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

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

  1. harvey birdman

    harvey birdman Ha ha! Last laugh.
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    Any places that are must visits in Amsterdam or Paris? All the recs have been great, just don't want to miss out on anything since I'm only there for a week.
     
    #16551 harvey birdman, Feb 14, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2019
  2. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    This one?
    http://www.skyroam.com/solis

    The reviews I’ve read say that after your initial 500mbs are used up it basically throttles you to dial-up speeds. Have you had a better experience?
     
  3. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    How would Fi speed up the data connnection you’re getting from your phone?
     
  4. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    i'm saying if you don't have a data connection on Verizon or AT&T or it's exorbitantly priced

    I'm mostly going off Verizon international knowledge from like 2012 when if you left the country you basically needed to turn your phone off or be rich to afford it, the roaming charges varied dramatically even within countries, etc.

    Fi is very simple is why I chose to leave Verizon for it (and it's way cheaper).
     
  5. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    I’m admittedly know little about it but I was thinking it was a device. If it’s just another service option then that makes sense
     
  6. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    Yeah Google a few years ago basically wanted to create a one size fits all domestic and international service. You land in a new country and your phone pops up "Welcome to Italy, data is $10/gig, texts are free, and calling is $.10 a minute." No sim changing required.

    I've been very pleased. Even though it won't work in Vietnam, damn commies keep their cell service to state companies (its actually cool they do this ftr).
     
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  7. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Tmobile international free data and texting is the shit
     
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  8. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
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    Yea I dont think Ive ever been throttled. But ive never used it outside Latin America and I was never streaming shit. It was just a reliable service for me to use my laptop before I knew how to hotspot my phone. And I use sim card far abroad.
     
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  9. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Seem like good times to visit oslo...

    TO:

    Oslo (OSL)


    FROM:

    New York City (JFK) - $266

    Newark (EWR) - $266



    WHEN: April through May and September 2019
     
  10. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO:

    Bangkok (BKK)


    FROM:

    Chicago (ORD) - $538

    Houston (IAH) - $514

    New York City (JFK) - $501

    New York City (LGA) - $501

    Newark (EWR) - $495



    WHEN: March through May 2019
    NORMAL PRICE: $1,000+
    AIRLINE(S): ANA, United
    BUY BY: We think these fares will last less than 24 hours
     
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  11. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Verizon is now like $10/day unlimited for non US
     
  12. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    more reasonable than it used to be but that's still steep
     
  13. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Did you use it in SA?
     
  14. rezy

    rezy Member
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    I used my phone as a hot spot for someone in Vietnam with a local sim. I have an iPhone X
     
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  15. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    After doing some research, this is what I'm going to do on my phone. Either through a Verizon international plan or buying a sim card.

    Foreign sim cards are really for texting, right? Would I burn through one using it primarily for the hotspot to send emails and read documents?
     
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  16. rezy

    rezy Member
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    I ran out of data after 27 days, cost me $10 for that then spent another $4 for another 2 weeks but only used it for 2 days. That was with a lot of streaming hbo/netflix/espn
     
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  17. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Today is the big day. Vallee Blanche time. Wish me luck.

     
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  18. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    I used it in Peru, Argentina and Colombia. No complaints besides it draining your battery
     
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  19. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    $100 more for a 10-day trip isn't too bad. They also charged by a 24-hour. So it's pretty easy to roll over between days, and if you're going to most major areas you don't really need it cuz you'll be able to have Wi-Fi. But it is nice if you're driving for a day and need GPS or your kind of going in between to sketch areas and you definitely need to call an Uber easily.
     
  20. Jimmy the Saint

    Jimmy the Saint The future is a benevolent black hole
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    While I do think $10 is kinda shitty I gladly pay it to know I’ll have easy access for those reasons.
     
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  21. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    I don't think I did. I was old school in used Maps. Also that was in 2012, and I'm not sure they had that released then.

    I did use it in Brazil and Argentina. I don't know nt think you can use your phone as a hot spot on it.

    I'd check
     
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  22. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Probably be fine with just whatsapp.

    That was heavily used in SA
     
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  23. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Yeah I definitely don't use it the entire time I'm traveling abroad, but I will use it and turn it on in certain situations when I definitely need Wi-Fi.

    Getting a SIM card and swapping out your phone just seems like a hassle. I don't know if it is or isn't but it just seems like something I have no desire to do
     
  24. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    It changes your phone number which is really inconvenient and one guy we traveled with in Argentina had all of his apps turned to Spanish and he couldn't figure out how to work some of them
     
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  25. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    I don't recall the one I used while in Japan but it was amazing and very helpful. Likely more expensive than turning on international data for a few days but it worked fantastic. It was small enough to fit in my jeans pocket and the battery lasted for around 8+ hours. In fact, if I ever stop being a slacker and post my Japan write-up, one of the things I was going to suggest was getting a portable WiFi.
     
