{"data":[{"path":"/r/reddit.com/wiki/faq","content":"This page is no longer updated.\r\n-------------------\r\n\r\nFor more up to date information go here: https://www.reddithelp.com\r\n-------------------\r\n\r\n# Frequently Asked Questions\r\n\r\nThis FAQ is also available in: [[es](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/es/faq)] [[de](/wiki/de/faq)]  [[pt-br](/wiki/pt-br/reddiquette)] [[nl](/wiki/nl/faq)] [[ru](/wiki/ru/faq)]  \r\n## Basics\r\n\r\n### What is reddit?\r\n\r\nreddit is a source for what's new and popular on the web.\r\n\r\nUsers like you provide all of the content and decide, through voting, what's\r\ngood and what's junk.\r\n\r\nLinks that receive community approval bubble up towards #1, so the front page\r\nis constantly in motion and (hopefully) filled with fresh, interesting links.\r\n\r\n### What does the name \"reddit\" mean?\r\n\r\nIt's (sort of) a play on words -- i.e., \"I read it on reddit.\" Also, there are some unintentional but interesting Latin meanings to the word \"reddit\". [Details here.](http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/enesq/til_that_reddit_is_the_latin_word_for_render/)\r\n\r\n### What is that alien / bug thing?\r\n![](%%faq-snoo%%) That adorable and informative creature is Snoo, the mascot for the reddit community. It is also a registered trademark owned by reddit. You can visit [redditalien.com](http://redditalien.com \"no longer maintained\") for an archive of its past adventures.\r\n\r\n### Can anyone submit a link?\r\nYes — all you need is [an account](/wiki/registration)! However, there is a cap on the posting rate to prevent spamming. This restriction is the same for both reddit gold members and non-gold members.\r\n\r\n### How is a submission's score determined?\r\nA submission's score is simply the number of upvotes minus the number of downvotes. If five users like the submission and three users don't it will have a score of 2. Please note that the vote numbers are not \"real\" numbers, they have been \"fuzzed\" to prevent spam bots etc. So taking the above example, if five users upvoted the submission, and three users downvote it, the upvote/downvote numbers may say 23 upvotes and 21 downvotes, or 12 upvotes, and 10 downvotes. The points score is correct, but the vote totals are \"fuzzed\".\r\n\r\n### Why does a dot sometimes show up where the score should be?\r\n\r\nFor the first few hours after a submission is created, the score is not displayed. This is intended to mitigate the bandwagon effect.\r\n\r\n### I made a mistake in my submission title, how can I edit it?\r\n\r\nSubmission titles cannot be edited.  However, you can simply delete it and resubmit it.  The sooner you do this, the less likely you will lose any votes or comments.\r\n\r\n### What is that number next to usernames? And what is karma?\r\n\r\nThe number next to a username is called that user's \"karma.\" It reflects how much good the user has done for the reddit community. The best way to gain karma is to submit links that other people like and vote for.\r\n\r\n### Why should I try to accumulate karma?\r\n\r\nWhy should you try to score points in a video game? Why should your favorite sports team try to win the championship?\r\n\r\nOr, to look at things from a less competitive and more altruistic perspective, read [what philosophers have said about the matter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma) -- namely, don't set out to accumulate karma; just set out to be a good person, and let your karma simply be a reminder of your legacy. Note: reddit makes no guarantees about attaining Nirvana.\r\n\r\nUpdate: A redditor named jumpercable tried to redeem his karma. [See how it went](http://blog.reddit.com/2009/06/weve-got-mail.html) (your mileage may vary).\r\n\r\n### What can I do to get my submissions noticed?\r\n\r\nRemember that adage about not judging a book by its cover?  No one actually follows it.  So choose your title carefully — make it useful, provide context, and be descriptive. Be careful though, if you're too aggressive it could backfire. Phrases like, \"Vote this up to spread the word!\" or \"AMAZING!\" tend to annoy most redditors, who will make sure your post doesn't see the light of day.\r\n\r\n### Why don't my submissions show up on the New page?\r\n\r\nreddit has a spam filter designed to detect spam posts and automatically remove them. However, legitimate posts are often caught by the filter. If a few minutes go by and your post isn't showing up on the new page of the community where you posted, it has probably been caught by the filter. This is most likely to occur if you are posting to a community that you have not participated in before. Each community has an independent filter, for example /r/help's filter doesn't talk to /r/pic's filter. In order to remove your post from the filter you need to [ message the moderators](http://i.imgur.com/ErkF43T.png) (this link can be found in the sidebar on the right-hand in that community, you can also manually compose a message to #communityname) and ask them to check the filter for you. Eventually the filter will \"learn\" that your posts don't need to be removed. \r\n\r\n### Is reddit available in languages other than English?\r\n\r\nYes!  In the upper-right corner of the page, there should be a link that says, \"English\". Click it and you'll get a popup where you can change to another language.\r\n\r\n### I want to change my username. Do I have to start a new account?\r\n\r\nYes. Once a user account is created, the username cannot be edited. You can create a new user profile but cannot migrate karma, comment karma or trophies to the new username.\r\n\r\n### Will you remove something defamatory about me or \"my friend\" from reddit?\r\n\r\nIn light of the protections afforded to online hosts of third party content, such as reddit, we rarely remove such material, but we reserve the right to do so for legal or other reasons.