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

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by Jax Teller, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    Haven't made it there yet. Thought screen door which most people say is in tastys tier was pretty average.

    Sweedeedee was really good, was more like the best homemade breakfast compared to more adventurous restaurant level.
     
  2. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Had three brunches in Portland and went to those two and Pine State Biscuits (I guess that was really normal breakfast). Was not disappointed at all.
     
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  3. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    You probably already know about it and I'm a late comer to the party but if you can, go eat at Nine Mile in Asheville. Was hesitant at first but walked in and the smell of the cooking in the restaurant was, at minimum, top 3 I've ever smelled. Get the cool runnings. Thank me later.
     
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  4. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    Went there with the wife back in May and we really loved the city, might have been the wives favorite. Just a really clean, pretty city. Just hit up the main stuff I would say but our favorite place might have been Schoebrunn Palace. The palace itself was badass but the gardens were incredible. Also, the Vienna zoo I believe is claimed to be the worlds oldest zoos and it was probably the nicest zoo I have ever been too. On a side note we really enjoy going to zoos and Budapest is probably one of the crazier ones you can go to. Place is basically a petting zoo with how close they have you to the animals, like you can literally touch a bunch of the animals if they come over to the fence.

    I'll try to remember to ask the wife some of the places we ate in Vienna that we liked, can't think of any of the names right now.
     
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  5. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    You probably don't want to go into specific details but would love to hear any that you are willing to share. The wife and I have joked around since we met about just moving away to somewhere warm and just running a bed and breakfast or something. I am seriously considering it with every year I get older. Not to get too deep but I love where I live, my city is pretty great for raising a family and just generally living but just feels like there should be more than this. This Monday - Friday shit just doesn't feel like something to do for another 30ish years. We are seriously starting to talk about moving and away and where we would want to live. Been doing research on the northern keys. Great weather year round, laid back life style, less than a hour drive from Miami for when you want more of a city life, hour to the airport too. Plus from where our families live you can consistently get under $200 flights, and it's a quick 2 hour flight to Miami. It's probably a pipe dream but the wife is on board and I legitimately think we could make something like that work. Would be at least 3-5 years from now but I can dream.
     
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  6. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Florida Gators

    Last time I was there I was helping my buddy attempt to open his bait shop. time before that I was with a woman looking into a bed and breakfast. I'm the "dreamer" type as well, so I write this reluctantly. The Keys are always littered with people who are leaving because it is essentially not the real world. Sounds funny from where you're sitting, but I've seen it far too many times. the best way to do the keys is to come down with a shit ton of money - basically retired. Even at that point you may not want to do year round. I do support the idea of living there full time, but that is assuming you have what it takes for that lifestyle.
     
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  7. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    Yea, figured I wouldn't be the only one in the world having these thoughts. What ever happened to the women and the man? Also, what did you mean by have what it takes to live that lifestyle?
     
  8. zachary

    zachary <3
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    Yeah me and my girlfriend are definitely wanting to check out the zoo, they have pandas so thats a must. Were both super stoked and it looks beyond beautiful.
     
  9. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    Honestly, I don't remember much about Vienna in regards to the big things I did. I stayed with a local who studied at my university the semester prior and just went with the flow. There are a ton of historical buildings that we checked out, a lot of which are connected to the World Wars. We did go to Schonbrunn Palace which was amazing. Cool garden area you can hang out in.
     
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  10. zachary

    zachary <3
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    UTSA Roadrunners

    We're using AirBnB for stay in Vienna and Obertraun so staying with locals will definitely help a lot for stuff to do/visit
     
  11. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    Make sure you go up the big hill in the back, you'll know what I'm talking about. There isn't hardly anything up there except there is an awesome cable bridge going through the trees and you get a killer view of Vienna. Got some really great pictures up there.
     
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  12. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    2 nights at Kennedy school, which looks like northeast portland. 2 nights in the pearl district. Breweries, drinking, cant miss food places mostly.
     
  13. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Near Kennedy School, Old Salt Marketplace is good, Beast is considered one of the best places in town for dinner. Salt and Straw is amazing ice cream. If you dig the eat/drink while watching a movie thing, Bagdhad Theater is an awesome 100yo theater for that. 100% hit Tasty n Sons for breakfast. Go to Mississippi Ave, start at like Ecliptic Brewing or Liberty Glass and bar crawl North (we did Ecliptic, Por Que No for chips guac + margarita, Stormbreaker Brewing, Bridgetown Beerhouse, then snagged a pizza at Lovely's Fifty Fifty.

