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

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

  1. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    On that same topic, for leaving the country. Is the 72 hour test before flight the time you get your results back or the time you get your test? That's pushing it pretty close. I can go places for my wife and know we'll get them back in 24 hours, but the places my Son has to go (under 2) seems to be closer to 36 or 48.
     
  2. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Yes, yes you do
     
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  3. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    I just went to a pharmacy. There is one on almost every other street corner in Italy and Spain
     
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  4. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
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    It seems like Portugal is fairly accessible but the tests are pricey, so I’m wondering if it’s more efficient to just buy the take homes. I appreciate the insight.
     
  5. BellottiBold

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    I used these as well.
    The key is that because of the telehealth component that the physical tests are packaged with, these are the only ones actually approved by CDC for US re-entry. (Or, there may be one other, struggling to recall - but the point is the telehealth component is key because somebody watches you while you take the test and that's how they verify the authenticity.)

    I know I could have just gotten tested where I was but I preferred not having to go anywhere and to do everything on my own schedule.
     
  6. BellottiBold

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    The answer to this may depend on where you're going. At the time I travelled to the UK I took a 72 hr pre-departure test (immediate results) that wasn't actually required anymore, just for peace of mind given that I had already been traveling in the U.S. a bit. The UK did however require an arrival test within 0-2 days, which I took care of at the airport on arrival.

    Re-entry to the U.S. requires a negative test result from a test taken within 72 hours if vaccinated, but 24 hours if unvaccinated.

    If your son is under 2, I don't think he has a testing requirement.
     
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  7. Nug

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    BayouMafia can you buy the at-home tests in Costa Rica, in your experience? I leave on Sunday and was just going to do a walk-in clinic, but would prefer an at-home test.
     
  8. Where Eagles Dare

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    Do you have any idea if the 72 hours applies to ppl who can't be vaccinated? I'll have immediate tests so it shouldn't be an issue but my son is 18mo and is obvious unvaccinated.
     
  9. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    So If I'm leaving on Sunday at 2:00 PM, any negative test result that was received after 2:00 PM on Thursday would suffice?

    What if your flight is delayed?
     
  10. BellottiBold

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    Correct
    At one point there was a CDC thing that stated that as long as a delay was under 24 hours, you wouldn't need a new test. Not sure if that's still true... appears it is!
     
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  11. BellottiBold

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    I'm guessing you posted this after my last edit ;)
    I don't think a test is required for children under 2. (At least as far as the U.S. is concerned!)

    the clarifying language is on this page:
    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
     
  12. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    I have always done the walk-in clinic, but given that you can buy almost anything at a Costa Rican pharmacy I would assume you can. Let me ask
     
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  13. DeToxRox

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    When you ordered these, how long did you have to wait for their arrival?
     
  14. BellottiBold

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    Again, re: self-test for US reentry, keep the following in mind
     
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  15. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    BamaNug here's the response:

    I can post the screenshots of the clinics she sent if you need them. I told her you were in Guanacaste but not sure where you are now or where you're flying out of. If you're flying out of San Jose, I go to the Labin in Cariari because I stay at the Doubletree and it's a short walk.
    https://goo.gl/maps/at8JgVehRawPAFwAA
     
  16. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    :respek:

    I'm in Santa Teresa until the 20th, not flying into San Jose until the night before my flight. Will probably get it done here on Friday.
     
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  17. BellottiBold

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    It was pretty damn swift, though you pay a premium for the shipping.
    I think I got them within 3 business days, maybe even 2.
     
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  18. Nug

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  19. BellottiBold

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    Here's the actual language:
     
  20. Nug

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    Looks like antigen will suffice. And also there's not any other testing center near Santa Teresa, so that's a relief.
     