\r\n\r\nPlease note that reddit does not remove posts for containing insults or negative commentary, but leaves such decisions to the moderators of particular communities. Those moderators are not employees of or retained by reddit‚ they are the persons who initiated the particular community and their appointees.  While posts that contain such content can be distasteful, reddit is not in a position to arbitrate disputes.  Posts should be consistent with the rules of the community to which they are posted.\r\n\r\n**The best way to deal with incorrect information on the Internet is to post the correct information next to it.** The reddit community is usually very supportive of such a response, and will likely vote to give the correction greater prominence than the original post. Redditors love a good counterpoint.\r\n\r\n### Is posting personal information ok?\r\n\r\nNO. reddit is a pretty open and free speech place, but it is not ok to post someone's personal information, or post links to personal information. This includes links to public Facebook pages and screenshots of Facebook pages with the names still legible. We all get outraged by the ignorant things people say and do online, but witch hunts and vigilantism hurt innocent people and certain individual information, including personal info found online is often false. Posting personal information will get you banned. Posting professional links to contact a congressman or the CEO of some company is probably fine, but don't post anything inviting harassment, don't harass, and don't cheer on or vote up obvious vigilantism.\r\n\r\n### Is posting political campaign information ok?\r\n\r\nYes.  reddit does not discriminate among candidates or differing political viewpoints in any way, nor does it discriminate between political and non-political topics.  reddit's terms of service require all users not to violate any law, statute or regulation in the course of their use.  reddit provides its basic service to all users without charge and its provision of basic services for free is not a contribution to any candidate, political committee, or political party committee.  reddit does not control links to political sites, does not endorse them, and is not responsible for any aspects of those sites.\r\n\r\n### Which staff member should I write to if I have a problem or question?\r\n\r\n[Send a message to /r/reddit.com](http://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Freddit.com)\r\n\r\n### I want to make something with the reddit alien on it.  Whom do I contact?\r\n\r\nWe have a [whole page on licensing](/wiki/licensing).\r\n\r\n### What do all of these acronyms mean?\r\n\r\nWell there are a lot of acronyms in use on reddit, so this is just a list of some of the main ones you'll see.\r\n\r\n*   AFAIK means \"As far as I know\"\r\n*   AMA means \"Ask me anything\"\r\n*   CMV means \"Change my view\"\r\n*   DAE means \"Does anybody else\" or \"Does anyone else\"\r\n*   ELI5 means \"Explain like I'm 5 (years old)\"\r\n*   FTFY means \"Fixed that for you\"\r\n*   IAMA means \"I am a\"\r\n*   IANAD means \"I am not a doctor\"\r\n*   IANAL means \"I am not a lawyer\"\r\n*   IIRC means \"If I recall correctly\"\r\n*   IMO/IMHO means \"In my opinion\" and \"In my humble/honest opinion\", respectively\r\n*   ITT means \"In this thread\"\r\n*   MRW/MFW means \"My reaction when\" and \"My face when\", respectively\r\n*   NSFL means \"Not safe for life\" (gory or gross content)\r\n*   NSFW means \"Not safe for work\" (sexual content)\r\n*   OP means \"Original poster\" (the person who started the thread)\r\n*   [Serious] means \"Serious responses only\" (commonly used in /r/askreddit and other subreddits now)\r\n*   PSA means \"Public service announcement\"\r\n*   TIL means \"Today I learned\"\r\n*   TL;DR means \"Too long; Didn't read\"\r\n*   YSK means \"You should know\"\r\n\r\n## Commenting\r\n\r\n### Is there a reference guide for the reddit comment syntax?\r\n\r\nYes — the [commenting help page](/wiki/commenting) explains all the details, pitfalls, and workarounds.\r\n\r\n### What does it mean when an asterisk appears next to a comment?\r\n\r\nThis just means that the commenter has edited it. (On reddit, you can go back and edit your comments in order to fix mistakes, add new information, or be annoying.)\r\n\r\n### How is a comment's score determined?\r\n\r\nAccording to the same principles as a submission's score.\r\n\r\nA comment's score is simply the number of upvotes minus the number of downvotes. If five users like the comment and three users don't it will have a score of 2. Please note that the vote numbers are not \"real\" numbers, they have been \"fuzzed\" to prevent spam bots etc. So taking the above example, if five users upvoted the comment, and three users downvote it, the upvote/downvote numbers may say 23 upvotes and 21 downvotes, or 12 upvotes, and 10 downvotes. The points score is correct, but the vote totals are \"fuzzed\".\r\n\r\n## Individual subreddits\r\n\r\n### What are subreddits?\r\n\r\nreddit is made up of thousands of sub-communities, each focused on a specific topic. There's a subreddit for [science](http://reddit.com/r/science), a subreddit for [music](http://reddit.com/r/music), and probably a subreddit for your nearest city. By default, new users are subscribed to a selection of the most popular ones, but you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of the site if you take the time to subscribe to ones that appeal to you. After doing so, the front page will change to show a customized listing tailored to your interests.\r\n\r\n### How can I find and subscribe to subreddits?