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

So I've posted in here before about it but I'm working towards opening up my own hostel in the States later this year. As part of that, I've been trying to meet with other hostel owners to learn and network. Met with a lady who's involved with Room 2 Board in Jaco, Costa Rica

https://www.room2board.com/

She was awesome, and the place looks amazing. It's the #1 hostel in the area. Just posting in here because it seems like people are looking for Costa Rica recommendations often, and you should definitely give this place a look if you're trying to find a nice and cheap place to stay there.

Also, for anyone who has a minute free on their hands, here's another survey about some name options I'm working through.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PS8NQNY

 

I stayed there, loved it, and went back. I also helped them redesign their website

 

It was on my initial list (and a list for potential places of expansion if things go well).

 

Sorry if it’s been mentioned, but man how shitty is Boracay? They have to shut down the entire island for months?

 

Room 15 and anyone else -- speak to me of Chile. Looking at heading there for NYE.

Not sure if I want to explore Santiago/Valpo/others, or try to make it down to Patagonia. Maybe 2-3 days in Valpo then fly south. Is there much to see in Santiago? Have always wanted to visit Valpo, is it fun? Have read that it used to be pretty dangerous but has gotten better. Any other Chile recommendations? Or would you try to make it to Patagonia?

 

Valpo has a badass new years...they shoot off fireworks all up and down the coast so if you can get to any sort of elevation it's awesome. Then people party in the street until the cops come break it up around 10 am. Allegedly.

If you only have 2-3 days for Santiago/Valpo I'd just go straight to Valpo. If you had more time it might be worth it to spend a day or 2 in Santiago. They do have a great human rights museum that walks you through their dictatorship and the brutality of it.

I haven't been up north to the desert. Supposed to be beautiful and expensive. Very touristy.

Patagonia is great on both sides but it'll take some time and I wouldn't recommend rushing it.

Let me know what else you need.

 

What are the top beach/surf towns in Colombia? I assume you want to go to the Pacific rather than the Gulf side for surfing?

Weather is shit so I'm on the couch researching NYE destinations all day.

 

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/colombia/articles/the-best-surf-spots-in-colombia/

I might be going in May

 

Where should I say in Seattle? Fancy

 

Posting here to remind me to respond to this but quick hits would be: skip Santiago (covered in smog non-stop); Valpo is pretty awesome. I wasn't there for long but enjoyed it. Really enjoyed visiting Pucon. Highly suggest there .I would go back there in a heart beat.

 

They got room for my gf and I in June??

 

Just wanted to cross post this to the travel thread to help anyone out who might be looking at a trip like this.

 

In Cologne/Düsseldorf for work and coming back from dinner tonight and quickly snapped a picture of this beauty (Cologne Cathedral). Delightful city

 

My layover time in Chicago on my return trip from Copenhagen just got extended an hour and a half. Gross

 

Where are you staying? Had any killer food you recommend or anything? I'm staying downtown there for a couple of nights. Would like to do some more but I have a wedding south near Bonn so we're staying there for a couple of days

 

I've always thought the west coast of Colombia is a place you dont want to go. Hasn't changed like the larger cities and the Northern gulf vacation areas.

 

I don't know the coast specifically but Cali is the biggest city near a coast and it's fine

 

Guess I'm more talking about beaches themselves.

Seems like they are all mountain/national forests with no real infrastructure or large population.

That is cool in a lot of places, tho

 

Google tells me the remote areas are still pretty sketchy with various traffickers, paramilitary and FARC. The "larger" towns are mostly fine.

 

Yeah all the militias and traffickers hide out in the middle of nowhere doing whatever it is they do until they die. Those places are sketchy

 

Connor Norman just moved to Colombia, so he may be able to help.

 

Looking for a trip for wife and I without kid, where we can see a lot, travel is more than a direct shot etc, take advantage of our nimbleness.

have a friend that coaches for the Eagles and he married one of my wife's friends. Thinking about Philadelphia for a few days to see the sites (my wife is an American history buff since she was a history teacher). Could catch a football game.

Any pros/cons we should consider for Philly in September-November?

