Author: Inquisitive Society

Ten years ago, finding a good review of a country you wanted to visit was much easier than it is today. Instead of thoughtful and well planned expositions, you can now find an overwhelming amount of complete trash. Videos full of stock images or people doing boring activities are common, and it’s nearly impossible to sift through it all to find a reliable review.

I might sound like an old person, but the sheer amount of poor quality travel reviews is astounding. People argue that you can just not watch these videos, but that doesn’t change the fact that these people have monopolized the market with their inane content.

When I’m looking for a good review, I often end up watching Rick Steves videos. They’re reliable, informed, and generally not obnoxious. But if you’re looking for something a bit different, then I recommend checking out Wolters World, a YouTube channel and travel blog run by Mark Wolters.

What sets Wolters World apart from other travel bloggers is that he films on location and provides really great travel tips. He already has a job as a marketing professor, so his YouTube channel and blog are just a side gig for him and his family. He also has a channel dedicated to family travel.

I don’t look at these travel YouTube channels as travel guides. They’re mostly just trip reports of what the YouTuber did when they were there. If you’re looking for reliable information, it’s better to consult specialized travel guides or even ask people who have recently been to the places you’re interested in.

Are you planning a vacation and concerned there may be an issue with your booking? Many hotels and booking sites require you to enter the actual age of any children staying with you, and they may charge a fee according to that age. To ensure the details of your booking are accurate, it is important to double check the details.

When booking a hotel room, you may want to check both the hotel’s website and a booking site such as Expedia, as prices may differ. For example, if you are booking a room for a week for two adults and one 13 year old, Expedia may say “child 0-17 years old” but when you select a child you then have to enter the actual age in the dropdown. The hotel website will also allow you to add a child and select their age from the dropdown. When you compare the prices of the hotel website and Expedia, you may find the total pricing is the same.

If you are unsure whether the child’s age will affect your booking, it is best to be prepared. Print out and bring all the details from Expedia and Expedia alone. If the hotel verifies the age of the child, be prepared to calmly show that the booking states the child is aged 0-17. Don’t be the one to bring up any discrepancies, but be prepared to politely push back if the hotel brings up any issues.

Bringing food on board a flight is allowed, especially if it’s a 6 or so hour flight and the complimentary snacks don’t quite fill you up. If you choose to bring food with you, consider packing something that isn’t too pungent to not bother those around you. As someone with food allergies, I’ve always packed my own meals and snacks for flights and I don’t see it as rude at all, just necessary.

Most airlines on a flight that long will offer food for purchase onboard, and even if not, they could have brought something or picked something up in the airport to bring along if they’d wanted to have a meal on the plane. It’s important to remember that you’re taking care of yourself and that it would be rude to eat a full meal in front of others who may not have brought any food with them. However, it’s not rude to bring food on board a plane – just be thoughtful about smells.

My suggestion is to pack an insulated bento box with some hearty snacks like onigiri, grapes, cut up veggies and dip, crackers and string cheese. This way, you’re getting the nourishment you need without being too intrusive to those around you.

My Europe vacation plans were in full swing when I posted today, but I quickly realized I had no chance of making it happen. I was shocked to find that flights for a family of three were coming in at nearly $10,000, and that was before we even got to the hotel or other expenses. That’s when I realized I had been too late to book and that Europe trips during the summer season were going to be much more expensive.

I started to look into other options and found out that if I wanted to make the trip happen, I was going to have to book my flights 10 months in advance. It makes sense when you think about it, because summer is the busiest time for travel and if you have specific dates in mind, your chances of finding affordable flights are slim.

I tried to book a trip to Croatia out of Denver, but I had no luck. I’m sure it would have been a wonderful experience, but I was only able to find flights for under $1500 if I was willing to be flexible and book 10 months in advance. Even then, I would still have to worry about finding a hotel and other expenses.

At this point, I’m not sure what I’m going to do for a summer vacation. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to plan better. I’m definitely going to start my search 10 months in advance and be willing to be flexible with my dates. I’m also going to look into domestic trips and consider going in April and September to avoid the summer rush and high prices.

I used to be incredibly shy, so I completely understand the hesitation to jump into conversation with strangers while traveling. It can be intimidating, but the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with being alone. I used to think that solo travel meant having to find new friends and connections in every city, but I’ve since learned that there’s so much value in enjoying the solitude of a new place.

When I travel solo, I don’t have to worry about making a thousand friends or feeling out of place if I’m eating alone. Instead, I can focus on my own needs, take the time to experience a new culture, and truly immerse myself in a new place. If I’m feeling social, I might join a tour or book a hostel stay. But if I’m feeling introverted, I’m just as content to stay in my own room and explore the city on my own.

It’s important to remember that there’s no “right” way to travel. And while some people might enjoy the social side of travel, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to have a great experience. I’m proof that even the shy traveler can have a meaningful, enjoyable trip when traveling solo.

So, if you’re feeling intimidated or overwhelmed about the idea of solo travel, take a deep breath and remember: there’s no pressure to meet a ton of people or find someone to do things with. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you can have an amazing trip when you’re flying solo. Enjoy the chance to immerse yourself in a new place and take the time to get to know yourself in the process. Who knows, you might even surprise yourself in the process!

Recently, I had a rather unpleasant experience during my stay at a hostel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was late at night and I was stone cold sober as I returned to the hostel. The hostel was inside an apartment building and occupied several units in the same hallway.

