Ugh, classic. Guess your deposit bought him a nice dinner instead. Time to hit up those last minute tour apps.

Just add a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Ugh, that sounds like a total nightmare. I read a travel blog recently where someone said they just ordered a Portuguese eSIM online before their trip and activated it the second they landed. It bypassed the whole store and tax number mess completely. They said it was way cheaper than airport options too, and they had data right away for maps. Honestly, after hearing your story, that pre-trip download method seems like the only sane way to go. I'd be so frustrated wasting two vacation days on phone stuff.

That "what's the worst" trick is interesting, but honestly, I've had the total opposite happen. When I've asked questions like that in the past, it just makes people focus on the scary, unlikely disasters (you know, the one in a million thing) and I get a bunch of alarmist answers that aren't actually helpful for the normal, likely problems. I find just asking for the most common mistake or the first thing to check gets me way more useful, practical steps.

Oh man, that's the exact same thing that happened with my fries! They were always soggy until I stopped crowding the basket. What's your go-to wing sauce?