Hey everyone,
I would love to get further advice for my mum's and my first visit to Switzerland during our upcoming European holiday from late June to late July. We managed to fit in Switzerland for four nights (about 3.5 days of exploring) and would love some budget-friendly recommendations for must-see sights and activities (architecture, museums, landmarks, cafes, natural environments, etc.). My mum is fit but on the elderly side with a physical illness, so we need to avoid steep or long walks. We’re completely relying on public transport and ready for long days. Here is our basic round-trip itinerary:
Day 1: I arrive in Basel from Germany in the mid-afternoon and have some time to explore on my own. Any recommendations? My mum will not arrive until later in the evening. Unfortunately, I do not think we will have time to explore Basel together as we plan to leave early in the morning.
Day 2: we head to Lauterbrunnen for the night. Should we stop in Lucerne? It looks beautiful. My original plan is travelling from Basel to Brienz, then taking a ferry from Brienz to Interlaken. If time and weather permit, we may visit Jungfraujoch and stroll around Grindelwald before arriving in Lauterbrunnen, hopefully with a couple of hours of daylight left.
Day 3: we depart Lauterbrunnen early, and head to Lausanne, then Montreux via Bern. Should we spend a few hours in Lausanne or Montreux? Which do you prefer, and what’s good to see in limited time? We will continue to Locarno for the night, traveling through northern Italy via Domodossola. Any must-see stops along this route?
Day 4: again, we likely won’t have much time to explore lovely Locarno. Perhaps breakfast or coffee by the water. Then we head to Lugano, take a bus across northern Italy to Tirano, and catch the Bernina Express to Chur. Anything essential to see in St. Moritz before continuing to Chur? In Chur, we catch a bus to Balzers in Liechtenstein for the night.
Day 5: we will have some time to explore in the morning and early afternoon, maybe Vaduz? We then reconnect to the Swiss railway to Zurich and then Basel for our flight to Ireland at around 18:00. I considered a short hike around the Bad Ragaz Lakes region to see Wildsee, etc. myself, while my mum relaxes or explores a village/local landmarks. Any other short hikes worth it along any part of our route besides Bad Ragaz?
Most accomodation is booked and paid for our journey due to the busy season throughout July, so big alterations might be difficult, but we are open to essential and worthwhile suggestions that are feasible. The extensive travel we think will at least be a great way to see and experience Switzerland’s diverse countryside. If only we had an extra few days, we would have put this toward exploring more within the cities and villages, but 4 days is the best we could do this time.
I hope you think this plan is pretty solid as is, but any hidden tips, recommendations, and time management strategies are appreciated!

I'm (23F) applying from NYC as I'm from the Philippines and am a permanent resident. I'm going to the Philippines with my bf (US citizen) but we wanted to stop at Japan first. We're traveling for my birthday and to visit family in the Philippines. I submitted my application a week ago, got this email today:
Your application is currently being reviewed, and you are missing/should re-submit the following documents:
-Your modified travel itinerary using our format. *Please review our sample provided in the following link, and kindly indicate at least one tourist destination or area name for each day of your planned visit. Under “accommodation” write the name and address of the hotel. Under “contact” write the phone number of the hotel. *Instead of entering "Tokyo" or "Kyoto", please list the name of tourist destinations such as Sky tree, Roppongi Hills, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Nijo-jo, and Kiyomizu-temple. *Refer to the detailed travel itinerary #7 at the following link: https://www.ny.us.emb-japan.go.jp/en/d/TemoraryVisitorsforTourism.pdf
-Your entire hotel booking confirmation.
-The statement(s) from other bank account(s) proving your financial stability to cover travel expenses. *If you have any foreign, investment banking or hi-yield saving accounts with a sufficient amount of money which proves your financial stability and covers your travel expenses, please submit those statement(s).
I'm just scared of screwing up showing my financial stability. My bf is paying for the trip as it is my birthday, we already booked flights, hotels, etc. But I still sent over a bank statement that showed I had $4000+ which I got from the bank itself. I can get a new one, I also submitted my boyfriend's bank statement as he is financing the trip as well so I'm not quite sure what to send to them along with US passport + drivers license. He's also in the flight booking. I did submit it literally a day before they emailed me so I'm not sure if they saw it. So I'm not sure what bank statement to send to them - I only have one.
Does anyone have any advice? I'm probably gonna call them on Monday to ask as well

