The New Travel Thread: Now with write ups in the OP

https://twitter.com/iLove_Aviation/status/733298646284828673

 

so i'm curious, how do they get these reports that it turned 90 degrees one way, then did like a 360 degree turn, then went down. If they lost it on radar, is this stuff coming from the box now? I admit I haven't read all the details

 

If I remember correctly from the malaysian flight, these planes have a system that sends a periodic signal to satellites. The signal includes heading, speed, location, etc. This "ping" was turned off on the Malaysian flight, which is why people thought the pilot did it on purpose. So, even if this was lost from radar, it would still be sending these pings out.

I could be completely wrong here, just throwing out what I think I remember from 2 years ago.

 

We're spending a couple nights at the Bitter End Yacht Club marina.

Here's a picture of the boat

 

Thats actually the only island we dont plan on visiting. Are we screwing up? Been to the BVI 2x already doing this same type trip and we've never made it there.

 

You'll have the best time ever. Bitter End is pretty fun as well. That's where we spent our last night.

 

We like it there. We were going to eat at Biras Creek one night like we did last time, but I think it closed.

 

Yes. Definitely go. My favorite night of the entire trip was at the Cow Wreck Beach Bar.

 

Damn. Can you catch a ride out there from the bitter end? I doubt we will take the yacht there. Besides being further away than most of the other islands I would need to request permission to take the yacht there.

 

We parked in the bay over night and then just took the dinghy to a dock. I think we may have gotten a ride from wherever we anchored, but they set that up during the day.

More pics of Cow Wreck Beach.

Spoiler

 

I don't know details re: traveling around, but I checked out several islands in the BVIs when I was there and Anegada was far and away the best we visited. I do know it's the farthest north of all the BVIs and is kind of a hike to get to, so would be a decision among yall's group on whether to get there. But I can almost guarantee you won't be disappointed. May have to cut out some other islands, though.

 

24 hours from now I'll be sitting in the Charlotte airport having pre flight beers before Spain

 

Just started this podcast but judging by the first ep this is right up The Travel Thread's alley. BamaNug think you'd dig it for sure.

It's called "The Travelers" with Nathaniel Boyle

 

Sure you don't want to hit up Cairo :fingerscrossed:

 

Wow you're pretty mean man

 

I'm gonna be in Rosarito, MX next week ... anyone been?

 

How long did it take after applying for you to get conditionally approved? I applied Tuesday and mine is still pending review.

 

Same. I'm in Austin fyi

 

4-5 business days

 

Mine were about 5 business days if I remember. Was about the same for both mine and the wife.

 

Took me 2 days in San Francisco

 

Sorry man, guess not. What made you decide on Rosarito?

 

http://thepointsguy.com/2016/05/lufthansa-surprise-destination-option/

Seems like a cool idea. Something like this in the US would be great. Random weekend somewhere cool.

 

That's awesome

 

Anyone ever use the Eagle Creek packing cubes? The guests on that podcast I posted said they were the greatest when asked "what's 1 thing you recommend someone traveling to bring with." I've used the larger versions of them (in link, the first big blue thing in the back), but haven't used the smaller ones.

The other was a mini belkin surge protector.

Anyway, here's what I'm talking about...

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/packing-cubes/l/212

 

southside has some things like that.

 

That's really cool. Would definitely give it a shot.

 

Who was it that went to Ireland for St. Pats? Did they ever post a write up? I am interested in hearing how it went / what the highlights were

 

I went. Might have been lost in the crash. I'll have to search.

Yeah, it was lost. It was March 2013,

http://www.the-mainboard.com/index.php?threads/backpacking-northern-eastern-europe.111067/page-4

Anyway, it was a shit show of a weekend... Woke up in an Irish girls bed the night before (after lots of beer pong on a bar crawl), the actual day of this Aussie dude and I met someet some legitimiately hot Welsh chicks -- one of which was fucking third trimester pregnant --, I fell down the stairs at a bar breaking my cheap NC driver's license in 2. 47 straight probably remembers how shitty that turned out because some bouncers wouldn't take it afterwards and I couldn't get a new one easily.

Temple Bar area is kind of like partying in Chicago on SPD. Lots of fun. There were plenty of tourists, and most of the people I met who traveled in for the occasion were French, Welsh, Canadian, and Aussie.

