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

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

  1. SugarShaun

    SugarShaun A man of many hobbies
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    It’ll be busy but yes.

    Wife and I did 11 full days last Spring (Landed Monday 3/11 and left Friday 3/22). We spent Sun-Wed in Rome and did an overnight trip to Manchester with day trips to Stonehenge and Swansea (Wales).

    I know you’re kinda asking this but is there anything specific the 2 of you are wanting to see? Or any specific town/city you want to get to?
     
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  2. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Definitely visit the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh.

    I wouldn’t spend a ton of time in Dublin; get out and see some other areas. I really enjoyed Galway and the Cliffs of Moher.
     
  3. Hank Scorpio

    Hank Scorpio Globex Corporation, Philanthropist, Supervillain
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    I want to go to a premier league game (I don't have a favorite team) and basically areas rich in history. Like going to castles, some historical battle sight, or a pub that's 400 years old would be really cool to me.
     
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  4. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    The Brazen Head in Dublin. It dates back to 1198.
     
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  5. SugarShaun

    SugarShaun A man of many hobbies
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    There are areas rich in history on a tour of Stonehenge but it’s not worth visiting unless one of you are really into it IMO. After a few minutes of standing in the rain looking at it, it was like ok so this is it
     
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  6. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
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    Girlfriend's (will probably be fiance by then) cousin is getting married in French wine country next September. Going to plan an ~11-12 day trip around it including probably flying into Naples and going to Amalfi for ~4 days, going over to Paris for ~3-4 days, then spend ~3-4 days in wine country around the wedding and fly home.

    Since I got jack shit else to plan until then, I feel like I'm pretty much going to have every aspect of this trip memorized months in advance.
     
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  7. TheDKALife

    TheDKALife Well-Known Member

    We really enjoyed Beaune near Dijon in the heart of Burgandy country. IF you make it there you MUST go to Maison du Colombier. Lowkey wine den with delicious food.
     
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  8. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Did you try their mustard? I’ve heard good things about it from that region.
     
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  9. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Plans changed slightly. We are both working 100% remotely and have decided to try and visit Aruba for 3-4 weeks and work remotely from there. Both of our bosses are fine with it as long as we have WiFi (our AirBnb does). We have booked plans to fly out this coming Sunday (July 26) and then I am coming back August 17 and the GF flies back Aug. 23. We are staying in an AirBnb up near the northwestern area of the island and then planning to take the final weekend (Aug. 14-16) to visit to Curacao for the weekend.

    The big issue is Aruba's regulations regarding COVID-19 and tourists. Because we are in South Carolina, we have to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure for Aruba and upload that negative test 12 hours prior to that departure. We have a test scheduled for this Thursday around noon so we are hopeful we can get the tests back in time (and of course hopeful they are negative as well). We both have been keeping our distance from others, wearing masks, etc. so we will see. Really excited to (hopefully) see some place other than my bedroom (where I have set up a make-shift "office" for work).
     
  10. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    I’d do England and another country or two a different trip and just do Scotland and Ireland if you only have 12 days. Both countries require you to drive around.
     
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  11. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    I'd definitely scout out a backup WiFi option for when island wifi in an airbnb undoubtedly goes down. But good on you for making that happen.
     
  12. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Any suggestions? Also, we are renting a car for the first week then I'm hoping we can do bikes and/or mopeds or golf carts the rest of the time.
     
  13. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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  14. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I think I saw a tweet or an IG post about it.

    I've thought about going somewhere for an extended stay, but the WFH in Seattle has actually allowed me to devote a shitload of more time to other projects to work remote full time after this shit is over (if that ever happens). Going down to my place at Rainier for 2-3 days every week to work on it, would never have been able to working in the office. Going to be ready in a week or two, will post updates.
     
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  15. Hank Scorpio

    Hank Scorpio Globex Corporation, Philanthropist, Supervillain
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    So you're saying do England and some place like Germany, Spain, etc. One trip and Scotland/Ireland another trip?
     
