Everyone going on the trip picks the one thing they really really want to do. Beach time, museum visit, unique restaurant, etc. Does not matter. You get to choose your one special thing. And we build that activity into the trip. When we go on the trip- there is a blanket rule. No one complains during ANY of the special activities. The kids are really respectful during these activities- I think knowing that everyone gets their turn helps, and knowing that this is important/special to the person who chose it helps. If the trip is longer, we might all get 2 choices.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

same question. We did a cooking class in Costa Rica and it was a highlight of our trip. The entire family enjoyed it.

I don't think cooking classes are beyond the pale, but can't imagine doing it in CR. The food there is...basic.

I see the "traveler" has enters the chat again

When planning a trip, I go ahead and book at least one dinner or lunch for each day, and I make a list of restaurants by area for meals that aren't booked. Restaurant reservations can always be cancelled/changed closer to the dates. But I find that if I don't do this at the early planning stage, I forget and we get stuck with crummy options.

These days, we live overseas, have a college kid in a different country and have aging parents still in DC. So, we travel a lot, but often to the same destinations. I use the Notes app on my iphone along with smart folders and tags. This makes it easy to add new ideas while on the go and quickly reference old travel notes as needed.

If I'm going somewhere new where I will need to do a lot of driving, I download a Google map for the area that includes the airport and my hotel. That way, if I can't get a stable data connection, I can at least navigate reasonably well from the get-go.

Anonymous wrote:If you wear glasses, bring an extra pair. After I fell and broke my glasses, I do this.

Contact lenses too! BTDT

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

I *love* food tours and had an amazing pasta making class in Sicily. YMMV

I pay for as much as I can in advance of the trip. It spreads out the cost so I don't have to stress about a giant bill at the end.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

same question. We did a cooking class in Costa Rica and it was a highlight of our trip. The entire family enjoyed it.

I don't think cooking classes are beyond the pale, but can't imagine doing it in CR. The food there is...basic.

Anonymous wrote:same question.

still can't verbalize what is wrong with these things?

+1

11:48 here and I'm somewhat curious what the response might be.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

No, just someone who has half a brain.

Half a brain and you still can't verbalize what is wrong with these things?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

same question. We did a cooking class in Costa Rica and it was a highlight of our trip. The entire family enjoyed it.

I vet restaurants ahead of time and mark a bunch on google maps so if we are in an area, tired and hungry we can just pick a spot I have highlighted vs standing on corner reading reviews trying to find a place to eat. I hate wasting time and money a bad restaurants.

Services like homeexchange/trustedHousesitters were game changers for us. Example, on a particular stretch we only paid for lodging in Kauai and Japan, with exchanges including Caribbean California W-Europe, and repeat several months in Hawaii. Hawaii was actually bread-and-butter, people needing longer term accommodation for family visits, college student visits, intern visits, and professional conferences.

I travel a lot for work, and take several international trips a year. A few things:

- I have a toiletries bag with travel sized items permanently stocked and just need to add makeup and contacts.
- If I am checking luggage (rare) I always have at least one change of clothes in my carry-on
- I spend time researching restaurants and making reservations in advance so we have decent places to eat
- Hate to say it but upgrading to business class lie flat seats at least for the overnight flights has become a must. I arrive with at least some sleep and make liberal use of both the departure and arrivals lounges (This is just me and DH though, or me alone, as our kids are young adults now)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid any type of gimmicky activities that pose as educational experiences. I include in this category food tours, pasta making classes, any staged activities in which the locals fight each other (Mexican wresting, Thai boxing, Japanese sumo, Bolivian chola wrestling, etc), chopstick making classes, and so many more. What a waste.

What's wrong with food tours and pasta making classes?

Ima guess you're one of these people who sneer at "tourists" and call yourself a "traveler?"

We did a food tour/pizza making class in Italy and it was gimmicky but fun and we still talk about it several years later.

If you wear glasses, bring an extra pair. After I fell and broke my glasses, I do this.