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

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

  1. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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  2. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
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    South Beach this morn.
     
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  3. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    enjj you staying at The Shelborne? Stayed there a couple years ago and loved the pool
     
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  4. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    My chase ppl...

    On Kayak I see the flight is 1,200.

    On Qatar website it is 1,200

    In the Chase Travel Portal it is 1,500.

    So what the fuck? Why? Can I get it at the cheaper price?
     
  5. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
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    Nailed it. Great vibe. Not too intense with pool party scene but enough for an old married guy to enjoy. Was here a few months back; stayed at the Gale across the street. Wife and I came over here to chill by the pool and beach as it’s the sister hotel.
     
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  6. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Yes. Purchase it on one of the first two options listed. HTH
     
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  7. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I can't use points on the first two options, dummy
     
  8. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Well you didn't ask about using points silly
     
  9. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    In my experience, Chase has a smaller selection of flights through their portal to use with points. I run into your problem a good bit.
     
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  10. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    almost never use points through the portal

    can almost always get better value transferring to airline or airline partners
     
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  11. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    I hate how the airlines still make you pay for fees when using points while points cover everything in the Chase portal.
     
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  12. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    The chase portal is the cash price of the flight with taxes and fees included. Just like on kayak or on the airlines website. You are paying the fees.
     
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  13. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    O I know I'm paying for them. I just like being able to pay for the entire flight in cash versus points and some cash as well. I've only used my chase points a couple times for big trips and when I did them the points came out pretty much even. So I've never transferred points to a partner, but I always make sure to check to find the best deal.
     
  14. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I usually do this but couldn't get points to Qatar Airways.

    Tried to do it through air France, who has a fucking shit website for using points, but didn't have any luck
     
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  15. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Qatar is oneworld. Search the British airways portal and see if your flight shows up. If so, transfer UR to BA and book
     
  16. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    They will not let me book Qatar Air direct from ATL to Doha
     
  17. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I see that available on Americans site for 80k. Transfer to avios then use to book there if it doesn't show up on ba's portal.
     
  18. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Though it's probably wash after fees too.
     
  19. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Yes, there are flights, but they don't work for what I need.
     
  20. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Everything is 2-3 connection ATL to DPS

    Not sure why it will not let me book the Qatar flight from ATL to Doha
     
  21. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Oh well, I get 100k points In a month from CIP2
     
  22. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    shit you read about getting reservations in Tokyo makes me think i'll be falling back on some lawsons sandwiches occasionally
     
  23. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Lawsons has some suprisingly good shit.
     
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  24. Why?Pokes

    Why?Pokes Take me back to the kine
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    Usually I get portal flights for within ~5-10% of FMV but it can def fluctuate, seems to be a bigger issue on short notice. Tried to book Monday for a commuter jump I took today and it was 50% higher than Kayak/Google and 150% over Southwest (granted SW is running specials for their new service here but still).
     
  25. Alshon

    Alshon Well-Known Member
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    Anyone have any preferences for Oktoberfest tents?
     
  26. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Has anyone done South Vietnam and have a sample itinerary?

    I’m planning a ~3 week solo trip over Christmas and New Years. The idea is to find somewhere warm, cheap, and with some diversity in activities (i.e. city, beach, nature)

    It appears North Vietnam will be relatively cold during that time so the idea is to slowly tour the south over the 3 weeks, flying in and out of Ho Chi Minh, rather than a North to South or vice versa itinerary. I can save the North for another trip.
     
  27. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    we did HCMC to Hue flight, 2 nights there then train to Da Nang and taxi to Hoi An 3 nights, then fly back to HCMC for 4 nights

    with 3 weeks you can do way way more, if you don't want to do North Vietnam due to weather I'd fly off to a second country somewhere in there. unless you like really low key days.
     
  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Only did the North.

    If you're going to be in the South, definitely try and do a tour up the Mekong Delta into Cambodia. I've spent a few days on the island of Koh Rong--huge party island. Really fun if you want to get weird, not sure I'd go back in my 30s. But Cambodia is awesome, too.
     
  29. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    did a speedboat trip to mekong delta that was cool, gets you a taste of how the majority of people live in HCMC and in the rural areas
     
  30. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    The second country idea is good - something to consider for sure.

    In general, I don’t mind moving slow and shacking up at a beach spot for a few days. This will be right after my busiest few months at work. Ideally I’d like to stay 3-5 nights in places, unless it’s an obvious one-night excursion type of place.
     
  31. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    I personally wouldn't spend more than two nights in Hue and unless you really really like historical stuff I might even say skip it.

