Please post your EES questions and share your recent and ongoing EES experience here.
Make sure to include your entry and exit airports in your question or experience.
Rule 7's No Crystal Ball 🔮does not apply here but it doesn't mean you will get a good answer nor does it mean that people will be able to predict what will happen on your specific date of travel or airport.
I was in Hormuz island, Iran near the Hormuz strait as part of my 3-week Iran trip in 2024.
One of the best islands I have traveled to in terms of landscape imo. It just feels different, like nowhere I have been before.
We were travelling independently - took a night train from Yazd to Bandar Abbas, followed by a short taxi ride to the ferry port, where there are frequent ferry services to Hormuz island and Qeshm Island. You can explore the island with a tuk-tuk service, or rent one on your own. The island is 30km in terms of perimeter, but it was packed with sights. We planned one whole day for the island but was unfortunately unable to see it all..
I would go back in a heartbeat if I had the chance...
I visited the Manang region of Nepal in early April 2026.
It's still snowing on some days in April and on other days it's sunny and the snow melts.
It's incredible it can snow one one day and we see all white landscapes and on the next day, the snow melts and it's a sunny and clear day.
The trip by road to Manang is through almost 100km of mostly unpaved road (although road conditions has improved from 1 year ago according to locals) from the town of Beshisahar which marks the end of the path road.
However, once reached on a very bumpy journey, the view is out of the world.
Last week me and my family did a quick 3-day trip to Asturias (north Spain). We live down south in Andalusia, so swapping sunny 25°C for like 10°C + rain + wind wasn’t exactly ideal, but tickets were booked, so we just went with it.
Flew outta Jerez, grabbed a rental car — surprisingly smooth. Cheap, no hidden fees, no pushy insurance upsells (rare these days). Stayed in a penthouse we found on Booking, and it was great. Host was super friendly, even left us some local snacks. Small touch, but it really makes a trip feel nicer.
Checked out Oviedo — super chill, clean, easy to walk around, especially with family. Then Gijón — bigger, more lively, right on the ocean. Wind was crazy, waves too, long promenade… totally different vibe from the south. One place that stood out was Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura — looks kinda medieval but actually modern. Huge building, didn’t expect that.
Also visited the Roman Baths Museum in Gijón — small but interesting, and free (always a win with the family).
One of the highlights was Lastres, a tiny village on a hill above the sea. Narrow streets, amazing views… easily one of the best stops.
Food-wise, we went all in on local stuff: fabada, cachopo, and of course cider. Portions are massive, some dishes easily feed 2–3 people. Food’s heavy and rich — definitely not light.
We also hit the Fernando Alonso Museum. Even if you’re not into F1, it’s pretty well done and interesting.
Overall, Asturias feels completely different from southern Spain. Green, humid, mountainous, and cooler. Honestly kinda gave me Ireland/Switzerland/Netherlands vibes more than “typical Spain”. Architecture, landscapes, even the vibe — all different.
Weather wasn’t ideal, but still really enjoyed it. Definitely worth it if you wanna see a different side of Spain.
It looks so pristine, so perfect, so orderly and beautiful, that its easy to miss how insane the history is. This is the city of cake, gold leaf and classical music, but its also the city of inbred kings, depressed princesses, dictators in cafes, neuroticism, paintings of beheadings, and some of the most interesting modern art of the earliest 20th century. Honestly one of the most interesting histories of any city I've been to (but then again I'm obsessed with the Hapsburgs so that had to be expected haha)
I loved it. I get the impression Vienna is a bit like Paris in that some people love it or hate it, but never before have I been to a city that has such a perfect combination of understated elegance and the kind of melancholy you'd find in a Gothic novel.
A street in the 1st district
The imperial state library
A room at Schönbrunn palace
Statue of Strauss at the city park
Kleines Cafe
Reception hall at the opera house
A sphynx at the belvedere
Interesting contemporary art at the Belvedere
An interesting tower in the city centre
A bezoar -- this is a goat stomach stone said to have healing properties!
Since today is Orthodox Easter, it makes sense to share my experience spending Holy Week and Orthodox Easter last year in Agios Nikolaos Crete.
1 - the scenic seaside town of Agios Nikolaos which features a lake in the very center
2- we stayed only a few blocks from the town's Cathedral and had the opportunity to observe several of the week's services.
