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

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

  1. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Supposedly with renewals you can often avoid an interview, but only if it’s processed before expiration :feelsbadman:
     
  2. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    The ones that are posted in that format come from Scott's cheap flights premium membership
     
    #16152 Arkadin, Jan 23, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2019
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  3. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Thanks for sharing them with us.
     
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  4. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Depends on time of year tho.

    Summer south
    Winter north
     
  5. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    We went on a cruise, but we liked the North Island more than the South Island. Here is my ranking based on the port cities we stopped in (both North and South Island)

    1. Rotorua – this is on a geo-thermal area of the north island and we visited a living Maori village. It was a pretty surreal experience. Also visited a Kiwi fruit farm.

    2. The Fiorlands (we did Milford, Dusky [No PSU jokes] and Doubtful sounds) – if you can cruise through the sounds, it’s worth it for the pictures alone – it is really amazing

    3. Tie between Picton and Napier – we love wine and both places had tons of cellar doors and the scenery was spectacular (and the wine was excellent).

    4. Auckland – can spend a few days here alone

    5. Christchurch – we didn’t spend much time here because our shop docked about an hour away. It had a major earthquake eight years ago and the city has been rebuilt in a number of places. Had to be the cleanest city I've ever seen.

    6. Dunedin – only low on our list because we had a scheduling snafu – it has a huge Scottish influence and if you can take the Taieri Gorge train, it is worth the money
     
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  6. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    It also seems like I can't find shit one Bedroom type condos in Hanalei.

    Staying in a 2/1 right near Pipe for like $160.

    Everything in Hanalei seems to be $350+
     
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  7. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    New Zealand is a top 3 country for me. Milford Sound is an absolute must, it’s hard to put that place into words.

    I want to retire in Wanaka.
     
  8. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO: London (LGW)
    Calgary (YYC) - $608 CAD
    Miami (MIA) - $405
    New York City (JFK) - $351*
    Orlando (MCO) - $441
    Toronto (YYZ) - $567 CAD

    TO: London (LHR)
    Boston (BOS) - $368*
    Chicago (ORD) - $431
    Denver (DEN) - $404
    Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) - $415
    Las Vegas (LAS) - $410
    New York City (LGA) - $404
    Newark (EWR) - $384
    San Francisco (SFO) - $456*
    San Jose (SJC) - $409*
    Seattle (SEA) - $433
    Washington DC (IAD) - $473*

    * - nonstop / direct
    WHEN: Varies significantly by route. Generally January through April and October through early December 2019
     
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  9. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Leaving for Paris/Chamonix in like 2 weeks (2-8). Any tips? Mainly for Chamonix as I think Paris has already been planned out (not by me).
     
  10. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    wife constantly gets recruited to move there, maybe this vacation will be scouting
     
  11. The B1G Kucktis

    The B1G Kucktis 2 years, VARSITY!!
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    I'm with you. I told my wife we could live in New Zealand and she agreed.
     
  12. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Shit. Just dawned on me that my parents have to apply for Passports for a trip I got them for Christmas. I also have to renew my passport relatively soon so I am not left out of a trip to Scotland in April (Passport expires in Oct.).
     
  13. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    What does your wife do and how do I get my gf involved in it?
     
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  14. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
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    Given your days and location here are just some ideas that are within reach. (In no order)

    1. Bay of Islands/ Beaches north of Auckland- I've heard good things though I have never experienced myself, also some surfing possibilities up that way.
    2. Lake Taupo/ Tongariro NP/ Rotorua- This would be more like geothermal pools, volcanic area hikes, and native Maori village stuff
    3. Napier/Hawks bay- 1920's vibe city with the largest amount of wineries in the North Island

    The first two I cant speak on directly as I did not go. I found Napier/Hawks bay to be fine but I'm not sure it would warrant a rental car and a drive, but it might become worth your time if you mixed in #2 Lake Taupo, etc. if those things interest you. If it were me given your situation: Id probably spend a day or two in Auckland and then rent a car and explore North towards the Bay of Islands and then come back.

