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The ultimate guide to the Machu Picchu tour I made it to the ancient city against all odds, and here's what I can say Firstly, a tour through operators is a great shortcut. Find a tour on a trusted platform (scams are everywhere online), pay, fly to Cusco, relax But if you still want to save money, this is my guide for you: Route: Plane to Cusco → Transfer to Ollantaytambo → Train to Aguas Calientes → Bus to Machu Picchu → Entry with your ticket → Return in reverse The route is always the same. There's only one option: you can spend a night in Aguas Calientes, or you can speedrun all in one day The one real bottleneck is the entrance ticket. Book nothing else until you have it 1. Entrance Ticket https://tuboleto.cultura.pe is the ONLY official site, run by Peru's Ministry of Culture. All others are resellers, prices are usually 20-40% higher useful only to rescue a trip when the official site is sold out, otherwise a way to lose money Book 3–4 months ahead There are three Circuits; I recommend Circuit 2 for a first visit Your passport details must match the ticket exactly — and bring the passport for entry 2. Train: Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes Two operators, PeruRail and Inca Rail — no major difference, so just pick a convenient time Book 2–3 months ahead, as good times sell out Easiest is the bimodal bus/van: a bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, where you board the train Now that all dates are set, book your flights to Cusco 3. Bus: Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu Not included in your entrance ticket. Buy online in advance (better option), or just grab the next available bus on site 4. Transfer to Ollantaytambo Cheapest: the Colectivo (minibus) from Av. Grau in Cusco (at the intersection with Pavitos) Most comfortable: a private taxi (arrange it with your airport driver or via an app) Simplest: the operators' Bimodal Service, which picks you up right in Cusco Follow the booking deadlines and sequence strictly, and you'll be happy

We celebrated New Year's 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world's New Year's capitals, where tourists from around the world ring in the year on Copacabana. Rio is pure contrast: stunning beauty next to crumbling facades, immense wealth a few blocks from abject poverty. That's part of its magic, but it also means watching your phone and valuables and avoiding flashy brands or expensive accessories To save money but stay near the beach, consider Botafogo. Copacabana and Ipanema are legendary, but easily reached from Botafogo, where hotel rooms are generally cheaper. You'll wake up to views of Sugarloaf or Christ, depending on which way your room faces Sunsets: best enjoyed in Ipanema. Truly magical photos Christ the Redeemer: don't be fooled. When you get off the funicular, people will offer inflated tickets - don't fall for the scam; walk to the end, to the official ticket office with regular prices. Buy tickets online on the official website if possible - you'll save money and avoid headaches (why isn't it that simple? I'll explain further) If you can, get a Brazilian CPF. In Rio, a CPF (local tax ID number) is required for many payments. We couldn't even figure out how to pay for public transport without it, but kind locals helped us out. Forget a local SIM card and online payments almost everywhere Brazil's real gem is its people: incredibly welcoming and cheerful. In Rio we met Victor and Victoria, a brother and sister who became wonderful companions, helped us many times, and shared the local lifehacks here. But most Brazilians speak little English, so keep Google Translate ready, everyone is eager to help, so it bothers no one Worth knowing beforehand: Apple Pay isn't accepted everywhere. The main payment method is Pix, the national instant payment system. If you can, sign up for Pix before your trip As I said, Rio is all about contrasts: if you're not put off by homeless people and favelas instead of a picture-perfect postcard, you'll love the city

To be honest, Vienna seemed overrated and incredibly expensive to me, but it's still a truly European city. If you go there with realistic expectations, you'll have a good experience I was most captivated by two things: the magnificent palaces and Klimt's paintings, these alone are enough to make the trip worthwhile. As for food, despite the prices, there are a few dishes worth trying: sausages from the stand near the Opera, classic Sachertorte, strudel and coffee in a genuine Viennese café. These are the local classics that people come here for

Prague is a full immersion in history: a medieval (or, maybe, simply very old) atmosphere, castles, Gothic cathedrals, and beer on every corner. For anyone who loves history and beer, it might just be the perfect city. We stayed at a hotel right on the main square, surprisingly affordable, and ended up having breakfast to the chime of the ancient astronomical clock. A crowd gathers at that clock every hour for its little show, by the way: worth catching at least once during your trip. And there's also a funny sex museum nearby! We walked a lot, climbed up to Castle Hill several times (and would gladly have gone again), and crossed Charles Bridge probably ten times over. By the way, if you go down to the water there, you can meet swans and BOBR KURWA Food and beer are a chapter of their own. The pork knuckle with mustard and horseradish is fantastic here (I unexpectedly discovered I love horseradish). For a beer lover it's paradise, though I'll be honest with the craft enthusiast: it may all taste much the same. I couldn't tell the difference between the roughly seven kinds of Staropramen I tried myself. But trdelník with mulled wine added perfectly to the Christmas mood. Cannabis is legal here, which some travelers may find interesting, but if you visit a special shop, skip the touristy "lollipops" - they're often just sugar and nothing more. As for real downsides: there are a lot of tourists, but otherwise there's little to fault. Prices are mid-range, the streets feel safe, and everything is walkable, we only hopped on a tram a couple of times. Who I'd recommend it to: anyone coming for history and old-town atmosphere (and beer). Any season works; in winter, Christmas gives the city an extra bit of magic.

