Travel Resources

What is the dress code for Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, and how do you participate in Buddhist temple rituals?

Read more →Oct 26, 2026

When Is Seollal 2027 in Korea, and What Closes for Travelers?

Read more →Oct 26, 2026

Why are flights so expensive right now?

Flights are expensive in late 2026 mainly because jet fuel roughly doubled after the Strait of Hormuz disruption and airlines responded by cutting seats, adding surcharges and raising bag fees. Fares are at a record in plain dollars, but not in real terms: adjusted for inflation, the average US domestic ticket is still roughly a third below its 1999-2000 peak. That distinction matters less to your wallet than the speed of the rise. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics airline fares index was up about 22% between September 2025 and September 2026, against overall inflation of under 4%. Below is what the data actually shows, what is driving it, whether it is likely to ease in 2027, and what you can do about it this year.

When Are Asia's Big Festivals and Public Holidays in 2027?

Lunar New Year 2027 is Saturday 6 February in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, and Sunday 7 February in South Korea, where Seollal lands a day later because of the time zone. After that, the dates that shape a trip are Nyepi in Bali on Monday 8 March, Songkran in Thailand on 13–15 April, Japan's Golden Week from 29 April to 5 May and Chuseok in Korea on 14–16 September. This calendar covers only the six Asian countries we traveled through: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia (Bali) and the Philippines. Each date is marked as official (published by the government) or provisional (set by a lunar or temple calendar, or not yet announced). Checked 26 October 2026.

Why are there no trash cans in Japan, and where can tourists throw away garbage?

Carry a small bag and take your trash back to your hotel. That is what most Japanese people do, and it is why the streets stay clean despite having almost no public bins. When you do find bins, they are at convenience stores, train stations and beside vending machines, and they are sorted by type, so a coffee cup in the bottle slot is the classic tourist mistake. In a Japan Tourism Agency survey at airports, the lack of bins was the single most common complaint from foreign visitors. Here is where the bins are, how to read the labels, and the newer rules in Shibuya.

What are the best day trips from Bologna?

The best day trips from Bologna are Modena, Ravenna and Parma. Modena is about 20 minutes away and gives you balsamic vinegar, a UNESCO-listed cathedral and the Ferrari museums; Ravenna, about an hour away, has the finest Byzantine mosaics in Europe; Parma is under an hour on fast trains and is the home of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma. Bologna is the best rail hub in northern Italy, so Ferrara and Florence are both well under an hour too. We spent 4 days in Bologna from 27 to 31 July 2023, between Verona and Venice, and the list below is ranked by what each trip gives you for the time on the train.

When should you book Thanksgiving and Christmas flights in 2026, and is it too late?

Book now: it is not too late, but waiting is unlikely to help. Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index puts the average domestic round trip at $402 for Thanksgiving, up 31%, and $452 for Christmas, up 23%, which it calls 10-year highs, and advises booking before Halloween. Kayak's history shows Thanksgiving fares bottom out about five weeks before the holiday, which this year was the week of 19 October, and then climb. The bigger saving now is choosing the right days: leaving on Monday 23 November instead of the Sunday rush, or flying on Thanksgiving Day itself. We spent Thanksgiving week 2023 in Bath after a week in London, and Christmas 2022 in Chiang Mai, so we include the international picture too.

Should I get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, and which is better for international travel?

Global Entry is the better buy for almost anyone who leaves the country. It costs $120 for five years and includes full TSA PreCheck benefits, which on its own costs about $78 to $85. Both need an application, a background check and an in-person interview, but the timelines are very different: PreCheck is often approved in days, Global Entry can take weeks or months. Here is how the two actually compare, and when PreCheck alone is the right call.

What is Visit Japan Web, do you have to use it, and how do you register before flying to Japan?

Visit Japan Web is the Japanese government's free website for clearing immigration and customs before you land, and it also handles tax-free shopping registration. You register once, enter your flight and where you are staying, and it generates a QR code you scan at the airport instead of filling in a paper disembarkation card and customs form on the plane. It is not mandatory — paper forms are still available on flights and at major airports — but it is faster, and it is the one piece of Japan admin worth doing before you fly.

What are the cheapest countries to visit in 2027?

The cheapest countries to visit in 2027 are Vietnam, Albania, Morocco, the Philippines outside its resort islands, Thailand outside its islands, Turkey, Romania and Indonesia beyond south Bali, where a budget traveller can usually live on roughly $25 to $50 a day. The catch is the flight: a $30 day in Vietnam is no bargain if the ticket from your home city costs $1,400, so add the airfare to the daily number before you choose. We spent 526 days on the road in 2022 and 2023 across 20 countries, and nine of the picks below are places we stayed for weeks: 45 days in Thailand, 31 in Albania, 29 in Vietnam, 24 in Morocco. The daily ranges are typical budget-traveller costs (dorm or simple guesthouse, local food, public transport) drawn from current hostel and travel-site estimates, not what we spent.

How do you get from Seoul to Jeonju Hanok Village, and what should you do while you're there?

Jeonju Hanok Village is 1 hour 40 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes from Seoul by KTX for about 31,600 won one way, or 2 hours 40 minutes by express bus. The village has over 800 traditional hanok houses and is free to walk. It is doable as a day trip but better as an overnight — staying in a hanok guesthouse and eating dinner in the village is the whole point. We spent three nights here in June 2023.

When Is Venice Carnival in 2027, and Is Winter a Good Time to Visit?

Venice Carnival runs 23 January to 9 February 2027, as published by the official organiser. Choose those dates for Carnival; choose a different winter week if the festival is not your priority. We visited Venice 31 July–3 August 2023, so this is an official-source planning guide, not a first-hand winter or Carnival review. Checked 21 October 2026.

Read more →Oct 21, 2026

When Is Chiang Mai’s Burning Season, and How Should You Plan for 2027?

February–April is an important haze-risk window for northern Thailand, identified in Thailand’s Pollution Control Department material. It is a seasonal planning warning, not a forecast that every day will be polluted or that other months are clear. There is no precise 2027 start or end date established in this guide. We stayed in Chiang Mai 22–28 December 2022, so we do not claim first-hand experience of the spring burning season. Checked 21 October 2026.

Read more →Oct 21, 2026

Which European Christmas Markets Should You Visit in 2026, and When?

For a 2026 Christmas-market trip, choose your dates before your cities. Bath finishes on 13 December, while Prague’s main markets continue to 6 January 2027. This hub links all four of our market guides: Bath, Prague, Budapest and the six-city Germany guide. The dates below come from organisers and official tourism sources checked on 21 October 2026. Our destination visits do not establish that we attended every city’s Christmas market; photographs illustrate the places rather than the 2026 events.

Read more →Oct 21, 2026

Where are the best places to spend Christmas abroad?

For a classic Christmas, pick central Europe and go before 24 December: Munich, Prague and Budapest have the markets, and Prague's main markets run on to 6 January 2027. For sun, pick Chiang Mai (cool and dry) or Sydney (early summer). The catch everywhere is the same: Christmas Day itself is quiet in Europe and busy-but-normal in most of Asia, so choose by what you want to do on the 24th to 26th, not by the postcard. We spent Christmas week of 2022 in Chiang Mai (22 to 28 December) and saw in 2023 in Chiang Rai. Our European visits to these cities were at other times of year, so for Europe we give the 2026 dates from organisers and tourism sources rather than memories of a December we did not have there.

What is the best 7-day Japan itinerary for a first trip?

With 7 days in Japan, spend 3 nights in Tokyo, 3 in Kyoto and the last night in Osaka, flying into Tokyo and out of Osaka (Kansai) if fares allow. This is our suggested cut of the 33-day route we actually took, built from our Tokyo and Kyoto itineraries: one Shinkansen ride, two hotel changes, and no day lost to backtracking. Below is the day-by-day plan, the transport, whether a rail pass pays, and what to change if you have to fly home from Tokyo.

Where are the best photo viewpoints at Lake Pukaki, and how do you plan a scenic road trip to Aoraki / Mount Cook?

Da Nang & Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge) Guide: Cable Car Tickets & Private Drivers

Suspended 1,400 meters above sea level in the Truong Son Mountains outside Da Nang, Vietnam, the iconic Golden Bridge (Cau Vang) at Sun World Ba Na Hills is held aloft by two colossal stone hands emerging from the forest canopy. While famous across social media, reaching the hilltop resort requires taking one of the world's longest single-track cable cars. Here is the full guide to booking tickets, transit, and avoiding dense crowds.

Read more →Oct 17, 2026

Lotte World vs. Everland Seoul: Which Theme Park Is Better for Tourists?

Read more →Oct 17, 2026

How do you plan a day trip to Wurzburg on Germany's Romantic Road, visit the UNESCO Residence, and drink Franconian wine on the Old Main Bridge?

How many days do you need in Zagreb?

Two days for the city, three if you add Plitvice Lakes. We spent 4 days in Zagreb, 3 to 7 August 2023, arriving from Venice and going on to Osijek. Zagreb's sights are compact: the medieval Upper Town with St. Mark's Church and the noon cannon, and the Austro-Hungarian Lower Town with its park squares, can each fill a relaxed day. The third day is for Plitvice, about 2 hours away by bus. A fourth is for café time, museums and Mirogoj, which is how Zagreb is meant to be done, but not essential.

Do you need an eSIM for Germany?

EU visitors need nothing in Germany; for almost everyone else a data eSIM is the better choice here than in most of Europe, because German prepaid SIMs must pass identity verification before they work, and the supermarket starter kits that look cheap often fail that check for non-EU passports. If you do want a German SIM, buy it in a Telekom, Vodafone or O2 shop where staff verify your passport on the spot. We spent 16 days in Germany in July 2023 (Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, Würzburg, Ulm and Munich), then crossed into Italy, which is the kind of multi-city rail trip where Germany's train dead zones matter more than the SIM price.

How do you do a Kutná Hora day trip from Prague by train?

Take a train from Praha hlavní nádraží to Kutná Hora hlavní nádraží: direct trains take about 50-55 minutes and leave roughly every two hours, with hourly connections via Kolín in between. The main station is in Sedlec, about a 15-minute walk from the Sedlec Ossuary (the bone church), which now requires a timed ticket booked in advance (220 CZK for adults) and prohibits photography. Then head up to the old town for St Barbara's and the Italian Court. Plan a full day if you can.

How much does travel cost per day in each country?

On a budget, Vietnam and Turkey run roughly $25 to $45 a day per person and Thailand, the Philippines, Morocco and Albania about $30 to $50; Germany and Italy run about $50 to $85; Japan, Australia and New Zealand about $60 to $120; England about $90 to $140. These are typical 2025 to 2026 ranges for one person sharing a room or sleeping in a dorm, eating mostly local food and using public transport, excluding flights to get there. They are not what we spent: our route data records where we went and for how long, not receipts. What it does give us is 526 days across these 20 countries in 2022 and 2023, so each entry below says when we were there and links to the guide or resource that covers it.

How do you order pintxos in San Sebastián?

To order pintxos in San Sebastián, catch the bartender's eye, order your drink first, then either take cold pintxos from the counter or order hot ones from the blackboard, and pay at the end before you leave. Locals eat one or two pintxos per bar with a small drink and move on. Here is how the counter-vs-kitchen split works, what to drink, when bars are busy, and how paying and tipping work in the Parte Vieja and Gros.

Where should you stay in Zadar?

Stay on the Old Town peninsula, or just across the bridge from it, so that the Sea Organ at sunset is a five-minute walk rather than a bus ride. Zadar's appeal is concentrated on that narrow spit of land: the Roman Forum, St. Donatus, the cathedral and the western quay where everyone gathers for sunset. We spent 3 days in Zadar in August 2023, between Osijek and Šibenik, and the evening on the waterfront is the reason to come. Borik, 3.5 to 4 km to the north-west, is the choice when a beach hotel matters more than the old town.

When is Advent in Zagreb 2026, and what is on at the Christmas market?

Advent Zagreb 2026 officially runs from Saturday 28 November 2026 to Thursday 7 January 2027, with a warm-up from 25 to 27 November while stalls open. Those are the dates in the City of Zagreb's 2026 tender for Advent locations. Entry is free: the "market" is a spread of stalls, light installations, stages and an ice rink across the Lower Town parks and the Upper Town, and you pay only for food, drink and rides. It is the city's busiest time of year for weekend visitors from Slovenia, Austria and further afield, so December weekends cost more than weekdays. We spent 4 days in Zagreb in August 2023, at the start of a Croatia route that went on to Osijek and down the coast, so we have not seen Advent ourselves: the details below come from the city, the tourist board and last season's published programme.

What is the best thermal bath in Budapest: Széchenyi, Rudas or Gellért?

For most first-time visitors, Széchenyi is the best thermal bath in Budapest: 18 pools, big outdoor courtyards and the easiest logistics, at about 13,200-14,800 HUF for a day ticket in 2026. Choose Rudas instead for its 16th-century Ottoman dome and rooftop hot pool over the Danube. Gellért is closed: it shut on 1 October 2025 for a multi-year renovation, and the operator expects it to reopen in 2028. Here is how the open baths compare and how to plan your visit.

How many days do you need in Kanazawa?

Two days for the city, three if you add Shirakawa-go. We spent 4 days in Kanazawa, from 29 March to 2 April 2023, between Takayama and Kyoto, and one of them was a day trip to Shirakawa-go. Kanazawa's main sights, Kenroku-en, the castle park, the Higashi Chaya teahouse district, the Nagamachi samurai lanes and Omicho Market, all sit within about 2 km of each other, so two full days covers them on foot. A fourth day is for museums, gold-leaf workshops and slow mornings, which is how we used ours.

Do you need an eSIM for Croatia?

Croatia is in the EU, so EU visitors roam free and an eSIM is mainly for Americans, Canadians, Australians and UK travellers on EE, Vodafone or Three; but the bigger Croatia-specific risk is not the price at home, it is your phone silently switching to a Bosnian or Montenegrin network near Dubrovnik and charging non-EU roaming rates. A travel eSIM that covers the Balkans, or a Croatian tourist SIM from Hrvatski Telekom, A1 or Telemach, fixes both problems. We spent 17 days in Croatia in August 2023, from Zagreb and Osijek to Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik, and went on to Montenegro, so the border edge is the part of this guide we would read first.

What is Thailand like in December and January, and where should you go?

December and January are Thailand's best months for most of the country: Bangkok and the north are dry and at their least hot, and the Andaman coast (Krabi, Ao Nang, Phuket, Koh Lanta) has calm seas. The exception is the Gulf islands, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, where December is still wet. The trade-off is price: this is peak season, and roughly 20 December to early January is the most expensive and crowded fortnight of the year. One rule changed for 2026-27: from 15 September 2026, visitors from the US, UK, EU, Australia and other visa-exempt countries get 30 days, not 60, for tourism. We spent six weeks in Thailand from 7 December 2022 to 21 January 2023, running from Bangkok north through Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, then south to Khao Sok and Ao Nang, which is close to the route we would recommend for these two months. The weather figures below are long-term averages, not the weather of our trip.

Do you tip in Budapest, and is the service charge already a tip?

Yes, you tip in Budapest: about 10-15% at sit-down restaurants, unless the bill already includes a szervizdíj (service charge), which many restaurants add at 10-15%. In that case no extra tip is expected. The most common tourist mistake in Hungary is paying that service charge and then leaving cash on top, effectively tipping twice. Here is how to read the bill, how to hand over a tip the Hungarian way, and what to do in cafés, taxis and the thermal baths.

Where are the best spots for Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks in 2026, and do you need tickets?

Sydney's fireworks are on Thursday 31 December 2026, with a family show at 9pm and the main show at midnight. You can watch for free without a ticket from harbour foreshore spots such as Mrs Macquarie's Point, the Royal Botanic Garden lawns, Barangaroo Reserve and Observatory Hill, but they fill through the afternoon. The Opera House forecourt is free but booked, with tickets released at 10am on Saturday 26 December 2026. Most paid and ballot sites are already sold out or closed as of late October 2026, so the realistic options now are the free foreshore, the Opera House release, and a few remaining paid sites such as Taronga Zoo and North Sydney's Blues Point. We spent 2 days in Sydney in February 2023, at the end of a month around Australia that started in Melbourne, so we have not seen the fireworks: everything below is from the official Sydney New Year's Eve site, councils and NSW National Parks, checked in October 2026.

Albania Travel Money: Is Cash King, How Do ATM Fees Work, and Where Should You Change Euros?

Albania is one of Europe's most affordable and hospitable travel destinations, but its financial infrastructure operates very differently from Western Europe. Understanding cash culture, ATM withdrawal charges, and tipping norms will save you significant time and unexpected transaction fees.

Read more →Oct 9, 2026

Do you need an eSIM for Spain?

EU visitors need nothing in Spain, and most UK visitors on O2, Smarty or iD Mobile need nothing either; Americans, Canadians, Australians and EE, Vodafone or Three customers on short trips are best served by a data eSIM, while a Spanish prepaid SIM from Movistar, Vodafone, Orange or Digi wins on a stay of three weeks or more. Spain requires every SIM, eSIM included, to be registered to a named person with a passport, and some operators' own eSIMs need a Spanish number to activate, which is why travel eSIMs are popular here. Our Spain leg ran from late June to late August 2022, about two months from Madrid across the north coast to Barcelona, Valencia and down through Andalusia to Tarifa, so long-stay maths and rural coverage both apply.

How do you get into the Shirakawa-go winter light-up in 2027?

