A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

[Hopkinja]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Not as exciting as some of the other trips but driving from mid-atlantic area to NH and then onto Maine this Friday/Saturday.

Just curious if anybody knows of any major construction issues that could impact the route.

Normally go NJTP, 287, TPZ Br, 684, 84, 91 etc. but thinking of taking Merrit Pkwy to 91 to Brattleboro and then heading over towards Concord. Have done the reverse version of that and it went great, wondering if there would be problem doing that Friday afternoon (do people from NYC head up 91 for the weekend?).

Goal is to be through NYC (TPZ) area by 12-1 pm and avoid rush hour in Hartford too. If delayed, any thoughts about getting around Hartford at rush hour?

Next morning am driving to mid-coast Maine, probably 95 to Augusta and then 3 or 17 over to the coast.

Anybody with local input on traffic issues/route recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks

You shouldn't have any problems on I-287 at noon, but I'm not a big fan of I-84 from NY to Hartford. There's a lot of truck traffic and a lot of slow drivers. I always take the Merritt when heading from PA to Boston. If you're past New Haven by 2 you should be fine, unless there's been an accident on I-95. Then you're screwed, no matter which route you take.

Re Hartford, I haven't seen a lot of traffic problems on I-91 between the Merritt and Hartford except for around exit 29 for the Charter Oak Bridge (i.e. the way to get from I-91 northbound to I-84 eastbound). That exit can back up for 2 or 3 miles, but stay left and you'll miss the worst of it.

 

[UNH GH]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I work for an airline, and am quite familiar with just about anything Airline related. So fire away with questions, and I'll do my best to answer them.

 

[The Rube]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I work for an airline, and am quite familiar with just about anything Airline related. So fire away with questions, and I'll do my best to answer them.

How do you have the best chance to score a seat with the most legroom. I'm not a supertall guy, but have long legs. 36"+ inseam or so. I've gotten lucky with people I know or online ticket booking, but I'd like to know a for sure way.

 

[pirate]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

You shouldn't have any problems on I-287 at noon, but I'm not a big fan of I-84 from NY to Hartford. There's a lot of truck traffic and a lot of slow drivers. I always take the Merritt when heading from PA to Boston. If you're past New Haven by 2 you should be fine, unless there's been an accident on I-95. Then you're screwed, no matter which route you take.

Re Hartford, I haven't seen a lot of traffic problems on I-91 between the Merritt and Hartford except for around exit 29 for the Charter Oak Bridge (i.e. the way to get from I-91 northbound to I-84 eastbound). That exit can back up for 2 or 3 miles, but stay left and you'll miss the worst of it.

Thanks, we traveled last week and just got back so I can confirm your advice is right on.

Bought a new GPS with better traffic recognition and it took us through NYC without slowing down (normally would have avoided due to risk of a major delay and experienced the joy of 84), directed us through Palisades to avoid that long run up to the bridge...95 was jammed just past the GWB but we avoided all of that...it took us to the Major Deegan and eventually to Merritt which was great until just before the hookup with 91.

Rest of the way was great until it got us lost on the dirt roads around the lake...it thought a road went through when the dead end sign and trees said something different. It kept thinking the best way was to turn back around and head down the prescribed route which made navigating our way out a little tricky.

Again, coming back I normally would have gone 84 for fear of getting stuck in NYC but we followed the GPS and it got us through with no issues.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I work for an airline, and am quite familiar with just about anything Airline related. So fire away with questions, and I'll do my best to answer them.

If a 757 leaves Cleveland at noon heading east with an average speed of 456MPH and.....

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Has anyone used Hertz's #1 Club Gold service? I get to use it for the first time next month, and trying to look like I know what I'm doing.

I travel a ton and use it a lot. When you land at a major airport, just follow the signs (or take the shuttle if there is one) to Rental Cars, then Hertz, then look for the usually large Hertz #1 club message board with customer names in lighted format in alphabetical order, and it will tell you your parking stall number. Go to your numbered stall and your keys and paperwork will be in the car (unlocked). Simply drive on...

