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

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

  1. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
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    Need community feedback...

    Have 10-12 days for a trip in September. We're looking at Croatia given it's opened back up (with negative test within 48hr) to Americans. Cases seem to be spiking there since they re-opened, but we'd be outdoors and on boats most of the trip + smaller cities.

    Dumb idea? Or do we say fuck it and go?
     
  2. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    Go. A few local words to remember:

    Molim - please
    Hvala vam - thank you
    Pivo - beer
    vrućica - fever
    bolnica - hospital
    najbliži rođak - next of kin
     
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  3. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
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  4. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    The judges also would have accepted

    osoba - person
    žena - woman
    čovjek - man
    fotoaparat - camera
    televizor - TV
     
  5. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    I spend a lot of time in Croatia with work and I can tell you they have been very aggressive with their quarantine etc.. Watch the news closely (the app Open EU is good) and make sure refundable tickets etc... Also I suggest connecting via Frankfurt and Croatian Air because Germany handling the virus very well at the moment. The shitty part of a lot of EU travel is having to keep an eye not only on where you are going but the connecting countries also. If you are traveling inland let me know as this is where I roam the most.
     
  6. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Americans traveling to Europe in September? That’s a good one.
     
  7. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Croatia isn’t part of the Schengen area iirc so you may be able to enter, but even if you can, wouldn’t it be difficult to get there given you’d more than likely have to connect through another European country? I can’t imagine there being many direct flights from the US to Croatia, if any.

    Americans with dual EU citizenship are going to be pretty privileged for a while.
     
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  8. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    Correct. And there are no direct flights.
     
  9. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Not sure how it would work out on the price but maybe see if you can purchase 2 direct flights instead of one itinerary with a layover that you're not allowed to do?
     
  10. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    If I am interpreting things correctly, if it is a flight from the US to Europe you would always have to go through customs upon arrival. As of today anyone traveling on a US passport (without a valid non-tourism visa) wouldn’t be permitted to enter through customs.
     
  11. Snakes

    Snakes clumsy interloper
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    My grandmother was born in Croatia and I have a bunch of cousins over there I only know through Facebook. We are definitely going over there at some point. I cannot wait.
     
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  12. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
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    You can still connect through EU countries, even as an American. Just can't leave the International Terminal....

    Would be connecting through Frankfurt on the way there & Zurich on the way back
     
  13. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Rodanthe is probably my favorite surf town in the country outside of Hawaii.
     
  14. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Took a COVID-19 test Thursday around lunch time and got the call and email abt an hour ago. All was clear so it looks like I'm heading to Aruba for 3 weeks.
     
  15. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    Since there's not much I really can work on during Covid, me and the Mrs. are taking a cross country drive.

    Any recommendations or highlights between SF and the northern coastal tip of Washington (we're taking the coastline all the way up) would be appreciated.

    Once we get up there I have most of the Eastern part of the drive planned, but I've never driven the western coastline that far north so I really only know about one famous stretch of Oregon on the 101 and the Olympic Pacific Loop in Washington.
     
  16. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Other posters will have more input. Any interest in taking 395 through the Sierra Nevadas, at least up to SF/Sacramento and then cutting over to the coast?
     
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  17. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    We're staying the first night at pebble beach in carmel area - and seeing a friend in Santa Barbara. Otherwise that would probably be the move.
     
  18. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    Actually, now that I'm looking at it going north to Carmel and then heading East to yosemite might be a cool option also.
     
  19. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    A couple thoughts

    I've never done it, but many family members have, and I get the impression that the real beauty of 395 is the drive along the eastern side of the Sierras up to Yosemite, not necessarily past it going north. Still pretty, but not as scenic. Again, I'm going on what I've heard from others.

