Traveler Stories — page 21

richword Expert

September 24, 2026

How do I calculate my trip budget

I used to just look at the price of the tickets and the hotel, add them up and think I roughly understand the budget. I was almost always wrong. Now I count the trip as a percentage, so it's much easier to understand where the money really ends. My budget scheme For a typical 7-day trip, I'm focusing on about this proportion.: 35-40% - flights and accommodation; 20-25% - food; 10-15% - on-site transportation; 10-15% - entertainment, excursions and tickets; 10% is a reserve for unforeseen expenses. For example, if I'm willing to spend 1,500 euros for the entire trip, then I'll put about 550 euros on flights and accommodation, 330 euros on food, 180 euros on transport, another 290 euros on attractions and entertainment, and about 150 euros I try not to touch at all. How much is it per day? It's more convenient for me to count my daily expenses separately. If I have 800 euros left after paying for the tickets and the hotel, I don't just divide this amount by 7 days. First, I subtract the reserve. For example, I leave 100 € in case of unforeseen expenses. That leaves 700 €, which is about 100 € per day . Of these, I can focus on about 35-40 € for food, 15-20 € for transport and 30-40 € for entertainment. I leave the rest for coffee, small purchases, or just reschedule for the next day. The most important part is the reserve I used to think of the reserve as money that could be spent if I had any left. Now, on the contrary, at first I consider them inviolable. For a week-long trip, I try to have at least 10% of the total budget . If the trip costs 1,500 €, that's 150€. This money may be needed for an unplanned taxi, ticket change, extra night at the hotel or other situation that cannot be foreseen in advance. Where did I go wrong most often? The biggest mistake is to count only large expenses. A ticket for 300 €, a hotel for 500 € - everything is clear. And then there's coffee for 5 €, taxi for 20 €, entrance ticket for 15 €, dinner for 35 € and a few other little things. In a week, these "little things" easily turn into several hundred euros. So now, before traveling, I first determine the total limit , then categorize it, and only after that do I start booking. This way I understand in advance not only how much the trip itself costs, but also how much money I can safely spend every day without returning home with an unpleasant surprise.

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Alfred Donny Guide

Italy · September 24, 2026

One day in Rome

I came to Rome for just one day, and this morning I was sure that it was enough to get at least a little understanding of the city. By the evening, I realized how naive this thought was. Rome is not a city that you can "see" in a few hours. Rather, he's constantly giving you something new, forcing you to change your route. 8:00 - first coffee I started the morning with coffee and a regular walk without a clear plan. I just wanted to feel the city first, and not immediately run to the Colosseum. Rome is especially pleasant at this time. There are already a lot of people on the streets, but the tourist flow has not yet managed to completely capture the center. Small cafes are opening, someone is in a hurry to get to work, shopkeepers are raising the shutters. I took an espresso, looked at my watch and realized that I had already spent almost an hour of my only day. But for some reason, he wasn't upset at all. 9:30 a.m. - Colosseum I went to the Colosseum anyway. No matter how many times you see him in photographs, he makes a completely different impression in person. Probably because the brain does not perceive the age of such structures well. You stand next to it and realize that these stones are almost two thousand years old, and at the same time buses are driving around you, people are talking on phones and someone is trying to take the perfect selfie. Rome Colosseum I walked around the Colosseum, sat nearby for a while, and walked on. I wanted to see a lot more, but the day was already starting to end suspiciously quickly. 12:00 - the city instead of the sights Then I decided not to build a route and just walk towards the historical center. And that's when I liked Rome the most. Narrow streets, old buildings, small squares, laundry on balconies, scooters that somehow fit where it seems even a bicycle should not pass. Sometimes I stopped just because some courtyard looked more interesting than another landmark. At some point, I realized that I hadn't looked at the map for a long time. And that was a good sign. 14:00 - lunch I wasn't specifically looking for a high-rated restaurant for lunch. I just chose a small place where there were a lot of locals. I ordered pasta and for the first time that day I was in no hurry. It was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. I was sitting on the street, watching the passers-by and thinking that Rome doesn't really want to be examined according to the list. He rather suggests that you stay longer. Sit down. Watch. Take a wrong turn. Pasta 17:00 - The Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain After lunch, I walked to the Pantheon, and then went to the Trevi Fountain. The mood here was completely different. There are a lot of people, someone is taking pictures, someone is trying to squeeze closer to the water, someone is throwing a coin. The Pantheon Trevi Fountain I quit too. I don't know how well this tradition works, but I decided not to take any chances. If Rome really makes you come back, I wasn't going to argue. 20:00 - last evening By evening, I was so tired that I stopped trying to do anything. I just went where I wanted to go. As the sun began to set, the stone walls of the houses turned a warm golden color. Street musicians appeared in the squares, restaurants filled with people, and the city gradually moved into the evening rhythm. And that's when I realized the main thing. I didn't see Rome in one day. I've only seen a few pages of it. But that's probably why I wanted to come back. Because a good city is not one after which you put a check mark in front of all the attractions. This is the one that leaves you feeling like you haven't figured out a lot yet. So, there is a reason to come again.

