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

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

  1. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Been to Costa Rica and just got back from Belize a little bit ago. Broad brush strokes overview:

    If you don't dive I wouldn't find Belize that interesting of a place (did not go interior Belize just stayed on Ambergis and Caye), its really a relaxed vibe and not a lot of night life that I found (I was there just at the beginning of shoulder season/end of high season). Beaches are not great with the seaweed problem, but the bar the end of the dock vibe is cool imo. But if you do dive its some of the best diving Ive done compared to (Cuba, Seychelles, Thailand, South Africa)

    Costa Ricas got a lot of shit to do with varying terrains places to party and places to not.

    So the real question is do you dive or not? If not go to Costa Rica.
     
  2. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Virginia Tech HokiesIndiana HoosiersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    Ever dove in Bonaire?
     
  3. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Had to google it to find out where it even was.

    Good diving I take it?
     
  4. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Thanks. Not a diver, leaning towards Costa. Just trying to bat around ideas for NYE.
     
    Room 15 likes this.
  5. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Big group or small?
     
  6. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    The Costa house we had for new years is the reason I ask. Need a good bit of people though
     
  7. Gin Buckets

    Gin Buckets Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Virginia Tech HokiesIndiana HoosiersAtlanta BravesAtlanta HawksAtlanta Falcons

    Yep. That's all that's there (apparently) and I've never dove, but it's where my friends are wanting to go for an annual trip.
     
  8. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Clemson TigersTennessee VolunteersBarcelonaUnited States Men's National Soccer TeamLiverpool

    We did it at the Cuban airport. No idea on doing it at the Miami as we didn’t do that. Pretty painless.
     
  9. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    Second that Belize isn't that compelling if you don't go deep inland (e.g. ruins) or dive. I just pointed my engaged friends away from honeymooning there.
     
  10. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Just me and the GF for a week-to-10 days. Very preliminary stages, but with all of our other travel plans in late 2019/early 2020 Central America looks to be the best option for NYE. And I've never explored anything between Ecuador and Mexico City.
     
  11. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Word. You two would love Costa. Like I've said previously it has some of everything
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  12. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    Anyone stayed at both the Ritz Key Biscayne and Bal Harbour? Is Bal Harbour worth 35,000 points per night more?
     
    #18112 Oranjello, Jun 10, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2019
  13. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
    Donor
    Iowa HawkeyesKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas Golden KnightsWatfordOlympicsFormula 1

    9B51C194-5350-4B08-B751-190CBD3D8BCA.png
     
  14. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    I imagine 12:50 on a Monday afternoon is a bit quicker than restaurant-going times. Would you mind updating the post when it's a more realistic time to be going to eat lunch and dinner?
     
  15. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    You just answered your own question imo
     
  16. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    Yeah, was looking for approximate timeframes and not necessarily Google Maps times since I already Googled it.
     
  17. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Oh. Well all you asked was if it was 30 minutes or farther
     
    racer likes this.
  18. Arliden

    Arliden Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Not trying to come off as a dick but you know you can punch it in to the uber app yourself later tonight
     
    racer likes this.
  19. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    Post edited to remove the offending question. I forgot how many pedants there are ITT
     
  20. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    :laugh: I mean dude he answered what you asks it's not our fault that wasn't the information you were looking for. No one was being a dick
     
    racer likes this.
  21. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    The point of my post was really to ascertain the difference in two properties from a points perspective, and I included the 30 minute question as an afterthought and essentially thinking aloud. That afterthought was needlessly detracting from my actual question
     
  22. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
    Staff Donor
    Florida Gators

    went with my girl. I would just follow my itinerary.
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  23. FriendsofJtyler

    FriendsofJtyler I strenuously object
    Donor TMB OG
    Clemson TigersWashington Capitals

    Anyone ever done a trip to Antarctica? Obviously expensive, but looks incredible.
     
  24. IvanTheTerrible

    IvanTheTerrible Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Tulane Green WaveLSU TigersSeattle SeahawksLiverpoolFormula 1

    Going to Miami the first weekend in September. Any recs are appreciated.
     
