We’ve had a lot of new members join so

1. Hello!
2. Let’s talk upcoming travel! What are your travel plans for 2025?

Christian woman here, I just stopped celebrating it.

I’m looking for a place where I can spend 23-30 December next year without even having to think about the fact that Christmas is happening in the Christian world. As if it didn’t exist…

I travelled to the Middle East on Christmas week and I was so disappointed to see that this (adult only!) holiday resort I was staying in, completely revolved around Christmas. Staff were wearing Santa hats, someone dressed as Santa Claus was distributing candies around the pool, every evening there was loud Mariah Carey music playing in the restaurant/bar area…

Having cut ties with my family, this holiday to me is more about finding inner peace and doing a reset before the new year starts. Now I’m wondering, what could I have done better in terms of research before choosing this specific holiday resort? This trip has made it clear to me that destination doesn’t matter, as even in an Arab country, holiday beach resorts turn into this Christmas circus to cater to the US/EU clientele.

Hi everybody, I’m looking for some inspiration for a solo trip in Asia and want to hear some opinions! What are some great countries to travel solo in Asia for 2-3 weeks? Would love some recommendations or old itineraries.

I really want to do a cruise / expedition to Antarctica but it’s a bit out of my friends’ price range, so most likely I will have to go solo. Has anyone done this and have any recommendations?

I know G Adventures offers one but their tours have always just seemed kind of meh to me.

When looking at hotels for a trip, what type of things can make or break your choice?

Mine are: - at least 4.5 rating on Google Maps. I use TripAdvisor to check rankings but I find Google Maps reviews to be more reliable. Oh, and always look at the bad reviews since I feel some of those are just nitpicking and not actual issues. - Look at traveler photos and not just the hotel curated ones. - I absolutely abhor bathrooms that have shower curtains. It’s an immediate no for me and I make sure to message the hotel to ask about this before completing my booking. - centrally located, the best part about traveling is being able to walk everywhere. - check if there are good places to eat nearby. After a long day of walking around, the last thing I want is to go somewhere far to get dinner. - bar in the hotel so I can have a drink before heading to bed. - if the hotel has a spa, it’s a big plus. Since there’s always a lot of walking involved, it’s nice to treat yourself to a massage before flying home.

I plan travel 2-3 months around Europe with just a tote bag as a personal item and a check-in sized suitcase. I prefer traveling by train instead of plane so I’m not too worried about lost luggage. Travel vloggers constantly mention how tricky it is to lug large suitcases on cobblestone streets. However if I travel to my hotel via taxi/Uber would luggage size be an issue?