How to choose your next international trip

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Europe vs. Asia: Which Trip Fits You Best?

Most Americans dream of Europe first. London, Paris, Rome. Check the boxes, take the photos, come home. Safe, predictable… and a little boring.

But what if your next trip wasn’t about comfort? What if you were unique? What if you were different? Chase the kind of journey that actually shifts how you see the world.

I’ve done both. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Asia: Controlled Chaos

Tokyo is bigger than New York. Osaka is nearly twice the size of Chicago. Yet somehow, it feels orderly. People line up for trains. Nobody talks on them. Leave your phone on a café table while you run to the bathroom, and it’ll still be there when you get back.

That’s Asia: the energy of chaos paired with the discipline of order. Overwhelming and calming at once.

• Summer is punishing. Spring cherry blossoms or fall foliage are the sweet spot.

• Your dollar stretches further. Sushi in Tokyo or street food in Bangkok costs less than a sandwich in Paris.

• One country can feel like ten trips. Japan alone offers neon nights in Shinjuku, quiet temples in Kyoto, and baseball games that rival the NFL for energy.

👉 If you go to Japan, don’t miss a baseball game. It’s culture, food, fun and sport rolled into one.

Europe: Layers on Layers

Europe is density. More trains. More languages. More cultures jammed into one map than anywhere else on earth.

You can eat tapas in Barcelona, hop a high-speed train, and be eating chocolate in Brussels the next day. And you’ll hear five languages before you’ve even ordered lunch.

• Easy to reach: 7–8 hours from the East Coast, 10–11 from the West.

• Trains are the secret weapon. Skip airports when you can — the countryside at 180 mph beats any boarding gate.

• Costs are higher but predictable. Western Europe will drain your wallet, Eastern Europe less so.

• Small towns have lots of charm and less tourists. Reply and ask me about my favorite small towns in Switzerland.

The Real Divide

Europe is about variety — quick hops, new languages, multiple countries in a single trip.

Asia is about depth — one country that reveals new layers every day, usually for less money.

The bigger question: do you want a trip that feels comfortable, or one that forces you out of it?

Money-Saving Tips

• Flights: Use Google Flights to track prices, but book direct with the airline for flexibility. Midweek departures often save hundreds.

• Trains in Europe: Rail passes sound good, but point-to-point tickets bought early are usually cheaper. Aim for 2–3 months out.

• Hotels: In Asia, local booking apps (like Agoda) often beat U.S. sites. In Europe, loyalty programs (Marriott, Accor) pay off in upgrades.

• Food: Street food in Asia isn’t just cheap — it’s the heart of the culture. In Europe, avoid restaurants in main squares; two blocks away, prices drop in half and quality doubles.

• Credit cards: No foreign transaction fees are non-negotiable. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture are solid picks.

YouTube Deep Dives

Want to see it for yourself? Start here:

• Paul Lucas: Traveling by Train in Europe

• Surving Bangkok on only $20 per day

• Only in Japan: Baseball Culture

My Take

If you’ve only got a week of PTO and want a trip that’s smooth and easy, Europe makes sense. Especially if you live on the east coast.

But if you’ve got 10–14 days and you’re ready for something that pushes you — the kind of trip your friends won’t do — Asia is the move.

Most Americans will always default to Europe. It’s safe, familiar, Instagram-ready. And yes, it’s worth visiting.

But if you want a trip that truly stretches you? Asia. Go to India. Go to China. Even Eastern Europe before you settle for another Paris–Rome circuit. With Google Translate and Google Maps, it’s not as hard as people think.

The world doesn’t open up by doing what everyone else does. It opens up when you try the trip your friends think is too hard.

Preview for Next Week:

36 hours in Palm Desert. When to go, Where to Stay and What to do

Until next Thursday,
Jeff