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

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

  1. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Check out mercado de San Miguel in Madrid
     
  2. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I'm a big fan of those mercados. Wish we had more stuff like that
     
  3. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Let me know what you experience in Madrid as I might be there in Sept. Trying to decide if it's worth staying in Madrid for a few days or landing, hanging for a day then heading out.
     
  4. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    It's a pretty cool place. Not anywhere near my favorite but there's plenty of stuff to do for a couple of days. And the train south to Seville is easy as fuck and runs a lot so transitioning there can be done whenever
     
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  5. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    Hell yea!

    Still plenty of good options out there in regards to accommodations. I know nothing about Keramas as neither the fiancé nor I surf, but I have done a decent amount of research into the other three areas.

    Every thing that Ive read is that Ubud is a must. Some people stay in one place and treat it like a home base, but I much rather stay in each individual area. You can get private drivers for the day to take you wherever you want to go on the island for $40-$50. We plan on utilizing this a few times, especially to go see some of the waterfalls.

    Lastly, there is a Facebook group called “Bali Life” that has been extremely helpful in putting together our trip. Tons of information and easy to search old questions/comments.
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  6. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Keramas is one of the few right hand breaking wave on Bali, but it's a world class point break. Yeah Ubud seems dope, kind of like Chaing Mai if you've been to Thailand. TLAU spent a good bit of time there I believe.

    Trip might have been pushed to September now. Shits all up in the air
     
  7. TLAU

    TLAU Dog Crew
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    Only get a private driver to take you on a "temple tour" day. They know the best times to go to avoid crowds/lines bc the 15-20 people bus tours have set schedules that the local drivers are aware of and avoid. They also are knowledgable as hell about the areas because they've lived there forever. In one day we learned about the entire country's culture/history/etc just from making conversation inbetween stops. Also helpful to have someone familiar with the religious culture when going to temples to make sure you're not doing anything disrespectful or whatnot. Best to do this day early on in the trip because they can take your itinerary and tell you what of it is Instagram/Travel Blog bullshit and what's real if you're more about exploring the culture over trying to get social media points.

    The rest of the trip do your getting around via scooter. It's like $7/day for a 2-seater and anywhere you're going from ubud will be an hour or less drive. For the driver - Welcome to Mario Kart. For the passenger - take a xanax. Driving a scooter in the Ubud area was one of the most fun things I've done as an adult.

    NC Wolfpack for a waterfall day I'd actually use GoJek or rent a scooter. Just my :twocents: you wouldn't be able to do many in one day. 3 max unless you're just gonna go hike to the waterfall, take a picture and leave. The best waterfall is a local one ~20min east of ubud. The rest are very underwhelming and not really worth the time to go see unless you plan on making an afternoon of it.

    Padang Bai is worth an entire day. Especially if you're into snorkeling it's beautiful and there's a ton of awesome fish in the bays.
     
    #18557 TLAU, Jul 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2019
  8. TLAU

    TLAU Dog Crew
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    planning a 3-dude trip to Thailand for mid-january. Not looking to party with ladyboys or whore-house it up so no desire to spend any time at all in Bangkok... just flying in and out of there. Any posts ITT have a rough guide for this type trip? Preferably beaches and country side. Getting scuba certified in September.
     
  9. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    Appreciate the information.

    I’ve been hesitant to go the scooter route as I know my travel insurance doesnt cover it, I’ve never driven one before, and most importantly, my fiancé will have a heart attack riding as a passenger. Almost worth paying the extra money to not have to deal with that. Only have heard good things though.
     
  10. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Riding a bike/scooter in Asia is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's insane and pretty dangerous, but be smart about it and you'll be fine.

    I've wiped out 4-5x and I'm still here to talk about it.
     
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  11. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Most common rec ITT will be Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai (in the North, Countryside, my favorite city in the country), then down to the islands (eastern or western side of peninsula, each side has perks). Ko Phagnan/Koh Tao (latter is one of the best diving spots in the world) on the east side, Phi Phi and stuff on the west side. Plenty of Thai info here
     
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  12. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, we are currently debating whether we want to do Madrid, Seville, and/or Granada. Open to any other suggestions though.
    My vote is 1.5 days in Madrid then down to Sevilla for 3 days before Granada for 3 days then back to Madrid to fly back.
     
