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A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

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

The bonus with Hawaii is that its cheap to visit other islands. So you could hit Maui as well. Each island is different in landscape and things to do.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

bigblue_dl said:
I think it depends on the specific destination. My fiance has AAA, and she has found some places that had AAA discounts, but I don't remember which ones they were.
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I'm going next week, so if you like, I'll give you the latest scoop.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

dont forget Barbados. beautiful, warm water and warm breezes. English speaking, money 2:1 tie to the dollar. low crime. driving on the left is fun. very friendly people, great food. lots to see and do. and the rum is beyond divine. if you've only had Bacardi ... you are in for a treat. I dont even like rum and I drink it straight down there. and the rum punch is international winner beats St Kitts. bigtime.
 
huskyfan said:
dont forget Barbados. beautiful, warm water and warm breezes. English speaking, money 2:1 tie to the dollar. low crime. driving on the left is fun. very friendly people, great food. lots to see and do. and the rum is beyond divine. if you've only had Bacardi ... you are in for a treat. I dont even like rum and I drink it straight down there. and the rum punch is international winner beats St Kitts. bigtime.
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FTR, g9d dark rum is awesome to drink on the rocks.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

bigblue_dl said:
4. Costa Rica - I think this is the dark-horse. We have seen some pretty amazing pictures, and the resorts look gorgeous. We have also found some pretty reasonably priced options, which is a big plus. The worry we have is that it is on the Pacific Ocean side of the Isthmus, and we're worried that the water will be a bit colder than we'd find in the Caribbean. Also, I am not sure about the safety of Costa Rica, if we wander away from the resorts, so that is something we would have to dig into.
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We honeymooned in Costa Rica and loved it. We didn't exactly go on a budget, though - probably $6K total for 10 days (including airfare). We stayed at a resort on the Pacific for a week, then 3 days at Arenal, with one night in San Jose on each end. We had a tourist van service take us between the three major sites, and then relied on the resort/hotel shuttles to get to our day excursions (ziplining, crocodile tour, boat ride to islands with sand beaches, hot spring spas, etc). The resort we stayed at on the Pac was on cliffs way above the ocean, and they didn't really have a swim beach. The water at the islands we visited was deliciously warm (in September, not sure how much it changes). We always felt completely safe, but we never really stepped out on our own.

Funny story: with the wedding busy-ness and having everything planned in advance, we didn't do a ton of research about the mundane details of life in Costa Rica. We had no idea what the local currency was, so the first night in the hotel restaurant, I glanced at the menu, which also had prices in dollars, and worked out the exchange rate as about 1.3. Therefore, I took 1000 ($1300) out of the ATM to pay for the car service, tips, incidentals, etc. The car service picked us up, and on the way to the Pac hotel (4 hrs), we stopped at a convenience store for snacks and drinks. The cashier rang it up as 2000 colones. Needless to say, the shock registered on my face, and the cashier helpfully said, "but sir, that's only about $4." Turns out that the hotel menu had given prices only in dollars and euros, not the local currency. So we had optimistically headed off for 10 days at the resorts with $2 in our pockets - still amazes me that the ATM would bother to dispense such a paltry amount! Fortunately, the store also took dollars (which I had) and the resort had an ATM, so no harm done...
 
Brenthoven said:
FTR, g9d dark rum is awesome to drink on the rocks.
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almost all the rum is shades of golden to dark dark rum. sugar grown processed and aged on the island. there is this place St Nicholas Abbey
where they show a movie on 1920's sugar making, all the while giving you samples. then they send you home with bottle. dont ever drive there. left lane drunk driving is impossible. oh, but was the rum good!
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I'm leaving for Costa Rica on saturday. I'm really looking forward to some Marlin fishing besides the other stuff,, but if I were doing it BB, I'd go to Kaanapali Beach on Maui and be done with it.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Delta doesn't fly to Barbados, so that is out. I need to be able to use miles for airfare, to cut down on some costs.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Now looking at Belize as a possible next tropical vaca.

English speaking, rainforest, beaches, huge barrier reef...

Anyone been?
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Gurtholfin said:
Now looking at Belize as a possible next tropical vaca.

English speaking, rainforest, beaches, huge barrier reef...

Anyone been?
Click to expand...
I haven't, but I watched the Bourdain episode when he went there and it looked good.

