Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Tourism

Virtual "tourism"

JaredSeth — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:59:27 -0800

Inspired by this, does anyone know of other interesting locations that can be explored using Google Street View?

Help me figure out an urban adventure in Saigon!

Televangelist — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:10:52 -0800

Help me have an urban adventure in Saigon / Ho Chi Minh City. I'm traveling there by myself, early 20s guy, and reasonably street smart for Asia (I currently live in southern China). I speak fluent English and advanced Mandarin but no Vietnamese. An ex-girlfriend's family lives outside of Saigon and she's got some young cousins who'll be willing to help show me around if I've got some cash to spare. The area where I live in Guilin already has beautiful scenery, I love urban areas, and I really have little interest in getting out to the countryside, except maybe for a one-day excursion. Thanks for your help in advance, everyone! :) 1. I'm a big fan of getting 'mental postcards' that I'll be able to store in my mind for a long time to come; bustling street scenes, a good view from a high-up perch at dusk, that sort of thing.

2. Huge bonus points for anything that involves breakdancing or Vietnamese hip-hop.

3. Bonus points if you can point me to some great expat rag that tells me what's really going on in the city.

4. Cheap shopping and tailoring are not too interesting to me, unless it's something really 'out there'. I'm traveling light and a full, well-tailored custom suit only costs $50 US back at home in China to begin with.

5. I'm not single, and furthermore not looking for "that sort of thing" anyhow. But I have a reasonably filthy mind, and anything that's perverse in the "Well, now *that's* something you don't see every day!" sense that doesn't require my direct participation is more than welcome. :)

6. The more unique, the more "Only in Saigon", the better. I grew up in Little Saigon in California, and I live in China, so I'm looking for something beyond just "Well, I'm not in Kansas anymore" if possible. :)

7. I really have no idea where I should stay! My general plan is to just figure out an area of the city I want to stay in, and then just walk the street talking price with people until I find one I'm happy with.

8. Will motorbike taxis provide me a helmet, as they do in China? Or should I bring my own?

9. Is there any good, not-completely-touristy breakdown on-line of the different 'areas' of Saigon, and where I should be going?

10. Is there anyone in southern Vietnam who speaks Chinese but not English? Or should I just be starting with English straight out?

11. If you're proposing an activity/area that's particularly dangerous, I'm not reflexively opposed, but please let me know going in. :)

12. Restaurant recommendations are always fun!

Thanks again, everyone! :) Sorry if any of this comes off as overly detailed or demanding, I don't mean it to sound that way!

where can i leave my luggage for the day in boston?

gcat — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:24:53 -0800

please help me see boston for a day! (anyplace i can leave my luggage for a few hours?) i fly into boston this afternoon. i will be having dinner with an acquaintance and then spending the night at his home. the next morning, we will part company. he will go to work and drop me off somewhere in boston (apparently he lives 10 minutes north). then i am meeting another friend at 6pm and we are driving up to maine.

so, between 8-ish am thursday morning and 6 pm that evening, i will be free, so i would like to see at least one historic tourist attraction.

the problem: i will be carless and will have my luggage - a heavy suitcase and a carry-on bag. is there *anywhere* i could leave my luggage for the day?

i know, poor planning on my part, but is it a lost cause?

so my question is essentially this: can anyone help me think of anywhere i can leave my stuff that is both 1) safe (for my luggage) and 2) very close to public transport? i would be willing to pay if necessary.

it wont be at all practical to leave my stuff at my friends place for the day.

oh, and also, havent had a chance yet to research public transport. any tips? where should i have my friend drop me off thursday morning? (i.e., maybe somewhere close to something really cool that is not too far from public transport?)

im not really coming up with any ideas, so it may not be realistic, but if the hive mind could help me i would be very grateful.

thanks so much!!

How do I start taking commercial photographs?

borkingchikapa — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:10:48 -0800

I've been taking photographs for a few years with the aim of becoming a professional, and I think I've got enough experience and material to start billing myself as one (published work, fancy website, etc). I'm working towards photojournalism, but in the meantime I'd like to do some travel or commercial-type photography for the extra cash. I'm not really sure how to kick that off, though. I'm living in a huge tourist city in Asia and I suspect fancy hotels are a good place to start, but where else should I be putting out my feelers? Additionally, how should I approach potential clients? I'm sure it doesn't work like pitching journalism, but my guess would be an email explaining who I am, my qualifications and the services I offer. Is there a standard way to do this?

