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Link Light Rail

This is how to beat the traffic in Seattle. Ideal for the car-free traveler and one of the most popular forms of transit for visitors to Seattle Southside, the light rail can take you from the airport to downtown Seattle in just 30 minutes.

19 Light Rail Stations

Three conveniently located stations connect Seattle Southside to Seattle’s popular attractions. Check out the stadiums, downtown, Capitol Hill and the University of Washington. The Angle Lake and Tukwila International Blvd. stations feature park & rides where you can leave your car for free. Also, many hotels offer free shuttle service to and from stations. One-way adult fares range from $2.25 to $3.50 Click here for timetables and fare information.

What is a Seattle ORCA Card?

These handy cards provide entrance to area buses, trains and ferries. It’s an electronic purse to use like cash to pay your fare. Anytime you use your card, the fare due is deducted. ORCA is accepted on most transit options in the Seattle area, including Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Transit, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Sound Transit and Washington State Ferries. Cards cost $5 and can be purchased by mail or online at www.orcacard.com .

Seattle's Link Light Rail Station Map

Link light rail stations.

Angle Lake Link Light Rail Station

Just a short walk away from the station platform, Angle Lake Park is the perfect place to picnic with the family. Need some picnic ideas? Grab Salvadorean pupusas (stuffed cornmeal cakes) from…

SeaTac/​Airport Link Light Rail Station

Staying close to the airport and looking for a meal to remember? Reserve a table at Sharps’ Roasthouse, where you’ll indulge in slow-roasted prime rib, spit-roasted chicken, and St. Louis-style ribs, cold-smoked…

Tukwila Link Light Rail Station

Hop off here and take a short bus ride to visit Westfield Southcenter Mall, the largest shopping destination in the state with more than 200 retailers and restaurants, a movie theater, two…

Rainier Beach Link Light Rail Station

Tranquility awaits at nearby Kubota Garden, 20 acres of rolling hills, waterfalls, and koi-filled ponds. This historic landmark dates to 1927, when master landscaper Fujitaro Kubota began merging Japanese garden concepts with…

Othello Link Light Rail Station

John C. Little, Sr. Park provides a wonderful green space to sit down with some of the neighborhood’s deliciously eclectic cuisine. From Tanzanian Pilau rice and Ethiopian sourdough flatbread to lime-marinated Khmer…

Columbia City Link Light Rail Station

Columbia City is full of arts and culture, from the Columbia City Gallery with rotating its art exhibitions, to film screenings at the Ark Lodge Cinemas, to the Royal Room where jazz…

Mount Baker Link Light Rail Station

Nothing’s more American than baseball and apple pie, and both can be found here. See where the historic Sick’s Baseball Stadium once stood (former home of the short-lived Seattle Pilots), then get…

Beacon Hill Link Light Rail Station

Jefferson Park isn’t just home to the scenic course where golf legend Fred Couples honed his game. It’s a 50-acre hotspot for skateboarders, cricket players, lawn bowlers, and frisbees enthusiasts - with…

SODO Link Light Rail Station

Check off another bucket list item and join the circus at Emerald City Trapeze Arts, which offers classes and weekend performances. And for the Starbucks fans out there, the SODO Reserve store…

Stadium Link Light Rail Station

Here for the Hawks or Mariners? Or to root against them? Get to the stadium early and quench your thirst on the outdoor patio of Hatback Bar & Grille. And after the…

Intl. District / Chinatown Link Light Rail Station

Uwajimaya is more than simply the largest Asian grocery store in the state. Aisles and aisles of exotic foods and gifts await, plus lessons on how to play the Japanese game of…

Pioneer Square Link Light Rail Station

In the heart of old Seattle, you can wander through an eclectic collection of art galleries, revisit your childhood at Magic Mouse Toys, or even explore the early days of the city…

University Street Link Light Rail Station

Two of Seattle’s most acclaimed cultural icons stand side-by-side just steps from the station: Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony, and the Seattle Art Museum, featuring rotating exhibits and a remarkable…

Westlake Link Light Rail Station

This is the center of the city, with the Nordstrom flagship store just steps to the east, the world-famous Pike Place Market and original Starbucks to the west, and the monorail taking…