\r\n\r\nThere are several ways. If you already know what you're looking for, or simply want to browse the list in order of popularity, the [reddit search page](http://www.reddit.com/subreddits/) will be most direct. There are also a number of external, unofficial but authorized sites that provide different interfaces, e.g. [metareddit.com](http://metareddit.com/), [subreddits.org](http://subreddits.org).  To see new subreddits as they're created, subscribe to the subreddit /r/newreddits.  Finally, to find a random subreddit, visit /r/random.\r\n\r\nYou can browse a subreddit before subscribing to it, and if you decide to join, there's a \"subscribe\" link on the right side of every page. If you're already subscribed you can click \"unsubscribe\" to unsubscribe.\r\n\r\n### How many subreddits can I subscribe to?\r\n\r\nYou may subscribe to as many subreddits as you like! However, on any given visit, your frontpage will only select up to 250 subreddits to show you. This selection is refreshed every 30 minutes. When you view the 'MY SUBREDDITS' dropdown, you are seeing only the current 250 selected. The only place to see *all* the subreddits you are subscribed to is [here](http://www.reddit.com/subreddits/mine).\r\n\r\n### Do any subreddits have their own FAQs?\r\n\r\nMany do. Check out \\/r/somesubreddit/wiki to see if your favorite has one.\r\n\r\n## Moderators\r\n\r\n### What is a moderator?\r\n\r\nA moderator is just a regular redditor like you except they volunteer to perform a few humble duties within a particular community:\r\n\r\n*   They configure parameters for the community, like what its description should be or whether it should be considered \"Over 18\".\r\n*   They set the custom logo and styling, if any.\r\n*   They can mark their own links or comments as the community moderator's submission, which just adds an \"[M]\" and turns their name green.\r\n*   They can remove links and comments from their community if they find them objectionable or off topic.\r\n*   They can ban a spammer or other abusive user from submitting to their community. (This has no effect elsewhere on the site).\r\n*   They can add other users as moderators.\r\n\r\nModerators have no special powers outside of the community they moderate and are not appointed by reddit.\r\n\r\n### Why does reddit need moderation? Can't you just let the voters decide?\r\n\r\nThe reason there are separate subreddits is to allow niche communities to form, instead of having one monolithic overall community. These communities distinguish themselves with a unique focus, look and policies: what's on- and off-topic there, whether people are expected to behave civilly or can feel free to be brutal, etc.\r\n\r\nOne issue that arises is that casual, new, or transient visitors to a particular community don't always know the rules that tie it together.\r\n\r\nAs an example, imagine a /r/swimming and a /r/scuba. People can read about one topic or the other (or subscribe to both). But since scuba divers like to swim, a casual user might start submitting swimming links on /r/scuba. And these stories will probably get upvoted, especially by people who see the links on the reddit front page and don't look closely at where they're posted. If left alone, /r/scuba will just become another /r/swimming and there won't be a place to go to find an uncluttered listing of scuba news.\r\n\r\nThe fix is for the /r/scuba moderators to remove the offtopic links, and ideally to teach the submitters about the more appropriate /r/swimming subreddit.\r\n\r\n### What if the moderators are bad?\r\n\r\nIn a few cases where a moderator has lost touch with their community, another redditor has created a competing community and subscribers have chosen to use the new reddit instead, which led to it becoming the new dominant reddit.\r\n\r\nIf you have an issue with a moderator or the way a subreddit is being run, please first try contacting that moderator to see if it's just a simple misunderstanding. You may contact all of the moderators in a subreddit by messaging /r/[name of subreddit] to appeal a decision. Please keep in mind, however, that moderators are free to run their subreddits however they so choose so long as it is not breaking reddit's [rules](http://www.reddit.com/rules). So if it's simply an ideological issue you have or a personal vendetta against a moderator, consider making a new subreddit and shaping it the way you'd like rather than performing a sit-in and/or witch hunt.\r\n\r\n### How do you get to be a moderator?\r\n\r\nIf you create a subreddit you will automatically become its moderator. If you'd like to become a moderator of an existing subreddit, ask one of the community's moderators! Many subreddits actively look for volunteers, so feel free to head on over to [/r/needamod](http://www.reddit.com/r/needamod) and see who needs help. If you find an abandoned subreddit, a final option would be to check out [/r/redditrequest](http://www.reddit.com/r/redditrequest) and make a post requesting to be a moderator.\r\n\r\n### How can I tell who moderates a given subreddit?\r\n\r\nWhile visiting that subreddit's front page, there should be a box on the right with the names of all its moderators. If you can't find it, just go to http://reddit.com/r/name-of-subreddit/about/moderators directly.\r\n\r\n### Where can I find more information about moderation?\r\n\r\n[Here.](/wiki/moderation)\r\n\r\n## Spam, Cheating, and the Like\r\n\r\n### Is it okay to create multiple accounts?\r\n\r\nYes, you can create multiple/throwaway accounts as long as you do not do so to ghost vote your own submissions.\r\n\r\n### Why isn't my submission / comment showing up?\r\n\r\nSubmissions can take a few minutes to appear on the New queue. But it's also possible that a moderator deemed your post to be spam -- or the automatic filtering program did. If you feel this was a mistake, try [sending a message to a moderator](#HowcanItellwhomoderatesagivenreddit) of the subreddit in question.  If they do not respond after a day or so, post a question in [ /r/help](http://www.reddit.com/r/help).