The 2027 Shirakawa-go light-up runs on four evenings, 11, 17, 24 and 31 January 2027, from 17:30 to 19:30, and you can only get in with an advance reservation: a lottery-allocated room in the village, a reserved parking space, or a bus tour. No tickets are sold on the day, and from 15:30 a gate at the village entrance turns away anyone without one. The famous view from the Shiroyama observation deck needs a separate deck ticket that only comes with village lodging or certain bus-company tours. We visited Shirakawa-go as a day trip from Kanazawa in spring 2023, during our 4 days there, so this guide is built on the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association's official 2027 rules, not on a light-up night.

Driving in Montenegro: What Are the Road Conditions, Tunnels, and Speed Traps Like?

Renting a car in Montenegro opens up some of the wildest and most cinematic drives in Europe, from the 25 hairpin turns of the Kotor Serpentine to the limestone canyons of the Piva River. However, narrow coastal passes, unlit tunnels, and strict speed enforcement require focused preparation.

New Zealand Freedom Camping: What Are the Self-Contained Rules and Fines?

Waking up in a campervan beside snow-capped Southern Alps or turquoise glacial lakes like Pukaki is an iconic New Zealand adventure. However, New Zealand has instituted strict national legislation governing freedom camping to safeguard its pristine ecosystems and wilderness reserves.

Where should you stay in Hanoi?

For a first visit, stay in the Old Quarter, ideally on its southern edge within a few minutes' walk of Hoan Kiem Lake. That puts the trade streets, the street-food stools, the lake at dawn and the weekend car-free evenings on foot, and the airport bus 86 stops nearby. If you want quieter nights, wider streets and bigger rooms, stay in the French Quarter just south of the lake. West Lake suits longer stays. We spent about 2.5 days in Hanoi in April 2023, arriving from Tokyo at the start of our Vietnam trip and leaving for 4 days in Ninh Binh.

How do you fill out the Korea e-Arrival Card?

Most foreign visitors to South Korea must submit the free e-Arrival Card online at e-arrivalcard.go.kr within the 3 days before they land, unless they already hold an approved K-ETA, a Korean residence card or an e-Group visa. The paper arrival card that used to be handed out on the plane has been phased out, and the electronic card has applied to all foreign nationals since 1 January 2026. It costs nothing. Any site asking for money is not the government. Below: who files it, what each step asks, how to correct a mistake, and how it fits with the K-ETA, which comes back for many nationalities in 2027. We spent just over a month in South Korea in June and July 2023, from Seoul to Jeju and back, so this page sits alongside our South Korea guide.

Japanese Onsen Etiquette: What Are the Rules for Tattoos, Washing, and Bathing?

Soaking in a Japanese natural hot spring (onsen) or neighborhood sento is one of Japan's most restorative rituals, but the strict cultural protocol can feel intimidating for first-time visitors. From washing thoroughly before entering the mineral pools to understanding tattoo restrictions, here is everything you need to know to bathe with confidence.

How many days do you need in Khao Sok?

Two to three days: one in Khao Sok village for the national park trails, and a two-day, one-night tour on Cheow Lan Lake. In practice that is two nights, one in the village and one on the water: lake tours leave the pier in the morning, so you sleep in the village the night before. With only one night, skip the trail day and spend it on the lake. We spent 4 days in Khao Sok, from 9 to 13 January 2023, after two travel days down from Mae Hong Son in the far north, and before Ao Nang on the coast. Four days is one more than the park needs. It suits a slow pace or a long journey in.

How do US citizens apply for a UK ETA?

US citizens need an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding any flight, ferry or Eurostar to the UK. It costs £20 per person on the official GOV.UK site or the UK ETA app, lasts 2 years, and decisions usually arrive within 3 working days. The fee rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026, which is why search results still show both numbers: £20 is correct for new applications. Airlines check for the ETA at check-in, so there is no fixing it on arrival. Our do I need a visa for the UK page has the short version; this is the detailed how-to. We spent about 2.5 weeks in England in November and December 2023, starting and finishing in London.

Do You Need to Reserve Luggage Space on the Shinkansen in Japan? (Oversized Baggage Rules & Fines)

Traveling across Japan on the high-speed Shinkansen network between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kanazawa is one of the most efficient transit experiences anywhere in the world. However, international travelers carrying full-sized check-in suitcases frequently encounter Japan Railways' (JR) oversized baggage reservation system, where carrying large luggage without an advance seat booking incurs penalties.

Do you need an eSIM for Italy?

If you live in the EU you need nothing; if you come from the US, UK (outside O2), Canada or Australia, a data eSIM installed before you fly is the least-hassle option for a trip under three weeks, and an Italian tourist SIM from WindTre, Vodafone or TIM is the cheapest per gigabyte if you stay longer. The catch with the local SIM is paperwork: Italy ties every SIM to an identity, so a shop will scan your passport and register you with a codice fiscale (tax code) before activation. We spent 9 days in Italy in July and August 2023 (Verona, Bologna, then Venice), arriving from Munich and leaving for Zagreb, which is exactly the kind of short, border-hopping leg where an eSIM saves an errand.

What is Japan's JESTA and when do you need it?

You do not need JESTA for a trip to Japan in 2026 or 2027. JESTA (Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a planned online pre-screening for visa-free visitors, scheduled to start in Japan's fiscal year 2028, which runs from April 2028 to March 2029. The law creating it passed the Diet in 2026, but the start date, the fee and the application site have not been announced. Until then, visa-free visitors such as Americans simply fly in, and the optional Visit Japan Web form speeds up arrival. This page separates what is confirmed from what is only reported, and we will update it as the details firm up. We spent about a month in Japan in March and April 2023, Tokyo to Hiroshima and back.

What Are the Best Stops Between Christchurch and Queenstown? (Lindis Pass & Alpine Lakes Route)

The drive between Christchurch and Queenstown on New Zealand's South Island is one of the world's premier road journeys. While covering the 480-kilometer distance in a single six-hour push is possible, taking a full day to explore the transition from Canterbury's green plains into the glacial turquoise waters of the Mackenzie Basin and the tussock peaks of Central Otago makes for an unforgettable itinerary.

What are the best day trips from Ho Chi Minh City?

The Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta are the two day trips from Ho Chi Minh City worth planning around; Tay Ninh's Cao Dai Holy See is the best third. Cu Chi is 1.5 to 2.5 hours north-west depending on which of its two sites you choose; My Tho and Ben Tre, the nearest parts of the Mekong Delta, are about 2 hours south. We were based in Ho Chi Minh City from 13 to 19 May 2023, at the end of a month traveling north to south, with a day trip to Cu Chi and 2 nights in Can Tho (15 to 17 May) in the middle. That is our main advice: do Cu Chi as a day, and give the delta a night if you can.

How do you apply for the NZeTA and IVL for New Zealand, and what does it cost?

If you travel on a visa-waiver passport (US, Canada, UK, most of the EU, Japan and many more), you need an approved NZeTA before you board a flight or cruise to New Zealand. It costs NZ$17 in the official NZeTA app or NZ$23 on Immigration New Zealand's website, plus the NZ$100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), paid in the same transaction: NZ$117 or NZ$123 all in. Immigration New Zealand says to allow 72 hours for processing. One approval is valid for 2 years of visits. This page walks through who needs it, what you need ready, the application itself, the scam sites, and the free digital arrival declaration you fill in separately. We arrived in Christchurch on 23 February 2023 and spent 23 days on the South Island before flying out of Christchurch again.

How to Get from Fes to Chefchaouen: CTM Bus, Grand Taxi or Private Driver?

The cheapest reliable way from Fes to Chefchaouen is the CTM bus: about 4 hours, roughly 75 to 110 dirhams, with a handful of departures a day starting around 8:00. A private driver costs about 700 to 1,000 dirhams per car and takes around 3 to 3.5 hours, which works out well for a group of three or four. There is no train. Here is how to book the bus, what the taxis cost and how to get from Chefchaouen's bus station up to the blue medina.

How do you apply for an Australian ETA in the app, and what does it cost?

If you hold an ETA-eligible passport, such as a US, Canadian, Japanese, South Korean or Singaporean one, you apply for Australia's Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) only through the free official Australian ETA app, and the only charge is an A$20 service fee. There is no website version: Australian embassies warn that if you paid more than A$20, or applied on a website, you used a third party or a scam. The ETA lets you visit for tourism or business for up to 3 months at a time, with multiple entries over 12 months. Most British and EU travellers use the free eVisitor instead. We were in Australia from 21 January to 19 February 2023, flying in to Melbourne and out of Sydney, so this page also covers what happens at the other end: the paper incoming passenger card and the digital Australia Travel Declaration that is replacing it.

Can You Drive a Rental Car Across Borders in the Balkans? (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania Green Card Guide)

A coastal road trip following the Adriatic Sea from Dubrovnik down into Montenegro's dramatic fiords and onward to northern Albania is one of the most rewarding drives in Europe. However, because Croatia is a member of the European Union and the borderless Schengen Zone, while Montenegro and Albania are non-EU sovereign nations, driving a rental car across these international borders involves specific documentation, vehicle insurance policies, and border control protocols.

Where should you stay in Hiroshima?

For one or two nights, stay near Hiroshima Station; for a slower stay, stay downtown between Hatchobori and the Peace Park. The station has the Shinkansen, the JR line to the Miyajima ferry and the streetcars to the Atomic Bomb Dome, about 15 minutes away. Downtown, around the Hondori arcade, puts the Peace Memorial Park and the okonomiyaki counters on foot. A night on Miyajima itself is the third option, and the best one if the floating torii is the reason you came. Hiroshima was a short stop on our trip, about a day and a half in mid-April 2023 after Himeji, before we returned to Tokyo, and we would give it more time.

Do you need an eSIM for Albania?

Yes, plan for data in Albania, because Albania is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area. A SIM from Italy, Greece or Croatia that roams free across the EU charges extra here, and UK and US plans do too. For most visitors, a travel eSIM installed before you fly is easiest; for stays of two weeks or more, a Vodafone Albania or One Albania tourist SIM, bought with your passport at Tirana airport or a shop in town, usually gives far more data. We spent a month in Albania in September and October 2023, from Shkoder and Theth through Tirana, Korce, Permet, Gjirokaster, Sarande, Ksamil and Berat, a route where you want working maps every day.

How do you apply for a Vietnam e-visa on the official site?

Vietnam's only official e-visa site is evisa.gov.vn, run by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. The e-visa is open to every nationality, lasts up to 90 days, and costs US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry. Sites with other addresses that charge more are agencies, not the government. Apply at least a week before you fly: processing is usually reported at about 3 working days, the fee isn't refunded if you're refused, and the visa is tied to the dates and entry gate you choose. Citizens of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and a growing list of European countries can skip it for stays of up to 45 days. US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand travellers need it. We spent about a month in Vietnam, from Hanoi on 20 April 2023 south to Ho Chi Minh City, leaving on 19 May A month fits inside the 45-day exemption for exempt nationalities; on a US passport it needs the e-visa.

Food & drink

What Food Should You Buy at Japanese Convenience Stores (Konbini)?

Japan’s convenience stores—affectionately known as konbini (primarily 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart)—are culinary marvels rather than mere snack stops. Open 24/7 across every corner of Tokyo, Kyoto, and rural prefectures, they serve fresh, restaurant-grade onigiri, steaming pork buns, crispy fried chicken, and silky egg salad sandwiches for pennies. Navigating Japanese packaging and cashier customs, however, requires a quick insider playbook.

Seoul Climate Card vs. T-Money: Which Transit Pass Should Tourists Buy?

Navigating Seoul's sprawling, ultra-modern subway and bus network is one of the easiest public transit experiences in the world. However, travelers in 2026 face a new decision: should you buy the rechargeable pay-as-you-go T-Money card or the Seoul Climate Card (Gifu Donghaeng Card) unlimited tourist pass? Choosing the right option comes down to your daily trip count, travel radius, and airport transit routes.

Grab vs. Bolt vs. Meter Taxis: How to Ride Safely in Bangkok Without Getting Scammed

Where should you stay in Istanbul?

For a first visit, stay in Karaköy or Galata if you want good evenings, or in Sultanahmet if you want to walk out of the door into Hagia Sophia. Both sit on the T1 tram line, which is the thread that ties the historic peninsula to the rest of the city. We spent 16 days in Istanbul across two visits in 2023: 15 days in October at the start of our Turkey route, after Albania, and one more night in November before London. That much time makes the trade-offs obvious. Sultanahmet is unbeatable for the monuments and flat at night; Karaköy, a few tram stops away across the Galata Bridge, has the food and the life after dark. Kadıköy, on the Asian side, is the pick for a long stay.

How much is the Barcelona tourist tax in 2026, and who has to pay it?

Since 1 April 2026, an adult staying in Barcelona pays €7 to €12 per night in tourist tax, depending on the type of accommodation: €12 in a 5-star hotel, €9.50 in a tourist apartment, €8.40 in a 4-star hotel and €7 in a 3-star hotel or below. That is roughly double what it was before. The amount is two charges added together: Catalonia's regional tax (the impost sobre les estades en establiments turístics, IEET) and a Barcelona city surcharge of €5. The city part goes up by €1 every 1 April until 2028, so the same room will cost more in tax each spring. Children aged 16 and under don't pay, and no one pays for more than seven nights of a stay. The figures below come from the Catalan Tax Agency's (ATC) official rate table. We spent 5 nights in Barcelona in late July 2022, between Zaragoza and Valencia, under the old, lower rates.

Do you have to pay to see the Trevi Fountain, and how does the €2 ticket work?

Since 2 February 2026, it costs €2 to walk down to the edge of the Trevi Fountain. Looking at it from the piazza above is still free, at any hour. The ticket covers the area beside the water, where people sit on the steps and toss coins. That area is open from 9:00 to 22:00 Tuesday to Sunday and from 11:30 to 22:00 on Mondays and Fridays, with last entry at 21:00. Rome residents, children under 6, disabled visitors with one companion, licensed guides and Roma MIC card holders go in free. Tickets have no date or time and can be bought online on the official site, at the city's tourist info points and museum ticket offices, or at the entrance (card only). This guide uses the rules published on the official Fontana di Trevi page. Note that the Trevi ticket is not the same as the nightly hotel tax that Rome adds to your bill; for that, see our Italy tourist tax guide.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai Sleeper Train: First Class vs Second Class and How to Book

The best Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper is Special Express train 9, which leaves Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal around 18:40 and reaches Chiang Mai around 07:15, about 12.5 hours. Second-class air-conditioned berths cost roughly 940 to 1,040 baht and first-class two-berth cabins roughly 1,450 to 1,650 baht per person. Second class is the better value for most travelers; first class buys you a lockable private compartment. Here is how the trains, berths and booking work.

How Do You Fill Out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)?

Every non-Thai national entering Thailand by air, land or sea has to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arriving, and it costs nothing. You can submit it up to 3 days (72 hours) before your arrival date at tdac.immigration.go.th, and you get a confirmation by email to show at immigration. The TDAC replaced the paper TM6 arrival card on 1 May 2025 and is not a visa. Below: who needs it, what the form asks, how to fix a mistake, how to spot the fee-charging copycat sites, and the visa-exemption change that took effect in September 2026.

How many days do you need in Wanaka?

Two nights. We spent 2 days in Wanaka, from 7 to 9 March 2023, after a night in Queenstown and before crossing the Haast Pass to the West Coast. Wanaka's reasons to stop are walks and the lake: the Roys Peak ridge, the Rob Roy Glacier track in Mount Aspiring National Park, and the lone willow in the water at dawn. Each big walk takes most of a day, so two nights gives you one of each. One night works if you only want the lakefront and a short climb; a third adds a rest day or a weather backup, which on the South Island is worth having.

Do you need an eSIM for South Korea?

Yes, get mobile data for South Korea, and for most visitors a data-only travel eSIM is enough. Korea is a country where you navigate by phone: Naver Map or KakaoMap for subway exits and bus numbers, Papago for menus, and taxi apps in the evening. Unless your home plan includes cheap Korea roaming, an eSIM installed before you fly is the simplest option. Choose a carrier SIM or eSIM from KT, SK Telecom or LG U+ instead if you want a Korean phone number for verification codes and delivery apps. Our own Korea trip ran 32 days in June and July 2023: Seoul, Jeonju, Suncheon, Busan, two stops on Jeju, Gyeongju, Sokcho and Seoul again, which is the kind of route where you rely on data every day.

How much is the tourist tax in Italy, city by city, and how do you pay it?

Almost every Italian city charges a tourist tax, the imposta di soggiorno or contributo di soggiorno: a fee per adult, per night, that hotels and rentals often add at check-in or check-out instead of including it in the price you booked. In 2026 the top rates in a 5-star hotel are €12 in Milan, €10 in Rome, €8 in Florence and €5 in central Venice. A mid-range 3-star hotel costs €6 to €7 per person per night in Rome, Florence and Milan, and €3.50 in Venice. Each city sets its own rates, its own age limit for children and its own maximum number of nights, so the same week can cost very different amounts. The figures below come from each city council's published rate tables. In July 2023 we spent 2 nights in Verona, 4 in Bologna and 3 in Venice, all of which charge this tax.

How to Get from Hue to Hoi An: Hai Van Pass Easy Rider, Car, Train or Bus?

The fastest way from Hue to Hoi An is a direct bus or car through the Hai Van Tunnel, about 2.5 to 3.5 hours; the best way, if you have a full day, is over the Hai Van Pass on the back of an easy rider motorbike (around $58 to $75) or in a private car with sightseeing stops (around $70 to $120 per car). The train is a scenic middle ground but only goes as far as Da Nang. Here is how each option works and what it costs as of 2026.

What are ETIAS and EES, and do I need them to travel to Europe?

