Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and tourism

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!!

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.

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?

Playing tourist in Sheffield

hiteleven — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:13:15 -0800

What can I do/what should I see when I am in Sheffield, England? Also, where I can stay that's cheap yet decent? I will be spending a few days in Sheffield in the middle of June for a conference at the University of Sheffield. Much of my time will be occupied, but I would like to get out a bit and see the city. Information about Sheffield in travel books and on-line is pretty limited, unfortunately, so I thought I'd canvas here for suggestions of what to do.

My main interest is in seeing historic sites. It would be great to see anything from the Middle Ages, though I get the feeling I'm out of luck in Sheffield on that front. But, really, I'd like to see anything from the Victorian period or earlier that's worth a look. I'm from North America, so I'm easy to impress with regards to age and architecture. Beyond that, art galleries would be good, with art from any period. If there is a nice park or other walkable space, please let me know. I don't have an interest in live music venues or any other nightspots, though I suppose you can post about that stuff here in case this thread is searched later.

Also, I'm looking for a cheap yet decent place to stay within the area of the train station, city centre, or university. Let's say anywhere 50 pounds per night or less, or slightly more if the place is especially good.

What are some fun things to do in Paris at night?

mizike — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:37:59 -0800

What should we do in Paris in the evenings / at night? Hi all, I'm sure this has been covered before but I'm going to ask it again nonetheless: Does anyone have ideas for fun activities in Paris during the evenings? My partner and I will be in Paris for a week; during the day we plan to do the typical touristy stuff (museums, shopping, general walking around, etc.,), but we're kind of at a loss for what we should be doing at night. It seems like most of the attractions and shops close at 6 or 7ish, we're not really into the club / bar scene so going out every night isn't really an option (although I'm sure we'll go out once or twice). We'll be traveling by metro, and have things we want to do pretty much all over the city (well, not the suburbs) so location isn't really a problem. Cost is a factor though, we'll be on a fairly limited budget so something like going to the opera would probably be out of our price range.

Stuttgart

zabuni — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:54:47 -0800

Stuttgart for a day. So, my current job brings me to Stuttgart Germany, and I'll have a day coming up to escape. Looking for things to do, places to go eat, etc. etc. I'll only have a short time, so just things in the general area. Like to see geeky things (cars notsomuch) but open to anything.

December travel recommendations

impluvium — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:46:16 -0800

Where is the best place to travel in December? December in Canberra is hot, windy and deserted -- help us have a fantastic time somewhere else!

Our holidays are in December this year, and we (late 20s couple) are wondering if there are any places around the world where December is the time to visit. We're based in Australia, but willing to travel anywhere.

Is there a December event or festival that simply can't be missed? Or a spot where the climate is perfect this time of year? Neither of us is religious, so Christmas isn't a consideration -- except as far as it concerns Christmas markets and their delicious components.

Bonus points for options that include non-air travel for at least part of the trip -- think trains, or interesting car trips.

Give me London in five days or less.

backseatpilot — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:26:07 -0800

London trip - recommendations? Traveling to London next week for business, and I decided to stay a few extra days for some leisure travel. So, I need some advice.

I'm going to get my own hotel after the business is done, so I'm looking for somewhere cheap to stay. I'll have lots of electronics with me, so shared hostel rooms are out. Are there hostels in the area where I can get a private room? Or maybe a b&b type place?

Food recommendations - dim sum and Indian restaurants? Anywhere quintessentially "British" that's not a tourist hangout? Anywhere else I should eat?

I like to do a lot of walking around with my camera, so what neighborhoods should I visit? Maybe a day trip on the train to the countryside - feasible?

One thing I'd really love to do (and could use some advice on) is to take a trip out to the country, rent a bicycle, and ride around all day. Suggestions?

Any other must-see/do things in London? Outdoors stuff is good, arts and culture are good, food is good. The last time I was in London was when I was twelve, and we did the touristy stuff then. Travel dates are still up in the air, but it looks like I'll have time to myself from Friday, May 1 through Wednesday, May 6.

Seeking fashion, covetousness, wine, and French coffee

The Whelk — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:56:37 -0800

Going to Boston/Cambridge for few days (April 2-7th) and wondering what I should see, do, or eat ... Details: I've been to the area before, albeit many years ago and done the standard tourist stops. I'll be staying in Cambridge. I don't have a car. Very interested in weird or neat events and shows, what local listings should I check out?

Japan in two weeks for a dedicated gardener

fearnothing — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:25:44 -0800

My aunt's 60th birthday is coming up, and I'm thinking of sending her on the trip she always dreamed of - Japan. Last time she went to the Far East, she didn't have enough money for Japan, but she decided China was a good enough. That was in 1989, and one week into her trip she was evacuated, arriving at the airport less than an hour before it was surrounded by tanks. Help me make this one better!