\r\n\r\n### What is the \"report\" button?\r\n\r\nThe report button, shown on all links and comments, is an anonymous way for the reddit community to send feedback to the moderators that something is spam or otherwise violates the rules -- for example, pornographic content submitted to a non-adult subreddit, or a .PDF posted to /r/videos. If your reason for reporting is time-sensitive or non-obvious, please leave a reply or send a message to a moderator explaining your reasoning.\r\n\r\n### What happens when something gets reported?\r\n\r\nIt will be reviewed, either by a person or a program. The more people who report it, the more likely some action will be taken. Reporting spam is the single most important thing a user can do to help keep reddit clean.\r\n\r\n### What constitutes vote cheating and vote manipulation?\r\n\r\nBesides spam, the other big no-no is to try to manipulate voting by any means: manual, mechanical, or otherwise. We're not going to post an exhaustive list of forbidden tactics (lest we give people ideas), but some major ones are:\r\n\r\n*   Don't use shill or multiple accounts, voting services, or any other software to increase votes for submissions\r\n*   Don't ask other users to vote on certain posts, either on reddit itself or anywhere else (through Twitter, Facebook, IM programs, IRC, etc.)\r\n*   Don't be part of a \"voting clique\" or \"vote ring\"\r\n\r\nA voting clique is a group of people who send links to their submissions around via message, IM, or any other means, with the expectation of \"you guys vote for my stuff and I'll vote for yours.\"  A \"vote ring\" is a group of people who agree to vote on certain things together, either a specific submission, a user, a domain, or anything like that.  Upvote each submission or content for the value of the information in it, a variety of things that you think are interesting and will benefit the community.\r\n\r\nCheating or attempting to manipulate voting will result in your account being banned. Don't do it.  \r\n\r\n### What constitutes spam?\r\n\r\nIt's a gray area, but some rules of thumb:\r\n\r\n*   It's not strictly forbidden to submit a link to a site that you own or otherwise benefit from in some way, but you should sort of consider yourself on thin ice. So please pay careful attention to the rest of these bullet points.\r\n*   If your contribution to reddit consists mostly of submitting links to a site(s) that you own or otherwise benefit from in some way, and additionally if you do not participate in discussion, or reply to peoples questions, regardless of how many upvotes your submissions get, you are a spammer. If over 10% of your submissions and conversation are your own site/content/affiliate links, you're almost certainly a spammer.\r\n*   If people historically downvote your links or ones similar to yours, and you feel the need to keep submitting them anyway, they're probably spam.\r\n*   If people historically upvote your links or ones like them -- and we're talking about real people here, not sockpuppets or people you asked to go vote for you -- congratulations! It may not be spam! However, you still need to follow the [guidelines for self promotion](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/selfpromotion)\r\n*   If nobody's submitted a link like yours before, give it a shot. But don't flood the new queue; submit one or two times and see what happens.\r\n\r\nTo play it safe, write to the moderators of the community you'd like to submit to. They'll probably appreciate the advance notice. They might also set community-specific rules that supersede the ones above. And that's okay -- that's the whole point of letting people create their own reddit communities and define what's on topic and what's spam.\r\n\r\nIf you're thinking of doing any self-promotion on reddit, you might want to [read this first](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/selfpromotion).\r\n\r\n## Nerd Talk\r\n\r\n### What is reddit written in?\r\n\r\nPython.\r\n\r\n### Seriously? I heard it was written in Lisp.\r\n\r\nIt was, but we rewrote it. ([Here's why.](http://blog.reddit.com/2005/12/on-lisp.html))\r\n\r\n### So what Python framework do you use?\r\n\r\n[Pylons](http://pylonsproject.org/).  You can see [our source code](http://github.com/reddit/) if you want.\r\n\r\n## Anything we didn't cover?\r\n\r\nIf you have a question that isn't answered here, you can get near-instant assistance by reading the [/r/help FAQ](/r/help/wiki/FAQ) or posting on the [/r/help reddit](/r/help). We also have [press information](/wiki/pressiquette) available, and a page for those looking to [advertise on reddit](http://www.reddit.com/ad_inq). If you're new to reddit and want some more information on interesting subreddits, confusing acronyms and so on, try [this post](http://www.reddit.com/r/announcements/comments/d73ow/reddit_101_or_click_this_if_youre_new_around_here/)..","revision_date":1579166402,"revision_author":"liltrixxy","revision_author_id":"t2_6wa5w","revision_reason":null,"retrieved_on":1739553118},{"path":"/r/travel/wiki/faq","content":"Please look through the relevant links below before posting, then ask any follow-up questions as a new post. To get a more helpful response remember to include relevant details such as where you're starting, duration, a rough budget and a few interests. \r\n\r\nIf asking about flights or hotels please say what you've already found, so as to avoid duplicated effort. If you've not found anything, please check [the /r/travel sidebar](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/about/sidebar/) for some ideas before posting.\r\n\r\nQuick links: [destinations](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/popular-destinations) | [hotels](http://www.tripadvisor.com/) | [flights](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/airfare) | [check the sidebar in local subreddits](http://www.reddit.com/reddits/)\r\n\r\n#How do I start travelling?