    Pearl District there's literally too many choices. Can't miss places imo would be Whiskey Library, Deschutes (touristy, but good beer + food), Powells Books. Some people love Ground Kontrol, arcade + bar. Blue Star donuts are the best. Lardo is great sandwich place. Little Bird would be on my list for lunch, kind of casual french bistro fare by the people behind Le Pigeon, considered on short list for best restaurant in town.. Baileys Taproom is a good beer bar, Mexican place delivers from across the street and theres a strip club next door.
     
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  14. zachary

    zachary <3
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    UTSA Roadrunners

    Do prices on flights change a lot throughout the days? Two days ago i found a flight roundtrip to Vienna for $960 and now i can only find one under $1700
     
  15. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Yes. Once you see a cheap flight you need to jump on it. Not necessarily day-to-day, but they change often. Also mess around with your departure city from the US, it can be a drastic change in price say leaving from NY versus leaving from DC

    As I'm sure others have recommended, do you have any good travel cards? A bunch of cards offer great sign-up bonuses that can get you $5-600 off any flight.

    Chase Sapphire Preferred is a favorite ITT
     
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  16. 47 straight

    47 straight Well-Known Member
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    I use Amex business platinum. Rewards are great for travel.

    Don't forget to qualify for the sign up bonus, you have to spend "X amount of $ in X amount of months". So if someone gets a new card for a trip, make sure you get it in advance
     
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  17. zachary

    zachary <3
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    UTSA Roadrunners

    No I don't have any cards. We are just now being able to start traveling, had our first trip this year to Tulum and plan on making vacations 1-2 times a year. I don't really have credit right now so I assumed I couldn't get any of the travelings cards but to be honest I haven't researched anything about them
     
  18. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    You probably couldn't qualify for some of the better ones, but even with no credit you might be able to get some. I wanna say the Chase Freedom has minimum credit requirements? But I don't know about their sign-up bonus.

    Another tip would be to check out (a) Norwegian Air, (b) Icelandic Air, and (c) WOW air. These are three budget airlines that, for whatever reason, don't always show up on Google Flights or Kayak searches; and they all have incredibly cheap flights. They only fly to a select number of cities in US and Europe (much more in Europe, obviously), and sometimes have ridiculous layovers, but if you look you can get some great deals. My $370 flight from NY to Copenhagen is through Norwegian air, and it's nonstop; this will be my 2nd time flying with them. Even if they don't fly directly to Austria, you may be able to get into Europe for incredibly cheap, and then catch an EasyJet or Ryanair flight to Austria.
     
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  19. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    zachary where do you live? that would indicate what card generally works best for you.
     
  20. zachary

    zachary <3
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    UTSA Roadrunners

    bryan, tx
     
  21. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    didn't know there was internet acces there!

    kidding aside. Since you're near Houston, you should probably consider the United Mileageplus Explorer card, assuming you want to fly more often (on United).

    More generally, the Sapphire Plus is probably the best all around card, as others have already said.
     
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  22. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    My traveling for 2016 is unfortunately over (other than a Seattle trip in about a month, and then NYE), but figuring out my jaunt through SE Asia in Feb/March of next year.

    My current itinerary (which I'm sure will change approx. 20x between now and then) is:

    -Feb 3/4 -- arrive in Delhi, India
    -Feb 6 - Feb 17/18 -- Jodhpur & Jaipur >>> Agra (Taj Mahal, will only spend about 24-36 hours here) >>> Varanasi (for at least 4-5 days)

    Overnight train to Kathmandu, Nepal

    -Feb 17/18 - Feb 23/24 -- Kathmandu and Pokhara region, hopefully do some trekking in the Himalayas

    -Feb 23/24 - Feb 28 -- catch a flight to either Tibet or Bhutan, haven't decided yet. Both are really expensive ($2-300/day just for visiting, a 3-4 day trip will run about $1K), and require a guide with you most of the time; you can't just show up to these places and catch a cab to your hostel/hotel, unfortunately. But they both seem to be incredible. Leaning towards Tibet, could possibly see Everest base camp.