If your name is not on the board, go to the #1 club counter.

 

[JuveGG24]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Thanks for the info.

 

[UNH GH]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

How do you have the best chance to score a seat with the most legroom. I'm not a supertall guy, but have long legs. 36"+ inseam or so. I've gotten lucky with people I know or online ticket booking, but I'd like to know a for sure way.

It will almost for sure need to be done at the time of Check-In.

It also depends what airline. If you're flying United, they have what's called Economy Plus. 5 inches more legroom for several rows of seats in the front of the cabin. These seats can be purchased at time of Check-in, but not before.

You can try just asking the agent for a seat like that or an exit row, which are also blocked off until Check-In.

A great website is seatguru.com. Shows the specs of each seat on each aircraft each airline operates. Depending on the aircraft a bulkhead seat will have more room.

 

[Beer Pong Horn]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

It will almost for sure need to be done at the time of Check-In.

It also depends what airline. If you're flying United, they have what's called Economy Plus. 5 inches more legroom for several rows of seats in the front of the cabin. These seats can be purchased at time of Check-in, but not before.

You can try just asking the agent for a seat like that or an exit row, which are also blocked off until Check-In.

A great website is seatguru.com. Shows the specs of each seat on each aircraft each airline operates. Depending on the aircraft a bulkhead seat will have more room.

Also, some airlines like Delta will let you select seats when you make your reservation, and will allow you to choose the exit row. A few airlines have a surcharge for those seats (AirTran for instance), but it's probably worth it for you.

 

[Alton]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Thanks for the info.

The very first time you use the #1 Club Gold service, you will probably have to go to the Gold counter anyway, so they can confirm your identity and your credit card number. After that first time, your name will be up on the board when you arrive and you won't have to stop at the counter again, unless you use a different credit card, or somebody at Hertz screws something up (very rare), or your flight is very late.

IMO, the $60/year it costs to join #1 Club Gold is well worth it if you rent cars at airports even a few times a year. For whatever reason, the slowest people in the world have all ended up working behind the counter at airport car rentals, and it's worth a few dollars to avoid them--and you also generally get the newest cars on the lot, plus you sometimes get free upgrades to the next higher class of car.

 

[AMC]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

You can try just asking the agent for a seat like that or an exit row, which are also blocked off until Check-In.

This actually works, I love chatting up airline employees. They can and will hook you up if you show them a basic level of kindness. Every flier is always flustered, angry, and acting like an *******. Even if the airline dude is incompetent, I always commiserate, and I usually get what I want.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Speaking of rental cars, my wife and I just had a terrible experience with Thrifty, so I'd advise anyone thinking of renting from them to beware. We rented a car from them for a few days in the Maryland/Virginia area a couple weeks ago and things seemed fine until the day we were driving to BWI to fly out. Long story short, all four tires had bad valve stems (they were heavily corroded) and we spent an afternoon at a tire shop in western Virginia. Thankfully they didn't go out earlier in the day when we drove along the Blue Ridge Skyline Drive, or we might have been seriously injured.

They talked me into paying for the tow, multiple times assuring me they'd reimburse me, only for me to be refused any sort of reimbursement next day. We barely made our flight (thankfully we'd planned a 5-hour cushion), and they tacked a bunch of extra charges on when we dropped off the car, basically doubling the cost of our rental. Pretty appalling, given that we were late because they gave us a car with four bad tires! And trying to work with their customer service folks afterwards had been an exercise in frustration. We'll be disputing the charges, but again, I'd suggest people stay away from Thrifty.

 

[pirate]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Speaking of rental cars, my wife and I just had a terrible experience with Thrifty, so I'd advise anyone thinking of renting from them to beware. We rented a car from them for a few days in the Maryland/Virginia area a couple weeks ago and things seemed fine until the day we were driving to BWI to fly out. Long story short, all four tires had bad valve stems (they were heavily corroded) and we spent an afternoon at a tire shop in western Virginia. Thankfully they didn't go out earlier in the day when we drove along the Blue Ridge Skyline Drive, or we might have been seriously injured.