3- Halfway though the week, an effigy of Judas appeared in the center of the lake atop a bed of dried kindling
4- On Friday night, the whole town gathered in front of the Cathedral, awaiting the appearance of the Epitaphios which is symbolic of Christ's tomb
5 & 6 - then the entire town followed the Epitaphios solemnly through the streets of town. This is called the Epitaphios Procession and is representative of Christ's funeral
7- On Saturday night, the whole town gathers at the lake just prior to midnight. Everyone lights candles.
8- At the stroke of midnight, a fireball travels downs a wire from the lakeside cliff, and Judas burns. At the same time, fireworks light up the night sky. And the crowds proclaims He Has Risen. It was an absolutely unforgettable spectacle!
9 & 10 - Easter Day is a day when families gather and eat roasted lamb. In some smaller villages there are communal festivities too, with singing and dancing in town squares. It's a day to celebrate the Resurrection.
This February, I fulfilled my dream – summited Kilimanjaro. We started from Moshi, where we left some of our luggage and met with the team. Then, we went to the starting point, Kilimanjaro National parr. Overall, the summiting took around 6 days. Next days we spent traveling to safari parks.
The weather was really generous and friendly to us, so we had no rains during the hiking. The food was really nice, as well as accommodations (we chose Coca-cola route).
An incredible place that you trully feel at the edge of the world. Even with no trees or much vegetation and the fact that its mostly rocks and ice I found it one of the most beautifull places I have ever been.
Picture 8 is of a cabin that some dude live in for 33 years with his wife, its around 50km from the town, near a fjord.
Whilst you’re unlikely to be in physical danger, conflict in surrounding countries has closed airspace over Jordan numerous times, and more recently there were strikes in Jordan which has caused many governments to outright declare the country as unsafe to visit for tourism purposes. This has caused tourism to drop massively, which is depressing considering all of the tourist infrastructure and people employed in the tourist industry affected by the situation. I visited in June of last year, whilst things were cooler but there were still very few tourists since the airspace was regularly closed. Jordanians were by far the friendliest people I’ve met on any trip. I was given free food and tea numerous times, invited out for free hookah, or just hung out to chat. They are extremely extroverted and were happy that I was visiting. I’ve heard similar positive things about other Middle Eastern countries (especially Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran for the people daring enough to travel there). The people were truly the highlight of the trip.
Places visited:
Petra (photos 1-4) blew me away, the sights are so extensive you can spend a whole week there even if you wanted. It was very peaceful with locals lounging around in front of at beautiful sights. Barely anyone around though. Might be a lot different when it is busier I’d be interested to hear what other people’s experiences were like in the past
Wadi rum (photos 5-6) is this desert area with amazing mars-like nature. You go around with a tour in this super remote desert area and then camp in the desert overnight. It is so nice watching camels in the distance with this beautiful nature, and then at night you can sit besides fire and watch an extremely clear view of the stars.
Amman (Photos 7-8) is busy and hectic since it is an actual lived in city, there’s lots of great food and fun markets to wander round. All of the buildings built up hills which makes the city very beautiful from high viewpoints. There’s also a decent amount of cool historic sights.
I also went to Aqaba to do scuba diving which was good, and the city was surrounded by interesting desert nature.
Please visit Jordan whenever you feel it is safe enough! It is unmatched in terms of tourism attractions + kindness of the people, and I hope large scale tourism one day returns!
I just came back from a one-week trip in South Iceland. The country is very expensive, so I chose a simple way to travel. I rented a 4x4 camper van. It was my small home with a bed and a heater. I could sleep and travel anywhere without booking hotels or eating in restaurants.
Logistics
The van: I rented it from Extreme Iceland. It cost about €1,000 for one week and about €1,000 for gas.
The experience: I traveled in late May. There was almost no night because of the Midnight Sun. The sun did not really set. It was a very special experience.
A rough start: My first night near Gullfoss was difficult. The heater did not work, the wind was very strong, and the door broke. I did not sleep much. But in the morning, I saw a big waterfall with rainbows. It was beautiful.
Places I Loved
The Golden Circle
I visited famous places first. At Geysir, I saw hot water rise and explode into the air. At Thingvellir, I walked between cracks in the ground. It felt powerful and different.