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  26. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    And yes, what Where Eagles Dare said for texting, use the WhatsApp. I have used that for a while and am very pleased with it. Only annoyance is a recent update now requires me to actually download any picture or gif I receive to my phone (like saved in My Photos) in order to see it.
     
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  27. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    TO:

    Ho Chi Minh (SGN)


    FROM:

    Chicago (ORD) - $544

    Washington DC (DCA) - $532

    Washington DC (IAD) - $501



    WHEN: Varies by route. Generally April through May and August through September 2019
     
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  28. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Perfectly fine imo because there’s a risk vs. reward tradeoff with it.

    Flying etiquette/pet peeves are fascinating tbh.
     
  29. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    - tour one of the port wine cavas in Vila do Gaia. It’s just across the River.
    - the Ribeira district at atvthe bottom of the old city and runs along the River. Good restaurants and bars.
    - Downtown is very nice to stroll around in. Walk up the hill to the Se. Take side streets. Stop in bars and have a refreshing beverage. It will be hot in July.
    -Sao Bento train station for the azulejo tiles.
    -the lion/eagle monument in the Mouzinho de Albuquerque square is awesome.
    - Ananas com Vinho do Porto is a dessert you should try. Pineapple marinated in port. Is delicious.
    -I didn’t use the public transit system (I’m a walker) but I hear it’s very good.
    -I also didn’t make it to the ocean or any of the beaches. But most people recommend it.
    -stick to seafood and pork for meals. They do a great job with both.
    -take a Douro River Cruise up the valley. It’s gorgeous and romantic.
    -outside of nearby Braga is the incredible Bom Jesus do Monte stairway.
    -I doubt FC Porto will be in season in July. If they are, it’s fun to catch a game. They are one of Europe’s top clubs.
    -As far as night life goes, I can’t help much. The last time I was there a group of University of Porto students took me to a nightclub one evening. When we departed the club it was daytime the next day.
    -I have friends in Porto. If you are especially interested in anything I can ask them and get back to you.
     
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  30. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Do it all the time.
     
  31. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    I am by nature a pretty nice and easy going guy, but I spend an inordinate amount of my time on planes/in airports making lists of who I want to kill. First are the able-bodied people who stand on moving walkways, followed closely by gate lice (the people in group 7/8/9 who crowd the gate and block others), and so on...
     
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  32. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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  33. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    I survived btw... BARELY. My legs might fall off.
     
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  34. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Watched that video you posted, it looked awesome
     
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  35. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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  36. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    no chance in hell I'm going to a theme park while on vacation but the world's first Buddhism theme park just south of Ho Chi Minh City looks like a hell of an acid trip
    [​IMG]
     
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  37. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Damn it, now I really want to go there. I love theme parks and that looks completely out there for me.
     
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  38. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Right now I have:

    Jun 27: Flight out
    Jun 28: 7 Hour layover in Zurich gonna spend a few hours downtown
    Jun 29-30: Chiang Mai
    July 1: Bus to border crossing/day in Huay Xai
    July 2-4: Gibbon Experience
    July 5: Depart Huay Xai on slow boat down Mekong
    July 6: Boat lands in Luang Prabang
    July 6-8: Luang Prabang
    July 9-12: Vang Vieng
    July 13-14: Vientinne
    July 15-16: Bangkok
    July 17: Home

    I know we have minimal laos experience in here but any thoughts/tips are welcome
     
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  39. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    We're currently looking at:

    Apr 28: DFW-FRA
    Apr 29: 12 hour layover in FRA, then fly to Bangkok
    Apr 30: Bangkok to Siem Reap
    May 1: Angkor Wat
    May 2-4: Hanoi
    May 5-7: Phong Nha Nat'l Park
    May 8-10: Da Lat
    May 11: Saigon
    May 12-13: 36 hours of SGN-BKK-FRA-DFW :killme:
     
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  40. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I would be all over that
     
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  41. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    TMB Spring 2020 meet up at Buddhist Theme Park?
     
  42. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    That's a hell of a return flight. Did you use points and that was your only option?

    In Hanoi, best pho I've ever had:
    https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293924-d1568591-Reviews-Pho_10-Hanoi.html

    Ate there almost every day
     
  43. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    khao soi khun yai is going to be closed when im in chiang mai and im fucking sad about it
     
  44. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    going to be 20 minutes from that theme park in a few weeks

    HMMMMMM
     
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  45. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    and I thought the ~30 hours doing SGN - HKG - LAX - MSP was going to be bad
     
  46. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    building a buddha disney world seems like it might send lots of people to prison in some SEA locations
     
  47. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Was about to comment the same thing. Just the phrase "Buddha theme park" is an oxymoron in itself.
     
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  48. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    my way home is like 36 hours. bkk to ist to gva to jfk is only 28 but the only direct back to charleston after that is like a 5 hour wait plus flight time
     
    #16598 Arkadin, Feb 15, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2019
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  49. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    i think after delays and shit it took southside and i close to 48 hours to get home a few summers ago
     
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  50. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    My first trip back from SE Asia was 42 hours. Brutal.

    But it did allow me a day around Seoul, at least.
     
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