    For background we flew into Auckland and took a car from there down to Queenstown for a little over two weeks. Loved NZ and wouldnt mind living there, but I was a much bigger fan of the South Island than the North.
     
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  15. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    #2 is what the majority of the internet seems to recommend
     
  16. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    Team South Island. Auckland is fine, but it’s just a city (a congested, overpriced one at that). The rest of the country is what’s breathtakingly beautiful.
     
  17. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
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    The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy :lovelove:
     
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  18. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    Sorry lemme rephrase

    Westerly beaches on the northern parts of the island in the winter, westerly beaches on the southern parts of the islands in the summer.
     
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  19. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Lyrtch tjosu ohhaithur
    Did you folks utilize money belts in Rome? If so what brand did you use and did you like it?
     
  20. Why?Pokes

    Why?Pokes Take me back to the kine
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    Go front pocket and keep your hand in there whenever you’re in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. If you’re super worried about it keep the bulk of your cash in a breast button-or-zipper pocket. You’ll be fine.

    I was by Trevi when the crowd started getting thick and kept a lookout because it seemed like the time and place. All of the sudden I felt someone grab a hand-full of Christmas ham, turned around and gave the dude a huge grin, and he scowled before wandering off. Made my day.

    Any of the notorious spots you’ll be cool if you just exercise some caution and not have it half hanging out your back pocket. I imagine nothing screams “please try to rob me” more like a disoriented scatterbrain struggling to pull a couple euros out of his “secret” belt while buying a cheap souvenir.
     
  21. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
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    I think it was the Hanakapiai Falls trail where there was only like a 1 foot ledge for like 50' and the entire part of that was wet from runoff from the cliff above and thus slick and at one point there was like a 5 foot gap where the ledge was gone and you had to jump. Was there with the family and had to tell my mom to head back as even I was moderately worried about getting hurt. the Falls were worth it though.
     
  22. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I did not, I wear tight shorts to accentuate my feminine thighs so not thief can get their hands on my pockets
     
  23. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    One good thing about the time of year we went is that we needed coats so I had my inside chest pocket that I kept everything in. Girlfriend has a money belt that she insists on using and I'm fine with it because we can keep the room key and she can keep her stuff so that my pockets aren't stuffed. I can't find the one she has on Amazon right now but it has a front and back zipper; pockets are even big enough to fit the passports
     
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  24. Russellin4885

    Russellin4885 Well-Known Member
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    This has always been my technique everywhere and never had any problems.
     
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  25. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    Did not. Was colder so had jacket with zipper pocket everywhere.
     
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  26. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Thanks for asking me dammit

    No money belt, just wallet and loose cash in my front pocket. I've developed a walk where my left thumb grazes my wallet every other step I take while traveling, so anybody who messes with it has a very short time in which to unbutton the pocket and take anything. I also tend to scan the crowd and make eye contact with as many people as possible, and glare a lot. If they think you're alert, they'll look for easier marks. Only once did I feel like we were being targeted, with a front-back team, and I steered the family off to the side and pretended to want to take a family picture.

    Friends got hit by a team in Barcelona two years ago. One squirted a mustard packet in the air and it came down on friend's shirt, another came by to politely tell him he'd been hit by bird poop and started helping him wipe it off, third hit his wallet while he was distracted.
     
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  27. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Dublin st pats
     
  28. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO:

    Dublin (DUB)


    FROM:

    Baltimore (BWI) - $464

    Boston (BOS) - $413*

    Charlotte (CLT) - $450

    Chicago (ORD) - $428

    Cincinnati (CVG) - $463

    Cleveland (CLE) - $439

    Dallas (DFW) - $459

    Denver (DEN) - $437

    Hartford (BDL) - $458

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $480

    Los Angeles (LAX) - $450

    Miami (MIA) - $459

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $420

    Nashville (BNA) - $459

    New Orleans (MSY) - $485

    New York City (JFK) - $393

    Newark (EWR) - $3

    Orlando (MCO) - $408

    Ottawa (YOW) - $565 CAD

    Philadelphia (PHL) - $364

    Phoenix (PHX) - $435

    Pittsburgh (PIT) - $429

    Providence (PVD) - $342

    Raleigh (RDU) - $455

    San Francisco (SFO) - $435

    Seattle (SEA) - $435

    St. Louis (STL) - $437

    Tampa (TPA) - $352

    Toronto (YYZ) - $545 CAD

    Washington DC (DCA) - $464

    Washington DC (IAD) - $464


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies significantly by origin. Generally January through April and October through early December 2019. There is some limited St. Patrick's Day availability for some routes.
    NORMAL PRICE: $850+
    AIRLINE(S): Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Delta, Lufthansa, United, WestJet
    BUY BY: We think these fares will last 1-2 days
     
  29. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    we're getting a direct flight to dublin starting here soon, think we may go with a couple friends who are Irish immigrants this July
     
  30. harvey birdman

    harvey birdman Ha ha! Last laugh.
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    I was driven around the South Island. Went from Auckland to Wellington then ferried down to the South Island and we went counterclockwise.
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  31. harvey birdman

    harvey birdman Ha ha! Last laugh.
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    Also Team South Island
     
  32. harvey birdman

    harvey birdman Ha ha! Last laugh.
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    ArsenalFlorida Gators

    Arkadin Where do you get these prices from?
     
  33. Spontaneous Cumbustion

    Spontaneous Cumbustion Well-Known Member
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    My passport just expired and I have to go to Brazil or work at some point in the next couple of months. Currently waiting to get the passport back and then I have to get a visa for Brazil. They're still working on these now but have told us that everything will be delayed. Fucking government shutdown.
     
  34. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Scott's cheap flights
     
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  35. Whammy

    Whammy Donde es
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    Not sure if you need a special business visa, but took me less than 24 hours online from the Brazilians. So when you get your passport, should be pretty quick
     
  36. rezy

    rezy Member
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    I don’t know what the timeline is, but the new Brazilian president has said he wants to get rid of the visa requirement for US citizens this year.
     
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  37. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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  38. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Looks great, odd there's only one review (and it's neutral) but hope it works out
     
  39. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    i imagine the market for giant forest gaming mansions in TN is low
     
  40. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    This will be our fourth annual retreat. We did Palm Springs, Tahoe, and then last year went back to Palm Springs. I have a great team so we always have a blast. We bring a chef to cook meals and do grocery/liquor runs so unless there's open sewage or the place is missing a roof we'll make it work.
     
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  41. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Are you not familiar with Pigeon Forge?
     
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  42. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    i thought it was only a honeymoon location

    (not really, no)
     
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  43. Wendel Clark

    Wendel Clark Gambling God
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    On my way to Dubai. Decided delta for the miles. Leave ATL for CDG and 1 hour in they tell me my Dubai flight is cancelled. Got switched to Emirates.

    Just wanted to say CDG airport is a fucking nightmare. I’ve been riding on a bus for 20 mins trying to get to my terminal
     
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  44. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I dont think cdx is a thing so I think I found your issue
     
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  45. Wendel Clark

    Wendel Clark Gambling God
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    CDG or whatever. Fucking brutal airport.
     
  46. Wendel Clark

    Wendel Clark Gambling God
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    I’m now in a taxi to downtown Paris to kill a bunch of time. I asked him to take me to the Eiffel Tower and he had no idea where I wanted to go
     
  47. The Banks

    The Banks TMB's Alaskan
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    [​IMG]
     
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  48. tjosu

    tjosu This is kind of like the breakfast club, huh?
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    Taxi was your first mistake. God speed
     
    Jax Teller likes this.
  49. Wendel Clark

    Wendel Clark Gambling God
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    Just landed in Dubai. Emirates really is just way more amazing than other airline
     
  50. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Yep. My man Jax Teller knows his airlines