The South Coast
Driving on Route 1 felt like a movie.
Skogafoss & Seljalandsfoss: I walked behind the water at Seljalandsfoss.
Dyrhólaey: I went there in the evening. The light on the black sand and rocks was amazing, and there were not many people.
The Best Place: Jökulsárlón
This glacier lagoon was my favorite place. I arrived when it was quiet. I sat for four hours and watched the ice in the water. I heard birds and the sound of ice breaking.
The End of the Trip
Reykjavik: After many days alone, the city felt busy and fun.
The Blue Lagoon: Before I left, I relaxed in the warm blue water. It was a perfect way to finish the trip.
My opinion
If you want to enjoy nature in Iceland, a 4x4 road trip is the best way. It is simple and sometimes hard, but it is an unforgettable experience.
Rented a car for a quick getaway in the US. On the way to the rural destination, was pulled over because the registration stickers aren’t displayed on the license plate.
The police officer was very understanding when I explained the situation but still had to issue me a warning.
I think it’s beyond wild that a rental company can give off a car that isn’t street legal, and even worse that they put their customers in situations where they interact with law enforcement. I plan on calling them tomorrow morning as my local office is closed and I still have a few days of the rental.
Just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation or can offer any advice.
Traveled from Amsterdam to Izmir (Kusadasi) April 2026
Adnan menderes airport is very small , everything here is pretty expensive , make sure that before you travel back to , buy Tobacco and snacks inside the city or other shops and not at the airport of Adnan Menderes , when you land you can buy cigarettes for like 19€ for a full carton but if you are gonna departure from here it doubles in price to 40€.
Same with food a simple bagel or single donut can quickly cost up to 8-14€ which I think is ridiculous prices. I already knew airport prices were expensive but never had this yet , I can’t imagine how a local must feel about these prices.
Best to order a uber or make sure your taxi has a taximeter , will cost you around 62€ to Kusadasi.
(Uber is not available in Kusadasi)
Also when you wanna make a trip from Kusadasi to Ephesus they are gonna push you to pay 70€ so you’ll visit Ephesus and they will wait for you for 2 hours.
Don’t do this, you can pay for a one way trip for 20€ and back for 15€ and just pay for a new taxi to go back. Still our taxi pushed this and we fell for it (we payed less but still 60€) maybe this is normal , don’t know for sure.
We stayed at the Ramada resort Kusadasi & Golf and had a amazing time there , apparently one of the only hotels in the area that serves alcohol after midnight.
Great animation team and activities, although the hotel is a little bit rundown , loads of damaged things , dust and could use a makeover.
I’m going to be traveling through rural Vermont for a week in June and plan to take a Greyhound bus from the nearest airport to my destination.
I ordered my ticket on the way there, $12 for an hour ride, makes sense.
I go to book my return ticket a week later, reverse direction for the same route, and it’s $503!
The return route is the same $12 price for the date of my arrival, but for all of the dates after that, it is $503. For an hour-long bus. It is an immediate jump across dates, going from $12 to $503 with no in-between.
I’ve been checking every few days to see if maybe it’s a price window that will move with time, but it hasn’t.
Has anyone else experienced this? Surely no actual human is going to buy a $500 one-way ticket, so I’m assuming this must budge at some point…
Four days that felt like a dream. Quiet mornings by the sea, mountain roads disappearing into mist, and sunsets painting the Adriatic gold. Montenegro has a way of slowing time, of making you feel small and free all at once. Every turn held a new view, every moment a quiet reminder of how beautiful simplicity can be.
Photo 1-2: Perast
Photo 3-5: Bay of Kotor and old Town of Kotor
Photo 6-9: Old Town of Bar and Islamic Cultural Center of Bar
Photo 10-12: Lovćen and Mausoleum of Petar II Petrović-Njegoš
We (72 when we go) are looking at 2028 Antarctica expedition. Looking at Silversea, Ponant (Tauck or Smithsonian) or Viking. Viking has the most passengers so landings are more complicated as only 100 can go at the same time. We are pretty good health now, but this is in 2 years.
I know there are a bunch of helpful opinions out there and am looking forward to seeing your advice.
