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

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

  1. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    There’s not
     
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  2. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Are you trying to fly to Austin with liquor? Buying liquor in the ATX airport after arriving and bringing it to the party?
     
  3. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Not a new phenomenon on airbnb, but this takes the cake.

    1 night rate: $190
    total: $502

    The cleaning fee is $250.
     
  4. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Still have to start the laundry and dishwasher before you leave.
     
  5. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    Will do a full report when we’re back next week, but Aruba has been a delight. Spending our last 3 nights here at the ritz where they upgraded us from like a first floor garden view to this ocean view
    3C85A9A6-91A7-42D6-BEB8-EE9F9118A7F0.jpeg
     
  6. two

    two Hello
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    How is United if you have status?

    I’m out in Denver now and Delta doesn’t have enough flights for it to make sense to chase status.
     
  7. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    We’ve been the lowest level of silver status for a couple years now and the perks are well worth it. Gold would be great to be able to get economy plus at booking but I’ve only had a couple flights where I wasn’t able to move up to plus at check in. I’ve been upgraded to first a handful of times but that really depends on the routes you’re flying; if you go hub to hub (like Denver to Houston) with silver status you could easily be number 30 on the upgrade list. Boarding group 2 is nice as well as we’re never worried about overhead space and you also get up to 70 pounds for free in the checked bag which I’ve taken advantage of with my golf clubs
     
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  8. two

    two Hello
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    I’d have premier platinum but would have to take 5 round trip flights in 120 days. Not impossible, but definitely a decent amount of flying.
     
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  9. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Depending on the terms required for those trips I’d consider doing some mileage runs as platinum should get you some pretty nice treatment. My brother hit 1K in the past and he was treated like royalty
     
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  10. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Lake Travis near Austin
     
  11. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Looking for some advice from anyone who’s experienced this recently. I just got married and my wife is starting the name change process. We already have more flights booked through the first week of November. My thinking was it would be easiest if she does as many changes as possible and saves her global entry/passport for last so that she’ll for sure have those for our November trip. Has anyone dealt with flying where you already had flights booked but all ID’s got updated so the last name didn’t match anymore?
     
  12. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    Name on your reservation will need to match the name on the passport if you’re traveling internationally, and name on the ID needs to match the name on the ticket at any airport. Might be okay if you bring a certificate of name change
     
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  13. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Only domestic travel planned for now. United’s name change questions made it seem like if you have a reservation but the name change goes through it’s not a big deal but any first hand knowledge would be great
     
  14. herb.burdette

    herb.burdette Meet me at the corner of 8th and Worthington
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    My wife and I did a submarine ride tour of shipwrecks when we went to Aruba. One of the coolest things I have ever done if they still offer it there.
     
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  15. WC

    WC Bad Company, ‘til the day I die.
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    My coworker is there right now. Say hey if you see him.
     
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  16. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Do we have a Northern California recommendation thread? Staying in Oakland for a night next weekend on the way to Hawaii. Looking for restaurant recs.
     
  17. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I've not seen a liquor store in the Austin Airport.

    I've checked 18-24 beers in box, two handles, one with was half gone. Just got to worry about it breaking and leaking
     
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  18. mc415

    mc415 Well-Known Member
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    im not a huge Oakland guy recently but if u want a nice dinner go to Wood Tavern or a spot to sit down and have beers and eat a really fun spot is Drakes Dealership (old car dealership converted to a huge brewery/beer garden)
     
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  19. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Thanks!
     
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  20. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Just have her bring her previous Id. I accidently booked a flight in my wifes maiden name and it was no problem, agent just asked to see anything with that name on it.
     
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  21. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
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    My wife saw a thread on Twitter about the conditions at a quarantine hotel in Cyprus that has her freaking out right now. Greece might be getting put on hold, but we shall see.
     
  22. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    left yesterday, but i said hello to everyone on my way out, just in case
     
  23. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    any recent cayman island recs? ones i see are from 2018, not sure if anything's been updated since.

    we're thinking of doing our next summer trip there, using nobel-stay (the 50% bonus "ends" tonight, so we're thinking about just buying some certificates for the ritz to use next summer). just looking for recs, things to do, places to see and/or avoid.

    thanks!
     
