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

This is where I'm at. I just upgraded from AmEx Gold to Platinum, but the only real benefits are an annual companion flight and points towards medallion status, which is years away.

What are some examples of cards that give you actual miles into a FF account? How is that different from my Delta Amex? Every time I've used miles it's simply to get a free flight in coach. Would be much nicer if I could take more advantage and get first class. TIA

 

I meant to differentiate into two categories, cards that give miles that go into an actual FF account or than can be transferred into a FF account on a 1 to 1 basis. Your Delta Amex is exactly the first thing. AA and United have cards too along with a bunch of international airlines. As you earn miles they automatically go into your FF account for that airline. Can definitely use these for business/first class bookings but only with that airline. A standard amex gold or platinum card (sounds like you have the Delta Amex Platinum, which would be different) or a chase sapphire are the best (maybe only?) examples of the second. Any point you earn with these cards are held with amex and can be transferred to a number of Frequent flyer programs as you need them. Amex is about 15, not sure on Chase sapphire, but I know they have United, which Amex doesn't. Gives you much more flexibility as you don't have to stick to one airline. You could shop around to see what Buis/first class tickets cost with multiple airlines before transferring the miles. If you switched to a standard amex, you could still transfer your miles to Delta along with a bunch of other airlines which gives more flexibility. Amex annual fees are much higher though. Sapphire I think is $95, amex gold is $175, Amex Platinum is $450 a year. I love the perks that come with the Platinum though and I use them enough to justify the fee. Hopefully this makes sense and I didn't just make it more confusing.

 

In general, the best value you can get (miles/$) is using FF miles towards international business/first class award tickets. You don't see nearly the same value using those miles on domestic coach tickets.

Here is an example: When searching for my best value flying from ATL-LHR on Delta, I had the option of coach at 90,000 miles or First at 125,000 miles. That is 35,000 more miles for a ticket that would cost me anywhere from $2-4k more. That is what you are looking for.

 

Frugaltravelguy.com

Has a listing of all the travel credit cards that offer FF miles, and strategies on how to maximize your efficiency.

 

Went up to York this weekend (I live near Cambridge). York Minister is gorgeous, and they have the basement exposed right now so you can see parts of the old Roman fort buried under the church. Walked along the old city wall, read a 1000year old book. The church had a list of organists dating back to 1475. It kind of puts America in perspective that they know who played organ there 20 years before Columbus sailed.



Also visited some great pubs. Underground pubs are best pubs.

 

rooftop > underground

 

Is the US travel thread gone? Looking for a 3-5 day trip for the wife and I. Prefarably west. Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, etc. Doing the Pac Northwest next summer.

 

Yeah... That thread was the ripe tits too.

 

I prefer to have one general travel thread for everywhere rather than a US thread, Western Europe thread, etc., but can see how this one could get too big

 

Yeah I like talking all travel in here. Makes it easy

 

Safaris should be on everyone's bucket list. The one we are looking at in South Africa is a private reserve that's 160,000 acres big, with unfenced borders, and they all but guarantee you seeing the Big 5 game within the first two days.

 

One of my friends went on a hunt and a safari when we were like 11 or 12. He killed a wildebeest, antelope, zebra, few other things

Anyways the wildebeest was mounted in his room and when we had girls at the house the 'do you want to see my wildebeest' line was the go to and that shit always worked

Moral of the story: get you a wildebeest

 

I'll 100% do a safari in Africa when I'm older and it's more feasible financially, but I'm a pussy when it comes to hunting. Just don't like it at all. I guess I wouldn't mind tranquilizing one, but I can't imagine killing a creature like a zebra, giraffe, etc. that was just sitting there, minding its own business. I just want to look and get some sick GoPro shots.

I'm not morally opposed to killing deer because I know how overpopulated they are and the problems they can cause, but I guess I am opposed to killing animals in Africa (however, I'm not sure if they're a problem/endangered/overpopulated, or what). I'm sure you can get good meat from them so it's not just a 'trophy kill,' but the animals are just so incredible. I guess this is the hippie in me coming out.

Coffee strong this morning.

 

It's a good conservation tool when done right. These private hunting groups control and manage more land than nationally protected parks and the tags to kill the animals costs tens of thousands of dollars a piece that they dump back into conservation. That's not to say there aren't some shady ones

 

I have heard that, and am all for it if it stimulates their economy, and I imagine it's a significant contribution to impoverished African nations.

