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

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

  1. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    And if you test positive at the airport, are each country's quarantine guidelines different?

    Heading to Costa Rica in October, then MX in December. Will have the booster right before leaving, but realize you can still test positive. Wondering if they'll "escort" me to a quarantine hotel or if you're just on your own until you test negative.
     
  2. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    each country handles it differently, many have pretty strict guidelines around quarantining and waiting periods, THEN testing out periods, etc.

    i'd never ever wait until the airport to do a rapid, buy some test kits, test in hotel at the earliest possible point (3 days). if positive you can take another, or go take a confirmatory test locally.
     
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  3. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I've known a few people who got stuck abroad for 10 days in quarantine. All Vax.

    Probably my biggest fear traveling. Either stuck with a baby or away from him if we went solo
     
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  4. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    I posted earlier this year about my trip to Aruba and we basically went non stop for 5 days, I get bored way too fast just sitting at a beach. There was plenty to do there to stay busy, seems like a bunch of us have been lately and seems unanimous that it’s a great travel destination.
     
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  5. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    Yeah bro if you were thinking Hawaii, you’d love Aruba. When we were there in August they were starting to reinstitute a bit of a curfew (think clubs had to be closed by 10 or 11 the last few nights we were on the island?). Assuming you don’t care about that, it was otherwise open but with masks.

    Plenty of activities but can also just hang out and relax.

    Great food, great beaches, and great weather (with a bit of wind).

    If you go, make sure you have global entry and/or give yourself 3+ hrs at the airport.
     
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  6. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Costa Rica requires you to buy insurance for this purpose. You buy it online and register with the government, then they give you a QR code to show at passport control when you land. https://salud.go.cr/

    Make sure to allow time to get a COVID test before you depart the US as well. This is the place I always go because it's walking distance from my hotel, and about 5 miles from the airport. Usually takes 2-4 hours for results.
    https://goo.gl/maps/dJuhw7hMyRp2GTEQ7
     
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  7. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I've been following CR guidelines, and they recently announced that if you're vaccinated, no insurance is required.

    So wondering how that would work if I don't need insurance.
     
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  8. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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    where is your post? interested in some things to do
     
  9. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    Page 454
     
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  10. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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    thanks. definitely going to consider it. May push it early November to book one of those villas laxjoe had
     
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  11. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    Good luck and congrats! If you go that route, feel free to dm with any questions as you’re planning.
     
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  12. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Eathan Edwards or other LA peeps... I'll be in LA next week, staying in WeHo. Any rec's for Bars not as intense as a club, but also nicer than a dive bar? So far looking at..
    No Vacancy
    Madame Siam
    Nextdoor lounge
    Melrose Station
    La Mesa Lounge
     
    #23612 941Gator, Sep 1, 2021
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2021
  13. BellottiBold

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    I know it's only been a couple of days but seems increasingly like the EU members are pretty content with their existing restrictions...

    And the UK doesn't give af so I guess I remain on track for London and Paris next month.

    I just visited NYC and found it pretty interesting. The masking is all over the place but at least in places that I was, the vax mandate was convincingly enforced. I wasn't *inside* anywhere that didn't check for documentation, and some of the big outdoor attractions like the high line are using a free "reservation" system based on time slots to throttle the number of folks allowed at any one time. I had a blast, mostly felt safe, and also felt like I was kind of stepping into the future with the way life was going on.
     
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  14. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    I'm more of a restaurant/nightclub expert but I'll give it a shot when I get back to my office.

    How many people are you with? Will dramatically impact where I would recommend going.
     
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  15. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    2 total.
     
  16. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    Restaurants - staying in Weho:

    Olivetta
    Merois
    Tesse
    Jon & Vinny's
    Ronan

    Bars - staying within the busy but not club-esque genre:

    No Vacancy & Madame Siam are literally in the same complex (oddly enough where my first LA apt. was).
    Good Times at Davey Wayne's is a no brainer if you're looking for a lively bar that isn't overly fancy or clubby.

    All three of the aforementioned are Houston Brothers' spots and are in Hollywood.

    Further Hollywood bar options:

    Mama Shelter
    La Mesa
    Adults Only
    3rd Base

    Weho:

    Melrose Umbrella Co.
    Rasputin
    The Den

    There are a lot of solid hotel bars here at the new hotels (The 1, the Pendry, etc.)

    I've never been to Melrose station but I know you have to go through a hookah lounge situation in some attempt for it to be a speakeasy.

    Nextdoor is solid from my limited experience there.

    PM me and I'll give you my cell for when you're out here. It's a rarity that I won't know someone that works at or owns the restaurant or bar.
     
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  17. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Anyone got a passport recently? These wait times are fucking absurd, I'm hoping they are bullshit. 12 weeks for a rush passwport, 18 for normal?

    I'm trying to travel in December with my son and need a passport, this is cutting it really close.
     
  18. kentucky_dawg

    kentucky_dawg Fan of: Georgia
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    You can actually call and get a form that they will email to try and expedite and update it to the rushed passport. We had to do that as well for our son.
     
