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

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

  1. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I will do this later
     
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  2. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    bravo on that. I tried like hell to use AAdvantage miles for my wife and I to go to New Zealand and couldn't make it work. Granted we were looking to go at Christmas because she's a teacher so time off isn't flexible AND we were looking at flying business, but it was going to cost around 500k miles and I didn't have that many.
     
  3. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    Seems reasonable. I paid $1200 and had to stop in Fiji and Auckland to get to queenstown. It was $2k from California on air nz when I was going.
     
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  4. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    We are leaving the Saturday before Thanksgiving week and coming back December 2. And we definitely got in at the right time.
     
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  5. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    I asked for some Europe advice a while back, so I figure I owe y'all a review.

    Got back about two weeks from a trip that included two days each in Amsterdam, Paris, and London.

    Keep in mind this was a family of four that had never been overseas before, so touristy highlights were the main draws.

    Amsterdam:

    - In hindsight, Amsterdam is quaint compared to Paris and London. Tons of water (canals), bicycles (they will run you over if you aren't careful), and row houses. It's striking, after visiting major American cities, when you go to a major European city and there are no skyscrapers.
    - The main tourist draws in Amsterdam are, mostly, museums. Most of which are of the art variety. That isn't necessarily my family's cup of tea, but it doesn't mean they aren't cool. We didn't visit them, but that seems like a city that would be great for art lovers.
    - We did visit the Anne Frank House. It's well worth your time. Buy tickets ahead of time (something like 20 Euros). It's also a quick tour. You can be in and out in under an hour, but it's crazy to see the bookcase and the full size of the apartment behind it.
    - As you'd imagine, the Red Light District and surrounding bars and coffeeshops are definitely a bit jarring for an American, because these things are just out in the open and society keeps on moving in Holland.
    - Of the three, Amsterdam felt like the most laid back, casual city.

    Paris:

    - We took the THALYS train to Paris (probably a 3 hour ride). You see all of Belgium as you cross through, including Antwerp and Brussels.
    - Paris felt much more like the major American cities you're used to, although everywhere you turned, there was history. It was striking to pull up to an 8-lane roundabout (which by the way, driving lanes are merely a suggestion in Paris) and see massive statues or sculptures.
    - The Louvre is worth doing. Strikingly huge to see. Yes, Mona Lisa isn't as impressive as you may think, but it's definitely worth the price you pay (again, like 20 Euros) to get in. There are some gigantic paintings and sculptures there, as well.
    - The Eiffel Tower is really cool, as corny as it may sound. We didn't pay to go up in it, but it's such a large structure smack dab in the middle of a bustling city.
    - We also took Ubers and saw Roland Garros (French Open was going on), Parc des Princes (home of PSG), Latin Quarter, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, etc.

    London:

    - London is similar to Paris. Just add modern skyscrapers to all the history that's around.
    - We stayed in a high-rise apartment AirBNB in Whitechapel, which is on the East side of the city. The majority of the touristy things are in Central and West London.
    - Westminster Abbey was worth the price solely for all the burials within the cathedral. The week after we left, Stephen Hawking was buried there.
    - Of course, we went to Abbey Road (which has people constantly stopping to take pictures at a busy intersection) and other famous music landmarks.
    - Buckingham Palace is cool to see and, apparently, the Queen was there at the time.
    - The Tower of London is like a small city itself. I think it was about 28 Pounds to get in, but you see the Queen's jewels among other things there.

    Random Thoughts:

    - Book your trains ahead of time. We did and saved so much time and hassle. We even had our train from Paris to London get cancelled due to a strike, but they put us on the very next train.
    - We got $450 roundtrip on United from Atlanta to Amsterdam. On the way over, we had a 3 hour layover in Newark and on the way back, an 8 hour (which sucked) layover at O'Hare.
    - Never had a problem with food. There are so many Italian, Asian, pizza, pasta, steak, etc. joints that you can get anything you could possibly want. Anyone that tells you any of these cities has bad food is wrong.
    - I know some people get hung up on the language barrier and, again, we never had an issue. Everyone in Amsterdam spoke English. In Paris, everyone greets each other, so learn how to say "Hi. Do you speak English?" in French and you're golden. Never had an issue with anyone not being polite about that, even though it would've been great to be able to speak French or Dutch.
    - I feel like there's lots of stuff I'm forgetting to include. We made it a point to walk or Uber everywhere we went, so we would spend the day on foot randomly walking the cities to get a feel for it all. That'd be my biggest recommendation for anyone going over. If it was anything more than a 25-minute walk, we took an Uber. Anything less and we walked.
     
