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

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

  1. 941Gator

    941Gator TMB's resident beach bum
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    springs resort is amazing. if you search it on tmb or in this thread, you should find my posts. I will put it like this, I went there at a time in life where I couldn't afford it in all reality (i.e. being reckless) and I don't regret it one bit because of how bad ass it is. I actually saw a sloth on the grounds, which is rare. All the images on google are accurate. Just walking around the property is incredible. Alternatively, you could stay at any volcano hotel nearby and pay for the day pass. I think that is a fine move as well.

    my trip went:
    fly in, rent car
    springs resort for 2-3 days (atv and water rafting)
    drove down to antonio manuel 2 days
    swing by jaco for food
    back to city/airport
     
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  2. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    Looks like we'll be there first week of January

    Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh and live sex shows already discussed with wife and the couple we're going with
     
  3. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    currently at rijks
     
  4. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    fuckin jet lag is a bitch the older you get. I was usually ok day 2 if I made it to 10 pm the first night. Not anymore.
     
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  5. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    I found the key to beating jet lag is to not have a sleep schedule in the first place. I work 3rd shift for part of the week and live on normal 1st shift the rest of the week. Jet lag doesn't even phase me when traveling because I'm literally always jet lagged.
     
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  6. Simon Templar

    Simon Templar Well-Known Member
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    What job has this level of insanity?
     
  7. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
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    Some Intel jobs have you work two days on days followed immediately by two days of night. The closest I got to that was flipping day/night every two weeks and I was legitimately thinking about driving into a telephone pole in less than a year on that schedule.
     
  8. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    found what’s killing you and it isn’t Covid
     
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  9. Simon Templar

    Simon Templar Well-Known Member
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    The former sounds absolutely atrocious, the later is still v bad.
     
  10. COVIDiskilingme79

    COVIDiskilingme79 Well-Known Member
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    I work in aviation. It's a mad world.
     
  11. construxboy

    construxboy xenForo is the new TMB
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    :ded:
     
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  12. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    California Golden Bears

    Anne Frank stuff if you're into that

    Amsterdam is known for diamonds, and a few places give tours. You might check out Gassan
     
  13. Pasta88

    Pasta88 Canes, Bruins, Raps, Jays and Sunderland.
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    Has anyone ever successfully received compensation for a delayed/cancelled flight as part of that EU regulation?

    I was supposed to fly to Toronto via Munich yesterday, but my first flight to Munich was cancelled (the only cancellation at the airport that morning), and I was rebooked to a flight that gets in to Toronto a full 24 hours after.

    Based on my limited reading I am eligible for 600€ unless the cancellation was out of the airline’s hands, which seems unlikely given the circumstances.
    (I also need food costs reimbursed because Lufthansa gives a free meal in economy but I was rebooked on Icelandair who makes you pay for your meal)
     
  14. EagleDuck

    EagleDuck Well-Known Member
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    Last summer my wife had a similar thing happen when flying out of Seattle on Iceland Air. They canceled her flight and she had to stay overnight for the next flight. The Iceland Air people in Seattle were useless (contract company hired by the airline) but she was able to argue them into giving her vouchers for a hotel and a meal. Once in Iceland the people there were a lot more helpful and she did get the money plus covered for her additional expenses that were incurred during her delay. I can't give more details than that since she took care of everything herself but it did seem that when dealing directly with the airline and not the contracted gate people it went a lot better for her.
     
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  15. Keef

    Keef Liked by Pierre Gasly
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    Yes just received our notification from BA about a flight we had issues with in April. Had to fill out some forms on their website
     
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  16. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
    Donor

    the beers were great here. Didn’t realize the sausage would be straight raw though. I still ate it.

    jet leg still fucking me up. Woke up at 5:30 am today… drifting back to sleep then the hotel’s fire alarm system went off
     
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  17. WhiskeyDelta

    WhiskeyDelta Well-Known Member
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    They're probably going to try to blame it on the UK ATC outage yesterday to get out of paying you.
     