\r\n\r\nGet enough money (see below). [Pick a destination](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/popular-destinations). Use the sidebar to [find a flight](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/airfare), then somewhere to stay for your first night. Pack your bags and leave. Have fun.\r\n\r\n#How do I afford to travel?\r\n\r\nEarn money. Spend less than you earn on day-to-day living. Eventually you'll have saved enough money to go travelling.\r\n\r\n[Search the subreddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=afford+travel&restrict_sr=on)\r\n\r\n##How do I save money to travel?\r\n\r\nKeep a careful budget and ensure that your outgoings are less than your income. There are subreddits dedicated to this, such as /r/Frugal and /r/personalfinance , but if travel is a priority you'll find a way somehow. \r\n\r\nIf it really is impossible to stay within budget, then you'll have to increase your income - just don't start spending all the extra cash!\r\n\r\n[Search the subreddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=save+money&restrict_sr=on)\r\n\r\n##What jobs/organisations allow me to travel for free?\r\n\r\n[There are lots of ideas in past threads](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=travel+jobs&restrict_sr=on). Additionally you can work in exchange for accommodation with projects such as [WWOOF](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=wwoof&sort=new&restrict_sr=on), [WorkAway](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=workaway&sort=new&restrict_sr=on) or [HelpX](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=helpx&sort=new&restrict_sr=on). Another popular method is [studying](http://www.reddit.com/r/StudyAbroad) or [teaching abroad](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=teaching+abroad&sort=new&restrict_sr=on). See also /r/studyabroad and /r/tefl.\r\n\r\nFor those with a career wanting to work abroad full-time look at /r/IWantOut\r\n\r\n##I have no money, so will r/travel pay for my holiday?\r\n\r\n[Unlikely](https://redd.it/63o8og), even if you dress it up as a Kickstarter/GoFundMe type project. /r/Assistance or /r/kickstarter may help. The same applied to video competition entries.\r\n\r\n##I have no money, so will r/travel do my market research and give me free advertising?\r\n\r\nNo. We're inundated with surveys, startups and app developers. Many surveys are from students - far more are from startups (and some surprisingly large companies) claiming to be students that are just thinly veiled market research or advertising.\r\n \r\nFor students I sympathise and would suggest trying /r/samplesize, but do read the How To Post rules in their sidebar. For startups/app authors/companies I would suggest [http://www.reddit.com/advertising/](http://www.reddit.com/advertising/) - it's very cheap and you can target exact subreddits and locations. Please also read the [section on excessive self-promotion](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/edit/faq#wiki_i.27ve_written_a_blog_about_my_amazing_trip._i_want_everyone_to_read_it.21.21.21.21) below before promoting yourself in the comments.\r\n\r\n#How do you get time to travel so much?\r\n\r\nThose that travel a lot may have jobs that regularly take them abroad ([see above](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/edit/faq#wiki_what_jobs.2Forganisations_allow_me_to_travel_for_free.3F)). A few have created location independent lifestyles, meaning they can work from anywhere. Examples would be chef, craftsman, photographers and writers, along with those that only need a computer to do their work such as web designers and freelance coders. These all take time and commitment to gain an established portable skill set and a few reliable clients.\r\n\r\nSome jobs include a lot of business travel. This is very different from recreational travel, but here are [tips to make it less stressful](http://redd.it/1mzvjn). After some years, many 9-5 jobs might allow you to work remotely or take an unpaid sabbatical.\r\n\r\n[Here's a long thread about jobs that include a lot of travel](https://redd.it/2ocrhb), but be aware that travelling for work is usually a lot less flexible than your typical leisure holiday. You may just be visiting airports and meeting rooms with no time for sightseeing.\r\n\r\n[Search the subreddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=location+independent&restrict_sr=on)\r\n\r\n#Locations, Where to Go, Destination Guides\r\n\r\n##What can I do in...?\r\n\r\nFor an overview of the country first check [WikiVoyage](http://wikivoyage.org/) and [TripAdvisor](http://tripadvisor.com/), or [watch some travel shows](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/edit/faq#wiki_what_are_some_good_travel_shows.3F).\r\n\r\nFor /r/travel user's personal destination recommendations, see the [Past topics of the week](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/topic-of-the-week) or some selected [Reddit's tips for popular destinations](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/popular-destinations). Remember to do a search of the subreddit as well.\r\n\r\nIt's also possible to download the whole of [Wikivoyage to use offline](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Wikivoyage:Offline_reader_Expedition) on your phone or e-reader. A new feature allows you to [collate selected articles into a single file or printable book](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Wikivoyage:Books).\r\n\r\n##What's the *best* way to see/to get to...?\r\n\r\nI'm partial to helicopter rides and hot air balloons, but this is different for everyone, so please be more specific. Do you mean cheapest, easiest, quickest, most enjoyable, most complete, most scenic? \r\n\r\n##What's the cheapest way to...?