  6. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Big believer in walking a city right when you get there. Great way to get a feel for everything. Especially if you get lost.
     
  7. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Can’t say I’ve ever met anyone that said there’s nothing good to eat in Paris, London, or Amsterdam.
     
  8. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    I heard it multiple times in regards to London, to be fair.
     
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  9. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    That’s a really old stereotype.
     
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  10. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    You not take the subway at all virgil? London's tube was the best and easiest subway I've ever been on. The train in Paris was nice too but I barely took it as I was only in the city for one day.
     
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  11. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    I've heard people complain about British food being bland but you're doing it wrong if that's all you're eating there.

    However, my parents complained about the food in Rome not being good. They're literally the only people I've ever heard say that.

    I think most people in major European cities speaks English. My 2 weeks in Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Krakow I encountered one person I had a difficult time communicating with.
     
  12. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Lots of people think British food sucks, but in a major city there's always other shit to eat besides the natives stuff
     
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  13. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    British food generally is bland; but London has world class restaurants and chefs.
     
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  14. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    I took it once in London, but we usually just went with Uber because it was so easy and cheap most of the time.
     
  15. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    London has high quality India restaurants. Its basically the best you will find in the City and Canary Wharf. Like Indonesian in Amsterdam (but London has imported chefs that rival New York/Paris)
     
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  16. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Yeah. I don't know how you can travel to a major city like that and not enjoy the food. They have something for everyone, even the most boring of Americans who only want fried shit. But these people exist. Mostly because of their inability to eat at somewhere that doesn't meet some retarded arbitrary standard or standards they've set for restaurants
     
  17. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    I think the argument is more: when you go to a different place, you want to to eat the local food, street food, etc. local food ain’t that amazing. If someone literally can’t find anything good to eat in London well they’re bad at life. But I understand that position.
     
  18. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    It's been 6 months and I'm still bitching pretty regularly about a specific couple that was in Thailand with us and would disappear to find the most American shit possible
     
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  19. Virgil Caine

    Virgil Caine Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, we agree.
     
  20. aspenbuff

    aspenbuff Well-Known Member
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    Even better is to go for a run. Exercise helps overcome jetlag so you kill two birds with one stone.
     
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  21. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I spend no less than four hours wandering In any new city, with the exception of Prague where I was so hung over after Croatia that I made it one hour and fell asleep in a public park for three hours in the middle of the day
     
  22. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    :iseeu:

    More like crack a local beer and walk around because you can usually drink in the street :blessed:
     
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  23. aspenbuff

    aspenbuff Well-Known Member
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    You have the beer(s) after the run. That way you get the sweet mix of runners high and buzzed/drunk.
     
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  24. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    Free weekend coming up so the wife and i are moving closer to seeing all mlb parks.

    Flying to Baltimore Friday morning for Os / Angels

    Take train or bus to Ny for yank/Sox

    Take train or bus to philly for Phillies / Nats

    Will have almost full Friday in baltimore so I need suggestions beyond the aquarium

    Doing a show in NYC and then getting multiple cheese steaks in philly and prob some historical stuff.

    Bought the flights and hotel in balti all on points but everything else we are just going to wing it. Only taking a backpack each.
     
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  25. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
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    Got a roundtrip out of Tucson for $360 last year for 2 weeks in Sept.
     
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  26. dahldennsull

    dahldennsull Living in the best state
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    you guys are already on point. Was talking to a friend and his wife last night about their upcoming trip to London and surrounding area, and they are looking for restaurants.

    Anyone have a few top restaurants you would highly recommend to seek out in London?
     
  27. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    I go to Zagreb about once per month and it is just ok considering the other places you want to visit. That being said the outside bar scene downtown is pretty good in the summer but I will say this, and I travel extensively in Europe and Asia, I think that Croatian women are unbelievable to say the least. I spend the majority of my time near the Serbian / Hungarian borders which is nowhere near the other places you will be going to.
     
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  28. dahldennsull

    dahldennsull Living in the best state
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    since y'all were chatting

     
  29. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Are you hiring
     
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  30. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Headed out next week. Any restaurant recommendations?
     
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  31. aspenbuff

    aspenbuff Well-Known Member
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    Do they like Indian food? If so, Brick Lane is worth checking out.

    Edit: Brick Lane is not a restaurant but rather a street with an insane number of Indian/Bangladeshi curry houses, basically the mecca of Indian food in the UK.
     
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  32. Why?Pokes

    Why?Pokes Take me back to the kine
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    Merriman’s in Waimea was very good, all Island sourced food, lots of fish and Wagyu.

