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

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

  1. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    When ours were that young we did Yosemite and LegoLand
     
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  2. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Camping is good for the soul brotha. Disconnect from your western amenities and be with nature.

    But Im stoked. Weather will be fine — night will be fucking cold, but I’m prepared — water is going to be a bitch. Packing a ton with me, streams are dry.
     
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  3. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    PM me - we might overlap.
     
  4. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Way more adventurous than us. We’re heading down to Monterey until Wednesday and then back to SF for a few days to see the city while it’s a little slower. I knew these 5 Hyatt free nights would be valuable, staying for free most of the trip. Also nice since my golf budget is disgustingly high for only 2-3 rounds
     
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  5. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    When I flew to Aruba I felt all out of whack. I felt like I had forgotten everything, even how to pack or what needed to be packed. How do I go through security? What can stay in, what needs to come out of my bags? What do I do with my hands?

    It gave me a new sense of appreciation for when I sent my parents to Niagara Falls as their Christmas present a few years ago. At the time I was annoyed with all of their basic questions (though I did my best not to show that annoyance and to answer every question) but I completely get it. I hadn't flown in 6-8 months and felt all kinds of lost. They hadn't flown in a decade (before 9/11 and TSA was a thing) and had never been out of the country. After that experience with Aruba, it's probably the most proud I've been of my parents in a long time.
     
  6. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Congrats on the $$$

    edit: nvm, assumed that lodge was the $400-500 night place, but that is called The Ahwahnee.
     
    #22006 Det. Frank Bullitt, Oct 22, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2020
  7. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    Rooms at the Ahwahnee are way too small; we get two rooms at the Lodge so we can stretch out. Day hikes, day trips to Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Meadows, or Glacier Point, rafting the valley floor, then sleeping comfortably every night
     
  8. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    just go somewhere where you can rent a car and drive. We’re working on a 2 week trip to Ireland next August with an 18 month old. Just planning on renting a car and driving everywhere so theres no schedule and its easy to move. Bringing my mom as babysitter.
     
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  9. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    i think having the grandmother there to help is key
     
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  10. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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  11. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    Leave 11/12 for tulum. Spending a month there then fly back at some point before Xmas to Texas

    has anyone stayed in any towns other than tulum and the large resort towns on the riviera maya they would recommend? Looking to spend a week somewhere post tulum
     
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  12. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    Also if by chance anyone has real estate agents they recommend in the area that would be appreciated. Shopping for a property for my partners parents. English not required
     
  13. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    like in Quintana Roo? Or u willing to go out of state ? Touristy type town or real Mexico?
     
  14. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    We stayed at this place for a few nights, I guess it's technically Tulum but it's really like 20-30 minutes North, closer to Coba. It was amazing:

    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...a_Selva_Mariposa-Tulum_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

    I've heard Valladolid is pretty dope, it looks cool.
     
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  15. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Cross-posting from the camping thread:

    Good news: I hiked the North Rim of Yosemite Valley in 3 days, up to North Dome, to El Cap, and back down. It was an incredible experience.
    Bad news: It kicked my ass, so much shit went wrong, and it pushed me to my limits.

    This was my first big hiking trip outside of Washington, and it was a comedy of errors. I took the elevation for granted (hiked from 4K to 8K the first day with a 50lb pack), drank way too much in SF the days before the hike, and wasn't on my A-game. It was rough.

    Day 1

    I forgot the charger to my Garmin watch that I use for nav/elevation/compass/etc., so it died before I even got to Yosemite. Strike One. Had to rely on my phone the whole time and burned the battery quickly. Great start.

    My mileage was calculated from the trailhead, and didn't take into account the walk from the parking lot to trailhead with a full pack. That turned out to be over 4 miles, which turned my first day into 14-15 miles instead of the 9-10 that I had thought.

    Finally get to trailhead, then it's a gain of 3,500 ft over 3.5 miles, from 4,000 to 7,500. Just switchback hell. It was harder than any day of the PCT, harder than anything I've ever done. Brought 6L of water, only to have a huge mountain stream greet you right at the top. Motherfuck. But, this was the only water source I found for all 3 days. Dry as hell.

