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

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

  1. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Security was seamless. Clean. Modern. Huge, open shopping areas. Ultimately it was the Qatar Airways business class lounge that I’m basing my review off of, so I guess I’m being a bit impartial. Had many fresh hand rolled sushi rolls and sashimi.
     
    COVIDiskilingme79 and enjj like this.
  2. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Agreed, but they were the only ones that could get me home from Kathmandu at a reasonable price. Singapore Air wanted almost as much to go from Kathmandu to Singapore as Qatar wanted for Kathmandu to LAX.
     
  3. C Yank

    C Yank #WalkOnCoach
    Donor
    Oregon DucksSeattle MarinersSeattle SeahawksSeattle Supersonics

    Anybody ever been to Edmonton? Booked a flight on a whim to go next weekend to see the oilers/avs game.
     
    The Banks, enjj and DuffandMuff like this.
  4. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Yup. My bestie is from Edmonton. PM me and I can get some recs.
     
  5. kinghill

    kinghill Cool American Flavour
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsMiami HeatPoker

    I assume you guys have such opinions of airports because you spent a lot of time there

    I have no opinions of airports. I go there, get through security, find some food/drink, then depart. They're all the same to me tbh. shrug. Care so much more about where I'm headed.
     
    Weedlord420 and Han Solo like this.
  6. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    I care about them for two reasons:
    1. Sister is a flight attendant and I fly standby a lot, so I can end up spending endless hours at an airport waiting for an open seat
    2. Flying a lot internationally seems to lend itself to long layovers and/or sleeping in airports (more so when I was younger and backpacking)
     
    kinghill and BellottiBold like this.
  7. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    Generally people build their opinion on an airport solely based off of bad experiences. Flight gets cancelled in Boston? Boston is the worst airport ever. Flight goes off without a hitch in San Diego? No opinion.
     
  8. Where Eagles Dare

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

    DFW sucks and the food options are sparse and horrendous
     
    Hatfield and BellottiBold like this.
  9. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    Obnoxiously enormous and spread out imo
     
  10. BayouMafia

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

    DFW is great for a home airport. Easy to get in and out of. I time my Ubers to get dropped off 20 minutes or so before my flight boards which is plenty of time.

    Seems like it would be an awful place to change planes though.
     
    Han Solo and BellottiBold like this.
  11. GoodForAnother

    GoodForAnother I’d rather be down the allotment
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsSporting Kansas CityTottenham HotspurBig 8 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceCoors LightFormula 1

    yep
     
    Hatfield likes this.
  12. GoodForAnother

    GoodForAnother I’d rather be down the allotment
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsSporting Kansas CityTottenham HotspurBig 8 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceCoors LightFormula 1

    it’s fine, the train gets you around just as quickly as any other airport in the country. it’s wonderful to fly in and out of. I always just go to terminal D for food regardless of which one I arrive at
     
  13. kinghill

    kinghill Cool American Flavour
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesMiami MarlinsMiami DolphinsMiami HeatPoker

    yeah you like that D
     
  14. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
    Donor

    The difference between the international and domestic sections of the Atlanta airport is Wild to me. International is always quiet and rarely crowded and then you walk down to any of the domestic terminals and it’s like New Delhi during a cricket final.
     
    Hatfield, Homo Erectus and xec like this.
  15. Det. Frank Bullitt

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

    What terminal (and maybe security area specifically) do you normally target?
     
  16. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
    Donor
    Atlanta BravesGeorgia BulldogsAtlanta Falcons

    Currently at the airport headed to Chiapas. Excited to get traveling again abroad :ahh:
     
  17. DeToxRox

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

    Going to Ireland in a month for a family trip. How much cash should I bother bringing with me? Im thinking a few hundred bucks and then just withdrawal money when needed. I have a Visa CC I plan on just putting most shit on.
     
    TDintheCorner and mc415 like this.
  18. 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

    that’s what I typically do, few hundred euro in cash and just use my card and Apple Pay for everything else
     
    DeToxRox likes this.
  19. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    I stopped bringing euros. I put 99% of my purchases on a credit card with no intl fees. If I absolutely need euros for something, I'll hit the ATM. The only time that has happened to me though was for pretzels at Hofbrauhaus in Munich.
     
