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

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

  1. bro

    bro Your Mother’s Favorite Shitposter
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  2. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    Bachelor wants to do Cabo in October. Any do’s or dont’s I should know? Area I should stay in?
     
    #17352 941Gator, Apr 11, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2019
  3. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    FWIW, I work out with a neurologist who was born, raised, and educated in Bonn, and when we were discussing a potential Barcelona to Rome trip for my family, he said that Marseilles was a shithole. He did rave about Perpignan near the Spanish border, and said he loved Nimes, near Avignon. I did say that I wanted to see well-preserved Roman stuff, so maybe he was just listing some of the best places for that. But I did get the impression that he thought of Marseilles as too gritty, and that there were other, better places to see in the area.
     
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  4. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
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    the bourdain episode in Marseilles seems to dig into why so many of the french and europeans dislike marseilles
     
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  5. Menelaus

    Menelaus The Red-Haired King
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    Everyone says that, and maybe it once was true, but it’s an absolutely beautiful place. The outskirts are indeed rough, and the old town isn’t as pristine as the top Western European cities, but that’s part of the charm. Food is absolutely incredible too.
     
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  6. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Leave for South Africa in one week and I am absolutely swamped at work. So I'll post on TMB instead.

    I do have some pretty sweet Burn outfits, though. GF and I have greatly revised a few old Jos A Banks suits I had in the back of the closet.
     
  7. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
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    Just ask for a recess. That always works on TV
     
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  8. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Anyone ever been to Bonaire? It’s a small island off of Venezuela near Aruba. Probably going to go in August and all I know about the island is that scuba diving there is top notch.
     
  9. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I have some friends who have been if you want me to ask
     
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  10. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Just make sure you don't lose your phone :bunnywithapancakeonitshead:
     
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  11. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I will not make any promises. Thanks
     
  12. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Just curious about the vibe on the island. Is it all diver tourism only? Is there food? Any nightlife at all -- could a single friend expect to at least have a chance at meeting other tourist girls? How are the beaches if you want to take a break from diving?

    Thanks homie.
     
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  13. laxjoe

    laxjoe Well-Known Member
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    flying tomorrow and I'm going to be gone for ~6 weeks, so I'm wanting to a take a portable safe I have to store valuables with me while i'm away from home. cannot for the life of me find any guidance on packing a safe in my checked bags. if it's locked, will TSA need to get in to see what's inside?
     
  14. Fancy

    Fancy thanks, i hate it
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    hello.

    doing my honeymoon in Tokyo and need some help with regards to hotels. Is anyone an expert on Tokyo? Looking to stay in a cool part of town with accessible subways and a nice hotel. Help computer.
     
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  15. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    I’m mobile so can answer more later but stay in Shibuya or Shinjuku.
     
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  16. Fancy

    Fancy thanks, i hate it
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    Was thinking that. Stayed in Ginza last time (when I was on more of a budget) and it wasn't as fun as I wanted it to be but it was also free lodging. Any opinion on hotels? Park Hyatt is cool but wanted to check out other things.
     
  17. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    We did Airbnb the whole time and actually switched neighborhoods every few days just to experience the whole city.
     
  18. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    Who are you and what did you do with fancys avatar
     
  19. Fancy

    Fancy thanks, i hate it
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    Probably a better idea but we're going to be moving around to Kyoto after a few days so decided on the hotel route.
     
  20. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    British Airways flight from Jo-burg to Cape Town. Tight, tight

    Dear Customer,
    Flight BA6403 on 23-Apr/JNB - British Airways: we may experience disruptions to our service resulting from possible strike action. Please check-in online at ba.com or use the mobile app. Arrive 2hrs prior to departure and make use of the Bag Drop counters. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Details on www.comair.co.za

    Dear Customer,
    Flight BA6403 on 23-Apr/JNB - We have been issued with a strike notice, by NUMSA, effective Thurs 18 April, 13h00. We have contingency plans in place and intend to continue our daily operations as scheduled. Read statement (http://www.comair.co.za/media-room/...al-action-by-some-comair-airport-ground-staff)
     
  21. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Virgin and some others fly between those cities. Not sure if that's helpful if you need to rebook
     
  22. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    It says in that statement that you should be fine
     
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  23. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    There are a ton of options between the two cities. We get back to Jo-burg airport from the safari around 6-7 PM, so had to get a later flight. Not terribly concerned, but just procrastinating until I leave.
     
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  24. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Arkadin you ever hear back from your friends about Bonaire?
     
  25. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    He said there's a couple of night life spots but not a bunch. Super limited on random tourist chicks but there is a chance. Beaches and diving are phenomenal but its not really a backpacker or young tourist crowd place at all. Said it's the best scuba he's ever seen
     
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  26. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
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    Kind of what I expected. Thanks for asking. :respek:
     
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  27. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Has anybody ever declared anything at Customs you're bringing in to a foreign country?

