r/travel • u/AutoModerator • May 16 '19
Discussion r/travel Topic of the Week: 'You Doing You'
Hey travellers!
When you do you, what do you do?
In this week's travel community topic we'd love to hear about your peculiar 'travel thing': what will always be on your to-do-list whereever you go?
This post will be archived on our wiki community topics page for future reference.
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u/swollencornholio Airplane! May 16 '19
Definitely hunt out local craft brews. My wife could careless but I try to see what that country is up to on the brew scene.
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u/ParkingEstate May 19 '19
Couldn't care less you mean?
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u/cloudprince May 19 '19
I think Americans say it the other way around (judging by reddit/social media/TV).
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u/justthetips0629 May 20 '19
No, just everyone here says it wrong. It's still wrong in the US. So infuriating.
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u/SpacyTiger May 19 '19
This is one of my go-tos. One of my best memories of visiting Japan was finding this tiny whiskey bar near Kyoto and getting to try some whiskey other than the usual stuff we can get in the States. We can find anything Suntory or Nikka pretty easily where I am, but that's about it unless you dig really deep. The bartender was super passionate about Japanese craft whiskey and had a ton of things to try. Ended up coming across this one, which is probably still my favorite whiskey I've ever had, ever.
I'm heading to AZ in a couple weeks and already have a list of breweries to check out. People in the beer industry are just so passionate about the stuff they make, and it's always a good time visiting local taprooms.
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u/HarryBlessKnapp East East East London May 22 '19
Bit of a tip, some of the best brewing in the UK will not be considered craft beer but real ale. Keep your eyes peeled. It's a subtle distinction but you could easily miss some great beers.
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May 16 '19
I wait until I've got a private room and don't do it in a hostel dorm, that's for sure.
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u/swollencornholio Airplane! May 16 '19
The horror of waking up to a crank session rocking your bunk.
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u/caveman512 May 17 '19
As I prepare for my first hostel stay, does this actually happen??
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May 17 '19
Yes, along with people having regular sex in the room. It's not common, though, but something that will happen if you stay enough nights in enough hostels. Bear in mind that it's 5x more likely if you're at a known party hostel compared to a regular hostel.
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u/pxxb May 16 '19
Street food!
I skip most restaurants and stick to the busier street food stalls where I can see the food being prepared. Some of my best travel memories (and meals!) have been discovering that perfect food item at a street food stall!
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u/melissaoliveros May 17 '19
I think that food is my weak point, it is the only treasure that each region has, no one else can match flavors that you only find in the streets
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May 17 '19
If it is in a town/city: at least one morning get out there very, very early, get to a piazza or such place for people watching and overview of the area - and watch how the place wakes up gradually. It is superb spectacle and nothing beats it. My absolute highlights so far were Lucca, Montepulciano, Segovia (around the cathedral), and Bologna (around the university).
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u/cyaneyed999 May 22 '19
I am so much not a morning person, but I do love doing this.
In Paris, when jetlag was getting me up early, I was walking around on a Sunday morning. Suddenly one of the flea markets came to life. No one had even told me about the flea markets, and where I'm from flea markets are set up outside the towns in a rural open space.
It was exhilarating. What a way to describe a flea market!
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u/jippiejee Holland May 19 '19
I loved that in Kyoto. Going out in the very early morning to the nearby park for a smoke (the only place in the old town where this would be allowed). Seeing the elderly coming out of their houses to sweep the streets before anyone else would pass by on their way to work. Was always fun if they joined my bench with a friendly smile and lit up a smoke. There's nothing like watching a city come to life in the early morning.
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u/kittyglitther May 16 '19
Depends on where I am and why I'm there.
Sometimes it's people watching and reading while drinking wine and boring some poor bartender with inane conversation, other times it's taking an edible and getting sunburn adjacent while looking at weird trees.
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May 16 '19
I always want to hike something.
Going to St. Lucia and will be hiking one of the Pitons.
Went to Latvia and hiked in a national park.
Went to Providence but stopped for a quarter mile out and back to the highest point in Rhode Island.
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u/randolphmcafee United States May 19 '19
We love cooking classes and have done them in Italy, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Mexico and Czech Republic. Czech was more of a tasting, not do much cooking. Best was Costa Rica, but making pasta from scratch in Italy was cool too. Great for family travel.
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u/SuperCooper12 May 21 '19
Have any tips for seeking out a great experience? The gf REALLY wants to do a class in Rome here in a few weeks
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u/randolphmcafee United States May 21 '19
We found one a short train ride away, cool old town. TripAdvisor was the source.