  24. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    got back late last night, but what an amazing trip. thanks to everyone for some recs for the island - those were very much appreciated

    some highlights and notes on the trip (spoilered for size for pictures)
    started at the Aruba Ocean Villas and that was so nice and quiet to settle into the trip after the wedding. they're doing a whole bunch of construction, and have an annoying small group of "social media influencer" clientele, but with only 7 other villas (so max ~15 people the whole time we were there), it was great. this was our view from our room
    78824C97-FD80-4F54-B19F-9A664C212191.jpeg
    we were there for the first 3 days of the trip, but did our first dinner at the flying fishbone where we had our feet in the water. it was great, particularly because the villas were a 30 second walk to the restaurant. it's a 25 minute cab from palm beach, so i'm not certain i would have thought it was worth it had we not been right next door, but we were both really happy with our dinner there. i heard a number of people the rest of the week say it was their favorite meal of the trip, so they're definitely doing something right.
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    moved from the villas to the Hilton in Palm Beach, and I don't think I could have come up with a bigger difference between two places than those two :laugh:. hilton was nice, loved the beach and the area around the hotel, but had a couple of really rude employees that put a damper on some of that stay.
    B2C2FAD1-BA07-4DAA-B20D-1741B77DC150.jpeg
    in palm beach, we went to Lola+Craft a number of times. they had some great tacos and drinks, including a korean chicken taco. probably our favorite of the restaurants right near the hotel was Lobby. They had an unbelievable Spicy Tequila, where you could pick your spice level. got one "extra spicy" on accident that was true to its name :laugh:
    515B90AF-DA64-40A5-8FF1-C5A693CF2ABA.jpeg
    we also did the required sunset dinner on the beach at Elements at the Bucatati Resort. That resort was really incredible, and the food/experience was fantastic.
    56A2AE4B-E354-499A-8549-1ECC16EA82F0.jpeg
    as previously stated, we finished the trip with 3 nights at the ritz and that was just incredible. service could not have been better, especially coming from the hilton. loved being served drinks and food by someone on a segway while sitting on the beach. probably the best "on the beach" food i can remember. This was a trio of tacos (lobster, mahi mahi, and shrimp). Amazing
    B8F77013-A2CA-47B9-908A-11014F89EA22.jpeg
    we had dinner at the BLT steakhouse on our last night and that was one of the very best meals we had the whole trip.

    One great thing we found (cc Jimmy the Saint if you ever go back) super foods grocery store has a pretty incredible collection of beers. Some great craft beers (mostly San Diego beers it seemed), but some incredible Belgian and European beers that would normally be $8-15 in the USA were available for $4-6. It was a $7 cab ride from the high rises.

    Also, that’s another thing I loved about the island. No concern about being ripped off by cabs since everything is regulated by the government. Know exactly how much a cab ride will be ahead of time, or at the very least you’re able to have a great idea and it doesn’t matter about traffic or route the cab decides to go.
     
    #23574 laxjoe, Aug 15, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2021
  25. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    Part II

    probably the highlight of the trip was our multiple chefs table dinners. my wife would take breaks from either her dissertation or wedding planning and research all the different food options available and we had reservations at 4 different chefs tables all lined up probably 5 months ago.

    All 4 (Senses, Kitchen Table, Two Fools and a Bull, and Fred) were excellent.
    started at Senses (also a the Bucati Resort). Great experience, espeically because it was the one where we really had a front row seat watching the chef work.
    This was a duck confit dish, believe it or not.
    4DDE2496-D5E9-466A-A58C-F9EC5E811593.jpeg
    and this was one of two desserts the other was a “potted plant” with chocolate 318EF017-D98D-4916-B145-87300665772A.jpeg

    our next one was The Kitchen Table, and that was really fun because they go out of their way to make it a "family style" meal (although we all had our own plates). but great conversation and truly amazing food.
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    our next one was both of our favorites - Two Fools and A Bull. The chef there was on just his second night (he just came from Flying Fishbone) and the food, atmosphere, and wine were all incredible.

    our last one was at Fred Restaurant, and that was by far the strangest experience. at all the others, the chef would take the time to explain the dinners, where they come from and how the wines complemented the food and vice versa. at Fred, Chef Fred never said a word, just cooked some really good food and would go outside and smoke. i thought the food was great, my wife did not enjoy it as much, and more than any other, sentiment was split amongst the 10-15 diners.
    This was a foie gras ravioli over a perfectly cooked tenderloin
    41BF4FA5-2C67-4B49-A959-45B5019F0DFE.jpeg
     
  26. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    I don't think I would've ever left the hammock in the first pic.
     
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  27. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    The mask mandate for airports/airlines was set to expire on 9/13. The TSA announced yesterday that it has been extended through 1/18/2022.
     
  28. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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  29. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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  30. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
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    Anyone been to Belize? Considering it for a family vacation. Any recommendations?
     