Hello travelers!
So my wife and I booked a last minute cruise to Iceland and Norway through NCL this June. We're a family of four, with 3-year-old and 8-month-old boys.
Our Itinerary is as follows:
Day 1 - Reykjavik (Embarkation) Day 2 - Grundarfjordur Day 3 - Akureyri Day 4 - Sea Day Day 5 - Kristiansund (Norway) Day 6 - Trondheim (Norway) Day 7 - Alesund (Norway) Day 8 - Sea Day Day 9 - Husavik Day 10 - Isafjordur Day 11 - Reykjavik (Debarkation)
We're arriving one day before and staying one day after the cruise in Reykjavik.
I was looking for some general tips and advice as to our Itinerary. Looking at the excursions offered directly through NCL (as well as privately through other companies), I feel like what's available isn't really something the kiddos would appreciate or enjoy. Don't think it's a good idea to book many of those excursions for two main reasons:

1. Many are 3-8 hour long tours, something little kids would probably hate. While ours are generally well behaved and we've traveled extensively with them on multi day, hour long trips, that's usually in the comfort and privacy of our own cars. Also, these tours involve either clamoring onto boats for nature or wildlife watching, moderately difficult hikes, or really long drives. Stuff I think our kiddos might be over with in the first 20 minutes lol.
   
2. We want to be considerate of everyone else! There are likely many others on these tours, and don't want to subject them to our kids' potential tantrums, where they are stuck with us for hours. We understand little kids can be stressful, and we're already "intruding" on many people's vacation by simply coming along on the cruise, so we want to limit our impact on others' holiday as much as possible.
   

Some questions/advice sought are:

• As it relates to the Icelandic ports, are all these ports generally easy to walk around and explore on foot immediately following getting off the ship? We're considering maybe doing our own thing rather than booking tours, and simply walk around leisurely and poke around these ports. Is this feasible to do given our Itinerary?
  
• We are wanting to travel lightly, and are debating leaving our car seats behind. I understand Iceland's laws as they relate to child seats. Are taxis or other car transport services easy to book, and how difficult is it to request appropriate child seats? Good idea to leave the car seats at home, or bite the bullet and bring em with us?
  
• Given our Itinerary, anything special or interesting for little kids that stick out at any or these ports? Any recommendations of tours, sights, or experiences would be great!
  

I am planning a trip to Japan while I can still see (even if not much) but every time I try and work on the itinerary I am reminded I wont be able to travel in the future because God and the Universe hate my guts for some reason and decided to ruin my life. How do you guys deal with the constant urge to swallow hundreds of pills and down multiple bottles of alcohol? I would just kill myself now but my parents care about me, and I them, so I cant.
99% of my hobbies are heavily vision relient, some here in about 5 years my life is done, and i will just have to sit around for 50 years until I die, being miserable.

leagalizedoctorassistedsuicide

Got a question about JR Passes or IC cards (Suica/Pasmo/ICOCA/etc)? Read through the information below and feel free to ask additional questions in this thread! Please see here%20question%3F%22&restrict_sr=1&sort=new) for old versions of this megathread.

JR Pass Info

The nationwide JR Pass is a travel pass that allows train and bus travel for a fixed cost over a certain period of days on Japan Railways (JR) services. For a comprehensive source of information on the pass, check out our wiki page or Japan Guide’s JR Pass page.
The JR Pass can be purchased in one of two ways: * Online at the official site * Online from an authorized retailer (also often called a "third-party seller")
There is no way to be certain if a JR Pass will be valuable for you without knowing your exact itinerary and doing the math out. If you are trying to work out whether a JR Pass is the right choice for you, here are some calculators: * JRPass.com’s calculator * Japan Guide’s calculator * Daisuki calculator
As of October 1, 2023, the nationwide JR Pass and regional JR Passes have increased in price significantly. The price increase makes it so that there are very few itineraries that the nationwide JR Pass will be worth it for. For more information and discussion on the price increase, see this search result of prior discussion threads.

IC Card Info (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, etc.)

General Information

An IC card is a stored-value card used to pay for transportation in Japan. That means you can load the card with money and use the card to pay for trains, buses, etc by tapping the card at train station gates or fare readers. Even if you have a JR Pass or other travel pass, an IC card is recommended because it can be used across transportation systems operated by many different transit companies, as well as for payment at convenience stores, restaurants, shops, vending machines, and other locations.
For tourism purposes, there are nine major IC cards and all of them are completely interchangeable and usable in each other's regions, so it doesn’t really matter which one you get. Where you start your travels in Japan often dictates what IC card you get, since different IC cards originate in different regions, but then you'll be able to use it during most of your traveling, even if you move to a different region. For general information on IC cards, see our wiki or Japan Guide’s IC card page.

