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Welcome to the tourist office
The Wikivoyage tourist office is a place where you can ask travel-related questions about any place in the world. Wikivoyage volunteers will do their best to find the relevant information (or just reply off the top of their expert heads) and reply to you. Before you ask your question here, be sure to search our travel guide for the destination or topic you're considering. Many questions are already answered within our guides! In addition, some of our destinations have docents who have volunteered to answer questions about specific places. If neither of those avenues bear fruit, then please ask away! This page is for travel-related questions only. Information on how to contribute to Wikivoyage is at Help:Contents, while questions about Wikivoyage itself may be posed at the Pub. Queries regarding general information on non-travel topics may be made at Wikipedia's Reference desk; some topics tangentially related to travel include:
Please note that we can not guarantee a response and can not be held liable for incorrect or outdated information. Answered questions will be moved to the Archives after two weeks of inactivity. Want a faster answer? How can I get my question answered?
Disclaimer This is a travel guide that anyone can edit and that relies entirely on volunteer contributions. We do our best, but nothing on this page or elsewhere on the site can be guaranteed to be up-to-date or entirely accurate. In particular, check with other sources for questions that can have serious consequences:
Nothing on this site should be taken as medical or legal advice. |
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Uniqueness of New Orleans
[edit]How unique is New Orleans, Louisiana, compared to other places in United States? Is visiting New Orleans, like visiting a foreign country? And are there any place in USA that has a very different culture? Thanks already. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 11:22, 22 September 2025 (UTC)
- New Orleans is unique due to its historical French and other cultural influences, but it's still a fundamentally American city. The French Quarter is the most popular tourist destination.
- There are several other American cities that also have unique culture. St. Augustine, Florida was a Spanish colony from 1565 to 1821 and therefore has a more Spanish feel. Likewise, California was a Spanish colony and its Spanish missions have been preserved on the El Camino Real route.
- Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina were British colonies in the Southern United States, and likewise have a rich cultural history and many historic buildings. But they're still very Americanized; you'll easily be able to find American restaurants, American English is spoken, etc. These cities have a colonial legacy due to their history, rather than still being like the countries that colonized them. --Comment by Selfie City (talk) (contributions) 13:23, 22 September 2025 (UTC)
- That sounds like it would be a essay question. Maybe it is. Ground Zero (talk) 13:33, 22 September 2025 (UTC)
- @SelfieCity @Ground Zero What about California though? California is multiculturally diverse. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 13:05, 23 September 2025 (UTC)
- Yes. Well, per the above, California's history was as a Spansh colony, and the El Camino Real route in California preserves that part of it. Besides that, there has been immigration to California from all over the world that gives it a very cosmopolitan feel. San Francisco is probably the most distinctive, most diverse, and least "typical American" of California's cities. --Comment by Selfie City (talk) (contributions) 14:43, 23 September 2025 (UTC)
- @SelfieCity Does Santa Catalina Island counts as very unique destination?
- For me, all I count for the unique culture of California are the indigenous peoples of California, which are Ohlone, Tongva, and Chumash tribes, due to their distinctiveness. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 17:37, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Although, I’m interested in New Orleans, I’m also a fan of exploring the other parts of Louisiana. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 17:39, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- I'm not very familiar with NO, and have never been to the rest of the state, so I can't help you. Ground Zero (talk) 17:50, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Catalina Island is unique for its location and scenery rather than its culture, although Avalon is a popular destination for people who live in Southern California — I think that's primarily because you can take a ferry there.
- Unfortunately, you won't see much of those native tribes today. I'm assuming you're not from the United States, so I'll make the point clear that apart from a few reservations, Native Americans are virtually nonexistent in American society. There are a few spots in the Diablo Range where you can see very limited remains of Ohlone habitation. These mostly consist of holes for grinding acorns and caves where they lived — no structures or dwellings.