    Hoi An was pretty touristy, but not in a bad way if that makes sense. Also has lots of places to go sit on the beach and chill.
     
  32. rezy

    rezy Member
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    I did HCMC - Mui Ne - Dalat - Nha Trang - Hoi An in about 3.5 weeks when I was there last December solo.
     
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  33. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    we did North Vietnam in May, but we got as far south as Da Lat which was great for nature/mountains.

    I also second (or third, whatever) Cambodia. We really enjoyed Siem Reap, and although we didn't go there we heard their beaches are fantastic and peaceful
     
  34. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I never know the rhyme or reason for flight prices, but Delta prices are super low right now. Just booked RT Seattle to Mex Cty for one, and then two one-ways from Cancun to Seattle after NYE, all together for right around $1,000.

    Out of curiosity looked at flights from ATL to Jo-burg--around $900-1,000 for Spring 2020 right now. If anyone is so inclined.
     
  35. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Patagonia and Southern Argentina/Chile is the play next NYE.

    2020 going to be lit again:
    -NYE in Tulum
    -May - Afrikaburn/Cape Town and then Namibia
    -[something here]
    -Patagonia - W trek, going to do it without a guide - always wanted to check out Bariloche
     
  36. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    theres a cheap copenhagen deal too going on, ~450 from most airports and ~650 on Delta
     
  37. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Not necessarily talking to those ITT, but all my friends and family think I'm crazy for planning trips this far in advance; even a few months out. I regularly book flights and plan trips 6-7 months before departure. Makes it easier with work, too, so you can go ahead and block those days off your calendar.

    Usually find better deals, and it's easier spacing out your spending so you're not dropping $1-2K at one time. Get flights now, some time later get lodging, etc. I'll probably buy SA tickets in December/January.
     
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  38. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    same thing, its annoying if trying to coordinate with family, MIL hates to book anything more than a month or two ahead
     
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  39. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    I 100% agree for the factors you mentioned. I also like having months to research things once I know the flights are booked.

    I’ve already booked Cape Town for 2.5 weeks in February since flights were cheap and am now planning the Xmas and New Years trip.
     
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  40. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    I’m a bit confused by the post. Are the Mex Cty and Cancun/Tulum one trip or separate? If the former, are you flying between Mex Cty and Cancun?

    The reason I ask is that Mexico City and Tulum is the current runner-up for my December trip but I’m struggling at finding a cheap, easy way between the two places. Flights from Cancun to Mex Cty are more expensive than I anticipated and that excludes the transportation costs between Cancun and Tulum.
     
  41. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Separate. I'm flying to Mex Cty for Oranjello 's bachelor party in October. Tulum is for NYE, but I'll be flying from New Orleans and the GF will be flying from Seattle, then after NYE we'll both fly back to Seattle.
     
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  42. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
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    Sister just got back from Copenhagen. Absolutely loved it. Said it was the most expensive city to eat and drink in that she's ever visited. She's been to around 60 different countries. She went to a restaurant called Noma and said she's only had 2-3 meals anywhere else in the world as memorable. Said the meal cost over $1K for two. Guess that lives up to most expensive.
     
  43. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
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    Enjoy the food in HCMC. It will blow you away. Especially with how cheap it is. Good friend lived in Da Nang for nearly 3 months. Just came back to US a few weeks ago after tourist visa expired. Was always bragging about getting a massive bowl of Pho or Bo Kho and 2 beers, only paying $5 USD.
     
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  44. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Need a NYE date?

    Son of a...
     
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  45. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    I studied abroad in Copenhagen and ate basically hot dogs, fruit, and deli turkey the whole time since everything else was so expensive. Beers are cheap at stores, but very expensive out. Noma was for years named the top restaurant in the world, and currently #2. For that level of restaurant $1k isn't that surprising assuming they had wine and tasting menus.
     
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  46. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    that meal is $400/pp without any booze

    they gave us free beer they brewed themselves when we mentioned we weren't huge wine drinkers

    Copenhagen hot dog game is unreal, between DOP and Johns, even the random carts are legit.
     
  47. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Even $5 seems high. We were in the North and Central Highlands in May, and it seems like most bowls of soup/noodles were $2 max, and beers 50¢ or so

    Our favorite place to eat on the whole trip was a spot in Ha Noi that made an egg crepe type dish with seafood for like 25¢ a piece. It was a stop on our seafood street food tour and we went two more times while in town
     
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  48. rezy

    rezy Member
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    Beers at convenience stores were like a quarter in Vietnam
     
  49. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    nothing beats soju being like $1.50 in korea
     
  50. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
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    Drank the shit out of Soju in Seoul and Suwon Si.
     
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