Physical IC Cards

Currently, sales of regular Suica, named Suica, regular Pasmo, and named Pasmo cards are technically suspended due to a semiconductor shortage (except children's versions and commuter versions). That said, there have been recent reports in early 2024 of people getting regular Suica cards at some stations in Tokyo.
If you are landing in/starting your trip in Tokyo, tourists can still get:

• A Welcome Suica at Haneda Airport (HND) or a Pasmo Passport at both Tokyo airports (HND and NRT) (Note: Pasmo Passport will be discontinued in August 2024, and may be subject to limited availability before then, based on supply)
• Possibly a regular Suica at some major JR East stations in Tokyo (subject to limited availability)
• Possibly a Toica IC card at the JR Central portions of Tokyo Station (Yaesu North Exit) and Shinagawa Station (Shinkansen North Exit) (subject to limited availability)
• A digital IC card (see next section for more information)

A Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport acts exactly like a regular IC card, with two exceptions: it is only valid for 28 days, and it cannot be refunded. Please see this thread and its top comment for information.
If you are starting your trip in another region (e.g., Kansai, Kyushu, etc.), sales of their regional IC cards are unaffected by Suica and Pasmo shortages. Please see this page to identify which card you'll get, and it should be available at airports and train stations in those regions.

Digital IC Cards

If you are looking to get a digital IC card, please note that digital Suica, Pasmo, and ICOCA cards can only be used on iPhones, Apple Watches, or Japanese Android phones (this means the phone was purchased in Japan). For instructions on how to get a digital IC card in Apple Wallet, see here. You do not need the Suica or Pasmo apps (which are all in Japanese) in order to get a digital IC card. It can be loaded and used entirely through Apple Wallet.
Please note that not all credit cards work to load a digital IC card. Amex cards seem to have the highest success rate, but Mastercards and Visas can be flaky. Although Visa previously didn't work at all, as of December 2023, loading a digital Suica with some Visa credits cards seems to work, although not all of them. See this At A Distance blog post for more info and updates. It is not uncommon to not have any of your cards work to load a digital IC card, and if that happens, you might need to stick with a physical IC card.
Keep in mind that digital IC cards cannot be refunded (that requires a Japanese bank account), so you will need to burn down whatever value you’ve loaded onto them before the end of your trip.

IC Card FAQ

I have an old IC card from a previous trip. Can I use it on my upcoming trip?

IC cards are valid for ten years after their last date of use, so if you received the card and/or used the card in/after 2014, it’ll work.

Can more than one person use the same IC card for travel?

No. All travelers who want to use IC cards on transit need to have their own card. Most transit in Japan is distance-based, and the card is “keeping track” of your journey, and it can only keep track of one at a time.

Are there children’s IC cards? How do I get one for my child?

Children under six years old can ride transit for free. If your child is between the ages of six and eleven, you can get a children’s IC card from JR offices by presenting the child’s passport for proof of age. There are also Welcome Suica and Pasmo Passport versions for children. If you are getting IC cards at the airport, they are able to provide children’s cards.

Can I load money onto a physical IC card with a credit card?

No. Physical IC cards can only be loaded with cash, which can be done at ticket machines in train stations, convenience stores, and 7-Eleven ATMs.

I have a physical IC card and I want to transfer it to my phone. If I do that, can I still use the physical card?

No. Once you “move” the physical card to your phone and turn it into a digital card, the physical card becomes invalid. It cannot be used or reactivated.

I’m landing in Tokyo, but then I’m going to Osaka and Kyoto. Do I need a suica in Tokyo and then an ICOCA in Osaka/Kyoto?

No. Once you have one of the major IC cards, it can be used pretty much anywhere. There are some exceptions to this, but they are mostly on individual lines or in specific rural regions. If you are traveling to major tourism cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, etc., you are likely fine with whatever IC card you originally received upon arrival.

Should I buy an IC card online before arriving in Japan?

If you want to get an IC card online from a reputable vendor, there’s nothing wrong with that. Some of the authorized JR Pass website (as well as other websites targeted at tourists) will sell them bundled with other purchases. That said, there isn’t really any reason to get your card ahead of time. If you’re landing in Tokyo, the 28-day Welcome Suica or Pasmo Passport is good enough for most tourists. And if you do end up in the country for longer than 28 days, you can simply get an IC card from another region once you’re in one (such as the ICOCA from Kansai).

Help! I tried to load my digital IC card through Apple Wallet and the transaction didn't go through! What do I do?

To start, did you attempt to create it/load it overnight in Japan? The digital system goes down for maintenance from about 1am to 5am JST, so try again during Japan's daytime hours. Beyond that, Visa cards often cannot be used to load digital IC cards. Mastercards sometimes have issues too, depending on the issuing bank. Unfortunately, if you can't find a digital card + credit card combo that works for you, you may not be able to use digital IC cards.

Recent IC Card Threads

To see some recent discussion on IC cards, check out the following threads from our search results here.

I'm (24F) going to visit my s/o (25M) for a month this summer and to save up on cash, I'm staying with him and his family majority of this trip. But I'll also be visiting relatives and friends in the same state. I'm just wondering if I'm worrying too much.
For context, I'm employed (i got a certification + leave request), and I would say I have a good travel history to SEA countries, Japan, Korea, AUS, EU usually with family and I've visited the US twice with family. I'm going by myself for the first time. Since, it's my very first SOLO travel, I'm a bit nervous.
For this upcoming summer trip, I have a return ticket + tour itinerary and I've booked and paid for the activities (e.g. theme parks, museums, national parks) in advance.
I just want to know if they would find my case suspicious because of my profile?
If there were others like me (especially coming from a developing country), how was your experience like visiting your s/o?