The details: I want it to be in the region of 10 days to two weeks. Late spring would be the best time of year I think, given the climate. Her languages are not such that she would be able to get by in Japanese - basic phrases possible, conversation not. She is particularly interested in far eastern culture and history, but also a very keen gardener so things that combine the two would be ideal. She is also an experienced foreign traveller, having covered Greece, Italy, Spain, China, Nepal and quite a few others over the course of the past 30 years, almost entirely in the company of her late friend. I only regret that I can't send them both.

That said, I would like your recommendations for destinations and travelling arrangements, keeping in mind that the especially built up areas would be less to her liking than the more rural. Should we get a tour or should we just set her up with some places to go and set her off? Should she visit more than one of the islands? I have a good idea of the price of a flight, it looks to be around £500 return right now, but how much should I budget for on top of that? She'll be travelling from the UK (hence the price in pounds) and considering the cost of the rest of the trip it doesn't really matter which airport she starts from.

weekend in Phoenix!

beandip — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:08:12 -0800

I'm visiting a friend in Phoenix next weekend - what are some fun things to see and do? A dear friend of mine moved from the midwest to Phoenix two years ago and is gradually getting acquainted with the area. I finally have a chance to spend a long weekend visiting her (yippee!!) We are looking for ideas of what to see and do during my visit. We'd prefer not to spend more than a couple hours driving anywhere and our budget is modest.

Things on our list so far:
the botanical gardens
the Heard Museum
some easy/moderate hiking not too far from town

Things I am wondering about:
The Science Center - is it worth a visit?
looking for a couple great local restaurants (in the less-than-$20-a-meal range)
maybe a good low-key place to grab a beer and hear some music

Things I'm not particulary interested in:
driving to the Grand Canyon (too far!)
Taliesin West (I hear it's really expensive to tour?)
shopping

What else should we check out?? Her apartment is on the northern end of Scottsdale, I think, so things to do and see in that area would be especially welcome.

Safety in Nicaragua

holympus — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:12:02 -0800

Can you shed any light on how safe Nicaragua is for American tourists? A large group of friends and I are thinking about going to Nicaragua at some point this year. We would be traveling to San Juan del Sur via the airport in Managua. I have read conflicting reports on the safety of the country, and the city of Managua in particular, when it comes to tourist travel. The State Department's website (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_985.html) paints a particularly bleak picture. Beyond that, I was unable to find much reliable information online on Nicaragua's safety--even anecdotal evidence seems largely recycled (e.g., try googling "is Nicaragua's negative image justified"), or offered by people who have an interest in attracting tourists to their properties in Nicaragua. Does anyone out there have any good sources of information, or at least authentic anecdotes, to share? Any tips on how to stay safe?

More fun in Montreal

kenzi23 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:49:16 -0800

What's fun and funky in Montreal next weekend? Going to Montreal next weekend (1-4 Jan) and I'm looking for fun and funky stuff to do there. What my friend and I like:

ethnic food (really authentic)
interesting local food
cool design - shops, museums
indie bands
punk/electronic bands
good DJs/dancing
interesting people
international stuff
art
really amazing croissants and coffee

Is there a free paper/guide for Montreal that I can pick up or see online? Any recommended listings for the kinds of things we are looking for? Is there a good neighborhood to stay in to be close to the kinds of places we will like? Any must-see for us?

Thanks!

Starting a tour business. Any advice?

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:40:38 -0800

Starting a custom tourism company in California. What do I need to know and be sure I cover? I have years of experience as a private tourguide and I recently came up with an idea that actually has unique potential and appeal, believe it or not. Although it's going to be a side business to start, I want to take it seriously and plan things smartly so it can succeed if it's meant to. I don't want poor planning to be the thing that makes it fail. (I have a stressful day job and my thought is if this new idea actually takes off it could be an easier and more profitable business to manage throughout my retirement... so I want to give it a solid try.)

I have registered a great domain and am starting on a business plan. I work in marketing and promotions so I am an expert at a lot of the publicity and advertising aspects -- those are the last of my worries. Most of the logistics of the tours (vehicles, destinations, expenses) will depend upon the clients but for the most part there's very little overhead. I already have people who are interested in both hiring the company and working for it but I am giving myself six months to a year to actually get anything started. As of yet I have not done a dba yet or filed any official paperwork and I'm not even thinking about any of that stuff until after the holidays are over. I'd just love any useful advice or insights any of you might have, as I'm new to the legal and official business end of tourism. If you know of any particularly great sites I should check out or books I should read, that would be supercool too. THANKS!

Things to do in Calofornia

Green With You — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:44:24 -0800

I have a free day in California I wasn't expecting. What can one man do today in, oh, 12 hours? I'm staying in Corona, but I'm willing to travel around and spend some money (up to $200 for argument's sake). I know next to nothing about California except a vague idea that a lot of movies are made here, earth quakes, and the Governator. I made the mistake of not coming up with stuff to do earlier. In all fairness I expected to be working constantly while visiting California, but the building I was working at is closed today which I found out rather unexpectedly.

