Going on a trip? Want tips from locals or others who’ve been there?
This is the spot for you.
Just back from a trip? Want to share your adventure? This is also the spot for you.
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I’ll get us started. I’m on a big train trip from Maine to Minnesota to Colorado and back.
This winter I spent 6 weeks traveling around Europe mainly on the rails so it made me want to check out our US options.
Amtrak is still pretty good. I far prefer it to flying (assuming one has the time), but their user interface for buying tickets is, in my opinion, a bit of a PITA. I found navigating the European ones in foreign languages a bit more user friendly.
Anyhoo, we’re using the US Rail Pass - 10 segments for $499 (to be used within 30 days of the first one being used). Seems like a real bargain, but has some limitations. If you’re considering something similar, let me know if you have any questions.
Saw a bunch of sandhill cranes in the fields today (MPLS to CHI). Wouldn’t see those from a plane!
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Here’s where I am now:
It was a long train ride from Chicago, then a 2.5 hour drive.
The train ride from Denver to Grand Junction was one of the prettiest routes. From the train:
From the gondola in town - free public transportation up and over the mountain!
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Pretty 
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Please give us a report when you get back!
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I’ve been across the USA three times and Canada once on the train. This was when I was a kid - before Amtrak - and I still remember it fondly. It’s a much more civilized way to travel.
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I made a photo slide from some of my favorites of the semi-cross-country train trip. In no particular order.
Our land is so beautiful! And most people are so kind. Met so many really nice people on the trains.
Oh, and here’s a great one I got of T. Noel as we neared a station, retiring in 3 months.
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I so want to do a train trip someday, but here in the US they’re priced and scheduled like a luxury cruise. I guess I should just start budgeting and planning now to do one a few years out.
So wild when people from other countries talk about their train trips compared to how it is here.
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If you’re willing to travel coach, we did the whole thing on the USA Rail Pass, $499 each, and we had some segments left over.
Still not as great as Europe, but pretty affordable, compared to other travel modes.
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I was searching for a friend & found this. Looks pretty handy for a long trip- though pricey.
USB. Plug in or battery bank to keep your injectable meds at the right temperature. Also has a gel cooling pack too.
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Just finished a lovely 8-day trip to Cartagena, Colombia a couple weeks ago with Ms. Shiv. I’m on a cheap-flights watchlist and snagged tickets back in March.
Thanks to @FSogol for some pre-trip tips. I’ll add a few of my own below.
Almost all of our stay was within the walled city. We took 4 guided tours, covering food, history/culture, the gargantuan Spanish fortress, the convent atop a tall hill, and the chaotic Bazurto market.
Also, a side trip (1 night) via water taxi to the Rosario Islands:
Travel tips for Cartagena:
Get on some tours. We took one group tour and three private tours. They are pretty cheap, as is everything there. Cartagena has a long and fascinating history, but we wouldn’t have known much of it without our local guides. (A big point of pride is the 1741 Battle of Cartagena, during which the British under Vernon had their asses handed to them by Don Blas De Lezo (the “half-man”) and his greatly-outnumbered force.)
You’ll be hot almost all the time. It’s very hot and humid there. Loose-fitting, fast-drying clothing helps. I brought lots of bandannas for brow-mopping. Drink lots of water. Expect to take siestas during the hottest part of the day, and factor that into your tourism plans. Many restaurants and museums lack A/C. I got used to it, sort of, after a week.
Be safe. Most of the walled city is safe for visitors most of the time, but avoid being out late at night.
Don’t sweat the tipping. No need to tip taxi or Uber drivers. Restaurants have a 10% tip (“propina”) built into the tab, which you can decline. We did tip our tour guides.
Try all the food. From street food (do a tour) to restaurants both traditional and modern, there is a huge array of options. And it’s all relatively inexpensive, except cocktails – and you can get dirt-cheap “street cocktails” in Getsemani for about $3. The giant Bazurto market is overwhelming but fascinating, totally worth a (guided) trip.
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I think I’d prefer a mini-cabin over a shared couchette compartment.
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I’m planning to spend a few weeks in Berlin, Germany this spring/summer. I’ll be working part time and spending time with my German “mom,” a Berlin native. I have a friend looking for a rental for me in her neighborhood. I expect we’ll meet up most days either for a cozy hang or a walk or some other excursion. She obviously knows her way around (and I’ve been visiting the city several times since ‘94, but most recently right before COVID, when the Staatsoper had just reopened), but I’m always happy to find something new to see or do with her.
For weekend jaunts, I’m interested in exploring via overland/oversea travel. These might be solo, with her (no mobility issues), or with my main squeeze or all 3 of us.
Any tips?
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I posted this over in the maps thread
ETA the link
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What do you think?
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Well, one doesn’t want to presume.
Should we split off, to avoid jamming up this thread?