EES and ETIAS are two different things, and only one of them affects you today. The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running since 10 April 2026: non-EU visitors have their fingerprints and photo registered at the Schengen external border, and it replaces passport stamps. ETIAS, the €20 online travel authorization for visa-free visitors such as Americans, has not launched, so there is nothing to apply for or pay yet. (For short tourist visits by visa-exempt travelers; confirm the latest status on the EU's official site, travel-europe.europa.eu, before you fly.)

When is the Sapporo Snow Festival 2027, and how do you plan a visit?

The Sapporo Snow Festival 2027 runs Thursday 4 to Thursday 11 February 2027 at all three sites: Odori Park, Susukino and Tsudome. Those dates are on the organisers' official site as of 27 October 2026; the detailed programme, sculpture themes and opening hours are published later, usually from mid-December. The outdoor sites are free. The hard part is not the festival but the beds: Sapporo hotels fill months ahead for festival week, and 2027 overlaps the Lunar New Year weekend of 6 and 7 February, which brings extra visitors from across East Asia. Hokkaido was not on our route (our Japan trip ran from 18 March to 20 April 2023, Tokyo to Hiroshima), so this guide is built from the organisers' information and transport operators, not from a visit.

What Is Driving in New Zealand Really Like for Americans? (Left-Hand Side, One-Lane Bridges & Gravel)

Renting a car or campervan is the undisputed best way to explore New Zealand's South Island, but American travelers often feel a spike of anxiety at the thought of driving on the left side of the road. With clear mental models, the transition takes less than an hour of driving, but New Zealand's specific road quirks — single-lane wooden bridges, winding mountain passes, and unpaved gravel pullouts — require focused attention.

How many days do you need in Sokcho?

What happens if your Cappadocia balloon flight is cancelled?

If your Cappadocia balloon flight is cancelled for weather, reputable operators offer a refund or a seat on a later morning, which is why the standard advice is to book the flight for your first morning and keep two or three more mornings free. Cancellations are common: Turkish officials reported balloons flew on 223 days in 2025, so roughly four mornings in ten were grounded, with winter far worse than summer.

What are the best day trips from Istanbul?

The Princes' Islands and a ferry up the Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavağı are the two best day trips from Istanbul, and Bursa is the best one beyond the city. The islands are about 90 minutes by ferry from the European side and have no private cars; the Bosphorus ferry runs the length of the strait almost to the Black Sea; Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, is about 2 hours away by sea bus. Edirne and its Selimiye Mosque are a long but rewarding day by bus. We spent about 16 days in Istanbul in 2023, 15 of them from 12 to 27 October before heading east to Ankara and Cappadocia, and a last night in November on the way out. With that much time, the city itself came first; these are the trips worth taking when you have seen the old town.

How does Lebaran 2027 affect travel in Indonesia and Bali?

Lebaran (Idul Fitri) 2027 falls on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March, with collective leave days on 9, 12 and 15 March, under the joint ministerial decree Indonesia published in September 2026. That makes roughly 6 to 16 March the mudik peak, when tens of millions travel home. In Bali it lands straight after Nyepi on Monday 8 March, so the island goes from a full 24-hour shutdown into Indonesia's busiest travel week. If you are flying into Bali and staying put, Lebaran mostly means fuller beaches and higher domestic fares. If you are crossing Java by road, rail or ferry that week, it changes everything. We were in Bali from 19 May to 6 June 2023, with a night in Banyuwangi for Mt. Ijen, which is the Java side of the Bali ferry crossing discussed below; we were not there for Lebaran.

Do you tip in Turkey, and how much?

Yes, tipping is customary in Turkey but not obligatory: leave around 5–10% at sit-down restaurants (a little more for excellent service in upscale Istanbul places), round up taxi fares, and give small cash tips to hamam attendants, guides and porters. Since January 30, 2026, restaurants and cafés are no longer allowed to add a "service charge" or cover charge to the bill, so any tip is entirely your choice, and it's best given in cash Turkish lira.

How much is Japan's departure tax in 2026?

Japan's departure tax, officially the International Tourist Tax, is now ¥3,000 per person every time you leave the country by plane or ship, up from ¥1,000 since 1 July 2026. You don't pay it at the airport: the airline or ferry company adds it to your fare, and it applies to every departing traveler aged 2 and over, foreign visitors and Japanese residents alike. Tickets bought before 1 July 2026 for a fixed travel date generally keep the old ¥1,000 rate, unless the date is changed after that day.

When is the best time to visit New Zealand?

Late February to early April is the best time to visit New Zealand. Summer weather is still settled, the lakes are at their warmest, daylight runs past 8pm, and the domestic school-holiday rush of December and January is over, so campsites and Milford Sound cruises are easier to book. The trade-off: it is still high season for international visitors, prices only drop properly from May, and the West Coast rains in every month. We spent 23 days on the South Island from 23 February to 18 March 2023, a loop from Christchurch to Lake Pukaki, Glenorchy, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, Fox Glacier and back over Arthur's Pass, and that window is the one we recommend.

When are Sinulog and Ati-Atihan 2027, and how do you plan a trip around them?

Sinulog 2027's grand parade is on Sunday 17 January in Cebu City, the third Sunday of January, and Kalibo's Ati-Atihan reaches its peak the same weekend. You cannot see both main days, so pick one: Sinulog for scale and a big-city base, Ati-Atihan for a street party you join rather than watch, and an easy add-on to Boracay. Both honour the Santo Niño (the Child Jesus) and both fill every room in town, so book early. We were in the Philippines from 8 November to 7 December 2022, ending with 7 days in Moalboal and a night in Cebu City; we were not there in January. The dates below follow the fixed third-Sunday rule and the 2026 schedule; organisers publish the full 2027 programme in December.

How Do You Get to Theth, Albania? (Paved SH21 Road, Furgons & Driving Guide)

For decades, traveling to the remote mountain village of Theth in northern Albania meant enduring a punishing, bone-rattling three-hour crawl in a high-clearance 4x4 over unpaved rock ledges and mountain washouts. That changed completely when the Albanian government completed the full asphalt paving of road SH21 over the 1,700-meter Buni i Thores pass directly into the valley floor. Reaching the Albanian Alps is now accessible to standard cars, but mountain road dynamics still demand preparation.

What should you eat in Hanoi?

Pho, bun cha and egg coffee are the three things that define Hanoi food. Northern Vietnamese cooking is cleaner and less sweet than the south's, built on clear broths, fresh rice noodles and herbs, and most of it is eaten on low plastic stools on the pavement. Many Hanoi stalls cook one dish only and sell it at one time of day, so the trick is knowing what to eat when. We spent 3 days in Hanoi in late April 2023, straight after our month in Japan, and went on to Ninh Binh for 4 days. Three days is enough to eat everything below if you follow the clock: noodle soups at breakfast, bun cha at lunch, snacks and beer at night.

When is Semana Santa 2027 and how do you see it in Seville and Málaga?

Semana Santa 2027 runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March, and the peak night is the Madrugá in Seville, from the early hours of Holy Thursday night into Good Friday (25 to 26 March). Easter falls early in 2027, so Holy Week lands in late March, when Andalusia is mild rather than hot, and it overlaps the last days of Las Fallas in Valencia. The trade-off is simple: Seville and Málaga hotels for Holy Week are among the most expensive and fastest-selling of the Spanish year, and the old towns become one slow-moving crowd. We spent 5 days in Seville in August 2022, between Córdoba and Cádiz, which is the opposite season; this page is about planning the week itself.

How Much Is a Himeji Castle Ticket in 2026, and How Do You Visit from Osaka or Kyoto?

Since 1 March 2026, Himeji Castle costs ¥2,500 for adults (18 and over) who do not live in Himeji city, up from ¥1,000. Himeji residents still pay ¥1,000, and everyone under 18 now gets in free. A combined ticket with the neighboring Kokoen garden costs ¥2,600. The castle is open 9:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and closes only on 29 and 30 December. Himeji is an easy day trip: about 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen, or about an hour from Osaka Station on the cheaper JR Special Rapid.

How many days do you need in Kotor?

Two to three days. We spent 3 days in Kotor, 20 to 23 August 2023, after Dubrovnik and before heading inland to the Komovi highlands. The walled Old Town is small enough to walk end to end in ten minutes, so the reason to stay is timing: the climb to St. John's Fortress is best at 7am, and the lanes are at their best in the evening after cruise passengers leave. Two days covers the town, the fortress and Perast with Our Lady of the Rocks. A third adds the Kotor serpentine up to Lovćen and Cetinje.

When is Las Fallas 2027 and how do you see it?

Las Fallas 2027 runs at full strength from 15 to 19 March, ending with the Cremà on the night of Friday 19 March, when Valencia burns hundreds of giant monuments in its streets. The daily mascletà, a deafening daytime firework show in Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 2pm, runs from 1 March. The trade-off: those five days are the most expensive and crowded of Valencia's year, and the noise of firecrackers runs from morning until the early hours. In 2027 the Cremà falls two days before Palm Sunday, so you can follow Fallas straight into Semana Santa. We spent 4 days in Valencia in late July 2022, between Barcelona and Murcia, outside festival season.

Can you get around Jeju without a car?

Yes, you can see Jeju without a car: red express buses link the airport, Jeju City and Seogwipo, the slow coastal buses 201 (east) and 202 (west) run between the two cities around the shoreline, and taxis fill the gaps. The catch is time. Jeju is about 70 km across, buses on the coastal routes stop constantly, and since 2024 Jeju's route buses no longer take cash, so you need a transit card before you board.

When is the best time to visit Istanbul?

The best time to visit Istanbul is April to May or September to October: daytime highs of about 17 to 25°C (63 to 77°F), comfortable walking between Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus ferries, tulips in April, and shorter queues at Hagia Sophia and Topkapı than in July and August. The trade-off: summer is humid and crowded, winter is damp and grey but cheap. We spent 16 days in Istanbul over two visits: 12 to 27 October 2023 at the start of our Turkey trip, and a night on 13 November on the way out. For Cappadocia, Pamukkale and the coast, see best time to visit Turkey.

How do you plan Easter 2027 in Rome and get tickets for the papal Masses?

Easter 2027 is Sunday 28 March, so Holy Week in Rome runs from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Monday (Pasquetta), 29 March. Tickets for the papal liturgies in St Peter's are free and come only from the Prefecture of the Papal Household; anyone selling them is selling access to a free ticket. The Urbi et Orbi blessing at noon on Easter Sunday needs no ticket at all. The trade-off: it is one of the busiest weeks of Rome's year, and the Vatican Museums close on Easter Sunday and Monday. Rome is not on our route: our Italy stops were Verona, Bologna and Venice in July 2023, so this page is a planning guide built on official sources, not a first-hand report.

How does luggage forwarding (takkyubin) work in Japan?

Luggage forwarding in Japan means handing your suitcase to your hotel's front desk or a convenience store and having a courier deliver it to your next hotel, usually the next day, for roughly ¥2,500–2,700 for a standard large suitcase between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka as of 2026. The service is called takkyubin (Yamato Transport brands it TA-Q-BIN, with a black cat logo), and it lets you ride the Shinkansen with just a day bag.

How many days do you need on Jeju Island?

Four days. We spent 6 days on Jeju in June 2023: 4 in Seogwipo on the south coast (22 to 26 June) and 2 in Jeju City in the north (26 to 28 June), between Busan and Gyeongju. Jeju is about 70 km across and its sights sit on different sides of the island, so the useful unit is the side, not the attraction: one day east, one day south, one day west and one for Hallasan. Three days works if you drop the summit; five or six suits travellers without a car, who lose time to slow buses, and anyone who wants to walk the Olle trails.

When is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival 2027 and how do you get there?

The Jinhae Gunhangje, Korea's biggest cherry blossom festival, usually runs for about ten days from late March to early April; the 2027 dates are not announced yet, but the 2026 edition ran from 27 March to 5 April. Jinhae is a district of Changwon on the south coast, about an hour or two from Busan by road, with around 350,000 cherry trees. Admission to the festival areas is free. The trade-off is crowds: weekends at Yeojwacheon and Gyeonghwa Station are packed and the roads in jam. We spent 4 days in Busan in June 2023, well after the blossoms; Busan is still the base we recommend for Jinhae.

Is Driving the P14 Road Through Durmitor and Nikšić Safe? (Sedlo Pass Mountain Route)

The P14 road connecting Nikšić, Plužine, and Žabljak through Durmitor National Park is widely considered one of Europe's most spectacular mountain drives. Ascending over the 1,907-meter Sedlo Pass, the route cuts across a windswept limestone high plateau dotted with seasonal shepherd settlements (katuns) and sheer glacial peaks. While fully paved with asphalt, it is a demanding alpine road requiring patience, passing courtesy, and seasonal awareness.

How much does a trip to Japan cost?

A 12-day trip to Japan costs roughly $1,700 to $2,500 per person on a budget and $3,000 to $4,500 mid-range, including a return flight from the US. On the ground that is about $70 to $120 a day for a budget traveller and $150 to $250 mid-range, the same ranges as our daily travel budget by country. The weak yen (around ¥157 to the dollar in late October 2026) makes Japan cheaper in dollar terms than a decade ago, but rooms and long Shinkansen rides still add up fast. We spent 33 days in Japan in March and April 2023, from Tokyo through Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka to Hiroshima, so the route below follows ground we covered. The figures are typical 2026 prices from operators and travel-cost sources, not what we spent.

Should you visit Ben Dinh or Ben Duoc at Cu Chi, what does it cost, and how do you get there from Ho Chi Minh City?

Cu Chi has two separate sites and choosing between them is the whole decision. Ben Dinh is closer (35 to 40 km, about 1.5 hours), has widened tunnels reinforced for tourists, and takes 95% of standard group tours. Ben Duoc is further (50 to 60 km, 2 to 2.5 hours), preserves far more of the original layout, and is much quieter. Foreign visitor entry is about 135,000 VND at either. Most budget tours only go to Ben Dinh.

What should you eat in Zagreb?

Štrukli, purica s mlincima (turkey with mlinci) and the fresh cheese and cream sold at Dolac market are the three foods that define Zagreb. All three come from the continental side of Croatia's kitchen, built on dairy, poultry, pork and dough rather than the olive oil and fish of the coast. We spent 4 days in Zagreb in August 2023, arriving from Venice and going on to Osijek in Slavonia, and Zagreb is the place to eat inland Croatian food before the Adriatic takes over the menus. Below are 12 foods to look for, where in the city to find them, and a one-day eating plan that starts at Dolac and ends on Tkalčićeva.

When is the best time to visit Turkey?

The best time to visit Turkey is April to early June or mid-September to October: warm but not scorching days at Ephesus and Pamukkale, the best balloon conditions in Cappadocia, a sea still warm enough to swim on the south coast in October, and lower prices than the July and August peak. The trade-off is that Turkey is big: the coast and the interior have different seasons, so the right month depends on the mix. We spent a month in Turkey from 12 October to 14 November 2023: Istanbul, Ankara, Göreme in Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Selçuk for Ephesus, Şirince and İzmir. This page covers the country; Istanbul has its own month-by-month guide.

How much does a trip to South Korea cost?

A 12-day trip to South Korea costs roughly $1,400 to $2,300 per person on a budget and $1,900 to $2,700 mid-range, including a return flight from the US. On the ground that is about $50 to $90 a day on a budget and $85 to $120 mid-range, the ranges in our daily travel budget by country. Korea usually costs less than Japan for the same trip because meals come with free banchan, city transit is cheap and palace tickets cost a few dollars; Seoul rooms and KTX fares are the main costs. We spent 32 days in South Korea in June and July 2023: Seoul, Jeonju, Suncheon, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju and Sokcho, then back to Seoul. The prices below are typical 2026 figures from operators and travel-cost sources, not our spending.

How much cash should you bring to Japan?

You don't need to bring a large stack of yen to Japan: arriving with roughly ¥10,000–20,000 and withdrawing more from 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATMs as you go covers most trips, because cards now work in hotels, chain stores and most city restaurants. Cash still matters more than in most rich countries, though. Japan's cashless share of consumer spending was 42.8% in 2024 according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, so temples, small family restaurants, rural buses and IC card top-ups regularly need notes and coins.

How many days do you need in Shkodër?

One to two days. We spent 2 days in Shkodër, 11 to 13 September 2023, after Podgorica and before going up to Theth. Shkodër's own sights, Rozafa Castle, the Marubi photography museum and the shore of Lake Shkodër, fit into one full day. Most people stay a second night because Shkodër is the gateway to the Albanian Alps: the furgons to Theth leave around 7am, and the Lake Koman ferry sails at 9:00, so you need to sleep in town before either.

How much does a trip to Italy cost?

A 12-day trip to Italy costs roughly $1,100 to $1,700 per person on a budget and $1,900 to $3,100 mid-range, including a return flight from the US East Coast. On the ground that is about $55 to $80 a day on a budget and $115 to $200 mid-range, the ranges in our daily travel budget by country: the south sits at the low end, the north and the big three (Rome, Florence, Venice) at the high end. Advance train fares, cheap Atlantic flights and free churches help; peak-summer rooms, city tourist taxes and the coperto on restaurant bills push the other way. We spent 9 days in northern Italy in July and August 2023: Verona, Bologna and Venice. The figures below are typical 2026 prices from operators and travel-cost sources, not what we spent.

How much does a trip to Thailand cost?

A 14-day trip to Thailand costs roughly $420 to $700 per person on the ground on a budget, $840 to $1,700 mid-range, plus the flight: about $900 to $1,900 return from the US, which makes a typical total of about $1,300 to $2,600 for a budget traveller from America. The flight is usually the largest single line, and the islands, not Bangkok, are what push the daily spend up. These figures match our daily travel budget by country table (Thailand: about $30 to $50 a day budget, $60 to $120 mid-range) and are typical 2026 ranges from published cost guides, not what we spent. We were in Thailand for about six weeks, December 2022 to January 2023: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, then Khao Sok and Ao Nang.