  25. Oranjello

    Oranjello Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Green Bay PackersNew Orleans SaintsGrateful DeadMississippi Rebels

    It's an approximately 30 minute uber from Key Biscayne to South Beach. HTH
     
  26. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    It’s high on my list. Really want to go hiking/climbing down there but I’m nowhere near gnarly enough



    Edit because I'm not working hard today: I don't think I'd want to do one of those short cruises from the tip of Argentina to the archipelago that extends NW from Antarctica. If and when I go, I want to do the whole damn thing. I'll probably never be extreme enough to go climbing down there, but would like to look into some guided trips or treks.

    Greenland is also really high on my list for many of the same reasons--super remote and alien landscape.
     
    #18126 Nug, Jun 11, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2019
    BayouMafia likes this.
  27. racer

    racer Yuma, where I work in software.
    Donor
    Iowa HawkeyesKansas City ChiefsLas Vegas Golden KnightsWatfordOlympicsFormula 1

    Currently running 27 minutes from Ritz Key Biscayne to South Beach
     
    Oranjello and Russellin4885 like this.
  28. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Right at lunch time, too
     
    Oranjello likes this.
  29. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Quick question on First Class Cabins. We're planning a trip to Italy currently. It's like Delta has royally fucked over Skymiles members for requesting miles redemption. I know I can jimmy things and maybe transfer miles to Virgin and then re-book. However, I wanted to know opinions on First Class Cabins on Air France, British Airways, KLM, and Turkish? I've heard great things about BA, Turkish and Virgin. Just curious as if we can't make the Skymiles work, we may book out of pocket.
     
  30. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    The most accurate information will be found by finding the type of plane on that route and googling a review of "x airline x airplane first class"

    It's very likely you'll find a review on your specific route that way
     
  31. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    I flew business class on Turkish and it was amazing, found a great deal through Chase Ultimate Rewards. My only experience.
     
  32. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Thanks.

    British will almost always be a 777, but on rare occasion a 787 out of ATL. Virgin is now using 747-400 and A340 mostly. Turkish is always a 777 or 787. KLM is usually 777 or A330. Air France is apparently about to change from a 777 to A380 due to demand of ATL to CDG route.
     
    Arkadin likes this.
  33. HunterPKP

    HunterPKP Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Thanks. Have a good friend that flies to Turkey to her parent company about once every 6 weeks. She raved about their Business Class and their lounge in Istanbul.
     
  34. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersDenver NuggetsDenver BroncosColorado AvalanceBorussia DortmundManchester UnitedColorado State Rams

    Looking for food recs in
    Seville
    Granada
    Marbella/coast around there
    Villages around Ronda/Setenil etc.
    Barcelona

    If you send me to a tourist trap I’ll haunt you after I kill myself
     
  35. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    try to get a reservation at Tickets in Barcelona
     
  36. Nelson

    Nelson Can somebody please get Ja Rhule on the phone
    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersDenver NuggetsDenver BroncosColorado AvalanceBorussia DortmundManchester UnitedColorado State Rams

    One thing we already have booked
     
    Lyrtch likes this.
  37. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    I enjoyed mama bistro in Seville

    Spain's "mercados" where it's a food hall kind of concept are great. The one in Seville is called the glass mercado and it's a lot of fun and we had really good food there
     
    Nelson likes this.
  38. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    I've spent the past 2-3 days looking up Michelin star restaurants in Barca. Trying to narrow it down, in order of preference:

    -Disfrutar
    -La Barra de Carles Abellan
    -Enoteca
    -Enigma ($400 fucking tasting menu for 40 courses)
    -Abac
    -Lasarte
     
    Nelson likes this.
  39. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    I'd only do one of Tickets or Enigma since they're run by the same guy.

    Enigma I treat like Alinea, like I want to go but it might be too out there. It's basically going to the theater type event.
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  40. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Holidays to Europe



    FROM: Newark (EWR)

    Madrid (MAD) - $318

    Manchester (MAN) - $387

    Prague (PRG) - $404

    Stockholm (ARN) - $360


    FROM: New York City (JFK)

    Barcelona (BCN) - $273*

    Basel (BSL) - $363

    Brussels (BRU) - $392

    Frankfurt (FRA) - $413

    Glasgow (GLA) - $350

    Lisbon (LIS) - $305

    Madrid (MAD) - $275*

    Manchester (MAN) - $349

    Oslo (OSL) - $279

    Stockholm (ARN) - $303

    Zurich (ZRH) - $330


    FROM: New York City (LGA)