#Italy #Rome #TreviFountain

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Alfred Donny Guide

September 24, 2026

5 things that Tourists Most Often Lose Money on

During my travels, I realized one unpleasant thing: you usually notice large expenses right away, but small overpayments gradually turn into a decent amount. And sometimes it's not about fraud, but just carelessness. 1. Taxi from the airport The airport is one of the most convenient places to overpay for a trip. After a few hours on the plane, you just want to get to the hotel, so you don't really want to figure out local transport anymore. Now I check the cost of the trip in advance and see which taxi services are operating in the city. If I use a regular taxi, I specify the price or payment rules before the trip. The difference is sometimes quite noticeable. 2. Currency exchange I also got caught with exchangers once. There was a beautiful exchange rate on the sign, which looked profitable, but after the exchange it turned out that the commission and additional conditions significantly changed the total amount. Now I'm looking not only at the number in large letters, but also at how much money I'll actually get my hands on. I also try not to change a large amount in the first place near the airport. 3. Tourist restaurants A beautiful restaurant right next to the main attraction seems like a great idea until the bill arrives. Sometimes the price of a dish is higher than in an establishment a few blocks from the tourist center. It is especially unpleasant when fees, service interest or expensive drinks are added to the cost, which no one discussed separately. Now, before I sit down, I at least take a quick look at the menu and prices. It takes a minute, but sometimes it saves a decent amount. 4. Guided tours and additional services The very low price of an excursion often looks tempting. But then it turns out that the transfer is included in the price, and entrance fees, lunch, boat or other services are paid separately. As a result, the "cheap tour" becomes not cheap at all. Now I always look not only at the initial price, but also at what exactly is included in it . 5. Shopping "for memory" I've been caught here many times myself. At the beginning of the trip, it seems that you definitely need to buy a souvenir, a T-shirt, a magnet, local sweets and a few more things that will remind you of the trip at home. And then you open your suitcase and realize that half of these purchases were made just for the mood. Now I try not to buy anything right away. If you really like the item, I can come back for it later. The main thing is that I understood The biggest overpayments are often not due to one expensive purchase. They consist of dozens of little things: I overpaid a little for a taxi, a little for currency exchange, a little for dinner, a little for souvenirs. Individually, it seems that this is nonsense. And when you start counting expenses at the end of the trip, you get a completely different picture. Therefore, now, before any unfamiliar purchase, I try to spend one minute checking the price. On a journey, this minute is sometimes much cheaper than a mistake.

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Svetlana Discoverer

Türkiye · September 24, 2026

My trip to Istanbul: what's worth seeing

I've always associated Istanbul with a city where you can visit several worlds in one day.: in the morning, drink Turkish coffee on the European side, swim across the Bosphorus in the afternoon, and look at the lights of the Asian coast in the evening. So when I finally got ready to go there, I decided not to run a marathon around the sights, but just to live in this city for a few days and see what it would surprise me with. However, it became clear at the airport that Istanbul would do everything in its own way, and I would just have to keep up with it. The first acquaintance with the city I started the first morning with a walk through the historical center, because this is where Istanbul literally falls on you all at once: mosques, trams, the smell of fresh bread, the noise of the streets and a huge number of people who are walking very confidently somewhere. At first, I also tried to look like a person who knows the city perfectly, although in fact I checked the map every five minutes and pretended that I was just admiring the architecture. At some point, I realized that I had been standing in one place for about ten minutes and trying to figure out why the street I needed on the map was completely different from where it was in reality. But that's exactly what I liked about Istanbul: I don't want to keep following the route all the time. You can turn into an alley, see a small coffee shop, hear music from an open window, notice a beautiful balcony and completely forget where you were going to go at all. As a result, I realized that sometimes the best way to get to know Istanbul is just to put your phone in your bag and let the city show you the way. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque The first big point of my walk was Hagia Sophia, and I thought in advance that after the photos on the Internet it would be difficult to surprise me with something. It turned out that the photos did not convey the feeling of this place at all: when you stand next to a huge building and see its dome, minarets and facade details with your own eyes, it becomes clear why people from all over the world come here. I just walked around inside for a long time, looking at everything around me, and trying to imagine how many stories these walls had seen. The Blue Mosque is very close by, and I really liked how these two places, which are completely different in mood, exist literally across the street from each other. It was especially beautiful to look at them in the evening, when the lanterns lit up around them, and the sky gradually turned dark blue. Of course, I also took a million photos, although later it turned out that most of them either had someone walking right in front of the camera, or I was looking at something completely wrong. Topkapi Palace and a bit of Oriental luxury After the noisy streets, I wanted some peace, so I went to Topkapi Palace. Here I felt like the heroine of a historical film, only without luxurious outfits and with a phone in my hand, because a modern woman of the 21st century, even in the sultan's palace, has to check how many steps she has already walked in a day. I was most impressed by the courtyards, ornate rooms and views of the Bosphorus. You can walk around the territory for a long time and always find some new details: tiles, ornaments, carved elements, antique objects. And there are places with such views of the water that you just want to sit down and not go anywhere else. Grand Bazaar: the place where my budget started to get nervous Of course, I couldn't come to Istanbul and not visit the Grand Bazaar. I told myself in advance that I would not