The Best Travel Forums & Communities

Travel forums are where you get answers to very specific questions from people who have been there recently, from visa runs to the best bus between two small towns. Community sites also connect you with other travellers, expats and digital nomads on the ground.

  1. 1
    Couchsurfing couchsurfing.com
    Meet locals and travellers through hosting and hangouts.
    Visit
  2. 2
    Tripadvisor Forums tripadvisor.com
    The largest travel forum, with a board for every destination.
    Visit
  3. 3
    InterNations internations.org
    Expat community with events in 420 cities.
    Visit
  4. 4
    FlyerTalk flyertalk.com
    The forum for frequent flyers, airlines and loyalty programs.
    Visit
  5. 5
    Nomad List nomadlist.com
    Rank cities for digital nomads and meet others.
    Visit
  6. 6
    Travellerspoint travellerspoint.com
    Travel forum and trip maps for independent travellers.
    Visit
  7. 7
    Fodor's Travel Talk fodors.com
    Long-running forum with detailed trip reports.
    Visit
  8. 8
    BeWelcome bewelcome.org
    Free, non-profit hospitality exchange community.
    Visit
  9. 9
    IndiaMike indiamike.com
    The go-to forum for travel in India.
    Visit
  10. 10
    Rick Steves Forum community.ricksteves.com
    Friendly, knowledgeable forum for Europe travel questions.
    Visit

What is the best travel forum?

The Tripadvisor Forums are the largest, with a board for almost every country, city and island and local experts answering questions daily. FlyerTalk is the definitive forum for frequent flyers, airline loyalty programs and premium travel. The Rick Steves Travel Forum is friendly and knowledgeable for Europe trips, while Fodor's Travel Talk is known for long, detailed trip reports. For India, IndiaMike is the go-to community.

Are travel forums still worth using?

Yes, especially for very specific or current questions that guidebooks and search results don't answer: whether a border crossing is open, how to get between two small towns, or what a hotel's neighbourhood feels like at night. Answers come from people who have just been there or live there. Search the forum first, as most common questions have been answered.

Where can I meet other travellers and locals?

Couchsurfing and BeWelcome connect travellers with locals who offer a free place to stay or simply meet for a coffee and city tour, and their hangouts and events make it easy to meet people when travelling alone. InterNations runs events for expats in hundreds of cities, and Nomad List ranks cities for digital nomads and connects remote workers through meetups and chat.

Tips for getting good answers

  • Write a clear title with the place and your question.
  • Share your dates, budget and travel style.
  • Search before posting and thank people who help.
  • Report back after your trip to help the next traveller.

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