    If you do in fact want to hit Yosemite from Carmel, you'll probably be taking 152 eastbound through the Central Valley. The connector from the 101 to 152 takes you through San Juan Bautista, which has a pretty well-preserved mission (my wife's company did the engineering for their structural renovation a few years back). There are three ways to get into Yosemite from the valley: 120, 140, and 41. I recommend taking 140 into the park; 120 east of 99 going into the hills and mountains is not a fun drive. I did it once, and that was enough. 140 is a lot easier (41 takes you into the park from the south, from Fresno/Clovis, and if you want to go to Wawona or the Mariposa Grove, that's a route you might consider). Once you're in Yosemite and if you want to still head east to 395, you can take the 120 up through Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass. If you go that route, be sure to stop at Olmsted Point, where you can look down on Half Dome from behind, from the top of Tenaya Canyon. I also recommend taking the road up to Glacier Point, which is accessed off of Hwy 41 and about a 45 minute drive from the valley floor. Absolutely spectacular view.
     
    #21570 AptosDuck, Jul 26, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2020
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  20. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Olympic Peninsula is absolutely amazing. Would be worth it to camp on the beach if y'all are into that.
     
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  21. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    CoastalOrange has somewhat inspired me, I'm going to try and take an extended vacation to Argentina/Patagonia after Christmas for 3-4 weeks to see everything, and bring the laptop and work some, but not full time. A quasi-vacation where I'm working like 3-4 hours/day.

    Who was the poster that went to Antarctica and posted all the amazing pictures?
     
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  22. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    If you need a passport or need it renewed I would mail it in now. They are talking 6 month turn around.
     
  23. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    it looked like it would have been an ok place to hike (I think someone else here actually hiked Patagonia, I just passed through)

    View attachment 99398
    1F726A6B-61DC-4C55-9C47-1EB05CBD2679.jpeg
     
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  24. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    You did the cruise to Antarctica, right?

    How many days/what company did you use?
     
  25. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    Yeah - Lindblad/NatGeo, was 10 days on the boat + 1 touring day in Santiago, we spent a few extra days in Santiago on the front end.
     
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  26. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    you think they will be allowing Americans in by then?
     
  27. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Man who knows. I’ve been reading about today, didnt realize Argentina completely closed their borders.

    Just going to play it by ear. I have enough points where I can book last minute and pay a premium if needed.
     
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  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    But plan would be:
    -Dec 26 - fly to Rio for a few days
    -Dec 30 - meet friends in Sao Paulo, NYE
    -Jan 2 - get to Patagonia
    -2 weeks in Patagonia
    -Jan 18-22 - one week in Buenos Aires

    fingers crossed
     
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  29. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Careful, internet can be sketchy down there depending on town,if you’re gonna be working.
     
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  30. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Testament to the fact that even great airlines can have terrible days, Alaska has effectively ruined our trip this week. Too long a story to hold interest but we ended up having to fly on United to Missoula and drive 2.5 hours, arriving at our cabin in Glacier at 1am this morning, and now I’m at the Kalispell airport waiting for someone to show up at the counter or for their baggage department to start work (9:30am pacific wtf) so we can figure out where my wife’s bag is. At every decision point they made the wrong one and messed things up worse. Two days of a 5 day trip scrapped so far
     
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  31. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Probably mentioned this before but once had a friend fly from Moscow to Los Angeles (LAX) while his luggage went to Lagos (LOS).
     
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  32. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Have now flown on Southwest and United both this month. Overall, I’m pleased with how they’re handling everything in the given situation. Also, as is normally the case with air travel, the health precautions and new policies have only amplified how stupid and selfish people are. Yesterday, United announced that we’d board the plane from back to front. We are group two but boarded with our row when it was called, row 12. All of first class and most of economy plus in front of us had already boarded. Also had a guy that just wouldn’t wear a mask; didn’t have it on at the gate then slipped it on to walk past the flight attendant and immediately pulled it off on the plane. People are assholes
     