    My buddy and I want to bring a bunch of good PNW beers to Afrikaburn to share. Plan is to get 6-8 six-packs (cans) from local breweries and put it in our checked bag--we have one big bag we're checking with all festival stuff we won't need for the rest of the trip. Reading online says canned beers will be fine in the storage area for checked luggage.

    In looking at TSA and South Africa's customs website, it looks like you can bring any mount of alcohol below 25% ABV. Over 1 liter, you just have to pay a 14% VAT, which we're fine with. Just wondering if it will be a simple process--"hey, we have some beers, here are the receipts for the price, here's some $$$."
     
  28. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Not sure if this qualifies, but back in 1998 I planned to take my mother's ashes to Austria and put them in the waterfall above Hallstatt so she could have one last trip through town before settling in the lake. Called the Austrian Consulate in Los Angeles to ask them what the protocol was for bringing cremated remains into Austria, did I need any paperwork going through customs at Schwechat in Wien, etc. The consulate guy politely listened to my story and questions, then chuckled and said "Why are you even telling me this? Just do it, and we'll never know. Sorry about your mother, and have a good trip." Sailed through customs, nobody ever asked about the plastic container in my carry-on. Polite wave-through and a "Willcommen" from the uniforms was all we got.

    Things have changed since then, I would think
     
  29. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I doubt you'd even need receipts tbh. Just fill out their value on the custom form and pay them what they want
     
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  30. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I had thought about that (as well as just not declaring anything), but did read on some forums that if you don't have receipts they can arbitrarily assign a price and make you pay 14% of whatever that is. Probably rare, though.

    Hadn't thought about the customs form, that would probably be sufficient. If you're upfront and willing to give them money, I can't imagine they'll be upset.
     
  31. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Be prepared for a cavity search anyway
     
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  32. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Random story... China is very strict on this.

    My coworker sends back clothes and they unpack every box and assign a tariff to it. Sometimes they'll make the tariff massive and ppl will jsut deny it and they'll take it

    Coworker had to fight in one time and sent receipts over on clothes they claimed to be multiple thousands of dollars

    /random story
     
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  33. ohhaithur

    ohhaithur e-Batman
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    Park Hyatt Tokyo is considered very overrated and worn. Hyatt Regency is less expensive and better

    Also, pick a neighborhood you can do nightlife in because it's not very accessible at off hours. Trains stop
     
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  34. southside

    southside Well-Known Member
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    Good call. And Uber’s are pretty expensive relative to other expenses in the country.
     
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  35. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
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    I recently switched up my kill time show from the office to amazing race. Bad idea. Now I want to go all of the places and have none of the money and all of the 2-week-old.
     
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  36. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    I don't think they've ever had an infant as one of the partners. There's your in
     
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  37. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
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    But what about the roadblocks?
     
  38. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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    God speed, baby racer
     
    racer likes this.
  39. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    Dubai airport is insane. One more 10 hour flight.
     
  40. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
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  41. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Is this an indictment of Boeing or SC
     
  42. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    The FAA
     
  43. xec

    xec Well-Known Member
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    Boeing to a large extent. This is what happens when large companies go through their “LEAN 2015” or related process. The people at the top of the chart have no idea what the realities of production are. They just need to increase profit by X% in order to get their bonuses. The people and teams at the bottom of the chart then have to meet unrealistic production goals or be fired. They do what they have to do.
     
  44. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
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    I was just no more than 5 feet away from a mother fucking great white shark. On the way back to Cape Town, we stopped and watch 2 huge right whales swim by like 30-40 yards from shore.

    Saw the big 5 our first morning in Kruger. Can’t even begin to describe how many animals we saw. Saw 3 leopards, one walked right next to our jeep. Kruger is a damn special place.
    04D1167F-54B6-4202-8688-9896FEE92B8A.jpeg 2823E80C-BDB8-4974-ABFC-2F6EF4D0FD7C.jpeg

    South Africa is indescribable. I can’t think of the adjectives to do it justice. Can’t believe it took me so long to visit.

    Leave for the burn in 3 days. Just secured 2 kegs and a cooling system from a local brewery.

    Seacrest out
     
  45. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
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    Kruger, you say?

     
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  46. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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  47. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    Yeah I'm watching. Reminds me of Margaret River two years ago when he just destroyed everyone.

    Him vs Gabby in the Rd8 tomorrow should be fun especially if the size stays.

    <3 JJF
     
  48. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    I’m standing in line at a 7-11. Fuck me.
     
  49. Weedlord420

    Weedlord420 Well-Known Member
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    John John rings the bell :fap::8mm:
     
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  50. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
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    That was fun. Back in the yellow jersey