NYC not for tourists

HotPatatta — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:33:14 -0800

If you only had one year left before moving out of New York City, what would you make sure to see and do before leaving? I'm looking for tips on shows, shopping, music, tours, parades, expos, festivals, restaurants, exhibitions, food carts, bars, activities, green spaces, hidden gems--anything else that's unique to this city. Let's say prices are not a concern.

How can I "show them around" in the rain?

SirNovember — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:47:14 -0800

How can I show a couple relatives the neighborhoods from Brooklyn Heights to Prospect Park this weekend – it’s going to be cold and rainy!

Fun things to do in Santa Cruz?

Mr. Justice — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:58:48 -0800

Fun things to do in Santa Cruz? We are a married couple with three kids aged 6 3 and 1. We are looking for fun things to do in Santa Cruz, California. We have a beach house until Monday and will be spending a lot of time just watching the waves. Any recommendations on good sushi, Mexican, museums, etc?

Where should I buy a ticket for in Camp Nou?

ascullion — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:05:38 -0800

I'm going to Barcelona in October and am going to take in a football match at Camp Nou. Tickets are currently freely available in the stadium - is there a particuarly good or bad place for a neutral/tourist to sit?

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero

Diagonalize — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:17:58 -0800

How can I channel my inner Ferris Bueller and have one great day, except in New York? It's my little brother's very first trip to the East Coast! He's coming to see me in Boston, but he also really wants to see New York while he's out here. I've gone looking through a ton of the old NYC touristfilter questions, but trying to combine all of those great suggestions with my limited understanding of New York and an extremely ambitious timeline is proving daunting.

Mostly because of limited funds, we were hoping to make this a one day affair; we take the Chinatown bus out there, see whatever sights we can manage, stay up all night, and then take the first bus back in the morning. I've never taken the Chinatown bus before, so please talk me out of this if it seems like a tremendously bad idea.

My brother is a lot like Cameron: sarcastic, funny, fairly disinterested in most things, but still an all-around good guy and generally more easy-going than Cameron. The only thing I know for sure he wants to see is Times Square (I know). We're both in our early- to mid-twenties, kinda square, but still adventurous, and this East Coast trip is supposed to be his big last hurrah before becoming a grown-up. “Life moves pretty fast”, so how can we have one great day in New York, on the cheap?

Bummin' around BC

scose — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:45:59 -0800

What are some free or cheap things to do in Vancouver, BC? My girlfriend and I are heading up to Vancouver, BC and looking for a vacation on the cheap. We will be couchsurfing/camping/???, and hoping to have fun for a few days without going broke. What are your favorite low- or no-cost activities in the area? Any mix of touristy and non-touristy is fine. Stuff like house shows, student art exhibitions, and other events that might fly under the radar of mainstream media would be good.

We will arrive by car, and bring our bikes to get around the city. Any place within a reasonably short drive is fair game. We are bringing food with us, but if you are chomping at the bit to recommend a restaurant, we would appreciate it. Thanks!

Should I rent a car during my week in Denver?

TheManChild2000 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:29 -0800

I'm going to be in Denver for a seminar. Arriving Saturday, leaving Thursday. Staying a little east of the city center. Should I bother renting a car? I'm pretty outdoorsy but also pretty cheap. Does Denver have sufficient public transit to easily (and without taking hours) get out of the downtown area into natural places for hiking and swimming?

"Let them eat bagels."

whimsicalnymph — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:08:15 -0800

Where can I find the best bagel in NYC? At the risk of starting a riot, I'd like to hear MeFites' opinions on where the best bagel can be found in NYC.

I have lived in New York over a year, and I have yet to eat a bagel (I think Super Size Me made me not want to eat them for a while).

I have a friend coming into town in October, and as part of her visit, I'd like to take her to a great NYC place, with the best bagels on Earth. No small feat, but I imagine if anyone knows where such bagels can be found, the people of AskMe will know.

Where to stay and what to see in Berlin?

gramcracker — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 09:11:41 -0800

Where should I stay and what should I do in Berlin for a 4 day trip? (Single, clean, safe, cheap, easy to get to the major sights.) Heading to Germany to see a friend who recently moved there, but going to spend some time in Berlin first, never been there. Single, late 20s gay traveler, see the museums, shop a bit, maybe grab a drink. Neighborhoods/sights/attractions to avoid or not to miss? Thanks!