Trip with the in-laws to my brother-in-law's wedding in Greece is booked, or at least the rough sketches of it. It'll be a bunch of us traveling together: me, my wife, her mother and grandmother (86 years old), and my sister-in-law with her husband and their two kids (ages 7 and 5). Flying out overnight (through Zurich) on May 15th, coming back on the 26th. A few questions:

1) Anyone ever fly on Swiss International Airlines? Good/bad feedback?
2) Thoughts on best things to do in Athens for a couple of days, bearing in mind the large age range we're working with?
3) How should we plan on getting around? Is it feasible to use public transit as non-Greek speakers? Just plan to take a taxi everywhere?
4) At the tail end of the trip, we're planning to spend a few days in the islands. My wife and I were originally planning on a side trip just the two of us, and had been figuring on Santorini. but now it seems like the trip to the islands will be with the whole group. Bearing in mind again the large age range, do we need to scrap the Santorini plan (which is, in my sister-in-law's words, "all mountain with no guardrails") for a different island that's more kid- and senior-citizen-appropriate?
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

1) I've flow on Swiss. Not thrilled.

I was flying on USAir from Philly to Zurich and Swiss from ZRH to Nairobi. My flight from Philly was delayed by weather and I missed my connection in Zurich. Swiss re-booked me from ZRH to Amsterdam and then to Nairobi. The new routing had me sitting on the ground in ZRH for 5 hours and AMS for another 4 hours. Yet they didn't get my bag to me on the new routing. They held on to it and sent it on their own flight the following day. Additionally, when I went to the airport in Nairobi to fly home, Swiss had cancelled my return flight from NBO to ZRH. They said that I was a no-show from my flight from ZRH to NBO and therefore they cancelled my reservation. I fought with them at the airport for nearly 3 hours before they gave me a seat. And they said that the only reason they didn't make me pay for it is because I had a connection on US Air that hadn't been cancelled.

They blamed it on security.

2) I liked Belize. Much of it was on a birding trip, so I won't count that, but I spent a few days on Ambergris Caye as well on my own. It's very laid back. You get around in golf carts - there are very few cars and only three main streets in town: Front St., Middle St., and Back St. If you're looking for an all-inclusive resort type place, you won't find it. But if you're OK with actually socializing with the locals and just hanging out, it's a great place.

There are Mayan sites to vist on the mainland and great diving if you're into that. And Belize is the only place I've actually seen a jaguar in the wild.

3) Santorini is spectacular. I've been to Mykonos, Naxos, and Santorini, and I liked Santorini best. It's beautiful, tourist friendly, has beaches as well as a town with great reastaurants and nightlife. There's also an archaeological site. It has public transport to get around the island if you like. Mykonos has a lot of tourist facilities, too, but it is VERY touristy - it is more tourist than Greek. It also has a lot of "hedonist tourism" and may not be family friendly.
 
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Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

Hopkinja said:
1) I've flow on Swiss. Not thrilled.

I was flying on USAir from Philly to Zurich and Swiss from ZRH to Nairobi. My flight from Philly was delayed by weather and I missed my connection in Zurich. Swiss re-booked me from ZRH to Amsterdam and then to Nairobi. The new routing had me sitting on the ground in ZRH for 5 hours and AMS for another 4 hours. Yet they didn't get my bag to me on the new routing. They held on to it and sent it on their own flight the following day. Additionally, when I went to the airport in Nairobi to fly home, Swiss had cancelled my return flight from NBO to ZRH. They said that I was a no-show from my flight from ZRH to NBO and therefore they cancelled my reservation. I fought with them at the airport for nearly 3 hours before they gave me a seat. And they said that the only reason they didn't make me pay for it is because I had a connection on US Air that hadn't been cancelled.

They blamed it on security.
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Uch. Well, I didn't love reading about your experience (particularly since we have fairly tight times to make our connections in Zurich) but I appreciate your feedback nonetheless.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

my wife and are going to Puerto Vallarta for a destination wedding in October, anyone been and have advice on things to do or fishing charters you've had good experience with?
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

jmh said:
Trip with the in-laws to my brother-in-law's wedding in Greece is booked, or at least the rough sketches of it. It'll be a bunch of us traveling together: me, my wife, her mother and grandmother (86 years old), and my sister-in-law with her husband and their two kids (ages 7 and 5). Flying out overnight (through Zurich) on May 15th, coming back on the 26th. A few questions:


2) Thoughts on best things to do in Athens for a couple of days, bearing in mind the large age range we're working with?