  13. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    I enjoyed it, but 3 days is at least one too many for Granada.
     
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  14. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Same boat about scooters.

    Wife wouldn't let me get one in THAILAND. Hopefully Gojek or whatever it is is easy enough
     
  15. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    We have done scooters in several foreign countries, but always in the countryside. My wife doesn't want to ride her own and just wants to be a passenger, so that's extra stress for me that I don't need in a city, especially a place like Hanoi or Bangkok. Riding solo I'd probably be more adventurous.

    Almost drove off a cliff in Santorini because I got dust in my eye, and got chased by an aggressive stray dog in Phong Nha but otherwise our rides have been non-eventful
     
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  16. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Scooters in Goa, India with BamaNug were an absolute hoot and I highly recommend.
     
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  17. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    That’s where Jason Bourne’s girlfriend was killed. Cannot support.
     
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  18. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Spoiler alert!
     
  19. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    I want to go to Goa
     
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  20. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    It's a weird place. We made the mistake of staying in the main touristy spot (Anjuna). You have a lot of Indian teenagers from dry states that have, literally, never been drunk before--a bunch of 15-16 year olds drunk for the first time = not great. Also very catered to Westerners.

    On the other hand, the beaches and scenery are incredible. Food is very good, and different from the rest of India. Cool trance parties that you won't find many other places in India. I think I would have a much better experience the 2nd time around with a little more knowledge about the layout. Just don't stay in Anjuna, head north to Arambol or south to Vasco de Gama.
     
  21. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO: Hong Kong (HKG)

    Boston (BOS) - $600

    Cincinnati (CVG) - $571

    Dayton (DAY) - $586

    Pittsburgh (PIT) - $578

    Raleigh (RDU) - $580

    Sarasota (SRQ) - $652

    Vancouver (YVR) - $656 CAD

    Washington DC (DCA) - $555

    Washington DC (IAD) - $555


    TO: Taipei (TPE)

    Denver (DEN) - $606

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $588

    Los Angeles (LAX) - $475

    New York City (JFK) - $627*

    Portland (PDX) - $626

    San Diego (SAN) - $564

    San Francisco (SFO) - $578*

    Seattle (SEA) - $616

    Vancouver (YVR) - $648 CAD*


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies greatly by route. Generally September 2019 through early April 2020, some routes including Thanksgiving but all excluding Xmas/NYE
     
  22. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    First time drunk teenagers sounds like a cruise ship. Would be a nightmare
     
  23. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    [​IMG]
    A nice deal to make this Friday even better.

    No bag fees, etc.

    All prices are for roundtrip flights and in USD unless otherwise stated.
    TO:

    Singapore (SIN)


    FROM:

    Chicago (ORD) - $639

    Honolulu (HNL) - $640

    Houston (IAH) - $654

    New York City (JFK) - $589

    Newark (EWR) - $596

    Phoenix (PHX) - $676



    WHEN: Varies by route. Generally September 2019 through early June 2020, some including Thanksgiving, but all excluding Xmas/NYE
     
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  24. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    God damn


    FROM: Los Angeles (LAX)

    Changsha (CSX) - $349

    Chengdu (CTU) - $371

    Chongqing (CKG) - $354

    Guiyang (KWE) - $365

    Hangzhou (HGH) - $316

    Hefei (HFE) - $408

    Jinan (TNA) - $432

    Nanchang (KHN) - $398

    Nanjing (NKG) - $334

    Nanning (NNG) - $432

    Ningbo (NGB) - $398

    Qingdao (TAO) - $419

    Shanghai (SHA) - $398

    Singapore (SIN) - $354

    Wenzhou (WNZ) - $370

    Wuhan (WUH) - $384

    Xi'an (XIY) - $354

    Xiamen (XMN) - $430

    Zhengzhou (CGO) - $405


    FROM: New York City (JFK)

    Chengdu (CTU) - $388

    Chongqing (CKG) - $429

    Dalian (DLC) - $429

    Fuzhou (FOC) - $405

    Guiyang (KWE) - $413

    Hangzhou (HGH) - $464

    Harbin (HRB) - $441

    Kunming (KMG) - $432

    Wenzhou (WNZ) - $398

    Xi'an (XIY) - $388


    FROM: San Francisco (SFO)