\r\n\r\nCheapest is unhelpful, as the cheapest way will be to walk or swim then wild camp, which may also be unhelpful. If you want to arrive in a timely fashion, suggest cheapest flight, otherwise rail or bus can be a great way to travel. \r\n\r\nIf asking about flights or hotels please say what you've already found, so as to avoid duplicated effort. If you've not found anything, please check the /r/travel sidebar for some ideas before posting.\r\n\r\nIt's worth noting that the absolute cheapest flight is often not the cheapest overall route to travel once you take into account getting to the airport at 3am in a taxi, parking your car for a fortnight or getting a hotel for that 28-hour layover. Consider all the factors.\r\n\r\n##How much does it cost to go to...?\r\n\r\nIf you ask this you need to provide a lot of details so you get an answer that equates to your comfort level. Obviously it's cheaper to camp than it is to stay in a motel, which is cheaper than staying in a luxury hotel. The sidebar lists four levels of accommodation. Likewise, if you enjoy hiking it'll be cheaper than if you enjoy helicopter rides and hot air balloons. For estimates of common travel expenses check the Rough Guides Online link in the sidebar, click through to a country and select Money. Lonely Planet online also gives daily estimates for budget travel under Expenses.\r\n\r\n##I have lots of time and money. Where do I go?\r\n\r\nThere must be somewhere you want to visit - a place you've read about in books, seen on TV, movies or even dreams. If that's really not the case then maybe invest in a book such as [The Lonely Planet Travel Book](http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/world/the-travel-book-3/) for some inspiration, or watch some of the travel shows listed below. If you still can't think of anywhere you'd like to visit, then maybe something other than travel is the best use of your money. \r\n\r\n##What are some good travel shows?\r\n\r\n* Anthony Bourdain - [A Cook's Tour](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cook%27s_Tour_(TV_Series\\)), [No Reservations](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bourdain:_No_Reservations), [The Layover](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Layover), and [Parts Unknown](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bourdain:_Parts_Unknown), Mind of a Chef.\r\n* Bizarre Foods\r\n* Long Way Round / Long Way Down\r\n* Any of the Michael Palin travelogues\r\n* An Idiot Abroad\r\n* Departures (3 seasons)\r\n* Sir David Attenborough - Planet Earth (1 & 2) / Blue Planet / Life series\r\n* Globe Trekker (aka Pilot Guides)\r\n* [Rick Steves](http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show)\r\n\r\n[This thread lists a few more](http://redd.it/2i6ln3). Most of these are on YouTube, officially or otherwise.\r\n\r\n#Traveling Plans and Logistics\r\n\r\n## Is it safe to travel to X?\r\n\r\nCheck the official advice on one or more of the following government websites: \r\n\r\n* [http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice](http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) - UK warnings, usually very detailed\r\n* [http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html](http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html) - US alerts, rather vague\r\n* [http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel](http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) - US health guidance covering vaccines and safety abroad\r\n\r\nYou can also Google for travel advice from your own government if it's not listed.\r\n\r\n##Should I travel alone, or with a group of friends?\r\n\r\nWhichever you're more comfortable with. Both can be enjoyable. Groups can often have a fun dynamic, but it can be tricky organising lots of people from A to B on public transport. [Travelling solo](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=solo+travel&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance) makes it easier to meet new people and have unique adventures - see also /r/solotravel \r\n\r\n##How can I meet people whilst travelling?\r\n\r\nMany people want to meet someone but sit there and hope they come to them, resulting in lots of people sitting there not making the first move. Be the one who takes the initiative!\r\n\r\n* [Stay somewhere communal such as a hostel and talk to people](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/6n9o1m/do_the_benefits_of_airbnb_outweigh_staying_in_a/).\r\n* Stay somewhere with a kitchen (hostel/apartment) and offer to cook. Learn a couple of simple dishes before you set off and teach others on the way.\r\n* Try couchsurfing.org/airbnb.com (borrowing/renting a room in someone's house) and talk to the host.\r\n* Couchsurfing also organise regular social events in many cities, even if you're not staying with a host.\r\n* Join a communal activity such as a day tour, a cooking class or a free walking tour.\r\n* Look for flyers in the local library/community centre.\r\n* [Post in local subreddits](https://www.reddit.com/r/LocationReddits/wiki/index) to see if anyone fancies showing you round or they're having a regular meetup. If they're not having a meetup, arrange one.\r\n* Meetup.com works well for finding local groups with similar interests. If they're not having a meetup, suggest one in an existing group.\r\n* There are various websites that try to charge you for much the same as the above.\r\n* If you know your route, post on /r/travelpartners before you arrive.\r\n\r\n[More threads on the same topic](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=meet+people&sort=relevance&restrict_sr=on&t=year)\r\n\r\n\r\n##Should I/we take a group tour, or travel independently?