I went in May 2016, so too long ago to do a writeup, but feel free to ask any questions. Its a very small island, easy to see most of it in a weekend.
There's a podcast by a couple of expats in Bangkok that I listen to. They were talking about apps they use in Bangkok and they mentioned eatigo. Basically restaurants around town offer you a percentage off if you make a reservation for that night to come in. I browsed their website and seemed like most of them were 50% off. They also serve these other locations if anyone is interested in their travels
14th Street between N and Florida is probably the trendiest location; lots of good options (particularly on the bar front). The Wharf, by the Waterfront Metro, just opened and has a bunch of good restaurants (Requin and Del Mar; mixed reviews on Kith and Kin). I still really like Navy Yard (Osteria Morini, Salt Line; Bluejacket is the best brewery in the city and has good food), but it's definitely more of a dinner-out scene than a barhopping one.
I haven’t really read the whole thread, I was just thinking of places like my Mom has tried to talk us into that my wife isn’t feeling (Punta Conta).
Fishing and diving is some of the best i have done. They speak English too, which can be a plus. Tons of ex-pats. Surprised more in here have not done BZE now that SWA flies there.
This is somewhat accurate, but the beaches we saw all kinda sucked. It’s a jungle island with incredible reefs for fishing and diving.
It's an annoying flight from Atlanta. Cheap, but like 7 hours going through Fort Lauderdale bc there is no Atl -> Hou leg.
Yeah there’s not much to see on Ambergris. Like Harvey Updyke said the diving is phenomenal but other than a couple of places on the more secluded north part of the island it’s not a beach destination. Since my wife's cousin lives there we spent a day exploring the island on a golf cart and there just wasn't a ton to see. If someone were going to Belize I’d recommend they spend at most 3 days on Ambergris unless they’re just there for a fishing/diving vacation. The interior of Belize is pretty cool as well. There’s the ruins of Tikal (in Guatemala but it's easy to book day trips with guide from Belize), the prerequisite zip lines, and some really cool caves to explore, the best of which is Actun Tunichil Muknal. It's a cave that used to be used for Mayan rituals. You have to hike/swim pretty far into the cave to see the artifacts and skeletons there. We used San Ignacio as our base and did a bit of hiking, cave kayaking, and rappelling including a 300 drop down a sink hole. We were there in July 2016 and I think I did a write-up on Belize but I'm on my phone in a meeting so I can't search for it now.
This would have been a good one to jump all over for anyone near Miami. http://www.secretflying.com/posts/error-fare-miami-palma-de-mallorca-spain-233-roundtrip/ Miami to Mallorca for $200 RT is crazy.
Bourbon Steak if someone else is paying, Del Campo for Argentian/non-cookie cutter steakhouse fare, Medium Rare if you're into steak frites (and only steak frites)
Still trying to plan our trip in March and just made the connection that we are looking at being in Rome the week of Palm Sunday. We were definitely going to spend a day in the Vatican so now I'm not sure if I want to mess with Italy that week because of the Easter crowds
ever been to rome? there are ALWAYS crowds... (maybe it's for sure worse that weekend, but I was very ready to get out of Rome and onto smaller cities when I went) also, you can book private tours and such in advance for the Vatican to avoid the lines and such
Nope we have not been there. I was just reading that there are massive crowds for Palm Sunday and also Good Friday so I am assuming there'd be a lot of people in between those days, no clue if it's more than normal though
There will be bigger crowds and transportation will be slammed. Hotels will cost more and restaurants might require reservations if there's somewhere specific you'd like to go
What hostel was it? Leaving for Colombia next week. I’m doing Medellin and Santa Marta for sure. Gotta fly in/out of bogota. Still debating Cartagena.
it was a PJP3 rec (i believe he said best hostel he's been to in the world). Reviews matched up. When we were there everyone in that area comes there to hang out and drink at their bar/play pool and such before walking to the bars.
probably dont need to tell you this but their bar crawl was a lot of fun, get in on that. also the indian place everyone recommends thats across the street is really good. place called fukin good ribs thats really close that was really good, too
Girlfriend said she's rather do Italy than Japan but with the dates we're looking at I'm hoping we could miss the big Easter rush, or at least most of it. We'd be getting to Rome on Thursday the 22nd and planning on flying home from either Venice or Milan, so we'd likely be leaving Rome on the 26th to work up to Florence before continuing on from there. We'd just have to plan our trip to the Vatican on a day that's not Palm Sunday but I'm still counting on the crowds being huge
i was with the gf, so I wasn't aiming for the craziest hostel. Here were some notes I just found in my email: Hotel: Hostal Lleras Calle 8 Medellin Calle 8 No. 37A 59 Restaurants/Bars/Areas: Charlee Calle 9A 37 16 | Parque Lleras, Medellin, Colombia Cable Car Ride: metro pablado to metro Acevedo to Santa Domingo to Parque Avri. Metro Cable Car. Plaza Botero in El Centro El Hueco Cl. 48, Medellín, Carrera Junin Comercial Santa Fe Cra. 43 #7, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia Pergamino Cafe Cra. 37 #8A-37, Envigado, Antioquia, Colombia Rock Dali Calle 9 Bariloche parrilla argentina Calle 20sur No 38-181
If you guys were doing a trip to Europe and wanted to spend time exploring one or two of the better cites and then finish with a few days by the beach/water, where would you go?
Croatia and Eastern Europe will be much cheaper and more authentic, imo. Croatia has just as good beaches/views as Italy as well. If you've never been to Europe though, may be easier to do something like Spain or Italy, both of which have good beaches on the Mediterranean. Also, getting from the US to the major cities in Western Europe (London, Paris, Rome, etc.) is generally easier and cheaper than going to Eastern Europe. It's super easy and cheap to fly from any of London/Paris/etc. to any other major city in Europe, as in like $50-75.
Yea that is what I was leaning towards, maybe Rome, Florence and somewhere on the Amalfi coast or finish in Barcelona. My girlfriend also has an interest in France so was looking into somewhere in southern France or maybe start in Paris and then fly to Barcelona. Do you have a preference when it comes to France, Italy, and Spain?
I’ve unfortunately only been to Paris of those 3, but Italy and Spain are well represented ITT. I dont think you can go wrong with either. Maybe just see whichever has the cheapest flight? Spain is at the very top of my list and will be my next trip to Europe.
Yeah, my friend owned the juice bar Mezcal right below it (unsure if its still there) and said we had to stay at Happy Buddha back in 2013. It's kinda the perfect hostel in my mind, great social scene while still being clean and comfortable, plus great location.
Where are you staying in Santa Marta? We stayed in Tagonga and there were no good options at the time. Place was kinda a shithole. Spend as much time in the park as you can.
So for Christmas I think I'm finally going to pull the trigger and take my dad salmon fishing in Alaska. Looking at Memorial Day weekend, fly in on Friday, fish all day Saturday and Sunday, fly back on Monday. The Banks I've seen late May is when the King Salmon first run starts--would you recommend Kenai or Ketchikan? Or is there no appreciable different? I can fly to either for roughly the same price Or would you even recommend waiting until Labor Day? I know in September the only thing available is Silver Salmon, but I'd much rather fish for King----can't swing June/July/August unfortunately.
I have been here twice with my dad and it was an incredible experience. You fly into Ketchikan and they fly you via pontoon plane to the lodge. Great bonding experience as you fish all day and then drink at night. They clean, vacuum package and ship all the fish you catch. Not sure if this is what you are looking for as its pricey, but I loved it. https://www.waterfallresort.com/