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u/SpacyTiger May 19 '19
A few things I guess:
- If there's a cat cafe in the vicinity (more common an occurrence now than it used to be!), I will go to it. It is my bucket list goal to be able to say that I have petted a cat in every country in the world. So far I've only got the US, Japan, Austria, and Slovakia on my list, but I'm checking off the UK, France, and Italy before the year is out. I am ready. My time is now.
- While I was in Vienna and Bratislava last year, I ended up doing three escape rooms with a friend. One of my favorite things to do. Vienna had a really cool Harry Potter themed one that was pretty easy, but had crazy good production values.
- Craft booze of any kind, though beer and whiskey are my alcoholic drinks of choice. If I can do a brewery tour somewhere, even better.
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u/rubychanelsim May 18 '19
Walking tours, streetfood, going to local markets and drinking cheap wine/beer (cheap... but delicious!)
I am always also chasing spectacular views everywhere I go, walking around and taking photography and listening to some tunes. Pure bliss!
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u/TheWeeMouse May 21 '19 edited May 21 '19
Botanical gardens! I love strolling through different flora native to the climate. It's restorative, educational, and oh-so-soothing. Also as others have mentioned, Geocaching!
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u/herefornownyc May 16 '19
FOOD. I know cooking yourself saves so much money but food is definitely my vice of choice! I seek out local cuisine - and also love eating with locals in their homes who then become friends. Food is a direct link to culture, so I also feel that it helps to immerse myself further in the places I stay.
Being raised in NY I also walk a ton. 8-12 miles on a sunny day sounds lovely, whether that's hiking or exploring a city. I feel like "feet on the street" also allows you to connect to your surroundings more, and breaks you out of scripted tours. Find your own way, get lost, make friends!
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u/DesignerCoyote May 18 '19
McDonald's. It sounds weird but I love seeing the different menu items they have. Some have very different stuff you can't get in other countries.
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u/AF_II we're all tourists down here May 18 '19
This but with crisps (chips). It's weird that the brands can be recognisable, but the flavours totally different. I think this all stems from 'discovering' feta + sundried tomato walkers/lays in Greece as a teenager.
This year's favourites: pork belly pringles in china & various tomato flavour crisps in Estonia.
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u/caffeinewasmylife May 18 '19
I love doing this too! Which is your favorite country for McDonalds so far?
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u/DesignerCoyote May 20 '19
the one in Vietnam had interesting breakfast options. Also the pizza hut there had so many different kinds of seafood pizza. One had shrimp baked into the crust.
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u/SpeckledSparrow19 May 21 '19
We do this too - only we never eat anything in there. We just go in to peruse the curious menu items in all the different countries.
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u/MaryMeert May 20 '19
I chat with locals - taxi drivers, bartenders, maids and so on. I always ask them if they like the place they live in and why yes or no. I also ask them to recommend their favourite sights or cafes. It really helps to make your own opinion about the country and people.
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u/LastGlass1971 May 20 '19
Balance on every trip is super important to me, be it a long weekend or 2-week jaunt. I must catch a live music show or experience a bit of nightlife. A bit of nature should be scheduled in, even if it's just a city park. Museums and tourist sites should be included, but not too much. Finally, local food and culture are a must- it's always a big treat if a festival is happening.
I've discovered if I don't hit all those aspects, then I'll come home from a trip slightly disappointed. Four boxes to tick on every trip- 1) entertainment 2) nature 3) art/architecture 4) food/culture.
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u/cyaneyed999 May 22 '19
I truly wish I could spend all day in museums, but there's this point of diminishing returns. As in my brain is a sponge that really can't absorb any more data, and in fact is probably leaking some of the cool stuff I've seen.
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u/LastGlass1971 May 22 '19
Yeah, I describe my brain capacity as a bathtub that will overflow with too much info. Plus, I'm almost 50 and hard museum floors kill my feet and hips after too long.
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u/Graggle1 May 21 '19
I enjoy people watching. It’s fun to see how people interact in large crowds. I’m from a small close knit area where everything you do comes back to you. It’s interesting to see what people do with no social repercussions.
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u/corialis total tourist May 21 '19
I fuckin' love shopping malls and supermarkets! You know that story about Boris Yeltsin visiting an American supermarket and it blew his mind? I get the same cheap thrill out of rampant consumerism. I live in the middle of nowhere - it was announced we're getting Olive Garden this year and everyone lost their fucking minds like Texans hearing about a new stadium for the Cowboys. It was like the second coming of Jesus. Malls are like a glimpse into the desires of everyday people wherever they are.
