Got my sons passport back today. Only took 4 or 5 weeks. Pretty quick turn around especially when they've been saying 12-16+. I've been busy and haven't booked flights. First time traveling with 3 and there are ZERO seats together. just random seats throughout the plane. Maybe 10 left on each leg. So I guess Imma book 3 seats close (one of each) and beg people to swap with me. Probably gonna bring some cash if I gotta bribe some folks. I guess I could hawk the portal and constantly look to see if someone cancels or they open up more seats.
Can any Delta people help me out here.... So they have the entire back half of the plane essentially reserved for Sky Medallion people. My wife is Silver, so when I went and booked her ticket "Poof" the entire rows appear, but when I booked my son's and mine, I didn't have the option. I didn't do it all on one reservation b/c I had to use Miles for my Son, Non-Transferable eCredit for my Wife from a canceled trip, then I just paid on my CC. Delta can't handle all that at once. Will Delta move us to her seats if I call? Does she have to be on the phone?
I am not sure but if you have to contact Delta, send them a text through the app. Get through the auto responses to a person and they will be able to help you out.
Going to Tulum with my wife in less than two weeks. Have a rental car which I am prepared to have to buy insurance on. Staying in an Airbnb with two other couples. Any key tips as it relates to traveling to the area as well as things to do would be greatly appreciated.
There's a fish shack place on some random beach that's really cool to visit, I can't remember the name but a few people in here have been so sure some one else can chime in. Other than that, hit up some cenotes. One of my favorite was Casa Cenote, so cool swimming through the mangroves. Other than that just enjoy some really good food and drinks.
Since you have a car, highly recommend driving up to Coba one day and checking out all the cenotes. The Gran Cenote like 10 minutes north of Tulum is cool, but packed with tourists. The ones in Coba are much more secluded and underground.
Just watched the Bourdain episode on Basque Country. TIL I learned I need to visit San Sebastián ASAP
Anyone ever used luxury escapes? Looking at a trip to the Maldives and the deals on there seem incredible but to good to be true.
I never did a write-up about CDMX, but I think there are at least 2 itt already. This was a food trip, so that's all I'd write about anyway. Cliffs: https://www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50 Pujol #9 = Best first course ever, but loses out to Quintonil because I didn't love EVERY course like I did there Quintonil #27 = Best - So freaking good. - Rosetta = MEH (do not recommend, but it's #9 on this list - https://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/list/1-50 Contramar -- Much cheaper option than the 3 above -- so freaking good. Tuna Tostada AND the Red and Green Fish (can't remember exact name) are must try imo. We also did a street taco tour that was recommended to us, and that shit was awesome. https://clubtengohambre.com/mexicocity
CDMX is one of my favorite cities in the world. Hell yea. Doing 10 days in Oaxaca City in December, before heading to the coast. Got reservations here: https://www.casaoaxacaelrestaurante.com/ All the mole
Its one of my favorite places in the world. If I had one trip left before I died, pinxto bar hoping in San Sebastian would be a strong contender.
The trip to Moldova had to be cancelled as we couldn't find a manageable way to get in the country (HUGE shout out to Garrity19 for offering so much help) and instead we are flying to Istanbul Sunday through Wednesday. Have done 0 research and don't have a ton of time to do any. Anyone have any quick thoughts or suggestions? We are staying at theOrientbank hotel In the Sultanahmet area.
Its been a long time since Ive been but the area around taksim was a way better place to hang out, especially for food, than the sultanahmet area. You can easily take a tram over there. The spice bazaar was pretty cool too.
Just got back from Istanbul. Awesome city. We stayed at the Hagia Sofia Mansions in the same area. We did the Taste of Two Continents tour which we really enjoyed. https://istanbulonfood.com/taste-of-two-continents-tour/ Most of the Blue Mosque is closed, as is the basilica cistern. We did a guided tour for the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. We really enjoyed both and found the tour to be worth it. We did the ottoman service here, https://cagalogluhamami.com.tr/en/ The tram is limited in where it goes but it's really easy to use. The Taksim area is really cool. We only spent a day there but it has cool shops and what looked like cool restaurants. My wife wanted us to do a bosphorus dinner cruise. I told her looked dumb but I lost, then we both lost. It isn't good. Tell the carpet dealers you aren't interested. Some will leave you alone, others will insist you go with them to their shop. My wife took pictures of me talking to all of them because they are nice and I didn't want to be rude. We never felt unsafe. Enjoy the trip.
Closed on the sale of my condo today. Dropping off my car tomorrow after agreeing to a sales price today. Everything I own has been purged or is in a 5x10 storage unit. The rest is in two backpacks. Departing tomorrow night. Kind of surreal.
San Sebastian is one of my favorite food journeys easily. You need to plan way the hell in advance though.
In Ketchikan we hiked for a few hours; it was awesome. We did a sweet whale watching tour in Juneau, and then we just hung out and walked around Icy Straights. There was a huge storm blowing in so we had to cut that one short.
So doing Italy in April for honeymoon. Rome then Naples/Sorrento/Positano. Debating whether best to spend the extra $800 to fly Air Canada over Air Portugal to get there. Staying Westin Excelsior for super cheap for 4 nights in Rome then not sure where to stay in Naples then probably Airbnb the rest of the way.
Is there a particular reason you want to stay in Naples? It gets a lot nicer once you go south of Naples.
For what it’s worth, when we did that area, we flew into Naples, but stayed in Sorrento. The train from Sorrento to Pompei was really easy, straight shot and a small station in Sorrento that was easy to navigate. The reason I asked about Naples is that it’s a huge city that isn’t as scenic. Culturally, there are definitely things to do in Naples, but down the coast is much nicer terrain/scenery. We stayed at Hotel Leone in Sorrento, which is graded a three star and priced pretty reasonably, but I thought it was great for the price. We were walking distance from the train and had a great lemon grove out our balcony.
It's been 20 years since I've been to Italy, but we did Pompeii as a day trip from Rome and it was pretty easy by train. You just change to a regional train in Napoli. There's certainly benefit to getting outside of Rome and seeing other cities, but just something to keep in mind...
This is about where your values are Mix Hard product? Soft product? Schedule? They're both *A so lounge access is the same if that's in play...
Air Canada definitely appears to be nicer and its out of Orlando instead of Miami. I don't really think I mind that drive over $800 but whatever, not a battle worth fighting. I do think Air Canada has a better return flight as it would leave late enough to let us take the train in Rome. She has CSP and I have the Bonvoy Brilliant so we have lounge access covered pretty much wherever. Did kinda want to do that Turkish lounge in Miami but oh well.
Listening to the news just now and heard US will be requiring negative COVID test to re-enter after international travel starting in November?
Not for vaccinated I believe, but don't quote me. I wonder how hard and quick is it to get a test in Europe.
I've had to provide a negative COVID test to return from every Int'l trip I've had this year, including two weeks ago, and I'm vaccinated
a negative test on return has been required forever regardless of vaccine status the new stuff is about foreign visitors vaccine mandates etc
I was reading an article and yes you are correct all US citizens had to provide a test. The big change announced now is unvaccinated have to provide a test within one day instead of three. How was getting a test internationally? Quick and easy process?
Do you have to get the test when you get back and then quarantine until results or get negative test wherever you're at before you leave?
I imagine it depends on the infrastructure in the particular country you're in, but in Costa Rica it has been extremely easy. I just go to a testing lab near my hotel the morning before I leave, and within 3 hours I have the results. I upload them to the Verifly app and the airline then has the records, and it's smooth sailing from there. My office in Costa Rica makes the test appointment, but I'm sure any hotel can assist as well.