  21. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
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    Portugal cases are up 71% from last Monday. The numbers are still low, and Portugal is highly vaccinated, but our trip starts 12/6 and my concern is getting hit with restrictions that fuck us from doing things while we are there. Pfffff
     
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  22. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    Looking at percentage increases when cases are that low is just dumb. It’s getting into winter so of course cases are going to go up. They’re 90+% vaccinated, it would be completely ridiculous if they went back to any restrictions. Hope for your sake nothing happens but who knows with the some of these countries.
     
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  23. bcuga

    bcuga Administrator
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    Appreciate the COVID entry test requirements discussion. I am heading out in May to Amsterdam and this topic has been on my mind. I hoping the requirement goes away by May but still like to plan ahead in case it doesn't. The discussion has been helpful and reassuring so thank you.
     
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  24. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    have a separate ticket scenario where i fly out of Chicago at 11am but will probably just fly in the night before

    anyone stayed at the airport hotels for ORD? recommendations/tips?
     
  25. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    related but unimportant, finished booking the ANA first class tickets to/from Japan with Virgin Atlantic points

    now to wait and hope they don't take their planes with first off the route and hope they swap to an updated 777
     
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  26. BellottiBold

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    For my recent travels I ended up switching to LGA IAD after determining I'd be in NYC days prior (which btw - awesome move from the lounge perspective lol) but I initially was set to leave on my trip from ORD in the early AM, so I did some digging into this recently... if the price isn't lousy my inclination in these situations would always be the Hilton that's connected to the airport. I'm a sucker for eliminating the variables between me and check-in. I remember being frustrated with how off-site many of the options were, even with a free shuttle.
     
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  27. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    I stayed at the Hyatt Regency this year doing the same thing for a flight to St. Thomas and it was fine but if I did it again I would stay at the Hilton 100%. You have to ride a shuttle from the Hyatt and that wasn't bad but it would've been so much easier to just wake up and walk across the road to the terminal instead of having to time the shuttle.
     
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  28. Lawnole23

    Lawnole23 FSU Seminoles 2020 National Champions
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    I just did all the Covid stuff. It’s 72 hours from the first leg of your journey back to the states. Antigen tests are fine.

    The airline is the one that checks it and they don’t seem to really give a shit. They barely glanced at mine.

    UK I didn’t need a negative test had to set one up but didn’t go because we were leaving for Iceland on day 2. UK doesn’t give a shit about masks right now. I didn’t see a single person asked to put a mask on anywhere.

    Iceland was asking depending on the store.
     
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  29. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    most of the hotels around O'Hare specialize in overnight stays for connections or people who have to drive in the night before. When I worked near O'Hare a few winters ago it seemed like at any given time at least half of the people at our hotel were one-night stays either connecting or parking. I lived at the Radisson (now the Wyndham) at the corner of Tuohy and Mannheim in Des Plaines and my only feedback is that it's a crap hotel (though reportedly renovated in the past year or so) so even only for one night maybe try some other place. There's a Hilton at the airport that is most convenient but probably also priced accordingly
     
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  30. BellottiBold

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    As for the airline checks, I mean YMMV. My experience was different.
     
  31. Nug

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    Ate at an Argentinian streakhouse last night. So much vino. Meat sweats
    0E6BAEA4-042E-4A80-9D8B-11A914561957.jpeg
    Where Eagles Dare Product C's owners sold the place, they're moving locations, but not sure yet -- hoping to be back up and running in a few months. Tomorrow is their last day at this location :feelsbadman:
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    Bamanug - big wave surfer
    7E240AFD-86E2-47AF-88D2-FED3E8F95670.jpeg
     
  32. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Yewww :8mm::8mm:

    Hopefully Product C is just moving to a bigger place. Maybe cashing in a bit on rising costs. Hope they are back open when ever I get back to ST
     
  33. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
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    Portugal is expected to announce new restrictions any time now. Thankfully I’m adept at changing plans at this point.
     
  34. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    I stayed at the Hyatt rosemont in July. Not the nicest or closest hotel as it’s about 8 minutes away. A few of the airlines put their pilots and attendants up there.