Capitol Hill Link Light Rail Station

One of the most eclectic spots in the city is at the seven-acre Cal Anderson Park adjacent to the Capitol Hill stop. Ultimate Frisbee, bicycle polo, and live music are among the…

Univ. of Washington Link Light Rail Station

In town to watch some college football or visit the beautiful UW campus? This is your stop. But don’t miss the gorgeous views of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier (on a clear…

U District Link Light Rail Station

Looking for a bit more entertainment near the University? This stop is right next to University Street, locally known as “The Ave”, which is the backbone of offcampus University of Washington life…

Roosevelt Link Light Rail Station

This quiet neighborhood just north of the U District has an adorable retail center around the station, with coffee shops, cafes, and taverns all within easy walking distance of the station. It’s…

Northgate Link Light Rail Station

This is the end of the line…for now! Northgate Station is home to the Kraken Community Iceplex, which is where you can catch a Seattle Kraken practice during the season, or just…

How to Beat the Traffic in Seattle

Link light rail questions, q: how much does it cost to ride the seattle light rail.

A: Children under 5 ride free, and one-way adult fares for Seattle Link Light Rail range from $2.25 - $3.50 depending on distance traveled.

Q: How fast does the Light Rail go in Seattle?

A: The top speed is 55 mph on longer stretches and 35 mph on city streets.

Q: How do you pay to ride Seattle Light Rail?

A: You can buy a one-way ticket or an all day/round trip ticket for Link light rail at all Link light rail stations and Sounder stations. You can pay with cash or a credit/debit card, but the easiest way to pay is with an ORCA card.

Q: Is it possible to take Seattle Light Rail to Pier 91 from Seattle Airport?

A: Yes, it's possible, but it takes about 75 minutes. To get from Seattle Airport to Pier 91 in Seattle, take the 1-LINE Light Rail from the Sea-Tac Airport Station to Pioneer Square Station. Then take the Route 24 or 33 bus from 3rd Ave & James Street stop to Magnolia Bridge & Pier 91 stop.

Q: Is it possible to take Seattle Light Rail to Pier 66 from Seattle Airport?

A: Yes, it's easy and quick. You can catch the Light Rail at SEA Airport and ride it to the Westlake Station in downtown Seattle. Then it’s only a 10-minute walk to Cruise Terminal 66 through a part of downtown Seattle popular with tourists.

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Amtrak & rail travel.

Relax and take it to the rails. One of the best ways to see the Pacific Northwest is by train. And there are a few different options to get you to where you need to go.

Sounder Train

Sounder trains travel between Lakewood and Seattle, with stops in South Tacoma, Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent and Tukwila.

Plan Your Trip

Only 15 minutes south of downtown Seattle and 20 minutes north of Tacoma, Seattle Southside is a happening hub that’s perfectly situated between urban attractions and natural wonders (not to mention near…

Experience Builder

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• How to Ride the Light Rail System
• Inside Pittsburgh Regional Transit

Follow these easy steps to learn how to ride the light rail system.

Click on the image above for a PDF version (Map updated March 9, 2021)

STEP 1. FIND INFORMATION        

  by phone.

Reach Customer Service at  412-442-2000  or  412-231-7007  for TTY.

Customer Service is open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

Visit the Downtown Service Center at 623 Smithfield Street to pick up schedules, buy passes or talk to a Customer Service representative.

The Downtown Service Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

STEP 2. PLAN YOUR TRIP        

Reading a schedule is easier than you might think.

Don’t be intimidated at first glance by all the numbers and lines. Here are some basic tips to get you started planning your trip:

1. Know where you want to go and when you want to get there.

2. You can use the schedules found on this website or on paper schedules, which can be found at various locations throughout Allegheny County.

3. Find the schedule that includes your destination. By working your way backward from your desired arrival time, you’ll then know when you need to get on the bus. Please be aware that you may have to transfer from one bus to another if there is no direct route to your destination. 

4. Because there's limited space, not every stop along the route is listed in a schedule. If your stop location is between two timepoints, add a couple of minutes to the previous timepoint, and that is when you should expect the light rail vehicle to arrive at your stop.

5. If no arrival time or (–) is shown for a timepoint, then that particular vehicle does not stop there. Look at the lines above and below for a vehicle that does make that stop.