Budapest is an unexpected and very charming mix: the feel of a soviet sanatorium, beautiful modernist architecture, and prices far lower than you'd expect in Europe. It's the full European experience for very little money and that wins you over immediately. The big discovery is just how good and how cheap the food is. Goulash and paprikash are excellent literally everywhere you go. We tried lángos at Drum Cafe — the place itself is wonderfully authentic, and beyond the lángos there's plenty of other local cooking worth ordering. And kürtőskalács with mulled wine is best enjoyed up on Castle Hill, with a winter view over the city. In short: the number one thing to do in Budapest is eat :) Beyond the food, a couple of things stuck with me. A huge part of the city historical center was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt authentically afterward — once you know that, you look at the buildings differently. And the old Budapest metro is its own charm: cute, atmospheric, and one of the oldest in Europe. Honestly, I couldn't really find a downside. Everything is cheap, nothing felt like a tourist trap, and in terms of safety it's one of the most relaxed places I've been in Europe. The language is unlike anything familiar, but the locals are friendly and welcoming. You can get around however you like - it's all convenient, but taxis are so cheap here that you can comfortably rely on them. Any season works, but winter has one special trump: sitting in an openair thermal bath while it snows, like those famous Japanese macaques. Who I'd recommend it to: pretty much everyone. It's that rare city that works equally well as a first taste of Europe, a food trip, a relaxed, low-cost getaway or a resort town with thermal baths.

Dubai, January 2025 Dubai is a city of superlatives. Everything here is the biggest, the tallest, the shiniest: skyscrapers, malls the size of a town, attractions at every turn. If you're coming for entertainment, shopping and impressions, there's almost too much to take in. But this futuristic megacity comes with one thing worth preparing for: it's built for cars, not for people. There's barely any real pedestrian life - wide highways, huge distances, and getting around without a taxi or a car is genuinely inconvenient. Factor that into both your budget and your plans. The weather: go in winter, summer in this desert means death. In January it's superb - warm, sunny, comfortable. In summer the whole city retreats into air conditioning. That's actually why the malls here aren't just for shopping. Inside you'll find aquariums, an ice rink, even an indoor ski slope. In a climate like this, life moves indoors. New Year's in Dubai is something else. The city is one of the world's best New Year destinations, and ringing in the year here is unforgettable. The lights, the show, the fireworks. Be ready for the city to fill with crowds of tourists around the holidays especially Indians. Indians are Dubai's largest expat community, among both residents and visitors. Who I'd recommend it to: anyone who wants glamour, entertainment, and comfort on a grand scale and isn't expecting cosy walks through an old town and, of course, whoever the budget allows

Istanbul, October 2024. It's where West meets East in the most literal way. On one side, history and an almost fairytale-like Eastern atmosphere; on the other, advertising, the noise of the bazaar, and endless haggling. It's not a downside, it's part of the city's character, and you just take it as it comes. The city itself is warm and easy to like, and water always earns a place extra points, here it's the Bosphorus, and it's stunning: a strait with a vast city spread along both banks. It's also one of the few places where you can set foot on two continents in a single day, so take the chance and tick off both Europe and Asia :) Definitely try the local food. Just be ready for the occasional restaurant trying to pad the bill or pull a fast one, that, too, seems to be part of the local color. I can only really give advice for a first visit. I'm no seasoned Istanbul regular. From the classic lineup, hit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (plus a couple of other beautiful ones), Topkapı Palace, the Galata Tower, and İstiklal Avenue, you can walk it all the way down to Taksim Square or take a historical tram. One honest tip: unless you're ready to drop around a hundred dollars on tickets, don't bother making the trip out to Dolmabahçe Palace. Who I'd recommend it to: anyone who wants both history and an Eastern atmosphere in a single trip and isn't put off by street bustle and bargaining. As a first taste of a genuinely different culture, it's a great pick.

Paris, October 2024. It's a city of contrasts in the most literal sense. Paris is called the city of romance, and that's absolutely true. But with equal justification you could call it the city of homelessness, litter, and the occasional unpleasant "surprise" on the pavement, sadly, also true. Brace yourself for both versions of Paris. The food struck me as overrated, at least unless you're willing to spend a small fortune on it. Hotels are the same story - either you pay a serious amount, or you risk ending up in a cramped, worn-out room for a price that makes no sense. And yet, the sheer fact of being in this city of romance, art, and history outweighs the downsides. There's no point describing the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, or the Arc de Triomphe — everything has already been said about them. The real point is something else - you simply step outside and find yourself inside a postcard. That feeling is enough to forgive the city a lot. Who I'd recommend it to: come to Paris for Paris itself, its atmosphere, history, and spirit. Set your expectations that way, don't count on culinary or hotel paradise, and the trip will be unforgettable.

We visited Valencia in October 2024. This was my first time in Europe, and honestly my first real trip abroad of any kind and as a starting point, Valencia couldn't have been better. What stuck with me most were the people. I've never come across a crowd this energetic and active anywhere else. In the Turia Gardens - a park built right into the old, drained riverbed that runs the whole length of the city - there are runners out at all hours, football and tennis games. Some locals don't speak much English, but everyone I approached genuinely tried to help, a kind of warmth I found myself missing on later trips and a reason I desided to learn spanish :) Just look - in the first photo is a package from a delivery service, where, seeing my name, they wrote "thank you" in russian! The food alone is a reason to come. Valencia is the birthplace of paella and Spain is the birthplace of jamón, so trying it here is non-negotiable. We picked up jamón straight from a local market (Mercado Central), it costs pennies compared to prices in any other country, but it's amazing. I only had paella at one random restaurant, so I can't really compare, but it was excellent, and from what I gather you'd have to work hard to find a bad one in this city. By October the sea has cooled off, a little cold for a long swim, but we got in anyway, and I'm glad we did. If you're planning a first trip to Europe and want the sea, great food, and a lively, friendly city without big-capital chaos, Valencia is a great pick. In my experience October is a sweet spot: still warm, but without the summer heat and the crowds. But be careful, you might not come back, I'm still tormented by thoughts of moving there :) Must-see places: - Historic center - Malvarrosa Beach - Turia Gardens