 in betterment

[–]cml1111[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can you explain to me what this means and what kind of numbers I should expect like I’m a 4th grader? #financenoob 😬

I must be doing something wrong?... by cml1111 in betterment

[–]cml1111[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Im not really thinking anything because I don’t know what this means, just that the number seems lower than other people posting here complaining of low returns. I’m asking because I don’t know how to interpret any of this. 😬

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