6. To plan your return trip, look at schedule for that route showing the reverse direction of travel and follow these same steps.

7. Keep in mind that Saturday and Sunday service is less frequent or operates fewer hours of the day than weekdays.

8. The most important thing to remember is that schedules are approximate – you should always get to your stop a few minutes early!

STEP 3. FIND YOUR STOP        

The light rail system has high-platform ADA accessible stations, and low-platform stations. Low-platform stations require the use of stairs to board the railcar, and are not ADA accessible.

Riders at high-platform stations board from the sliding doors that open directly to station platforms.

Riders at low-platform stations board at the front door of the first railcar.

STEP 4: LOCATE THE CORRECT PLATFORM        

Overhead signs next to the rail tracks indicate which direction the train is going. Signs and audio announcements on each train indicate the rail line and the final destination of that vehicle.

STEP 5: BOARDING        

Yellow strips located next to the tracks indicate the safe waiting distance from the trains.

Stay behind the strips until the train comes to a complete stop. Once the train has stopped the doors open automatically.

Please allow other riders to exit the vehicle before boarding.

Riders disembarking at high-platform stations may use the first or second car of a two-car train.

Riders disembarking at low-platform station’s must board the first car.

Riders who are unsure whether the station at which they are disembarking is a high-platform station or a low-platform Station should board the first car.

STEP 6: PAY YOUR FARE        

We employ a “pay where you live” system for light rail.

Pay your fare before your ride when you're heading toward Downtown and after your ride when you’re heading away from Downtown. 

Keep in mind that stations between First Avenue and Allegheny are located inside the free fare zone. If you’re traveling only within the free zone, you do not have to pay. If you’re traveling beyond the free zone, you must pay. 

We offer a number of ways to pay your fare. For more information, visit Fares and Passes .

STEP 7: EXIT AT YOUR STOP        

Stay alert so you know when your stop is approaching. If you're not sure when to get off the vehicle, sit close to the front and ask the driver to call out your stop. 

Signal the driver you want to get off the vehicle after the previous stop. You can signal the driver by one of the following methods:

The "Stop Requested" sign at the front of the vehicle will light up when you have activated the signal.

Your train will stop at every station along the route. To exit, the door will open automatically or push the "Open Door" button located near the door.

Please keep these safety tips in mind when riding light rail:

• How to Ride the Bus
• How to Ride the Inclines
• How to Transfer
• How to Park and Ride
• Bikes and Scooters on Transit
• Onboard safety
• Fares and Passes

How can we help you today?

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Biennale of Sydney - Rozelle

Plan your trip to the Biennale of Sydney at White Bay Power Station in Rozelle from Saturday 9 March to Sunday 10 June. Buses run regularly to the venue.

Start daily 10:00 | Finish Monday to Wednesday 15:00 | Finish Thursday to Sunday 16:00

Sydney Kidz Fest

Plan your trip to the Sydney Kidz Fest at the Entertainment Quarter from Saturday 13 to Sunday 28 April. Light rail services run regularly to Moore Park, a short walk across to the EQ Precinct.

Doors Open each night 18:00 | Start each night 20:00 | Finish each night 23:00

Plan your trip to see SZA on Tuesday 23 April, Wednesday 24 April and Friday 26 April at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park.

Transport news

Service adjustments for buses in the Eastern and South Eastern suburbs of Sydney

From Monday 29 April, timetables and routes for some Eastern and South Eastern suburbs buses will be adjusted to improve reliability and capacity to meet customer demand.

New bus services for Tweed Valley Hospital

New and improved bus services are being introduced in the Tweed Valley region to service the new Tweed Valley Hospital when it opens on 14 May 2024.

Extra early-morning and late-night L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services

From 5am Monday 29 April, additional early-morning and late-night L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services between Central Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill will run daily from 5am to 1am.

Planning Your Light Rail Trip in the Valley of the Sun

Valley Metro is responsible for the development and operation of the region’s high-capacity transit system. While operating the 20-mile light rail starter line that opened in December 2008, Valley Metro has also begun planning, design and construction of the 40 additional miles of high-capacity/light rail transit which will be completed by 2034. You can take a look at the  future transit corridors  on the Valley Metro website.  Click here to learn more about Valley Metro and its history .