I can think of a few things. Go to a mall, museum, zoo, the ocean. That sort of thing. But what mall, museum, or zoo? Which beach to I head to? What are some other things that I'm not thinking of? Is LA worth driving to? And what things should someone absolutely try to do on their first visit to California?

What to see, do, and eat in Liverpool?

srboisvert — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:37:35 -0800

I'm looking for advice on what to see and do in Liverpool during a two day visit. Food, best sites, where is the best area to stay, hotels, etc...

What should I do in Vienna?

howgenerica — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:41:53 -0800

I'm going to be in Vienna from September 26 (early morning) - 29 (afternoon). I'm 18 years old and will be traveling with friends. What should we do/ see? I've been put in charge of figuring all this out, but apart from the obvious tourist things I don't know what's good. I guess I'm looking for more off-the-beaten-path stuff. Thank you! This can be anything: cool museums, restaurants, bars, discos, shops, historic sites, areas to walk around; anything. I'd just really appreciate recommendations from those who've been/ lived there.

How does one get a start in the tourism / travel consultant business?

chrisinseoul — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:09:12 -0800

How does one get a start in the tourism / travel consultant business? Education or work experience? What kinds? More questions than answers, inside... Me: 26 years old, Business / Marketing Bachelor's degree, variety of business experience, love of traveling / writing about traveling (active blog about South Korea with thousands of hits), currently overseas in Seoul (see username), and trying to figure out how to get into a career of travel or tourism consulting. Currently working as an English teacher and trying to break free of teaching 6-year-olds in favor of something much more interesting. I find traveling fascinating, and often wonder why more people don't try it or do it on a more regular basis. Some other ideas include writing / reviewing about places I've visited (which doesn't seem like a feasible career, though it makes a hell of a blog)

Instead of helping people to get from point A to point B (as a travel agent might), I could see myself working with a local population for a given time (6 months, 1 year, 2 years) with the goal of creating tourism opportunities, easier time getting around / finding things, and so on. This may be done as part of a consulting firm, on my own, or simply on a contractual basis. Another term for this dream position might be a creative marketing consultant in the travel / tourism field.

While there are plenty of Master's degree programs available in Travel / Tourism Management (both online and physical schools), I'd rather not spend the money / time doing something considered irrelevant by having the work experience instead.

How does one get their foot in the door? Anecdotal stories are welcome, as are specific companies that work in this way. If anyone can help narrow down this seemingly broad field to a better title / career goal, your advice is appreciated as well.

Please help us make our trip to Yellowknife super awesome?

lbo — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:20:09 -0800

How can we make sure we're adequately prepared for our 12-day, 5,000 mile road trip from Salt Lake City, UT to Yellowknife, NT at the end of August? My husband and I will be driving a '99 Honda Accord that has about 160,000 miles on it. It's had regular maintenance and is in good shape. We have AAA, a properly inflated spare, a standard car emergency kit, and we'll be having it in for an oil change and check up before we leave. We've got passports ready to go, a good atlas, books on tape, plenty of music, games, camera, binoculars, etc. What would we be idiots to forget to bring along with us or to do before we leave?

We'll be staying in the following towns/cities along the way and hotels are already booked:
Shelby, MT
Edmonton, AB
High Level, AB
Yellowknife, NT (2 nights)
(back to) High Level, AB
Hinton, AB
Revelstoke, BC
Calgary, AB
Whitefish, MT
Idaho Falls, ID

What should we make certain to see or do that we haven't thought of yet, or what would we regret missing (especially short hikes, perfect spots to see wildlife or take great landscape photos, excellent restaurants, etc)? We'll be making visits to Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Mt. Revelstoke, Glacier, Kootenay, Radium Hot Springs, and Waterton Lakes.

Wise advice/warnings/recommendations of any sort would be wonderful.

Highlighting Tokyo

gnutron — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:10:55 -0800

Tokyo for a week in mid-September. What must I see and/or do? Staying with friends in Arakawa-ku and meeting another friend in Nagoya for a day.

Paying homage to the sushi gods at Tsujiki is really the only priority on my list right now. What are some other can't-miss places, restaurants and experiences?

Yes, I know it will be hot.

Where-ever Shall We Go?

mmahaffie — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:59:22 -0800

What's cool to see/visit in western Pennsylvania? I'm considering organizing a family trip into central and western Pennsylvania. There's a family function (my lovely wife's family) near Johnstown and I have always wanted to visit Mahaffey, PA (founded, I think, by an ancestor). So I wonder of there are a few places out that way worth taking my teen and tween daughters to see.