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

I didn't download enough stuff for my time while in Japan and when I tried to download more stuff from Amazon Prime it wouldn't let me do it due to being region locked. I don't know what the Fire Stick with a VPN is that Arkadin is talking about but if it works, then go with it.

 

TO:

Santiago (SCL)

FROM:

Austin (AUS) - $657
Calgary (YYC) - $770 CAD
Denver (DEN) - $678
Edmonton (YEG) - $825 CAD
Fresno (FAT) - $667
Oakland (OAK) - $667
Portland (PDX) - $597
Reno (RNO) - $667
Sacramento (SMF) - $667
San Antonio (SAT) - $676
San Francisco (SFO) - $569
Vancouver (YVR) - $760 CAD
Washington DC (IAD) - $620
WHEN: Varies greatly by origin. Generally January through November 2019. Some routes such as SAT and DEN are more limited and most of the availability is September through November 2019.

 

Booked 2 days ago

From 3/15-4/18
LAX to Nairobi
Nairobi to Mahe Seychelles
Seychelles to Cape Town
Cape Town to NY
NY to ?? either home or potentially Belize

Just saw a terrorist attack just happened in Nairobi so thats cool.

 

That's a hell of an itinerary. Dig it

I would try and fit in Madagascar, too.

 

That means they aren’t due for another one for a while

 

Im way to poor now to try and pull that off, flights around Africa get pretty pricey.

 

That was my logic too

Also thanks to Gin Buckets for the write up on Nairobi we ended up going with Simba Adventures because of it.

 

Pretty interesting timeline of Captain Sully recounting the events on the anniversary of that crash. Couple clips from them talking to ATC...no clue how people can sound so calm in such a situation

https://twitter.com/Captsully

 

I will be arriving in Jo-burg and immediately heading to Kruger National Park on 4/20

 

TO: Buenos Aires (EZE)
Newark (EWR) - $484*

TO: Montevideo (MVD)
New York City (JFK) - $486
Newark (EWR) - $501

* - nonstop / direct
WHEN: Varies by route. Generally March through May 2019.

 

Well that’s absurdly cheap

 

Some people will do anything to get out of Newark

 

Yeah, I am flying home in suites on Singapore air so I just went to the private room. Ate a 3 course meal there then ate 2 more meals on the flight to Frankfurt. 2 more meals to go until I get to New York

 

how much was that ticket/redemption? Currently doing the math on using miles for 2 RT in business from IAH/SFO > SIN for our honeymoon.

 

That's awesome. Is is the new suites or the old ones? I have flown business with SQ and it was fantastic. I'm sure first is incredible.

 

I did old suites, they were still perfect. Some of the best food I’ve ever had and must’ve drank like 6 bottles of Dom and Krug

 

I did Korean first to Saigon and Singapore back to nyc. I think it was 120,000 for suites on Singapore to jfk

 

Amazing man. You won't regret it (especially if Emmanuel is your driver, he was amazing). Are you camping as well? Doing all 4 nights?

 

Yup Camping and doing all 4 nights, pretty stoked. Not spending too much time in Nairobi more of a fly in bus out, but hoping to have enough time to visit the giraffe and elephant centers.

 

We did those things the morning after landing, and it was no problem -- we were done by lunch. Remember to leave the elephant orphanage like 10 minutes early to beat the traffic all heading to the giraffe center, this way you'll beat the traffic and have some time to spend with the giraffes sans the orphanage crowd.

I can't remember what all I wrote previously, but b ring ski goggles, binoculars, and a bandana if you have them. Of those 3 things, I wish I'd brought ski goggles the most. It was super annoying dealing with the dust in The Serengeti at times. With regards to the other 2, they have binoculars in the truck, but it's nice to have your own, and a bandana is also for the dust. Can't wait to hear your experience after the 3 nights camping. Don't be disappointed the first night, it's kind of at a lodge or hotel or something with a pool -- it might be worth getting a room there that night (worth checking on ahead of time imo). The other nights are very legit camping experiences -- excited to hear your stories after the Serengeti and Ngorrogorro nights. There were legit hyenas right outside my tent (I heard them literally brush the tent as they trotted by) in The Serengeti. In Ngorogoro, I woke up to hear Zebras feeding, and ultimately laying down right next to our tents. It was wild and amazing.