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  16. SugarShaun

    SugarShaun A man of many hobbies
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    That is what he’s saying
     
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  17. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Eh, either get a SIM card you can use as a hot spot, or find a friendly cafe with WiFi.
     
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  18. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    There’s no fucking way that’s legal (and of course the FAA has regulatory authority over airlines that fly within the United States)
     
  19. BellottiBold

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    That situation changed apparently, and they reached an agreement with their FA's. I guess it was a negotiating tactic.
     
  20. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    Planning a 5 year anniversary trip for next summer. We are thinking the BVIs. should i find an all-inclusive resort or is that just a rip off? Looking at 3-4 days of just relaxing on the beach and doing basic tourist activities.
     
  21. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    I think if goal is to just chill then do the inclusive. But this thread is obviously obligated to tell you to rent a car and drive around Costa Rica (aka TMB west Island).
     
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  22. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    Sorry for the sidetrack, but I’m debating my brother about this:

    Do you count visiting a country if all you did was layover in the airport?

    Also, say you took a train from Amsterdam to Paris. Do you count visiting Belgium, considering you crossed the entire country and even stopped at multiple train stations (even though you didn’t get out)?
     
  23. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    I think we've had the debate in here before...kind of comes down to the purpose of this list. Funny enough, Belgium is my biggest question mark because I missed a flight there and spent the night in the airport. I don't count it because I couldn't give someone the first recommendation about the country (other than to make sure you go to the correct Brussels airport).
     
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  24. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    I usually lean towards not counting airports.

    But for driving through, I could go either way. What’s the difference between taking a train clear across a country and driving through a state in the US?
     
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  25. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    All inclusive seem to suck, IMO and if you're on a place like BVI there are a bunch of beaches to hop to and doesn't make it worth your wild, IMO. Especially when you'll want at least one full day away from the resort

    I've gone to St John, USVI 3 times and it's great. Rent a Jeep, stay in a small house or a condo near the port, and beach hop everyday. Take a day trip to Jost Van Dyke and drink pain killers all day. BVI is a pretty similar set up, just a good bit more expense to get to from Atlanta. Flights are usually 5-700 for St thomas then a ferry and over 1,000 to BVI small airports
     
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  26. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Airport 100% doesn't count. The train across a country is more debateable because you've actually seen some of the country, but I say no, gotta step foot on soil. Some will say you have to stay a night, but I don't think that's necessary. I'd count a country like Liechtenstein if I went there for lunch and didn't stay the night. I also count Vatican City and obviously I've never stayed there for a night.
     
  27. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Anyone try and renew a passport recently?
     
  28. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    Yeah i honestly have no idea about the area at all. just picked BVI there on a whim. Didn't realize it would cost that much more to get there. Neither of us have ever been to that part of the world and really just want somewhere in the caribbean where we can chill away from the kids. hang on a quiet beach, hit the spa, eat good food, etc. Main goal is just avoiding any kid of crowd and having really nice amenities.
     
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  29. Fran Tarkenton

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    BVI and St John are awesome but do your research on hotels bc some are still in recovery mode from past storms. Do think Rosewood Little Dix Bay is back to normal.

    if you're looking for an easy carribean spot to get to from Atlanta, fly to San Juan and stay at Bahia Beach St Regis. Have done it 3 times and basically what you are describing. Or could look at Dorado Beach Ritz. The San Juan flights are very easy.
     
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  30. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    my rule is that you have to experience something about the place to count it. I count Japan even though my only visit was a 14 hour layover because we took a train into Tokyo, had lunch, walked around a bit, and then took a train back to the airport.

    Not countries, but state-wise I count Ohio because we drove through on a road trip and had dinner, stayed the night, then had breakfast in Columbus. On the other hand I drove straight through the southeast corner of Kansas without stopping so I don't count it as a state I've visited.
     
