<strong>Strangers invite you to join their celebration:</strong> Best thing about getting invited to a complete stranger's celebration? Dancing like nobody's watching. Nobody you know, at least. For more great moments in travel, click on.
Strangers invite you to join their celebration: Best thing about getting invited to a complete stranger's celebration? Dancing like nobody's watching. Nobody you know, at least. For more great moments in travel, click on.
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<strong>Rolling through new scenery:</strong> Nothing beats that feeling you get just sitting on a local bus or train with your headphones on watching an unfamiliar landscape roll by.
Rolling through new scenery: Nothing beats that feeling you get just sitting on a local bus or train with your headphones on watching an unfamiliar landscape roll by.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
<strong>Getting seated next to someone attractive: </strong>Sometimes the travel gods do work in your favor. Like when you board your flight and realize the ridiculously good-looking traveler you couldn't help but notice at the check-in counter is actually seated next to you.
Getting seated next to someone attractive: Sometimes the travel gods do work in your favor. Like when you board your flight and realize the ridiculously good-looking traveler you couldn't help but notice at the check-in counter is actually seated next to you.
Tom Shaw/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images for British Airways
<strong>Unexpected reunions: </strong>Bumped into an old friend in a strange place? Try to play it cool for at least five minutes before losing your shirt, wearing a rainbow wig and shouting, "I love you man!"
Unexpected reunions: Bumped into an old friend in a strange place? Try to play it cool for at least five minutes before losing your shirt, wearing a rainbow wig and shouting, "I love you man!"
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
<strong>Waking up to sunshine when rain had been forecast: </strong>It's like being given an extra day of vacation.
Waking up to sunshine when rain had been forecast: It's like being given an extra day of vacation.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
<strong>Overcoming language barriers: </strong>By pointing at the clock, mimicking the action of fishing and drawing a map, this Japanese chef shared the secret to the freshness of the tuna he'd just served -- it'd come from the ocean five hours earlier.
Overcoming language barriers: By pointing at the clock, mimicking the action of fishing and drawing a map, this Japanese chef shared the secret to the freshness of the tuna he'd just served -- it'd come from the ocean five hours earlier.
Maggie Hiufu Wong/CNN
<strong>The unexpected kindness of airline employees: </strong>The rental car broke down, then you broke down, then the flight left without you. But who's this vision in company-issue nylon getting you on the next flight at no extra charge?
The unexpected kindness of airline employees: The rental car broke down, then you broke down, then the flight left without you. But who's this vision in company-issue nylon getting you on the next flight at no extra charge?
Keith Lovegrove Laurence King Publishing
<strong>Getting the whole row to yourself: </strong>You board the plane for your long-haul flight, cram into the middle seat and pray your yet-to-arrive seatmates aren't going to smell, talk to you, get wasted, hog the arm rest, have weak bladders. Suddenly, the flight attendant closes the plane door. Could it really be? Yes! You have the whole row of seats to yourself.
Getting the whole row to yourself: You board the plane for your long-haul flight, cram into the middle seat and pray your yet-to-arrive seatmates aren't going to smell, talk to you, get wasted, hog the arm rest, have weak bladders. Suddenly, the flight attendant closes the plane door. Could it really be? Yes! You have the whole row of seats to yourself.
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<strong>The "chu-chunk" of a new stamp: </strong>That sound you hear when a new stamp is put in your passport by an immigration official? Music to any hardcore travelers' ears.
The "chu-chunk" of a new stamp: That sound you hear when a new stamp is put in your passport by an immigration official? Music to any hardcore travelers' ears.
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<strong>Unexpected air/hotel/rental car upgrade: </strong>"Thanks for the offer but I'm going to have to decline the upgrade to the presidential suite. I really had my heart set on staying in a 25-square-meter room overlooking the dumpster in the back alley," said no one ever.
Unexpected air/hotel/rental car upgrade: "Thanks for the offer but I'm going to have to decline the upgrade to the presidential suite. I really had my heart set on staying in a 25-square-meter room overlooking the dumpster in the back alley," said no one ever.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
<strong>Finding out the plane will arrive early: </strong>You can't help but smile when the pilot tells you the flight's arriving ahead of schedule -- especially if you've got a tight connection to make.