    4 hour flight to Malaysia

    -March 1 -- catch a flight to Kuala Lumpur, then immediately catch an easy flight to Borneo.
    -March 1 - March 6/7 -- spend about a week in Borneo hanging with orangutans and pygmy elephants, see the jungle
    -March 6/7 - March 9/10 -- Kuala Lumpur, check out the cheapest 5-star hotels in the world that are supposed to be all the rage

    Easy flight to Ho Chi Minh

    -March 10 -- my buddy is meeting me in Ho Chi Minh, spend a day or 2 there
    -March 13/14 - March 25 -- catch a flight up to Hanoi in North Vietnam, see:

    Ninh Binh (1 1/2 hours south of Hanoi), looks like Jurassic Park:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    Sapa and Lao Cai (about 3-4 hours west of Hanoi):
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Ha Long Bay (about 3 hours east of Hanoi):
    [​IMG]

    Not working very hard this Friday.
     
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  23. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    You're done traveling for the year with two trips left? Doesn't sound all that unfortunate.
     
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  24. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Guess just big trips are over. Seattle isn't for a wild weekend, will be out there scoping out places to live and hopefully meeting with potential employers

    #notsohumble
     
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  25. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    Just bought my airfare for a 11 night May trip to Europe with the gf. Into Paris out from Prague.

    Was having trouble pulling the trigger until I came home drunk last night. No regrets.
     
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  26. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I do this a lot too, a majority of my flights are purchased late Friday/Saturday night, or Sunday evening after a day of boozing and watching football.
     
  27. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Welp, posting from my Santiago Hostel. Arrived safely. Be back in the states for a stop in December. Hope y'all enjoy your jobs.

    :awesomeface:
     
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  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Lucky MFer
     
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  29. 47 straight

    47 straight Well-Known Member
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    Don't you dare ever play me at madden again. I'm going to print this post and hang it on my players walls for motivation to run it up mercilessly.

    :crossedarms:
     
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  30. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Take it out on the DumpJags
     
  31. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I've thought the same. However; I'm not moving away with this change, just buying a small business.
     
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  32. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    Holiday travel discussion got me thinking, do any of your employers force you to take vacation between Christmas and New Years if your department/company/client/project shuts down over that time period? Mine does (consulting due to client/project shutdown) and it's some bullshit.

    I don't consider it vacation if you are told when to take it. What do you guys think?
     
  33. Alshon

    Alshon Well-Known Member
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    South Carolina Gamecocks

    I would love it if my employer told me to gtfo.
     
  34. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    This x1000, just wished I realized it before 30.
     
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  35. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    Just started a project out in Seattle, been out there the last two weeks. I can't imagine there's a better US city in any season than Seattle in the summer.
     
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  36. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Yes and I dislike it. Luckily it's only three days not four this year. I try to save my floater days to minimize the impact on my vacation days. The worst part is that they tailor their communications around it as some huge favour to all employees.
     
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  37. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Not if it replaces my vacation days

    Although I happen to take that week anyway. I'd still be bothered
     
  38. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Florida Gators

    Team private room in hostel for only like $50 more
     
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  39. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Florida Gators

    That's not a fucking vacation
     
  40. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Got the smokeshow from Ireland, one of the hottest girls I've ever hooked up with, meeting me in Berlin and possibly coming to Prague :bananallama:
     
  41. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
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    :rules:
     
  42. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
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    Atlanta BravesGeorgia BulldogsAtlanta Falcons

  43. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    In the very bottom of my write up a few pages back, I believe
     
    BP likes this.
  44. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    I'd like to Czech her out.
     
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  45. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    Fuck that I spent 6 days there and would go back in a heartbeat.
     
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  46. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Ok problem solvers, help needed. Right now, none of the streaming channels outside of netflix are working for me (like nbc, hbo, showtime) outside of the country. This presents an issue. Who can resolve this for me.
     
  47. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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  48. Mr. Bean

    Mr. Bean Well-Known Member

    Meh. Plenty of professions have jobs where you can/can't take PTO during a certain period. I pretty much know when I'm going to be on vacation and that's just how it is
     
  49. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    Get a VPN. You select which country you want to connect to and it'll route your isp through it so it looks like your in that country. You can get them for a few bucks a month. I use this site:

    https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/
     
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  50. Jax Teller

    Jax Teller Well-Known Member
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    If you have an app that you can install the plex app on, i can share my library with you and let you watch everything I have. Not exactly what you are asking for but it's an option.