    Keef, BellottiBold and DeToxRox like this.
  20. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Colorado BuffaloesOakland RaidersFulhamLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    dont need to bring any. Can get euros from atm in airport if you want but everywhere takes card. Was just there a month ago. Just make sure you use a card w no foreign transaction fees and always do the charge or atm in euros, not dollars. The dollar price is always an upcharge.
     
    BellottiBold, mc415 and DeToxRox like this.
  21. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    Also, not to scare you but this was the security line in Dublin today.

     
    BellottiBold and DeToxRox like this.
  22. DeToxRox

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

    That’s pretty nuts. Appreciate the intel. Any idea what the story is?
     
  23. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    I think the thread said massive understaffing. Some airlines are advising to arrive 3.5 hours in advance but people are still missing their flights.
     
  24. TDintheCorner

    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAvengersUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Tmb travel bros. Wife and I will be there around the same time. :beaver:

    I have a Schwab checking account and just planning on using the debit card or the atm when necessary. Only credit card I have is discover which doesn’t seem to be accepted too many places there from what I can tell.
    :ohdear:
     
    #25074 TDintheCorner, May 29, 2022
    Last edited: May 29, 2022
    DeToxRox likes this.
  25. BayouMafia

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

    Whichever terminal I’m flying out of which in AA could be A, B, C, or D. The DFW Airport app gives you real time security wait times and let’s you know which entrances are doing Pre-Check (usually the middle one of each terminal).
     
    Det. Frank Bullitt likes this.
  26. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Schwab ATM card is great to have internationally with its zero ATM fees. And you’re correct, Discover is rarely accepted internationally. I always leave mine at home.
     
  27. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesToronto Blue JaysToronto RaptorsBoston BruinsSunderland

    Is there a worse feeling than when you take a bus or train abroad, your ticket doesn’t have an assigned seat, but then others around you have an assigned seat. Scramble mode this morning in Munich en route to Vienna, but I eventually found the carriage with unassigned seats :blessed:
     
    Kevintensity, enjj, xec and 1 other person like this.
  28. Keef

    Keef Liked by Pierre Gasly
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta BravesAtlanta UnitedMilanUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamFormula 1

    To be fair those pretzels are fire
     
  29. bigjrock

    bigjrock Pillsbury Geauxboy
    Donor
    LSU TigersNew Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Saints

    Can confirm.

    It’s actually fine. Just wasn’t expecting the train the first time.
     
    #25079 bigjrock, May 30, 2022
    Last edited: May 30, 2022
  30. spagett

    spagett Got ya, spooked ya
    Donor

    Anybody stayed in istanbul before?

    Got a long layover and might just push my flight a day to explore the city
     
  31. Mr Mortisay

    Mr Mortisay Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Arkansas Razorbacks

    I love DFW, probably my favorite big city USA airport. Although, flew through SFO recently and really enjoyed it.

    Dislike: MIA, DEN (mostly layout and logistical reasons), ORD, ATL, LGA
     
  32. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    Ord international is sub par
     
  33. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Want an update on this. Sumidero Canyon is top of my MX list
     
    Arliden likes this.
  34. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Florida GatorsChicago Cubs

    Oh, I'll agree to that one. Terminal 5 is a shitshow. It was bad already and then Southwest and Frontier moved in and really made it bad.

    Luckily Chicago is dumping massive amounts of money into it. Now Delta is moving over to Terminal 5 from Terminal 2 in September which will be interesting.
     
  35. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Ohio State BuckeyesCincinnati RedsCincinnati BengalsXavier MusketeersFC CincinnatiTottenham HotspurUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Greece was tight. Now I have to wait until the fall for my next international trip that isn't work related :ohdear:
     
    FTK, BayouMafia and mc415 like this.
  36. Mix

    Mix I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    UCF KnightsPittsburgh PenguinsOrlando CityPittsburgh Steelers

    Wish they still had the stayover program with Turkish. Had a nice layover there and the lounge was incredible. Took a great shower, didn't use the sleep rooms but they have a ton of those too.
     
  37. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Colorado BuffaloesOakland RaidersFulhamLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    It's been a long time since I've been, but its an amazing city. One day not really enough, but its still better than not doing it at all. If you have just one day you should be able to hit the busy sites- Grand bazaar, Hagia Sofia/blue mosque, plus take some time to walk around the taksim area.
     
