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

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

  1. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    I've been to Phuket and loved it. Motorcycling around and beach hopping made for one of the best days of my life. I also spent 4 days on Phi Phi which was awesome. I looked at Railay but it was more expensive. I got 5 nights in an ocean view villa at a 5 star property for 28k SPG points, though I'll likely go to Phi Phi for two of those nights.
     
  2. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    if i want to go to europe lets say italy for 4 nights and stay in a decent hotel and eat pretty good food/drinks whats the ballpark on the total cost? 5k?
     
  3. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Tell me about phi phi.

    I'll be there in 3 weeks

    Wanted to go further south to Koh Lipe, but travel time really doesn't allow it
     
  4. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    From where in the us? Even assuming 1k each for flights I can't figure out how to get two people to spend 3k in four nights
     
  5. Big Apple Duck

    Big Apple Duck Craving a chimichanga
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    Oregon Ducks

    Well, there's not a lot to tell I guess. It's all pretty self contained so you'll figure it out quickly. My one recommendation is to do your snorkeling/dive tours on a speedboat rather than a longtail. I did a longtail because it was cheaper and we ended up spending way more time travelling between places, whereas the speedboats get you there so you spend more time in the water.

    Also note that there are two sides of the island - one is the party side and the other is more relaxed. I booked a place at Villa 360 for a few nights in December. Not sure if I'll end up being there or choosing to go elsewhere, but I wanted to have the option.
     
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  6. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Girlfriend and I booked our flights on United in May with Chase Ultimate Rewards points transferred to United. The round trip flights per person were 60k miles plus like $150 or something like that. I just checked random dates and found the same sort of deal to Rome from Tulsa, so if Tulsa has deals like that then I'm sure most airports do. I have to believe you could easily spend far less than $5k
     
  7. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Yeah, wife and I love snorkling so that's a definite.
     
  8. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Say ive got like 12 days, flying into hanoi, out of hanoi. where to go? laos? Ho chi minh? best beaches?
     
  9. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    If only 4 days, much less than that. But do you really want to fly all the way to Italy for only 4 days? Would be such a cocktease. Take some morre time
     
    #8209 Nug, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
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  10. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Can give more insight in May when I get back, fly into Ho Chi Minh in early April, then to Hoi An, then Hanoi for the last week or 10 days--only because there's a lot in North Vietnam I want to see (Sapa, Halong Bay, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi itself). If for only 12 days, I'd probably try and restrict it to just one country. Hanoi and surrounding areas, then maybe Hoi An/Hue/Danang.
     
  11. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    BayouMafia

    Taj Mahal was freaking incredible. Everything was just perfect, literally. From the cuts of stone to the symetry to even the cleanliness.

    Now on to Jaipur
     
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  12. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    #8212 Nug, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
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  13. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    roosevelt concierge on point-wanted some flowers delivered to the room prior to our check in and they made it happen. just hope he doesnt steal my credit card information
     
  14. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    ok lets say 10 days. how much that gonna run me- i want to do it comfortably not cheap. but there have to be some sort of hotel + flight package deals . i want to either go to italy, france, or greece
     
  15. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    That all depends on so much... But you're not spending 5 grand in 4 days. It would probably cost me like 3500 bucks with 75% of that being booze, food, and whatever else I wanted to do.
     
  16. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Yeah I just said Laos because if I'm in Hanoi its right there. I'm thinking I'd do hanoi, ha long, and nha trang
     
  17. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    i'm flying to dallas for work on sunday then fly back tuesday. i'll have some time off monday night. anything i have to do?
     
  18. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    also i'm flying with thousands of pages of documents for a deposition. its a box full that probably weighs 20-30 pounds. I think that box plus my baggage will be more than the 50 lb limit that they allow to be checked per item. Would you just check two bags then? Think their will be any problem with them just checking a box? I can tape it up real good.
     
  19. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Groupon getaways. That's going to be your winner for a group of two

    And the flight is a huge part of the price. The longer you stay the cheaper it gets on average per day. With a nice hotel and splurging on food and things, you'd still struggle to apend $500 a day
     
  20. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    $500 a day 5 nights + 1500 flight =4k per person for 5 . maybe a groupon helps shave like $500 off that so $3500
     
  21. g8r

    g8r Well-Known Member
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    So I know this is problem beneath the standard of many of you world travelers but the wife and I are headed to Jamaica next week. Staying at the Hyatt zilara for 6 days. Any tips, things that must be done. I am choosing not to scuba dive due to a lack of reef life per other reviews and instead will play the white witch golf course and maybe tryall too.
     
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  22. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    your numbers are awful

    $500 is hard to spend and I was including food and drink
    $1500 flight is bad
    groupon will save a lot

    Here's a groupon for four days in Paris and four in Rome for $900 per person including flights and hotels:

    https://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-go-today-paris-rome-11

    Here's eight days in Italy for $800 pp

    https://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-great-value-vacations-tuscan-castle-2
     
  23. NC Wolfpack

    NC Wolfpack Go Pack Go
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    When I backpacked around Europe for 2 weeks, I spent $2,500. That includes my flight to/from Europe and 4 flights within Europe.
     
  24. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
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    Whats the best way to upload photos to this site now.
     