I’ve been checking out train maps, but that’s it so far. I’m kind of tempted to do a whole “nostalgia” tour, revisiting places I lived or did internships over the years, but more interested in finding interesting getaways that would include scenic train rides to get there.
I recall going north from Frankfurt on the train to get to an internship, and the ride was really lovely with castles around every corner, perched up on verdant hills. But I don’t have any particular interest in visiting Frankfurt…
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It’s interesting to see how the night trains topic is being reported. I think it is a pretty good piece, and would just like to add and emphasize a few points!
All of a sudden, operators are eyeing a mode of travel that, less than a decade ago, seemed destined for the history books.
The operators - the plural - is overstating it a bit, because it’s essentially been only ÖBB, the Austrian state railways, that alone have saved a rump of the European night train network, by taking over some of the international routes that other operators like DB/CityNightLine had abandoned, and have worked to gradually re-establish a few former routes. No other European state operator is even thinking about running international night trains again, unfortunately. SNCF (France), FS (Italy) and VR (Finland) do have some domestic routes, however. I can very much recommend taking a night train from Milano or Rome to Sicily. (It’s the only remaining opportunity in Europe to experience a train being hauled onto a boat!)
Besides ÖBB, there’s a startup called European Sleeper (as mentioned in the CBC piece) that tries to (re-) establish some international routes, and amazingly they’ve managed to run a service Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Prague (3 per week as they have a single train set so far), and they’re introducing a new Brussels-Cologne-Munich-Innsbruck-Venice route in February 2025, with a second train set, but only twice a week.
So European Sleeper is a bit like a drop in a bucket, there’s now so much demand (again) and so little capacity. Many of ÖBBs night trains are booked out months in advance now.
If you want to know more about why increasing capacity is going to be difficult, there is this excellent piece by Jon Worth, independent railway commentator.
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I guess that’s the route along the Rhine, between Cologne and Frankfurt. The most scenic part is between Koblenz and Bingen. Some basic info here, by Mark Smith, author of seat61.com, referenced in the CBC piece above, a very good resource for train travels in Europe.
I’d recommend to get a Deutschlandticket which gets you unlimited travel in all regional trains and busses in all of Germany, including any public transport in Berlin (S-Bahn. metro, busses, ferries) for 58€/month (it’s a subscription - that this offer exists is probably the single positive outcome of the COVID pandemic). With that you can go on day trips from Berlin and travel about the whole of Germany. It can be bought from many companies, but AFAIK, the best in your case should be mo.pla.
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Just back from another trip to the homeland (Ireland). Far too short, as usual. I thought i’d give some handy pointers for visitors.
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You probably dont need to use cash anywhere. Tap-to-pay is everywhere now. That may sound silly but it wasnt the case just a few years ago.
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If youre driving anywhere be prepared for an enormous hold to be placed on your credit card for insurance. You can get a letter showing coverage from your insurer. Some credit cards have coverage too, but have a printed letter.
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Busses are timely but coverage outside cities and towns is limited. Still a great way to get around.
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Speak. Quietly. Please.
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The locals have no responsibility to provide entertainment for you, or to put up with you frankly.
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Get a B&B. Talk to your hosts. You may make a friend for life.
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Don’t talk US politics. Irish people like to gently tease and may not get that their friendly poking about the political situation could be traumatizing to a US traveller.
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Bring a light rainjacket that doubles as a windbreaker. Especially on a sunny day. Layering is a must. Have comfortable waterproof walking shoes.
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National museums are free. Go to them.
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The locals probably don’t know your ancestors. But they might.
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If you want a taxi to pick you up at your hotel it is best to schedule it at the front desk. They will not arrive promptly if you don’t plan.
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Hotel bathrooms don’t have washcloths, so bring your own.
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If you have a CPAP and need distilled water it is not easy to find in stores.
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Its smart to bring a wall power adapter and bring a power strip for your various devices.
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Yes it really is that green.
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If driving (you fool!) plan for more time than you would think reasonable to get from A to B. Check to see what road Google is trying to send you down before you regret it. See below.
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Road types are arranged from largest to smallest as M = Motorway, N= National, R = Regional, L= local. If you’re on a L road the brambles will be hitting both sides of the car, there may be loose sheep on the road, a tractor coming towards you, and the speed limit is probably 80kph.
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If on an L road and you meet an oncoming car, courtesy is for one of you to pull into the closest available opening at the roadside, such as a driveway or hedge opening. Exchange a friendly wave as you pass. If you don’t wave you will be judged. JUDGED!
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If possible get out on the water and visit the islands. Book your ferry ticket online because the booking office probably won’t be open.
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Tipping is not expected. You may see a tip jar, but it is very unusual to see a line for s tip on your bill.
More to follow.
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So you know, on item #1: depends on the country. Germany is still weirdly very cash-based. And if you don’t have Chinese apps like Alipay, you literally can’t do anything in most parts of the country (barring the major Eastern cities). No cash, no cards.
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