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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