Do you have much time in Arusha?

 

Not much.

We land on the 17th at 7:40pm, safari starts on the 19th. Need to take a bus trip to Arusha. Safari ends on the evening of the 23rd, flight out is on the 25th at noon. Have to take a bus trip back to Nairobi from Arusha.

If theres an afternoon bus to Arusha on the 18th we can try and fit in the elephant/giraffe sanctuary on the 18th morning. Doubt we will have much time in Arusha but it could be possible for dinner.

Also definitely noted your tips from your original write up will use them when we are there.

 

Leave tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM and both the GF and I are sick as shit with the same thing, really bad chest cold. Have been pumping myself full of Dayquil and vitamin C since Monday with little change.

This fucking sucks.

 

Hydrate baby

 

941Gator Arkadin BayouMafia @anyoneelse...If I wanted to be near a surf town and a place with nightlife in Costa Rica, is there an ideal town?

Evaluating a few trip destinations and trying to gauge price and logistics. I've seen posts here and heard elsewhere about Playa Guiones, Puerto Viejo and Jaco Beach

Gracias

 

Playa Hermosa just south of Jaco has awesome waves. They host surf comps there. It's like 10 minutes south

 

Don’t know shit about Costa Rica but I know the people that run this place are really cool

https://www.room2board.com/

 

Jaco's surf is a good place to learn. Hermosa just south is legit.

 

Is Jaco sort of the guaranteed party destination?

Also hadn't thought much about surfing, personally. Probably some hiking and other outdoor stuff, but if the lessons are there, why the heck not

 

Yeah jaco is where the partying is. Its gross and dirty but if you're cool with that that's where the party is at. It's where you can learn to surf. I really like playa hermosa even if you can't surf, there's like 4 bars right there that are all next to each other with hostels and everyone parties a d watches people surf.

I haven't been to the north, but esterillo oeste/hermosa/some jaco/Manuel Antonio was awesome.

 

Has anyone flown Avianca or Copa Airlines?

 

Both fine

 

If you're flying them in Colombia, check in an hour early. They will give your seat away. It's a thing.

 

If you are going to surf in Jaco, leave anything you care about back in your hotel/hostel. We got our stuff swiped but luckily it wasn’t anything we cared about.

We much preferred the Manuel Antonio area to Jaco. Jaco was pretty gross and prostitutes everywhere harassing you on the streets.

 

Airbnb are definitely nicer up north, but Jaco seems more fun. Would likely arrive sometime Friday and leave Tuesday. Perhaps Jaco would be best, or I just need to plan for 5-6 days in Costa Rica to get a better trip out of it.

 

5-6 days imo

 

Look into Tamarindo too. Can fly into Liberia and drive over. Probably the biggest surf destination in CR. Take a boat trip to Ollie's Point.

I just went to Santa Teresa and surfed every day. It's a small beach town that does have partying and hostels along with a bunch of amazing restaurants. Surfed 3 different breaks.

April-Sep or so is high season for Central America.

Another option is flying into Liberia and driving north to San Juan Del Sur in Nica. Good surf and partying.

 

Really simple. Tutorials all over the internet. Take you a couple minutes

 

Thanks. I can get Avianca $427, arrive Thurs night and leave Tues late afternoon. At first I was indifferent to how many friends I could recruit, but now it's factoring in.

I think I mentioned way earlier, but looking at Montreal (been there) and Charleston (never been), for Fri-Mon if we don't do Costa Rica.

 

Charleston is sick and I can help with every aspect of that. I'd go there if it's a Friday to Monday trip. But if you have a couple more days I'd go to Costa

 

Fuck Kauai is damn expensive

 

The thing we notice is the same Hawaiian food on a restaurant menu is like 5X more expensive than a local place.

Here are some real good local spots.

- Mark's Place
- Roland's Mix Plate
- Fish Express

 

I'm planning on staying in Hanalei, mainly to be closer to surf. Idk if that more expensive than the eastern towns

 

Wishing Well is the best shave ice on the island.

If you get down to Poipu, Kiawe Roots is one of the best meals I’ve had. We went twice.

 

I think I'm going to try to fly into Kauai early and tour the south west side, so I'll look into it