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u/Qiviuq Canada - visited 🇺🇸🇧🇸🇫🇷🇮🇹🇨🇳🇮🇪🇬🇧🇩🇴 May 16 '19
Geocaching! Since I started I make sure I find at least one cache in whatever new place I go to.
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u/TheWeeMouse May 21 '19
Me too! I've found some neat hidden spots, all because Geocaching took me off the beaten path.
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u/Qiviuq Canada - visited 🇺🇸🇧🇸🇫🇷🇮🇹🇨🇳🇮🇪🇬🇧🇩🇴 May 21 '19
Yup! An example is when I was in Shanghai, I had about half an hour to get to a nearby cache, which just so happened to be in a large traditional garden next to a soccer stadium. Was such a serene spot in the bustle of the city that I would have totally missed otherwise.
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u/childfreetraveler May 16 '19
My husband and I enjoy visiting wineries or breweries, and of course tasting local food. I feel like food is one main reason to travel to new places and I love street markets. I have eaten kangaroo in Australia, horse sashimi in Korea, Kobe beef in Kyoto, authentic ramen in Tokyo, snake whiskey in Okinawa, Nasi campur in Bali, and the best watermelon & mango juice in Malaysia. My other favorite thing that may be a bit weird is visiting various animal cafes. After living in Asia for a couple years, I have been to cat, owl, raccoon, sheep, meerkat, & bunny cafes throughout Korea and Japan. In Australia I got to hold a koala and swim with the sea turtles. In Bali, we visited the monkey forest, I have swam with dolphins in Hawaii, and next week I will be swimming with manatees in Florida. I'm an animal lover and these have been some of my favorite travel experiences so far!
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u/onelittleworld Chicagoland, USA May 17 '19
I have eaten kangaroo in Australia, horse sashimi in Korea, Kobe beef in Kyoto, authentic ramen in Tokyo, snake whiskey in Okinawa, Nasi campur in Bali, and the best watermelon & mango juice in Malaysia.
You really should go to Cusco and try the alpaca.
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May 17 '19
Walking around of course.
Try the local metro / train system, if applicable and safe to do so.
Find a vantage point, like a hill or tower.
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u/cyaneyed999 May 22 '19
Public transit has been a highlight of my first trip abroad. Living in the Southwest US, public transport is just... Crap.
There's this game called MiniMetro that is available on phones and computers. It was so much fun to play before my travels, but now it's a real joy to play the game with cities I've been to.
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u/uReallyShouldTrustMe South Korea May 18 '19
Usually, I'll follow very flimsy leads because i like the mystery of it. Never with anyone because I feel bad if it turns out to be shit ... which happens 50% of the time.
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u/bootherizer5942 May 25 '19
I love this! Just hear some random thing and pursue it, gets you to the really interesting shit. Even if it turns out to suck you at least usually end up in a less touristy neighborhood.
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u/uReallyShouldTrustMe South Korea May 25 '19
Exactly. I have a few good stories and probably a ton more not so interesting ones that were a complete waste of time. Here are some highlights:
1) "Conrad" - I saw a sign that kept telling me which way to CONRAD on Koh Samui Island. Mind you, before then, I had never heard of the CONRAD hotels and how they are super high end hotels. Anyways, I am on the islands for a month so fuck it, I follow the signs. Finally reached a pretty exclusive spot with the most amazing hotel and beach I had ever seen. 1500 USD a night in Thailand, each with a pool extending over a cliff and some hammocks on the beach itself. I couldn't afford it but I remembered that you cant actually OWN beaches in Thailand. So, I decided to find a way around the hotel (the only visible access point). It took me pretty much all day on my motorcycle, I had to swim across a small river, climb around rock cliffs, but I finally spent a few hours in this beach, in front of the CONRAD. The staff saw me, and naturally assumed I was a guest, so they started asking if I needed anything. I was too shy, but the beach was nice as were the hammocks. Here I blogged about it here.
I guess if you're interested I will think of more.
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u/WeAreDestroyers May 19 '19
I always leave reviews of places I have been on Google and on TripAdvisor. I use those services a lot to feel out how I want to spend my time in a place (of course leaving time for surprises) or what to expect, so I try to help out other travelers who might do the same thing.
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u/cyaneyed999 May 22 '19
I like to leave reviews.