Friends of Transit has been involved in supporting local businesses along the future transit corridors during the construction phase in partnership with local governments and the Valley Metro  business assistance program . Check out our  FOT events page  for more information on our support of local businesses on the line.

Riding the Train 101

Planning Your Trip Taking public transit can be intimidating if you’ve never used it before. Valley Metro offers a number of online resources to help you plan your trip and feel prepared.

Plan your trip using the  Valley Metro Trip Planner . While on the trip planner webpage, you can also use the  Valley Metro system map  to get the lay of the land and view the most current route  schedules and maps . Be sure to understand the route schedules for each leg of your trip and the hours of operation for all modes of public transit you plan to take.

Are you an app person? Check out Valley Metro’s list of  online tools . They’re easy to download and use with your smart device. Not an app person? You can download the most current  transit book  online.

Paying Your Fare Valley Metro Rail, Valley Metro LINK and local buses share the same fare structure. Check out the Valley Metro website for more details on all of the  fare options .

Light Rail Fares may be purchased four different ways – click on each option to get details on how to purchase your transit pass.

Retail Fare Sales Locations  – throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area

At Fare Vending Machines  –  located at each light rail station and select  LINK stations

On the Bus – Save Time and Money by  Purchasing your Pass Before Boarding the Bus!

Getting on Board

How to Ride the Train  Once you’ve planned your trip and purchased your transit pass, there are some items to note when you get on board.

• Arrive at the light rail station at least five minutes before your train is scheduled to depart. Activate your pass before boarding and keep your pass as proof of payment. Certain passes need to be validated before each trip.
• If you have a bike – Bicycle symbols indicate the doors nearest to the bicycle rack located inside the train. Bike racks are available on a first come, first-served basis. If the bicycle rack on the train is full or you are unable to load your bicycle into the rack, you may stand with your bicycle as long as you do not block the aisle or doorway. You are responsible for loading and unloading your bicycle. For safety reasons, the operator cannot leave the cabin to assist you. See all the tips for  bringing a bike with you when you ride the bus  on the Valley Metro website.
• Let others exit before boarding. Find a seat or a secure place to stand if a seat is not available.
• Signs on the front and side of the train show the train’s final destination. Trains stop at every station and upcoming stops are announced on the train.
• Doors open and close automatically. Exit through any door quickly when you reach your destination.

Want More Information? You can find information on  Valley Metro policies for riding Light Rail ,  transit centers ,  park-and-rides ,  accessibility  and safety  on the Valley Metro website.

You can also visit  Valley Metro’s FAQ page   for a list of questions frequently asked by riders or contact their  customer service representatives  directly.

Looking for a List of Local Destinations? Check out a list of  local destinations   you can get to with public transit. Plan your adventure today!

Airport Connections Using public transit to connect to  Sky Harbor International Airport?

Connect to Sky Harbor International Airport via PHX Sky Train® at the 44th St/Washington light rail station or with Valley Metro bus routes 1 and 44.

The PHX Sky Train® is a free service connecting travelers from the 44th St/Washington light rail station to all terminals and East Economy parking. Learn about Sky Train by  clicking here .

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How to plan your dream vacation

Sometimes you crave a vacation — but actually taking one feels out of reach. Maybe you're struggling to find the time or save up the money. Or maybe you just can't seem to launch those plans out of the group chat. Overcome that planning inertia and take the big trip of your dreams. Here's where to start your search, organize your logistics and enjoy yourself.

MARIELLE SEGARRA, HOST:

You're listening to LIFE KIT...

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SEGARRA: ...From NPR.

Hey, everybody. It's Marielle. You remember the early part of the pandemic when the days of isolation stretched into months? At night, I would lay on the floor of my apartment with my eyes closed and listen to guided meditations, to try to take myself to a happier place. One time the prompt was something like, picture yourself doing something that brings you great joy. The first thing that popped into my head was an image of me wandering the cobblestone streets of some small European village, probably in France. The sun was shining, and every step I took was a feast for the eyes. Medieval houses, colorful flowers resting in vases on outdoor tables, patisseries with gorgeous pastries in the window, just waiting to be eaten.

