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

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

  1. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    We decided to nix Colombia for our honeymoon in august. Things in South America just went looking promising enough to make the commitment. So we switched Aruba (originally planned for thanksgiving) and Colombia, so we’ll be in Aruba in august. Loving the updates on Aruba and recommendations. Has enough travel points that we are doing first class both ways, which will be nice. Staying at Aruba ocean villas for the first few nights, then a week at the Hilton and then our final three days at the ritz. The nice thing about the ritz is you get a free COVID test with a 3 day stay.

    Speaking of, anyone have any experience with Nobel-stay? Essentially you pay a certain amount and get 50% bonus at certain hotels (ie pay $1000 and you get $1500). We’re doing that for the ritz Carlton in Aruba and it seems like a good deal, but wanted to see if anyone had any real life experience with this service.

    For Dinner we have reservations at elements, senses, 2 fools and a bull, the kitchen table, and a couple others that I’m forgetting. Added Zeerovers to the list. Would love your favorite lunch spots as that seems to be what we’re lacking so far. I’ll go back and read the Aruba posts more closely.
     
    RJF-GUMP and mc415 like this.
  2. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    Going to the San Diego-Phoenix USL match and (many) breweries. Nothing else decided besides that so far.
     
    laxjoe and mc415 like this.
  3. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    California Golden BearsSan Francisco GiantsGolden State WarriorsSan Francisco 49'ersSan Jose SharksEvertonSan Jose EarthquakesSan Jose State SpartansUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    try to catch a game at Petco if the Padres are in town
     
    REGGNECK, Jimmy the Saint and laxjoe like this.
  4. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    Yeah definitely hit up a game at petco if we’re in town. Great ballpark and great area (gas lamp district) around the park.
     
    REGGNECK and mc415 like this.
  5. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    North Carolina State Wolfpack

    Didn't eat there but overheard a couple say that it was one of the best meals they had ever had. Also, didn't get to eat at Italy of the World (don't see it on your list there) but a couple people here recommended it, and at our dinner at Sense's we sat next to this couple from New York whose parents were from Italy, they said they had one of their best Italian meals ever there. Thought that was a pretty solid endorsement. Far as lunch recommendations, we were always so much on the go that they were just random stops and almost all of them were forgettable.
     
    laxjoe likes this.
  6. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    We just entered the orange tier on Wednesday, which means breweries/wineries can open back up for indoor operations with 25% capacity.

    All of California is supposed to be fully opened come mid-June.
     
    Jimmy the Saint likes this.
  7. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
    Donor
    Penn State Nittany LionsGreen Bay PackersChelseaHartford WhalersPhoenix Rising

    We figured everything should be close to fully open by then. If things go sideways again for some reason, SW is easy enough to rebook and our Airbnb is refundable through 6/13 or something.

    There's another soccer match at the end of July we might come for anyway since it's ridiculously easy to get to SD from PHX.
     
  8. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
    Donor TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesTampa Bay RaysTampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Lightning

    Just had to officially cancel my Chile trip. Chile recently banned any tourists from coming into the country.
     
  9. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
    Donor
    Virginia CavaliersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksWashington Football TeamChelsea

    Not really in the wheelhouse of this thread, but just booked a couple nights at each of Primland and Blackberry Mountain for our mini-moon. Hoping to make it to Southeast Asia for a real honeymoon by the end of the year/beginning of next year.
     
    laxjoe likes this.
  10. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    BayouMafia likes this.
  11. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    For sure, it's just a day trip with a built-in itinerary. Not really a big deal. I'd definitely do it if the price/schedule worked out
     
    wes tegg, FTK, CoastalOrange and 3 others like this.
  12. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

  13. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    I'm going to a wedding in Jupiter starting tomorrow and I'm as excited as if I were flying across the world.