 

I went this past March, had a blast. Don't think I did a write-up yet, though. About to leave for the weekend but I'll get around to it next week

 

Thanks Pal,

You guys think the route below is do-able or crazy? 9days, the first 3 days we are already set in Dublin. Right now I am leaning cut out the top half of the island and just do the bottom.

 

I'm a packing cubes evangelist. I have like 6-8.

Save a ton of space because they can compress whatever you put in them

 

I'd definitely cut it in half, that's pretty aggressive. I wish we would've gone to Galway, heard nothing but great things.

We were only there for 4-5 days, so didn't venture outside of too far outside of Dublin, except for some 30-45 minute train rides. But Dublin is a very fun city, drinking and bars are an artform over there.

Also, I would NOT want to drive in Dublin. Outside of Dublin I'm sure it's fine, but in and around the city would be a nightmare.

Howth was probably my favorite spot we went to, really cool harbor town.

 

That was an easy sell. Watched a couple youtube videos and I'm convinced. Got a couple of the specter compression ones and the clean/dirty one. Last time we were in Europe the BFF packed a huge bag and I'm almost killed myself a couple times lugging it around. Never again. She's been practice packing in a carry on to see if she can get it done and is struggling pretty bad, these should make my life a lot easier.

 

I am very intrigued.

 

Northern Ireland is only interesting for Belfast and only interesting part of Belfast is where the wall divides the Catholic/Protestant sides......rest of Belfast is a shithole

 

Which should I pick?

 

AmazonBasics makes some of the same things, but for some reason they cost almoat as much.

The eagle Creek brand rarely change price on Amazon (confirm via camelcamelcamel) so you might as well buy sooner rather than later.

 

That's actually a pretty good topic, what's everyone's "must-have" travel item that the majority of folks wouldn't think/know to bring?

These things are great, and mine has worked all over the world...


This portable charger is literally one of my favorite things. It can charge my ipad and 2 phones for a week before needing a recharge itself. Incredible. It's a little bit heavy duty, so it's worth it to get one for your pocket on day trips as well, but I love this thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-RAVP...d=1463775491&sr=8-7&keywords=Portable+charger

I also always have reasonably sized padlock and key in my bag along with zipper locks. The padlock has been super convenient.

Finally, a light jacket that has excellent water resistance. Those can be used in almost all weather situations, and aren't heavy enough to take up much room in a suitcase. I have this...

 

Plastic roll up compression bags. Halves the size of my clothes.

Also a clothes wrinkle removing spray so I always look fly

 

For wrinkles if I have access to a shower, I'm hanging up my clothes in it to try to steam the wrinkles out. Works surprisingly well. Especially if you've got your own bathroom.

 

bachelor party with a bunch of surfers, apparently this is a sneaky good spot. looks to be a couple full service resorts and a small beach front, but not much else ...

 

I usually like getting airplane miles over hotel points because they tend to have more value IMO, but 1 mile per dollar spent is not much and will take a ton of time to build up to anything of value so I'd go with the extra hotel points on this one. If you were getting 2-3 miles per dollar I would go the other way.

 

Tavel chargers is a good one. Here's something the owner of the local travel store recommended for me before my trip to Japan/Korea last year, and placebo or not, I swear it helped. Also Took it for a London/Ireland trip and felt better than I usually do on arrival. Doesn't do any harm bc its all natural substances, so its worth a try. I'm definitely going to try some of those travel cubes though. I usually do the roll up compression bags and the cubes seem to be much better.

http://www.amazon.com/JetZone-Prevention-Homeopathic-Chewable-Tablets/dp/B001LNN17O

 

Thanks. I'm spending like 40 nights in Hiltons this year for work so I've been debating it a good amount. Lots of points at stake

 

7-10k should get you a pretty premium location/accommodation, imho. Though seclusion will always drive your flight costs up

 

Royal Plantation in Jamaica. Amazing resort. Very small, secluded, top of the line food, drinks and service. Can expand more if interested after looking up, but on mobile currently.

 

For anyone with credit card questions check out the Abroaders podcast.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/abroaders-podcast/id796618604?mt=2

I found out about it via the Travelers podcast I mentioned a couple days ago. The overview/basics itt on that podcast is eps 190 and 191 (or 30 and 31 on the link)...
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-travelers/id876749701?mt=2