Destinations
Destinations, from the practical angle.
Airports, transit, currency, and the mistakes travellers most commonly make. We stick to real cities we can write about accurately.
Japan
Tokyo
Tokyo works quietly and precisely. Trains run on time, signs are bilingual on major lines, and cash is still widely used in small izakayas and older shops. Coming in from Narita or Haneda is straightforward once you know which train serves which part of town.
France
Paris
Paris is compact and best explored on foot and by metro. Charles de Gaulle is 25 km from the centre and getting in is straightforward, but the RER B line has a reputation for petty theft, so keep bags in front of you.
Iceland
Reykjavik
Iceland is small, dramatic, and expensive. Reykjavik itself is walkable in a day but most travellers use it as a base for the Golden Circle and the south coast. Keflavik airport is 50 km from the city and there is no train.
United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Dubai is efficient, hot, and built for visitors. The metro connects the airport, downtown, and the marina, and taxis are cheap. Most travellers use it as a stopover between Europe and Asia.
Thailand
Bangkok
Bangkok is loud, humid, and endlessly interesting. The BTS Skytrain and MRT cover most tourist areas cleanly and cheaply. Suvarnabhumi Airport is 30 km east of the city with a direct express train.
United States
New York
New York rewards walking. The subway is 24 hours, covers all five boroughs, and a single ride costs 2.90 dollars. Three airports serve the city and they are not equally convenient.