    The big bonus is you’re directly across from Rivers Casino. I put back a few beers and made a couple live baseball bets before playing roulette on my way to Europe.
     
  35. DuffandMuff

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    I saw earlier this week that Ireland implemented some new restrictions.

    Austria announced this morning that they’re going into full lockdown.
     
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  36. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    The extent of new restrictions/measures can also vary wildly from lockdowns to mild things like reintroducing masks on public transport. If you’re vaccinated it’s really only forms of lockdown that can severely disrupt a trip imo.
     
  37. Where Eagles Dare

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    idk where to ask this (maybe the python thread), but wondering if anyone has ever tried to request access to any carriers API? I wanted to fuck around with delta's, but I can't get a confirmation email after signing up. I tried to use my gmail account, that might be an issue tho.

    I don't think there is a free api anymore after skyscanner and google flights went corporate only or just certain partners.
     
  38. DeToxRox

    DeToxRox Uncle T
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    Yeah I will be wearing masks in public anyway, so masks requirements are fine. I just don’t want to go there and have a bunch of shit be off limits.
     
  39. BellottiBold

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    I didn't even realize any of them offer that...
    What are you hoping to be able to do out of curiosity?
     
  40. Where Eagles Dare

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    call their api to search flights/pricing from Atlanta or other airports to destinations. Log that data and write alerts to myself for price discounts.

    Basically what Scott's does for you, but I'd enjoy a little project like this and could probably do it mostly for free w/in aws free tier.

    https://apiportal.delta.com/
     
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  41. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
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    Haven’t searched thread yet. I’ve got a Disney Cruise with the family in sept 22 out of Vancouver. Looking at taking a few days to drive up and over via either Regina or Winnipeg (depending how ambitious I’m feeling on day 1) and heading west through Banff. Anyone done the drive? Is it a cool drive east of Calgary at all?
     
  42. Nug

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    I drove from Seattle to Banff, went thru Canada/Vancouver. Drive itself is pretty boring until you get close to Banff,then it gets really cool really fast. Also, Jasper is a little less crowded than Banff with pretty much the same scenery.

    Whistler, like 1 hour north of Vancouver, is also breathtaking. The drive north heading out of Vancouver has to be one of the most scenic drives in British Columbia.
     
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  43. tspa

    tspa Well-Known Member
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    I've not been east of Calgary, but the drive from Calgary to Waterton Lakes National Park is through Alberta prairie and not great until you get to the mountains. It's basically all fields and pretty flat, and my understanding is that all of Saskatchewan and east Alberta are the same way. I guess if you are committed to driving it, it's probably not worse than going through Nebraska or North Dakota.
    Now Banff to Golden to Revelstoke is beautiful, and Whistler to Vancouver is awesome.
     
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  44. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Negative Covid test. Bittersweet leaving CR. Been a fun month, so much surfing. Not good, but improved a ton. Been every sunset for the past week. Cannot wait to go again.

    10 days until Oaxaca :bananallama:
     
  45. VOLINT-TOWN

    VOLINT-TOWN Member

    Heading to Stowe, VT in a few weeks for a four day getaway. Anyone ever been and have any recommendations?
     
  46. Where Eagles Dare

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    I'm really stressing my covid test to leave the country
     
  47. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I was a little anxious. you need one to leave the US? Maybe depending on the destination?

    Hoping they drop the dumb requirement for vaxxed ppl soon. Fly back into the US on Dec 21
     
  48. Where Eagles Dare

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    Need one to get into Nicaragua. PCR test 72 hrs before flight
     
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  49. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    Any recommendations on hotels/resorts in tropical places that take Chase points? Think I'm going to book something in December/January and use all my chase points. Have like $4800 worth right now.
     
  50. DuffandMuff

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    I would think finding a Hyatt property you like the most then transferring them there would be your best bet? Feel like UR points go the furthest with Hyatt.
     
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