Travel long enough, and you start to notice a pattern: no matter where you go (bustling bazaars, tiny mountain towns, neon-lit night markets), people ask you the same five questions. Some are friendly. Some are curious. And some are… well, strategic. Here are the big five, what they actually mean, and how to answer like a seasoned traveler.

If you’ve ever wanted to test your confidence, your acting skills, your poker face, and your blood pressure all at once, just walk into the Grand Bazaar. Haggle culture is alive, well, and fueled by espresso-strength charisma and chain smoking. And here’s the thing nobody tells you until it’s too late: The shopkeepers are Olympic-level negotiators. You are not. You are a sweet summer child with a tote bag taking pictures of the ceiling. But don’t worry, I made the mistakes s