    Once you get out of the switchbacks, it's just the High Sierra at ~8,000 ft, and it's amazing. First day was a little hazy, but it improved dramatically over the next two days. This is looking north up and over the North Rim of the Valley, that ridge has to be over 10,000 ft.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Indian Ridge, the only rock bridge in Yosemite - this is the famous shot showing Half Dome (a little hazy):

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Camped a little above North Dome at 8,000 ft. Guess it was alright:.
    [​IMG]

    The sunset reflecting off Half Dome was insane:

    [​IMG]

    Next morning a lot of smoke came in, but made for some eerie shots:
    [​IMG]

    That night I accidentally zipped my sleeping bag up in my zipper, ripping a hole in it. I didn't immediately notice, so when I wake up it looks like I skinned a fucking goose inside my tent. Down feathers everywhere. I had a patch kit, but it still sucked.
     
    #22015 Nug, Oct 27, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2020
  16. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Day 2
    Second day I hiked from North Dome to Yosemite Falls to El Capitan, about 9 miles all in the High Sierra (7-8.000 ft). Lots of ups and downs. Hiking up multiple 500 ft gains with a full pack at that elevation wrecked me. That, combined with the difficult day before, had me dragging ass. But still awesome.

    It started out pretty hazy, but as I hiked the wind was blowing and you could literally see it moving the smoke out the valley, getting clearer and clearer. Reader, this wind is what storytellers call foreshadowing.

    Hiked right to the top of North Dome, directly across from Half Dome, but was pretty hazy. This is looking up from North Dome at my camping spot the first night (top dome on the right):
    [​IMG]

    Then hiked from North Dome to Yosemite falls. Very top of Yosemite Falls:
    [​IMG]

    Dropped my pack and did a little scramble to Eagle Point, halfway between the Falls and El Cap at almost 7,800 ft. Amazing:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Then got to El Cap, found another awesome campsite, even with the clouds covering Half Dome.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Day 2 was one of the prettiest days of hiking of my life. Followed by one of the worst nights.
     
  17. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Day 3
    I've been fortunate enough to have ZERO bad weather experiences in all of my hikes. Nothing. I check the weather constantly and won't go if there's a risk. I've also grown lazy in securing my rainfly/tent, because I've never needed to. Guess I was due.

    Eat dinner, got in my tent around 7:30. Read for a bit, and right as I'm following asleep the wind picks up and my tent smacks me in the side of my face. You could hear it like a freight train coming from the valley and up to my campsite (I think kind of similar to what you described, southside ). You'd hear it coming, and then a few seconds later BANG. And my tent was broadside towards the valley, just eating it.

    For fucking 14 HOURS the wind does not stop. Not for 1 minute. From about 8:30-9:00 PM until I left the campsite at 11:00 AM, there were 25-30 mph winds, with 35 mph gusts. I'm pretty exposed at 7,500 ft on top of El Cap, nobody around for miles, it sounds like a freight train outside, my (small) tent is shaking violently and slapping my head, and it's pretty terrifying for a bit.

    Once the shock wore off and I realized I'm not going to blow away (and added some rocks inside my tent), it just became miserable. The dust flew in under the rainfly, and covered the inside of my tent. I could have built a sandcastle. I guess because I didn't have the rainfly fully taught, it was just slapping against my tent, allowing the dirt to come in underneath. But I don't know how much good I really could've done.

    It wasn't terribly cold, so I didn't need to bundle up. But my sleeping bag is really cold rated, so I usually sleep with a lot of my body outside. However, any part of my body outside of my bag was getting covered in dust. Every fucking orifice - Ears, nose, mouth. My snot rockets the next day were black.

    I try to mummy up inside my tent, but then my breathing and the bag's rating made it hot as shit. I poke my head out to cool off so I don't start sweating balls, only to be covered in dust. This went on all night. The wind ripped 2 decent holes in my tent (2 that I've found, at least).