I didn't realize until that moment just how much I missed traveling and how badly I wanted to look at something outside of my four walls or the blocks of my neighborhood. The next year, I took a three-week trip to the U.K. and France, and I ate those pastries and wandered until my feet hurt and filled a hole that had been growing inside of me.

Big trips can do that. Lale Arikoglu knows what I'm talking about. She's the articles director at Conde Nast Traveler.

LALE ARIKOGLU: On a really basic level, I think it's just being able to have a break from the crush of regular life, whether that's work or childcare or school, wherever it may be, you know, the opportunity to just take yourself out of your routine and be somewhere else and get to immerse yourself in that place to me is, like, the main draw of it.

SEGARRA: Now, when we talk about a big trip, that could mean different things depending on your travel style and your budget. You know, it might be a long road trip or an extended stay at a cottage in the woods or a multi-city tour on another continent. But it's typically something you save up for and plan months in advance. Lale has a big trip coming up. She's going to Peru.

ARIKOGLU: I've been waiting to do it for a long time. The reason to go there is for a friend's wedding. And now I'm building a trip around it, and it's going to be about ten days long with multi-stops, you know, having to choose multiple places to stay. And logistically, you know, it's actually taking some thought and some planning. One of the things that we're going to do when we're there is hike Machu Picchu. There's a group of us going. And Machu Picchu - it's a dream to see and experience.

SEGARRA: Now, it's easy to get bogged down in trip planning. And it might stop you from booking the thing entirely, but Lale says, do it. It's worth it.

On this episode of LIFE KIT, Lale shares her best tips on planning the big trip of your dreams. We'll talk about where to start your search, what logistical questions you should ask yourself and how to actually relax and enjoy yourself once you're there.

SEGARRA: Let's say I do want to take a big trip, right? I'm feeling that itch to travel, but...

ARIKOGLU: Right.

SEGARRA: ...I don't have a destination in mind yet or a duration. I'm really starting from scratch. Where does the planning start?

ARIKOGLU: When you start the planning, you've really got to think what you want to get out of the trip. You know, If you really just want to decompress and relax and rest, then you probably don't want to do some like multi-stop European city trip, right? You probably don't want to hike Machu Picchu. Perhaps it is that you're incredibly bored of your surroundings, and you need adventure and you need excitement. And therefore, you're going to be thinking of some really different destinations. It might be that you're traveling alone for the first time. You've decided to do a solo trip. You know, where is a place that might feel comfortable for you as a solo traveler, but still feels like it's taking you out of your comfort zone? So I think it's sitting with yourself and thinking, OK, what is, like, the goal here? That's takeaway one. Ask yourself what do you want to get from this? Set the mission of your trip.

It feels like another really important detail at the beginning is budget, right? Like, how much money do you realistically want to spend on this trip or can you afford to spend?

ARIKOGLU: And, you know, that's going to look different for everyone. If we're talking big trips, rarely are they spontaneous, right? You're planning for a long time. So that also allows you to save and finance for it. No, there's lots of great savings apps that can just, you know, that take a little bit of money out of your paycheck every few weeks, and you can kind of start, like, a travel fund that way. I think that's quite a nice way to do it. But I think, you know, you can do a big trip on a budget. It doesn't have to be, I think, a lavish, international trip. I mean, you know, we're going into spring and summer, there are so many incredible national parks to see, there are so many amazing, very diverse, different cities. There's, like, so much on your doorstep, so I think you can really argue, you don't have to cross continents to have a big trip. And so if that feels a more affordable way to get away for a couple of weeks, then, you know, look in your backyard.

SEGARRA: Right. I wonder, too, like, part of budget, besides money, is also time. Like, how much vacation time do you have? Do you have any tips for people who don't have that much vacation time?

ARIKOGLU: So I think if you look at the calendar and you look at where the holiday weekends fall, There are some tricks to being able to kind of, like, turn your limited number of vacation days into - kind of you can stretch it out if you bookend it with a holiday weekend or something like that. But on the flip side, it's also most expensive time to travel, right? There is an argument for choosing shoulder season, so that's not traveling to a destination when it's at its peak. And this is great for your own personal experience, but it's also in terms of helping that destination deal with overtourism, overcrowding. If we're talking about Europe, for example, the summers are getting hotter. So avoiding those really intense, hot, summer seasons can actually be really advantageous for your own travel plans.