Can You Take Photos at Temples and Shrines in Kyoto? (Photography Rules & Gion Fines)

Kyoto is one of the most photographed cities on earth, but camera rules across its temples, shrines, and historic geisha districts have tightened significantly in recent years. While outdoor shrine grounds like Fushimi Inari allow photography almost everywhere, indoor worship halls, sacred Buddha statues, Zen rock gardens, and private residential alleys have strict bans backed by active staff and steep fines.

Read more →Sep 14, 2026

How much does a trip to Bali cost?

Fourteen days in Bali costs roughly $420 to $840 per person on the ground on a budget and $1,100 to $2,200 mid-range, plus the flight and about $40 in entry charges (the e-VOA and the Bali tourist levy). From Australia the flight is short and often cheaper than a week of mid-range spending; from the US or UK it is usually the biggest line. Where you sleep matters more than anything else: Seminyak and Canggu sit at the top of every band, while Ubud, Munduk and Sidemen are much cheaper. These figures match our daily travel budget by country table (about $30 to $60 a day budget, $80 to $160 mid-range) and are typical 2026 ranges, not what we spent. We spent 18 days in Bali in May and June 2023: Seminyak, Munduk, Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai, with a side trip to Banyuwangi and Mount Ijen in Java.

How Much Are Pamukkale Tickets, and How Do You Plan a Day Trip to the Travertines and Hierapolis?

A single Pamukkale ticket costs €30 for foreign visitors in 2026 and covers the white travertine terraces, the ruins of Hierapolis and the Hierapolis Archaeology Museum; swimming in the Antique Pool (often called Cleopatra's Pool) costs extra. You walk the terraces barefoot, so plan for that. Pamukkale is about 20 km north of Denizli, which has an airport, a train station and a big bus station, so it is easy to reach from Istanbul, Cappadocia or Selçuk. Here is what the ticket includes, when to go and how to fit it into a Turkey route.

What are the best day trips from Bangkok?

Ayutthaya is the best day trip from Bangkok, followed by the Maeklong railway market with Amphawa, and Kanchanaburi if you can give it a night. Ayutthaya, the old Siamese capital, is about an hour north by train; Maeklong, where the train runs through a market, is about 1.5 to 2 hours south-west; Kanchanaburi and the Death Railway are 2 to 3 hours west. We spent 10 days in Bangkok over two stays, 6 at the start of our Thailand trip (7 to 13 December 2022) and 4 at the end (17 to 21 January 2023), and went north from Bangkok to Ayutthaya for 3 nights and Lop Buri for 1. The day trips below are ranked by how much they give you for the time on the road.

Is Vietnam safe to visit?

Yes, Vietnam is one of the safer countries in Asia to visit: the US State Department rates it Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, its lowest tier. Violent crime against tourists is rare. What actually goes wrong on a Vietnam trip is more ordinary: crossing the road in Hanoi, bags snatched from passing motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, taxi and transfer scams, a scooter crash on a mountain road, or a typhoon closing the central coast between September and November. We spent four weeks travelling the length of the country in April and May 2023, from Hanoi and Ninh Binh through Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat and Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Here is what the official advice says and how to handle each risk.

Is Morocco Safe for Tourists? Marrakech Safety, Scams and Tips

Yes, Morocco is generally safe for tourists. The US State Department rates it Level 2, "Exercise increased caution", citing the risk of terrorism, and violent crime against visitors is uncommon. What you are far more likely to meet in Marrakech is petty theft, persistent touts and a handful of well-worn scams around Jemaa el-Fna and the souks. Here is what the official advisories say, how the common scams work, and the emergency numbers to save.

What should you eat in Dubrovnik?

Ston oysters, black risotto and rožata are the three foods that define Dubrovnik. The oysters come from Mali Ston Bay, about an hour up the coast; crni rižot is the Dalmatian classic coloured with cuttlefish ink; and rožata is the city's own caramel custard, flavoured with rose liqueur. We spent 3 days in Dubrovnik in August 2023, the last Croatian stop after Split before we continued to Kotor in Montenegro. Dubrovnik is the most expensive place to eat in Croatia, and the old town's restaurants are priced for cruise crowds, so knowing what is local, and where to eat it, matters more here than elsewhere on the coast. Below are 12 foods with where to find each and one ordering tip, then markets, tipping and a one-day plan.

When is the best time to visit Prague?

The best time to visit Prague is May, early June or September: highs of about 18 to 24°C (64 to 75°F), long light evenings for the Castle and Petřín views, and thinner crowds on Charles Bridge than in July and August. The second-best window is late November to Christmas, for the markets, if you accept cold and short days. The honest trade-off: summer is warm but packed, winter is cheap but grey. We spent 5 days in Prague from 19 to 24 September 2022, then went on to Hřensko in Bohemian Switzerland, Karlovy Vary, Pilsen, Kutná Hora and Brno before crossing to Budapest.

Safety & health

Is Thailand safe to visit?

Yes, Thailand is safe to visit for the usual tourist route of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, the north and the islands: the US State Department rates it Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions. There are two real exceptions. The area along the Cambodian border, where fighting broke out in July and December 2025 and land crossings are still suspended, and the three far-southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, where an insurgency continues. Neither is on a normal holiday itinerary. For everyone else, the risks are road accidents (especially on rented scooters), scams in Bangkok, drink spiking at party spots, rip currents in monsoon season and strict new laws on vapes and cannabis. We spent six weeks in Thailand in December 2022 and January 2023, from Bangkok up through Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, then south to Khao Sok and Ao Nang.

How do you choose an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai?

An ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai is one where you watch elephants rather than ride, bathe or perform with them: no saddles, no shows, no hooks, and no splashing in the river with a mahout steering the animal toward you. The bar moved in the late 2010s. Elephant Nature Park, the best-known sanctuary near Chiang Mai, stopped letting visitors bathe elephants on April 16, 2018, and welfare groups now treat bathing as a red flag, not an ethical alternative to riding.

Safety & health

Is Bali safe to visit?

Yes, Bali is safe to visit for most travelers, and the dangers are mostly self-inflicted: scooters, drinks and the sea. The US State Department rates Indonesia as a whole Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, because of terrorism and natural disasters, with its do-not-travel warnings limited to two provinces in Papua, at the far eastern end of the country. In Bali itself, the things that actually go wrong are scooter crashes, bag snatching, drink spiking and methanol in cheap spirits, rabies from dogs and monkeys, rip currents on the south coast, and stomach bugs. We spent about two and a half weeks in Bali in May and June 2023, moving from Seminyak to Munduk, Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai, with a side trip across to Banyuwangi in Java for Mount Ijen. Here is the official picture and what to do about each risk.

What should you know before visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest?

The Ubud Monkey Forest (officially the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, or Mandala Suci Wenara Wana) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5 p.m., and tickets cost IDR 130,000 for adults and IDR 100,000 for children as of 2026. Bring no food, secure anything loose, don't touch the monkeys, and if one bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and get medical advice the same day, because Bali has rabies.

How many days do you need in Fes?

Two full days for Fes, three if you add Volubilis and Meknes. We spent 3 nights in Fes, from 1 to 4 September 2022, arriving from 3 days in Chefchaouen and going on to Rabat. Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, and it is slow going: one day covers the madrasas, the souks and the Chouara Tannery, and a second covers Fes el-Jdid, the royal quarter, and the view from the Marinid Tombs at sunset. A third day is best spent outside the city at the Roman ruins of Volubilis, about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours away by road.

Is the Philippines safe to visit?

Yes, the Philippines is safe to visit for most tourists, as long as you stay out of the far south: the US State Department rates the country Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and says do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago, while the UK advises against travel to western and central Mindanao. The places almost every visitor goes, Palawan (El Nido, Coron, Port Barton), Cebu, Bohol, Siargao and Manila, are far from those zones. The real day-to-day risks are taxi scams at Manila airport, petty theft in crowds, boats and sea conditions, and typhoons from July to October. We spent four weeks in the Philippines in November and December 2022, from Manila through Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido and Coron to Oslob, Moalboal and Cebu City, so this guide follows the route most first-timers use.

How do you get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto?

The fastest way from Kansai Airport to Kyoto is the JR Haruka limited express, which reaches Kyoto Station in about 75 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes. Foreign tourists pay ¥2,200 with JR West's HARUKA One-way Ticket, bought online before you travel, versus about ¥3,000 or more at the regular fare. The alternative is the airport limousine bus, ¥2,800 and about 90 minutes to Kyoto Station's Hachijo exit.

When is the best time to visit London?

The best time to visit London is May, June or September: daytime highs around 18 to 22°C (64 to 72°F), sunset after 8pm, parks and riverside at their best, and hotel rates below the July and August peak. The trade-off is that London rains in every month, but rarely for long, and its best sights (the British Museum, the National Gallery, the V&A, Tate Modern) are indoor and free, so the city works in any season. We spent 8 days in London in November 2023, a week at the start of our England trip and a night at the end. If you're planning beyond the city, see best time to visit England for the countryside and regions.

Is Turkey safe to visit?

Yes, Turkey is safe to visit for most tourists: the US State Department rates it Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, the same tier as much of Western Europe, and the warnings that matter are for the southeast near the Syrian and Iraqi borders, hundreds of kilometres from Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean coast. The everyday risks for visitors are scams in Istanbul's nightlife and old city, taxi overcharging, pickpockets in crowds, and the occasional demonstration. We spent 33 days in Turkey in October and November 2023: 15 days in Istanbul, then Ankara, Göreme, Pamukkale and Selçuk, ending with a final night in Istanbul.

How do you do Gyeongju as a day trip from Busan, and what are the must-see sites?

Gyeongju is about 50 to 60 minutes from Busan by express bus from Nopo terminal, or 30 minutes by KTX to Gyeongju Station (formerly Singyeongju) station — which is 15 to 20 minutes outside the city and needs a local bus or taxi onward. A day trip works, but it is tight: the historic sites split between the walkable city centre and Bulguksa, 16 km southeast in the mountains. We stayed three nights in June 2023 and would not have wanted less than two.

How many days do you need in Theth?

Two nights minimum, three if you want to hike. We spent 3 days in Theth, 13 to 16 September 2023, between Shkodër and Tirana. The road in from Shkodër takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, and furgons arrive late morning and leave in the early afternoon, so a single night gives you almost nothing. Two nights give one full day: the Grunas waterfall, the Lock-in Tower and the church. Three nights add a second full day for the Blue Eye of Theth or the Valbona pass crossing.

Is the JR Pass worth it in 2026 for a 2- or 3-week trip, or for northern Japan?

The JR Pass is worth it in 2026 only if you pack about ¥50,000 of JR travel into 7 days, or about ¥80,000 into 14. For a classic one-week Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka trip it loses money; our route-by-route fare table does that maths. This page covers the questions that table does not: longer trips, the 14- and 21-day passes, northern Japan, and the area passes JR East and JR West changed in March 2026. The nationwide pass costs ¥50,000 for 7 days, ¥80,000 for 14 and ¥100,000 for 21 when bought on the official JAPAN RAIL PASS site (¥53,000, ¥84,000 and ¥105,000 through an overseas agency). Prices were checked in October 2026.

How do you get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet and the city center?

From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet, the simplest option is the Havaist airport bus, whose Sultanahmet line was back in service in 2026 at a fare of €8 (paid by card). The cheapest is the M11 metro to Gayrettepe, then onward by metro and tram, which takes longer with bags. A metered taxi for the roughly 50 km ride works out at around ₺2,500 or more on the July 2026 tariff, plus any tolls.

What is a good 7 or 10 day Croatia itinerary from Zagreb to Dubrovnik?

Seven days covers Zagreb, Plitvice, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik; ten adds Šibenik and Krka and slows the pace. Fly into Zagreb and out of Dubrovnik, and travel north to south down the coast. This is our suggested cut of the 17 days we spent in Croatia, 3 to 20 August 2023: Zagreb 4, Osijek 3, Zadar 3, Šibenik 2, Split 2 and Dubrovnik 3. For a shorter trip we drop Osijek, which is a long way east of everything else, and add a night at Plitvice Lakes, which our route did not include.

Is the Tokyo Subway Ticket worth it in 2026?

Yes for the 48- and 72-hour versions if you sightsee hard on the subway; usually no for the 24-hour one. Since 14 March 2026 the Tokyo Subway Ticket costs ¥1,000 for 24 hours, ¥1,500 for 48 hours and ¥2,000 for 72 hours (children 6 to 11 half price), up from ¥800, ¥1,200 and ¥1,500. Older blogs still quote the old prices. A single subway ride in central Tokyo costs about ¥180 to ¥260, so the 72-hour ticket pays off at about four rides a day, the 24-hour one at about five. The ticket covers all 9 Tokyo Metro lines and all 4 Toei subway lines, but not JR, so the Yamanote Line and the JR trains to Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku cost extra.

Is Gyeongbokgung Palace Free If You Wear a Hanbok, and How Much Are Tickets?

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul's largest palace, costs 3,000 won for adults, and anyone wearing a hanbok gets in free, foreigners included. Visitors 18 and under and 65 and over also enter free. The palace is closed on Tuesdays, opens at 9:00 year-round, and the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony runs at 10:00 and 14:00 outside the ticket gate, free to watch. If you are seeing several palaces, a 6,000-won combined pass covers all four main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. Here are the hours by season, what counts as a hanbok for free entry, and how to time a visit.

When is the best time to visit England?

May, June and September are the best months to visit England: long days (sunset after 9pm in June), gardens and countryside at their best, and fewer families than the July and August school holidays, when prices and crowds in Cornwall, the Lake District and the Cotswolds peak. The honest trade-off is that England has no reliably dry month: rain falls in every season, so you pick for daylight and crowds, not for guaranteed sun. We spent about 2.5 weeks in England from 14 November to 3 December 2023: London, Bath, the Cotswolds edge around Castle Combe, Leamington Spa, the Peak District at Castleton, Shrewsbury and the Mendips above Cheddar. This page is about the whole country; London has its own month-by-month page.

Is the Budapest Card worth it in 2026?

For most visitors, no: a BKK travelcard plus the two or three sights you actually want is cheaper. The Budapest Card costs €53 for 24 hours, €69 for 48, €85 for 72 and €112 for 96 on the official site, for the season running to 30 April 2027. It includes public transport, free entry to the Lukács Thermal Bath and 25 museums and sights, two walking tours and one river cruise. The same transport alone costs 2,750 HUF for 24 hours or 5,750 HUF for 72 with a BKK travelcard. At about 366 forints to the euro, the 72-hour card costs roughly 25,000 HUF more than the 72-hour travelcard, and you need to use that much in included entries to come out ahead.

How Do You Get to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple from Haeundae or Busan Station?

To reach Haedong Yonggungsa from Haeundae, take bus 181 or 1001 from near Haeundae Station to the Yonggungsa Temple stop (about 25 to 30 minutes), then walk about 10 minutes downhill to the temple. A taxi from Haeundae Beach takes 20 to 25 minutes and costs roughly 15,000 to 20,000 won. Entry is free and the temple opens at 4:30 a.m.; only parking costs money. Below: routes from Haeundae, Osiria and Busan Station, opening hours, how to beat the crowds, and how to combine it with the rest of the east coast.

What should you eat in London?

A pub Sunday roast, pie and mash with green liquor, and a salt beef bagel on Brick Lane are the three foods that define London. The roast is England's weekly ritual; pie and mash is East London's working-class lunch, served in tiled shops; and the bagel bakeries of Brick Lane are a leftover of the East End's Jewish community. London's real strength is that it also has some of the best Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern food in Europe. We spent 8 days in London in November and December 2023: a week at the start of our England loop, which went on to Bath, the Cotswolds edge, the Peak District and Somerset, and one more night at the end. Below are 12 foods with where to find each and one ordering tip, then markets, the service-charge rule and a one-day plan.

Is a Halong Bay cruise worth it?

Yes, as a 2-day, 1-night cruise outside the summer storm season; usually not as a day trip. The bay is about 2.5 to 3 hours by road from Hanoi each way, so a day trip spends more time in a van than on the water. An overnight cruise gets you the karsts at sunset and sunrise, a kayak or cave stop, and a calmer area away from the day boats. Operator price lists put 2-day, 1-night cruises at roughly $105 to $150 per person at the budget end, $145 to $250 for a comfortable mid-range boat and $300 or more for the top tier, sharing a cabin. If your budget or time is tight, Ninh Binh gives you the same limestone scenery by rowing boat for far less, and it is on the way south.

Do Americans Need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2027, and How Do You Apply?

South Korea's temporary K-ETA exemption for US citizens and 21 other nationalities runs until 31 December 2026, and as of this writing (October 2026) no further extension has been announced. Unless that changes, you need an approved K-ETA to fly to Korea visa-free from 1 January 2027. It costs 10,000 won on the official site, k-eta.go.kr, is valid for 3 years, and you should apply at least 72 hours before boarding. Here is who is covered, how the application works, how it interacts with the e-Arrival Card, and how to avoid the copycat sites that charge over $100.

Should you visit Thailand or Vietnam?

Pick Thailand for an easier first trip to Southeast Asia, for islands and beaches, and for a December to February trip; pick Vietnam if you want to spend less, eat better street food for the money, and follow one long north-to-south line of very different places. Neither is a wrong answer, and they are only about two hours apart by air, so many people do both. We spent about 6 weeks in Thailand from December 2022 to January 2023 (Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Khao Sok and Ao Nang) and 29 days in Vietnam in April and May 2023, from Hanoi and Ninh Binh down through Hue, Hoi An, Da Lat and Nha Trang to Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. The comparison below uses that route as the frame, with typical 2026 costs, not what we spent.