\r\n\r\nAgain, whichever you're more comfortable with. [Group tours](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=tour+group&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance) take the hassle out of organising everything, but you are stuck with the other members of the group, whether or not you get along. You may also visit a few places in which you have little or no interest, as they're part of the itinerary. Independent travel takes a lot more work but you can set your own itinerary. If finances permit, then private tours are a good compromise - you hire a car/bus and driver/guide and travel freely, but with the backup of a local guide.\r\n\r\n##Tour company recommendations\r\n\r\nThis may need its own post, but for out of the way destinations my outdated suggestions are Explore and Intrepid Travel. For extended trips Dragoman. These are all now sold through high-street chains, so the quality of the groups has decreased considerably. Other suggestions are welcome, apart from those with hundreds of entries already in the spam filter. \r\n\r\nCheck out [GAdventures](http://www.gadventures.com/) for solo or group trips. Moderator /u/protox88 has taken two trips in South East Asia with them and [gave good reviews](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1tl0l8/has_anyone_traveled_with_g_adventures_and_if_so/ce95kae).\r\n\r\n#I've written a blog about my amazing trip. I want everyone to read it!!!!\r\n\r\n/r/travel is a broad subject so we have a severe problem with spam. This is mostly from travel companies looking for free [advertising](http://www.reddit.com/advertising), but also from bloggers who submit every piece of their own content whilst hardly contributing to further discussion.\r\n\r\n[From the reddit wiki](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/faq#wiki_what_constitutes_spam.3F)\r\n\r\n> If your contribution to reddit consists mostly of submitting links to a site(s) that you own or otherwise benefit from in some way, and additionally if you do not participate in discussion, or reply to peoples questions, regardless of how many upvotes your submissions get, you are a spammer. If over 10% of your submissions and conversation are your own site/content/affiliate links, you're almost certainly a spammer.\r\n\r\nThis includes self.posts/images/videos submitted with a self-promoting link already in the description or Reddit comments. \r\n\r\nIf you're not planning on spamming reddit, then please do link to the absolute best of your stories, but keep the number of submissions across the whole of reddit well below the 10% mark. Likewise in comments it's fine to add a helpful link to a **relevant** post on your own blog, but be aware that this can contribute to the 10% guideline - please also add some description rather than just 'Read this:'. \r\n\r\n**Hint**: [Try not to make a link to your website your first ever interaction with Reddit](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/selfpromotion). Get a little comment karma first by getting involved in discussions and helping other people, then link to your best story (not the homepage) and your submission is much more likely to avoid the spam filter. Treat reddit like a community, not an audience.\r\n\r\n[More details on the Reddit-wide spam rules](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/faq#wiki_spam.2C_cheating.2C_and_the_like). Note the parts about [voting rings, asking for votes, and creating accounts to vote for yourself](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/faq#wiki_what_constitutes_vote_cheating_and_vote_manipulation.3F). It's increasingly easy to detect and the admins take a very dim view on this. Unsurprisingly creating a new user for each submission or deleting your previous posts doesn't look good either.\r\n\r\nIf you're a journalist interested in writing about something you've seen here, please read the [pressiquette](https://www.reddit.com/wiki/pressiquette) wiki entry for guidelines on sourcing and crediting your article.\r\n\r\n#\"Here are my holiday photos!\"\r\n\r\n/r/travel is not a picture subreddit, but we do allow images that stimulate discussion. Links and image posts should have a descriptive title that also includes the country, and image posts should include a description of the journey either in the captions or the comments. Say something unique about your post - at the very least the location of each of the images, especially if they span a number of cities or countries. Please do not use titles like \"Photo Dump of X\" or \"I took photos of Y\".\r\n\r\nALL MEDIA is held for review by the volunteer moderators. It can take a few hours to clear the queue. If it's been longer than 8 hours you can message the moderators via MODMAIL for us to check your submission. Note, not all media will be approved. Only one media submission per 24 hours may be approved for a user.\r\n\r\nPosters that regularly can't or don't answer questions about their photos will be asked to move their posts to a more suitable subreddit. Posted images that either don't include a description in the link or a description as a comment in the post will be removed. The same goes for users who repeatedly post and comment on their own photos, but don't get meaningfully involved in any other threads.\r\n\r\nWe do not accept YouTube videos due to the amount of spam accounts that just dump links and leave. We highly moderate and only approve a handful of videos from other sources.