    Madrid (MAD) - $239


    FROM: Boston (BOS)

    Brussels (BRU) - $371

    Geneva (GVA) - $454

    Glasgow (GLA) - $350

    Lisbon (LIS) - $405

    Madrid (MAD) - $288

    Malaga (AGP) - $282

    Manchester (MAN) - $444

    Oslo (OSL) - $385

    Stockholm (ARN) - $372

    Zurich (ZRH) - $403


    FROM: Philadelphia (PHL)

    Berlin (TXL) - $464

    Brussels (BRU) - $411

    Manchester (MAN) - $458*

    Zurich (ZRH) - $449*


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies greatly by origin. Generally September 2019 through April 2020, all including Thanksgiving, Xmas and NYE
     
  41. Nug

    Nug MexicanNug
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideSeattle MarinersAtlanta BravesNew Orleans Saints

    Yea, it looks wild. They bus you into 4-5 different rooms, different themes, can last up to 5-6 hours. But it's also got the reputation for a reason.
     
  42. Lyrtch

    Lyrtch My second favorite meat is hamburger
    Staff Donor

    might be interested in this (I hate the guy Bourdain picked to co-host these though)

    https://explorepartsunknown.com/play/return-to-catalunya/

    Ep 7 is the one where they are at Enigma
     
    BamaNug likes this.
  43. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Colorado BuffaloesOakland RaidersFulhamLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    If you're going true first class, Air France is supposed to be fantastic and BA very good, but if you're talking about business class, both of their cabins are below average (BA has a ton of seats and half of them are rear facing, and AF has a lot of planes with angled flat seats still). Virgins upper class is really a business class and is middle of the road. I've never flown turkish business personally but its supposed to be very good. If you're talking business class across the board I'd go Turkish>Virgin/KLM>BA>AF (assuming its angled, if full flat is above BA). If you're talking first class, only BA and AF have true first class and Id go AF, the others business is their top.
     
    Oranjello and HunterPKP like this.
  44. Arkadin

    Arkadin inefficiently efficent and unclearly clear
    Donor

    Lots of Hawaii


    TO: Honolulu (HNL)

    Albuquerque (ABQ) - $403

    Austin (AUS) - $545

    Baltimore (BWI) - $485

    Billings (BIL) - $446

    Boise (BOI) - $351

    Boston (BOS) - $563

    Bozeman (BZN) - $445

    Burbank (BUR) - $343

    Calgary (YYC) - $548 CAD

    Chicago (ORD) - $585

    Columbus (CMH) - $586

    Dallas (DFW) - $505

    Detroit (DTW) - $571

    Edmonton (YEG) - $575 CAD

    Fort Lauderdale (FLL) - $586

    Grand Junction (GJT) - $589

    Great Falls (GTF) - $491

    Halifax (YHZ) - $589 CAD

    Hamilton (YHM) - $622 CAD

    Indianapolis (IND) - $446

    Kansas City (MCI) - $483

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $355

    Long Beach (LGB) - $358*

    Medford (MFR) - $357

    Milwaukee (MKE) - $448

    Missoula (MSO) - $435

    Nashville (BNA) - $451

    New Orleans (MSY) - $473

    New York City (JFK) - $529

    Omaha (OMA) - $483

    Ontario (ONT) - $343

    Orlando (MCO) - $533

    Ottawa (YOW) - $543 CAD

    Pasco (PSC) - $417

    Phoenix (PHX) - $355

    Québec City (YQB) - $637 CAD

    Redmond (RDM) - $356

    Regina (YQR) - $551 CAD

    Reno (RNO) - $343

    Santa Ana (SNA) - $343

    Santa Barbara (SBA) - $387

    Saskatoon (YXE) - $458 CAD

    Spokane (GEG) - $427

    St. Louis (STL) - $450

    Toronto (YYZ) - $575 CAD

    Vancouver (YVR) - $450 CAD

    Victoria (YYJ) - $525 CAD

    Washington DC (IAD) - $589

    Winnipeg (YWG) - $463 CAD

    Yuma (YUM) - $504


    TO: Hilo (ITO)

    Long Beach (LGB) - $464

    Vancouver (YVR) - $458 CAD


    TO: Kona (KOA)

