i ended up going with one of the local car rental companies with hugely good ratings as their car with literal full insurance coverage no deductible you can set the car on fire coverage was the same price as doing zero coverage with one of the international brands i have status with like National still so expensive
I got stuck in a parking garage in Spain and destroyed a Mercedes van trying to get out. Luckily we paid for the insurance. Person we dropped it off with said “happens all the time.” Going to London and then Iceland on Iceland Air in November. Letting my buddy pay for the car rental this time.
Just emailed our deruta ceramics source in Siena about purchasing some more serving bowls. TBH I'd prefer to do it in person
Also to expand what really made me say this is a bar in downtown called Casey’s. It has a dance floor on the first floor and then the second floor is a balcony around the perimeter that looks down on the dance floor. Reminds me of El Squido roe from Cabo but trying to be a lot classier. It was dead empty in september so that didn’t help it but I found it strange for a mountain town.
Going for Under the Big Sky Music Fest so it’ll be packed. was just curious. Did you use Uber while you were there?
Alright, any tips you guys have would be awesome. Long story short: planning a 3 week honeymoon trip for January to SE Asia. Had to delay our wedding last year, yada yada. We’re dropping a fuckton of points for suite seats on Emirates there, Singapore Air back, etc etc. What we currently have planned is 5 nights in the Maldives leaving January 16th (red eye). After that is where we have decisions to make: -It’s rainy season in Bali so I think we have to cut that unfortunately -Looking like the rest of the trip will be a combo of Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam - Need to be back by Jan 30th so that leaves 12ish nights Questions are: 1. How many nights in Singapore? We arrive at 7 AM so I’m wondering if 1 night will be enough, leaving the next afternoon. It’s a big city obviously and of course that won’t do it justice, but I’m thinking we’ll need to sacrifice time here to get more at the others 2. How many nights in Bangkok? Similar issue to #1 but Bangkok seems more fun 3. Spots we need to hit in Thailand/Vietnam? We’re definitely thinking Phuket and Hanoi. Is Saigon a must? Da Nang? Best beach spots? Which deserve 3 nights rather than just 2? We’ve never been to SE Asia so obviously super pumped. Any help is greatly appreciated
Oh and my payment in return is this: Juicy Miles is the shit. Like I don’t know how they can possibly make money. They take an inventory of all your credit card and frequent flyer points and then do the routing (no hotels). I’ve had this poor bastard doing so much stuff trying to figure out the best points options to/from SE Asia. They charge $200 per person and they handle all the itinerary, booking etc. I’ve literally sent like 40 emails back and forth with this guy at all hours, phone calls, etc. Feel kinda bad for him to be honest.
Traditional travel agents probably not. I plan all my own trips and really enjoy it but considering we’re using over a million total points for this (including hotels) and the difficulty of keeping up with all the recent devaluations, new premium cabin products, etc. this site is more than worth it for a “once in a lifetime” type trip imo. Just 4 years ago I planned my buddy’s honeymoon to SE Asia and all he had to do was use 180k points apiece transferred from chase to Korean Air for round trip first class to Singapore. We’re having to go wayyyy beyond that
I have no idea what they charge, but having someone else book everything and plan things out would save a tone of time. Takes a ton of time to research everything and weigh the pros and cons of hotels etc and book everything. Some people like it, I'm ambivalent.
That looks sweet, maybe Casey’s will be fun then with a crowd. Yea we used Uber once while there, there weren’t a lot of cars in Whitefish. Relying on it as your sole method might be dicey, but then again you are going during the high season rather than the shoulder season when I went.