buy anything, because I came only to see the city and enjoy the atmosphere. After a while, I was already holding in my hands some beautiful thing that I had absolutely no plans to buy, and I convinced myself that this was not a purchase, but a "small memory of Istanbul." It's easy to lose track of time in the bazaar, because everything happens here at the same time: vendors offer tea, spices are lying around, lamps are lit, carpets are hanging, leather and coffee smell, and from the next row comes another "madam, just look." I went in several times just to look, and each time I came out with the thought that next time I would definitely come with an empty suitcase. The Bosphorus: The Istanbul I wanted to see. If I were asked to name the moment of the trip that I remember the most, I would probably choose a walk along the Bosphorus. There is something amazing about sitting on a boat, looking at the water and realizing that Europe is on one side and Asia is on the other. At the same time, the city continues to live a completely ordinary life around you: other ships pass through the water, houses, mosques and modern buildings stand on the shore, and seagulls fly over all this. I sat on the deck for a long time and photographed literally everything in a row, until I realized that half of the photos would consist of water, sky and my own hand. But at that moment, I didn't care at all, because I just wanted to watch. It was probably on the Bosphorus that I finally understood why Istanbul is called the city of two continents: here it feels not like a beautiful phrase from a guidebook, but as a completely real part of urban life. Karakei and Galata Tower Tour The next point on my route was the Karakey area, which turned out to be a completely different mood. There are old facades, modern coffee shops, small shops, street art and endless staircases nearby, which at first you walk cheerfully, and then you start to wonder why you decided to walk at all. From here I went to the Galata Tower. I decided to go up there with complete confidence, because I had not yet known how much my body would protest after several days of walking through hilly Istanbul. But the view from above was worth all the effort: the roofs of the city, the Bosphorus, minarets, bridges and a huge number of houses that go far beyond the horizon. After that, I decided to have a well-deserved dinner and chose a restaurant where I ordered dishes whose names I almost did not understand. As a result, there was a huge tray of food in front of me, and I looked at it with the expression of a person who had just accidentally ordered dinner for the whole family. But everything was so delicious that that evening I finally decided that calories don't count in Istanbul. Eminem, fish sandwiches and tea A special pleasure for me is just walking around the Eminenyu area, especially near the Galata Bridge. Istanbul feels very alive here.: fishermen are standing along the bridge, ships are constantly crossing the bay, people are in a hurry about their business, and there is a smell of fish, spices and fresh pastries. I wanted to try everything, so I decided to start with the fish sandwich, which is often recommended to tourists. To be honest, I couldn't eat it beautifully at all. At first I tried to keep it neat, then the fish started to fall out, the sauce turned out to be completely different from where I expected, but in the end I just stopped fighting for dignity and ate everything as it turned out. But after that there was Turkish tea, and now I was drinking it quite calmly, watching the Bosphorus and thinking that such moments are sometimes much more pleasant than perfectly organized excursions. Balat: colored houses and a completely different Istanbul Another area that I wanted to see was Balat. The mood here is completely different: colorful houses, narrow streets, old buildings, small cafes and stairs that look like they were specially designed for photographs. I stopped several times simply because I saw a beautiful door or window, and then I discovered that I had walked much more than I had intended. In Balata, I particularly liked the lack of feeling that I had to get somewhere. You can just walk, look into the yards, drink coffee and look at the houses. However, one day I got so carried away photographing a beautiful building that I almost walked completely in the wrong direction, and then for another twenty minutes I tried to figure out where my street was. Apparently, Istanbul decided to remind me that the navigator was not invented in vain. Istanbul evening and my favorite moments In the evening, the city becomes even more beautiful, especially if you find yourself somewhere near the water. Lights are coming on, mosques are illuminated, light from ships is reflected on the Bosphorus, and there are gradually more and more people in cafes. At such moments, I didn't want to take pictures, check the route, or even think about how many sights I'd already seen, but just sit and look at the city. One day I bought coffee, found an empty place on the embankment and watched what was happening around for almost an hour. Someone was talking nearby, children were feeding seagulls nearby, ships were passing through the water, and the sky was slowly darkening over the city. And I thought that it was probably for the sake of such completely simple evenings that we were traveling. What I would definitely watch in Istanbul If I were re-planning my route, I would definitely leave time for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Galata Tower, Bosphorus, Karakey, Eminenyu and Balata. But I wouldn't try to see everything in one day, because Istanbul is a city where no less interesting things happen between the sights than inside the sights themselves. It seems to me that the main mistake is to come here with a huge list of places and turn the trip into a competition with yourself. At some point, I just stopped counting how many points were left and started paying attention to details: the smell of coffee in a small coffee shop, the sound of ferries, the old doors, the seagulls, the conversations at the next table and how the city was changing in the evening. My Istanbul Istanbul turned out to be a city for me that it is impossible to see in one visit, because it is too big, too different and too lively. You can come here for the famous mosques and palaces, and fall in love with a completely random street, a small coffee shop or a view of the Bosphorus, which was not planned in the itinerary at all. I left feeling like I'd seen a lot, but I still gave myself a reason to come back. Because Istanbul is like a good TV series: you seem to have finished one season, but you already realize that you want the next one. And if one day I find myself in this city again, the first thing I will do is just go outside, buy coffee and go wherever my eyes look – now with at least a little understanding of where they can lead me.