    Albuquerque (ABQ) - $439

    Austin (AUS) - $563

    Baltimore (BWI) - $485

    Boise (BOI) - $409

    Bozeman (BZN) - $448

    Calgary (YYC) - $442 CAD

    Chicago (ORD) - $556

    Edmonton (YEG) - $610 CAD

    El Paso (ELP) - $557

    Halifax (YHZ) - $549 CAD

    Hamilton (YHM) - $651 CAD

    Indianapolis (IND) - $456

    Kansas City (MCI) - $477

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $463

    Long Beach (LGB) - $432

    Milwaukee (MKE) - $462

    New Orleans (MSY) - $468

    New York City (JFK) - $549

    Omaha (OMA) - $550

    Ontario (ONT) - $479

    Ottawa (YOW) - $583 CAD

    Pasco (PSC) - $489

    Philadelphia (PHL) - $579

    Raleigh (RDU) - $541

    Redmond (RDM) - $368

    Saskatoon (YXE) - $498 CAD

    Spokane (GEG) - $364

    Toronto (YYZ) - $545 CAD

    Victoria (YYJ) - $545 CAD

    Washington DC (DCA) - $577

    Washington DC (IAD) - $577

    Winnipeg (YWG) - $553 CAD


    TO: Maui (OGG)

    Albuquerque (ABQ) - $355

    Baltimore (BWI) - $501

    Billings (BIL) - $394

    Boise (BOI) - $351

    Boston (BOS) - $521

    Bozeman (BZN) - $459

    Burbank (BUR) - $343

    Calgary (YYC) - $529 CAD

    Cincinnati (CVG) - $497

    Dallas (DFW) - $505

    Dayton (DAY) - $497

    Denver (DEN) - $523

    Detroit (DTW) - $525

    Edmonton (YEG) - $535 CAD

    Grand Junction (GJT) - $589

    Great Falls (GTF) - $437

    Halifax (YHZ) - $602 CAD

    Hamilton (YHM) - $572 CAD

    Houston (IAH) - $584

    Indianapolis (IND) - $486

    Juneau (JNU) - $475

    Kalispell (FCA) - $459

    Kansas City (MCI) - $473

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $335

    Long Beach (LGB) - $358

    Manchester (MHT) - $579

    Medford (MFR) - $433

    Milwaukee (MKE) - $492

    Minneapolis (MSP) - $553

    Missoula (MSO) - $447

    Nashville (BNA) - $457

    New Orleans (MSY) - $475

    New York City (JFK) - $547

    New York City (LGA) - $563

    Newark (EWR) - $565

    Omaha (OMA) - $469

    Ontario (ONT) - $343

    Ottawa (YOW) - $543 CAD

    Pasco (PSC) - $423

    Philadelphia (PHL) - $549

    Phoenix (PHX) - $347

    Québec City (YQB) - $685 CAD

    Raleigh (RDU) - $555

    Redmond (RDM) - $378

    Regina (YQR) - $539 CAD

    Reno (RNO) - $343

    Salt Lake City (SLC) - $437

    Santa Ana (SNA) - $343

    Saskatoon (YXE) - $498 CAD

    Spokane (GEG) - $427

    Tampa (TPA) - $573

    Toronto (YYZ) - $545 CAD

    Vancouver (YVR) - $465 CAD*

    Victoria (YYJ) - $485 CAD

    Washington DC (IAD) - $543

    Winnipeg (YWG) - $564 CAD

    Yuma (YUM) - $504


    TO: Kauai (LIH)