Hey everyone! Me and my partner are lucky enough to be able to travel to Switzerland in May 2025. It's our first time in Europe, so we'd appreciate any feedback/tips based on our itinerary below! :)

Day 1 - Lucerne

• Arrive at Zurich Airport (ZRH) at noon
• Take a direct train from Zurich Airport to Lucerne (approx. 1 hour)
• Check-in at Airbnb or hotel
• Stroll along the lakeshore promenade and take a boat ride
• Explore the Old Town
• Enjoy dinner at a traditional Swiss restaurant like Wirtshaus Taube or Pfistern

Day 2 - Lucerne

• Morning: Visit the Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument. Take bus no. 1 from Lucerne train station to Kriens, Pilatus Bahnen (approx. 15 minutes)
• Midday: Board the panoramic gondolas from Kriens up to Fräkmüntegg (approx. 30 minutes). If time allows, enjoy the toboggan run
• Afternoon:Take the Dragon Ride aerial cableway from Fräkmüntegg to the summit of Mount Pilatus (5 minutes). Explore the summit, have lunch at one of the restaurants, and take in the panoramic views
• Late Afternoon:Descend Mount Pilatus via the world's steepest cogwheel railway to Alpnachstad (approx. 40 minutes). From there, take a boat back to Lucerne (approx. 1 hour)

Day 3 - Lauterbrunnen

• Check out and take a train from Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen (2 hours)
• Check in at hotel/airbnb
• Explore Lauterbrunnen village, visit Staubbach Falls, and take a shorter, easier walk along a portion of the valley trail

Day 4 - Lauterbrunnen

• Take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen/Mürren to the Schilthorn summit
• Visit to the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant
• Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley and Trümmelbach Falls

Day 5 - Lauterbrunnen

• Take a train or cable car up to Wengen (about 15 minutes)
• Explore Wengen, hike to Männlichen for panoramic views (if weather permits), optional Allmendhubel funicular ride, or relax in the village
• Return to Lauterbrunnen in the evening

Day 6 - Grindelwald

• Check out and take the train to Grindelwald (1 hour)
• Check into hotel/airbnb
• In the afternoon, take a train to Bern (1.5 hours), explore the old town and bear park, and enjoy a traditional Swiss dinner

Day 7 - Grindelwald

• Check cameras before buying the expensive tickets to Jungfraujoch
• Full-day excursion to Jungfraujoch. Explore the Ice Palace, Sphinx Observation Terrace, and the Aletsch Glacier
• Head back to Grindelwald in the evening

Day 8 - Montreux

• Check out and take the train from Grindelwald to Montreux (3-4 hours)
• Check in to accommodation
• In the afternoon, visit Chillon Castle and stroll along the lakeside promenade

Day 9 - Montreux

• Morning: Take a scenic boat trip on Lake Geneva.
• Afternoon: Explore the Lavaux Vineyards
• Evening: Enjoy a final dinner in Montreux.

Day 10 - Zurich

• Check out and train to Zurich (2.5 hours)
• Check into hotel/airbnb
• Spend the rest of the day shopping in Zurich

Day 11 - Zurich

• Check-out
• Depart from Zurich Airport in the afternoon

Also, I'm looking to get an Omega while in Zurich, does anyone have an AD to recommend or should I get one from the OB?