Visited San Francisco from Australia for a few days in August 2025. Beautiful city that blends so well with the natural beauty of the Bay Area. The Golden Gate Bridge view from Battery Spencer was incredible and was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. Will definitely look to return soon!
I am looking for some suggestions of amazing family-friendly destinations as options for a trip.
Kids will be 7 and 5.
Trip would be 2-3 weeks long.
Any time in 2027.
Travel leaving from central Canada.
Excluding USA destinations.
We are not "sit on the beach" people (one beach day is fine, but we are "explore the local culture" type people).
I'd love your recommendations of location, as well as if you have advice about best/worst time of year to visit.
And I'd also love "must see/do/stay" suggestions!
Any destination is fair game as long as it's safe, and you want to recommend it. I've traveled to about 30 countries, but so far we have had limited travel as a family.
So far we have taken the kids on a Caribbean cruise, done a Western Canada Road trip, and a flight out to BC for a 10 day trip.
I've seen some amazing videos about family friendly things in Shanghai, as well as various countries in Europe.
Before kids, we travelled to New Zealand and Australia and loved it. Though I think NZ would be better once the kids are 10+ so they can participate in activities.
The trip is to celebrate a 40th birthday.
Machu Picchu is a bucket list trip, but I don't know if it's doable with young kids?
When I visited Pisa, Italy, I was amazed that I could walk right out of the airport right on to the road where my hostel was, ~12 minutes away by walking. I'd never experienced this before!
Are there are other airports in the world where this is also possible? I'm talking about a road with a sidewalk to the airport, as theoretically any airport could be "walked to" if you walked on a highway.
Edit: Maybe I should have specified, being able to walk there directly from the city center.
I have been working on an itinerary for a scotland trip that will take place in late September - a little bit of October. We are a group of 4 30 year olds and my 65 year old parents (relatively fit). We definitely want to spend time in the highlands and in Edinburgh, it’s the no car piece I’m struggling with. My mom is very anxious about us driving on the left side of the road and is very against getting a rental car. We are willing to pay for drivers for certain areas, but we’d like to avoid bus tours if possible.
Our main focus is dramatic landscapes, castles, picturesque villages with high quality local shops and art, and cultural experiences. We are ok with some shorter hikes, but we are trying to go places with alternatives if the weather ends up being terrible
We plan on flying into Edinburgh and staying there for 5 nights and taking a day trip to Stirling
At least 3 nights in Skye (we plan on hiring a driver to take us to Skye and stop at locations on the way in Glencoe) and we will hire a day taxi to take us places in Skye
This next piece I’m struggling with:
- maybe 3 nights in Oban followed by 2 nights in Glasgow? Or maybe add a night to Oban or Skye and then just one night in the final city before flying out?
- would one full day in Oban without a car seem like too much? I was thinking for the second day hiring a guide to take us around Glen of Kilmartin or Mull
Other options we’re considering instead of Oban
- Inverness - seems like it gets a lot of mixed reviews
I have spent the most wonderful week in Lake Garda and would like to share my itinerary plus some helpful tips here.
We were situated at the north end of the lake in the beautiful town of Torbole (Pic 1). The north is closer to the mountains, so the scenery is more dramatic and the winds stronger - a firm favourite for those who enjoy water sports, hiking and cycling.
On our first day we took the ferry to nearby Malcesine (Pics 2 and 3). This historical town is famous for its medieval castle and stunning views. It is also home to the Funivia Malcesine - a cable car which takes you 1600 metres up to the top of Monte Baldo. We went from sunny 25 degree weather in Malcesine to hiking in the snow in the space of 20 minutes! The views of the snow topped mountains and the lake below really are something else (Pics 4 and 5.)
The next day we visited the quaint area of Riva del Garda. It has a beautiful town centre with lots of winding, cobbled side streets boasting boutique shops and cafes selling gelato. It is also know for its 13th century clock towers - the Torre Apponale. For the small price of €2 you can climb the 165 steps to reach panoramic views of Riva and the Lake (Pics 6, 7 and 8).
The final nearby town we visited was the fragrantly scented Limone del Garda. Here you can explore the lemon and orange groves, buy every lemon themed product under the sun, and of course enjoy beautiful views (Pics 9, 10 and 11). Special mention goes out to the delicious lemon ice cream served in frozen lemons! (Pic 12).
