Essential The Official Coli Travel Thread

[Iceson Beckford]

Don't let them do it.

I'm a woman, so I get why folks are a bit precautious, but.... traveling with folks can be annoying if they wanna do clique stuff or visit tourist traps. Also when you are alone, you can spend as much time on things as you like. When I traveled with my mom, we spent around 2-3 hours in the Dubai Sephora because it was so large and the workers are so friendly.

Going in groups is honestly the worst

So much compromise and debate that nothing really gets done.

Cant wait to get some solo trips in next year

 

[phcitywarrior]

My circle isn't large but of the few people I rock with I've started to notice a bit of a difference between those who travel and those who don't. I have family/friends who are great nice people with the best intentions..but it seems like those who haven't really traveled seem to have a more limited view of the world and in some cases of life in general. Like as time goes on I'm finding I can't have certain conversations with the non-traveling crowd.I'm not trying to say one crowd is better than the other per se but being someone who enjoys traveling, it seems like the non-travelers don't share certain fundamental values I have. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Yep. That's life. Just like some people have a love for say reading and other don't. I try to find what I have in common with people rather than what I don't (even though, I myself am a traveler)

 

[Rusty Kuntz]

I’m gonna be there at the end of July - thanks for the tips - I was thinking of learning stuff like bathroom and trying to figure out the subway lines - I’m hoping google maps come thru for me like it did in Barcelona .. shyt got me everywhere and you can download maps offline for when you don’t have service. Any must eat places I should know about ?

• Get cash; it'll be easier in some places.
• Make sure you rent a pocket wifi hotspot; you can get one from the airport post office, or they can deliver it to your hotel.
  
• Make sure you figure out transportation. Cabs are expensive as fukk in Japan, so I'd recommend getting an IC card.
• Learn a few key phrases ("Do you speak English?" is a good one). Google Translate is your friend LOL
• Convenience stores are the goat (and are literally everywhere).
• Don't tip; it's considered rude.

 

[Rusty Kuntz]

I love this thread, makes me far more comfortable in Solo travel cause people definitely try and shame you about it

Which makes no sense to me. Before I was married, I solo travelled pretty frequently. If you want to visit a place and have done your research, I say go for it! There's too much world to see to be hindered by other people's ignorance.

 

[Iceson Beckford]

Which makes no sense to me. Before I was married, I solo travelled pretty frequently. If you want to visit a place and have done your research, I say go for it! There's too much world to see to be hindered by other people's ignorance.

I mean it doesnt really bother me too much but sometimes it can make you feel a little weird

A lot of people are scared to even eat by themselves or watch a movie so cant let their opinions in.

 

[WaveCapsByOscorp™]

Thanks but I was referring to U.S. Customs in general. How long does it take to get through it. It's only when you're returning to the United States right?

It can vary depending on what time of the day your flight arrives, where you land initially, how many people on your flight, etc. if it’s an early arrival, I imagine you wouldn’t wait too long since flights are just arriving and the line hasn’t built up. The longer the day goes by, the longer the line. It’s been anywhere from 20 minutes to close to an hour. But, like I said, I’ve been travelling to smaller airports recently that have their own US border control stations that check you prior to coming in the United States. Saves a little time I guess.

You have to pass thru every country’s border control when you fly internationally unless you’re flying between countries in the European Union and probably a few other countries I haven’t had the chance to fly between. Most of my travelling is in Europe.

 

[mannyrs13]

Thinking of doing a 3 day weekend trip to New Orleans late this summer. Never been there and pricing looks cheap and even better with reward points. Get there early in the morning and leave in the evening on day 3. My homegirl said her and her husband may be interested if not I might go alone. Never traveled alone so who knows. Feel like checking out a new city that isn't too far so not much traveling plus a few days should be enough to check out the basics of the city. Just depends on how my finances look and if I'm able to meet some goals thru the summer.

 

[phcitywarrior]

Not really a big trip but i'm doing my yearly summer trip to NYC on July 4th weekend. Gonna be there the 3rd to 7th.

Can't wait to bike around Manhattan and just stumble into random adventures

 

[Yinny]

Not really a big trip but i'm doing my yearly summer trip to NYC on July 4th weekend. Gonna be there the 3rd to 7th.

Can't wait to bike around Manhattan and just stumble into random adventures

Enjoy and Don’t get hit by a car I’m terrified of biking over there in more than a few spots

 

[phcitywarrior]

Enjoy and Don’t get hit by a car I’m terrified of biking over there in more than a few spots

Not actually that bad to be honest. A lot of dedicated bike lanes and Manhattan traffic doesn't move that quickly. I did this last year summer as well. Went to ramen shop in SoHo and when I got out I was like "what else is there to day?".

Saw some dudes on those Citi bike shares and I decided to try it out. Ended biking from Soho to Harlem. Made some stops along the way in Central Park and then biked all the way back to Brooklyn. I got some great shots of NYC that day that I'll have to post here.

It was after that trip I really saw the joys of bikining in the city. Soooo much fun.

Just thinking about it got me hyped!!! Probably gonna dedicate at least 3-4 hours each day I'm there just biking. My camera should be in by then as well.

 

[Skooby]

Speaking of the 4th, my birthday is on the 5th. Every birthday since I was 15 have been at a family reunion.

I'm trying to do something different but I just don't know what. No big sporting events is going on. Need ideas...

 

[phcitywarrior]

Thinking about if I should cop this camera before or after my NYC trip. It'd be nice to have it while biking around, at the same time, not sure if this is the place I wanna crack it out for its first shots.

 

[LoMax30]

Thinking about if I should cop this camera before or after my NYC trip. It'd be nice to have it while biking around, at the same time, not sure if this is the place I wanna crack it out for its first shots.

If the "energy" isn't right about a purchase I say fall back. Maybe I'm superstitious but I always want to feel 100% the first time I use something I purchased, especially if I dropped some bread on it.

 

[phcitywarrior]

If the "energy" isn't right about a purchase I say fall back. Maybe I'm superstitious but I always want to feel 100% the first time I use something I purchased, especially if I dropped some bread on it.

Yea, I decided against it. I'd have to do rush delivery and start assembling it when I get to NYC. Gonna just get it when I get back to DC.

 

[WaveCapsByOscorp™]

Waiting on my last flight from Madrid to Marrakesh like