    Did not sleep a wink. At midnight, I thought it'd stop in the early morning hours. At 4:00 AM, I thought it'd stop at sunrise. At sunrise, I thought it'd stop by 7. It never fucking did.

    By 10:00 AM, I realize I have to pack up and get out. So I just bite the bullet and pack everything up, slamming my tent into the bag during high winds. It's awful, shit is flying everywhere, dust is destroying me.

    If this were in a movie I'd roll my eyes - the second I tighten the last strap on my backpack, the wind completely dies, like someone turned off the fan. I swear to fucking all that is holy, the SECOND I finish packing, the wind stops. And it didn't come back all day.

    I tried to laugh, but I was too pissed off, so just took these pictures with a scowl:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Hiked out 9 miles and 3,500 ft down, but it was damn pretty. About halfway down Yosemite Falls (North Dome to the left):
    [​IMG]

    Get off the trailhead and have to trek 4 miles to my fucking car, making it another 13-14 mile day. Had 4 oz of water when I returned to my car.

    I was supposed to go to a different backcountry spot on night 3, but I was so wrecked, and my gear was so disgusting, I drove about an hour outside the park and found the first hotel I could find. Decent place in Groveland, CA, where I'm posting from now, after sleeping for 11 hours.

    Driving back to SF this morning a broken and battered man. But man that was incredible.
     
  18. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    Flying out of Cancun so want to stay in Quintana Roo. Real Mexico preferably
     
  19. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Beautiful pictures. FWIW the valley floor shuttle would have helped cut some of your hike distance down, but it's not running this year due to covid.
     
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  20. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Really like SF. Beautiful city. Spent a lot of time in The Mission, big fan. Also spent a night bopping around Marina District, boujee AF but I liked it.

    Walked all of golden gate park, was awesome.

    Stayed in a cheap hotel/hostel in the Soma/downtown area, which is pretty rough. Worse homelessness than Seattle, which I was not expecting.

    Also, the lack of mask wearing in the rural parts, as you get farther away from SF and closer to Yosemite, was shocking. Walked out of 2 packed restaurants where nobody was wearing a mask, ppl sitting at the bar, etc. Was not expecting that
     
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  21. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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  22. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    Inland CA has more in common with the midwest than it does the coastal cities (I grew up in Modesto)
     
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  23. LeonardWashington

    LeonardWashington Leader of Tuanon
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    The majority of the non-coastal areas of California are pretty red. Especially in the Northern and Sierra Nevada areas of the state. I went to Yosemite this weekend (funny we crossed paths) and saw a lot of Trump signs... it's like how you described the Forks area to me. Not surprised at all that most didn't wear masks there.

    Yeah the homelessness and mental health situation in the tenderloin, FiDi, SOMA, and parts of the Mission is really bad. With the possible exception of LA, it's the worst I've seen. Very sad situation. Also weird about SF is that those areas are where most of the nice hotels are... which is probably the only place I've been too where that is the case.

    The game is a little tough because most restaurants/sports bars are still closed to indoor dining (for the most part) so you pretty much have to watch outside. I would recommend the SF Athletic Club or Harry's Bar, both in Pac Heights- Harry's in the boujee Fillmore area. SF Athletic Club has a better set-up and good food but idk if they have heaters. Most of the other places I'd recommend don't have a great outdoor setup. North Star in North Beach is divey but a solid place to watch sports too.
     
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  24. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Fucking posted this while drinking a beer outside at a bar in The Mission, 2 kids come up and try to steal my phone. They grab my arm, I knock one in the face, start yelling, and they take off running.

    Fuckers ripped one of my favorite shirts.
    2C337D05-32E0-4632-995B-832E6F4E31FC.jpeg
     
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  25. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I need to go home man
     
  26. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    You are nailing your trip amigo
     
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  27. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    sorry to hear that, I lived in the Mission for 10 years and for gentrified as it is still a Norteño strong hold especially when u get into the 20s and sureño hood in the Teens still some sketchy shit going on

    not sure of all the outdoor set up at sports bars in the city but I always enjoyed watching games but if your in the Mission I would try Giordano Bros or you want to go to my laid back chill old Mission watering hole of my younger days the Napper Tandy easy walk from the 24th St Bart........Juniors is also a great spot
     
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  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I’m a walking trainwreck.
    I was at The Sycamore, just north of 18th on Mission. Bartender said this was not uncommon.