February last year I was having trouble getting the runaround from Hertz when I wanted to rent a car in Milan and drive it around Switzerland last June (which obviously ended up being canceled), so I talked to a travel agent at AAA while I was doing some car insurance stuff for my kids. She had some access code to talk to certain people at Hertz who could give her answers that I couldn't get, and she arranged the right car for me with the right added insurance yada yada. No charge to me because I'm a member Before that, the last time we used an agent was to secure LAX-Schwechat airline tickets and EuRail passes in 1998, when the internets was in its infancy
Unless you're going to spend at least 2-3 nights in Singapore, I wouldn't want to fly there for one night and then fly to Bangkok. I've never been, been it's supposed to be pretty incredible. Maybe check out Kuala Lumpur, too? It's an easy train ride from Singapore. 12 days is pretty tight to do all of Thailand and Vietnam, I'd probably focus on just one country and do most everything you mentioned for either. Bangkok is intense, and I didn't really like it until like my third visit. But same thing, I'd think you would want 3 days/2 nights. Re: Thailand: -hate Phuket, would strongly recommend the other side (Koh Tao) -Thai beaches >>> Vietnamese beaches -Northern part of Thailand is my favorite (Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai) -Hanoi is one of my favorite cities in SE Asia, but I would focus on either the North or the South. In the North, there's Hanoi - Halong Bay - Sapa - Ninh Binh. In the South, there's Saigon, DaNang, Meekong Delta.
You kind of need to experience how much moving around that is to really appreciate what a mistake it is -- I've done it a few times. On paper, it seems super easy to hit up multiple places in a region. But moving every 2-3 days gets old. Pack your shit, handle logistics of getting to an airport/train station, then you actually have the travel time, then unloading and finding your new lodging, unpacking/unwinding -- that shit takes a lot out of you and takes up most of your day. But, I also get it -- you're in part of the world you've never been to before, so you want to fit in as much as you can. Only solution is to move abroad.
I'd do at least 2 nights in Singapore. There's not that much tourism wise really to do there, but the food is incredible and you'll want time to experience that. I'd cut time from Bangkok before Singapore. I didn't care for Bangkok really. You'll probably be flying through there at some point so could be worth a night but I wouldn't do more than that and probably wouldn't even stop there if its not necessary. For Vietnam, Saigon wasn't anything special in my experience but Hanoi is awesome, so don't go out of your way to get to Saigon, but definitely hit Hanoi. Siem Reap and Angkor wat are another option in the area and awesome. Touristy but still very fun. Cambodia is very cheap and easy to get into and out of.
I’m headed up there again the week of Memorial Day. I went over July 4th a couple years ago and it was great except for the record setting heat, over 90 degrees and wildfires meant we couldn’t keep the windows open as much as we needed to so it was a comfy 85+ inside. Also went the last weekend of July one year and that weather was much more normal, very comfortable and a great time to visit
Have been twice, both times in July, but been a while. Getting as far away from Atlanta as possible is tempting.
Alright skipping Bangkok, 4 nights in Phuket at Keemala on points (looks dope). Looks like 3 nights in Danang and 3 nights in Hanoi after that.
assuming you're hitting hoi an as part of the danang leg its a blast even if its pretty touristy, the night market is great, the banh mi place bourdain went to is fantastic.
Can confirm Hoi An is pretty dope. I have 3 of my best looking suits from Hoi An -- got 3 suits, 2 dinner jackets, and 3 shirts, all perfectly tailored, for like $750, which included shipping back to the US.
it makes me sad when people pass up Da Lat in their quest to see other parts of Viet Nam. It's everything I love - mountains, waterfalls, beautiful weather, incredible food and coffee.
i think hues airport was the jankiest i've ever flown into i can't imagine it looked much different during the war, which reminds me google reviews for places in vietnam are a trip. you'll have 70yo dudes writing about their experience in the war at that air strip 3 out of 5 stars
Italy reopening to US travelers. Have to go on a Delta flight and take 1 pcr test 72 hrs before, a rapid test before departure, and a rapid test on arrival. https://thepointsguy.com/news/delta-travel-to-italy-all-americans/
netherlands seems like they're being super conservative so my belief in my trip happening is lowering but as each other country starts creating pathways i'm really hoping they cave
HR reduced it to 30 days And i have a brand new boss. Plan is july, 20 days between tulum and PDC, 10 days in mexico city / puerto escondido Spain in September /October Duolingo spanish
Booked Vienna apartment last night, in the walking area of Alte Stadt Holding off on pulling the trigger on Paris flat until we can coordinate with some friends who are thinking of going
Wish you had posted this prior to my experience with Budget-Avis at Malpensa in late 2019. We are AAA members too. Didn’t even think of using them. Would have saved us probably $600. I’ll never use Budget/Avis again. Which is sad, because I’ve used them almost exclusively for many years.