SEGARRA: Yeah. That seems like maybe the next thing to consider as you're planning a big trip before you start looking at destinations is what time of year are you looking to travel?

ARIKOGLU: Definitely. And that's more of a luxury for some people because If you're having to navigate school holidays, then you're a little bit more limited. But again, it's sort of when you're thinking about carving out those goals and what you want to get out of the trip. Maybe it's the seasonality that's really important. Maybe it's all you want is hot weather and a beach. You know, if you're planning some summer travel, you could totally flip things on its head and go experience winter somewhere. I went to Patagonia when it was entering into their fall in Chile, and it was a really magnificent time to be there, and it was when New York City was going into spring. It felt like upside-down land to be choosing to do that, and it was so wonderful. It was great.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think there's a lot of room for creativity there. And also, as you said, like, it opens up more possibilities if you consider going places during the shoulder season.

ARIKOGLU: And you get to be in a place and actually be in the place with the people who live there. One thing in August, if you go to Europe, everyone who lives there has, you know, gone off somewhere else on vacation to escape the heat and the tourists, and so, you know, you're in Rome with just all the other tourists and none of the Romans.

SEGARRA: All right, so takeaway two. Before you land on a destination, think about your constraints. What time of year do you plan to travel? For how long? What budget are you working with? If you're short on time, you can make use of holidays or pick a destination closer to home. If you're short on money, think creatively. You know, maybe you do a road trip through some parks or cities nearby.

SEGARRA: It seems like another thing to consider here is, how much do you like crowds? Because for me, it kind of ruins a trip or an experience if everywhere I go is super crowded. I get very overwhelmed by that and overstimulated.

ARIKOGLU: And it's also, you know, who are the crowds? Because there's been times when I've gone somewhere and I've gone and done the same bucket list site that everyone else is, and you're sort of standing there and you're thinking, What am I actually here for? Well, what is the purpose of this? What am I getting out of it? What am I giving to this destination other than just being another member of the crowd?

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think that's an important question, right? 'Cause, like, we have been talking about what are you looking to get out of it, for the most part. But there's another side to this - right? - and it's what am I giving? And also, what am I taking? Like, am I taking too much from this place?

ARIKOGLU: I think about that a lot. When you're planning, be really thoughtful about where you're spending your money. When you're choosing a hotel, is it a hotel that is locally owned? What restaurants are you booking? Where are you shopping? Where are you buying your souvenirs? You know, I think there's lots of ways to be really thoughtful about, you know, how you spend your money, and that can go into your budgeting, as well.

SEGARRA: I know there are certain places that at a certain time, at least, they said, please, tourists, like, please stop coming or stop coming during this time.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. When a destination says that, I mean, it's something to be taken so seriously because they're usually destinations that have an infrastructure or an economy that really relies on tourism. So things have to have gotten pretty bad for a destination to say, take a beat, not right now, and listen to that, and, you know, the place will be better for it when you do go see it.

SEGARRA: I picture it as if you were, like, going to - going over, like, a friend's house uninvited, or, like, if they were like, please, today's not good. Like, our whole family's sick, like, we're all throwing up, and then you were still banging on the door, like, hey, what are you doing? Can I come stay over?

ARIKOGLU: I think that is a perfect analogy. Perfect. And no one wants to be that person.

SEGARRA: No.

ARIKOGLU: I'd hate to be that person.

SEGARRA: That'd be weird behavior.

ARIKOGLU: Yeah.

SEGARRA: Takeaway three, travel responsibly. Research the places you're interested in, and make sure they want tourists at the time you're looking to visit. When you're booking, consider putting your money toward the local economy rather than international chains. Also, learn about whatever destination you choose. Be open to the cultural practices and languages there. And be a respectful visitor.

Anything else that people would want to figure out before they start narrowing down or looking at destinations?