    Just posted up at Valley Tavern in Noe Village.
    CBEE1A6C-94ED-4F74-807A-83B7E6E09BE5.jpeg

    Arozarena!!
     
  29. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Give me your top 5 best winter US travel destinations. Is there anyone tropicalish that isn't locked down. I was looking at Hawaii looks like if you get tested you can go there. Not sure if everything is relatively locked down once you get there. Maybe a ski resort in CO? Looking to do something in nice the US late December or January. Thinking either ski resort or something warm and tropical if possible.
     
  30. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    That shit doesn't happen in Aptos
     
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  31. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    downtown Santa Cruz tho
     
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  32. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    There’s nowhere to go to guarantee good weather that time of year in the continental US, sans southern Florida. Even Mexico can be tough.
    I’d do Hawaii or Caribbean
     
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  33. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    That's why I don't drink any further south than the 515
     
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  34. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Since youre in the South, I’d rec Mexico. You can get a $300/2.5 hour flight from Nola and go to Cancun/Cozumel/Tulum. But could be kinda sketchy traveling internationally.

    The Keys?
     
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  35. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I like cities with a bit of an edge, but that was not fun
     
  36. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    Mission can be the most vibrant part of the City and most sketchy at the same time, crazy dynamic there.....I saw 7 dead bodies in my 10 years there that was just on 24th St
     
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  37. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Not sure about international travel. Trying to keep it in the US. I've been thinking about the keys.
     
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  38. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    San Diego —> Joshua Tree

    i’m going to try that in late winter/early spring 2021

    DuffandMuff fair warning we’re boozing if youre free
     
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  39. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Isn't California in lock down right now and travel is limited/discouraged?
     
  40. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    its a county by county thing, but there is plenty to do still.....we’re out drinking and eating every weekend and all the outdoor stuff is open

    just be ready to mask up out in public in the urban areas in the rural areas it’s like the rest of America
     
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  41. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Nah, just strict mask enforcement. Do it.
     
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  42. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Thinking abt doing Cancun/Cozumel/Tulum a week or so over New Years before heading to Mexico City to work remotely for 3 or so week rights after. Might be picking your brain on the vacation portion of the trip.
     
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  43. LeonardWashington

    LeonardWashington Leader of Tuanon
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    what are you into when you travel? I’m not a cold weather guy so mostly would recommend warm spots.


    if you’ve never been to Hawaii, it’s one of my favorite places on earth. I also really like Fort Lauderdale, Miami area having family there. I also think the Phoenix area is a very underrated part of the country and of course Southern California is very nice pretty much year round.
     
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  44. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    I’m not an expert on the touristy resort areas but if central Mexico is my second home if u want to explore outside el DF. I know DF pretty well too if you looking for some recs
     
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  45. Wee Bey

    Wee Bey racially ambiguous
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    1 blow KO?
     
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  46. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Nah I wish. I didn't connect well. They just ran off after I caused a scene.
     
  47. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Made it down to Turks and Caicos. Had a layover in CLT and a layover in MIA and had to bolt to each plane. Unfortunately it was raining yesterday and seems like its going to be overcast the rest of the week, but, hey, its still the tropics. Also, everything down here is so damn expensive.
     
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  48. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Did you have to do a covid test to get into the country? You staying at a ABB or VRBO?
     
  49. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    For those who fly Alaska Airlines regularly. Costco has $500 gift cards for $450 currently online.
     
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  50. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, you have to get a negative covid test within 5 days of traveling here. Then you upload that negative covid test (and covid related travel insurance) to the TCI government website over 24 hrs before you travel here. They email you an authorization and you have to have that to fly here.

    We are staying in an AirBnb for the month. It's pretty basic but it's not bad.
     
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