- If you want to explore outside New Orleans, maybe try Natchitoches? --Comment by Selfie City (talk) (contributions) 18:47, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Yes, Natchitoches would be the one. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 20:22, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Some of the Pueblos in New Mexico and Navajo Country can be visited, and New Mexico also has a unique culture and cuisine which is essentially a regional Mexican style dating back to the time before the U.S. grabbed the land. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:29, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- @Ground Zero @Ikan Kekek But is Louisiana French spoken elsewhere, besides New Orleans? ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 06:44, 25 September 2025 (UTC)
- Sure, but there are two types of French people in Louisiana: Creoles and Cajuns. Cajuns speak French; Creoles speak a French creole. To my understanding, many of the Creoles are in New Orleans, whereas Cajuns are elsewhere in the state. See Acadiana. Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:33, 25 September 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek You know, I agree with you. But French is also spoken in Maine. ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 20:35, 1 October 2025 (UTC)
- Where's the but? You asked specifically about French-speaking in Louisiana. I'm not sure what there could be to disagree about, either. Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:34, 2 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek that’s alright, I guess. I need to do research on Louisiana, and the languages spoken. ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 10:33, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
- Is this an assignment for a class after all? If so, don't cite or use my comment. Ikan Kekek (talk) 12:13, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
- Also, if this is for an assignment, please don't use Wikivoyage or any other WMF platform as a citation overall. //shb (t | c | m) 12:20, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
- Is this an assignment for a class after all? If so, don't cite or use my comment. Ikan Kekek (talk) 12:13, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek that’s alright, I guess. I need to do research on Louisiana, and the languages spoken. ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 10:33, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
- Where's the but? You asked specifically about French-speaking in Louisiana. I'm not sure what there could be to disagree about, either. Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:34, 2 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek You know, I agree with you. But French is also spoken in Maine. ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 20:35, 1 October 2025 (UTC)
- Sure, but there are two types of French people in Louisiana: Creoles and Cajuns. Cajuns speak French; Creoles speak a French creole. To my understanding, many of the Creoles are in New Orleans, whereas Cajuns are elsewhere in the state. See Acadiana. Ikan Kekek (talk) 08:33, 25 September 2025 (UTC)
- @Ground Zero @Ikan Kekek But is Louisiana French spoken elsewhere, besides New Orleans? ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 06:44, 25 September 2025 (UTC)
- Some of the Pueblos in New Mexico and Navajo Country can be visited, and New Mexico also has a unique culture and cuisine which is essentially a regional Mexican style dating back to the time before the U.S. grabbed the land. Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:29, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Yes, Natchitoches would be the one. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 20:22, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- I'm not very familiar with NO, and have never been to the rest of the state, so I can't help you. Ground Zero (talk) 17:50, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Yes. Well, per the above, California's history was as a Spansh colony, and the El Camino Real route in California preserves that part of it. Besides that, there has been immigration to California from all over the world that gives it a very cosmopolitan feel. San Francisco is probably the most distinctive, most diverse, and least "typical American" of California's cities. --Comment by Selfie City (talk) (contributions) 14:43, 23 September 2025 (UTC)
- @SelfieCity @Ground Zero What about California though? California is multiculturally diverse. ~2025-68293-2 (talk) 13:05, 23 September 2025 (UTC)
- That sounds like it would be a essay question. Maybe it is. Ground Zero (talk) 13:33, 22 September 2025 (UTC)
Exploring on Cocos (Keeling) Islands and How to Respect
[edit]Is there a way on how to explore the local Cocos (Keeling) Islands both culture and cuisine?
The respect section shows that:
| “ | Respect Ramadan, although unlike in some other countries, the locals won't really mind you eating in public.
When visiting Home Island, make sure to dress appropriately with your shoulders and knees covered, but also don't overdo it – make sure you're comfortable, as the tropical sun can burn you out. It's also customary to seek permission before photographing the locals. You also cannot enter the Home Island Mosque without being accompanied by a Muslim. |
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What are additional respect tips, when exploring the Coco (Keeling) Islands? Does it include on respecting the wildlife? ~2025-26574-72 (talk) 19:01, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- Respecting wildlife is Captain Obvious, don't you think? Is there anyplace where it would be recommended to disrespect wildlife? Ikan Kekek (talk) 20:30, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek No, there is no place where it would be recommended to disrespect wildlife. ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 20:36, 1 October 2025 (UTC)
- Seems self-explanatory to me. //shb (t | c | m) 02:06, 2 October 2025 (UTC)
Tips on visiting Standing Rock Reservation
[edit]Hello there, do you have any travel tips on when visiting the Standing Rock Reservation? Why are DAPL protests included in this travel guide, and what about the history of the reservation behind it? ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 11:18, 28 September 2025 (UTC)
- Exiting the session… ~2025-26965-59 (talk) 11:16, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
Safety
[edit]Hello, what's the safest and most dangerous city of each state of the United States? Adding on, which European cities should be avoided due to crime and stuff? Brickguy276 (talk) 19:21, 2 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Brickguy276: Those are big, complicated questions, and the answers will depend on what you count as a "city" (do small towns count? What about small towns that are legally incorporated as cities?), what kind of danger you're talking about (muggings, murders, carjackings, petty thefts?), and your tolerance for "crime and stuff". Another challenge in answering these questions is deciding how to measure crime rates – the number of crimes per capita tends to be high in areas where lots of people spend time but don't live (for instance, Vatican City has an exceptionally high crime rate mainly because its resident population is so low compared to the number of tourists it gets). So just looking at crime rate per capita may not give you a meaningful idea of how dangerous a place is.