#Istanbul #Turkey #dream #journey

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Anna Explorer

Indonesia · September 24, 2026

How we spent a week in Bali

My friend and I went to Bali with a very simple plan: to rest for a week, eat delicious food, swim, take pictures, and at least take our time for a few days. Everything looked perfect in my head: a villa with a pool, palm trees, sunsets, coconuts, and we were so beautiful, as if we had just come out of an advertisement for an expensive resort. Reality, of course, made its own adjustments in the first few hours, but that's why I remember this trip with a smile. The first day. We arrived and immediately realized that we were in Bali On the first day, we decided not to overload ourselves with excursions and just get used to it. After the trip, we checked into a guest house, dropped our suitcases and stood by the pool in silence for about ten minutes, because it was completely incomprehensible how one could live in such a place and why we hadn't done it sooner. However, half an hour later, the first household problem began: we couldn't figure out how the hot water in the shower turned on, and as a result, we stood in front of this mysterious device together, studying it as if it were a spaceship control panel. In the evening we went for a walk in Ubud. There were palm trees, small cafes, temples, the scent of incense, and endless mopeds that appeared literally out of nowhere. We tried to walk beautifully and relaxed, but after a few minutes we were already dodging traffic, laughing and saying to each other: "The main thing is not to lose each other." Day two. Ubud, rice fields and our great journey over breakfast The morning in Bali turned out to be exactly how I imagined it: the sun, the greenery, the humid air and the feeling that you're finally not late. We went to see the rice terraces and, of course, to take pictures literally every five minutes. At first, my friend patiently photographed me, then I photographed her, and then we both realized that half of the pictures were taken with our eyes closed because of the bright sun. After the walk, we decided to find a beautiful place for breakfast. Everything looked great in the photos: a tropical garden, wooden tables, fruits, coffee, and some incredibly beautiful bowls. We ordered about everything we saw on the menu, and then we found out that drinking coconut, which is so beautifully in the photo, is not as easy as it seems. In the end, breakfast ended with a small coconut shower, laughter, and a photo, which, of course, we won't show to anyone. Day three. A beach day that didn't go according to plan at all On the third day we decided to go to the ocean. We imagined ourselves lying on the beach with cocktails, but Bali quickly reminded us that nature lives by its own rules here. First there was the sun, then suddenly clouds came up, then it started to rain, and twenty minutes later the sun came out again. The funny thing was that we managed to hide from the rain, order drinks, discuss that the day was ruined, and go outside exactly at the moment when the rain stopped. In the end, we just took off our shoes and went for a walk along the ocean. Both of them had their hair blown out by the wind, and their dresses were a little wet, but the photos turned out to be much more vivid than all the perfect shots we tried to take this morning. In the evening we had dinner at a small restaurant near the beach. We tried local dishes, talked a lot, and at some point realized that we hadn't been in a hurry for hours. It was probably then that I felt a real vacation for the first time. Day four. A waterfall, wet sneakers, and a little heroism On the fourth day, we decided to add a little adventure to the program and went to the waterfall. When I saw the way to it, I immediately realized that the person who coined the word "easy walk" had obviously never been here. We went down cheerfully, but we were already climbing back up with the expression on the faces of people who suddenly rethought their love of nature. The waterfall was incredibly beautiful. The water was falling down among the greenery, everything was wet, noisy and somehow completely unreal. Of course, we took a closer look and ended up getting our shoes wet. They returned barefoot, carrying wet sneakers in their hands and laughing at how effectively this day began and what it turned into. But for some reason, it is precisely such moments that I remember best later. Day five. The day we decided to do nothing After four days of walking, we officially declared the fifth day a day of idleness. No waterfalls, temples, trails, or early climbs. Just a pool, fruits, coffee and lie down so that you can see a maximum of one palm tree. In the morning, we had a long breakfast, then moved to the pool and discussed everything for several hours. At one point, I said that I definitely needed to get up and go somewhere, because "we came to Bali," and my friend looked at me and replied: "We are already in Bali. Here he is. Stay down." And she was right. Then we went out for a walk nearby and bought fruits that I probably wouldn't even consider at home. For some reason, I want to try everything in Bali: mango, dragon fruit, passion fruit, coconuts and some other mysterious fruits whose names we don't even remember. Day six. Sunset, beautiful dresses and our last evening We decided to devote the sixth day to beautiful places and photos. We dressed up, took a long time choosing where to go, and then spent half the time trying to catch a good light. ""There's a special moment when traveling with a friend: one says, "Take a picture of me here," the other takes twenty pictures, after which the first one looks at them and says, "No, let's do it again." After ten minutes, the roles change. But in the evening we found ourselves in a beautiful place at sunset. The sky gradually turned golden, the palm trees darkened against the background of the sun, and for a few minutes it became surprisingly quiet around. We just stood next to each other and looked at the ocean, realizing that tomorrow we would have to pack our bags. In the evening we had our last dinner. We laughed a lot, recalled all our adventures during the week and came to the conclusion that half of the trip did not correspond to the original plan at all. And it seems that's why it turned out so good. Seventh day. Suitcases, the last coconuts, and "let's stay" The last morning is always kind of weird. It seems like you're still on vacation, but you're already mentally sorting through things, checking your passport and trying to figure out where all the free space in your suitcase has disappeared to. We were going for quite a long time, because for some reason there were a lot more things, although both swore that they hadn't bought anything extra. Before leaving, we went out to the pool again, had coffee and just sat in silence. Then, of course, the traditional phrase appeared: "Maybe we should stay another week?" We both understood that this was impossible, but for several minutes we discussed this wonderful, but completely unrealistic idea quite seriously. We were already going to the airport a little sad. In one week, we managed to get used to palm trees, the heat, the ocean, mopeds, rains, fruits and this strange feeling when no one is in a hurry. What I realized after this trip Bali for me turned out to be not only about beautiful beaches and Instagram photos. It turned out to be about the feeling of freedom, about the possibility of not knowing how the day will end in the morning, and about small adventures that cannot be planned in advance. And I also realized that traveling with a friend is a special pleasure. Because you can get lost together, get wet in the rain, ruin your perfect hairstyle with humidity, not deal with hot water and choose a restaurant for half an hour, and then say anyway: "God, it was so good." And if I were asked if I would go to Bali again, I wouldn't even think twice. But next time, we'll definitely take shoes that don't get wet, and we'll figure out the shower beforehand. And, of course, we'll leave a couple of days just to lie by the pool and do nothing. Because sometimes this is the most correct route.