Hi all, I am currently outlining my trip, from the 4th of july to the 19th of july. I am mainly focussing on sightseeing, food and cocktails. Any good recommendations are appreciated. My itenerary is not that full or strict. I will mainly be staying in hostels. I might not be strict on day 3 and 4 depending on how bad the jetlag is (coming from europe)
4-7: arrival at 21:30, Go to hostel and probably crash. (tokyo)
5-7: art aquarium museum, Teamlab borderlessm toyosu Market (tokyo)
6-7: Shibuya, shibuya crossing, Meiji Shrine (maybe on vrijdag), Nakameguro (tokyo)
7-7: Shinjuku Gyoen, Shinjuku gebied, tokyo metroplitan governement building, Shinjuku Chuo park (tokyo)
8-7: Kokyo, kanda shrine, , uenopark, some relaxing nacht bus naar kyoto (tokyo)
9-7: Arrival around 7 in the morning at kyoto, vind locker to store luggage, then get coffee and food, explore kyoto, untill I don’t want to and go to hotel. (kyoto)
10-7: Relaxxxx (just winding down from the past few days. (kyoto)
11-7: Tenryuji, Nijo Castle, Nishiki market (kyoto)
12-7: Explore Kyoto, in afternoon to Osaka, Dotonbori, and explore Osaka. (kyoto, Osaka)
13-7: Nara
14-7: Tsūtenkakum, Sumiyoshi Taisha, minami, osaka castle (osaka)
15-7: Osaka, relax. Maybe beach or something. Night bus to hiroshima (osaka)
16-7: Arrival at 07:30. Look for locker, or dump baggage at hostel. Then Hiroshima castle, peace memorial Park, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower. Okonomiyaki Pancakes (hiroshima)
17-7: Miyajima,, stay the night there (maybe)? (hiroshima, Miyajima)
18-7: van miyajima to hiroshima, some sightseeing then back to tokio (by plane, check in hostel nearby Haneda) (hiroshima)
19-7: some shopping in tokyo, and final sightseeing, the plane back home at 20:00 from haneda. (tokyo)
I did have some questions maybe some of you can answer, firstly are there storage lockers at major stations? As i can arrive quite early and dont want to drag my luggage around. Secondly what type of luggage is preferable, a large hardcase suitcase, or a backpack? keep in mind I am also taking a backpack with camera equipment. Again, any reccomendations are appreciated.

So I will be visiting Japan/Korea for 33 nights. The first leg of my trip will be Japan, and based on my last expeirence in Japan I know I will be exhausted by the end of it. I'm looking for somewhere to take a mid vacation break in Korea. I will be ariving in Jeju in mid march after spending the first half of the month in Japan. After leaving Jeju I will be spending 6 nights in Busan, 3 nights in Gyeongju, and 6 nights in Seoul.
Currently my plan is spending 3 days in Jeju flying in from Osaka. I will be renting a car (I'm comfortable driving in foreign countries). I'm looking at the Grand Hyatt jeju. I'm really looking for somewhere I could spend some time relaxing without really leaving the hotel if I'm not feeling it, but also have the option to have a light itinerary in the morning/afternoon and have a good food options/bars near the hotel. I'm really interested in just seeing the highlights of the island traveling by car. This may sound weird but I love just driving around exploring. Would you consider Jeju a good option for this?

Hello travelers!
So my wife and I booked a last minute cruise to Iceland and Norway through NCL this June. We're a family of four, with 3-year-old and 8-month-old boys.
Our Itinerary is as follows:
Day 1 - Reykjavik (Embarkation) Day 2 - Grundarfjordur Day 3 - Akureyri Day 4 - Sea Day Day 5 - Kristiansund (Norway) Day 6 - Trondheim (Norway) Day 7 - Alesund (Norway) Day 8 - Sea Day Day 9 - Husavik Day 10 - Isafjordur Day 11 - Reykjavik (Debarkation)
We're arriving one day before and staying one day after the cruise in Reykjavik.
I was looking for some general tips and advice as to our Itinerary. Looking at the excursions offered directly through NCL (as well as privately through other companies), I feel like what's available isn't really something the kiddos would appreciate or enjoy. Don't think it's a good idea to book many of those excursions for two main reasons:

1. Many are 3-8 hour long tours, something little kids would probably hate. While ours are generally well behaved and we've traveled extensively with them on multi day, hour long trips, that's usually in the comfort and privacy of our own cars. Also, these tours involve either clamoring onto boats for nature or wildlife watching, moderately difficult hikes, or really long drives. Stuff I think our kiddos might be over with in the first 20 minutes lol.
   
2. We want to be considerate of everyone else! There are likely many others on these tours, and don't want to subject them to our kids' potential tantrums, where they are stuck with us for hours. We understand little kids can be stressful, and we're already "intruding" on many people's vacation by simply coming along on the cruise, so we want to limit our impact on others' holiday as much as possible.
   

Some questions/advice sought are:

• As it relates to the Icelandic ports, are all these ports generally easy to walk around and explore on foot immediately following getting off the ship? We're considering maybe doing our own thing rather than booking tours, and simply walk around leisurely and poke around these ports. Is this feasible to do given our Itinerary?
  
• We are wanting to travel lightly, and are debating leaving our car seats behind. I understand Iceland's laws as they relate to child seats. Are taxis or other car transport services easy to book, and how difficult is it to request appropriate child seats? Good idea to leave the car seats at home, or bite the bullet and bring em with us?
  
• Given our Itinerary, anything special or interesting for little kids that stick out at any or these ports? Any recommendations of tours, sights, or experiences would be great!
  

I booked this trip on kind of a last minute whim because all of our schedules aligned and it’s in 2.5 weeks
I am more of a laissez faire sort of traveler, only because a very packed itinerary can create more stress than produce a fun and enjoyable time…my biggest priority is having a delicious meal.
That said, I want to maximize my first Japan trip before planning another for the end of the year (more so a trial run so to speak - to get my bearings for the next one)
This is quite literally the road map we have (commitment made/tickets purchased)

• 06/19 Arrival to Tokyo
  
• 06/20 ghibli museum!
  
