Notes from the Road

Trip planning tips, app comparisons, and things I learned by doing them wrong.

How to Plan a Trip from TikTok Travel Videos

You've saved 47 TikToks about Lisbon. Now what? Here's how to turn scattered social saves into an actual trip plan.

I've used all of them. Comparing Wanderlog, Google Maps, TripIt, Roamy, and Polo—here's what actually works for travelers who move fast.

AI trip planning apps promise instant itineraries. I tested ChatGPT, Layla, and dedicated apps to see what's hype and what's real.

Everything I wish someone had told me before my first trip. Budget, routes, hostels, transport, and the apps that actually help.

I used to think hostels were for people who couldn't afford better. Then I actually stayed in one. Here's what changed.

Everything I need fits under an airplane seat. I used to overpack terribly. Then I missed a connection in Frankfurt.

The best meal I ever had cost €4 and wasn't on any list. That "hidden gem" with 2,000 reviews isn't hidden anymore.

Board in Vienna at 9 PM. Wake up in Venice. The first time I took a night train, I thought I'd made a mistake.

The best things that happened to me traveling weren't in the spreadsheet. I missed a train in Slovenia and found a vineyard.