ARIKOGLU: I think it's also thinking about who you want to travel with. Someone can be your best friend, but they can be your worst roommate. I think travel's kind of the same, so kind of finding someone to travel with or a group of people to travel with who you're aligned with in the planning stage, rather than when you get there and then you suddenly discover you all want to do different things. So I think communicating right off the back what you all want out of the trip and what you're excited about and also being really honest with each other about finances.

If you're on a group trip, I mean, it's like splitting the bill, but a thousand times worse. And so I think if you can kind of, like, set some parameters at the start and be really honest about what you feel comfortable spending money on because inevitably, there is going to be some people on the trip who want to spend more money on some things than others.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And it seems like that conversation, there should be some form of that before you book anything.

ARIKOGLU: Yes, 100%. And, you know, I think even if you don't feel comfortable doing it, speaking up if something just feels too expensive.

SEGARRA: All right. So takeaway four, figure out who you're traveling with. You might prefer to travel alone, or if you're going with friends, partners, or family, just make sure you're on the same page about what you want from the trip - the pace, the activities and how much money you can spend.

SEGARRA: OK. So it sounds like we've given people a lot of things to consider before they choose a destination. Once they've done this soul searching, how can they start to find destinations that fit those desires and limitations?

ARIKOGLU: For me, part of the fun of travel planning is doing the research, whether it is a trusted travel publication or reading some books you love or going on to - you know, there's, like, a ton of just, like, online communities of people who love swapping travel tips and actually, I think, can be really helpful.

SEGARRA: Yeah. I think it can be helpful maybe to in the brainstorming stage to just, like, not go in too deep but just make a list of places that seem exciting to you and that might fit your parameters. Like, I have a Google Doc, and it's just, like, places that I would be really excited to go.

SEGARRA: When you are considering a destination, how helpful is social media - is - like, seeing where your friends are going or where influencers are going? Is it a good idea to follow those trends?

ARIKOGLU: I think it can be useful in picking things you want to do once you're there, particularly if it's, like, based around, like, big events or openings. You know, we have our best places to go list that runs every year. It could be, like, new train routes, new hiking routes, new museums that have opened, things that are happening in destinations centered around an anniversary. So, you know, kind of consulting those sorts of lists and rounds up as well can be very helpful. But I think, you know, going back to what we were talking about in terms of over tourism or overcrowding - you know, on social media, you will see people at the same spots time and time again. And they're usually spots where just around the corner, there's also something equally beautiful to see.

SEGARRA: Yeah. Like, I remember when Santorini was really popular. And it's like, whew - like, if you could actually see what was going on behind that photo, like, you would hate being there because it's so - it's just way too many people...

ARIKOGLU: Right. Right.

SEGARRA: ...All lining up to take a picture in - against that beautiful backdrop.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And, you know, it's Santorini. It's all beautiful. It's all amazing.

SEGARRA: OK. So takeaway five is to choose a destination. And cast a wide net when you're brainstorming 'cause you never know what's going to catch your eye. Also, Lale says, do your best to think outside of the current travel trends. Though you can use them for inspiration.

So once you've got a destination in mind, how can you start to sketch out the details of the trip? And I guess I should say, how much detail do you really need to figure out?

ARIKOGLU: So I was going to say, don't overschedule yourself, and don't overbook yourself. I think I've been guilty of doing that before, and then you realize that you have no downtime. It might seem like you're being really efficient, but you need a little bit of spontaneity on your trip. Don't overschedule. If there are a few key things you really want to do that you feel you will be crushed if you don't get to do it, then book it. Make sure that's arranged all in advance. So maybe it's finding one thing on each day of your trip. That's what you center your day around and you can frame your itinerary around that, but I wouldn't overschedule.

SEGARRA: Yeah. And then I think when you look at these things potentially sketched out on different days, then you say like, you know, that seems too busy. What's the most important to me here? Like, which of these activities do I want to book ahead?

ARIKOGLU: Right. You know, if you're suddenly realizing - you're like, I am cramming a lot in if I try to go to these three places, then choosing which one to let go.

SEGARRA: Yeah. 'Cause that's always a consideration, too. Like, if you're flying somewhere far, you might think, well, I'm already going to Poland, should I also do Germany?

SEGARRA: There's that impulse, you know? Or I'm going to Poland, so I want to see all of Poland. But that can make for a very frenetic kind of trip.