 

So my flight from Split to Budapest was canceled so that's cool. Looking at renting a car or taking a train. Anyone have any experience renting a car in europe or any other advice?

 

wolfpck too bad you arent hitting copenhagen next week.

 

DISTORTION is fucking madness

 

yes and i cant fucking wait.

 

I took the night train from Budapest to Split, its uncomfortable but cheap. If you have limited time I would look for something faster.

 

God dammit. If I knew about this I could have planned around it and gone.

 

i have failed you.

 

Is there a way to do the google search thing where you pick, say, New Orleans and it shows you where all you can fly to, but for how much, but in reverse? As in, I want to fly to Iceland, show me how much it is from NY, Boston, etc.

 

I don't think so. I literally just manually search kayak for every airport I think is feasible for me

 

That's what I do as well, it's just tedious. I generally use miles to get from bumfuck Alabama to a bigger airport, and can get to any airport---just need the cheapest one to take me overseas.

Edit: and you should use google flights over kayak...kayak saves your cookies and makes it difficult to find cheaper flights. Or so I've heard.

 

This is your best bet: https://www.google.ca/flights/explo...%3A0xa9416bfcd3a0f459;li=0;lx=11;d=2015-06-05

 

Eh, it doesn't really show any difference for me

 

So I'm gonna propose three different itineraries for June 5-June 23

Milan - Munich - Prague - Budapest - Hvar & Split - Florence - Milan

Milan - Venice - Hvar & Split - Rome - Florence - Milan

Milan - Barcelona - Madrid - Lisbon - Porto - ?? - Milan


Any additions, subtractions or edits are very much welcome

 

One will win in a landslide itt.

Munich was my favorite time last year, Prague and Budapest are well-loved here and you obviously know about Hvar if you read this thread at all.

I enjoyed Rome but it was a distant fifth among my favorite places.

I wasn't impressed with Madrid or Lisbon, plus that one doesn't have Croatia, so that would be last place for me. I did really like Barca though.

 

Do you think it's enough time to do all those cities though

The flight would get in at like 9am on the 6th so I'd honestly probably just go straight to Munich and start the trip there

 

I did this last year. It was a little much. 5-6 in 18 days is about right.

June 13thMadrid*
June 14thRome*
June 15thRome
June 16thRome
June 17th Amsterdam
June 18thAmsterdam*
June 19thParis
June 20thParis*
June 21stLisbon
June 22ndLisbon*
June 23rdBilbao/San Sebastian*
June 24thSan Sebastian - Barca
June 25thMunich
June 26thMunich*
June 27thMunich - Barca
June 28thBarcelona*
June 29thMadrid*
June 30thMadrid

 

Can I propose Thailand?

 

I'm going to plan that once I'm out in Denver

 

Not finding great options for travel between Prague - Budapest - Split... any advice

 

I'm using smartwings but their price is awfully high the later you get

 

Anyone interested in going on The Yacht Week on short notice? Have some buddies that have a catamaran for june 28-July 4 in Croatia and they still have 2 spots open. Was told it's $1000 spot

 

Realllllly try to fit Krakow in there... Just leave Milan once you land. That's what I'm doing in August, flying into Zurich and immediately hopping on a train and out of the country without seeing the city at all.

But as ohhaithur said, I pick #1... I don't dig Munich or really Germany as much though.

Option 3 would be sick as well if you're trying to see that part of Europe. If you choose that one, I'd recommend Vigo, Spain as you'll have a big airport to get back to Milan and there is a beautiful island right off the coast there.

Obvioulsy, I didn't take this picture, but you get the idea.

 

Gin Buckets - don't think either us can give a good enough report on Munich since we only went for Oktoberfest and didn't venture out at all. The sun also never came out the entire time we were there so that didn't help

 

ANTWONE I meant Vigo for the "??" portion

That said, I'd still go option 1 with Krakow in there I think.

 

I'm waiting to hear back from a friend I met while out in San Diego to see where he will be and this chick who said she might come with then I'll probably decide what to do

 

I'm going the following week I wish I could afford back-to-back

 

I wanted to do back-to-back... Was not ready for it to end. So awesome.

Enjoy the orgy, guys.

 

I'm being a dummy probably but there's a girl here that I could totally see myself being with long term. I'm not one to drag my feet usually but I am stalling so much on becoming "official" because I want to be single for TYW.

I can't wait to be disappointed.