 

Cons: shitty city with shitty people and shitty weather in November

 

Top beaches would be San Andres or Santa Marta. Most tourist probably go to Cartagena though. No idea about surfing.

 

haha harsh, can't make a big weekend out of it at least as one of America's biggest/oldest cities with plenty of history to explore?

give me 3 cities you would recommend in mainland (nix - SF, NO, Charleston, Boston, Chicago, been to those recently)

Thinking about just taking her to NYC and catching some shows/ball game (we both love broadway, she's a yankees fan, we've never explored that city together)

 

I'm biased towards the PNW. September is gorgeous weather, but quickly turns to shit after that.

 

NY, Baltimore and DC are all better than Philly

 

If New York's on the list why not New York

 

DC is amazing in the fall. That'd be a good choice

 

Especially for a history buff. Could bounce around all the Smithsonians.

 

My favorite museum in DC is the spy museum. So cool to read about all that stuff.

 

Crime and punishment was dope but they closed it

 

Looks like i need to add more context

I strongly am considering Seattle.

Counter these two, as I said my buddy coaches for the eagles, so we would be kind of planning around a game to attend with his wife and check out the eagles' side of things. Not sure how long he would coach there so making the trip while we can

also strongly considered this however,
a) she is pregnant and will be 5-7 months during this trip, so a lot of walking is out, and something like a segway tour to cover ground is out
b) she has an awesome aunt & uncle that live right outside DC that we would want to visit, and we are considering making this trip with our son at some point, so can knock it off later

i started the timeline based off football schedule, potentially seeing an eagles game. I can be swayed a lot of directions. Week of Sept 15 looks strong, as does September 29 or last 2 weekends of October to 1st weekend of November but we are pushing pregnancy then.

 

we did Chicago the week after Christmas for our last trip while she was pregnant so she already has a maternity coat haha.

 

With the recent SPG/Marriott loyalty program announcements, I'm thinking I need to use burn up my points before they lose value. Between CSR, SPG, and various airline points I think I have enough points to get my girlfriend and myself anywhere in the world for 4-7 nights, and I'm looking for suggestions on where to go. As cool as that sounds, more exotic locales are kind of off the table because I don't think my girlfriend would particularly enjoy them (e.g., SE Asia, China, Africa, middle east). Not looking to try and fit a bunch of cities into that small amount of time, either. Looking for places that are cool on their own and can be explored for a week or so while also leaving time to relax. Time frame would be fall or winter. My girlfriend is a huge CFB fan, so Christmas/New Years may be most likely time since we already have several trips planned around football games.

That said, currently thinking Patagonia, Argentina, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Caribbean, Pacific Islands, and maaaaybe Europe. Thoughts? Suggestions? It's a very #firstworldproblem to have, I realize that. TIA

 

My advice is to disassociate yourself with people who dont like Southeast Asia

 

My feeling is always burn the points when you have them. Points never get more valuable with time, they only go down in value, so might as well spend them as quickly as possible if you have them.

 

I imagine these type of people learned a cursory amount about Vietnam in history class and nothing else about the region.

 

Damn, ur gf is basic af

"Only wanna go to white euro places so not too out of my element"

 

That’s even giving them too much credit

 

Vietnam is communist so it must be un-safe

 

Where do you live? Patagonia is farther than you think. When I went Dallas to BA it was like an 11 hour flight, then you'd have to fly another 3 or so to Patagonia. Do you really want to spend probably 20ish hours door to door traveling for 4-7 days? Asia is pretty far for a week as well unless you're west coast. Europe is pretty easy from midwest/east coast.

 

NOLA

Edit: Hit reply too fast. Didn't realize Patagonia was quite that far. The rest I kind of anticipated, and would prefer to not spend 30 hours traveling for a 4-7 day trip.

 

If those were my options I'd probably go to Costa or Nicaragua over new years

 

I'd try to get a direct flight wherever you go for that short of a trip then. Central America or Caribbean seems like your best bet. Seems like there's lots of direct flights to Europe out of Nola as well, but at xmas you'd want to favor southern europe unless you're ok with freezing your ass off.