    Albuquerque (ABQ) - $491

    Atlanta (ATL) - $565

    Baltimore (BWI) - $597

    Bellingham (BLI) - $454

    Billings (BIL) - $482

    Boise (BOI) - $437

    Bozeman (BZN) - $485

    Dallas (DFW) - $497

    Denver (DEN) - $483

    Detroit (DTW) - $569

    Edmonton (YEG) - $555 CAD

    El Paso (ELP) - $583

    Fresno (FAT) - $336

    Great Falls (GTF) - $447

    Halifax (YHZ) - $579 CAD

    Kansas City (MCI) - $526

    Las Vegas (LAS) - $447

    Long Beach (LGB) - $424

    Missoula (MSO) - $465

    New Orleans (MSY) - $454

    Oklahoma City (OKC) - $585

    Omaha (OMA) - $581

    Ontario (ONT) - $408

    Ottawa (YOW) - $570 CAD

    Pasco (PSC) - $464

    Phoenix (PHX) - $486

    Redmond (RDM) - $382

    Salt Lake City (SLC) - $451

    San Antonio (SAT) - $507

    Saskatoon (YXE) - $498 CAD

    Spokane (GEG) - $453

    St. Louis (STL) - $456

    Toronto (YYZ) - $645 CAD

    Victoria (YYJ) - $590 CAD

    Washington DC (DCA) - $587

    Wichita (ICT) - $500

    Winnipeg (YWG) - $537 CAD

    Yuma (YUM) - $550


    * - nonstop / direct


    WHEN: Varies greatly by route. Some routes have limited availability. Generally August through early December 2019, some routes including Thanksgiving
     
  45. BayouMafia

    BayouMafia Thought Leader in Posting
    Staff Donor
    LSU TigersTexas RangersNew Orleans SaintsFulhamDulwich Hamlet

    As a frequent flyer of American Airlines I love Delta's commitment to dunking on them at every opportunity. I have little faith that it leads to improvements in the customer experience, but it's nice to see them called out regardless

    Delta sent a private plane to pick up 41 students after a canceled American Airlines flight left them stranded in Oklahoma City
    Mark Matousek

    Delta Air Lines sent a private plane on Sunday to pick up a group of 41 students and their chaperones after a canceled American Airlines flight left them stranded in Oklahoma City, the ABC News affiliateKOCO News reported.

    The group intended to fly from Oklahoma City to Richmond, Virginia, but their American Airlines flight was canceled. The airline offered to refund the group, an outcome one of the chaperones felt was unacceptable, she said in an interview with KOCO News, as the group had started planning a trip to Washington, DC, over a year ago.

    Read more: American Airlines cancels flights on Boeing's embattled 737 Max through September as the carrier's $350 million headache gets worse

    Employees of Delta Airlines heard about the group's problem and reached out to the airline's headquarters, which sent a spare plane to fly the group to Richmond, according to KOCO News.

    "We were beyond ecstatic," the chaperone told KOCO News.

    The group had the plane to itself, and was able to complete its planned trip to Washington, DC.

    "Seeing people for who they are, and not just customers of one carrier or another is what really made this story possible," a Delta representative told Business Insider. "While we are in the travel business, we're in the people business first, and we couldn't be happier that these students were able to make their trip."

    American Airlines did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
     
    Keef, ohhaithur, Mix and 9 others like this.
  46. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
    Donor
    Duke Blue DevilsWashington NationalsArsenalUSA Basketball

    Going in January

    La Milagrosa Irreverente in Granada
     
    BayouMafia, PJP3 and Nelson like this.
  47. CTownND

    CTownND Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Has anyone had a transfer from Gatwick to Heathrow in London to make a connection? I'm looking at a flight that lands at Gatwick at 1 PM and leaves Heathrow at 4 PM. Looks like the options are:

    -Taxi: ~45 minutes, ~100 euros
    -Train (multiple train connections): ~75 minutes, ~40 euros
    -Bus (multiple buses): ~90-105 minutes, ~20 euros

    Thinking I just bite the bullet and taxi because I'd be stressed trying to connect on the train in a short window, but would appreciate any insights.
     
  48. Det. Frank Bullitt

    Det. Frank Bullitt God Bless Texas
    Donor TMB OG
    Texas LonghornsManchester United

    That is a tight connection.
     
    CTownND and PJP3 like this.
  49. Fran Tarkenton

    Fran Tarkenton Hilton Honors VIP
    Donor
    Wake Forest Demon DeaconsGeorgia Bulldogs

    That is cutting it close. Do not take a train. Isnt the Bus direct between the airports? Should be around an hour. Idk about it dealing with traffic but thats the cheapest.

    If not, I would arrange a car service with Blacklane if its your only option. They have legit drivers that arent going to fuck around in traffic and know whats up. Can make a notation of what youre trying to do and they may give feedback.
     
    CTownND likes this.
  50. PJP3

    PJP3 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Colorado BuffaloesOakland RaidersFulhamLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    That's risky even with a taxi. Just transferring within Heathrow usually takes me 1-1.5 hours.
     
    CTownND and mc415 like this.