• 06/21 Tokyo Disney
  
• 06/22 Asakusa & Akihabara
  
• 06/23
  
• 06/24
  
• 06/25
  
• 06/26 Departure
  

What’s the best way to fill in those gaps? We will be staying in shinjuku/shibuya so I’m sure mindless wandering can/will fill up a lot of time, but it would be nice to have some must see/dos to add into that.

An Indian passport holder. I had applied to the swiss embassy to attend a medical conference(where physicians, students from different nations get together) in Switzerland. With all the documents (ITR, NOC etc on letterhead and a proposed itinerary with tickets and bookings), and a sufficient balance (I was going for a week, and I had 6000CHF ). Without any prior international travel history; the Swiss embassy denied the visa stating they did not believe in my purpose to go, my reason to come back, my documents and virtually anything that I submitted.
I have a US visa and Now I wish to apply again for a Schengen visa (destinations include Greece, Czech Republic, and Austria). Any advice will be appreciated!

Hi everyone,
I've been looking online for the best transportation options in Germany but haven't found anything concrete. Perhaps your experience can help me out.
I'm going to Germany in mid-June and will be there for 4 days. My itinerary is as follows:
June 17: Land in the morning at Brandenburg Airport and head to Potsdam (where I will be staying)
June 18-19: Explore Berlin
June 20: Travel to Bremen in the morning
June 21: Leave Germany
My question is: will the bus or train be a better and cheaper option for traveling on these days?
What specific transportation tickets should I buy and how much do they cost?
Is there a day pass or a multi-day ticket that allows unlimited use of public transport, similar to what is available in other countries like the UK? Or is pay-as-you-go the best option?
Please share your experiences and advice. Thanks in advance!

Kinda doing a wing it so I don't have a locked down itinerary.
33M, Canadian, flying into barcelona June 13th late AM, likely gonna get the travel cards and do those things.
For the 16th-19th I have a hotel in Berlin, no attractions planned yet. AC/DC is playing in Dresden so I'm thinking of getting a ticket for that if the hotel let's me ship to them as it's a paper ticket.
I have nothing after that, what should I do?
For the 26th - 1st I'm in nantes/clisson, France for Hellfest (27-30) and some light sightseeing/recovery. After the 1st I'm likely going to head back to Barcelona and the leave on the 4th back home.
For things I like, seeing the culture of places and trying out foods, seeing history. First time in Europe so what are some in your opinion absolutely must see things what's along the path or within distance? What are things I should get?
Thanks.

Travellers may easily purchase tickets, make bookings, and ask questions at the Qatar Airways Lagos Office. The office, which may assist with general customer service, luggage inquiries, and flight itineraries, is located in the heart of Lagos. Visit the office to book a faultless trip with Qatar Airways, a company renowned for its enormous global coverage and excellent customer service standards.

I was thinking of taking a trip to Japan next year and was able to snag a couple of outbound award flights. I'm having a hard time deciding which to keep. I'm making a list of pros and cons for each:
JL F on a 777-300 - ❌ 110k Alaska miles, which feels like kind of a lot to use on myself. Am I worth it? (I usually say no lol) - ✅ Direct flight; No positioning flight needed for me - ✅ Mid April date may work better in avoiding crowds and higher prices for where I'm going - ✅ According to the booking class of the itinerary it looks like I'd earn a ton of miles and eqm's back on Alaska - ❌ I've got OW emerald already so the ground experience wouldn't change much since I already get access to the same lounges plus it's ex-US so not as good as leaving from Japan anyway. - ✅ I've never done JAL TPAC in First, though I will have flown JAL in J multiple times by then. - ✅ Expensive on points but better value overall
NH J on a 787-8 - ✅ 52.5k VS miles (41k transfer from Amex which is still a steal even after the recent devaluation!) - ❌ Late April date means I end up dealing with the Golden Week crowds and prices of Japan - ❌ Positioning flight needed. It'll be an easy, common, 3hr flight, for me, but it's still needed. Maybe I can get cheap EQMs or loyalty points lol - ✅ I've never been on ANA before and since I have OWE I'm usually more likely to fly JAL. This might be a nice opportunity for me - ❌ I don't have *A status and wouldn't earn anything back for this flight anyway - ❌ It's J anyway, and there are no extra First Class benefits on the ground nor a Polaris lounge or anything where the flight is departing from (I think...). - ❌ Very cheap on points but not as great of a value in my opinion
Both flights are not in either airlines' new cabins, nor am I someone wHo MuSt OnLy fLy tHe LaTeSt pRoDuCt. If I'm traveling by myself I don't mind going as cheap as possible as I would rather spend points on my family and friends joining along. Nor do I particularly care about CPP since it's ultimately down to if I think something is a good deal for me. That said, I like good value. Listing this out helps me lean towards one over the other.
Ultimately I want to try to decide so I can release one of them back into inventory (hopefully) so it will find a good home and be appreciated by someone who could use it. For those that are familiar with these flights, which would you do? Are there other considerations I'm missing? Am I over thinking this? Thanks in advance!
Edit: the interesting thing is the JAL flight is booked under the "A" fare class, rather than the usual "U" for award flights. Has anyone had this on an award flight and earned according to the chart?