ARIKOGLU: And you wouldn't tell someone who was visiting America to be like, well, you've come all the way to America, so if you're going to New York, then you also need to go to New Orleans.

SEGARRA: Right, right. Exactly. That's Takeaway 6 - keep your schedule light and malleable. Lally recommends picking only one activity to do for each day of your trip and then building a flexible itinerary around those.

You know, it occurs to me that another element of a big trip when I'm going into them - I know that something's going to go awry during it.

ARIKOGLU: Always (laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah.

SEGARRA: I remember being in Barcelona when I was in college. I went by myself for, like, a week. And I speak Spanish, but it wasn't fluent at the time. And I just got - I just missed being able to easily say what I wanted to say, and I went into, like, a Wendy's or something because I just wanted something kind of American. And I got some chicken nuggets. I couldn't think how to say nuggets in Spanish. Like, I was like, is that even a word, like, in Spanish, or did they just say nuggets? And I just broke and started speaking in English because I was trying to only speak Spanish. And I was like, I give up. Like, can I get some chicken nuggets, please?

ARIKOGLU: The true American in you comes out screaming at chicken nuggets in a foreign McDonald's.

SEGARRA: Yeah, yeah, give me my nuggies.

ARIKOGLU: (Laughter).

SEGARRA: Yeah, I just - like, sometimes you just need to go roll up into a ball and eat your chicken nuggies and be by yourself for a minute and then come back out, you know?

ARIKOGLU: Yeah. I mean, like, travel so much of the time is sort of, like, infantilizing because you're so powerless. But it's, like, the same in an airport. You're just sort of powerless at a certain extent when things go wrong. And I think my approach to it - to sort of very taxing and challenging air travel schedules, with connections and potential miss flights and lost luggage and all the things that come with that - is to sort of just give myself up to the airport gods, and just as soon as I'm, like, through TSA, just be like, what will be will be. I'll get there eventually and just, like, I'm powerless. And that's been, like, for me, quite liberating. And it also means that I'm not the person screaming at some poor gate agent when things go wrong.

SEGARRA: Yeah, it's a moment of - it's actually an opportunity for mindfulness. Like, I think that could even be helpful going into a big trip, to tell yourself, like, something is going to go wrong. Yeah, just keep that in mind.

ARIKOGLU: Oh, my God, so much of travel is about being tired and hungry.

SEGARRA: We're really selling this.

ARIKOGLU: I know.

SEGARRA: (Laughter).

ARIKOGLU: I'm like, my whole job is to travel. It's great.

SEGARRA: Isn't it terrible? Yeah.

SEGARRA: I try to remind myself, like - what is the point? - like, go back to those goals. What is the point of this? It's to have a good experience, to meet those needs, to give myself what I've been craving.

ARIKOGLU: Exactly. And I don't know. This sounds a little cheesy and a little trite, but anyone who gets to travel is really lucky. Ultimately, it's a real privilege that you get to do it. And it's such a freedom and it's such a special thing.Don't make it stressful.

SEGARRA: That's our final takeaway. Something on your trip is bound to go wrong. So once you're there, sit back and try to surrender. After all, traveling in the first place is a treat.

SEGARRA: OK, jet-setters, time for a recap. First, figure out what you want from this vacation. Decide your budget and time constraints. Commit to traveling ethically. Make sure you're aligned with the people you're traveling with. When you choose a destination, cast a wide net and have fun with the research. Don't overschedule yourself, and once you're there, relax and roll with the punches. For more LIFE KIT, check out our other episodes. We've got one on how to find cheap flights and another on how to pack your suitcase like a pro. You can find those at np.org/lifekit. And if you love LIFE KIT and you just cannot get enough, subscribe to our newsletter at np.org/lifekitnewsletter. Also, we love hearing from you, so if you have episode ideas or feedback you want to share, e-mail us at [email protected].

This episode of LIFE KIT was produced by Margaret Cirino. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan and our digital editor is Malaka Gharib. Meghan Keane is our supervising editor and Beth Donovan is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andee Tagle, Clare Marie Schneider and Sylvie Douglis. Engineering support comes from Robert Rodriguez. I'm Marielle Segarra. Thanks for listening.

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