Well if you haven't been, you have to go to the Acropolis. Go in the morning, it will be too hot in the afternoon. plan about 3 hours.
second the Agora. some shade there, very worthwhile. check the hours, sometimes they close early. This is where Socrates and Aristotle were hanging out btw. three, the archeological Museum of Greece is terrific. it can take a long time to see the whole thing. There are a number of other very good museums. If you are up for a long day trip you can go to Delphi on the bus. it's very steep and can be hot in the afternoon. bring water, and shorts. Another good day trip is Epidavros. its a bit of a hike but very good.
3) How should we plan on getting around? Subway is fine and very clean and modern. you can buy a week pass. Is it feasible to use public transit as non-Greek speakers? [U]totally. [/U]Just plan to take a taxi everywhere? taxi's are iffy. ask if they charge by the meter or get the hotel concierge to find one and talk to the driver. they have a bad reputation. Traffic is bad in Athens so the subway is your friend.

4) At the tail end of the trip, we're planning to spend a few days in the islands. My wife and I were originally planning on a side trip just the two of us, and had been figuring on Santorini. but now it seems like the trip to the islands will be with the whole group. Bearing in mind again the large age range, do we need to scrap the Santorini plan (which is, in my sister-in-law's words, "all mountain with no guardrails") for a different island that's more kid- and senior-citizen-appropriate?
Click to expand...

Greece is all Mountains with no guardrails, not just the islands. Santorini is beautiful, but expensive and stuffed with tourists big time.I would not worry about the guard rails in the least. it's not that steep really. My least favorite place in the islands, but if you have never been its worth going.

The beaches on Santorini are terrible, relatively, forget them. The best thing to do besides the sunset, is go to the excavations at Akrotiri. You can get a Bus tour which is worthwhile, in Thira, right up from the bus station. It will take you around to many of the coolest places you'd have a tough time finding any other way. Hotels charge a ton to pick you up at the ferry. I'd fly in if you can afford it, or take the public bus to the town and walk to the hotel if you are on the ferry.. The ferry ride is pretty long. like 7 or 8 hours. the high speeds are shorter, but only operate when the water is smooth, on rough days they do not go.Email me if you want more information. And get rick steve's Athens and the blue guide. There is way, way more to see than you have time.



Athens is not the most gorgeous city, there is lot's of graffiti.. I assume you have a hotel already. if it's close to the subway, that's good. there are lot's, and lot's of things to do. Do not rent a car in Athens.!
there are tourist restaurants and non tourist restaurants. the tourist ones are in the Agora mostly.My favorite is Kefanio, on Loukianou st, not in the agora. Up the hill from the embassy's, towards the funicular. Excellent food and not touristy or expensive. The hotel will help you and definitely get the blue guide. it's worth the money. it's at amazon. Greece is steep, be ready for that.
 
manurespreader said:
Greece is all Mountains with no guardrails, not just the islands. Santorini is beautiful, but expensive and stuffed with tourists big time.I would not worry about the guard rails in the least. it's not that steep really. My least favorite place in the islands, but if you have never been its worth going.

The beaches on Santorini are terrible, relatively, forget them. The best thing to do besides the sunset, is go to the excavations at Akrotiri. You can get a Bus tour which is worthwhile, in Thira, right up from the bus station. It will take you around to many of the coolest places you'd have a tough time finding any other way. Hotels charge a ton to pick you up at the ferry. I'd fly in if you can afford it, or take the public bus to the town and walk to the hotel if you are on the ferry.. The ferry ride is pretty long. like 7 or 8 hours. the high speeds are shorter, but only operate when the water is smooth, on rough days they do not go.Email me if you want more information. And get rick steve's Athens and the blue guide. There is way, way more to see than you have time.



Athens is not the most gorgeous city, there is lot's of graffiti.. I assume you have a hotel already. if it's close to the subway, that's good. there are lot's, and lot's of things to do. Do not rent a car in Athens.!
there are tourist restaurants and non tourist restaurants. the tourist ones are in the Agora mostly.My favorite is Kefanio, on Loukianou st, not in the agora. Up the hill from the embassy's, towards the funicular. Excellent food and not touristy or expensive. The hotel will help you and definitely get the blue guide. it's worth the money. it's at amazon. Greece is steep, be ready for that.
Click to expand...

Agree with most of what MS said about Athens. I was there in summer of '10, right after their economy went down the tubes and the riots and whatnot. Subway is absolutely fine for transportation, and while I did use the taxi on occasion, I don't remember much negative about my experiences. But absolutely go see the ancient Greek architecture, it will be worth it for all in your group.
 
Re: A Thread for Travel: Trips/Advice/Ideas

I have to go to New York for work next week. I have to be there on Friday, and there wasn't a flight out on Friday night that worked, so I'm staying until Saturday morning. I'll have Friday night to do something fun there, now I just have to figure out what. jmh, any plans for the 24th? :p

The worksite is out on Long Island, in what looks like the suburbs. So I have a hotel out there, close to where I'll be working, and also not too far from JFK.
 
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