Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Slava

I did London/Glasgow/Edinburgh alone a few years ago. Those were great cities, but my main point is that solo travel is so good. I really want to do another solo trip again, and I recognize how that sounds, but it's just so awesome!

It is, because you can do whatever you want. No compromises.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

Would you be interested in shopping recommendations? If nothing else, visit the Seiko flagship store.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by peter12

Would you be interested in shopping recommendations? If nothing else, visit the Seiko flagship store.

Definitely a Grand Seiko would make a nice souvenir. Also knives from the Tokyo kitchen district. Even just shopping around the kitchen district is pretty fun.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Definitely a Grand Seiko would make a nice souvenir. Also knives from the Tokyo kitchen district. Even just shopping around the kitchen district is pretty fun.

Kitchen district is pretty touristy. There are better places to find knives in Tokyo.

Yes, I bought a nice little Presage when I went to the Seiko store. Fun times.

I would also check out The Real McCoy's flagship store if you want to buy a $255 sweatshirt (you should).

[topfiverecords]

He's alive

Edit: I guess not. He's buying a minivan.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by icarus

Depends on how you like to travel and what you're into--do you have kids? Do you like cocktails? Shopping? History? Are you nerdy? Kinky?

I'll take kinky for $600, Alex.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

There are tons of good videos out there that will do a better job than I could listing it all. But we had a good time just chilling with the deer in Nara. Mutually bowing to a deer was kinda surreal. Touristy but they are super chill later in the afternoon if it's a warm day.

Originally Posted by photon

Japan would be cool but I feel like I'd want to prepare a lot more, learn more of the language, and go for longer (though I can fly standby so would probably be pretty cheap so still might be worth). Maybe I could find a tour group...

You'll be fine just with English most of the way tbh. And direct flights are (were?) less than $800 recently.

EDIT: Mid Feb travel is maybe a tad early but they are still $800.

[Barnet Flame]

Originally Posted by Locke

It is, because you can do whatever you want. No compromises.

This.

My annual trip to Calgary had been solo from 2006. Around 2017, I started bringing my son, which was almost as good as solo - he got on so well with my friends, they’d look after him if I wanted to do my own thing - which ended up being very very rare - but the option was there.

This coming year, my wife is joining us, which will be nice.

But there will be compromises - as there should be.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

This.

My annual trip to Calgary had been solo from 2006. Around 2017, I started bringing my son, which was almost as good as solo - he got on so well with my friends, they’d look after him if I wanted to do my own thing - which ended up being very very rare - but the option was there.

This coming year, my wife is joining us, which will be nice.

But there will be compromises - as there should be.

This is a safe space, you can be honest here.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by photon

I might end up doing a 7-10 day solo trip this year I ended up with more vacation days than my wife but I don't really want to go to the US anywhere currently and a beach vacation in Mexico seems lame by myself.

Japan would be cool but I feel like I'd want to prepare a lot more, learn more of the language, and go for longer (though I can fly standby so would probably be pretty cheap so still might be worth). Maybe I could find a tour group...

Any other places for Sept-Nov that would be good, if I'm by myself then cities are better so I can see stuff.

I do a lot of solo trips, I'm solo tripping now, currently in London, and have been away since 27 July. There is plenty to see and do as a solo tripper anywhere you go, potentially even moreso since you're in charge of your itinerary and schedule.

Japan and Korea are great choices for you as there are now direct flights from Calgary. You don't need to prepare much, just use Google Translate in conversation mode and you can chat with just about anyone. I met a lot of friends this way; I have one Japanese friend who I've now hung out together with in Bangkok, Singapore, Pattaya, Seoul and Osaka and she doesn't speak a word of English.

[jar_e]

Anyone here platinum status with WestJet?

I am going to be within a flight or two of likely achieving it this year and wondering if the benefits are worth it to go from gold to platinum.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Anyone here platinum status with WestJet?

I am going to be within a flight or two of likely achieving it this year and wondering if the benefits are worth it to go from gold to platinum.

I would say it depends on your travel plans for next year. If you will be traveling quite a bit it would make sense to try to reach platinum this year. If you don't have much planned don't bother trying to reach platinum.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

This.