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Gilyana Guide

Norway · September 24, 2026

Traveling by car in Norway

I have long wanted to see Norway by car, because it seemed to me that in this country the path itself should be no less important than the destination. An airplane can quickly take you from one city to another, but then you'll miss all the fun: waterfalls that suddenly appear around a bend, small wooden houses on the shore of a fjord, sheep that are completely uninterested in traffic rules, and mountains that look like someone specially put them as decorations for the movie. One day I decided that Norway needed not just to see, but to drive through, as far as I had enough time, energy and patience for Norwegian prices. First impression of the road It was like I was inside a huge postcard, only the postcard was constantly moving. The scenery outside the window was changing, and before I could get used to one view, another, even more beautiful, would appear a few minutes later. Sometimes the road ran along a calm fjord, then a real mountain serpentine began, and then suddenly a waterfall appeared, and I started looking for a place to stop, because it was simply impossible to pass by such a sight. At some point, I realized that my main plan for the day was something like this: drive, stop, take pictures, drive again, and stop again. What I remember the most I was especially impressed by the fjords, because the photos don't convey their true scale at all. When you stand next to the water and look up at the huge rocks, you get the feeling that the person here is generally a random character who was forgotten to be removed from the frame. Several times I just stood silently and looked around, although it's usually difficult for me to spend more than five minutes without a phone, photos, or any comments. Here, I just wanted to remember everything with my eyes, because even the best camera couldn't convey the feeling of this space. The difference between expectation and reality At the same time, traveling by car in Norway turned out to be not as carefree as I imagined. At some point, I decided that I had already gotten used to the local roads well enough, and it was then that another section appeared ahead, where the road went up, became narrower, and there was nothing around but mountains and rocks. I looked at the navigator, then at the road, then back at the navigator and tried to figure out why it was so calmly telling me that the next turn was still a few kilometers away, as if I were driving along Moskovsky Prospekt. An unexpected adventure In Norway, I had to accept that the usual human "quick run to the store" here could turn into a separate expedition. There were shops everywhere, so one day I decided that I would definitely find water without any problems, and I set off almost light. After a while, it turned out that the nearest store was not at all where I would like it to be, and my body was already beginning to hint very transparently that it was time to think ahead. As a result, I learned to treat water, food, and snacks almost as a strategic resource, especially when the mountain road loomed ahead again. Mobile wardrobe The funniest thing happened with the stops. In Norway, it's almost impossible to drive past a beautiful place and tell yourself: "Okay, I'll take a picture next time." The next time may simply not happen, because in five minutes an even more incredible landscape will appear around the bend. Therefore, my car gradually turned into a mobile wardrobe, a snack warehouse and a photo studio at the same time, and I myself learned to change clothes between stops as quickly as if I were participating in some very strange travel show. A separate story is the Norwegian weather It can change in the time it takes you to get out of the car, take out your phone, and try to take a beautiful photo. I could start the day with the sun, get caught in the rain an hour later, then see the fog, and after a while find myself back in the sunny valley. At first, I tried to plan photos and walks depending on the forecast, but I realized pretty quickly that Norway would do it its own way anyway. So I just started carrying a jacket, a raincoat, and hope for the best. One of the most memorable moments was the feeling of absolute freedom that appears during a car trip. You can stop wherever you want, turn off to a small village, linger by the fjord, or just park by the road and look at the mountains for a few minutes. On a typical trip, I often think about the time, the schedule, and what else I need to see, but here I've gradually stopped counting the hours. For the first time in a long time, it didn't matter at all how many sights I could see in a day. What I've learned Norwegian roads have taught me to take my time. Here, speed seems to become secondary by itself, because there are too many things around for which you want to go slower. Especially beautiful sections begin where the road passes between the mountains and the water, and then I caught myself thinking that I absolutely do not want this segment to end. Even if the next destination was waiting for me, I wanted to stay inside this landscape for a little longer and drive without any purpose. Another memory One day, after a long drive, I was so tired that I decided to have a quick snack and continue on my way, but I managed to cause a small disaster in the car with coffee and food. On a normal trip, I would have been upset, but here I just looked at all this, sighed and thought that now I have another Norwegian memory, just not the most photogenic. But in the evenings, I felt especially strongly what all this was about. After driving all day, I wanted to find a small cozy house or hotel, take off my shoes, put my phone on charge and just sit by the window. Mountains were dark behind the glass, and water was visible in the distance, and I was going through the photos of the day and couldn't decide which one turned out better. And each time, I discovered that the photo I thought was ordinary actually looked like it had been specially prepared for a travel magazine. A special atmosphere It seems to me that this is why a car trip through Norway is remembered not by individual sights, but by the feeling of the road. I remember not only fjords and mountains, but also turns, rain on the windshield, small stops, coffee at a roadside cafe, sheep near the road, and those moments when I just sat behind the wheel and realized that I was in a place that I had previously known only from photographs. When the trip was over, I caught myself with a strange feeling.: I wanted to return not so much to a particular city or a particular fjord, but to get back in the car and drive somewhere further. Perhaps this is the main secret of Norway – it makes you enjoy not only where you come from, but also the road itself. And the road there is so beautiful that sometimes you completely forget where you were going to go at all.