  25. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    Going to have to push Singapore/Bali trip to the fall because of work. Looking to do 5-6 days somewhere in the Caribbean this summer. Any recs for wife and me? Looking for relaxing with nice beaches and not super touristy/overrun with Cruise crowds.
    I have zero Caribbean knowledge so any help is appreciated. :heythere:

    Edit: based on my limited research St. John might be a good bet.
     
    #8225 FriendsofJtyler, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
  26. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Was going to say St. John. I've been 2x and love it. Beaches are dope and no one around. Zero big resorts or hotels. No cruise ships, but some ppl do come over from St Thomas and typically go to Trunk Bay. Easy to avoid if you look at times/schedules.

    Snorkeling at nearly all the beaches. Basically our daily routine was, wake up make breakfast, Drive to beach (rent a jeep), eat lunch, drive to another beach. You can spend a week there, go to 2 beaches a day, and not go to the same beach twice.

    Get a day trip on the Kekoa (http://blacksailsvi.com/) to Jost van Dyke or just go there for a full day via a ferry and drink pain killers and eat on the beach.
     
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  27. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    That looks right up our alley, thank you sir.
     
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  28. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Check out Bonaire too. Never been but friends family goes a lot and looks amazing
     
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  29. MB123

    MB123 Well-Known Member
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    Currently living/working in New Zealand. Unless my contract is extended, I'll be in the Marlborough area for the next two to three months and then will have a month or so to travel. I'm planning on heading south and getting some skiing in and then make my way north to try and get some fishing in as the season allows. Does anybody have some must dos while I am traveling? I will essentially be going from queens town up to Auckland over my travel period.
     
  30. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    I don't know shit about fishing but Kaikoura is a cool place to spend a few days and the fishing there is supposed to be good, plus they need all the business they can get after the earthquake
     
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  31. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Hire me
     
  32. MB123

    MB123 Well-Known Member
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    Was talking with some folks about kaikoura last night. Will for sure be making it down there.

    Edit:they did say it will be extremely difficult to get down there as roads are still near up. And the town is still pretty devastated. Regardless, I'd like to check it out.
     
    #8232 MB123, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
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  33. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
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    Go to Abel Tasman National Park, it's not far from you maybe an hour past Nelson. I'll post pics here in a second.
     
  34. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
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    A quick couple of photos I took from Abel Tasman, great spot to camp, hike and hit the beach if you are into that. One of my favorite spots I came across in NZ.

    Theres a trail where you can hike the coastline and when you want to go back you can hitch a ride with a water taxi instead of having to hike all the way back. We just car camped for a few days while touring through New Zealand, weather was 75-80 at the time (late Feb.) water is as clear as Tahoe but a little warmer. A bunch of cool coves/bays you can check out.

    2.jpg
    A shot from our hike up into the forest so many coves/beaches to choose from.

    14.jpg
    A shot of the water

    15.jpg
    Relaxing at sunset.
     
    #8234 Arliden, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
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  35. enjj

    enjj Well-Known Member
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    Wa in Jamaica last month but stayed further east in Runaway Bay. Dunn's River Falls is a popular spot. We drove by it on our way to Ocho Rios.
     
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  36. colonelrascals

    colonelrascals Mayonnaise-colored Benz, I push miracle whips
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    the correct answer here is virigin gourda or the four seasons at nevis
     
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  37. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    I was there over New Year's - the road from Christchurch is fine. Looks like the road north to Picton is still fucked up, but it might be back up by the time you're traveling. When we were there, most everything was open - a couple businesses and a restaurant were closed on the main strip, and the roads are in pretty crappy shape in lots of places, but nothing that really negatively impacted our stay.
     
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  38. BigReff73

    BigReff73 Well-Known Member
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    maui and kauai... go
     
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  39. NoNatty

    NoNatty Keyboard Cowboy
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    I'm headed to Kauai in a week. Will report back.
     
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  40. Brandon Chicken

    Brandon Chicken Chow Time
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    Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda is awesome. Rosewood resorts are worth the money.
     
  41. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    Finding anything reasonable from DFW to the Caribbean is tough and United's award travel makes you pay for it to get there with crazy long flights/connections.

    This is the one time I wish I lived in Miami. You can be on a beach in the Turks in 3.5 hours and pay $250 RT.
     
  42. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Maybe use the rewards travel to get to Miami, spend a night there and separately book the $250 round trip tickets?
     
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  43. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    You can get to Mexico really easily and Tulum is pretty dope
     
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  44. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    also belize and the caribbean side of costa
     
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  45. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    need to get my wifes photos as she had a real camera and i was using phone but prelim hawaii post, Oahu

    sunset on waikiki is busy but dang

    [​IMG]

    Pali Lookout, driving to North Shore AirBNB and pulled off here

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Byodo-In Temple still on way to North Shore
    [​IMG]

    Shot standing in kitchen of AirBNB, like three steps down to beach off the deck
    [​IMG]
    said beach area reading and drinking
    [​IMG]
     
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  46. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    link that airbnb?
     
  47. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    theres a ton of jakarta availability sept through early dec for 550 or so out of chicago, nyc and lax. an extra 80 bucks gets you to bali from jakarta too
     
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  48. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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  49. RJF-GUMP

    RJF-GUMP Daubert Qualified in Cooler Thermodynamics
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    i can report that richardson texas is the burbs, that the courtyard marriott therein is nothing special but also efficient and handles most of your business/travel needs although it is a bit dated.