Hacker News with Generative AI: Travel

Why Buy a Camper When You Could Build a Stealthier One Out of Pallets Yourself? (jalopnik.com)
There's just something about hitting the open road with no need to book a hotel or stay with a friend, because you're hauling your own place to stay for the night.
8% of the reviews submitted to Tripadvisor in 2024 were fake (cnbc.com)
The Last Nomads (thedial.world)
I first visited the highland villages of Adjara, a remote region in Georgia’s southwest near the Turkish border and the Black Sea, in 2013. Over the next decade, I would return at least twice a year, wanting to understand it more intimately.
Archaeologist sailing like a Viking makes unexpected discoveries (phys.org)
Archaeologist Greer Jarrett at Lund University in Sweden has been sailing in the footsteps of Vikings for three years. He can now show that the Vikings sailed farther away from Scandinavia and took routes farther from land than was previously believed to have been possible. In his latest study, he has found evidence of a decentralized network of ports, located on islands and peninsulas, which probably played a central role in trade and travel in the Viking era.
Ask HN: Places in the UK / Europe Related to computers (ycombinator.com)
I’m interested in visiting some historic or special places related to this field as a way of rejuvenating my passion in the field again.
2 days in Barcelona at the Svelte summit (windmill.dev)
Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend the Svelte Summit Spring 2025 in sunny Barcelona.
Low cost airlines will officially launch 'standing only seats' in 2026 (msn.com)
It’s a money-saving move that’s sure to divide holidaymakers – but several budget airlines are reportedly set to introduce standing-only seating options.
The forbidden railway: Vienna-Pyongyang (2008) (blogspot.com)
Our train trip via Russia to North Korea - using an officially closed for foreigners route inside the "Hermit Kingdom".
How to Get 600 EUR Flight Cancel Compensation (josecasanova.com)
I recently had an American Airlines flight from Barcelona to Miami (direct!) get canceled.
“There are people who can see and others who cannot even look” (worldhistory.substack.com)
In 1862, Japanese travelers arrived in Europe for the first time in 240 years.
The Boiling River of the Amazon (atlasobscura.com)
Hidden in the dense jungle of the Peruvian Amazon is a percolating, roiling river.
The longest train journey is epic – but nobody's ever taken it (bigthink.com)
The world’s longest train journey takes you from a sleepy town in Portugal across 13 countries and eight time zones to Singapore.
A man who visited every country in the world without boarding a plane (2023) (theguardian.com)
At 34, Torbjørn Pedersen embarked on a seemingly impossible journey that would take 10 years – and involve cerebral malaria and being held up at gunpoint. He reflects on the highs, the lows and the joy of getting married en route
I was on a flight – but British Airways told me I wasn't (bbc.com)
An extraordinary thing happened to me on a recent flight to Madrid: I unwittingly travelled under the wrong identity, becoming a potential security issue, and no one realised.
Keep calm (but delete your nudes): the new rules for travelling to America (theguardian.com)
There have been plenty of scary stories in the news but that might not reflect a policy shift – it could just mean the media is paying more attention to the subject.
Japan's IC cards are weird and wonderful (aruarian.dance)
While I was in Japan over winter, one thing that stood out to me was the incredible public transport system. Efficient and reliable, as expected, but the tap-in-tap-out gates at the stations were suspiciously fast. The London Underground gates don't work nearly as quick with Google Pay or any of my other contactless cards - what gives?
The Airplane 'Barf Bag' Is a Genius Invention Most People Never Think About (theautopian.com)
Every day, the Federal Aviation Administration manages an average of 45,000 flights covering 29 million square miles of airspace. On average, 2.9 million people board an airliner to go somewhere in America every day. It’s inevitable that at least some of those people are going to get sick.
Working in IT made me a nervous traveller (rubenerd.com)
For someone who enjoys travel as much as me, to the point where Clara and I bought a smaller apartment and live our lives optimising for that specific activity, it’s ironic that I also find parts of the experience utterly nerve-wracking.
I ruined my vacation by reverse engineering WSC (es3n1n.eu)
In this post I will briefly describe the journey I went through while implementing defendnot.
Why is it so hard to find founders to bounce off ideas in city you are visiting? (ycombinator.com)
I’m beyond frustrated, and I know I’m not alone. Every time I visit a new city—whether it’s for work, a conference, or just to explore—I try to connect with local founders to bounce ideas off, get feedback, or just nerd out about startups. But it’s like trying to crack a secret code. Unless you’re already in the “inside circle,” it feels impossible to get face time with anyone who’s actually building something cool.
The Battle to Bottle Palm Wine (2021) (atlasobscura.com)
It’s a common sight in tropical places from Nigeria to India to the Philippines.
The Ecstatic Swoon (aeon.co)
On 22 January 1817, Henri Beyle’s heart was beating fast. Not because he had braved the robber-infested road from Bologna, but because he was now approaching the city of Florence.
Attacked by Thugs (2004) (idlewords.com)
Warsaw has a river running down its middle, an unassuming and turpid ribbon of water with a stairstep concrete enbankment along both of its banks, where you can often find retirees fishing (only people on fixed incomes or those close to death would dare eat fish from the Vistula).
Real ID now required in US after nearly 20 years of delays (theguardian.com)
Real ID requirements for those flying within the United States begin Wednesday after nearly 20 years of delays.
With Shake Shack in First Class, Airline Food Is No Longer a Joke (bloomberg.com)
By all accounts, airlines have no business serving cheeseburgers on flights.
United Airlines says it has 'no other choice' but to cancel flights from Newark (businessinsider.com)
United Airlines is canceling dozens of daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport because the airport "cannot handle the number of planes" coming in and out.
What New Orleans Taught Me (commonedge.org)
It’s hard to leave New Orleans when the jasmine is in bloom — especially when you’ve spent a decade learning its rhythm.
Chris Krebs has Global Entry membership revoked (cbsnews.com)
Washington — Chris Krebs, who led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency during President Trump's first term, has had his membership in the Global Entry traveler program revoked, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Thursday.
You could just choose optimism (quarter--mile.com)
There’s something strange and a little awe-inspiring about hearing someone ask for champagne on a two-hour domestic flight. What’s going on here? What are you celebrating? Champagne, really?
The ancient psychedelics myth: Tourists told stories 'they find interesting' (theguardian.com)
The narrative of ancient tribes around the world regularly using ayahuasca and magic mushrooms in healing practices is a popular one. Is it true?