News & Features
News Stories by Fodor's Community Members
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Avoid boredom when traveling solo
Several seasoned travelers weigh in on how they avoid being bored or lonely when traveling solo.
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Organize your cash ahead of time, Monopoly-style
"The one thing I do when I get bank notes, I fold them in half so I can easily see the denominations and put the same denominations together. That way I don't have to flash a wad of cash about looking for the correct Euros, etc. I reach into my purse and pull out the correct note to pay for my purchase. No one can see exactly how much money I have - they may think I only have 10 Euro on me." -- adrienne, Fodors.com member...Asked in the Forums: Money Belt - Neck, Waist, or Leg? ...
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12 Tips for Safely Carrying Money in Europe
If you lose your credit card, cash, or passport on your trip to Europe, you're not without options—but it goes without saying that your trip will go much smoother if you can hang onto these trip essentials.... Travelers in our forums recently shared their tips for keeping money and other necessities safe while traveling abroad. For example, some minimize pickpocketing risk by investing in an inconspicuous day pack, or splitting cash and credit cards with a travel partner.... Below are some other useful strategies. Does one in particular work for you? Add your own method in the comments section below.... From the Forums: "Suggestions for how to most safely carry money in Europe?"
Tip #1: Don't carry your wallet in your back pocket "Resistant at first to the idea of keeping his wallet in his front pocket, my husband is now sold on the idea after several instances where he detected his back pocket being checked out by a stray hand, (we were in crowded areas)." -- brioche...Tip #2: Divide and conquer ... -
Planning a Trip to Disney: 12 Common Questions
The magical world of Disney can be an overwhelmingly complex place. Meal plans? Park hopper passes? On-site resorts? Luckily, our members know a thing or two about making the most of a visit to the Mouse. Here are some of the questions that crop up most often, paired with answers from our community.
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Prepare for (and avoid) delays at the airport
Check in with the insiders. Who could possibly know more about avoiding flight delays and airport congestion than The National Association of Air Traffic Controllers? Their easy-to-use Web site for travelers, Avoid Delays, has information on everything from the best time of day to fly out of a specific airport to the best airports to connect through, plus up-to-the-minute flight delay data....From the Forums: "Should I risk a one hour connection time in Amsterdam?"...
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How Do You Stay Organized While Traveling?
Fodor's members recently swapped their tricks for staying on top of all of the details that go into planning a trip. No matter what they call their organizing system—"travel portfolio", "travel organizer", "trip folder"—most agree that having a clear strategy goes a long way in alleviating the stress of travel. Below are some of our members' strategies, including the items that they choose to include in their trip planners.
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Top 20 U.S. Historic Sites Recommended by Our Members
In celebration of July 4th, Fodor's member MRand posed a question to fellow travelers in the United States forum: "What's the most impressive U.S. history site you've seen?". Over 75 nominations were posted. Unsurprisingly, many of the sites could be found in the country's capital, Washington, D.C., but there were also several located elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world. Below are just a few of the sites mentioned by members, as well as their description of their visit's experience.... What site do you think belongs on this list? Add your nomination...
Monticello Charlottesville, VA... "Monticello. On a fall morning, fog covering the valley below, only about a dozen people there" -- mrand... Have you been here? Rate and review this experience...The Lincoln Memorial Washington, D.C.... "The Lincoln Memorial - not only for all the obvious reasons - but also because of it's later symbolic associations - including Marion Anderson's concert there after being barred from using the DAR Hall because she... -
What Do You Remember of Your First Trip to Europe?
From escaping fleabag hotels to stumbling across Venice's deserted yet magical Piazza San Marco, Fodorites reflect on their favorite memories from a first visit to Europe.
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How to Travel to Europe on a Budget
Is it still possible to take an affordable trip to Europe? If you're pining for a trip across the pond but not sure you can wing it financially, consider the following tips, recommendations, and trip reports from travelers in our Forums....
Italy on a Budget Top Tips... Beating the Euro in Italy... Planning and Booking... Help Me Establish a Realistic Food Budget for My Trip to Italy... Venice on a recession dollar? Need help making my trip affordable ...Best inexpensive way to travel within Italy?...Anyone know cost of cheap trains in Italy?... Fodor's Recommends: Rome's Best Cheap Eats...France on a Budget Top Tips... Beating the Euro in Paris...100 Free Things to Do in Paris...Please help me avoid frizzy hair in PARIS: Suggestions on budget-friendly department stores... Planning and Booking... Paris on a Budget for 1 Week in Early September...Dining solo--comfortably and relatively inexpensively--in Paris... Trip Reports... Apres_Londee's Super Low Budget Trip to Paris... Fodor's Recommends: Paris's Best Cheap Eats...Germany on a Budget ... -
7 Tips for Traveling Where You Don't Know the Local Language
Some travelers, having struggled through high school language classes, may limit themselves to destinations where English is the primary language—but that's an unnecessary measure. With just a few small tricks, travelers that are wary of visiting places where they are unfamiliar with the local language can have a good experience. Here are just a few of the pointers from the seasoned travelers in our forums as they offer advice and encouragement....
1. Bring along a small cheat sheet "I like to make an index card (or write the list inside the cover of my dictionary or guidebook) of words I'm likely to see on signs, especially those that have have opposites, such as:... in, out
up, down
exit, enter
push, pull
wait, go"
(-- advice from kayd)...2. Go back to school "Sign up for a class at your local community college. I took three quarters of Italian at mine a few years ago and learned so much. Then you can continue with tapes. But it really helps to understand how all the grammar works and how...