    Bangkok (BKK) - $413

    Changsha (CSX) - $444

    Dalian (DLC) - $391

    Hangzhou (HGH) - $410

    Harbin (HRB) - $403

    Kunming (KMG) - $395

    Mae Hong Son (HGN) - $430

    Manila (MNL) - $417

    Nanchang (KHN) - $430

    Ningbo (NGB) - $436

    Phuket (HKT) - $450



    WHEN: Varies by route. Generally September through early December 2019
     
  25. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    I'm in need of some help. I decided to be insanely irresponsible and fly to Paris tomorrow on a whim. The thing is, I've never been to Europe so I have no idea what I'm doing. Couple of questions.

    1) Money. Do I need to get euros before I leave tomorrow or should I wait and just use an ATM in Paris. I figure I'll put most everything on the credit card but it's probably good to have some cash handy.
    2) How much French do I need to learn on the flight over?
    3) I have no idea what to do in Paris. Any suggestions that is off the beaten path and not super touristy?

    Like I said, I have no idea what I'm doing so if there's anything you think I might overlook with only 24 hours to plan this trip let me know.
     
  26. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    1) Francs work well
    2) All of it
    3) Make two friends and do the Eiffel Tower
     
    MB123 likes this.
  27. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Have no advice but I love it.

    Generally what I do when I go to a new place:

    Search this thread for recommendations
    Google “travel blog Paris” and read a few. I seem to agree more with those than general trip advisor.
     
    Lifeiskilingme79 likes this.
  28. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    you can get euros when there, use xecurrency converter to make sure you're getting a good rate. bring like a $100usd just as in case shit money. check your debit cards to see if any have international ATM credits/all free (Schwab does and is great but it's too late now).

    you can manage with nothing, download google translate and the french dictionary, can type shit in, use camera and it'll translate signs/menus, even in a pinch use the conversation function. it's france though, most people will have decent english.

    where you staying? 11th arrondissement is the hipster food area.
     
    Lifeiskilingme79 likes this.
  29. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    really good deal if based in any of these areas

    TO: Amsterdam (AMS)


    Atlanta (ATL) - $444*

    Detroit (DTW) - $444*

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $482*


    TO: Paris (CDG)

    Atlanta (ATL) - $476*

    Detroit (DTW) - $476*

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $514*


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: October 2019 through March 2020, most routes including Thanksgiving but all excluding Xmas/NYE
    NORMAL PRICE: $1,000+ for nonstop
    AIRLINE(S): Delta, KLM
    BUY BY: We think these fares will last less than 24 hours
     
  30. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    I haven't gotten that far yet :gross:
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  31. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    its paris, don't stress about going last minute at all
     
  32. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    booked flights ten days ago and now if i booked the same tickets today it'd be $250 less per ticket reeee
     
  33. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    You're fine. Don't need french, can get money wherever. Just do your thing and have fun. Good for you
     
    ohhaithur and Room 15 like this.
  34. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Finally worked through all my GoPro footage from South Africa. Lots of good safari footage. Song was longer than I wanted, so added some Afrikaburn shots.

     
  35. Why?Pokes

    Why?Pokes Take me back to the kine
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    Call your card companies and let them know you’ll be out of the country. Some don’t require it, but it can give you a small panic attack if you land and none of them work.

    Also check your phone plan if you’re not going to use a European SIM. I know Verizon let’s you purchase an international plan for like $5-$10/day automatically as long as you have the option enabled for your account before you go. That usually works fine for me and I just keep the phone on airline/WiFi mode for the days I don’t want to use cellular.
     
    herb.burdette likes this.
  36. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    AT&T does the same thing. $10/day, but you don't pay for days that you don't use it
     
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  37. herb.burdette

    herb.burdette Meet me at the corner of 8th and Worthington
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    Ohio State Buckeyes

    What Why?Pokes said about alerting your credit card companies and checking your phone plan.

    We did Paris at the end of June. The Verizon plan cost me $10 a day, but was open roaming everywhere and I had no problems.