#Norway #roadtrip #vacation #adventures

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Svetlana Discoverer

Italy · September 24, 2026

What to see in Rome in 3 days

Rome has long been on my list of cities that I really wanted to see, but before the trip I was a little worried.: how do you even manage to see Rome in three days and not turn the trip into a marathon with a pedometer? There are so many attractions here that you can create a route for several weeks and still find something new every day. Therefore, I decided not to try to embrace the immensity, but to choose the most interesting places and build a route so that between them there was time just to walk along the streets, drink coffee and sometimes sit shamelessly in the square, watching people. I must say right away that three days is not much for Rome, but it is quite enough for a first acquaintance if you plan the route in advance. I tried to combine places that are close to each other, so as not to spend half the trip on public transport and not look for legs all over the city in the evening. As a result, I had three rather eventful days, after which I realized that Rome could either be viewed, photographed, or eaten – I couldn't physically do all this at the same time. Day One: Colosseum, Roman Forum and the atmosphere of Ancient Rome I decided to start the first day with the most obvious place, the Colosseum . It seems to me that coming to Rome and not seeing it would be about as strange as coming to Paris and pretending that you are not interested in the Eiffel Tower at all. When I first saw the Colosseum live, it turned out to be much more impressive than in photographs, especially when you realize how many events have happened here over the centuries. Nearby is The Roman Forum , so I immediately included it in the itinerary. You can't just quickly check the list of attractions here: you want to look at the ruins, columns, old roads and try to imagine what this area looked like two thousand years ago. However, after a while I realized that my brain had stopped distinguishing one ancient column from another, and my legs began to hint quite transparently that it was time to sit down. After the forum, I went to the Palatine , which offers beautiful views of the ancient part of Rome. It was here that I first felt that the city cannot be perceived only as a set of individual attractions, because history is literally underfoot, around houses and even in the middle of ordinary streets. However, I took so many photos that in the evening I had to free up my phone's memory, deleting some old screenshots that for some reason I had carefully stored for the last two years. After such a walk, it was time to slow down a little and go for lunch. I didn't specifically look for a restaurant with a lot of reviews on the Internet, but just turned onto a small street and chose a place where locals and several tourists were sitting. I ordered pasta, coffee, and dessert, and then I sat for another twenty minutes and watched people pass by, because in Rome, even an ordinary lunch somehow turns into part of a trip. In the evening, I went for a walk in Piazza Venezia and looked at the monument to Victor Emmanuel II. After that, you can just walk wherever your eyes look, because in the center of Rome it is almost impossible to walk several blocks without bumping into a beautiful building, fountain, small church or square that you want to photograph. It was these aimless walks that eventually turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the trip. Day Two: The Vatican, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain I decided to dedicate the second day to the Vatican, so in the morning I went to St. Peter's Cathedral . Even if you're not particularly interested in architecture or art, it's worth coming here at least for the sheer scale of this place, because the photos don't convey the feeling of standing inside and trying to look at everything around you. After the cathedral, I went to The Vatican Museums , where, of course, I quickly realized that it was impossible to see absolutely everything in one visit. There are so many halls, paintings, sculptures and details that after a while I just followed the stream of people and hoped that I hadn't missed something particularly important. But The Sistine Chapel really became one of those places that I remembered for a long time, although I couldn't take pictures there, so I had to remember it with my eyes. After the Vatican, I decided to walk a little towards the center. On the way, I stopped for coffee and suddenly discovered that in Rome, even an ordinary cup of espresso can become a separate event, especially if you drink it at a small bar where people come in for a few minutes, greet the barista and disappear back into the city. As a real tourist, I sat the longest and tried to understand why locals drink coffee in two minutes, but it took me almost half an hour. The next stop was The Pantheon . It looks very impressive from the outside, but it is especially interesting to go inside and look at the huge dome with a round hole in the center through which daylight enters. At that moment, I finally realized that in Rome, you can just raise your head and get a little historical shock again. After the Pantheon, I went to Piazza Navona . Here you can relax a little, sit by the fountain and just watch the life of the square, which remains quite lively even in the evening. I especially liked that after a busy first half of the day there is no need to rush anywhere, you can just walk along the neighboring streets and gradually move to the next point. And the next point was, of course, the Trevi Fountain . I got there in the evening, and even though there were a lot of people, the atmosphere was still incredible: the lighting, the sound of water, the old buildings around, and a huge number of people trying to take the same photo at the same time. I was no exception either, and for a while I tried to capture the moment when there would be at least five seconds without someone's head in the frame. Before returning to the hotel, I made sure to throw a coin into the fountain. I don't know if it really works, but I didn't take any chances – in case Rome decides that I haven't formulated my wish well enough, and there won't be a second trip. Day three: Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese and Trastevere I decided to make the third day a little calmer, because after the first two days, my legs had officially stopped supporting the idea of a cultural marathon. In the morning, I went to the Spanish Steps , which turned out to be exactly as I imagined it from the photos, only there were significantly more people around. Of course, it wasn't possible to sit on the steps, but there are many beautiful streets, shops and cafes nearby, so the walk turned out to be very pleasant. Then I headed towards Villa Borghese . After the dense urban development, the huge green park has become a real salvation, because here you can finally exhale a little, hide from the noise and just walk among the trees. If you still have the strength and desire to see art, you can visit the Borghese Gallery, but it is better to plan tickets there in advance. After the park, I headed towards the center again and decided not to build too strict a route. At some point, I just turned onto a small street, saw a nice cafe, had coffee with dessert, and realized that it was for the sake of such moments that I generally like to travel on my own. When you don't have a tour group that leaves for the next attraction in three minutes, you can sit quietly and look at the city for as long as you want. I left it for dessert last night. Trastevere . This area with its narrow streets, ancient houses, small squares and cozy restaurants seemed to me to be one of the most atmospheric places in Rome, especially when it starts to get dark and the lanterns come on. Here I completely stopped looking at the clock and just walked around, went into small shops, looked at the windows and chose a place for the last Roman dinner. Of course, I couldn't leave without pasta and tiramisu. I told myself that this would be the last dinner, and therefore I could relax a little with a budget, but then I discovered that in Rome the word "a little" has its own meaning, completely separate from mathematics. However, I didn't regret it, because after dinner I walked through the evening streets for a long time and thought that three days had passed much faster than I would have liked. How much time does it take to visit the main attractions? If you're only going to Rome for three days, I wouldn't try to schedule every hour by the minute, because the city is completely unsuitable for this approach. It is better to choose several main places for each day in advance, and leave free time between them so that you can safely eat, drink coffee, go to the store or just turn off the route. Otherwise, there is a risk of returning home with a huge number of photos and the feeling that you have hardly seen Rome itself. At the same time, it is better to plan some popular places in advance, especially if the trip falls during the high season. I would check the time of visiting the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums and the Borghese Gallery separately, and leave the rest of the walks more free. This is especially convenient in Rome, because there are always small squares, churches, fountains and streets between the main attractions, which did not exist at all in your original plan. What did you manage to see in three days? During these three days, I managed to see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine, the Vatican, St. Peter's Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese and Trastevere. At the same time, I managed to leave enough time for the usual walks, coffee, pasta, ice cream and those very random turns, thanks to which the journey ceases to be just a list of attractions. Of course, it's impossible to get to know Rome completely in three days, and I didn't even try. This city generally seems like one that needs to be viewed gradually: today there are ancient ruins, tomorrow there is a small street, the day after tomorrow there is a random coffee shop that you did not plan to visit at all. And that's probably why, after three days, I didn't feel like I'd ticked off Rome, but on the contrary, I left with the feeling that now I just needed to come back someday. The most difficult thing in Rome was not even to make a route and not to figure out the transport, but to force yourself to stop in the evening and go to the hotel. Because every time it seemed: well, one more street, one more fountain, one more turn – and there will definitely be something beautiful. As a result, I walked so many kilometers in three days that my phone thought I was preparing for the Olympics, and I was finally convinced.: Rome is best viewed in comfortable shoes, with a good appetite and with plenty of free time.