    Have heard Rock Sushi in Hawi is awesome, still haven’t been.

    Pueo’s Osteria in Waikoloa Village for pasta.

    Brunch at the Mauna Kea is (I think, not 100% sure) open to the public and pretty amazing.

    Big Island Brewhaus in Waimea or Kona Brewing in Kona for breweries. Downtown Kona if you want to walk along the beach and pick something random that looks good.

    If you find anything you like let me know, we’d been expensing a lot of our meals to the hotels when we were there so I still have a ton to explore.
     
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  33. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    If you tell me what time of year theyre going, and what part of London theyre staying in....I can come up with a decent list over the weekend.
     
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  34. THEBLUERAIDER

    THEBLUERAIDER Well-Known Member
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    Thanks a lot.
     
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  35. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    I am in agriculture so the places I go in Europe and Asia are the least cool places people would want to visit. But going behind the curtain and seeing the real rural areas does afford me the opportunity to meet some really great people.
     
  36. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Sounds like my kind of party. I love that shit. I'll take this as a formal offer of employment
     
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  37. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    My uncle's brother owns a snail farm in Lithuania we can go visit him
     
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  38. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    Love snails, butter and garlic on the side. Not much business in Lithuania but I am often next door in Belarus aka the Texas of the Russian area.
     
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  39. dahldennsull

    dahldennsull Living in the best state
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    I will get this for you, thanks!
     
  40. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    Full day in Baltimore tomorrow. Any recs?
     
  41. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    Faidley's in the Lexington Market. Amazing crab cakes.
     
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  42. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    walk around a lot if it's a nice day. I loved walking around there. canton. fell's point. inner harbor (I guess)
     
  43. Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all

    Tiger Tiger Woods Y'all Putting big balls in little holes, circa 1995
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    staying in inner harbor (hyatt place) and going to Os game at night. Will have all day to explore.
     
  44. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Scotts with deals for Melbourne Australia.

    Baltimore (BWI) - $769
    Boston (BOS) - $757
    Charlotte (CLT) - $771
    Chicago (ORD) - $758
    Cincinnati (CVG) - $791
    Cleveland (CLE) - $758
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    Washington DC (DCA) - $755
    Washington DC (IAD) - $764

    July through December

    Air Canada
     
  45. ashy larry

    ashy larry from ashy to classy
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    just got back from a week in rome. awesome city. the highlights:

    hiked mt. vesuvius. crazy views of naples, the bay, and into the crater. really cool experience.

    pantheon- :ohholkyfuck:

    spent a day touring the ruins in pompeii. getting out there takes time but it's worth the hike. mind blowing place.

    colosseum is pimp.

    splurged on a full day guided tour of the vatican. well worth the money. there's so much to take in. went up in the dome at st. peter's.

    obviously food/wine was top-notch: had saltimbocca and cocio e pepe at a few different places. great dishes.

    spent a day touring a vinyard about 20 miles outside rome. it's been in the family for eight generations. nice break from the pace of the city.

    if you go, definitely try to spend at least 5 days so you can hit the tourist staples (they're all well worth it) but allocate some time to just wander around and get lost. you'll stumble upon cool shit and good food.
     
    #13595 ashy larry, Jun 28, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2018
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  46. DriveByBBQ

    DriveByBBQ Well-Known Member
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    Last leg of my day trip is about to take off...left home at 5:00 yesterday morning

    Bham > Houston
    Drive to Needville TX drive to Taylor Texas
    Austin > ATL > bham
     
  47. RavenNole

    RavenNole Well-Known Member
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    What kind of food do you like? What kind of budget are we talking? Also where are you staying? I can help give you a few suggestions based on answering those 3 questions.
     
  48. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
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    Anyone been to Shanghai? Found a cheap flight out of Phoenix for 4 days in Dec. Looking for any recs.
     
  49. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
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    If it’s cheap and you have the time, go. You will need a visa though so factor that into your price. Shanghai is a giant modern city. Great for going out and eating/drinking but not much as far as history and sightseeing.
    Like 20 years ago, one of its major financial areas, pu dong was farmland. When I went I had a friend with Chinese family who blew us away hosting us. If you end up going i’ll Try to look up some more specific recs but pretty much everything was planned for us. I preferred Beijing and Hong Kong to it personally, which are not far flights.
     
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  50. hawkeyeOUTeast

    hawkeyeOUTeast Well-Known Member
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    Tian Zi Fang is one of my favorite pockets of Shanghai. It’s a great city, worth visiting if you have a cheap flight. I always have a host as well, so not sure how it’d be without. Let me try and find some of the other areas I enjoyed and get back to you.
     
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