  38. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Virginia Tech HokiesIndiana HoosiersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    I base mine on how many restaurants and bars there are, if they are any good, and then how easily it is to get a seat.

    Secondary things they get dinged for are irrationally long waits (security/help counter/rental car service, etc), location of the airport (fuck heathrow), disconnected terminals (again, fuck Heathrow), lack of ATMs, and I'm sure there are others not coming to mind. However; if it's a flight delay I usually don't get mad at the airport, just the airline for "having outdated, shitty planes" or something like that.
     
    FTK likes this.
  39. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Heathrow terminal 5 has a lebanese restaurant and free whiskey samples.
     
    BellottiBold likes this.
  40. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Virginia Tech HokiesIndiana HoosiersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    Man, edited the "fuck heathrows" in before reading this. I hate that airport.

    This is not Heathrow's fault, but last time I was there a lady in front of me had a bag FULL of like mini shampoo bottles, lotion, bath gel, mouthwash etc. Like completely full, nothing else in the bag but hundreds of travel sized liquids -- aaaand she went through each one with security. It took forever. What made it worse was the signs ALL OVER THE PLACE saying "no liquids." Like even if she didn't speak English, you don't need to, to read a fucking picture. This is all while I was scrambling to make a connection, because despite my 3 hour layover I still almost missed my flight between security and the extra long time it takes to switch terminals.
     
  41. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesToronto Blue JaysToronto RaptorsBoston BruinsSunderland

    - Location / Ground Transportation Options
    - Seating Availability
    - Water Re-Fill Stations Past Security
    - Security Line Efficiency

    Anything else is gravy.
     
    kinghill likes this.
  42. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Yeah Heathrow is not a well designed airport, but given the way Britain made it's airports it isn't surprising. It's basically four different airports that happen to share a runway and your experience arriving and departing are totally different depending on which terminal you get assigned to. Plus the fact they charge you to drop people off now is fucking infuriating.
     
    Keef likes this.
  43. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
    Donor
    Miami HurricanesToronto Blue JaysToronto RaptorsBoston BruinsSunderland

    I forget which Heathrow terminal I was in on my way home to Toronto, but I disliked how they pen everyone in one area and then you go to a different building once they announce your gate. Also the bus ride from terminal to terminal felt longer than the actual flight.
     
    Keef likes this.
  44. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Sketchiest airport?

    -Siem Reap, Cambodia
    -Myanmar (all) - took 2 domestic flights that were the most terrifying of my life
    -thought Dubai was incredibly overrated. Shitty wifi and I don't have any interest in luxury shopping
    -Fly into Lukla in Nepal to get to Everest in October, will probably shit myself
    [​IMG]
     
  45. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
    Donor

    I think that's two? I do hate how UK airports don't announce the gate until 15 minutes before boarding starts, but I wonder if that's a carryover from how train stations work.
     
    Pasta88 likes this.
  46. zachary

    zachary <3
    Donor
    UTSA Roadrunners

    Super basic trip here..

    Going with wife and 4 other couples to Tulum in August for a week. We have an airbnb right by town. Any recs on places to eat/visit? Have been to tulum before but always in a resort and never really ventured out much.
     
    devine likes this.
  47. letan

    letan Just looking for the gator board
    Donor
    Real MadridJacksonville JaguarsFlorida GatorsTampa Bay Rays

    was just reading about lukla and other most dangerous airports today. good luck
     
  48. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    If we're talking purely food/drink, Portland is awesome. Tons of local breweries and restaurants, and the airport is pretty small so easy to navigate.

    SeaTac sucks balls, but they're undergoing major renovations and adding a ton, so hopefully it will improve in the next year or two.
     
  49. beerleagueman

    beerleagueman Well-Known Member

    Tampa’s airport is really nice , even more so after the renovation a few years ago. The layout and design is just relaxing. Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, & Miami feel more chaotic
     
    Fran Tarkenton likes this.
  50. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
    Tampa Bay LightningSan Diego Padres

    Hopefully you don’t get lost before getting a chance to land

    https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/29/asia/nepal-plane-22-on-board-loses-contact-intl-hnk/index.html