Do You Tip in Japan or South Korea?

You do not tip in Japan or South Korea. In restaurants, cafes, bars, taxis and hotels you pay the amount on the bill and nothing more, and in Japan cash left on the table is often brought back to you. Where service is charged, it is built into the price: first-class hotels in Japan add a 10% to 15% service charge, many upscale hotels in Korea add 10% plus tax, and Japanese izakaya add a small per-person table charge called otōshi. The real exceptions are narrow: an optional envelope at a high-end ryokan and, sometimes, a private guide. Here is how each situation works.

What should you eat in Prague?

Svíčková, vepřo knedlo zelo and smažený sýr are the three foods that define Prague. Svíčková is beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings and cranberries; vepřo knedlo zelo is roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut; and smažený sýr is a slab of breaded fried cheese with tartar sauce, the default vegetarian order in any pub. All three are pub food, and the pub, with a well-kept Czech lager, is where Prague eats best. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022, at the start of a Czech loop that went on to Bohemian Switzerland, Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Pilsen, Kutná Hora and Brno. Below are 12 foods with where to find each and one ordering tip, then markets, tipping and a one-day plan.

When is the best time to visit Croatia?

The best time to visit Croatia is late May to June and September: highs around 23 to 28°C (73 to 82°F) on the coast, a sea that has warmed to about 21°C (70°F) or more, full ferry timetables, and noticeably fewer people than July and August. Late September is our top pick for swimming without crowds. The trade-off: before late May and after mid-October the island ferries thin out and many coastal restaurants close. We were in Croatia from 3 to 20 August 2023, peak season: 4 days in Zagreb, 3 in Osijek, 3 in Zadar, 2 in Šibenik, 2 in Split and 3 in Dubrovnik, arriving from Venice and continuing to Montenegro.

Should you go to Bali or Thailand?

The month decides it: Bali's dry season runs roughly April to October and most of Thailand's runs roughly November to February, so go to Bali in the northern summer and Thailand in the northern winter. If the dates are fixed, pick Bali for one compact island with rice terraces, temples and a strong wellness and villa scene; pick Thailand for variety (a big city, a cooler mountain north, old capitals and many islands), more transport options and a slightly lower daily cost outside the beaches. We spent 18 days in Bali in May and June 2023 (Seminyak, Munduk, Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai, with a day trip across to Mt. Ijen on Java) and about 6 weeks in Thailand in December 2022 and January 2023, from Bangkok through the north to Khao Sok and Ao Nang. Costs below are typical 2026 ranges, not what we spent.

How Do You Fill Out the All Indonesia Arrival Card for Bali?

Every international arrival in Indonesia, Bali included, has to submit the free All Indonesia Arrival Card online within 3 days (72 hours) before landing at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. You get a QR code by email that you show at immigration and customs. The card has been mandatory at all international entry points since 1 October 2025, and it replaced two older forms: the e-CD customs declaration and the SATUSEHAT health pass. It is not a visa and it does not cover the Bali tourist levy. Below: what it asks, when to file, how it fits with the e-VOA and the levy, and how to avoid the fee-charging copycat sites.

How many days do you need in Madrid?

Three days is right for Madrid; four if you want Toledo or Segovia. We spent 4 days in Madrid, from 27 June to 1 July 2022, as the first stop of our 60-day Spain route, before stopping in Ávila on the way to Salamanca. Three days covers the old Habsburg core and the Royal Palace, the Prado and the Retiro, and a slower day for Gran Vía, Malasaña and the Reina Sofía. A fourth day is best spent on a day trip, since Toledo and Segovia are each about half an hour away by high-speed train. Two days works only if you skip one of the big museums.

Should you visit Japan or South Korea?

Pick Japan for a first trip to East Asia: it has more to see per day, Kyoto's temples, the Alps towns and the best-organised transport anywhere. Pick South Korea if you have been to Japan already, want a cheaper and less crowded trip, or are drawn by Korean food, Seoul nightlife and K-culture. They pair well: Seoul to Tokyo is a flight of roughly two and a half hours. We spent 33 days in Japan in March and April 2023 (Tokyo, Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima) and 32 days in South Korea in June and July 2023 (Seoul, Jeonju, Suncheon, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju and Sokcho). Below is how they compare, using typical 2026 costs rather than our spending.

Is the Hakone Freepass Worth It in 2026?

Yes, for most first-time visitors who ride the classic Hakone loop. The 2-day Hakone Freepass costs ¥7,100 from Shinjuku (¥7,500 for 3 days) or ¥6,000 from Odawara (¥6,400 for 3 days), and the ropeway and Lake Ashi cruise alone cost ¥3,700 one way at regular fares, before the trains, cable car and buses. The Romancecar seat fee is not included. Plan around two maintenance closures: the Hakone Ropeway is replaced by buses between Owakudani and Sounzan from 7 to 24 December 2026, and between Togendai and Owakudani from 12 January to 26 February 2027.

Should you visit Prague or Budapest?

Pick Prague for a compact, walkable medieval core and easy day trips into Bohemia; pick Budapest for thermal baths, a bigger river city, lower prices and later nightlife. If you have a week, do both: they are about 7 hours apart by direct train. Prague is the prettier old town and the more crowded one. Budapest feels larger and less polished, with more to do after dark and the baths as something Prague simply does not have. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022, then 12 more days around Bohemia and Brno, and went on to Budapest for 5 days in October 2022 before Eger and Tokaj.

How Do You Get from Kyoto to Nara: Kintetsu or JR?

Two railways run from Kyoto Station to Nara, and both take under an hour. The Kintetsu Kyoto Line costs ¥760 and takes about 45 to 50 minutes on an express, or about 35 minutes on a limited express for roughly ¥520 extra, arriving at Kintetsu-Nara, a 5-minute walk from Nara Park. The JR Nara Line Miyakoji Rapid takes about 45 minutes for about ¥720 and is covered by the JR Pass, but JR Nara Station is about 15 minutes' walk farther from the deer and temples. Without a JR Pass, Kintetsu is the better choice.

Where should you stay in Hakone?

For a first one-night stay, choose Gora: it sits in the middle of the Hakone loop, so you can do the cable car, ropeway and Lake Ashi the next morning without backtracking. Hakone-Yumoto is the easier choice if you arrive late or only want an onsen night, since the Romancecar from Shinjuku ends there in about 80 minutes. Lake Ashi is for Fuji views, and Sengokuhara for quiet. In Hakone the choice is really about the ryokan and its bath, so pick the area first, then the room. We spent 2 days in Hakone in March 2023, between our first Tokyo stay and Matsumoto.

When is the best time to visit Germany?

The best time to visit Germany is May to September for weather, with late May, June and September the sweet spots, and late November to 23 December for the Christmas markets. Summer highs sit in the mid 20s °C, beer gardens and river cruises are running, and days are long. The trade-off is that summer is also the wettest season, with afternoon thunderstorms, and Munich's hotels hit their highest prices during Oktoberfest. We spent 16 days in Germany in July 2023: 3 in Berlin, 2 in Bremen, 3 in Frankfurt with a day trip to Heidelberg, 2 in Würzburg, 1 in Ulm and 5 in Munich, before going on to Verona.

Should you visit Croatia or Montenegro?

Pick Croatia for islands, sailing, Roman and Venetian towns and the easiest logistics; pick Montenegro for lower prices, dramatic mountains and a shorter, cheaper coast. Kotor is only about 2 to 3.5 hours by road from Dubrovnik, so most people should do both. Croatia is bigger, more developed for tourism and more expensive, especially on the coast in July and August. Montenegro is small: the Bay of Kotor, a short Adriatic coast, and then high mountains inland that Croatia's coast cannot match. We spent 17 days in Croatia in August 2023 (Zagreb, Osijek, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Dubrovnik) and went straight on to Montenegro for 22 days, from Kotor up to Žabljak and Gusinje and back down to Ulcinj and Podgorica.

How Much Is the Kyoto City Bus, and Will Tourists Pay More from 2027?

A Kyoto city bus ride costs a flat ¥230 for adults (¥120 for children) anywhere in the central fare zone, paid by IC card or cash when you get off. That is still the fare for everyone in autumn 2026. Kyoto City plans a two-tier "citizen-priority" fare from fiscal year 2027 (April 2027 onward), with residents paying about ¥200 and non-residents, including tourists, about ¥350 to ¥400; one report puts the figure at ¥360. It is a proposal, not yet law: it still needs an ordinance change and national transport ministry approval. Meanwhile, the subway and trains are often faster than the crowded buses.

What do tourists need to know about driving in New Zealand?

You can drive in New Zealand on your home licence for up to 12 months if it is in English; if it is not, carry an International Driving Permit or an approved English translation. Drive on the left, keep to 100 km/h on most open roads, and pay the three motorway tolls online within 10 days. The rules are simple. What catches visitors out is the time things take: narrow two-lane highways, one-lane bridges and mountain passes make a 300 km day feel like 500. We spent 23 days on the South Island in February and March 2023, a loop from Christchurch via Lake Pukaki, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Wanaka, Haast, Fox Glacier and Arthur's Pass, and the distances below are drawn from that route. If you are American, our US-specific driving guide covers left-side habits and bridge signs in more detail; this page covers everyone, plus tolls, fuel, rental contracts and seasonal closures.

Do you tip in Thailand, and how much should you tip at restaurants, massages, taxis and hotels?

Tipping in Thailand is appreciated but not required, and nobody chases you for it. The one thing that catches visitors out is the "++" after a menu or room price: it means a 10% service charge plus 7% VAT will be added, so a 1,000-baht dinner comes to about 1,177 baht. Where no service charge is added, leaving 20 to 50 baht at a casual restaurant and 50 to 100 baht after a massage is the normal range. Here is how it works at restaurants, street stalls, massage shops, in taxis and Grab cars, and with guides and hotel staff.

Where should you stay in Prague?

For a first visit, stay in Malá Strana or the Old Town. Malá Strana, on the castle side of Charles Bridge, is quieter and puts the castle and the bridge within a 10-minute walk; the Old Town puts you on the square before the crowds. Both let you cross Charles Bridge at dawn, when it is nearly empty, which is the single best reason to pay central prices. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022, arriving from Morocco and leaving for Bohemian Switzerland, and the centre is small enough that either side works. For a longer stay or a lower budget, Vinohrady is a short tram ride away and much better value.

What do tourists need to know about driving in Australia?

Visitors can generally drive in Australia on a current overseas licence; if it is not in English you also need an International Driving Permit or an accredited translation. Drive on the left, stay at or under 0.05 blood alcohol, and pay city tolls online within a few days, because there are no booths. The other thing to plan for is distance: Australia is roughly the size of the continental United States, and rental contracts, wildlife and fuel stops shape a road trip more than the road rules do. Licensing is set by each state and territory, so details shift slightly as you cross borders. We were in Australia from late January to mid-February 2023: Melbourne, a Great Ocean Road and Grampians run through Apollo Bay, Halls Gap and Coonawarra to Adelaide, then Alice Springs, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Cairns, the Daintree and Sydney. The practical notes below follow that shape.

What is coperto in Italy, how much is it, is it legal, and do you still need to tip?

The coperto is a fixed per-person cover charge that most Italian sit-down restaurants add to the bill, usually €2 to €4 per person and more in prime locations. It is legal anywhere it is printed on the menu or price board, except in the Lazio region (Rome), which bans it. It is not a tip: Italians generally do not tip on top, though rounding up or leaving a euro or two for good service is welcome. In Venice, watch for a separate servizio of 10 to 12%. Here is what each line on an Italian bill means.

What are the best day trips from Budapest?

Szentendre, Esztergom and Eger are the three best day trips from Budapest, and all three are a direct train ride away. Szentendre is about 40 minutes up the Danube on the suburban HÉV; Esztergom's basilica and the river border with Slovakia are about an hour by train; Eger, with its castle and wine cellars, is just under 2 hours. We spent 5 days in Budapest in October 2022, arriving from Brno, then went on to Eger for 3 nights and Tokaj for 3, so Eger was a stop for us rather than a day trip. Vienna works in a day by train, but only just.

When is the best time to visit Spain?

The best time to visit Spain is April to early June and mid-September to October: Madrid and Andalusia sit in the low to high 20s °C instead of the high 30s, the beaches are still swimmable in September, and you avoid the August price peak. The honest trade-off is that spring in the south carries Semana Santa and Seville's Feria, the two most crowded and expensive weeks of the year there. We travelled Spain from 27 June to 26 August 2022: Madrid, then the north coast from Oviedo and Gijón through Santander, Bilbao, Logroño and San Sebastián, then Barcelona, Valencia and the Andalusian cities of Granada, Córdoba, Sevilla and Cádiz in August. That route is why this guide splits the answer by region.

How do tolls work in Croatia, and what do tourists need to know about driving there?

Croatia has no vignette: you pay motorway tolls by distance at booths, in euros cash or by card, and a standard car pays roughly €26 from Zagreb to Split. From 1 March 2027 the booths are due to be replaced by a camera-based free-flow system called Crolibertas, so trips from spring 2027 will be paid by number plate instead. Everything else about driving here is straightforward: right-hand traffic, 130 km/h motorways, 0.5 alcohol limit, and dipped headlights in winter. We spent August 2023 in Croatia on the route Zagreb, Osijek, Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Dubrovnik, which covers most of the motorway network a visitor uses. If you plan to continue into Montenegro or Albania, read our Balkan borders guide for Green Card and cross-border fees.

How much does it cost to climb the Kotor city walls to St. John's Fortress, when do you pay, and how long does the hike take?

Climbing Kotor's city walls to St. John's Fortress (Tvrđava Sveti Ivan, also called San Giovanni) costs €15 per adult for foreign visitors. That is the price set by the Kotor municipality, which raised it from €8 in November 2023; Montenegrin residents and children under 12 are free. Fees are collected from 1 March to 30 November, from 07:00 to 20:00 between May and September. The climb is about 1,350 steps and takes most people 45 minutes to an hour up. Older blogs quoting €8 or €3 are out of date.

What do tourists need to know about driving in Albania?

Yes, tourists can drive in Albania, and a car is the easiest way to link the mountains, the south and the Riviera, but carry an International Driving Permit, drive the main roads by day, and expect rougher surfaces and more erratic driving than in Croatia or Italy. We spent a month in Albania in September and October 2023, from Shkodër and Theth down through Tirana, Korçë, Përmet, Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Ksamil and Berat. That route is a good test of the country's roads: a motorway spine, mountain passes and a coast where the last 20 km can take an hour in August. This page covers the paperwork, the rules, the one big toll and the roads that need care.

How do you get from Tirana airport to the city center, and how much do the bus and taxi cost?

The cheapest way from Tirana International Airport (TIA) to the city center is the airport bus, often called the Rinas Express: 400 lek (about €4) one way, departing every hour on the hour, 24/7, and taking 30 to 45 minutes to a stop behind the Palace of Opera and Ballet on Skanderbeg Square. An airport taxi takes about 25 minutes and costs a fixed fare quoted at roughly 2,200 to 2,500 lek (about €22 to €25). Uber and Bolt do not operate in Albania.

What should you eat in Kanazawa?

Sea of Japan seafood, jibuni and Kanazawa oden are the three things to eat in Kanazawa. The city sits on the Sea of Japan coast and was the seat of the wealthy Maeda lords for nearly three centuries, so it combines some of the best fish in the country with a refined castle-town food culture of sweets, tea and gold leaf. We spent 4 days in Kanazawa from late March into early April 2023, after Takayama and before Kyoto, with a day trip to Shirakawa-go. Seafood here is seasonal, and our dates fell at the end of crab season, so when you go changes what you should order.

What do tourists need to know about driving in Morocco?

Self-driving in Morocco is very doable on the motorways and the main routes south of Marrakech, as long as you carry an International Driving Permit, respect the speed limits (police and radars catch drivers at just a few km/h over), and never drive into the medinas. For the desert itself, hire a 4x4 with a driver. We spent 24 days in Morocco from late August to mid September 2022, from Tangier and Chefchaouen through Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira to Marrakech, then over the Atlas to Ouarzazate, Zagora, Tamegroute and Erg Chigaga. That covers almost every kind of Moroccan road, so this page is organised by what you will actually drive.

Should you visit Morocco during Ramadan 2027, and what changes for tourists?

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and end around 9 March 2027, with Eid al-Fitr on about 9 or 10 March. Morocco fixes both dates by its own moon sighting, so the start can be a day later than in the Gulf. You can visit normally: tourists are not expected to fast, riads and tourist restaurants keep feeding guests, and the medinas come alive after sunset. What changes is the daytime pace, opening hours, alcohol availability and how discreet you should be about eating in public.

When is the best time to visit Venice?

The best time to visit Venice is mid-April to early June and mid-September to October: highs of about 17 to 24°C (63 to 75°F), almost no acqua alta risk, and long enough days to see the city before and after the day-trippers. The catch is that most of those spring weeks are also day-tripper fee days, and weekends are crowded in any season; for the quietest Venice, go in November or early December midweek and accept fog and the chance of high water. We spent 3 days in Venice from 31 July to 3 August 2023, after 4 days in Bologna and before Zagreb, so we know the city in high summer; the other seasons below come from climate records and the city's official calendars.

What do tourists need to know about driving in Italy and ZTL zones?

