Traveling is one of our favorite things to talk about. In fact, we always find ourselves asking others about recent trips and often get the best tips from those who experienced a location or destination first hand. In this post, we’ll share with you our 13 clever ways to expand on the popular question “How was your trip”, to learn more about someone’s recent travel adventure.
How was your trip?
“How was your trip” – The go-to question to kick off a travel conversation. We are very intrigued to learn about new locations as well as listening to someone else’s opinion of a location we’ve already been. Here’s the quick list of our 13 go to questions we ask to dive deeper into the How was your trip, conversation.
- How is the culture?
- Are the locals friendly?
- How is the food?
- Is it packed with tourists?
- Is it expensive?
- What currency is used? Is credit and debit cards accepted?
- Did you get good weather?
- Is the location heavily dependent on seasons?
- How did you get there? How was the flight, what route did you take?
- Did you use public transportation?
- Did you learn anything new?
- Would you recommend it?
- Would you go again?
How Was Your Trip - Cultural Questions
How is the culture?
This question is more specific for international travel, however, there are plenty of cultures within the United States depending on which region you visit. We love to ask about the culture to get an idea of what to expect. However this is completely subjective so if someone has a bad experience at a particular location, it does not mean you will!
Are the locals friendly?
Asking if the locals are friendly ties closely to the question about the culture. However if you can get a gauge on whether the locals are friendly that will provide insight if a location is welcoming to tourists!
We found throughout our travels that Denmark (Copenhagen in particular) are some of the friendliest locals we’ve ever met. But this is just from our experience!
How is the food?
Are you a foodie? If so then this is likely your go to follow up question after “How was your trip?”! Many locations have at least one or two food meals or snacks that originated there and are must tries! One of our favorite local meals is a Belgium Waffle, which we had when we visited Brussels, Belgium.
Below is a picture of a local meal from a recent trip visiting Finland.
Is it packed with tourists?
Many popular locations can be jammed pack with tourists. For example, when we were in Switzerland, we visited a lot of the mountain tops in the Swiss Alps. For one of the mountains we visited, the Top of Europe (Jungfraujoch), there was a massive group of tourists that took over the entire place! Most of the time we like to avoid group tours so we often find ourselves asking this question and we will visit a place during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds.
How Was Your Trip - Money Questions
Is it expensive?
This is a general question but you will quickly get a gauge on how expensive a particular location is. Sometimes food is really expensive, but hospitality is relatively cheap and vice versa. Sometimes, everything is expensive, like Switzerland (HOLY SMOKES!).
We found that the Switzerland is the most expensive country we have visited so far, but Western Europe and Scandinavia are pretty expensive comparable to the coastal cities in the United States.
Southeast Asia is by far the cheapest location we’ve ever visited.
What currency is used? Is credit and debit cards accepted?
Another question that applies for more international travel. What currency do they use and whether or not they accept credit or debit cards. The latter part of this question is a game changer for us. We always try to pay with credit cards whenever possible to get the best exchange rates while traveling, avoid foreign exchange fees, and to accumulate points and miles for future travels.
How Was Your Trip - Weather Questions
Did you get good weather?
The weather is one of the most critical things that can make or break a trip. Diving deeper into the conversation with did you get good weather can lead to learning more if the success of a trip is dependent on the weather. For example if someone is traveling to a beach location and it rained the entire time, their trip may not be as enjoyable as if it was sun shine and rainbows.
Is the location heavily dependent on seasons?
Understanding if a particular location is dependent on seasons is good insight for future travel. For example, we live in a coastal city in New Jersey close to Atlantic City. Other than Atlantic City, the Jersey Shore pretty much shuts down after Labor Day until Memorial Day every year so you want to keep that in mind if you want to get your typical Jersey Shore vacation.
Below are a few of our favorite post on things to do near the Jersey Shore:
Best Things to Do in Atlantic City in the Summer
It’s no secret that one of the best things about...
Read More
20 of the Best Happy Hour Spots in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey has been a popular tourist destination...
Read More
Things to Do in Atlantic City in the Winter
As most of you already know Atlantic City, New Jersey...
Read More
The Best Breakfast Restaurants in Ventnor City, NJ
If you’re looking for the best breakfast restaurants in Ventnor...
Read More
How Was Your Trip - Transportation Questions
How did you get there? - How was your Flight?
I am always interested in the mode of transportation one took to get to a particular destination. If someone decides to drive, fly, take a cruise, or train, it’s always interesting learning why they chose the transportation method.
For someone flying, you can often ask what route they took and if there’s a non-stop direct flight option. I am a bit of a flight geek so this sparks my interest.
Want to learn how we saved
on our past vacations?
And fly business class for FREE!
Check out our e-course to learn how we accumulate over a million points and miles to redeem for free travel anywhere in the world.
Did you use public transportation?
Once one gets to a location they often have to get from point A to point B. Depending on the location will dictate whether or not you chose public transportation or use a rental car.
We often find ourselves searching the best way to get to and from an airport before we takeoff so we’re not scrambling once we land. If we’re visiting a city then we will likely use public transportation, trains, buses, or uber. In a more rural location we often opt to rent a car that way we can travel at our pace.
How Was Your Trip - Recommendation Questions
Did you learn anything new?
Taylor and I always try to learn something new about a particular trip, whether that’s something historical, something about the culture, food, or really anything.
When talking about one’s trip, ask if they learned anything new, I bet you they did!
Do you recommend it?
We love asking if people recommend a particular destination. I can honestly say I’d recommend just about every place we ever visited because there’s a unique thing to do in each location.
This is a great question to ask to see if people enjoyed their trip when asking folks, “how was your trip”.
Would you go again?
“Would you go again” is the ultimate question to find out if someone absolutely loved a location. We are constantly trying to visit new locations since there are just so many amazing places here on planet earth so if we say we will visit a place again, we really really love it! Now we understand, not everyone is like us and may not want to visit as many places as we do but the general census is if you want to go back to a location, you definitely like it.
For example, if you’re like my dad, you will make your way to the same spot every year, like Key West, FL (I think it’s his favorite place on earth).
Summary
Overall we hope this post encourages you to talk more about travel and experiencing new places! If you have any other suggestions on great questions to ask to expand the conversation of How was your trip, please let us know! Again here’s the quick list of 13 different questions to expand on the question, How was your trip?
- How is the culture?
- Are the locals friendly?
- How is the food?
- Is it packed with tourists?
- Is it expensive?
- What currency is used? Is credit and debit cards accepted?
- Did you get good weather?
- Is the location heavily dependent on seasons?
- How did you get there? How was the flight, what route did you take?
- Did you use public transportation?
- Did you learn anything new?
- Would you recommend it?
- Would you go again?
If you have any questions about about traveling in anyway shape or form, please let us know in the comments below!
Have a loved one traveling right now?
If you have a loved one traveling right now and want to wish them a safe flight, here are 20 ways to wish someone a safe flight!