• On my first trip to Japan, I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Shima Onsen.
• I made some mistakes while planning my trip, like stressing about dinner reservations.
• I also wish I had spent far more time in Kyoto, which I fell in love with.

Japan has always been at the top of my bucket list.

So, my fiancé and I took a last-minute trip at the end of March 2025, hoping to catch the start of cherry blossom season as we explored Tokyo, Kyoto, and the hot-spring town of Shima Onsen.

The trip was full of incredible food, the kindest people, and sights I'll never forget. It was nearly perfect, but I made a few mistakes while planning.

Stressing about dinner reservations

As a food writer, I love researching restaurants when planning a trip. I dive into reviews, food blogs, and the occasional TikTok.

It wasn't long before the algorithm caught on, suddenly inundating my FYP with videos full of suggestions. As I attempted to navigate all the different reservation systems — Tabelog! TableCheck! Omakase! — I found myself getting more and more stressed. In the end, I only made a single reservation for an omakase experience — the very good Sushi Yuu.

And you know what? Almost every meal we ate was still fantastic.

With so much great food around every corner of Tokyo and Kyoto, it was easy to embrace spontaneous travel. When we got hungry, my fiancé and I would just pull up Google Maps and see what looked promising around us, often finding spots beloved by locals rather than packed because of a popular TikTok.

This led to our favorite meals of the trip, including a delicious lunch set at Isshin Daikanyama and an incredible shabu shabu experience at Wagyu Sukiyaki Kyoto Chikarayama Pontocho — the best dinner of our 10-day trip.

Packing revealing outfits

I flew to Tokyo after a weeklong trip in Sydney for a friend's wedding, so I had packed plenty of summer dresses for Australia's hot weather and daily beach visits.

I knew I wouldn't wear them often in Japan, where winter was only coming to an end. But when a tour guide told me that locals tend to dress more conservatively and rarely wear outfits that expose their shoulders or décolletage, I felt even more out of place in my wardrobe.

I left my strapless tops in my luggage and covered up spaghetti-strap dresses with a jacket throughout the trip. If I had done more research beforehand, I would've brought more options with sleeves to ensure I was considerate of the culture and its customs.

Only spending two full days in Kyoto

As we walked through Kyoto's Gion district at sunset, I knew immediately that I would fall in love with the city.

All my favorite meals from our Japan trip were in Kyoto. I still dream about the perfectly crispy pork and shrimp tonkatsu I had at Katsukura Tonkatsu Sanjo and the tender wagyu cooked in sugar and soy sauce at that shabu shabu dinner.

There were also so many stunning sights I'll never forget, like walking under thousands of orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari (go at 7 a.m. to beat the crowds) and relaxing in the gardens at Nijō Castle.

We had a packed itinerary, but I would've loved an extra day to appreciate Kyoto like a local. The city seemed to hum with a laid-back vibe. I wanted to walk around and check out some of the city's many listening bars. We visited one where the owner was also the bartender and DJ, swapping out vinyls as he set the mood and asked everyone about their lives while feeding us chips.

Buying a physical PASMO card instead of adding it to Apple Wallet

We frequently rode on Tokyo and Kyoto's subway systems while exploring different neighborhoods during our trip, so we used PASMO cards to pay for our fares. While my fiancé had added PASMO to his Apple Wallet prior to arriving in Tokyo, I bought a physical card before our first subway trip.

Taking out the card to pay for each trip wasn't a big deal, but I ran out of money en route to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto. Instead of being able to add money to my PASMO via Apple Wallet, I had to join a long line of people who were trying to top up their cards at the only machine in the station and almost missed our train.

Booking a ryokan too far from one of our main hubs

I knew I wanted to spend at least one night of our trip in a ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn that typically features rooms with tatami floor mats, futon beds, and hot-spring baths known as onsens.

We had a great experience at Kashiwaya Ryokan, which I booked due to a friend's recommendation. But in my excitement (and jet lag after flying to Australia), I didn't do enough research on how we'd get to Shima Onsen from Kyoto. Since there were no direct trains between the two cities, we had to take the two-hour bullet train back to Tokyo before getting on a four-hour bus. Major oops!

I still loved experiencing such a beautiful ryokan and will cherish my memories of relaxing in the private outdoor onsens surrounded by mountains. But if you plan to spend less than two weeks in Japan, I'd recommend selecting a ryokan near or between the main cities you want to explore.

• My parents are both Greek, and they took me back to Greece every summer to learn about my roots.
• Thessaloniki is a mainland city with incredible food, beautiful history, and plenty of nightlife.
• Islands such as Corfu and Rhodes will give you amazing beaches with fewer tourists.

As a kid, I spent nearly every summer with my family in Greece.

My parents immigrated to California from Greece in the 1980s, but they made sure I grew up learning about our family's roots. We spent almost every summer of my childhood in Greece, where beach days were filled with that perfect turquoise Aegean Sea and big fresh bowls of horiatiki.

Friends now frequently ask me for advice on their Greece trips, but they only seem to visit Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens. My answer to them is always the same: You can experience so much of Greece's incredible food, culture, and beaches without setting foot in its packed tourist destinations.

So, with the help of my lovely parents, I've brought you a list of eight incredible spots in Greece to help you plan your next trip.

Thessaloniki is a beautiful city packed with great food and incredible history.