  31. The Milkman

    The Milkman Send lawyers, guns and money, shit has hit the fan
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    I stayed at the same location for a week in December 2019 and had a great experience. Top notch
     
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  32. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I think there are some folks ITT that have been.

    Have always heard that unless you're a scuba diver there's not much to do.
     
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  33. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
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    Family vacation with small kids. My sister is complaining about Costa Rica because flights are expensive right now. Belize looked pretty cheap. My sister and mom are very much beach people and happy to just sit in the beach for a week. I get bored after 3-4 days. I know there are Mayan ruins but not sure that's enough to fill up 5-6 days.
     
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  34. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
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    Yeah go ahead and use the search function. I've posted at least once or twice, and it has come up more than a few times.

    Not as simplistic as Bamanug just put it, but that is a good way to think about it, if you are on the caye for more than 3 days.
     
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  35. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I'm a simplistic guy
     
  36. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Afrikaburn just announced the festival is on for 2022, tickets go on sale next week
     
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  37. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
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    Scott's Cheap Flights had an alert just this morning about fares to Costa Rica being 60% below normal cost, but it looks like it's for Sept - Oct 2021. Going to go out on a limb here and assume that's too short notice

    https://app.scottscheapflights.com/route/us/from-ord/cr/to-san-jose/standard/economy
     
  38. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
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    I got that as well. Yeah we're going spring break in March. Tickets were still cheaper on Jet Blue than normal. However, my sister is flying out of South Carolina, which was more expensive.
     
  39. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Did a week or so in Belize a few years ago. A few days on Ambergris Caye with my wife’s cousin who is a dive master, then a few days doing outdoorsy things in San Ignacio. I wouldn’t recommend anything we did in and around San Ignacio (cave exploring, day trip to ruins in Guatemala, 300 ft free drop rappel, cave canoeing) for small kids. Beaches on Ambergis aren’t that great either unless you go north of San Pedro, and even then they are just ok.
     
  40. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    we are apparently a caribbean family...

    we've booked the hyatt in jamaica for a week over thanksgiving (covid dependent). it cost about 30K southwest points and 125K hyatt points to get us down there for a week all inclusive, so it seemed like a no brainer. anyone have any experience?

    we also booked 10 days in the cayman islands for our anniversary/birthday week next july. would love any recs? we've got about a week at the ritz (thanks to nobel-stay) and then we're working on the other 3 or 4 days. any recs would be very welcome.
     
  41. BellottiBold

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    EU signaling they want to ban non-essential US travelers neat cool
     
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  42. Homo Erectus

    Homo Erectus The important thing is, you think I'm attractive
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    Agree, the beaches in Belize aren't anything special. People go for the diving. The caves, Tikal,etc are pretty cool and get feel for the place outside of just the tourist areas.
     
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  43. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    In-laws came over tonight for some pizza and to tell us about their trip. We knew they were going to Munich/Schongau to see family and to show their granddaughter Bavaria, but what we didn't know was that after they sent the little girl home they spent another ten days in Bruges (at our recommendation) and Amsterdam. They LOVED Bruges, which made me feel good for having pimped it to them
     
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  44. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Currently boarding a flight out of Milan. Definitely seemed like they were much more strict in regards to eating inside. All places required proof of vax.

    When I took the train yesterday I noticed a new warning that indicated all high speed and intercity train passengers will be required to show proof of vax starting 9/1. Perhaps a recent negative COVID test would work as well.
     
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  45. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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    Had a honeymoon planned for mid-late October. Was going to Mallorca, but feel uneasy know after the EU proclamation. Also seems like a huge headache where we will be nervous the whole time wondering if we are negative and able to return.

    I am thinking about pivoting to something like an island country, but don't want to just sit at a lame resort for a week. Was considering Hawaii but now their Governor is requesting people stay away for now. No idea what to do.
     
  46. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    the bold is why we're likely cancelling our paris trip the first week of november
     
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  47. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    I'd be lying if my heart wasn't racing waiting for my rapid results to return to the US. Not sure what would've happened if I tested positive. Throw me in COVID jail? Let me get a second test in the event of a "false positive?" Create a covid underground railroad and escape to the US through some back channels?

    My dad canceled a Presidents Club type trip to Aruba a couple weeks ago because of that. The company said if he tested positive they would pay for any remaining stay. However, if my mom tested positive she was on her own.
     
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  48. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Is a negative test required for re-entry to the US? Basically from anywhere?
     
  49. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    tbh this is why we bought the tests you can do in your hotel room, because if you test positive in some of these countries using their mechanisms its over, the room test at least gets you able to rule out false positives if you test more than once
     
  50. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    any international trip requires a negative test on return