#Italy #Rome #vacation #journey

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Svetlana Discoverer

Spain · September 24, 2026

My budget for a week in Barcelona

I've wanted to go to Barcelona for a long time, but before the trip, I was most interested in one question: how much money do I really need for a week?I found completely different figures on the Internet – someone promised to meet almost a penny, and someone talked about such expenses, as if he was going not to Barcelona, but to buy an apartment with a sea view there. I wanted to find a middle ground: travel normally, eat delicious food, visit interesting places and at the same time not check the card balance after each glass of sangria. That's why I decided to plan my budget at home. I must say right away: I did not set myself the task of traveling as cheaply as possible, because then I would have to look at the Sagrada Familia through the bus window and eat only sandwiches from the supermarket. I wanted to save money for the small pleasures that make the trip real: coffee in the morning, a nice dinner, ice cream during a walk, and some completely unnecessary souvenir that would remind me at home that I again don't know how to pass by tourist shops. Flight is the first item of expenditure I started looking for tickets in advance and first opened several websites at the same time. Ten minutes later, I already had so many tabs that I no longer understood where exactly I found a good option, and where I just looked at a ticket for a completely obscene amount. As a result, I chose a flight that was suitable for the price and immediately wrote it into the budget, so that later there would be no feeling that Barcelona began with a financial crime. I have invested a small amount for the flight. Of course, the price strongly depends on dates, baggage, and how much to buy tickets in advance, so it's better to count this part of the budget separately and not focus on one specific amount. Housing – I had to think a little bit here It was more interesting with an apartment or a hotel. I didn't want to live somewhere on the edge of the city, so that I could spend half my time and energy on the road every evening, but I didn't want to overpay just for a beautiful photo of a balcony. That's why I looked not only at the price, but also at the location, transportation, reviews, and distance to the main places I was going to visit. As a result, I got about 3,000 euros for seven nights. And here I finally realized one simple thing: sometimes a slightly more expensive apartment turns out to be more profitable if, thanks to its location, you can walk most of the week and not spend money on transportation. Food is the very point where my budget started to get nervous. At first, I wanted to put a very modest amount on the food, but then I remembered that I wasn't actually going to Barcelona to eat oatmeal in the room. In the morning there was coffee and something small, in the afternoon I could have a snack in a cafe or grab something at the market, and in the evening I already wanted to have a good dinner and try the local cuisine. On average, I spent about 500 euros a day, although some days turned out to be cheaper, and some suddenly turned into a gastronomic holiday. The most dangerous phrase was "let's just have coffee," because after coffee there was usually a croissant, dessert, ice cream, and sometimes even dinner, which was not included in the original plan at all. Transport I decided not to complicate my life with transportation and looked in advance at which option would be more convenient for the week. In Barcelona, it is quite realistic to walk some of the routes, especially if you want not just to get from point A to point B, but to explore the city on the way. I spent about 40 euros a week on the metro and other public transport. Sometimes I walked on purpose, even if the navigator showed a rather impressive distance, because it is during such walks that you can accidentally find a small square, a beautiful house or a cafe that was not on my route at all. Museums, attractions, and small desires This is where I decided not to skimp on everything. If I came to Barcelona, I wanted to see its famous places not only in photographs, so I allocated a separate amount in advance for entrance tickets and excursions. I spent about 300 euros on the sights. Moreover, I planned part of the expenses in advance, and part appeared already on the spot according to the principle "when will I be here again?", which is a real enemy of any tourist budget. And, of course, shopping I honestly wasn't going to buy anything special. I had a very beautiful plan: to come, see the city, take photos and return home with the same amount of money that I left with. The plan lasted until about the first pretty shop. As a result, I left about 150 euros for souvenirs and small purchases. Nothing grandiose, but it's these little things that lie at home and suddenly bring you back on a journey, even after a few months. How much did my week in Barcelona cost in the end If you add up the flight, accommodation, food, transportation, attractions and small purchases, my budget for the week turned out to be about 3,000 euros per person. At the same time, I did not try to live as economically as possible, but I also did not allow myself to have dinner every night in a restaurant overlooking the sea just for the sake of a beautiful photo. The most important thing is that I have determined in advance the amount that I am ready to spend, and I have left a small reserve for unforeseen expenses. And this decision turned out to be very useful, because there is always something completely unexpected when traveling: a lost ticket, a sudden taxi, rain, which makes you have to buy an umbrella, or the dessert that you "just wanted to try." As a result, I realized that a week in Barcelona is quite possible to organize for a different budget. You can significantly save on housing, eat easier, walk more and choose free entertainment, or you can add restaurants, excursions and beautiful places – and the amount will grow quite quickly. For me, the ideal option turned out to be when I knew my financial limit, but at the same time I did not feel like a person who came to Spain solely to count euros. And do you know what the best part is? At the end of the week, I looked at my expenses and realized that Barcelona had not ruined me. But she left behind photos, the smell of coffee in the morning, evening walks, several completely unnecessary purchases and a very persistent desire to come back one day and tell herself again: "This time I will definitely save money."