  31. Where Eagles Dare

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    Yeah, BVI is just absurdly expensive to flying into. Small airport, I think. You can fly to St Thomas and take a ferry. It's probably 45 minute drive to it and an hour or so Ferry. So def can get there vs flying.

    The Virgin Islands are beautiful. We usually go to St John over Memorial Day and its not crowded. There are countless beaches and we just beach hop in a Jeep. I don't really care about high end spa or amenities in a hotel b/c I'm rarely in the room. Just need a comfortable bed/shower & AC. Preferably a view.
     
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  32. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    If you have to ask if you should count a country/state/etc., then you shouldn’t count it.
     
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  33. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    If I can give someone recommendations about a country, I've been there. Nothing less
     
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  34. Nug

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    I want to move to Hanoi and work remotely.

    /tweet
     
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  35. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    Thanks. We will definitely fly out of Atlanta. Probably only stay 4 nights. It didn’t occur to me to check out Puerto Rico but nothing those places look really nice.
     
  36. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    I feel bad even posting this given the travel situation but I was able to go to the Lofoten islands in North Norway last weekend. 10/10 would recommend, though the “easy” and “moderate” hikes were more intense at times than I imagined.

    [​IMG]
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  37. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Never heard of them, but wow that’s beautiful. What was the weather like?
     
  38. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Are you a golfer? Lofoten links is on my bucket list. Looks amazing.
     
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  39. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Zeroing in on a 2 week pandemic approved trip up the outer banks in September for some :8mm:

    Have officially given up on entering an airport until 2021.
     
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  40. Nug

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    Lofoten is so high on my list. Catch the midnight sun? When you say weekend, did you just catch a cheap Norwegian Air flight from the NE? I know those flights are super easy and cheap

    My ideal Norway itinerary would be Tromso -- Lofoton -- Svalbard.
     
  41. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    It can fluctuate a lot but it was mostly between 13 - 20 celsius when I was there. I got lucky and mostly avoided rain. It’s above the arctic circle so it’s always light out and the water is completely frigid.
     
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  42. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    I golf but I’m not a golfer per se. It does look cool though.
     
  43. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    I live in Oslo so it’s only a 1.5 hour flight. We did Bodø - Lofoten - Narvik - Bodø, flying in and out of Bodø. I’m hoping to go to Tromsø sometime this winter to see the Northern Lights.

    I think we missed the midnight sun by a couple days but nonetheless it is light the entire time, which is handy since you can do outdoor things essentially whenever and plan around rain.
     
  44. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    have a late december trip i'm still clinging to hope on
     
  45. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    I'm a little more lenient with driving through states. I've driven through Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi but didn't see much besides stopping to take a pic outside of Rupp and Bryant-Denny. And Mississippi we stopped for gas, had to pay cash because they didn't accept credit cards (this was in 2011), and bought some homemade pork rinds. I count all of them. I've only ever had a layover at DTW so I don't count Michigan.

    Had a layover in Munich; definitely don't count Germany. Took an overnight train from Budapest to Krakow that briefly passed through Czechia. I don't count that either, especially since it was in the middle of the night. I would've had no idea if not for seeing a text from Verizon when I woke up.
     
  46. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    I’m still booked for Panama in September, although Panama is not allowing Americans right now. And before anyone gives me shit about spreading, I’m antibody smug.
     
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  47. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    You can only count a country if you've fucked there

    and airport bathrooms count
     
  48. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Damn so I’ve been to zero countries?
     
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  49. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Nice. You going to stay in town (Nags Head) or down on the island?

    I always preferred Rodanthe. Pier, S Turns in your back yard and Boilers/Pea Island is 10 miles north and then the Light House is maybe 30 min south.

    If there's a hurricane in the Atlantic and swell, and you see a pack of cars off the side of the road between towns in the middle of no where ... Park there walk over the dune. Probably an empty Sandbar discovered by the locals
     
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