Affordable Spain!

lattiboy — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:46:38 -0800

What are some of the best things to do in Spain in October? Going on an 11 day trip of Spain:

We will be spending the 1st, 2nd, 3rd days in Madrid, hopping the bullet train and then spending the 4th, 5th, and possibly 6th day in Barcelona. After that we're going to play it by ear, but we're thinking of going to Valencia and different spots in Catalonia (I lined up a rental car) and driving back to Madrid (it's my scheduled drop off point for the car).

Looking for awesome stuff to check out. We'll have a car from the 6th to 11th day of the trip. It would be great if things could trend toward the affordable as I'd like to have some of our savings when we get home.

Also, is there a "city pass" type thing for Madrid and/or Barcelona? We saved a bundle on our last trip to San Francisco by getting one of those. It included metro and museum entry for a flat fee.

Fun in Traverse City, Michigan in September?

ViolaGrinder — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:46:16 -0800

What should I not miss in Traverse City, Michigan, over a Labor Day weekend vacation--without becoming a dreaded "fudgie?" I am a 38yo single male heading north with my mid-50's mother and step-father for our first visit to Traverse City, Michigan to visit a friend of the family who's lived there for the last 5 or 6 years.

I'm especially interested in food and cooking, and wine (though I hear the local wines may not taste that great). Also enjoy nature and outdoorsy things. Sea kayaking sounds nice.

The opportunity to experience the workings of local agriculture or some kind of production/manufacturing sounds cool (is something noteworthy being harvested or produced in early September? Can we watch--or participate?)

I'm not necessarily interested in constant shopping (just a little will be fine), fudge, or things constructed solely for the amusement of tourists.

And if it matters, I'm gay and single--just in case anything amazing is waiting for single gay men in Traverse City.

I don't have to be constantly entertained. Sitting around with my family in beautiful settings conducive to talking, eating, drinking, and general bonding would be great. Thanks!

Escaped from Greenock Prison

cameronfromedinburgh — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:13:33 -0800

Browsing today's newspapers here in Scotland it would seem that there is an anti-Scottish feeling pervading the whole of the USA after the compassionate release of the Pan-Am bomber last week. Question1: Am I right in thinking that this is the case, or is it just right wing neo-con nonsense eminating from the Fox News stable? Question2: If this anti-Scottish feeling does exist, how best can I explain that we the UK/US public have been sold a lie by our Governments and that this guy was merely a patsy? The usually sound Scots legal system was a victim here and was used and abused by the use of Public Interest Immunity Certificates and dodgy state sponsored witnesses. This system needs rectified, what is the best forum to speak out on?

hungary for traveling tips!

MaddyRex — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:21:21 -0800

Things to see in Budapest & Berlin I'm going to be in Berlin and Budapest this summer. Do you have recommendations of interesting or quirky things to see or do in either city? Any information about the sights, food, events etc in either city and traveling between them is much appreciated.

What to see in the Bay Area for a former resident who's lost his way?

kalessin — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:38:51 -0800

Fun/Geeky things for me to do in the Bay Area next week either by myself or with my (retired but adventurous) parents? Details in extended. I grew up in California, went to high school in Berkeley, and a few years of college in Santa Cruz/Monterey until, in 1989, just after the earthquake, I relocated to the MidAtlantic and currently live in Baltimore, MD.

Each time I visit the Bay Area, I feel more and more out of touch with the area and my old haunts keep disappearing or changing. I sometimes have a completely inaccurate idea, too, of neighborhood safety when I visit (usually I am too cautious).

Every couple of years I make it out for a week or two to visit family and a few close friends. It turns out that this trip (Wednesday to Tuesday, starting 8/5/2009) is overlapping with friends' other family visits, so I may have a lot more time than I had anticipated to spend alone or with my parents.

I'll be staying with them very near the Ashby BART station. (Thank G-d, it sounds like BART will not be shut down during my visit.)

When I was living in the area, I liked various geeky attractions (Lawrence Hall of Science, Exploratorium, Dark Carnival, various comic book and book stores) and used to hang either in North Berkeley with various friends or would walk to Telegraph Ave or College Ave or through UCB campus and window shop. Sometimes I'd also explore various neighborhoods in SF (The Castro, Market, the Ferry terminals, Golden Gate Park, etc.) I'm also half Chinese which is relevant because I also find a lot of comfort and interest in going to and exploring the various Chinatowns around the bay.

I am now quite the food snob, and still a science/computer geek.

My question is for area residents. I am interested in foodie destinations and other geeky destinations I might not have heard about to visit by myself or with my parents. Can you help enlighten me and let me know about your favorite spots like this around the Bay Area?

The limitation is that it needs to be public transit/walking accessible for the most part, but my parents and I are adventurous with Bay Area public transit and can walk 2 or 3 miles comfortably on any journey's walking leg.