  18. RalfBully

    RalfBully #21
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    Just planned a last minute trip to Italy for the Ryder Cup in Rome. Would love suggestions because I havent been there in almost 20 years. Going with my gf and another couple. Tentative schedule
    • Three nights in Rome (Ryder Cup, Day Trip to Tuscany, and tour of the Vatican planned - anything to change?)
    • Three nights in Sorrento
    • Two nights in Maiori by Amalfi
    • Final night in Frascati to get closer to Rome for the return home
    I know we are doing some boat trips down south with a day trip around Capri and then another just cruising. Also, dumb to try and smoke/buy weed in Italy I presume? Google tells me it is legal, but decriminalized. Imagine not the best thing to do as a foreigner, but figured i'd ask.
     
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  19. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
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    depends how much you’re paying this “gf”
    of yours
     
  20. Mix

    Mix I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen
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    Do you have hotels booked?
     
  21. Garrity19

    Garrity19 Well-Known Member

    Yesterday was a nightmare with the UK being down due to a nationwide outage for controllers I believe. Lots of collateral damage across the globe.
    That being said, there are several 3rd party companies that will handle the compensation part and I have used them for just that. They take a piece but handle the admin side.
     
  22. RalfBully

    RalfBully #21
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    air bnb in Sorrento and hotels everywhere else. Ended up using a travel agent because it was so last minute.
     
  23. Mix

    Mix I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen
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    OK not sure what area you are staying in Rome or Sorrento but here is a big list I put together for a friend.

    Sorrento
    1. Fresco - The absolute best gelato I've ever had. It haunts me and I would take a trip just for this place. They clearly make it with good ingredients and do a lot of different flavors. Obvs pistachios but their lemon stuff is great since they all grow there.
    https://goo.gl/maps/1Lyc1AEpwWEVHrfe9

    2. Enjoy Restaurant - Sooo good, soo cheap. Order a Hugo, some bruschetta, and the Sorrentine Gnocchi and you are in business.
    https://goo.gl/maps/3RUc1uNoAiWF829x8

    3. Da Giniello - dive bar sort of
    https://goo.gl/maps/JuzfjtZ1S3w9aHEN9

    4. I Giardini di Cataldo - Get some limoncello they make right in front of you. I brought some of their jams back home from here. The stuff is good.
    https://goo.gl/maps/coqmjiH18uGMZ6xeA

    5. O'Parrucchiano La Favorita - Dine among the lemon trees.
    https://www.google.com/maps/place/O...3d40.6250671!4d14.3717224?coh=164777&entry=tt

    6. Bagni Delfino - One of the best views you can get in town. Right on the water so a bit of a climb on the way back.
    https://www.google.com/maps/place/B...3d40.6280175!4d14.3640365?coh=164777&entry=tt

    Not Sorrento but can take the train
    1. Stone Beach - Hard to get in but great view and some fine dining on site as well.
    https://stonebeach.it/

    2. Antica Osteria Nonna Rosa - Michelin starred fine dining up on the mountain
    https://goo.gl/maps/qUbGNBcBALPY9PmF8

    3. Torre del Saracino - If you can get this corner table in the photos here you should do it.
    https://goo.gl/maps/SxFJPNnHzeEbhLqe7

    4. Caldo&Fragrante - Panificio - If you want some dope fresh bread and you end up in Vico Equense here you go.
    https://goo.gl/maps/Ey4aUfAXqiAcfgAf7

    5. La Salumeria - Another good option in Vico. Real good sandwich and the couple the runs it seem to always be yelling at each other. A real Italian experience!
    https://goo.gl/maps/A2gvyGzrriRy3VzA6

    6. Ristorante Al Buco - Pizza by the half meter! Nothing crazy beyond that but its fun.
    https://goo.gl/maps/eUg7eiNvqHFkzT759

    Amalfi Coast
    1. Arienzo Beach Club - Hard to get reservations but if you want a chill beach day this is the spot.
    https://goo.gl/maps/7RFkPEXnFws7dah66

    2. Fornillo Beach - Closer to Positano and good option.
    https://goo.gl/maps/bgKk5FDyBLKeb2nP9

    3. Pasticceria Pansa Amalfi - Go in, get as many lemon pastries you can eat.
    https://goo.gl/maps/SN9Jc927K5T23mJXA

    4. Blu Sirena - I know it has bad reviews and maybe I'm uncultured swine but I loved it. My casareccio saltimbocca sando was incredible and I dream of it still.Plus they do fried pizza.
    https://goo.gl/maps/Nf9Ru9yJ2MCUAfyk7

    5. Ceramiche d'Arte Pascal Ravello - Switching it up, if you are going to Ravello this is a really cool place. Our parents got us gift card here and we bought a few pieces we will add to over time. They ship very fast too.
    https://goo.gl/maps/YyaChqNsrafVn6Vt7

    Also look into going to Ischia or Procida if you can. Better than Capri. I would recommend Procida, our ferry got canceled by weather so sad I couldn't do it.