    I gotta get out of the house
     
  14. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
    TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesWashington NationalsWashington CapitalsOlympics

    Are they paying for token activities at the mystery location? If so sign me up to fly anywhere in this great country for some random experiences
     
    wes tegg and Room 15 like this.
  15. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
    Donor TMB OG
    Florida State SeminolesTampa Bay RaysTampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Lightning

    If it's a mystery trip as they said on PMT today there needs to be one shitty location to make it even more exciting.

    San Diego
    Las Vegas
    Macon, Georgia
     
    FTK, Nole0515, Russellin4885 and 2 others like this.
  16. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    contemplating going to san diego for a few days, figure there's enough outdoor things it'll still be a blast and good weather

    also thinking of staying north of the city and renting a car to do touristy things, go to beaches, carlsbad, san juan capistrano, etc.

    fielding comments from our san diego regulars/residents if this is a terrible idea
     
    Fran Tarkenton and mc415 like this.
  17. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
    Donor TMB OG
    California Golden BearsSan Francisco GiantsGolden State WarriorsSan Francisco 49'ersSan Jose SharksEvertonSan Jose EarthquakesSan Jose State SpartansUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamSneakers

    Sounds like a great idea, but just stay in SD proper that’s where u want to be anyways
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  18. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    hyatt house san diego/sorrento mesa is wild cheap, cheap parking, and drawing me in due to proximity to la jolla/carlsbad/safari park/etc. seems very central for a non-downtown centric trip. also its nestled into big time brewery area seemingly.

    we'll 1000% come back in a more post covid world and do the gas lamp, coronado, nightlife, baseball game type visit too
     
    mc415 likes this.
  19. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Detroit PistonsDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsWolverhampton WanderersDetroit Tigers

    Fully vaccinated come tomorrow. Now I just need idiots to not fuck up Greece before I can get there in September.
     
  20. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
    Donor
    California Golden Bears

    LegoLand is open!

    I'd hit the USS Midway, but I like that kind of thing
     
    CoastalOrange and Lyrtch like this.
  21. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    You’re saving less than 10 minutes (to safari park/Carlsbad) by staying at that hyatt as opposed to somewhere downtown.

    That’s just a business park district out there, so you’ll be driving everywhere as opposed to something downtown or at the beach.

    Capacity has increased and just about everything has opened up in some form or fashion. I went to the Padres game Friday night and had a blast.
     
    beerleagueman likes this.
  22. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    yeah we conceded the driving requirement early on just what we wanted to do this trip and how san diego is laid out

    but saving $100/night or better on parking + room rates when we won't be taking advantage of the downtown area as much was just a no brainer
     
  23. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Yeah parking rates do suck
     
  24. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    *andaz has a great rate*

    *andaz charges $50/night for self parking*

    :bro:
     
  25. mb711

    mb711 West Coast Barner
    Donor
    Auburn TigersGolden State WarriorsSan Francisco 49'ersSan Jose Sharks

    Visting North County is fine, don't see any need to go to all the way up to San Juan Capistrano, unless your really wanting to bum around Dana Point, San Clemente, or Laguna(that just seems like a totally different trip from doing SD though)
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  26. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    didn't realize SJC was so far up, ngl wife wanted to go somewhere warm so planning this on the fly and saw it listed as things to do around san diego
     
    mc415 and mb711 like this.
  27. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
    Donor
    Wake Forest Demon DeaconsGeorgia Bulldogs

    We are going this weekend, staying downtown, and saw this same thing on parking. Impressive hustle.
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  28. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington Football TeamAtlanta United

    It's about the same in most major cities, no?

    I think most Atlanta hotels are like $40
     
  29. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    Yeah I think Chicago is around $50. I would just look for a spothero lot.
     
  30. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    france announcing they'll be allowing vaccinated travelers this summer

    imagine most of europe follows but will be interesting how that plays out with variants/case counts/whether shit is open for travelers to go to, etc
     
  31. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    And the flight search commences

    I’d be down for Portugal / Spain / Greece/ France
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  32. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    due to various circumstances i was forced to make an amsterdam flight right around July 1st for a trip and plan was to swing to france for a few days in the middle via train

    too many border crossings if there are restrictions/testing protocols is playing with fire imo, we're second guessing the france portion even if its feasible. one dickhead checking vaccine cards/testing/etc could derail everything. mostly just watching what requirements will be when they roll it out.
     