They talked me into paying for the tow, multiple times assuring me they'd reimburse me, only for me to be refused any sort of reimbursement next day. We barely made our flight (thankfully we'd planned a 5-hour cushion), and they tacked a bunch of extra charges on when we dropped off the car, basically doubling the cost of our rental. Pretty appalling, given that we were late because they gave us a car with four bad tires! And trying to work with their customer service folks afterwards had been an exercise in frustration. We'll be disputing the charges, but again, I'd suggest people stay away from Thrifty.

depending on the details you may not have a great case for disputing the charge, if the car was late then the late charge is legitimate and the tow charge (assuming it was a third party) is legit if the car was indeed towed...if that is so, ask your card company to contact Thrifty directly on your behalf and see if they can't get you some kind of credit. Not all companies will call for you but if you can get to a manager or senior manager it is worth asking.

Otherwise send a letter to the CEOs of the card company and the car rental company - I bet you get some kind of satisfaction from one of them.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

depending on the details you may not have a great case for disputing the charge, if the car was late then the late charge is legitimate and the tow charge (assuming it was a third party) is legit if the car was indeed towed...if that is so, ask your card company to contact Thrifty directly on your behalf and see if they can't get you some kind of credit. Not all companies will call for you but if you can get to a manager or senior manager it is worth asking.

Otherwise send a letter to the CEOs of the card company and the car rental company - I bet you get some kind of satisfaction from one of them.

There are a lot more details. I just posted the Reader's Digest version.

So they give me a clearly defective vehicle. The vehicle breaks down due the defects. I'm late due to the breakdown. They gouge me with lots of extra charges for being late. Quite a little scam if they can get away with it.

 

[jmh]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

A great website is seatguru.com. Shows the specs of each seat on each aircraft each airline operates. Depending on the aircraft a bulkhead seat will have more room.

Agree about that. There isn't always anything useful on there (depending on the airline and aircraft) but it doesn't cost anything to look.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

How do you have the best chance to score a seat with the most legroom. I'm not a supertall guy, but have long legs. 36"+ inseam or so. I've gotten lucky with people I know or online ticket booking, but I'd like to know a for sure way.

I've found generally, Airbusses have no leg room, while the old DC-9/10's have plenty. Boeings are hit and miss depending on which one you're on, but always seem better than Airbusses. None of the small commuter planes that I have been on have enough leg room for me.

 

[Zudnic]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I've found generally, Airbusses have no leg room, while the old DC-9/10's have plenty. Boeings are hit and miss depending on which one you're on, but always seem better than Airbusses. None of the small commuter planes that I have been on have enough leg room for me.

The quantity of rows in the plane is 100% dependent on the airline, not the type.

 

[thebrain]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Here's what my trip is shaping up to be next week...

Wednesday, drive from St. Paul to Milwaukee. Twins Game.
Thursday, fly from Milwaukee to Philadelphia. Drive to Atlantic City.
Friday, Six Flags in New Jersey.
Saturday, Belmont Park, NYC.
Sunday, Twins-Mets game.
Monday, fly back to Milwaukee, drive to St. Paul.

What else should I check out?

 

[The Rube]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Well, time for some input:

I will be in Madison this August for a wedding. Arriving on a Tuesday sometime, and Fri/Sat I will be obviously wedding oriented. Dunno how much free time I'll have, and if it matters, I will be staying at the Holiday Inn in east Madison, just east of Lake Mendota.

Any must sees besides State Street? Basically looking for a good time, not traditional touristy stuff. Any non-chains that are noted for their good burger, or good breakfast, etc etc etc. will be appreciated, as well.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Mickies Dairy Bar for breakfast. especially good with a hangover.