    The train system is pretty easy to figure out in Paris. We used it to go everywhere.

    You will need to buy advance tickets to most attractions. You can’t just show up at the Louvre or Versailles and buy a ticket this time of year because it’s always sold out. Go online and see what’s available.
     
  38. herb.burdette

    herb.burdette Meet me at the corner of 8th and Worthington
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    Ohio State Buckeyes

    Also, all the ATMs dispense Euros if you need cash.
     
  39. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Bump for this. Any recommendations for Lisbon? Going to be there for three nights be only one in Madrid.
     
  40. bwhit21

    bwhit21 Well-Known Member
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    I stayed at Hotel Komune in Keramas for a night. I don’t surf so it was a random stopover, but the hotel was nice.
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  41. Alshon

    Alshon Well-Known Member
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    South Carolina Gamecocks

    Lx Factory is a pretty cool spot
     
  42. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    For the whiney bitch boys

    TO:

    Brussels (BRU) - $450*

    Düsseldorf (DUS) - $488*

    Madrid (MAD) - $444*

    Munich (MUC) - $497*

    Rome (FCO) - $463*

    Stuttgart (STR) - $485*


    FROM:

    Atlanta (ATL)


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies by destination. Generally October 2019 through April 2020, including Thanksgiving. Some destinations include NYE and/or have availability to travel and return by/on Xmas Eve but all destinations exclude flights over Xmas
     
  43. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    I'm suddenly getting huge discounts on Uber for whatever reason. Last week I got 20% off every ride and when I opened the app this morning it told me I get 40% off every ride this week. My ride to work this morning (since I'm flying out at the end of the day and my office is near the airport) cost $19 plus tip for a 45 minute 20 mile trip in rush hour traffic. Quite nice.
     
  44. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Same. I had 25% last week and this week it's 50%, up to $10.
     
  45. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I seem to always have 10% off discounts

    Not sure I've seen 20-40
     
  46. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    I felt pretty special with 40% until
     
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  47. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    i basically always have 40% off up to $6 per ride offer

    I assume it's trying to squeeze out the paltry Lyft presence we have here
     
  48. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO: Madrid (MAD)

    Allentown (ABE) - $579

    Burbank (BUR) - $408

    Charlottesville (CHO) - $579

    Chicago (ORD) - $488

    Cincinnati (CVG) - $512

    Corpus Christi (CRP) - $535

    Denver (DEN) - $459

    Detroit (DTW) - $459

    El Paso (ELP) - $535

    Fargo (FAR) - $583

    Fayetteville (XNA) - $535

    Harrisburg (MDT) - $579

    Houston (IAH) - $481

    Islip (ISP) - $438

    McAllen (MFE) - $535

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $438

    Oklahoma City (OKC) - $535

    Omaha (OMA) - $583

    Phoenix (PHX) - $545

    Rapid City (RAP) - $583

    Richmond (RIC) - $579

    Roanoke (ROA) - $579

    Salt Lake City (SLC) - $521

    San Antonio (SAT) - $535

    Santa Ana (SNA) - $408

    Shreveport (SHV) - $535

    Sioux Falls (FSD) - $583

    Tulsa (TUL) - $535

    Westchester (HPN) - $438

    Wichita (ICT) - $583

    Yuma (YUM) - $585


    TO: Paris (CDG)

    Cincinnati (CVG) - $543

    Denver (DEN) - $479

    Indianapolis (IND) - $496*

    Islip (ISP) - $431

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $474

    Portland (PDX) - $469

    Salt Lake City (SLC) - $543

    Toronto (YYZ) - $543 CAD

    Westchester (HPN) - $461


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies by route. Generally October 2019 through early April 2020. Some routes include Thanksgiving but all exclude Xmas/NYE
     
  49. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    i'm really close to booking a flight in to Madrid and home from Barcelona, train to San Sebastian then to Barcelona

    late March into early April

    tell me why I shouldn't

    besides americas long haul product being traasshhh, although I could take a connection with Iberian but they seem to use slimline seats which are also trasaashh
     
  50. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I flew clt to Madrid on American and it was the best international flight I've had from them. But that doesn't help you
     
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