  33. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesAtlanta FalconsUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Oh yea those slashes could be interpreted as ORs. Agree that multi country is probably risky
     
  34. herb.burdette

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

    I just found out Reagan National is eliminating Gate 35X. This is easily the worst airport gate in the country, where passengers wait for shuttle buses to take them to 12 different flights waiting on the tarmac.

    Gone
     
  35. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    it's fucking terrible but does that just mean 12 fewer gates essentially? Or they implementing a new system?

    edit: nvm I Just looked it up. New concourse

     
    herb.burdette likes this.
  36. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
    Donor
    Duke Blue DevilsWashington NationalsArsenalUSA Basketball

    I’m getting a chuckle how much attention that shitty ass gate is getting in its retirement

    good riddance
     
  37. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Never flown through Reagan, but go through Dulles quite a lot. That airport sucks. The Mars rover/people mover thing they have to get folks between terminals is miserable. And there’s some unbelievably long walks between gates.
     
    Lifeiskilingme79 likes this.
  38. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
    Donor
    Duke Blue DevilsWashington NationalsArsenalUSA Basketball

    Dulles has finally built a subway to connect the terminals over the last couple of years. And will soon be connected to the Metro, but it’s still a hell of a haul into the city. Shit food options too, particularly in the morning.
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  39. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
    Donor

    because anyone who travels that way has gone through that shitty gate, it's memorable, and not for a good reason
     
  40. GordoBombay

    GordoBombay Well-Known Member
    Nebraska CornhuskersEverton

    My fiancé and I are getting married in December and we plan on taking small honeymoon after. Looking for some recommendations within the states. Open to wherever.
     
  41. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
    Staff Donor
    LSU TigersTexas RangersNew Orleans SaintsFulhamDulwich Hamlet

    still? I thought that when I finished working a 6 month project out of Dulles 10 years ago they were phasing those out in favor of a subway
     
  42. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    I was out there last year and they still had those stupid things.
     
    BayouMafia likes this.
  43. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
    Staff Donor
    LSU TigersTexas RangersNew Orleans SaintsFulhamDulwich Hamlet

    I just remembered that I landed there from an international flight about 3 years ago and had to ride the people mover to passport control, so I guess the train didn't make it to all terminals.
     
  44. allothersnsused

    allothersnsused Wow that’s crazy
    Donor
    Virginia CavaliersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksWashington Football TeamChelsea

    The people mover at Dulles is at least folksy. Gate 35x sucked. I almost missed a flight from there because they delayed the flight (and sent an alert to our phones), then moved it back up without sending a new alert. We were sitting at the restaurant literally across the concourse and couldn't hear the announcement.

    Reagan is the best if you're actually visiting DC though. Perhaps the most convenient airport to a big city in the U.S. I work downtown and could legit get from my desk to my gate in 20 minutes on the metro.
     
    CoastalOrange likes this.
  45. wes tegg

    wes tegg I'm a Guy's guy, guys.
    Staff Donor
    Atlanta BravesDenver BroncosChicago BlackhawksBirmingham LegionMississippi Rebels

     
  46. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Looks like your journey just got more rewarding. You're officially a winner in the AAdvantage 40th Anniversary Celebration! You've won 40 AAdvantage® Miles*.

    Congratulations! You can expect to receive your prize within 8-10 weeks after the promotion ends.
     
  47. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    2.5 month wait for a 50 cent prize is impressive.
     
    Room 15, DuffandMuff and wes tegg like this.
  48. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
    Donor
    San Diego State AztecsSan Diego Padres

    I received a seat upgrade. Not too bad for clicking a few buttons
     
    Oranjello and wes tegg like this.