Oh, I should also say I'm not interested in wineries but might be interested in microbreweries, depending. :)

Thanks very much in advance for any answers. Also, I did search for previous questions, but nothing I could find quite fit my quesion/sought answers, but please let me know if I missed something!

Radical lefty sightseeing in The Bay Area?

willie11 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:51:03 -0800

Fun things for a lefty to do whilenon San Francisco for a few days? I'm in the bay area for the next few days and would like to check out some fun radical spots. Either in SF, Berkeley, Oakland or the surrounding area. I have a car. If it matters, I'm here until Thursday.

Bonus points for anything having to do with labor activism.

I was born in Dusseldorf and that is why they call me Rolf

grobstein — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:02:57 -0800

What Nazi concentration camp should I visit near Dusseldorf? (For a friend.) A friend will be in Dusseldorf, Germany, for a short period and would like to visit a Nazi concentration camp. From what I can tell, the only nearby choices are the minor camps of Hinzert and Breitenau. Has anyone been to either or both of these camps, or traveled from Dusseldorf to another camp that was interesting? Quick answers appreciated. Thanks!

8 Hours in Milan?

universal_qlc — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:31:45 -0800

Things to do close to the central train station in Milan? My good friend and I have a few hours in Mllan (probably about 2 PM until 11, when we get on an overnight train) in late July; neither of us have ever been there before. Ideally, we'll check in our luggage at the central station and wander around for the day. What would be some good things to do (preferably within walking distance of the train)? Most tourist sites I've seen assume that we'd be staying for a few days.

I like shopping, but am not made of money. We both like eating ridiculously good but cheapish food. Like most tourists, we love seeing and doing new things, especially things we can't do just anywhere.

Bonus: how avoid looking too much like nerdy Americans while we're there?

Thanks!

Is the London Pass worth getting?

jayder — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:38:51 -0800

Is the London Pass worth the price, for tourists who will be in London for six days? Two of my family members are going to London, and they tell me it's approximately $212 per person for a six-day pass. In addition to full access to the Tube, it covers the access fee to a list of ~50 attractions (and you get to bypass the lines at those attractions). The main attractions they are interested in are St Paul's, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Globe Theater, and Kew Gardens. They don't know whether they will visit enough attractions, or use the Tube enough to make it worthwhile --- the Tube is £4.00 for a single fare.

Do any of you have any advice, from your own experience, for whether the London Pass is worth getting? Any thoughts?

Paris: Metro or Taxi?

wildatheart — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:55:03 -0800

Which is more reliable when moving a family of 5 across from Paris Gare du Nord, to Montparnasse station -with 1 hr 20 available. Taxi or Metro?

San Francisco with kids

oclipa — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:19:50 -0800

So, it looks like we will be going to be spending two weeks in August in the San Francisco area, specifically one week in Palo Alto and then one week in San Francisco. "We" encompasses myself, my wife, our 6 year old daughter and my mother-in-law, all visiting from the UK. None of us have been to California before. What should we do? Our choice of destinations will be largely driven by our 6 year old, although she is usually happy to visit the odd art gallery (for example), as long as it can be sold in a kid-friendly way. Amusement parks, museums, historic locations, scenery are all good, as long as they are not too dark and gloomy (I suspect she would not be a big fan of Alcatraz, for example).

Since this will be my daughter's first trip to the US, anything that can provide a concentrated dose of Americana would also be welcome.

I assume that renting a car is an necessity, however we would probably not be too keen to drive for more than a couple of hours to reach somewhere (unless it is going to blow our minds!). How much does this limit us?

Our location in Palo Alto is probably going to be chosen for us, however where should we look for a hotel when we move to San Francisco?

Reading back over the above, I realise this is all a bit general and non-specific, but really this just shows how little I know about the area. Please help me get informed so we can plan a great trip!

[on preview] I've just seen these threads, which appear to cover a lot of the same ground. To differentiate my question a little, should we aim to concentrate on San Francisco, or is it worth heading further afield (within our 2 hour limit)? Also, what sort of weather/temperature/humidity should we be prepared for?

Things to see or do in Milwaukee this weekend.

damn dirty ape — Fri, 22 May 2009 09:45:20 -0800

Things to see or do in Milwaukee this weekend. Im spending the weekend in Milwaukee with my SO and am looking for tourism suggestions. Other than the zoo and a museum or two we have nothing planned. I'll have a car and GPS, so I can drive around if need be. Thanks.