    Roma!

    Ok this might get lengthy.

    If near Vatican this sandwich shop was our fav
    https://g.page/Manuelapompei76?share

    If you want to do something special we did these 2 that were both amazing. The Court was about $100 for 4 drinks and food and Imago was $500 for full tasting menu and wine pairings.
    The Court - Amazing cocktail spot looking at The Colosseum
    https://g.page/thecourtrome?share

    Imago - Michelin starred fine dining
    https://goo.gl/maps/bqCptJwH7aKX4c2c6

    If you want a great cocktail/aperitivo spot I highly recommend this place. In an area with a lot of other places on here, very central location.
    https://g.page/blackmarkethall?share

    This place was never open when we went but its supposed to be great
    https://www.google.com/maps/place/M...3d41.8951138!4d12.4919513?coh=164777&entry=tt

    A nice midprice sitdown option. Had great food. If you download TheFork app you get half off making a reservation here.
    https://goo.gl/maps/ZCz4FnRtuN1wXNQn6

    Best quick pizza/pinsa spots - Pinsa is pizza like but thin and made with a mixture of rice, wheat, and other flours so its "healthier" and has a nice chew to it.
    We went here twice, great with English speakers and super tasty
    https://goo.gl/maps/NU5fd6wz3PiCXr5L6
    We loved the guy here, went twice as well.
    https://goo.gl/maps/coeNP1XD5E6W5fTCA


    Best gelato ranked
    1. https://g.page/GelateriaSweetLifeRome
    2. https://goo.gl/maps/5o2DgV7fEKy4H8fn9
    3.https://goo.gl/maps/v3jyYGcFnaBpQr9P9
    4. https://goo.gl/maps/zf7WYWu8i7RLcwGP9

    I've got more if you need it but this seems incredibly long enough.
     
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  24. RalfBully

    RalfBully #21
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    Appreciate it. I’ll give it a deep dive tmrw!
     
    Mix likes this.
  25. ScFan27

    ScFan27 Well-Known Member
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    Keep it coming. Doing 4 days in Sorrento and 2 days in Rome on the back half of my honey moon in 10 days. Appreciate all the info!
     
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  26. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
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    You still there? I have an insane list I can share but may be too late

    Had dinner in the Rembrandt Gallery in Rijks a couple years ago, was one of the more absurd nights of my life
     
  27. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
    Donor

    Stayed at Springs in 2019 in September and had the place to ourselves. Rooms were fine, def needed a little TLC, but the views were incredible. Maybe they've been updated since then.

    The grounds were spectacular... like 35+ hot springs around resort it's really paradise. The main pool has a swim up bar and is like 92 degrees. Watched ND v Louisville drinking beers in a hot spring which was a cool experience.

    Their animal sanctuary was actually incredible & we got to do a few off tour things just because there was nobody else there. Hung out with sloths, etc. We also did white water rafting but not from the hotel and it was a great day. Lots of Monkeys, Sloths, Iguanas, etc hanging in the trees as you go under

    Also stayed at El Silencio (Bajos Del Toro) which is a top 10 place I've ever stayed, as well as Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas which I loved and was in a cool area
     
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  28. Mix

    Mix I own a Fuddruckers with Scottie Pippen
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    Going from Rome to Vico Equense where we stayed (Capo la Gala, awesome spot right up the coast from Sorrento) we took the bullet train from Rome to Naples, ate some pizza real quick, then took ferry across the bay to Sorrento. I recommend it, it was cool to see Vesuvius from the water like that. But definitely take taxi or something from port. Google maps lied to us and its just a straight cliff up to town so walking with luggage sucks.