yes been to all 3…….i would do Oaxaca, Veracruz and then Durango……..if u wanted my ranking between the 3
I spent a one night layover in Vienna boozing my ass off in the city center and slept through 2 alarms and damn near missed my flight back to the U.S. in the morning AMA
Anyone ever heard of this or know anyone that has done this? https://www.surprisit.com/ Seems like an interesting concept.
I didn't get a notification for your response, and my sister told me that I "HAD to go to Mexico City" and "it was like her favorite place ever" etc etc, so I ended up booking a flight there. Anyway, the trip is from 6/2-6/6, so it's coming up soon. Here's what we're thinking. What "can't miss" activity or dining experience am I missing here? How's this location for a hotel? https://www.villacondesa.com.mx/ Here are the other things we are doing or considering: Booked lunch at Quintonil: https://www.theworlds50best.com/the-list/21-30/Quintonil.html Booked dinner at Rosetta: https://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/the-list/1-10/rosetta.html Currently on a waitlist at Pujol, but doubt we get in. Tuna Toastadas at Contramar -- sis said it's one of the best bites of food she's ever had. This taco tour: https://clubtengohambre.com/ Blue House Museum for Frida Kahlo Museo Mural Diego Rivera Churro's at this place: https://www.bonappetit.com/city-guides/mexico-city/venue/churreria-el-moro Maybe a Mezcal tour: https://eatlikealocal.com.mx/tours/mezcalandpulquejourney/ This bar is supposed to be cool: http://www.hankypanky.mx/about.html If I had a day or 2 longer, we'd probably drive to San Miguel and spend a night or 2 there. Family friend owns a hotel there, and heard it was nice -- the pictures also make it look fantastic. Spoiler
if you’re going to the Frida’s Blue House go across the street and eat at San Ángel Inn that’s a classic DF spot not sure if everything is open now? But Museo de Antropología is pretty amazing but that’s a whole day deal u got a quick turnaround. Palacio Postal is great too, check out the Zocalo of course, Lake Xochimilco is fun Teotihuacan as well but that will also be a whole day deal San Miguel is my old stomping grounds its a great place! Next time Guanajuato where it is located is worth a trip in itself
This is the San Miguel hotel: http://hotelamparo.com/ Also, thanks for the reccos. I added all of them to the google sheet we started.
way too many places I'll have to fish around on the map but obviously I couldn't help myself and made a stop at loos "american bar" at one point
Hey I've drank there too. Josef Cocktailbar was also good. Had a good time drinking in that part of the city.
I've stayed around the corner from there (on Bauernmarkt) on at least two occasions, two other occasions I stayed just down the Karntnerstrasse from Loos Not a bar person, more of a schnitzel and pastry kind of guy
Kleinod, Kotor, "Atmosphere" iirc (ritz carlton rooftop) there were one or two others lol I inhaled more smoke in those 6 or 7 hrs than I had in probably 10 years.
Back in the 80's we went to this place https://www.zwoelf-apostelkeller.at/index_en.html with some family and descended into the bowels underneath Vienna for dinner and drinks, and even though they did have rudimentary ventilation the smoke was so thick that you could barely see from one end of a room to the other
Got in for lunch at Pujol on Saturday. Looks like 2 of my days will be locked up with tasting menus, but that'll undoubtedly my fav 2 things, so I don't care. Now time to watch this episode of Chef's Table: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5762438/?ref_=ttep_ep4