Things you wish people explained to you before you went to (insert vacation destination)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Amsterdam: you need to have your physical passport on you to rent a car, at least where we went.

-Don’t shave before going in the Dead Sea

-No clothing or shoes will fit you in Japan if you are bigger than a size small so make sure you pack what you need.

I honeymooned in thailand, arguably my tiniest most gorgeous self after working hard for the wedding, and trying to shop was horrifying. "Sorry, no plus size" and I was like a size 6

I was going to post something similar. My best friend, who is a little over 5 feet tall and rail thin, went into a shop in China and was told, “No extra large!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do a quick google search about toilets where you're going. I remember getting toilet paper like wax paper in some countries, holes in the floor with places for your feet in others, and then in Greece the plumbing wouldn't support any flushed tp, so it went in a trash can. Not sure if this has changed, but it would be nice to know ahead of time and always carry tissues if you are a woman.

Yes, this is what I was going to say. At least the old towns/hotels where we stayed in Crete did not allow you to flush toilet paper. But they also didn’t have bidets! It was the worst of both worlds!

[Anonymous]

Somehow I missed that Manuel Antonio State Park does not allow disposable water bottles or single serving snacks with throw away wrappers, we went in for hours in the very hot humid climate and had no water or food on us

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you wish you had known before visiting (insert vacation destination here)?


I wanted to visit the Amalfi Coast but was unaware of the power outages and the way you must fly to Naples then take a train to Sorrento and then take a ferry and hand carry luggage up to some of the hotels. With little children this seems a bit more challenging. The same for Lake Como and the last train out of town. To ensure to time that visit right.

This seems like basic logistical details you should look into before traveling.

[Anonymous]

This is a very entertaining and informative thread.

Might I suggest we not tell people “you should have known better” so we don’t discourage posting?

When people are admitting errors, I am not sure what the point is of doubling down on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you wish you had known before visiting (insert vacation destination here)?


I wanted to visit the Amalfi Coast but was unaware of the power outages and the way you must fly to Naples then take a train to Sorrento and then take a ferry and hand carry luggage up to some of the hotels. With little children this seems a bit more challenging. The same for Lake Como and the last train out of town. To ensure to time that visit right.

This seems like basic logistical details you should look into before traveling.

As a part of a multi-country vacation or directly from another region, you may not be considering the logistics of how much effort it will take with two weeks worth of luggage for a family of 5 and a stroller.

[Anonymous]

Being a walking wallet is the awful one. That happens in too many countries. I don't know if it's better to expect it or better to hope for something better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish someone said the Grand Canyon is not kid friendly and pretty dangerous and it’s not that impressive in my opinion. I loved the arches at Utah but something about our Grabd Canyon trip was a bust.

Dangerous, how so? Thanks!

NP- A misstep on a trail and you are dead. You sit on a ledge and lose balance? You could be dead. It is a very dangerous place for small kids, you could not let a 2yo out of your sight for 2 seconds without them being at risk near the rim. I have vertigo so stayed on the paved biked trail and went viewpoint to viewpoint that way. I disagree about it not being impressive though, it is breathtaking, but the hiking is inherently dangerous.

[Anonymous]

You need to book a water taxi to the Venice airport weeks ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Amsterdam: you need to have your physical passport on you to rent a car, at least where we went.

-Don’t shave before going in the Dead Sea

-No clothing or shoes will fit you in Japan if you are bigger than a size small so make sure you pack what you need.

I honeymooned in thailand, arguably my tiniest most gorgeous self after working hard for the wedding, and trying to shop was horrifying. "Sorry, no plus size" and I was like a size 6

Wow that’s awful!

That’s most of Asia. I am a size 6 and I bought large in Malaysia. I didn’t even bother trying on the cute clothes in Korea.

Yep- I have shopped in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea and was always a large or extra large or extra extra large or they didn’t have my size at all (I’m a 4/6). It is what it is! I did enjoy feeling tall for the first time in my life??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For some unknown reason, most showers over baths in France don't have a door or curtain. I don't know what they enjoy water spraying all over the floor.

This is possibly a "me" thing and not a French thing (I don't ask people!) but I am French and always showered in the tub sitting down growing up because of this.

[Anonymous]

Pigeon Forge is like going to Myrtle Beach/Deliverance in the middle of the TN mountains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Driving on the opposite side of the road is less difficult than I imagined in many regards but I didn’t realize the biggest challenge would be drifting in my lane. Good to get a rental with lane assist

In Mexico we mostly had smooth sailing with renting a car but got scammed at a gas station. Refuse to pay if they lie and say the card reader is down. If you do pay in cash, count out the bills verbally

In both Costa Rica and Mexico we arrived to find our booked hotel no longer available to us. Always confirm the day before and check your spam folder for cancellations.

Didn’t realize I’d need British coins for bathrooms.

Bring your own toilet paper on safari.

You can tap to pay now, but yeah I always forget about this one in London.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a walking wallet is the awful one. That happens in too many countries. I don't know if it's better to expect it or better to hope for something better.

We recently returned from Morocco and found this was also the case

Also, a lot of the “craft” is mass produced and easily found back home for a lot cheaper. I disagree with a pp that you should just buy things that you see. So much is available online now. Buy it if you want it to remind you of your holiday but remind yourself you are paying a lot more in many popular tourist destinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Amsterdam: you need to have your physical passport on you to rent a car, at least where we went.

-Don’t shave before going in the Dead Sea

-No clothing or shoes will fit you in Japan if you are bigger than a size small so make sure you pack what you need.

I honeymooned in thailand, arguably my tiniest most gorgeous self after working hard for the wedding, and trying to shop was horrifying. "Sorry, no plus size" and I was like a size 6

Wow that’s awful!

That’s most of Asia. I am a size 6 and I bought large in Malaysia. I didn’t even bother trying on the cute clothes in Korea.

I was on a business trip to Asia when the airline lost my luggage. Needed work clothing. I'm 5'8" (130 lbs) and a size 4. Half the stores I went into the salesgirls just shook their heads at me. It was both frustrating and comical and about to drive me to an eating disorder