My annual trip to Calgary had been solo from 2006. Around 2017, I started bringing my son, which was almost as good as solo - he got on so well with my friends, they’d look after him if I wanted to do my own thing - which ended up being very very rare - but the option was there.

This coming year, my wife is joining us, which will be nice.

But there will be compromises - as there should be.

I cant help but notice that you're bringing the wife right when they're about to start pouring the concrete...which raises some questions of it's own.

"Where is Brenda?"

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Anyone here platinum status with WestJet?

I am going to be within a flight or two of likely achieving it this year and wondering if the benefits are worth it to go from gold to platinum.

The differences are:

Zone 1 vs zone 2 boarding: doesn't make much difference imo, even flying eco you'll have room for your carryon in zone 2.

3 checked bags vs 2: I can't imagine needing 3 checked bags regularly/ever, I value this at zero.

Unlimited seat selection vs 6 vouchers - this has value, maybe quite a bit depending on your travel habits.

Higher upgrade priority. I almost never travel alone so I don't value this - ymmv.

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The differences are:

Zone 1 vs zone 2 boarding: doesn't make much difference imo, even flying eco you'll have room for your carryon in zone 2.

3 checked bags vs 2: I can't imagine needing 3 checked bags regularly/ever, I value this at zero.

Unlimited seat selection vs 6 vouchers - this has value, maybe quite a bit depending on your travel habits.

Higher upgrade priority. I almost never travel alone so I don't value this - ymmv.

Yeah it really does depend, if you do a fair bit of solo flying you will get upgraded. I wouldn’t go after it hard but if you have a shot without too much pain I’d do it.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Slava

I did London/Glasgow/Edinburgh alone a few years ago. Those were great cities, but my main point is that solo travel is so good. I really want to do another solo trip again, and I recognize how that sounds, but it's just so awesome!

Yeah I did a solo trip last year to Tacoma / Seattle for some concerts (including my first kpop concert lol) and I really enjoyed it.. Want to go the Boeing museum? Done. See an interesting museum? I can just go in. What to eat? No trying to figure it out with multiple people, just go.

And it's cheaper. I just got single rooms at AirBnBs and you only need 1 ticket for anything, it feels like you can do so much more for so much less.

It was a bit lonely sometimes for sure but still definitely worth doing.

[Inferno]

All I do are solo trips. Mostly because I have nobody to go with but it's nice being able to do what you want when you want.

I'm thinking of doing Athens, Rome, Naples, and Sicily sometime next year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah I did a solo trip last year to Tacoma / Seattle for some concerts (including my first kpop concert lol) and I really enjoyed it.. Want to go the Boeing museum? Done. See an interesting museum? I can just go in. What to eat? No trying to figure it out with multiple people, just go.

And it's cheaper. I just got single rooms at AirBnBs and you only need 1 ticket for anything, it feels like you can do so much more for so much less.

It was a bit lonely sometimes for sure but still definitely worth doing.

I've done many solo trips, sometimes meeting up with friends in other cities, sometimes just short stints and you go for it for exactly the reasons you just mentioned.

"I want to go see this museum or exhibit, I'll grab a beer and a bite and be there in 20 minutes."

Try doing that towing a wife and kids.

Or, obviously when I was younger, you make your friends along the way.

I was meeting up with some friends in London, they were coming from Belgium and they got delayed 2 days. What do you do? Kick around the Hostel and cool your heels for 2 days? Hell no. I met up with some lunatic Spaniards at the Hostel Bar and we toured the City while I waited for my friends to show.

That was a blast! Make your own fun! You just got to watch out for some of the demographics.

Like when I was in Holland and got entangled with this gaggle of travelling Aussies, I dont think I slept for 3 days.

The Hostel Bar is always magic. You will always find a kindred traveling spirit in the Hostel Pub. Order a pint, dont bury your face in your phone. Sit at the Bar and your night may as well be set.

[WideReceiver]

My wife and I travel a lot. I’d never go solo.

[peter12]

I enjoy travelling with my wife a lot. We had a threesome in Barcelona a few years ago. Hard to do that solo, my guys.