Most of my summers in Greece were spent in Thessaloniki, where both of my parents grew up. It's the second-biggest city in the country after Athens and dates back to 316 BC.

Ancient ruins and majestic Byzantine churches can be seen in the city's downtown area. But the most important landmark is the White Tower, which was built in the 15th century after Thessaloniki fell to the Ottomans. The White Tower now has an exhibition on the city's history, and you can go up to the top for spectacular views from its balcony.

Thessaloniki is also packed with so many delicious tavernas and restaurants. My mom recommends visiting the Ladadika neighborhood at the city's center for dinner, or going to Aretsou for views of the water. Try the bougasta, a Greek dessert of custard wrapped in phyllo, or koulouri, Greek sesame bread rings that were my mom's childhood favorite.

"Walk in the Thessaloniki promenade to enjoy a sunset and, if the sky is clear, a perfect view of Mount Olympus," she added.

I'll let you in on a secret: The best beaches in Greece are actually in Halkidiki.

Sure, Santorini's got those gorgeous white buildings, and Mykonos has the wild nightlife. But if you're looking for an incredible beach vacation, you may be better off on the mainland.

Even as a kid, I remember being stunned by the beaches in Halkidiki. The sand is soft and white, the water is warm, and the colors of the sea are the brightest blues you'll ever see. One summer, my mom and uncle took me to a different beach every day, and she still loves to tell the story of how I gave all the Halkidiki beaches an "A++" because I loved them so much.

Halkidiki is near Thessaloniki, so it's also a great place to visit if you want to combine a city escape with a beach destination. Plus, with so many local tavernas by the sea, you're sure to have a great meal of octopus, ouzo on the rocks, and some calamari.

"If all you want for your vacation is to lie on a beach and listen to the waves, Halkidiki is your destination," my mom said.

A trip to Meteora will give you an unforgettable hike.

Meteora is another childhood trip I'll always remember. Located in central Greece, the Meteora monasteries — now a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are perched on huge cliffs that will take your breath away.

Orthodox Christian hermit monks first began coming to the cliffs of Meteora around the 9th century, looking for peace and isolation. In the 14th century, the first Meteora monastery was built, spearheading the beginning of the site's monastic community, according to Visit Meteora. Six of the 24 monasteries remain active today, with more than 60 nuns and monks.

"It's absolutely amazing to realize that monks built these monasteries and lived there for centuries," my mom said. "The unique rock formations and nice sunsets offer many photo opportunities. It's a really special place that makes me feel close to heaven."

Delphi is a dream destination for history lovers.

Ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the "navel of the world." The myth goes that Zeus released one eagle from the east and one from the west, and the birds met in the middle at Delphi, where the famous oracle was built.

In addition to being an incredible archaeological site, Delphi also has a stunning natural backdrop. My mother said she still remembers the sweeping views of the valleys and the lovely olive trees.

"I loved visiting Delphi because of its history, but also because of the beautiful natural surroundings," she added.

And how could you not be wowed by the birthplace of the Olympics?

For as long as I can remember, the Olympics have been a huge point of pride in our household. My parents always loved reminding me why Greece walks first in the Parade of Nations, and why the Greek flag is always flown during the closing ceremony.

So, as a kid, it was incredibly special to visit Olympia, where the Olympics first began. The games were held in Olympia every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, and ruins from the sporting events still stand there today.

"Olympia has always had an emotional impact on me," my mom said. "To be able to walk in the same field where the Olympics started moved me very much when I visited for the first time."

"I think this would be a special place for someone who loves sports or history," she added.

Corfu is one of my family's favorite islands in Greece.

I have this distinct memory of seeing candy-colored houses along the water in Corfu. The city is a great option if you want to visit a beautiful Greek island without fighting hundreds of other tourists for a picture of the sunset.

Once under Venetian rule, the Italian influence is still apparent in much of Corfu's architecture and delicious food. Along with beaches, the island is known for its lush flora and fauna. My parents took my sister and me to Corfu when we were kids and said it was a great spot for family vacations.

My dad also recommends adding a trip to Ioannina on the way to Corfu to visit the Perama Cave.

Rhodes is a stunning Greek island that feels straight out of the Middle Ages.

Rhodes was ruled by the Knights of St. John from the 14th to the 16th century, and it still feels steeped in medieval history. I remember being wowed as a kid while walking past the castles, under the stone arches, and through the tiny cobblestone alleys in the island's old town.

Rhodes also has plenty of beautiful beaches, as well as Butterfly Valley — my mom's favorite part of the island.

Paros has beautiful whitewashed buildings and is only a short ferry ride from Athens.

The Cycladic island has become popular in recent years thanks to TikToks of tourists waving their napkins at the Barbarossa restaurant, but Paros is significantly larger in size than Santorini or Mykonos. That means you can easily escape summer crowds whenever you please, while still joining the bustling nightlife if that's your scene.

I recommend renting an ATV or car after your boat docks on the island. One of my favorite memories in Paros was riding through the beautiful hilltops dotted with tiny white churches and stumbling upon secluded beaches.

You could spend days exploring the small villages of Lefkes and Piso Livadi, or relax by the calm waters of Santa Maria beach. It's also easy to take a day trip to Antiparos, just 7 minutes away by ferry.

Just make sure not to leave without dinner or drinks at Siparos, one of my favorite places on the island to watch the sunset.