Driving in Italy is easy on the autostrade and in the countryside, and expensive in the historic centres: almost every old town has a ZTL (limited traffic zone) watched by cameras, and one wrong turn can mean a fine of about €83 to €332 arriving months later, plus the rental company's handling fee. We spent 9 days in northern Italy in July and August 2023: 2 nights in Verona with a day trip to Parma, 4 in Bologna and 3 in Venice. That stretch shows the problem clearly. Bologna's ZTL covers most of the centre, Verona's covers the old town, and in Venice you cannot drive past Piazzale Roma at all. This page covers ZTLs first, then the licence, speed, toll and parking rules.

Can you get Moroccan dirhams before you travel, and how do you change money in Morocco?

The Moroccan dirham (MAD) is a closed currency: it is not freely traded abroad, and travellers may carry no more than 2,000 dirhams in banknotes into or out of Morocco, according to the Office des Changes. So you arrive with euros, pounds or dollars (or just a bank card), get dirhams from an ATM or exchange desk on arrival, and change any leftovers back before you fly out, ideally with your exchange receipts in hand.

Where should you stay in London?

For a first visit, stay in Zone 1, and the best value there is Southwark or Bloomsbury. Southwark, across the river from St Paul's, is cheaper than the West End and sits on the riverside path; Bloomsbury is quiet, walkable to the British Museum and the West End, and next to the King's Cross and St Pancras stations. Covent Garden and Soho put you inside the nightlife at a real premium. We spent 8 days in London in 2023: 7 in November, arriving from Istanbul, before heading out to Bath, the Cotswolds and the Peak District, and a final night in early December at the end of our 526-day trip.

Do you need a vignette (e-matrica) to drive in Hungary?

Yes, if you drive on almost any Hungarian motorway (the M-roads) you need an electronic vignette, the e-matrica, bought before you join it. For a passenger car (category D1) the 2026 prices are 5,550 HUF for one day, 6,900 HUF for 10 days and 11,170 HUF for a month. There is no sticker and no toll booth: cameras read your number plate and check it against the national database, and the base fine for being caught without one is 27,790 HUF. If you are only in Budapest, or driving on ordinary numbered main roads, you do not need one. We spent 5 days in Budapest, then 3 in Eger and 3 in Tokaj in October 2022 before crossing into Romania at Oradea, and that M3 corridor east of Budapest is exactly the kind of trip where a 10-day pass is the right buy.

Will international visitors have to pay to visit Milford Sound and Mount Cook from 2027?

Not yet. New Zealand plans to charge international visitors an access fee at four of its busiest conservation sites (Piopiotahi/Milford Sound, Aoraki/Mount Cook, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Mautohe/Cathedral Cove), but the law that would allow it, the Conservation Amendment Bill, is still before Parliament. The government's early estimate was NZ$20 to NZ$40 per person, and the Department of Conservation (DOC) says the earliest the charges could start is summer 2027/28. No price, start date or collection method has been confirmed. New Zealanders and residents will not pay.

How many days do you need in Munich?

Three days covers Munich itself; five lets you add Neuschwanstein and Salzburg. We spent 5 days in Munich, from 20 to 25 July 2023, after Ulm and before crossing into Italy for Verona. The city's sights are concentrated: two days cover the Altstadt, the Residenz and the English Garden, and a third adds Nymphenburg Palace or the museums. The extra days matter because Munich is the base for Bavaria's biggest day trips, each roughly two hours away, and each needs a full day.

Do you need a vignette to drive in the Czech Republic?

Yes: to drive on Czech motorways (D-roads) and tolled expressways you need an electronic vignette, bought on the official eDálnice site at edalnice.gov.cz. For a normal petrol or diesel car in 2026 it costs CZK 230 for one day, CZK 300 for 10 days, CZK 480 for 30 days and CZK 2,570 for a year. There is no sticker; the vignette is tied to your number plate and checked by cameras. Driving a tolled section without one can cost a fine of up to CZK 20,000. Within Prague itself and on ordinary roads you do not need one. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022, then moved around Bohemia and Moravia: Hřensko on the German border, Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Pilsen, Kutná Hora and Brno. That loop of spa towns and small cities is the trip most visitors hire a car for.

How much is the Basque Country tourist tax in San Sebastián and Bilbao from 2027?

From 1 January 2027, overnight visitors to the Basque Country pay a new tourist stay tax (impuesto sobre estancias turísticas) per adult per night, collected by the hotel, flat or campsite. The provincial laws set a general range of roughly €0.75 to €5 per night, and big destinations can add a surcharge of up to 50%. San Sebastián's proposed rates run from €1.25 at farm stays to €6.50 at top-category hotels and tourist flats, capped at six nights per stay; Bilbao's reported draft is about €4 for a four-star and €5 for a five-star hotel. City rates were still awaiting final approval in October 2026.

When is the best time to visit Italy?

The best time to visit Italy is late April to early June and mid-September to October: daytime highs in the low to high 20s °C across most of the country, sea warm enough in the south from June, and prices below the July and August peak. The trade-off is that these months are no secret, so Rome, Florence and Venice are still busy; for real quiet and the lowest prices you need November or January to March and some cold, wet days. Our own route covered northern Italy only: we spent 2 days in Verona (with a day trip to Parma), 4 in Bologna and 3 in Venice between 25 July and 3 August 2023, arriving from Munich and going on to Zagreb. The northern advice below draws on that; for Rome and the south we rely on climate records and official calendars.

Do you need a rovinieta to drive in Romania?

Yes: in Romania the rovinieta is needed on all national roads, not just motorways, so any road trip outside a city needs one. Since 1 October 2026 the car price depends on the engine's Euro emission class: a one-day rovinieta costs 22 lei for a Euro 6 car and 29 lei for Euro 0 to 3, and a 10-day one 30 to 39 lei. At the same time Romania scrapped the separate car tolls on the Fetești–Cernavodă and Giurgeni–Vadu Oii Danube bridges. Our route was the classic one: we came in from Hungary at Oradea in October 2022 and went through Cluj-Napoca, Deva, Sibiu, Sighișoara, Brașov and Sinaia to Bucharest over three weeks. Almost every leg of that uses national roads where a rovinieta applies.

Can you drive to the Lakes of Covadonga, and how does the shuttle bus from Cangas de Onís work?

On regulated days the CO-4 road up to the Lakes of Covadonga (Lagos de Covadonga) is closed to private cars for the whole day, and the only way up is the shuttle bus from car parks in Cangas de Onís and Covadonga, costing €9 return for adults. In 2026 the restriction ran daily from 1 June to 18 October, plus Easter, most May weekends and a few autumn and December dates. On other days you can drive up until the lakeside car parks fill. The 2027 calendar had not been published as of October 2026.

What are the best day trips from Venice?

The best day trips from Venice are the lagoon islands of Burano and Torcello, Padua, and Verona. Burano and Torcello need nothing but a vaporetto ticket and show you a Venice without the crowds; Padua is about 15 to 35 minutes away by train and holds Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel; Verona takes about 70 minutes on the fastest trains and is the best full-city day out. We spent 3 days in Venice from 31 July to 3 August 2023, after 4 days in Bologna and 2 in Verona, so the trips below are ranked by what each one gives you for the hours it costs.

What is the best way to get from Tokyo to Kyoto: Shinkansen, night bus or flight?

The Nozomi Shinkansen is the best option for almost everyone: about 2 hours 15 minutes from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station for roughly ¥14,000 (about US$95) one way in a reserved seat, or about ¥12,430 if you book the EX early-bird fare three weeks ahead. The cheapest way is an overnight highway bus: roughly 8 to 10 hours, with midweek seats from about ¥2,500 to ¥5,000 and more at weekends and holidays. Flying makes little sense, because Kyoto has no airport. Below are the details for each option, where they leave from and how far ahead to book.

How much is the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket in 2026, and do you need one to walk around?

The Hoi An Ancient Town ticket costs 80,000 or 120,000 VND in 2026, and foreign visitors are generally quoted 120,000 VND (about US$5). Under the heritage centre's January 2026 rules, the 120,000 VND ticket covers entry to the old town, either the Japanese Covered Bridge or Quan Công Temple, one museum and three other heritage sites of your choice, and stays valid for your whole stay up to three days. You are expected to buy a ticket before entering the old town core during its pedestrian hours, and under-16s go free.

How do you get from Kyoto to Hiroshima and Miyajima with your luggage?

The Shinkansen is the only sensible way: about 1 hour 40 minutes from Kyoto to Hiroshima on a Nozomi, for about ¥11,940 (roughly US$80) in a reserved seat. JR Pass holders ride a Hikari or Sakura free with a change at Shin-Osaka in about 2 hours, or pay a ¥4,170 supplement for the Nozomi. From Hiroshima Station, Miyajima is another 25 minutes by JR train to Miyajimaguchi and a 10-minute ferry. This guide is for moving to Hiroshima with bags and staying a night or two; if you only want a day trip, read our Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip guide instead.

How Much Are Dubrovnik City Walls Tickets in 2026, and When Should You Go?

A ticket for the Dubrovnik City Walls costs €40 for adults in the 2026 main season, €15 for ages 7 to 18, and children under 7 go free. The same ticket also gets you into Fort Lovrijenac. The walk is about 1.9 km one way round, counterclockwise, and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. In summer the walls open at 8am, and that first hour is the best time to go, before the heat and the cruise crowds. The 1-day Dubrovnik Pass is usually priced the same as a walls ticket and adds museums and buses.

What are the best day trips from Tokyo?

Kamakura, Nikko and Mount Fuji's Lake Kawaguchiko are the three best day trips from Tokyo. Kamakura is about an hour by JR and has the Great Buddha, Zen temples and a beach; Nikko is under 2 hours by Tobu's Spacia X and has the most lavish shrine in Japan; Kawaguchiko is about 2 hours away and has the classic Fuji view, on a clear day. Hakone is close enough for a day too, but it is better with a night. We spent 9 days in Tokyo in 2023, 4 at the start of our Japan trip (18 to 22 March) and 5 at the end (15 to 20 April). Between them we went on to Hakone for 2 nights, then Matsumoto and Takayama, so this list is built around what fits a Tokyo base and what deserves its own stop.

When is the best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City?

The best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City is December to March: it is the dry season, with about 5 to 50 mm of rain a month and highs of about 32 to 34°C, and December to February is the least humid stretch of the year. The honest trade-off is that Saigon is hot all year: there is no cool season, only dry and wet. The rainy season (May to mid-November) usually means a heavy 30 to 60 minute downpour in the afternoon rather than all-day rain, and it brings lower prices. We spent 13 to 19 May 2023 in and around Ho Chi Minh City, including a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and two nights in Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, at the very start of the rains. The weather figures below are long-term averages, not what we saw.

How do you get from Osaka to Himeji Castle by train, and is it a good day trip?

Take the JR Special Rapid (Shinkaisoku) from Osaka Station: about 60 to 65 minutes to Himeji with no change, for about ¥1,500 (around US$10), and you can pay with an IC card. The Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka is faster at about 30 minutes but costs roughly ¥3,500 to ¥4,200, and once you add the trip to Shin-Osaka it saves little time. Himeji Station is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the castle, so a morning train gives you the castle, Kokoen garden and lunch, with time for Kobe on the way back.

How Does the Tarifa to Tangier Ferry Work, and Is a Day Trip Worth It?

The fast ferry from Tarifa to Tangier takes about 1 hour and docks at Tangier Ville port, a short walk from the medina. In 2026 the route is run by Baleària and AML (Africa Morocco Link), with roughly 5 to 15 sailings a day depending on season, and one-way fares on booking sites start around €30 to €40. Moroccan passport control is done on board during the crossing. Here is how the crossing works, what happens on arrival, the time difference, and whether to do Tangier as a day trip or continue by train.

Where should you stay in Zagreb?

Stay in the Lower Town, within a 10-minute walk of Ban Jelačić Square. That puts the funicular to the Upper Town, Dolac Market, Tkalčićeva's cafés and the tram network all on foot, and Zagreb's centre is compact enough that this covers almost everything. We spent 4 days in Zagreb in August 2023, after Venice and before Osijek, and the city rewards slow days rather than long ones. The Upper Town is the quieter, more atmospheric alternative; the streets near the main station are the practical one.

How do you get from Tokyo to Hakone?

For most people the Odakyu Romancecar from Shinjuku is the best way to Hakone: one seat, no change, about 75 to 105 minutes to Hakone-Yumoto for ¥2,470 (about US$16) in 2026. The fastest option is the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Odawara (about 30 minutes on a Hikari) plus a 15-minute local train up to Yumoto, but at roughly ¥3,370 unreserved just for the Shinkansen leg it only makes sense if you hold a JR Pass or are staying near Tokyo Station. The cheapest is the plain Odakyu line with a change at Odawara, and the Odakyu highway bus from Busta Shinjuku is the one to pick if you want to start at Lake Ashi rather than Yumoto. We spent 2 days in Hakone in March 2023, between 4 days in Tokyo and 2 in Matsumoto.

Should You Fly or Take the Night Bus from Istanbul to Cappadocia?

Flying is the fastest way from Istanbul to Cappadocia: the flight takes about 75 minutes, and the transfer to Göreme adds roughly 40 to 45 minutes from Nevşehir Kapadokya (NAV) or about an hour to 1 hour 15 minutes from Kayseri (ASR). The overnight bus from Istanbul's Esenler terminal takes about 10 to 12 hours and costs less, but you arrive tired at around 7am. Here is how the two airports compare, what the night bus is really like, whether driving makes sense, and how many days to give Cappadocia.

How do you get from Hanoi to Hue?

Flying is fastest: about 1 hour 15 minutes from Hanoi's Noi Bai to Hue's Phu Bai airport, roughly 15 km from the city. The overnight sleeper train is the best for most people: the SE3 takes about 12 hours 30 minutes, leaving Hanoi around 19:20, with a 4-berth soft sleeper from roughly ₫890,000 (about US$35) in 2026. The sleeper bus is cheapest, about 12 to 15 hours from roughly ₫250,000 to ₫550,000 (US$10 to US$22), but it is the least comfortable. Hanoi to Hue is about 650 km, so every ground option is an overnight trip. We were in Hanoi from 20 to 23 April 2023, in Ninh Binh until the 27th, then in Hue from 27 to 29 April before Hoi An.

Is Podgorica worth visiting, and what is there to do in Montenegro's capital?

Podgorica is worth visiting for 24 to 48 hours, with caveats. It is regularly called one of Europe's least assuming capitals, and it has neither Kotor's medieval walls nor Budva's coastal bustle. What it has is a rebuilt Yugoslav city, striking brutalist housing, serious café culture, Ottoman remnants in Stara Varoš, and Europe's largest lake half an hour away. If you want postcard old towns, skip it; if you want a working Montenegrin city, it delivers.

How many days do you need in Dubrovnik?

Two to three days. We spent 3 days in Dubrovnik, 17 to 20 August 2023, after Split and before crossing into Montenegro for Kotor. The walled Old Town itself is small, but in summer you can only enjoy its main sights early and late, when the cruise and tour crowds are gone, so you need more time than its size suggests. Two days covers the City Walls, the Stradun, Fort Lovrijenac and either Lokrum or the Srđ cable car. A third day adds the other one, or a day trip.

When is the best time to visit Hanoi and Halong Bay?

The best time to visit Hanoi is October to November, with March to April a close second: autumn is dry with highs around 26 to 30°C, and spring is mild before the summer heat, which suits both the Old Quarter and a Halong Bay cruise. Unlike southern Vietnam, Hanoi has a real winter: from December to February highs sit around 20 to 22°C, skies are often grey with drizzle, and Halong Bay can be foggy. Summer (May to September) is hot, humid and wet, with typhoons possible in the Gulf of Tonkin. We spent 20 to 23 April 2023 in Hanoi and then four nights in Ninh Binh, the start of a north-to-south route through Vietnam. The temperatures below are long-term averages, not our own weather.

How do you get from Hoi An to Da Lat?

The fastest way from Hoi An to Da Lat is to fly from Da Nang to Lien Khuong airport: about 1 hour 10 minutes in the air, with one-way fares commonly around US$90 to US$105, and about 4 to 5 hours door to door. The cheapest is the overnight sleeper bus: roughly 12 to 14 hours, from about US$15 to US$30 for a standard berth and up to about US$54 for a cabin coach. There is no direct train. Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m in the Central Highlands, off the coastal railway, and its own line is only a short tourist run. We were in Hoi An from 29 April to 5 May 2023, then in Da Lat from 5 to 10 May before Nha Trang.

How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta?

The bus is the answer for almost everyone: about 3.5 to 4.5 hours from Saigon's Mien Tay bus station to Can Tho for roughly 165,000 to 240,000 VND ($6 to $10), with FUTA (Phuong Trang) alone listing 25 to 30 departures a day. Limousine vans cost a little more and can pick up closer to your hotel; a private car takes about 3 hours and is the only option that changes the experience much. There is no train to Can Tho and no practical flight from Saigon. We spent 2 nights in Can Tho in mid-May 2023, in the middle of a week based in Ho Chi Minh City, and this page is about the 170 km road between them.

What are the best day trips from Tirana?

Krujë, Durrës and Mount Dajti are the three best day trips from Tirana: each is under about an hour away and needs no car. Krujë has Skanderbeg's castle and an old bazaar on a mountainside, Durrës has a Roman amphitheatre and the sea, and the Dajti cable car lifts you above the city in about 15 minutes. Berat and Shkodër are each about 2 hours away; both work as long day trips, but both are better with a night. We spent 9 days in Tirana across two stays in 2023, four in September between Theth and Korçë and five in October at the end of a month in Albania, so we know it as a base as well as a capital.

How do you get from Da Lat to Nha Trang?