#Barcelona #Spain #adventures #vacation #journey

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Gilyana Guide

Italy · September 24, 2026

How I organized a trip to Italy on my own

I've wanted to go to Italy for a long time, but for some reason I kept putting it off. It seemed that an independent trip there was already the highest league of travel. We need to figure out tickets, housing, trains, public transport, restaurants, Italian names that are impossible to pronounce the first time.… And then I thought, well, what am I missing? And I started organizing the trip myself. Spoiler alert: I only lost a few hours of sleep, some nerves, and once almost lost myself at an Italian train station. Now about everything in order. I chose the route first. I wanted to see a diverse Italy, so I decided to make an approximate route: Rome → Florence → Venice → Milan. I have allocated about 10 days for the trip. No one wanted to sit with my moody cat any longer. At first I wanted to add Naples, but then I looked at the map and looked at myself. And I decided that 4 cities were enough for me for now, because a vacation is still a vacation, not a suitcase-carrying championship. I searched for the tickets myself. At first, I spent several nights in a row comparing dates. To be honest, this is the moment when it seems that you are almost an aviation expert. In my search engine it was: "If you fly on Tuesday, it's cheaper by so much." "If you come back on Sunday, it's more expensive." "If you fly to a nearby airport, you can save money, but then spend the money on a transfer." At some point, I opened so many tabs that I no longer understood which ticket I was going to buy. In the end, I found a suitable option and bought it. And here an amazing thing happened. Before the purchase, I was just planning a trip, after the purchase, I was already on my way to Italy. There was no turning back. Housing: here I became almost a professional critic I chose hotels not only based on photos, but also looked at the map, the distance to the center, reviews, and especially reviews from recent months. You know, a photo of a ten-year-old room can look great. But in reality, you will be greeted by a bed that remembers the football World Cup. In Rome, I chose a place closer to the center, in Florence – so that I could walk a lot. In Venice, it was as convenient as possible, because I wasn't going to carry my suitcase across the bridges. Although, as it turned out later, Italy decided to have a little laugh at my plans. Rome I purposely left the first day almost free. I flew in, checked in, left my things and just went for a walk. Without a list of twenty attractions. And it was the right decision. It's impossible to look at Rome properly if you run along the route all the time. I walked, went to cafes, looked at the streets, squares and buildings. And then, of course, I went to the Colosseum. And that's when I realized one simple thing.: no photo conveys its size. You stand next to me and think: "So. But now I'm really in Rome." I tried not to skimp on food in Rome to the point of fanaticism. Because coming to Italy and eating only buns from the supermarket is already too harsh an experiment, but I didn't arrange a restaurant for myself every night either. I alternated between cafes, small trattorias and ordinary places where you could just have a snack. Florence I went from Rome to Florence by train. And here the independent journey showed me its real face.: I bought a ticket in advance. I checked the time. I checked the train number. I checked the train station. I checked the ticket again. In general, I was 97 percent confident in myself. The remaining 3% still let me down. At first, I couldn't find the right platform at the train station. Then I found it, and after a while I saw the train and realized that I was standing at the wrong car. I ran with my suitcase as if the whole Italian railway was chasing me. But I did, and Florence absolutely captivated me. This is where I first caught myself thinking that I don't want to rush anywhere. You can just walk down the street. Look around. Come in for coffee. Sit down. Go again. That's why I love independent trips. Venice and my suitcase I was already traveling to Venice with some experience: I knew that I needed to look at the route. I imagined that train stations could be big, and I realized that I shouldn't relax. However, I did not take into account the bridges: there are a lot of bridges and steps. Now imagine me with a suitcase. I go up, down, up again, and down again. After a while, I was already looking at each new bridge with the expression of a person who is ready to personally discuss some issues with the architect of Venice. But then I went out to the canal, saw the gondolas, looked at the old houses. And she forgave everything, and Venice can be forgiven a lot. I saved Milan for last. After Venice, Milan seemed to me quite different – more businesslike, faster and more modern. I liked this switching of travel modes. I specifically left time just for walking and shopping. But, of course, the trip couldn't end without an adventure. Last night, I decided to wash a couple of things. Why? Because, apparently, I decided to prove to myself that even in Italy I am capable of running a household. I loaded my clothes into the washing machine and pressed the button. It was only later that I realized that the instructions were exclusively in Italian. I stood in front of it and looked at the buttons as if I were trying to decipher an ancient manuscript. In the end, everything was washed, but I still don't know which mode. How much did I spend? I set a budget in advance and tried to stick to it. The main expenses turned out to be as follows: the flight depended on the dates and the city of departure; Housing is the most visible expense item, especially in popular cities; I bought trains between cities in advance, where it was profitable; urban transport – metro, buses and sometimes taxis; The food –it all depended on where I ate.; museums and attractions were also laid out in advance. But there was one important point, I left a separate reserve of money for unforeseen expenses. And I strongly advise you to do the same, there is always some expense during the trip, which was not in any plan. "Well," I said, "since I'm here," a sudden taxi, an extra ticket, and a few purchases that just happened to be "necessary." What I realized after this trip Organizing Italy on my own turned out to be much easier than I imagined. Yes, you need to spend time, you will have to study something, you can make a mistake with the train, get lost, or not immediately figure out the ticket vending machine. But that's exactly what makes the trip my own: I chose the cities myself, decided where to live, and made up the route. She could have changed it herself at any moment. And most importantly, I wasn't in a hurry and didn't depend on anyone. If I wanted to spend three hours in a cafe, I did. If I wanted to turn into a small alley, I turned off. If the attraction suddenly wasn't impressive, I didn't have to stand next to it for exactly 47 minutes just because it was written in the program. And when I returned home and started sorting through the photos, I realized that what I like most are not photos of famous places, but completely ordinary ones.: Coffee in the morning. The street after the rain. The train window. A small trattoria. A suitcase in the middle of the room. My tired legs after 20 thousand steps. And the very picture of me standing on an Italian street and smiling. Because at that moment, I already knew for sure.: I was able to organize everything myself. And now Italy for me is not just a country where I once went. This is a country that I know the way to now. Even if sometimes this road passes through three bridges, the wrong car, and a shower that turns on only after negotiations with it.

#Italy #Colosseum #Rome #Florence #Milan #Venice

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Alfred Donny Guide

September 23, 2026

I almost paid three times as much for a taxi.

I almost paid three times as much for a taxi. After arriving, I left the airport with my backpack and immediately heard: "Taxi?" Where are you going? I gave the address of the hotel. The man confidently told me the price, which seemed quite normal to me. I was tired after the flight, so I didn't really figure it out and got into the car. On the way, the driver turned out to be very talkative. He talked about the city, showed me some buildings, and said several times that I was lucky to find a "good price." I even thought that I had made a really good deal. When we arrived, he mentioned an amount almost three times the amount we talked about at the beginning. At first I thought I had misunderstood him. He asked to see the calculation. The driver started explaining something about baggage, airport fees, travel, and several other surcharges that had never been discussed before. The most unpleasant thing wasn't even about the money. I was standing with a suitcase near an unfamiliar hotel and realized that arguing with the person who had already brought me to the place was not the most pleasant situation. In the end, I paid, but after that I decided never to get into a taxi again, simply because the driver looks convincing. Now, before traveling, I check in advance which taxis are official, install the local app and check the approximate cost of the route. If the price is announced in advance, I try to clarify whether this is the final amount and whether there are additional fees . And if the driver starts rushing, says "get in, we'll figure it out later" or offers a price that is noticeably different from the usual one, I simply refuse. Because when traveling, the most expensive mistake is not to overpay a few euros. The most expensive mistake is to realize that they are trying to deceive you, and still agree.

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