Asia
Sure, you can still find a meal for $1 in plenty of places. But if you have anything approaching a normal appetite/metabolism, you will need at least six of those meals a day.
Europe
If you’re spending a significant amount of time in Europe, it’s almost inevitable that you will get on the wrong train at some point. Accept it and deal with it!
USA
Yes, having a car is more of a headache than a boon when you get into the big cities, but if you happen to be road tripping across the country, weekends are actually best for visiting most major hubs. You’ll find cheap weekend parking deals in places like Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, but affordable weekday parking is nigh on nonexistent.
$1 meals?! I’ve never been out of the USofA so I long to see other parts of the world. Someday soon, or so I keep promising myself…
I’d agree with that. My appetite is above normal, so I was constantly hungry…
As for Europe, at one point or another you will also be frustrated to hell that you can’t find the street you are looking for, even when driving…. because they don’t have signs in front of your face (they’re all on buildings, and you have to walk down each road to see the sign, or drive by it in an endless loop trying not to miss it THIS TIME)…
OMG YES. I’d forgotten about that! That was super unfun.
So very true… I ate like hobbit when I was in Asia. I don’t know if it was the heat (made me hungrier), the costs (so cheap, why not eat more), or the portion sizes that resulted in frequent eating.
In Europe: It’s so difficult to find places! Why are the streets not laid out perpendicularly (that’s the charm, I guess, until I’m lost) and why can I walk around in circles when I think I’m going a certain direction?? Also, every time I visit Europe, I’m surprised to find everything close between 2-5; I keep on forgetting about siesta.
I’ve always windered what is it about Asian food that just doesn’t keep you feeling full. I could eat a giant plate of food and an hour later, be starving again.
I find Asian food keeps me perfectly full in NZ (esp if in includes rice/noodles), but the portions in SE Asia are absolutely minuscule, which is the main problem. (Also, it’s hot so you’re sweating a lot and burning things off).
Haha, I can only relate to the latter two but so very true!
Happy new year!
When I went to Europe and was traveling alone, one of my biggest fears was getting on the wrong train, especially the overnight kind. Or getting off at the wrong stop. Luckily non of those things ever happened. I agree about the weekends and cities. Less traffic usually too unless there is some kind of big event.
Good call on parking being cheaper on weekends. If you have the time, instead of actually driving into a city I’d recommend parking at a suburb outside of the city proper, find cheap parking there, and take a commuter train into the city.
I smiled while reading your Asia bullet point, only because I’ve actually found the exact opposite to be true! I generally only eat 2 meals a day (lunch & dinner) and find that I’m quite full for hours after I eat. In Vietnam, that means I get by on about $3US/day! I’ve lost a TON of weight since we started traveling in Asia, so I know my metabolism is ok, but I know I’m also eating far less than I ever did. I think it has to do with how pretty much everything is whole foods and those keep you feeling full longer.
Fascinating! You are the only person I’ve met who says that. You’re a special snowflake 🙂
I lived in Chicago during college – parking was crazy expensive!
Lol, I had to laugh at the getting on the wrong train in Europe observation. I’ve totally done that!
Ha ha brilliant so true, especially love the first one!
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On the bright side, I’ve heard that it’s better for you to eat smaller portions frequently than eat big portions infrequently. 😉 I find that I adapt to the Asian portions after a couple of weeks. And even before that, the smaller portion means there’s more space for dessert — always a good thing!
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[…] @ NZ Muse writes Three things I wish I’d known about travel – What I wish I’d known before travelling to Asia, Europe and the […]
God, I really miss the $1 meals in Asia. Actually… I just miss Asia full stop!
I’m going to Asia for my honeymoon so that’s definitely interesting to hear. I have more than an normal appetite, which I guess means 8 meals a day? Haha. Interesting tidbits!
After pricy NZ and Aus, I’m looking forward to those $1 meals in Vietnam (even if I will need a lot of them!)