  33. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Update: after insisting yesterday that they could only get our bag to Kalispell and nowhere else, I was just informed that our bag was sent to Missoula last night and arrived 2 hours after we left there. So now I’m driving 2 hours to Missoula then 3 hours back to the park, where my wife is waiting with no Wi-Fi or cell service so she’s expecting me back at any time. Good times

    ironically we keep running into United employees who go out of the way to be super helpful even though they aren’t involved. That may be the most surprising part of all of this
     
  34. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    Love that the guy to announce it was the guy who brought us fantastic articles undeserving of criticism like

    The Critical Points: Why I’m not slowing down my travel during coronavirus
    (Mar 6, 2020)

    and

    The Critical Points: Science isn’t impacting travel demand — perception is (May 22, 2020)
     
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  35. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    Of all the crazy shit going on these days Alaska dropping the ball and United picking it up may be the most shocking
     
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  36. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    My plan is to always fly Delta from now on when I can. American and other airlines have fucked up too many times. Feel like Delta is the best.
     
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  37. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Delta + Southwest have earned my business for a long time thanks to COVID
     
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  38. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    I felt this same way, until a couple days ago. I was scheduled to fly to Atl Sunday morning, 1.5 hr layover in Atl, then flight to Aruba. Well, apparently Delta cancelled that flight to Aruba and pushed it back 24 hrs (but kept my flight to Atl the same meaning I now had a 24 hr layover in Atl, with no offer to pay for a hotel or anything) and never told me. I just happen to check the MyDelta app and was confused on the dates. I called and they said, yeah, we changed it. Well that wouldn't work bc then I'd be outside the 72 hr window of the negative COVID test. Told them that wasn't acceptable and they had no answers. So I said to cancel the flight to Aruba and I'd try and book another one for Sunday but to keep my return flight in mid August. Was told they couldn't do that. And, oh yeah, "my supervisor tells me she thinks your return flight will likely be cancelled" (read: we've already cancelled it and haven't told you). So I had to cancel my entire itinerary and book an entire new itinerary literally less than 12 hrs before my scheduled departure. I think American is pretty shit most of the time but they did a good job on this flight at least. Delta is very much on my shit list.
     
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  39. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    So Southwest it is
     
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  40. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    I still managed to make it here somehow so I'd still say BayouMafia has had it worse. He's only there for 5 days, I'm here for almost a month. But damn, I was so angry. No heads up whatsoever.
     
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  41. HuskerInMiami

    HuskerInMiami Well-Known Member
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    We’ve contemplated moving to New Zealand or Australia, but realize it’s probably smart to travel there first. Any tips for traveling that far? It’s about a days trip from south Florida so plan on making it a 12+ day trip. We’ve both had Covid, but I’m not sure if they’d care Or if they’d even trust our results bc were coming from USA.

    we’re hoping to go sometime this year.
     
  42. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    I’m not confident they will allow Americans into either country any time soon, but New Zealand is amazing. It’s a long ass flight and well worth the travel time.
     
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  43. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    I ultimately decided it's just not a good time to be traveling internationally and gave up on it. Getting on an airplane sounds less than ideal. Flying to many places in the US like California for example doesnt sound optimal. Booked a place at Sea Grove Florida for 5 nights in late August. Hopefully sometime in 2021 we can get back to travel that is somewhat normal.
     
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  44. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I think pretty much every country decided for you, no?

    And honestly, the US has a lot of amazing travel destinations. If we got "stuck" traveling to just the US for a year or two, there's plenty to do
     
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  45. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Honestly, I'm more concerned abt domestic travel than intl travel. My flight to Aruba was at maybe 50% capacity. I assume many domestic flights are back up to 90%-100% capacity, at least for AA and United (Delta is only maintaining the middle seat empty through September).
     
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  46. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Safer on a plane than in Florida, pal. But glad to have you anyway.
     
  47. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    figure if i stick to the place i'm staying at and outside at the beach and not near anywhere that i will be pretty safe
     
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  48. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Question that the Covid has brought up that I’ve been debating: destination being equal (aka you have a magic car that can drive on water) would you rather drive 6 hours or fly 10 hours?