Article Dropping - Rick Steves Travel Forum
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Article Dropping

I don't have a question about how to get from A to Z, or when to go, or what to pack, or what neighborhood to stay in at what hotel.

I don't have a cool travel experience to share that might benefit or entertain others. I am not taking a teen or young adult on their first international trip and and I am not staying at a hotel with a furry convention. (I enjoyed hearing about both of these)

I don't have any provocative questions about traveling green, or bucket lists , or whether to travel to a country based on the leadership's politics, or whether to carry my passport with me or whether to take a roller, spinner or backpack.

I know I should just stop here, right?

I have noticed that there have been a lot of threads where the OP drops an article, maybe written by AI, with poor if any supporting information to back up the author's points and then walks away. I am grumpy because my next trip is 228 days away and I need something to complain about.

Thank you to those that do have good questions to ask about how to accomplish your trip in an ethical manner and to those that are sharing fabulous travel experiences. Keep them coming because I need some delightful things to read while I am counting down the days!!

edit to add: Japan pre-trip report

Posted by
5694 posts

For my next Europe trip, I'd like to rent the biggest SUV I can find, because I have two giant suitcases, and I want to go to some small off-the beaten path towns, where I hope folks speak English and would love to accept my USD. I don't want any pay bathrooms and no different food, and they need to accept my US Drivers License. I want to see it all, get great pix, so I'm thinking five countries in eight days, because I don't like museums or art.
My dilemma-How many pairs of heels should I pack?
TIA

Posted by
11980 posts

-How many pairs of heels should I pack?

None--- you will not have a time to wear them :-)

Posted by
7908 posts

”I am grumpy because my next trip is 228 days away and I need something to complain about.”. Are you checking it daily on TripIt? LOL!

My longer trip next year is near that departure date, and I’m not sure I should admit how many hours I’ve already spent on research!

Where will you be traveling? Let’s get you excited!

Posted by
16468 posts

On the tube the other day...three young ladies had TWO wheeled 28" bags, ONE wheeled carry on bag,and ONE non-wheeled weekender bag.........each. That's a lot of heels.

I'm also grumpy, I fly back to the US today. And I don't return to Europe for 16 days.

Posted by
11813 posts

I thought “Article Dropping” was going to be about grammar. 😜

We have less than two weeks left in Switzerland and I have next year’s itinerary sketched out and today might purchase tickets for departure if the awards-gods are benevolent.

Two trips between now and fall of 2024, Christmas in Colorado and a wedding in June in the Midwest.

Here’s to constant dreaming about the next Euro adventure!

Posted by
4308 posts

Yes, let us know where you are going. In fact, why don’t you try a pre-trip report and let us know what in your research is getting you excited about your trip.
Another thought is to join the international travel zoom each month. It helps me get through the months of no travel. Talking travel with like minded people always perks me up.

Posted by
1121 posts

There are few good original questions here. But, keep the faith. When space travel opens up it will be a whole new forum.

Posted by
10670 posts

Barbara, good suggestion to keep the travel juices flowing with the international travel group. We meet via zoom, usually on the first Sunday of the month.

Posted by
417 posts

Getting replies & comments provides dopamine hits. Do you expect us to actually put in effort for this? XD

Posted by
1612 posts

Thanks for all of the replies! I definitely have had some bump in dopamine. Edwardius, consider yourself off the hook.

Tammy knows where I am going, because with her help, I am going on a trip with my two sons (30 and 27) to Japan in May, 2024. Because it is a new area of the world to me, I was very nervous about traveling independently. Tammy shared with me her agent from Inside Japan. Karin has helped me form an itinerary and will assist with hotel booking, private day guides, transportation tickets and special event tickets.

Jean and Barbara: I think I will start a thread with an in depth pre-trip report. I did that prior to my trip in May of this year and it is fun for me to go back and see the evolution of the planning. It will keep me busy and help to organize my thoughts. It would be a bonus if it helped someone else in their planning.

Once I get started I will post a link in the original post of this thread.

Posted by
9436 posts

My son and his gf are going to Japan in May also, so i’m very interested in following your pre-trip planning…

Posted by
575 posts

Like @Laurel, I'm going to make this about grammar. If people didn't drop their articles, I wouldn't be employed -- and thus could not travel overseas, including to Japan in 2017. I am a writer-editor. When people drop their articles and make other writing mistakes, I get to correct them.

I hope you enjoy Japan. It's miraculously beautiful. Top sight? Rukugien Garden: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3026.html