As I approached the door, a very drunk and very tall man came stumbling out of another unit owned by the hostel. He asked if I wanted to go downtown with him, and I politely declined. He then asked me to go to a sauna with him, to which I again said no. He then came uncomfortably close and asked me where I was from. I told him I was from Canada and returned the question. He then replied, “Belarus. Can I have a kiss?” He was now blocking the door and I stepped back. I sternly told him “no. I’m going to bed now.” He then tried to grab my arm and I pulled away. He then slapped my ass and finally stumbled away, still saying gross things over his shoulder. I called a few profanities after him as I went inside.

The next morning, I told the front desk about the encounter and asked if they had any security measures in place. They told me that they had security cameras and door locks, but that they hadn’t had a problem like this before. They apologized and promised to be more vigilant in the future. I appreciated their response, but was still shaken by the experience.

Although this was a scary experience, it made me realize the importance of always being aware of my surroundings and trusting my gut instincts. I am grateful that nothing worse happened, but it is still something that I will never forget.

If you’re looking for the perfect mix of city and nature, there are a few cities around the world that have the best of both worlds. Edinburgh and Oslo are great examples, with a wide variety of cultural activities and stunning natural beauty. In Edinburgh, you can take the metro straight into the forest or go island hopping with public transport, and Oslo is literally a city within a forest, with many great places to swim and a super relaxed vibe. Copenhagen is best for vibrant city life, but less so for nature.

Just got back from Seoul, and the access to natural parks and trails system accessible by public bus is incredible. I was absolutely blown away!

I’m biased since it’s my hometown, but Vancouver, Canada is another great option for both city and nature. There’s so much to explore, from urban parks to dense forests and incredible views of the ocean.

Other cities that are great for both city life and natural beauty include Taipei, Hong Kong, Kyoto, Chiang Mai, Salzburg, Queenstown (New Zealand), and Seattle. Rio de Janeiro is also a great choice, with plenty of opportunities to escape the city and explore the outdoors, such as hiking Christ the Redeemer through the forest trail, visiting the botanical gardens, or exploring nature reserves on the city outskirts.

Surprisingly, there have been no mentions of any cities in Australia (so far)! Sydney has incredible nature at its doorstep, with places such as the Royal National Park and the Blue Mountains, as well as bush walks like Spit to Manly. Perth also has plenty of beaches and great nature to explore.

No matter where you go, you can find that perfect balance between city and nature, and have the best of both worlds. Read more “What Cities Offer the Perfect Combination of City Life and Natural Beauty?”

I love solo travel, and I’ve been on a few trips so far. But lately, I’ve been seeing TikToks and posts about solo female trips gone wrong — hotel room break-ins, getting followed, and harassments. It’s been enough to make me feel scared about solo travel, even though I’ve already done it. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s experienced this fear.

So, I asked my friend who had solo travelled before me, how she dealt with the fear. She said you don’t; the fear is actually helpful and it will keep you safe. When I felt something strange, I made sure to put myself in a better situation.

The thing is, a lot of what we’re seeing on TikTok might be for views. It’s true that these things can happen, but it’s also true that there are a lot of women travelling solo and living their lives just fine. That’s why, if I’m planning on travelling somewhere I make sure to do my research first — if it’s somewhere where the local women aren’t living their lives just fine, then I probably wouldn’t go.

It’s totally understandable to feel scared about solo travel, especially when we see so many stories about the bad experiences of others. But the thing is, it’s important to remember that the majority of solo travellers have positive experiences. So, if you do your research and take the appropriate safety precautions, you can still have amazing solo travel adventures!

and then I look for the options.

Traveling is one of the best experiences in life – it’s an opportunity to explore, learn and make memories. But, thanks to budget issues, I won’t be able to travel until at least October 2024. Still, I find myself planning trips on Google Maps when I’m bored. I pick a city where I’d like to go and plan the whole thing – how I’d get there, where I’d stay, what I’d do. I avoid Street View so I don’t “spoil” myself, but I check menus to prepare for when I find a spontaneous cheap flight.

When I’m planning a trip, I start with a question such as, “If I want to go from US to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and then Shetland without renting a car, how would I do it?” From there, I look for the options. I also create custom travel lists on Google Maps, such as “Paris 23” and “Amsterdam 23,” with the year included to make sure I’m not browsing really old lists.

Traveling is an amazing experience, and planning trips on Google Maps can be a great way to pass the time. Whether you’re looking for a spontaneous getaway or just doing research for a future trip, Google Maps is a great resource. With its street view, you can get a feel for where you’re going, and you can even check menus to prepare for when you get there. So, while I may not be able to travel in the near future, I can still plan my trips and dream of the day I’ll be able to get away.

I recently decided to take the plunge and go on my first solo travel abroad. It was an amazing experience, and I’m already planning my next trip! I spent three days in Belgium, which I thought was the perfect amount of time. I visited Ghent and Brussels, and did all the things I wanted to do – from museum visits to castle tours to a fun pub crawl. I also spoke to my girlfriend twice a day, which really helped me through the times when I was feeling a bit lonely. I made some mistakes along the way, but I think that’s all part of the adventure. Most importantly, I’m really proud of myself for making the decision to go on this trip alone. I’ve always wanted to travel, but I never felt like I had anyone to go with. Doing this trip has given me a lot of confidence that I can travel on my own and have a great time. I’m now planning to travel more over the summer, and my goal is to visit all of Europe before I’m 25. I think this is a realistic goal, and I’m looking forward to all the new experiences that I’m going to have!