- Personally, I don't know of any European cities that I would completely avoid due to crime, though I do avoid certain neighborhoods in some big cities. But I've traveled to quite a few countries and I live in the US (which is more dangerous than Europe in important ways). Different travellers will have different levels of tolerance.
- Maybe if you can narrow down to a few US states, a few European countries, or some specific cities, you might be able to get a more useful answer. —Granger (talk · contribs) 15:11, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
- Okay so let me specify a bit:
- Small towns don't count unless they're like famous or have a lot of tourism
- If you can, name the city and the neighbourhood that's bad
- So I will take UK(as I will be going there this January), Germany, France and Ukraine(since I will be probably going somewhere to Ukraine after the war) Brickguy276 (talk) 16:05, 3 October 2025 (UTC)
- The UK is generally safe as countries go. Some cities have certain neighborhoods that are rougher (for instance, in London, Croydon has a reputation for crime). You can often find advice in the "Stay safe" sections of Wikivoyage articles, for instance United Kingdom#Stay safe or London#Stay safe. —Granger (talk · contribs) 01:56, 4 October 2025 (UTC)
- I don't know if this has changed since COVID, but when I visit Reykjavik, it was one of the safest cities you could visit anywhere in the world. In most of the major touristy cities in Europe, the main thing you have to worry about are pickpockets. When I visited Barcelona, I was told that pickpocketing was rampant on La Rambla. My brother told me he saw his friend getting pickpocketed on the U-Bahn in Berlin, but the pickpocket failed because his friend had tied his wallet to his pants with a string. The dog2 (talk) 17:04, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- The UK is generally safe as countries go. Some cities have certain neighborhoods that are rougher (for instance, in London, Croydon has a reputation for crime). You can often find advice in the "Stay safe" sections of Wikivoyage articles, for instance United Kingdom#Stay safe or London#Stay safe. —Granger (talk · contribs) 01:56, 4 October 2025 (UTC)
Place to explore and learn about the Danish culture
[edit]Hello there, is there any place in United States or elsewhere, where can I learn and experience about Danish culture? Additionally, where is the place on United States, that majority of the people speak Danish language? What are the prominent examples of Danish Influence in United States and the culture of this, anyone knew? ~2025-28146-86 (talk) 18:58, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
- If you are the west, consider visiting Solvang. If you are in the east, it may be better to just go to Denmark. Also remember that Greenland is part of the Danish Realm, and many people speak Danish. AlasdairW (talk) 20:08, 8 October 2025 (UTC)
Travel Italy
[edit]I need Assistant Agency ~2025-28238-38 (talk) 10:00, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
- Huh? What are you trying to ask? //shb (t | c | m) 11:23, 9 October 2025 (UTC)
Most and least diverse country
[edit]Which country in the whole world is the most diverse and which one is the least diverse? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 11:35, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- can you better define "diverse"? In terms of geographical diversity, I'd suggest Russia and the Vatican, respectively. Ibaman (talk) 11:44, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ibaman Diversity means different ethnic groups and cultures. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:01, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- if so, I'd suggest Papua New Guinea on top, and again the Vatican on the bottom. Ibaman (talk) 12:35, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Yes, I would like to visit Papua New Guinea anytime. How come this is so diverse? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:49, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Topography resulted in most groups being segregated since the geography made it hard to travel around internally. It's also certainly the reason why there is so little internal infrastructure of any kind deep up in the highlands. //shb (t | c | m) 13:04, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @SHB2000 @Ibaman Does it apply to California and Alaska before European colonization? There are more cultures in these states, than in any other region of United States. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 13:08, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- No, not even remotely close. //shb (t | c | m) 21:57, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @SHB2000 How would segregation, lead to development of different cultures, since it makes them hard to travel? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 01:32, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- (ec) In a lot of Europe and Asia, the rise of agriculture and farming led to a decline of some smaller cultures (see this article) – not exactly the case when you have a country filled with literal mountains that made both agriculture different, but also a lot of time for genetic changes on a scale of tens of thousands of years. //shb (t | c | m) 01:41, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- Exactly. Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:35, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- @SHB2000 How would segregation, lead to development of different cultures, since it makes them hard to travel? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 01:32, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- No, not even remotely close. //shb (t | c | m) 21:57, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @SHB2000 @Ibaman Does it apply to California and Alaska before European colonization? There are more cultures in these states, than in any other region of United States. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 13:08, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Tons of tribes with like 17 people each everywhere. Brickguy276 (talk) 19:13, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Topography resulted in most groups being segregated since the geography made it hard to travel around internally. It's also certainly the reason why there is so little internal infrastructure of any kind deep up in the highlands. //shb (t | c | m) 13:04, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Yes, I would like to visit Papua New Guinea anytime. How come this is so diverse? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:49, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- if so, I'd suggest Papua New Guinea on top, and again the Vatican on the bottom. Ibaman (talk) 12:35, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ibaman Diversity means different ethnic groups and cultures. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:01, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- I've seen a claim that Toronto is the most diverse city on Earth with 50-odd% of its population born outside Canada & another 20-odd% having at least one immigrant parent. Certainly there's a wonderful diversity of restaurants, but places like London, New York & Singapore may be even better. Pashley (talk) 12:40, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Ok, cool then. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:45, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ibaman @Pashley What about the Japan, China, India, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Samoa? These all look diverse though. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:51, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Ok, cool then. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 12:45, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- are you a real person? you sound like IA. Ibaman (talk) 13:44, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- Culturally and ethnically, in a way, the Vatican is not that non-diverse country. Its citizens, while obviously devout Catholics, originate from all over the world. Instead the least diverse country would probably be North Korea. --Ypsilon (talk) 13:47, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ibaman Yes, I’m a real person out there, just being curious about cultures of traveling. ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 01:30, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- That itself is an odd phrase. Cultures of traveling. So, maybe do some research on jetsetters, business travelers, hobos... Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:48, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek @Brickguy276 @Ibaman @Pashley @SHB2000 @Ypsilon Alright, but how diverse is East Asia, that is China, Koreas, Japan, and Taiwan? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 04:41, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- Well, Japanese people are really racist, that's what I can say for sure. Some restaurants have a "no foreigner" policy. Not even joking. Brickguy276 (talk) 06:37, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Brickguy276 Why no foreigner policy, unlike in United States, and other western countries or nations I can say? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 10:25, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- Well, Japanese people are really racist, that's what I can say for sure. Some restaurants have a "no foreigner" policy. Not even joking. Brickguy276 (talk) 06:37, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- @Ikan Kekek @Brickguy276 @Ibaman @Pashley @SHB2000 @Ypsilon Alright, but how diverse is East Asia, that is China, Koreas, Japan, and Taiwan? ~2025-28029-34 (talk) 04:41, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
- That itself is an odd phrase. Cultures of traveling. So, maybe do some research on jetsetters, business travelers, hobos... Ikan Kekek (talk) 01:48, 11 October 2025 (UTC)
Hotel in Ny-Ålesund
[edit]The Wikivoyage article Ny-Ålesund says that except for a few select scientists, visits to Ny-Ålesund are limited to brief stops on a ship voyage and treading off paths is strictly forbidden. Yet there's a hotel called the North Pole Hotel in Ny-Ålesund. So is it actually possible stay overnight at the hotel?
Not that I would actually be going to Ny-Ålesund anytime soon because of the long distance and prohibitive price, I'm just asking out of interest. JIP (talk) 20:11, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- I updated the article with links to King's Bay AS, which manages the hotel and books flights. Its website does not say that the services are restricted to scientists. Ground Zero (talk) 21:32, 10 October 2025 (UTC)
- I had a look at the hotel's own website and the only way it seems to offer to actually book a room is a link titled "RIS booking" leading to the website of Research in Svalbard with no application to book a room, only an application to register as a scientist. There still doesn't seem to be any way to stay overnight at the hotel for tourists. All this is simply of interest, I have no intention of actually travelling to Ny-Ålesund anytime soon because it's so far away and so expensive. JIP (talk) 00:42, 12 October 2025 (UTC)