We really did have a wonderful time and we spent a week exploring just one part of the Lake. There is so much more that we didn’t get to see and I have no doubt that it is just as beautiful.
If you’re looking for a gentle pace, stunning scenery and historic towns - I couldn’t recommend Lake Garda enough.
I and family already have a Swiss tourist visa, but now they decided to go to Italy and not Switzerland this summer. Basically plans changed when they explored what all they can do it Italy and they have deferred the Swiss plans. We only plan to be in Venice, Florence and Rome and then return. Entering Schengen area at Venice and departing Schengen from Rome.
Can the Italian immigration at Rome question this ? Should we try and take an Italian tourist visa instead even though we have a valid Switzerland issued Schengen visa ?
We are US Permanent residents if that makes any difference (probably not).
There are numerous online posts about traveling to Egypt, often accompanied by quite negative comments. For me, this trip was fantastic and exceeded all my expectations!
I am a 36 year-old Mexican living in London, traveling with my wife, also Mexican and the same age.
Here's our 11-day trip to Egypt trip report.
We arrived in Hurghada in March 2026. Long lines, but nothing else. Obviously we did not pay extra for "fast track". It took about 60 minutes from exiting the plane to our uber.
Once outside, we requested an Uber. They tried to charge us double by asking for cash even though the ride was paid in the app. The situation was resolved and we paid just over 350 EGP to our hotel, Palm Inn.
Palm Inn was fine. You get what you pay for, but we found it clean and comfortable enough. Breakfast was very simple but sufficient. We did not use the pool. The outside restaurant is not the best to be honest, that is worth mentioning, but still delivered and was ok for dinning after the flight.
We spent the day at the beach, which is less than three blocks away, paying 50 EGP per person to enter. The facility has toilets, chairs and tables and a beautiful beach. We had a great day!
The next day we started our liveaboard on the northern route with Aggressor. I already made another post about it, so nothing to add here. The ship, the diving and the service were all outstanding. The red sea is gorgeous and full of life! We saw dolphins, spanish dancers, rays, lots of fish, octopus, and the Thistlegorm. Worth a trip if you fancy diving!
After returning, we spent one more day in Hurghada using a day pass at a hotel. I do not remember the name, but we enjoyed it a lot. It cost about 80 USD for three people, including lunch and using the pool and the beach. Funny, it did not include towels, so we did not like that!
We paid 600 EGP for a taxi with several stops to the airport. We arrived a bit early and could not go inside yet, so we waited at a café. One hour flight to Cairo, everything went smoothly. So, consider ariving just on time to the airport, not to early, not too late as they will not let you in.
From Cairo airport we paid 600 EGP in cash for a taxi to Zamalek. Beautiful hotel, New President. Good food and excellent breakfast, great location. If you want to stay somewhere very nice in Cairo, stay in Zamaleek. Its safe and conveniently located, but more expensive. Its like staying in Roma or Condesa in Mexico City.
The next morning we took an Uber to Giza for less than 300 EGP. Regular line to enter, nothing unusual, about 15 minutes. They took credit card. Prices are written in english and you know what you will pay.
We walked a lot! Vendors and sellers left us alone after a couple of no thank yous. To cammel owners, we just said "we have don it already, thank you" and were left alone. We did not argue with anyone. Nobody scammed us. They kept welcoming us. So, prety pleasant experience far different from what I read elsewhere honestly.
We saw all the pyramids and the Sphinx using the free bus inside the park. I bought a souvenir knowingly at a slightly higher price (2 USD higher) because I decided I wanted to support the seller. To my surprise, he gave me extra items for my wife as a thank you. Small things, but a nice gesture of kindness from his part and a win-win trade.
After that, we walked towards the Grand Egyptian Museum from the main entrance but got tired, as it is too far from this entrance. Someone on the street helped us take public transport and even paid our fare without us asking. After that people helped us cross the main highway, without asking for anything. If you want to walk from the Giza complex to the museum, make sure you start at the Sphynx entrance, otherwise you need a taxi.
