✅Rating 6/10 🙂Pros: -The Genius loyalty rewards program adds up fast when you’re moving around a lot. -Large network of properties globally. 😖Cons: -I’ve been scammed by fake postings in the past and they take days to give you a refund if any refund at all. The vetting process for their hosts is not as thorough as Airbnb. ✨If I’m traveling short term in parts of Southeast Asia or South America I am very cautious of the properties I’m booking on Booking,Com and usually opt for recommendations through my professional network, Airbnb or walk in reservations.

Hey guys Great trips always have those unexpected, spontaneous moments — that’s what makes them fun. But here’s the thing: the best way to invite that kind of spontaneity is by having a solid plan in place first. When your itinerary actually makes sense — your routes, timing, and activities all flow together — you free up space to relax, explore, and enjoy the surprises along the way. 🚨 READ THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST PLEASE. 🚨 Here’s how to build a trip that’s structured enough to work, but flexible enough to stay exciting. 1️⃣ Purpose — Define the Goal of Your Trip Start by deciding why you’re taking this trip. Are you looking to relax, explore, work remotely, or experience culture? Your purpose dictates your pace, location choices, and budget. 2️⃣ Flow — Build Logical Movement This one should be obvious BUT a mistake travelers make is overpacking their schedule. Your itinerary should move logically, with minimal backtracking and balanced travel times. Use Google Maps or Apple Maps to map routes before booking anything. ✔️ Example: Plan a North-to-South route through Italy instead of hopping back and forth between regions. ✔️ Always factor in check-in times, rest days, and flight fatigue. 3️⃣ Local Connection — Add Authentic Experiences Anyone can visit major attractions — what separates a great itinerary is how connected it feels. Plan at least one local or cultural activity per destination: a cooking class, market visit, or local guide tour. This creates lasting memories and helps you see the real side of each place. 💡 Pro tip: Use platforms like GetYourGuide, Viator, or even Airbnb to find smaller, locally-run tours instead of big group experiences. 4️⃣ Balance — Mix Structure and Flexibility Overplanning kills spontaneity. Schedule your must-do activities first, then leave blocks of free time for discovery. Aim for a 70/30 split: 70% planned, 30% open (and leave room to take a nap in the middle of the day some days without feeling guilty. I nap plenty.)

Everybody already knows you don’t go to Times Square when you hit New York. That’s like the universal rule at this point. You take your picture, you dip, you keep it moving. And honestly… every major city has a “Times Square” — that one spot everybody hypes up but nobody local actually cares for it. So here’s a quick world tour of the places that look good on a brochure but fall flat in real life — and where you should really be going instead. -Paris Overhyped: Champs-Élysées Bro, this place is just traffic, tourists, and the same stores you can find in any airport. It’s not giving “Paris,” it’s giving “shopping mall with a French accent.” (I would say the Eiffel Tower but you definitely should see it at least) Go here instead: Canal Saint-Martin Chill, young energy, cafés with actual character, people who actually live in Paris. It just feels right. -Tokyo Overhyped: Shibuya Crossing Cool for like… the first 30 seconds. After that you’re literally just standing in a street waiting for the lights to change. Go here instead: Shimokitazawa Smaller shops, dope food, little bars tucked everywhere — it’s real Tokyo energy without the commercial circus. There’s tons of better spots in Tokyo. I’ve spent a lot of time there and almost anywhere beats going to a intersection in shibuya. -London Overhyped: Oxford Street It’s basically a crowded strip mall with British branding. Nothing special, nothing local, nothing unforgettable. Go here instead: Shoreditch Graffiti walls, markets, indie stores, wild food… this is the London people wish they found the first time. -Dubai Overhyped: Dubai Mall Yeah it’s huge, but you didn’t fly to the desert to look at Gucci and waterfalls inside a building. Go here instead: Al Fahidi (Al Bastakiya) Traditional architecture, quiet alleys, art spaces — it gives you a little of the old-school Dubai before everything became a skyscraper. -Bangkok Overhyped: Khao San Road Khao San used to be cool. Now it’s just drunk backpackers and overpriced street food pretending to be authentic.

I just booked a flight to Manila. I will be there for a couple months

For just $140, the Chinese visa gives you multiple entries over 10 years, with 90-day stays each time. I know expats who make short trips to Thailand or Cambodia just to reset their 90-day clock in China — this visa makes that possible. It’s an incredibly valuable tool, worth every penny, even if you don’t plan to live in China full-time. Having this option gives you freedom and flexibility in Asia, that’s hard to overstate. Start here at the official site, you will need to visit the consulate in your region in-person. The closest one to me at the time was in Chicago so I had to take a short flight. https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/qzCoCommonController.do?show&pageId=index&locale=en_US