    The circumsuviana (sp?) is kinda shitty but it runs all the way from Sorrento to Naples and works well.
     
  29. ScFan27

    ScFan27 Well-Known Member
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    We are going Athens > Paros > Santorini > Naples for a night > Sorrento > Rome.

    So train to Sorrento from Naples. But we are taking a private boat to Capri for a day and hoping we can get that view of Vesuvius then.
     
  30. mb711

    mb711 West Coast Barner
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    Need you to elaborate on this
     
  31. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
    Donor

    Long story short, a good friend of mine that made a fuck ton of money from a big tech IPO took 160 people on a 9 day trip from Amsterdam > Turkey > Montenegro > Amsterdam a couple years ago. Can't really begin to explain the absurdity of it but the first official night was a "Cosmic Ball" in the Rembrandt Gallery of the museum, catered by Rijks. They said the last people to dine there were the Obama's with the Dutch Royal Family or something. This night rolled into an insane live action recreation of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy they put on in an old abandoned bullet factory outside of Amsterdam. Movie quality alien costumes, Disco-dinner theater, ending with an all-you-can-drug rave till 6am. It only gets more ridiculous from there but a few pics below
     

    Attached Files:

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  32. AptosDuck

    AptosDuck Pedantic Hausfrau
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    Looks like a regular Tuesday night to me
     
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  33. Guns

    Guns horse paste aficionado
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    I’ve got one more night. Think I’m going to see a local psychedelic funk band at Paradiso tonight
     
  34. Pile Driving Miss Daisy

    Pile Driving Miss Daisy It angries up the blood
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    Your friend do cocaine regularly? Not that I'm judging
     
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  35. Good Effort! Good Game!

    Good Effort! Good Game! Dallas Clark's biggest fan
    Donor

    No he's just a bit of a dorky engineer that made $100's of millions and wanted to do something dope for his friends. The whole trip was built around Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (it was his 42nd birthday).
     
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  36. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    This is the right way to millionaire
     
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  37. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    is there a plane nut in here who knows of 2-3-2 seat config flights? I found one from atl-lax but I cant find a return (im trying to go orlando-lax but dont mind going through atl or miami if I can find the 2-3-2 config)
     
  38. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    Can you just look at the scheduled flight on google and look up the aircraft on seat guru?

    While routes tend to fly the same aircraft, it can always switch up. I booked an air Canada flight three months ago. Was supposed to be on the A220. Narrow body with 2-3 seating. It was switched last month to the 737. I had emirates change on me three weeks out.
     
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  39. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    that's essentially what i've been doing but didnt know if someone ITT knew so I didnt have to go through a ton of flights
     
  40. BellottiBold

    Donor
    Oregon Ducks

    I can't recall any time recently I've seen a wide body in that config outside of an Iberia a333 I took earlier this year with a 2-4-2 main cabin.
     
  41. bwi2

    bwi2 Not affiliated with BWI
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    You’re looking for 767s; Delta and United fly them but I don’t know how many there are on transcontinental flights.
     
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  42. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    Just curious - why is this important?
     
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  43. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Just hate sitting next to someone that much
     
  44. Room 15

    Room 15 Mi equipo esta Los Tigres
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    …all those seats are next to someone else…
     
  45. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Florida State SeminolesBig Ten Conference

    im talking about touching someone else (i'm going with my wife)
     
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  46. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    Why not fly first class? Obviously more but you won’t have to sit next to anyone.
     
  47. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Florida State SeminolesBig Ten Conference

    that's actually what I ended up finding about 30mins ago

    typically the price just aint worth it bc it'll be >$1000 per, but found a first class for $479 for the return trip
     
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  48. WillySaliba

    WillySaliba Well-Known Member
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    For most flights we book coach and then upgrade closer to flight time. I don’t fly as much as I used to but I haven’t seen a case where the upgrade price was even close to as much as the original ticket.
     
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  49. DuffandMuff

    DuffandMuff Well-Known Member
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    We need adult only airline lounges. My lounge isn’t your playground! (Old man yelling voice)
     
  50. pianoman

    pianoman my drinks are free
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    Took my one year old and three year old to a lounge this morning.
     
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