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Welcome to J2S Tour and Travels, where your journey to Agra, the enchanting city of the Taj Mahal, begins. As the premier travel agency in Agra, we take pride in curating experiences that surpass expectations and create memories to last a lifetime.
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1. Expertise: With years of experience in the travel industry, we boast a team of seasoned professionals who understand the nuances of travel. From crafting personalized itineraries to providing expert guidance, we ensure every aspect of your trip is meticulously planned.
2. Tailored Experiences: We understand that no two travelers are alike. That's why we offer tailor-made packages designed to suit your preferences, interests, and budget. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a foodie craving culinary delights, or a culture seeker eager to immerse yourself in local traditions, we have the perfect itinerary for you.
3. Local Insights: As locals, we have an intimate knowledge of Agra and its hidden gems. From iconic landmarks like the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort to off-the-beaten-path attractions, we'll take you on a journey beyond the tourist trail, uncovering the city's rich history and vibrant culture.
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5. Safety and Comfort: Your safety and comfort are paramount to us. We work only with trusted partners and adhere to the highest safety standards to ensure you can explore Agra with peace of mind. From well-maintained vehicles to licensed guides, we leave no stone unturned in ensuring your safety and comfort throughout your journey.

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Contact us today to start planning your dream trip to Agra with J2S Tour and Travels. Let us be your trusted partner in creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Airlines:

• Business class Air Fiji on Alaska Airlines points
• Air New Zealand in country
• Business class Tahiti Nui on Alaska Airlines points (return via Tahiti)