In Bordeaux the other day, I went back to a kebab place where I left a great review. The owner pieced together that it was me.
It was a very gratifying moment to see him so thankful for the review. I was glad to pay full price the second time around, I wasn't looking for benefits. It was just a really good kebab place away from the city center.
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u/meagicano May 20 '19
I love eating all the food - cooking for myself is rarely something I want to do. There’s just too much to try!!!
I’m a huge history buff. I’ll spend the full day at historic sites and read everything. I’ve told friends they will want to find something else to do when visiting sites as diverse as the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Alhambra, the British Museum, etc.
I also love walking tours. I find it’s a great way to learn the history and get a feel for the place. I’ve tried a bike tour once and hated it - I always want to get off the bike and nose around a bit.
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u/cyaneyed999 May 22 '19
I would cook more if I wasn't travelling solo. Cooking is so much more enjoyable when it's a cooperative activity.
Walking tours are the shit! It's also just a great way to meet people. You find people that want to get a real scoop of knowledge as they begin to explore the area.
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u/TheNonameNerd May 21 '19
I run at least 2 miles in every country I've visited. I can't remember off hand what I'm up to. Over 20 at least... It's a great way to explore and balance out my other passion, which is eating local food!
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u/The_Travel_Scientist May 21 '19
When "I'm doing me" I spend more time preparing my vacation than I actually do on my vacation. If I know what I can look forward to I'm already super happy and will for sure enjoy my trip even more.
3
u/eSilverbrook United States May 21 '19
Once I have made it to where I am going I don't eat at chain restaurants. I love finding the new places to eat and they are usually so amazing. The food is often great and the people are awesome.
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u/firesticks545 May 19 '19
I always/often go see botanical gardens, unless they're really annoying to get to like Bangkok's. My favorites are the gardens outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand, the gardens of Vienna, and the gardens in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
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u/Scarecrow4980 May 22 '19
I like to have friends in the countries i visit so i can get the true experience of the country I visit instead of the hotel experience. I just got back from the philippines for the second time and it was amazing! working on editing my videos from historical sites, waterfalls and real life out in the country and looking forward to uploading them to youtube. just found this sub though so wasn't sure if sharing my youtube videos was ok? I've just seen everyone posting photos so far.
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u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought ourhiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/mogy4423 May 18 '19
we are big into seeing historical sites within a city - myself more into architecture and arts than my wife but she lets me indulge in viewing whatever i want to photograph. we will hit up the local hiking trail if we have brought our hiking gear. in a city we are big into trying local foods and drinks. ideally beer but whatever the locals like is something we will try.
1
u/bikeinthemud May 18 '19
For any sizable city or town, I look for street art in general, and murals in particular. It often brings me to parts of town that aren’t picturesque, as murals tend to be in old industrial parts of cities.
I love it, as it lets me walk all over and I get to see other peculiar things, too. Many cities bring in artists from all over for contests or to spruce up a run-down area.
1
u/bikeinthemud May 18 '19
For any sizable city or town, I look for street art in general, and murals in particular. It often brings me to parts of town that aren’t picturesque, as murals tend to be in old industrial parts of cities.
I love it, as it lets me walk all over and I get to see other peculiar things, too. Many cities bring in artists from all over for contests or to spruce up a run-down area.
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u/HarryBlessKnapp East East East London May 22 '19
Local food markets, including supermarkets. Love cooking in foreign countries using their produce.
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u/discokilledfunk May 23 '19
Street food and alcohol are given. But when I’m doing me, these are my go to’s in no particular order. First, I search for local used bookstores. Always got to have something to read while traveling. Usually I try to find an author from the country, some kind of fiction. Secondly I bring a travel journal (Leuchtturm1917) with me to memorialize what I have been doing each day. Whether it was people watching in a plaza or wandering a museum, always gotta write down what was done. There have been times where I’d forget to snap a pic or remember something that happened so having a journal helps. Lastly, since I love vinyl records, I search for a used record store. On my last adventure to Paris, I found a record store near the Sorbonne which had a lot of European releases that aren’t available in the US.
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u/onelittleworld Chicagoland, USA May 16 '19
We walk. A lot. Cities, towns, country villages, hiking trails... doesn't matter. We'll do our 20,000 steps (or more) every single day of the trip, no problem.
Our next trip happens to be in my #1 all-time walking-around city: Amsterdam. I'm breaking in some shoes now so they'll be good and ready in July.
EDIT: Also, we take pictures. https://onelittleworld.zenfolio.com/