Take a limousine van or a day bus: about 3.5 to 4 hours down the Khanh Le Pass for roughly 200,000 to 260,000 VND ($8 to $11) a seat, with departures from about 5am to late afternoon. A private car is faster, around 2.5 to 3 hours, and costs several times more. There is no train and no useful flight between the two. The one real risk is the pass itself: in the October to December rains it is prone to landslides, and in November 2025 a slide on Khanh Le hit a passenger bus and killed six people. We were in Da Lat for 5 days in early May 2023 and went on to Nha Trang for 3 nights before Ho Chi Minh City.

What are the best day trips from Verona?

The best day trips from Verona are Lake Garda (Sirmione or Peschiera), Vicenza and Mantua. All three are under an hour away by regional train, and each gives you something Verona does not: a lakefront, Palladio's architecture, and the Gonzaga palaces. Venice works too, at about 70 minutes, but deserves its own stay. We spent 2 days in Verona from 25 to 27 July 2023, arriving from Munich and going on to Bologna, and on our route Parma was a day trip from Verona, which we would now plan from Bologna instead. The list below is ranked by payoff against travel time.

When is the best time to visit Tokyo?

The best time to visit Tokyo is late March to mid-April or November: spring brings cherry blossoms (average full bloom is 31 March) and highs of about 14 to 19°C, and November brings dry, clear days around 17°C and autumn colour in the parks. The trade-off is that both windows are the most expensive and crowded of the year, and spring overlaps Golden Week (29 April to 5 May 2027). If you want the lowest prices with decent weather, go in January or February: cold but sunny and dry. We were in Tokyo twice on our Japan route, 18 to 22 March 2023 at the start and 15 to 20 April 2023 at the end, with Hakone, the Japan Alps, Kyoto and Hiroshima in between. Temperatures below are Japan Meteorological Agency style long-term averages, not the weather we had.

How do you get from Bangkok to Krabi and Ao Nang?

Fly. Bangkok to Krabi is about 1 hour 20 minutes in the air, with budget fares often around 1,000 to 2,500 baht ($30 to $75) when booked ahead, and the airport shuttle to Ao Nang costs about 150 baht. The cheapest way is the overnight bus from Bangkok's Southern terminal, roughly 11 to 12 hours for about 650 to 1,000 baht. There is no direct train to Krabi: the train goes to Surat Thani, about 9 to 10 hours, and you finish by bus or van, which only makes sense if you want a sleeper berth. We were in Ao Nang for 4 days in January 2023, arriving from Khao Sok, and then went back to Bangkok for 4 more nights.

How much does an overnight at Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok cost, and do you need a tour to stay on the lake?

Every accommodation on Cheow Lan Lake is a floating raft house reachable only by boat, so you cannot book a room independently — you book a tour that includes the boat transfer. A standard 2-day/1-night package runs 2,500 to 3,100 baht per person; mid-range raft houses 3,500 to 5,500 baht; luxury floating resorts 7,000 to 12,000+ baht. On top, budget 300 baht national park entry and 20 to 40 baht pier fee, in cash.

How do you get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai?

The Greenbus is the best way from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai for almost everyone: about 3 to 4 hours, roughly ฿200 to ฿400 (about $6 to $12) depending on class, with departures through the day from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 at Arcade. There is no train and, as of 2026, no direct flight between the two cities. A private car with driver is the fastest and most flexible option, at about 3 hours door to door, but it costs many times the bus fare. We spent 6 days in Chiang Mai and then 7 days in Chiang Rai over the New Year of 2022 to 2023, and this is the leg most visitors to the north make.

What should you eat in Venice?

Cicchetti, sarde in saor and baccalà mantecato are the three foods that define Venice. Cicchetti are the small bar snacks of the bacari, the city's old wine bars; sarde in saor are sweet-and-sour sardines with onions; and baccalà mantecato is dried cod whipped with olive oil and spread on bread or polenta. Venetian food is a lagoon cuisine of fish, rice and polenta, with spices left over from the trade with the East, and it has little to do with the pizza and lasagne sold near St. Mark's. We spent 3 days in Venice at the turn of July and August 2023, after 4 days in Bologna and before we went on to Zagreb. Below are 12 foods with where to find each and one ordering tip, then the Rialto market, cover charges and a one-day plan.

How do you get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya?

The train is the best way from Bangkok to Ayutthaya: about 1 to 1.5 hours on express and rapid trains from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, and since 1 August 2026 a new air-conditioned commuter service, Bangkok Connex, with promotional fares of up to ฿50. The cheapest option is a third-class ordinary train for roughly ฿15 to ฿20, about 2 hours from the old Hua Lamphong station. Minivans from Mo Chit take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic, and a taxi or private car about 1 to 1.5 hours. Ayutthaya, about 80 km north, works as a day trip, but we stayed 3 days, from 13 to 16 December 2022, after 6 days in Bangkok and before heading north to Lop Buri.

When is the best time to visit the Philippines?

The best time to visit the Philippines is January to April: it is the heart of the dry season (PAGASA's broad dry window runs December to May), typhoons are rare, and Manila gets only about 20 to 25 mm of rain a month. February is the sweet spot for Palawan, before the heat of April and May. The trade-off is that Holy Week (25 to 27 March 2027) and the Christmas period fill flights and island resorts, and from about June to November typhoons can cancel boats and flights with a day's notice. We spent 8 November to 7 December 2022 in the Philippines: Manila, Sabang, Port Barton, El Nido, Coron, then Oslob, Moalboal and Cebu City. That is the tail of the rainy season, not the dry-season peak, so the figures below are long-term averages rather than our experience.

How do you get from Chiang Mai to Pai and Mae Hong Son?

For Pai, take a Prempracha minivan from Chiang Mai's Arcade bus terminal: about 3 to 4 hours, roughly ฿200 (about $6), departures roughly every hour from early morning to late afternoon. For Mae Hong Son the road takes about 5.5 to 7 hours either way, by minivan via Pai or by bus via Mae Sariang, but from late 2026 EZY Airlines flies Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son twice a day in about 50 minutes, and Chiang Mai to Pai once a day. If you are prone to motion sickness, the flight or the gentler southern road is the honest answer. We were in Mae Hong Son for 3 days from 4 to 7 January 2023, after 6 days in Chiang Mai and a week in Chiang Rai.

What should you eat in Zadar?

Maraschino, Pag cheese with pršut, and black risotto are the three foods that define Zadar. The cherry liqueur has been made in the city since the 18th century, the sharp sheep cheese comes from the island of Pag just to the north, and crni rižot is the Dalmatian first course you will see on every konoba menu in the old town. We spent 3 days in Zadar in August 2023, between Osijek in Slavonia and Šibenik further down the coast, and Zadar is where the menus switch from inland paprika and pork to olive oil, fish and Italian-leaning pasta. This guide covers 12 foods specific to Zadar and its islands, where on the peninsula to find them, and a one-day plan built around the sunset at the Sea Organ.

How do you get from Puerto Princesa to El Nido?

For most people the shared van is the answer: about 5 to 6 hours from Puerto Princesa to El Nido for roughly ₱650 to ₱900 (about $11 to $16) in 2026. The bus is the cheapest and steadiest ride but slower, around 7 hours. A private van cuts the trip to about 4 to 5 hours and costs well over $100 for the vehicle, which only makes sense split between a group or with an early flight. There is no train and no regular ferry on this leg; flying straight into El Nido's small Lio airport from Manila is the way to skip the road entirely. We were in El Nido from 15 to 21 November 2022, arriving from Port Barton, after starting Palawan at Sabang.

How much is Sukhothai Historical Park, which zones need tickets, and is cycling the best way to see it?

Sukhothai Historical Park is priced by zone, not as one ticket. Foreign adults pay 200 baht for the central walled city, 120 baht each for the northern and western zones, and the southern and eastern zones are free. A combined multi-zone ticket is usually available at the main gate for around 350 to 400 baht. Bicycles cost 30 to 50 baht a day from shops outside the gates, plus a 10 baht park fee to bring one through the checkpoints.

How many days do you need in Bologna?

Two days for the city, three to four with day trips. We spent 4 days in Bologna, 27 to 31 July 2023, between Verona and Venice. Bologna has no single blockbuster sight; its draw is the porticoes, the medieval centre around Piazza Maggiore and the food, so it rewards slow days. Two days cover the centre and the walk up to San Luca. Bologna is also the best rail hub in northern Italy: Modena is about half an hour away, Parma under an hour, Ravenna about 75 minutes and Florence about 35 minutes by high-speed train. Each extra day can be a different city.

How do you get from Cebu City to Oslob and Moalboal?

The Ceres bus from Cebu South Bus Terminal is the cheapest way and works fine: about 4 hours to Oslob for roughly ₱269 (non-aircon) to ₱330 (aircon), about $5 to $6, and about 2.5 to 3 hours to Moalboal for less. A private car or van is faster and the only sensible choice if you land late or want to do the whale sharks and Kawasan Falls in one day; expect several thousand pesos per vehicle. Between Oslob and Moalboal there is no direct express: you ride the Ceres to Bato and change. On our route we were in Oslob from 25 to 29 November 2022, Moalboal from 29 November to 6 December, then one night in Cebu City.

When is the best time to visit Bali and Indonesia?

The best time to visit Bali is May, June or September: the dry season (roughly April to October) is under way, rain drops to about 40 to 75 mm a month, and you miss the July and August peak when European and Australian holidays fill Canggu, Seminyak and Ubud. The same dry-season rule covers most of Indonesia's tourist south: Java, Lombok and the Komodo area are all driest from about June to September, and the eastern islands stay dry a little longer. The trade-off is that the wet season (November to March) is cheaper and greener but brings heavy afternoon downpours, peaking in December and January. We spent 19 May to 6 June 2023 in Bali, moving from Seminyak to Munduk, Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai, with a stop in Banyuwangi in East Java for Mount Ijen, so our route sits in the early dry season. The weather figures below are long-term averages, not what we had.

How do you get from Bali to Mount Ijen?

Most people do Ijen from Bali as a packaged 1 or 2 day tour: a driver to Gilimanuk port at Bali's western tip (about 3 to 4 hours from the south), the ferry across to Ketapang in East Java (about 45 minutes of sailing, roughly Rp10,600 for a foot passenger), a few hours' rest in Banyuwangi, then a 1 a.m. start for the crater. Doing it yourself by public bus and ferry is far cheaper but needs a night in Banyuwangi and a local driver for the mountain. There is no bridge, and no direct flight from Denpasar to Banyuwangi. We were in Banyuwangi on 21 to 22 May 2023 with a day trip to Ijen, between Seminyak and Munduk on our Bali route.

What are the best day trips from Kotor?

Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, the Lovćen serpentine with Njeguši and Cetinje, and Budva are the three best day trips from Kotor. Perast is about half an hour away along the bay and needs only a morning; the climb up the 25 hairpins to Lovćen is the most dramatic drive in Montenegro; Budva adds a walled old town and beaches. We spent 3 days in Kotor in August 2023, arriving from Dubrovnik and going on into the mountains at Stavna, and later stayed in Cetinje and Petrovac further down the coast. Dubrovnik is possible as a day trip but the border makes it a gamble in summer.

Is there a ferry from Busan to Jeju, or should you fly?

Fly. The direct Busan to Jeju ferry no longer runs: the overnight boat made its last sailing in December 2022 and no operator has taken the route over as of 2026. Flights from Busan's Gimhae Airport to Jeju International Airport take about 1 hour in the air, with roughly 26 flights a day, and one-way fares that often sit somewhere around ₩35,000 to ₩100,000 on the budget carriers, more on holidays. The only way to reach Jeju by sea from Busan is to travel west first to Wando, Goheung (Nokdong) or Mokpo and take a ferry from there, which turns a one-hour hop into most of a day. We were in Busan from 18 to 22 June 2023 and went on to Seogwipo, on Jeju's south coast, for four nights.

Can tourists buy the Deutschlandticket, what does it cost in 2026, and is it worth it?

The Deutschlandticket costs €63 per month in 2026, rising to €66.80 from 1 January 2027. It gives unlimited travel on regional trains, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses across Germany, but not on ICE, IC or EC long-distance trains. Tourists can buy it in the DB Navigator app with a foreign credit card. It is a monthly subscription, so cancel by the 10th of the month or it renews.

How do you get from Busan to Gyeongju by train or bus?

Fastest: the KTX from Busan Station to Gyeongju Station, about 27 to 35 minutes for roughly ₩11,000 (about $8). Best for most day-trippers: the intercity bus from Busan Central Bus Terminal at Nopo, about 50 minutes for roughly ₩7,500 to ₩12,000, because it drops you downtown. The train station is about 15 km outside the historic centre and needs a 20 to 30 minute bus onward, which cancels most of the KTX's head start. A third option, the Donghae Line from Bujeon, takes about 1 hour 5 minutes by KTX-Eum or about 1.5 hours by ITX-Saemaeul and Mugunghwa, from about ₩6,800. We were in Busan from 18 to 22 June 2023 and later spent three nights in Gyeongju, from 28 June to 1 July.

How do you get from Budapest Airport to the city center, and what does it cost?

The easiest way from Budapest Airport (Liszt Ferenc, BUD) to the center is the 100E Airport Express bus to Deák Ferenc tér. It costs 2,500 HUF, takes about 40 minutes and runs 24 hours a day. You can buy the ticket on board by tapping a bank card. The cheaper option is bus 200E + metro M3 on a regular BKK ticket. A metered Főtaxi to the center typically costs around 13,000 HUF or more under the August 2026 tariff.

How many days do you need in Osaka?

Two to three days. We spent 3 days in Osaka in April 2023, from 8 to 11 April, after 2 nights in Nara and before Kobe, Himeji and Hiroshima. Two days covers the city itself: Osaka Castle, Dotonbori after dark, Kuromon Market and Shinsekai. A third day is for Universal Studios Japan, or a day trip to Kobe (about 20 minutes by JR) or Himeji Castle (about an hour). Osaka is a food and evening city more than a sightseeing one, so plan the days light and the nights long.

When is the best time to visit Thailand?

The best time to visit Thailand is November to February: Bangkok and the north are dry and at their least hot, and the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang) has its calmest seas from December to March. The trade-off is that this is also peak season, with the highest room rates and the busiest beaches around Christmas and New Year. The one big exception is the Gulf coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao), whose wettest months are October to December, exactly when the rest of the country is at its best. We spent six weeks in Thailand from 7 December 2022 to 21 January 2023, running Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, then south to Khao Sok and Ao Nang, so the route below follows the cool season. Temperatures and rainfall here are typical averages from long-term climate normals, not the weather of any one trip.

Should you take the ferry or the bus from Split to Dubrovnik?

Cheapest and year-round: the bus, about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours 15 minutes, roughly €16 to €35 with FlixBus or Nomago/Arriva, a dozen departures a day in summer. Best for most people from April to October: the catamaran, about 4.5 to 6 hours for around €50, calling at islands like Hvar and Korčula on the way. Driving takes about 3 hours over the Pelješac Bridge. There are no direct flights and no train. We were in Split on 15 to 17 August 2023, then spent three nights in Dubrovnik before going on to Kotor.

How do you get from Prague Airport to the city center, and what does it cost?

The cheapest way from Prague Airport (Václav Havel, PRG) to the center is trolleybus 59 to Nádraží Veleslavín, then metro line A, on one 90-minute ticket: 46 CZK in the PID Lítačka app or 50 CZK on paper (2026 fares). It takes about 35 minutes. Line 59 replaced the old bus 119 in 2024. The Airport Express (AE) runs to the main train station for 200 CZK, and the airport's official taxi service is Uber.

Trip planning World Nomads

Food & drink

What should you eat in Istanbul?

Balik ekmek, meze with raki, and a full Turkish breakfast are the three Istanbul food experiences not to miss. Istanbul eats food from every region of Turkey, but its own identity is the water: fish from the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, eaten at the ferry piers and in old meyhane taverns. Add the street food sold from carts all day, and the long breakfast, and you have the city. We spent over two weeks in Istanbul in October 2023 before going on to Ankara and Cappadocia, and came back for one more night in November at the end of our Turkey route. That much time is a luxury, but the food is spread across both continents, so even a short stay benefits from planning by district.

How do you get from Zagreb to Split, and is the bus, train or flight best?

For most people the bus is best: about 5 hours, up to 17 FlixBus departures a day, fares from about €18 (roughly $21). The train is the scenic, cheapest-if-booked-early option, from about €15 with advance fares but 7 to 8 hours, with only one year-round day train. Flying is fastest at about 45 to 50 minutes in the air on Croatia Airlines, but once you add airport transfers and check-in it rarely saves more than an hour or two over the bus. Driving the A1 motorway takes a little over 4 hours plus tolls.

How much should you tip in Prague and the Czech Republic, and how do you actually do it?

In Prague you tip around 10% for table service, usually by rounding the bill up and telling the server the total you want to pay before they take your cash or card. A 460 CZK bill becomes "500, please". Tipping is voluntary under Czech consumer law, so watch for service charges quietly added to tourist bills, and never tip twice.

How do you get from Venice to Zagreb by bus or train?

The direct bus is fastest and cheapest: FlixBus runs about 9 buses a day, taking about 6 hours with fares from about €20 (roughly $23). There is no direct train: by rail you go Venice to Trieste, Trieste to Ljubljana with a change at Villa Opicina, then Ljubljana to Zagreb, about 8 to 9 hours for roughly €37 in total, worth it only if you want a stop in Slovenia. Driving takes about 4.5 to 5 hours through Slovenia, which needs a vignette.

Is Karlovy Vary worth a day trip from Prague, what are the colonnades, and how long do you need?

Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is about 2 hours west of Prague, in a steep forested valley, and it is one of the best day trips from the city. There is no entry fee for the town or the colonnades — you walk between the springs, buy a spa cup from a souvenir stall, and drink. The centrepiece is the Vřídlo geyser, which throws hot mineral water up to 12 metres, and the Mill Colonnade with its 124 Corinthian columns.

How many days do you need in Sukhothai?

Two nights, which gives you one full day in the Historical Park. Sukhothai's ruins are best at opening time and in the late afternoon, so the useful plan is to arrive the day before, cycle the park from sunrise, and leave the morning after. Add a second full day for Si Satchanalai, the sister site about an hour north. We spent 2 days in Sukhothai, from 17 to 19 December 2022, between one day in Lop Buri and three in Lampang, on the slow old-capital road from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Doing it as a day trip from Bangkok or Chiang Mai means six or more hours on the road each way and the park at midday, its worst hour.

How do you get from Kotor to Tirana, and is it worth stopping in Shkodër?

The direct bus is the easy option: FlixBus runs 2 buses a day from Kotor to Tirana, about 6 hours on the timetable, with fares from about €35 (roughly $41). It is cheaper and more interesting to break the trip in Shkodër: Kotor to Shkodër is about 4 hours from about €29, and Shkodër to Tirana is under 2 hours on frequent buses for a few euros. There is no train. A private transfer or taxi costs roughly €150 to €220 per car and takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the border queue.

How do you get a permit for the Puerto Princesa Underground River, and how much does it cost?

You need an entry permit booked in advance to visit the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River: the city strictly enforces a "no permit, no entry" rule and caps visits at about 900 people a day. Independent travellers get the permit from the Underground River booking office in Puerto Princesa city at least a day or two ahead (most tour agencies bundle it). Recent reports put the total at about ₱1,085 per person: ₱500 entrance, ₱150 environmental fee, ₱85 audio guide and a ₱2,100 boat shared by up to six. The boat leaves from Sabang wharf, about two hours from the city, and the paddle tour inside the cave lasts about 45 minutes.

What is the best way to get from Prague to Budapest?

Take the direct daytime train: it is the best option for most people. České dráhy's railjets and EuroCity trains run about every two hours and take about 6 hours 50 minutes, with advance fares from roughly €21 to €30 in 2026. RegioJet runs a cheaper private train from about €19.90 via Vienna, and FlixBus takes about 7 to 7.5 hours for a similar price when booked early. The Metropol night train saves a hotel night: about 10.5 hours, couchettes from about €48. Flying rarely saves time once you count the airports. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022 and 5 days in Budapest in October 2022, with Czech towns and Brno in between, so this guide also covers breaking the trip.

Is Hanoi Train Street still open in 2026, and can tourists visit?

Hanoi Train Street is officially restricted but not sealed off: the authorities have banned business on the tracks since 2019, have told tour companies not to bring groups (again in 2025 and January 2026), and police put up barriers at the Tran Phu and Phung Hung entrances, yet cafés along the line still let paying customers in to watch trains pass. In February and March 2026 Hanoi and the Ministry of Construction agreed to stop freight and reduce passenger trains on the main café stretch, a plan that would eventually leave the famous section with no passenger trains at all. Here is what that means if you visit now.

Where should you stay in Kanazawa?

Stay near Kanazawa Station for a short stop with onward trains and buses; stay in Korinbo or Katamachi for 2 or more nights. The station is where the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the highway bus to Shirakawa-go and Takayama leave, but it is a 2 km walk from Kenroku-en and the old districts. Korinbo and Katamachi sit in the middle of the city, with the castle park, Kenroku-en, Nagamachi and the dinner streets all on foot. We spent 4 days in Kanazawa from late March to early April 2023, arriving from Takayama, with a day trip to Shirakawa-go recorded in our route, before going on to Kyoto.

How do you get from Bucharest to Brașov?

Take the train from București Nord: it is the fastest and the best for most people. The quickest InterCity trains take about 2 hours 15 minutes and InterRegio trains about 2 hours 25 to 2 hours 40 minutes, with direct trains on average more than once an hour. Second class on an InterRegio was 64.5 lei at the last published fare (December 2023) and has risen several times since, so check CFR Călători for today's price. Buses such as FlixBus take 3.5 to 4 hours and are often cheaper but get stuck in Prahova Valley traffic. Flying into Otopeni? Take the airport train to Gara de Nord and change. We spent 4 days in Brașov from late October 2022, 2 nights in Sinaia, then 4 days in Bucharest in November 2022, so we cover the Sinaia stop too.

How do you get from Kanazawa to Takayama via Shirakawa-go by bus?

The simplest way from Kanazawa to Takayama is the Nohi Bus / Hokutetsu highway bus via Shirakawa-go: ¥4,200 one way if you stay on, or two tickets at ¥2,800 each (¥5,600 total) if you stop to see the village. It takes about 75 minutes from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go and about 50 minutes on to Takayama. Most departures from Kanazawa need a seat reservation, and coin lockers at the Shirakawa-go bus terminal take your bags for ¥500 to ¥1,000 while you walk around. The train via Toyama is the alternative, but it skips Shirakawa-go and runs infrequently.

How many days do you need in Seminyak?

Two to three days. Seminyak is Bali's coast stop: a long west-facing beach, sunsets, restaurants and shops, and the closest of the popular bases to the airport. Two days gives you one full beach-and-sunset day plus Tanah Lot; a third adds Uluwatu and its cliff-top Kecak dance. More than that, and the rest of Bali starts to slip away. We spent 3 days in Seminyak, from 19 to 22 May 2023, our first stop in Bali, straight after Ho Chi Minh City. That block also held a one-day hop across to Banyuwangi on Java, the base for the Ijen volcano. After Seminyak we went north to Munduk for three days.

How do you get from Munich to Venice?

Take one of the two direct daily railjets: the best option for most people. ÖBB and DB run them from München Hbf to Venezia Santa Lucia over the Brenner Pass in about 7 hours, with advance fares from about €27.99 in second class in 2026. FlixBus takes about 7 to 7.5 hours to Mestre or Tronchetto and can be cheaper, but traffic on the Brenner motorway makes it less predictable. Driving is about 5.5 to 7 hours plus Austrian vignette and tolls. There is no useful flight. We spent 5 days in Munich in July 2023, then went to Verona and Bologna before 3 days in Venice, so we also cover splitting the trip at Verona.

What is the best way to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX train, limousine bus or taxi?

The cheapest way from Incheon Airport to Seoul is the AREX All-Stop train: about 4,750 won from Terminal 1 and 5,350 won from Terminal 2 to Seoul Station with a T-money card, in about an hour. The non-stop AREX Express saves 15 minutes for a published 13,000 won, airport limousine buses cost about 17,000 won and drop you near your hotel in Myeongdong, Hongdae or Gangnam, and a regular taxi runs roughly 65,000 to 90,000 won with tolls. Which one is best depends on where you are staying, how much luggage you have and what time you land.

How do you get from Marrakech to Fes: train, bus or flight?

For most people the ONCF train is the best way from Marrakech to Fes: about 6.5 to 7 hours, roughly 200 to 230 MAD (about $20 to $25) in second class or 330 to 360 MAD in first, usually with a change at Casablanca Voyageurs. The CTM bus is slower (around 8 hours) and not cheaper, so it only makes sense if trains are sold out. A flight takes about an hour in the air but direct service between Marrakech-Menara and Fes-Saïss comes and goes, so check before you plan around it. A private driver or a 2- to 3-day desert tour via Merzouga is the scenic, expensive alternative. There is still no high-speed train to Marrakech: the Al Boraq extension from Kenitra is under construction with opening targeted for 2029.

How many days do you need in Ao Nang?

Three to four days. Ao Nang is a base, not a destination in itself: its value is the longtail boats off the beach to Railay and the islands. Three days covers Railay, one island tour and an inland day; the fourth is a weather buffer, because boat trips are cancelled when the sea is rough. We spent 4 days in Ao Nang, from 13 to 17 January 2023, after four days in the rainforest at Khao Sok and before our last stay in Bangkok. That is the length we recommend in the calm-sea season. With only two days, do Railay and one boat trip, and accept that a rough morning can cost you the islands.

How do you get from Marrakech to Essaouira, and is it a good day trip?

The best way from Marrakech to Essaouira is the Supratours or CTM bus: about 2.5 to 3 hours and roughly 80 to 130 MAD (about $8 to $13) one way. A seat in a shared grand taxi is about the same time and a similar or slightly higher price but leaves only when full; a whole private car runs roughly 600 to 900 MAD after negotiation. There is no train to Essaouira. A day trip works if you leave on the first morning bus, but Essaouira rewards at least one night.

What are the best day trips from Marrakech?

The High Atlas valleys of Imlil and Ourika are the best day trips from Marrakech, followed by Essaouira on the coast. Both valleys are about 60 km away, an hour to an hour and a half by road, and swap the medina's heat for mountain villages and walks. Essaouira is about 3 hours each way, long for a day but worth it. Ouzoud Falls and the Agafay desert are easy add-ons; Aït Benhaddou and the Sahara are not day trips at all, whatever the tour sellers say. We spent 6 days in Marrakech in September 2022, a night on 9 September after 2 nights in Essaouira, then 5 more (14 to 19 September) after crossing the High Atlas to Ouarzazate, the Draa Valley and the dunes of Erg Chigaga. Here is how the options rank by payoff against time in the car.

How do you get from Tangier to Chefchaouen?

The cheapest reliable way from Tangier to Chefchaouen is the CTM bus: about 2.5 to 3 hours, roughly 60 to 90 MAD (about $6 to $9), with several departures a day. Shared grand taxis are a little faster but usually mean changing cars in Tetouan. A private driver costs roughly 700 to 1,000 MAD per car door to door, which is good value for three or four people or straight off the ferry. There is no train to Chefchaouen.

How do you get from Cappadocia to Pamukkale?

The overnight bus from Göreme is the best option for most people: about 9.5 to 10 hours, roughly $15 to $28 (about ₺650 to ₺1,200) one way in 2026 listings, leaving in the evening and arriving early the next morning. There is no direct flight between Cappadocia and Pamukkale: flying means Kayseri or Nevşehir to Istanbul, then Istanbul to Denizli Çardak, which eats most of a day and costs far more. Driving is about 500 km, a long full day. We were in Göreme from 31 October to 5 November 2023, after 4 nights in Ankara, and went on to Pamukkale for 3 nights before 5 in Selçuk, so this is the leg between the two halves of our Turkey route.

What are the best day trips from Madrid?

Toledo and Segovia are the two best day trips from Madrid, each about half an hour away by high-speed train, and Ávila is the third: a complete ring of medieval walls about 1.5 hours away. Toledo is a hilltop city of churches, synagogues and a mosque inside a loop of the Tagus; Segovia has a Roman aqueduct, a cathedral and the Alcázar. We spent just over 4 days in Madrid at the start of our Spain trip, from 27 June to 1 July 2022, then stopped at Ávila's walls on the way west to Salamanca. Below are seven trips ranked by payoff against time on the train, with the ones that deserve a night flagged.

How do you get from Istanbul to Ankara by high-speed train?

The YHT high-speed train is the best way from Istanbul to Ankara for most people: about 4 hours station to station, and ₺990 (roughly $24) one way in economy after TCDD's August 2026 fare rise. Flying is about an hour in the air but, with two airport transfers, rarely faster door to door. Buses take around 5.5 to 6.5 hours and are the fallback when trains sell out. We spent 15 days in Istanbul in October 2023, then 4 days in Ankara (27 to 31 October) before going on to Göreme in Cappadocia, so this is the natural first leg of an inland Turkey route.

How do you get from Bath to Castle Combe without a car, and when is it quiet?

Castle Combe is about 12 miles northeast of Bath — 25 to 30 minutes by car. Without a car, the route is a train from Bath Spa to Chippenham (about 11 minutes) and then a local bus, the Faresaver 95 or 95A, roughly 20 minutes to the village. The village itself has no entry fee. Go before 09:00 or after 17:00; between about 11:00 and 16:00 the tour buses arrive and the single main street is not built for them.

How do you get from Seville to Granada?

Take the direct Renfe train if one fits your day: about 2.5 hours from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Granada, with booking-site fares typically around €40 and up. The ALSA bus is the cheap and frequent fallback: about 3 hours, from roughly €20 to €45, with many departures a day. There are only a few direct trains, so the bus often wins on timing. Driving is about 250 km on the A-92, around 2.5 to 3 hours. We were in Granada from 10 to 14 August 2022 and in Seville from 16 to 21 August, with Córdoba in between, which is the order our Andalusia rail itinerary recommends; this page covers the direct leg for people doing it the other way or skipping Córdoba.

What are the best day trips from Dubrovnik?

Lokrum, Ston and Kotor are the three best day trips from Dubrovnik. Lokrum is a wooded island reserve 15 minutes by boat from the Old Port, the easiest escape from the crowds. Ston, about an hour up the coast, has a medieval wall often called the longest defensive wall in Europe, plus the oyster beds of Mali Ston Bay. Kotor, in Montenegro, is the most spectacular, but it is 2 to 2.5 hours each way plus a Schengen border that can add hours in summer, so it is better as an overnight. That is how our route did it: we spent 3 days in Dubrovnik in August 2023, arriving from Split, and then 3 days in Kotor.

How Do You Get to Beomeosa Temple in Busan, and Is It Free?

Beomeosa is free to enter, and getting there takes one metro ride and one short bus: Busan Metro Line 1 to Beomeosa Station, then bus 90 for about 10 minutes up the mountain road, or a walk of roughly 3 km uphill. From Seomyeon the whole trip takes about 40 to 50 minutes. The temple sits on the eastern slope of Geumjeongsan, Busan's highest mountain, and is the starting point for the hike to the Geumjeongsanseong fortress walls. Below: directions, hours, how to combine it with the hike, the temple stay program and how to behave inside the halls.

What should you eat in Bali?

Babi guling, nasi campur and sate lilit are the three dishes that define Balinese food. Bali is Hindu in a Muslim-majority country, so its cooking is built on pork and on base genep, a dense spice paste of shallot, garlic, galangal, turmeric, ginger and chilli that goes into almost everything. Much of it is ceremonial food that families cook for temple festivals, and it is easy to miss under the island's smoothie bowls and international menus. We spent 18 days in Bali in May and June 2023: Seminyak, Munduk, 5 days in Ubud, Kintamani, Sidemen and Padangbai. The food changes with each region, so this guide says where on the island each dish is easiest to find.

What Should I Pack for a Long International Trip?

Every packing list for a long trip assumes you're packing for every climate you might hit along the way. We didn't. The actual strategy behind a long trip across 20 countries was routing the trip to chase good weather season to season, and buying or swapping pieces on the road when a leg didn't match what was already in the bag, rather than hauling a suitcase built to survive every climate on earth at once.

What Is the Difference Between Teishoku and Tonkatsu in Japan?

Teishoku and tonkatsu are not competing dishes. Teishoku (定食) is a format: a set meal of rice, miso soup, pickles and one main dish on a tray. Tonkatsu (豚カツ) is a dish: a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. When you order tonkatsu in Japan it usually arrives as a teishoku, so a "tonkatsu teishoku" is the cutlet plus rice, soup, pickles and shredded cabbage. At chains like Katsuya a loin katsu set costs about ¥900, and at specialist tonkatsu restaurants ¥1,500 to ¥3,000. Here is what to expect, how ordering and refills work, and the katsu variations worth knowing.

Where should you stay in Munich?

For a first visit, stay in the Altstadt, Munich's old town, within a 10-minute walk of Marienplatz. The Residenz, the Frauenkirche, the Viktualienmarkt and the beer halls are all on foot, and the S-Bahn from the airport stops right under the square. The streets around the Hauptbahnhof are the practical, cheaper alternative; Maxvorstadt and Schwabing are for museums, the English Garden and a more residential feel. We spent 5 days in Munich in July 2023, after Ulm and before Verona, which is long enough for the city and a couple of day trips.

How do you cross from La Línea into Gibraltar, what does the cable car cost, and what should you know about the monkeys?

You cross into Gibraltar on foot from La Línea de la Concepción. From 15 July 2026 the UK-EU Agreement in respect of Gibraltar applies provisionally: Gibraltar's short-stay entry conditions formally align with Schengen, and the new customs model is designed to avoid customs checks on people crossing the land border with goods. You must still carry a valid passport or national ID card for spot checks. Parking in La Línea and walking across is the sensible approach — Gibraltar's parking is limited and expensive.

What are the best day trips from Ubud?

The water temples north of Ubud, the Mount Batur sunrise trek and a day in Sidemen with Besakih are the three best day trips from Ubud. Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi are 30 to 40 minutes away by car; Batur is a 2am pickup and a 2-hour climb for the sunrise; Sidemen and Besakih are about 1 to 1.5 hours east. Bali has almost no public transport, so every trip here means a hired car and driver, which also lets you combine stops. We spent 5 days in Ubud (25 to 30 May 2023), coming down from 3 nights in Munduk and going on to Kintamani for 2 and Sidemen for 3, so several of these places were stops we stayed at rather than day trips. Below they are ranked by payoff against time in the car.

Read more →Jul 16, 2026

What Travel Insurance Should I Get for International Travel?

Before a long trip, "do I need travel insurance" isn't really the question — the answer is yes. The real question is what it should actually cover, and how to tell a policy that's worth the cost from one that just looks reassuring on a comparison page.

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How Do I Keep My Data Safe While Traveling Internationally?

Every hotel, café, and airport lounge on a long trip asks the same question — "connect to this WiFi?" — and the honest answer is that public networks are exactly as risky as people say, just easy to get complacent about after the fiftieth one. Here's what actually matters.

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Do I Need an eSIM or a Local SIM Card for International Travel?