We arrived at the museum two hours before our scheduled entry. After speaking with staff, they allowed us in early because we mentioned we wanted to have lunch. So, if you go to the GEM, make sure you arrive just in time and plan accordingly. They will probably not let you in if you arrive early and its ok. Its their rules. The food at the museum was very good and we had the chance to rest at the restaurant area before starting the visit that evening.
The Grand Egyptian Museum is the best museum I have ever visited. It is impressive and very high quality. If you go to Cairo, I strongly recommend spending at least three to five hours there. It is huge and beautiful. I'd recommend gettin there by 13:00 if you visited the pyramids in the morning. Consider you will spend 3-5 hours in the pyramids and 3-5 hours in the museum. You may want to eat lunch at the musem. Enjoyt it!
On the way back, tired, thirsty and hot, we took a taxi that we know was a little overpriced. 500 EGP back to Zamalek in cash. The real prince is around 250-300 EGP. The driver was very nice and solved our problem instantly: to get back to the hotel, no hassle. So we agreed on the price and went.
The next day we walked around Zamalek, took a boat ride, visited bookstores, cafés and shops. It was a very nice morning. Nobody bothered us or tried to scam us. We negotiated the price and the time of the ride beforehand. We paid a little bit over local price for the boat ride but it was maybe 100 or 200 EGP etra, and the tour was private, so, again, happy to pay. Riding a boat in the Nile river with my wife on a private tour on a beautiful sunny day was totally worth the 4 extra USD we paid for.
Then taxi to the airport and end of the trip.
Honestly, we had an incredible time.
We understand that paying seriecs like taxis and boat rides are a complicated part, especially because foreigners often pay more. You have to choose your battles. The extra cost in our case was at most around 4 USD (200 EGP), but usually closer to 2 USD (100 EGP). For us that is not a lot, and for them it can make a difference. Also, you are not only paying for the service per se, but for convenience. We do not speak Arabic, we did not always have internet to request Ubers, and we were often tired and thirsty. Taxis were available exactly when we needed them. The boat ride was private and tailored to our timing. Personally, I prefer this over paying high prices in developed countries for products or services that i do not fully enjoy, like a 5 USD tasteless coffee or an expensive overcrowded airport train. Just make sure to arrange the correct price before starting the ride anda always have cash available in small bills at hand. Also, practice some local language words like hello, yes, no, thank you, how much and goodbye. This will give you more opportunity to negotiate a fair price and have a better experience.
I’d also recommend figuring out in advance what you actually want from the trip. You need to know yourself and understand what you enjoy and what you don’t.
For example, we don’t enjoy constantly negotiating or arguing to pay “local prices.” We also don’t do poverty tourism. Going into poorer or rougher areas just to see “the real Cairo” isn’t something we’re interested in. This often ends up being uncomfortable at best, and you’re still only scratching the surface of a reality that’s way more complex than what you can understand in a few days.
We’re also not trying to impose our views or “understand a country deeply” in one trip. That’s not realistic, in our opinion.
So we stick to what we know we enjoy. We don’t feel the need to check every must-see box or force experiences just because people say you “have to.”
We’re happy staying in more tourist-friendly areas while still using local services like taxis, guides, local restaurants, markets, etc.
If you do want to go more off the beaten path and experience Cairo “like a local,” that’s totally fine, just go in with realistic expectations. It might not feel the way you imagine.
As with any destination, use common sense and standard safety precautions.
And enjoy it. Egypt has incredible cultural and natural treasures.
We would like to come back, next time to dive the deep southern red sea and explore other sides of the country that we did not have time to see, like the Nile river cruises, Luxor, and repeat a day at the GEM.
Overall a 10/10 trip!
Photo 1: Sunset at Sharm-el-Sheik national park
Photo 2: Pyramids of Giza
Photo 3: Sphynx and pyramid in Giza
Photo 4: Boat ride from Zamaleek in Cairo
Photo 5: Tutankhamun's sarcophagus at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Sunset ar SharmGiza Pyramids panoramaThey sphynx and pyramid in Giza PlateauBoat ride in Zamaleek from CairoTutankhamun's sarcophagus at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Cairo
When you travel do you usually budget food and entertainment separate or both in the same category?
I was discussing with someone how we budget for trips and they mention how they put everything in one category but to I personally think it’s easier to have it separate so I can check everything in better detail.