Queenstown - 4 nights:
Accommodation at Azure Lodge https://azur.co.nz/
Included Full breakfast, afternoon tea, pre dinner drinks, and canapes. Mini bar drinks and snacks also included
Awesome view of Lake Wakatipu with wonderful staff. Evening canapes turned into a lovely time getting to know your other villa mates. Gregory and Mark from Australia were fantastic at being the “connectors” to everyone staying in the lodge. It was our first lodge experience and we loved the community that was discovered over drinks, canapes, and a sunset. We were also lucky enough to see the Aurora.
This lodge could use some new carpet, automatic blinds, and new mattresses. The villas are also placed downhill with a very steep walk up to the lodge. You can get golf cart rides, though. The lodge does not have a full kitchen, so you will need to go offsite for dinner, or they can arrange delivery. We rented a car and drove into town for dinner which was super easy.
Activities:
Helicopter - https://www.flynz.co.nz/ The Milford & Fiordland Helicopter tour was canceled due to weather. Because not enough people joined on the rescheduled day, it was reduced to a private tour of just Milford Sound. We stopped on top of a mountain and had a glass of champagne. It was perfect, and I highly recommend the operator “Over the Top”.
Rock climbing - https://www.wildwire.co.nz/lord-of-the-rungs-upper We climbed a waterfall! Lord of the Rungs is a Via Ferrata climb up the face of a rock wall with a waterfall. It’s no joke. It is hard work. The views are amazing but be prepared to work hard. You won’t go all the way to the top but about 2/3s of the way up. They do have a tour for all the way up but it’s for advanced climbers and requires a helicopter to get down. I highly recommend this if you have good fitness.
General Tour of Queenstown - https://www.beaurapley.co.nz/ We initially asked for this to be removed from the itinerary but the DMC insisted that we must meet Beau. Beau sent someone else for this tour. It was fine but we had already seen most of what they had planned to show because we had a free day from the helicopter being canceled.
Christchurch - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Otahuna Lodge (Upgraded room) - https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/otahuna-lodge/
https://www.reddit.com/chubbytravel/comments/1csy54k/otahuna_lodge_christchurch
Includes Full breakfast daily, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, 4-course dinner with wine pairing, and laundry service.
This place is magical. We loved everything about it. You can see my review for more information but it was by far the best lodge we stayed at on this trip. It might have helped that we were the only guests on the property for our stay though.
Activities:
Full Day Private Akaroa and Harbour Cruise - This was fine and fun but could be skipped. We were picked in a Tesla with a driver and made the <2 hour trek to Akaroa. The boat was around 2 hours, and we got to see Hector's Dolphins and a couple of very small penguins.
3-hour Private Cooking Lesson at Otahuna - This was my husband's favorite activity of our entire trip. We had it scheduled on the last full day and we could request items from our last two nights dinner. We also made gluten-free pasta, which was a first for us (I am celiac). The dinner that night then included the items we cooked. The chef, Jimmy McIntyre, is great and provides email if you want any additional recipes.
Napier / Hawkes Bay - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers (Upgraded room) - https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/cape-kidnappers
Included full breakfast, pre-dinner aperitif, dinner, mini-bar drinks.
This was our least favorite resort on our NZ trip. It felt like we were in a country club in Texas, which is not the feeling we were looking for. The staff was new and lacked confidence. They looked like they were in their young 20s and really didn’t have the experience you would expect from a luxury resort. The resort looked like it only shopped at Restoration Hardware. They kept having service-related issues that they would try to repair but it just wasn’t enough.
The food was just ok. It’s the only breakfast that didn’t offer eggs benedict. They were extremely strict about only 2 free drinks before dinner. The canapes were cheap, boring, and the only time we had chicken in all of our time in NZ.
I can not stress this enough how much we disliked this resort.
Activities:
Full Day Private Best of the Bay Tour - Long Island Tour It was fine. We would have rather rented a car and just do this ourselves.
Can-Am Tour - Rosewood Cape Kidnappers It was fun to see the resort via the off-road buggy. The personal guide was great at answering questions and showing us around the property. I would recommend doing this if you decide to go to this resort.
Rotorua - 3 nights:
Accommodations at Solitaire Lodge - https://www.solitairelodge.co.nz/
Included a Mini bar, breakfast, pre-dinner drinks, canapes, a five-course dinner, and a light lunch.
This resort was lovely but it is in dire need of an update. It’s totally serviceable though. The mattresses are very comfortable, and the staff was wonderful. It is in a very remote location and we were very happy that my husband was comfortable driving.
Activities:
Te Ra Guided Experience and Cultural Performance - https://ecommerce.tepuia.com/te-ra-guided-experience Located in a very active geothermal valley including the largest geyser in the southern hemisphere, this experience was worth it. They will walk through the school that teaches wood carving and other traditions of the Maori culture. We were also able to see the haka.
Ultimate Canopy Tour - https://www.canopytours.co.nz/ The best ziplining tour we have been on and we highly recommend them.
Twilight Glow Worm Kayak Experience - https://www.paddleboardrotorua.com/rotorua-glow-worm-kayaking-tour After the only rainy day we had in NZ, we ended the day with amazing weather where we kayaked into the caves to see the glow worm caves. We were the only ones there so this 3 hour tour took only 1.5 hours or so.
Hobbiton Movie Set - I would pass on this one. I am not a lord of the rings fan though. If you do decide to go, know that you will be doing this for 3 full hours. There is no self-paced tour, and it includes lunch. I felt like I was being held hostage to look at a fake very small town. The only cool part is that you get to walk into an appointed house which was cool inside.
Auckland
Accommodations at Park Hyatt Auckland (Upgraded) - https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-zealand/park-hyatt-auckland/ Included full breakfast
We were only here for 24 hours before flying out to Tahiti and it was fine. The upgrade was to an amazing suite with a great view.
This trip was fully booked by a travel agent and a DMC. It worked well for us because we didn’t know the cost. There is no way we would have booked some of our favorite activities due to cost, so it really helped us disconnect the cost from the trip. Accommodations and activities cost us a total of $30K USD for two weeks.
While I am listed as a TA, It's just because I joined Fora. I don't want clients and we paid full price for this trip. Again, no interest in clients or selling anything related to travel. But they said I would be banned if I didn't add the flare.

Hiiiiii friends!
I'm a Chinese local girl currently in Guangzhou/Shenzhen, mainly in the Guangdong province. I'm a big fan of solo trips and have a lot of travel experience across China. I was born in Zhaotong (Yunnan), raised in Ganzhou (Jiangxi, my father’s hometown), Guiyang (Guizhou, my mother’s hometown), and Guangzhou (Guangdong, for university). I’ve traveled to over 40 cities in China, including many popular tourist destinations.
If you're planning a trip to China, I’m here to help! I recently completed my master’s degree in the UK and now I'm taking a business course where one of my assignments is to offer itinerary consulting.
For just £1, I can help you plan your itinerary and make your trip easier. Here’s how I can assist you:

• When to visit
• Where to stay
• How to get around
• How long to spend in each place
• Places to visit
• Things to do
• Money, costs, and communication tips
• Food and restaurants (including vegan options)

Feel free to ask me anything about traveling in China! If you want, I can even be your local tour guide.
Looking forward to helping you plan an amazing trip!

So My friend and I are traveling to Japan for the first time for a whole month and we haven’t planned anything out yet. Was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/itinerary presets I could use. Planning to bring around 6-7k USD for the month.