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  19. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    My friend just got one in like 3-4 weeks but he did it through Amex concierge so I would assume you need to use an expediting service to get a similar result.
     
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  20. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Might have to look at this. Not sure it's available to me as a basic Amex Platinum and not a high dollar card. Wonder if Chase has something similar.
     
  21. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    CIBT has an expedited service that although not cheap, has gotten me great results from passports to Visas.
     
  22. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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    Aruba people:

    I booked for Ocean Villas for some of the trip. Any thoughts on hotels/resorts (all-inclusive are fine) to stay at on the Palm / Eagle Beach side of Aruba?
     
  23. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I kinda wanna party in Jaco -- bad idea?
     
  24. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    Stayed a couple nights at the Marriott Stellaris. It was very nice and would recommend it if that's the route your looking at.
     
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  25. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    if you are repulsed by the idea of partaking in sex and drugs in a tacky, touristy seaside town then yes, bad idea
     
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  26. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    The Ritz/Marriott or the Hyatt on that beach
     
  27. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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    yeah, I am pretty much considering those 3.
     
  28. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    I would do the Ritz, but Hyatt is solid enough with probably the best casino. Good pool. Just a bit more crowded.
     
  29. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Seems like passport times are all over the fucking place. Lots of ppl on reddit claiming it's taking 20+ weeks. Seems like a lot of folks I've found in Atlanta saying it's taking them ~6 weeks.

    Fuck, IDK what to do. YOLO and schedule a vacation praying that shit comes?
     
  30. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    And dual citizenship opportunities?
     
  31. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    :confused:
     
  32. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Sarcastic joke in that it may be easier to claim citizenship of another country and obtain a passport from there.
     
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  33. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Oh
     
  34. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    [​IMG]
     
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  35. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Anyone have any Rome, Venice or Como recommendations? Mainly looking for restaurants, bars and fun things to do.
     
  36. LeonardWashington

    LeonardWashington Leader of Tuanon
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    Is there a website or app anyone can recommend for checking departure times and purchasing tickets for European trains? Been a long ass time since I've been over there and there has to be a better method than what I've found so far
     
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  37. LeonardWashington

    LeonardWashington Leader of Tuanon
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    Also, follow up. I'm heading to Italy and some other places for a few weeks... if you are trying to book some sort of excursion, like a boat for Lake Como, or a day trip to Tuscany, etc., are you booking that through the hotel? Does anyone use Airbnb excursions (and how was that?)? What's the best method for doing that. Traditionally I just book through the hotel but didn't know if there was a better way
     
  38. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Within Italy, Trenitalia might be the best option (what we used in 2018 with no problems)
     
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  39. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    Trainline
     
  40. LeonardWashington

    LeonardWashington Leader of Tuanon
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    much appreciated guys :respek:
     
  41. letan

    letan Just looking for the gator board
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    you should definitely ignore bayou mafia and go party at hotel cocal and casino :gocho:
     
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  42. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    the ritz was absolutely amazing. can't recommend that one enough. but i think you'd be good with any of those
     
  43. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Rome to Rio app is all you need or departure times. I didn’t buy tickets on it, so no thoughts there.
     
  44. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    When are you planning to go?
     
  45. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Get TheFork app for big restaurant discounts in Italy. Generally around 20% at participating establishments.
     
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  46. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    4 weeks from now
     
  47. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    Yea - I'll do a list in the next day or two. I'm assuming area doesn't matter much as you'll be around town - any budget or genre specification?
     
  48. Eathan Edwards

    Eathan Edwards Well-Known Member
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    Also obviously I haven't been there in a bit so will need to reach out and text a couple people to see what are the best spots at the moment.
     
  49. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    I’m going to respond with multiple texts. This is the first.

    Como: stay in the eastern shore town of Varenna. It is less touristy than Bellagio and the western shore towns. It has good train service and ferry service to the other Como towns. A Google search will give you info on restaurants. There are many. I didn’t do bars at night, so I dunno. For an interesting side trip try this:
    The local festivals in Italy are called Sagra (Sagre plural). In your time frame there is one in Chiavenna, just north of Varenna. Easy by train.
    Dì de la Brisaola - Chiavenna, Lombardy
    Literally the ‘Day of Bresaola,’ the event is a celebration of a product that is the symbol of the Valchiavenna, a beautiful alpine region located to the north of Lake Como. It will be possible to try 14 different varieties of bresaola (air-dried, salted beef, aged two to three months, produced since at least the 1400s), directly from the local artisanal producers. Bresaola originated right in this area and adjacent Valtellina, and it is spelled ‘brisaola’ in Valchiavenna to differentiate it from that produced in Valtellina.

    There is also a gastronomy fair in Tremezzo at that time. Tremezzo is on the west shore of Como and can be reached by ferry from Varenna.
     
  50. Dillingham

    Dillingham Well-Known Member
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    Any favorite restaurants in Athens? Staying in Psyri