\r\n\r\n**Please only post original content** - this rule is being introduced due to the recent increase in people just posting images from Wikipedia/Google, usually for karma, but sometimes even with their own url plastered over that of the photographer/owner. These add no value to the /r/travel subreddit and will be removed. \r\n\r\nAlso, this is a travel subreddit, so the emphasis of posted photos should be on the destination - the unique look and character that defines a place - rather than an image that just happens to have been taken whilst travelling. **A bit of grass, a shovel, a random cat or a view of an empty sunset/clouds/hillside/non-descript beach or shoreline is not a travel photo**, especially without further context. We also recommend a mix of photos. If your album is say only food photos it won't be approved. It should be a good highlight and mix of the destination. \r\n\r\n**Similarly, photos and videos should focus primarily on the travel destination rather than the travellers - keep the selfies and family/friends shots for Facebook/Instagram**. Same for the memes and inspirational quotes - you're on /r/travel - we don't need any more motivation to travel! Try /r/GetMotivated if you need that final push.  OnlyFans, SD posts, or similar \"promos\" will result in an immediate ban.\r\n\r\nAs a courtesy to other users, please create albums (with descriptions) rather than post multiple images in a 24h period. We do not accept single image posts, make sure to batch up photos in an album. Additionally, please do not create a post for each location you go to. Batch up a bunch of photos in one post. Similarly, if you're posting a response or followup to a current post put it in the comments of the existing post rather than start a new thread. Reddit tropes like \"I see your X\", or \"We're doing Y now\" will also be removed as they should be posted in the original thread.\r\n\r\nSuggested image hosts are imgur, Flickr, and 500px. If it's a good photo but doesn't fit the criteria above look for a more localised photo sub at /r/NationalPhotoSubs ([multi-reddit version](http://www.reddit.com/user/I_AM_STILL_A_IDIOT/m/nationalphotosubs)). There is also /r/pics or /r/itookapicture. \r\n\r\nA few examples:\r\n\r\n* [Look how blue the water is](http://i.imgur.com/5HsRDss.jpg). - *Could be any number of places, so not appropriate*\r\n \r\n* [Bahía de Cochinos in Cuba, where four transport ships dropped off about 1,400 Cuban exile ground troops and their CIA contacts during the Bay of Pigs Invasion](http://i.imgur.com/5HsRDss.jpg)  - Far more photos and equipment from the invasion can be found at the nearby museum in Giron - *May inspire some to want to visit and/or start discussion*\r\n \r\n* [Pigs in Cuba](http://i.imgur.com/f9zflZ7.jpg) - *could be a farm scene anywhere and no travel content included, so not appropriate.*\r\n \r\n* [Cuban farmer making cigars](http://i.imgur.com/DN2hG3i.jpg) - *reasonably unique, but some story in the comments would be good. e.g.* The tobacco they sell for export is untreated, but the tobacco they keep for their own use is soaked in a variety of ingredients to give each farmers brand of cigar a unique flavour. Ossie here used cinnamon, bay leaves and urine. He wouldn't say who or what provided the urine...\r\n \r\n* [Vinales, Cuba is amazing](http://i.imgur.com/QDKw5zj.jpg) - *again, no info or context so not appropriate*. Describe the content a little.\r\n\r\n* [Man collecting his rations at La Libreta in Vinales, Cuba](http://i.imgur.com/QDKw5zj.jpg) - The *Libreta de Abastecimiento*, or “Supplies booklet”, is the mainstay of many Cubans monthly diet. Dating back to 1962, the book determines which rations are allowed and how often they can be claimed.\r\n\r\n* [Here's a photo] read about it [on my blog](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/wiki/faq#wiki_i.27ve_written_a_blog_about_my_amazing_trip._i_want_everyone_to_read_it.21.21.21.21) - *not an adequate description on the subreddit, please also read the blogging section above regarding excessive self-promotion*.\r\n\r\nFor more on improving your travel photography have a read of these articles about [travel photography](http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/travel-photography-tips/) and [photo composition](http://petapixel.com/2016/09/14/20-composition-techniques-will-improve-photos/).\r\n\r\n#Please avoid blogspam/linkjacking sites\r\n\r\n[Blogspam](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=blogspam) refers to sites full of images with no attributions, or stories lifted from original sources with no extra analysis or value to the reader. Usually along the lines of \"Top 10 beaches I've never visited so can't add any captions\".\r\n\r\n[Linkjacking is pointing a link to an intermediate site](http://www.reddit.com/wiki/reddiquette#wiki_in_regard_to_new_submissions) with no added value - please link to the original source instead. This includes avoiding posting links via a redirect through Stumbleupon, Twitter, Facebook, and any URL shorteners as reddit will block them.\r\n\r\n#Keeping your money and documents safe whilst you're away\r\n\r\nMoney: [Look through some past posts](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=money+safe&restrict_sr=on&sort=relevance&t=all) for lots of ideas beyond money belts. \r\n\r\nDocuments: scan them and send them to a webmail account/cloud drive/usb stick. If in a remote region without computers/internet keep a second paper copy separate from the first, preferably in a waterproof bag.\r\n\r\nOnline banking: If you're using a questionable computer consider buying a Virtual Private Network to keep your connection secure. See /r/VPN for more details.\r\n\r\n[Topic of the Week thread all about Money Matters](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/2hw7so/topic_of_the_week_money_matters/)\r\n\r\n#Coming home after a long trip?\r\n\r\nThis can be difficult. There's lots of good advice [in the subreddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/search?q=coming+home&restrict_sr=on) about adjusting to reverse culture shock, finding a new job and starting to plan your next trip. If you really aren't happy at home, then /r/IWantOut will help you leave the country for good.\r\n\r\nHappy travels!","revision_date":1701416855,"revision_author":"SteveWBT","revision_author_id":"t2_5txlz","revision_reason":null,"retrieved_on":1737151628}]}