Finding out the plane will arrive early: You can't help but smile when the pilot tells you the flight's arriving ahead of schedule -- especially if you've got a tight connection to make.
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<strong>The exchange of email/contact info with new friends: </strong>"Can I add you on Facebook?" Sad as goodbyes are, it's a great feeling when you exchange contact info with an awesome new friend you met on the road.
The exchange of email/contact info with new friends: "Can I add you on Facebook?" Sad as goodbyes are, it's a great feeling when you exchange contact info with an awesome new friend you met on the road.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
<strong>Capturing the perfect image of your trip: </strong>"That's going in a frame," you think as you look at your camera's screen and discover you just got the perfect shot to represent your entire journey.
Capturing the perfect image of your trip: "That's going in a frame," you think as you look at your camera's screen and discover you just got the perfect shot to represent your entire journey.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
<strong>Finding out your favorite band is playing in the city you're visiting: </strong>Doesn't matter if you've seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers live back home 20 times. Watching Flea slap that bass while you're vacationing in a foreign city is 100 times more thrilling.
Finding out your favorite band is playing in the city you're visiting: Doesn't matter if you've seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers live back home 20 times. Watching Flea slap that bass while you're vacationing in a foreign city is 100 times more thrilling.
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<strong>Discovering a great restaurant all on your own: </strong>Sometimes it pays to ignore the guidebooks and just get lost in the streets of a strange town. You never know, you might find an awesome restaurant along the way.
Discovering a great restaurant all on your own: Sometimes it pays to ignore the guidebooks and just get lost in the streets of a strange town. You never know, you might find an awesome restaurant along the way.
Chuck Thompson/CNN
<strong>Flight delays that work in your favor: </strong>The return flight on your dull business trip is canceled by a blizzard. Time to slap shut the laptop and explore.
Flight delays that work in your favor: The return flight on your dull business trip is canceled by a blizzard. Time to slap shut the laptop and explore.
Vlad Duthiers/CNN
<strong>Being foreign:</strong> At home you're just like everyone else. Here you're exotic.
Being foreign: At home you're just like everyone else. Here you're exotic.
<strong>'It's my last day in town!': </strong>By pulling the "it's-my-last-day-in-town" card, you manage to get hold of a ticket to a sold-out event locals are dying to attend. Another true story.
'It's my last day in town!': By pulling the "it's-my-last-day-in-town" card, you manage to get hold of a ticket to a sold-out event locals are dying to attend. Another true story.
Matthew Eisman/Getty Images
<strong>Finding the currency exchange has just changed in your favor: </strong>It's like being given free money.
Finding the currency exchange has just changed in your favor: It's like being given free money.
SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Realizing you've packed perfectly: </strong>When you finally find the right luggage for you, it's hard not to get emotional. Especially if that luggage can carry a wallaby.
Realizing you've packed perfectly: When you finally find the right luggage for you, it's hard not to get emotional. Especially if that luggage can carry a wallaby.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
<strong>Not missing a flight: </strong>When you think you'll never make it to the gate in time, but you manage to get on board because the flight is delayed as well.
Not missing a flight: When you think you'll never make it to the gate in time, but you manage to get on board because the flight is delayed as well.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Seeing something outrageous: </strong>One day it'll be you your turn to see someone<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4OO_zUw8AiA" target="_blank" target="_blank"> wear everything in their suitcase</a> to avoid paying Ryanair baggage charges.
Seeing something outrageous: One day it'll be you your turn to see someone wear everything in their suitcase to avoid paying Ryanair baggage charges.
OLI SCARFF/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Escaping extra baggage charges: </strong>The stuffed cat tipped the scales, but you're off the hook. The counter agent smiled and looked the other way.
Escaping extra baggage charges: The stuffed cat tipped the scales, but you're off the hook. The counter agent smiled and looked the other way.
Adam Berry/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images