Travel

[Fru]

What's the most interesting place you've traveled to? Where is somewhere you haven't been but would want to go? What is some travel advice you would give? 

[GSG]

My 2 biggest trips were both "senior trips" for high school. My favorite was the trip to Mexico. We spent a couple days in Mexico City, a couple days in Merida, and a few days in Cancun I really liked all of the ruins and pyramids, etc.

 

I would really like to go to Ireland sometime.

[The Murphinator]

Just now, GSG said:

My 2 biggest trips were both "senior trips" for high school. My favorite was the trip to Mexico. We spent a couple days in Mexico City, a couple days in Merida, and a few days in Cancun I really liked all of the ruins and pyramids, etc.

 

I would really like to go to Ireland sometime.

 

Must be nice that your high school would let you go to Mexico. My high school wouldn't let my Spanish class go to Denver because the previous years class was smoking weed there. I really haven't traveled much, but probably going up and seeing the great lakes was my favorite trip. I would really like to go to Australia one day.

[Fru]

12 minutes ago, GSG said:

My 2 biggest trips were both "senior trips" for high school. My favorite was the trip to Mexico. We spent a couple days in Mexico City, a couple days in Merida, and a few days in Cancun I really liked all of the ruins and pyramids, etc.

 

I would really like to go to Ireland sometime.

 

Ireland is a blast. There's some deals on flights thru Norwegian Air out of Providence and New York Stewart airports. 

[Xmas32]

Most interesting/scenic--Monte Carlo

Place I haven't been yet but want to--Maldives/Iceland/Palawan Islands in the Phillipines

 

Travel advice?  If you're going for an extended period of time to a non 1st world country make sure you have good health insurance.  Make sure you know what time you are landing local time and try to acclimate yourself as much as possible so that you don't completely crush yourself with jet lag.  Also don't underestimate the value of a good credit card to accumulate points/miles.  I used to travel a ton and have a bunch of links to sites I use/used in the past.  Mods, please delete anything that appears inappropriate.  

 

Daily Flight Deals

http://www.theflightdeal.com/
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/

Searchable flight deals 

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
https://www.google.com/flights/

Travel related blogs

http://thepointsguy.com/
http://www.frugaltravelguy.com/
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea.com/
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/
http://deltapoints.boardingarea.com/
http://millionmilesecrets.com/
http://loyaltylobby.com/
http://dealswelike.boardingarea.com/

Other helpful sites

http://www.flyertalk.com/
http://www.seatguru.com/

[NM11046]

Big traveller here.  I firmly believe that by seeing the world you learn to appreciate what you have, and also makes you more open minded and accepting of other cultures and ways of life.

 

Most Interesting:  They all have something I loved (except Sweden - that trip was blech).  South Africa, Namibia, Australia are the big trips to worlds unlike anything here in the US.

Places Yet On The List:  Alaska, Bali/Maldives, Botswana, Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Norway Fjords, Tasmania, New Zealand.

 

Advice:

1. Stay up as long as you can when you arrive and keep moving (start working on time change and sleep habits a week early at home if you're travelling more than a couple time zones).  
2. Day one in a new city take a hop on hop off bus to get your bearings.  
3. Take a walking food tour in new countries - it's an easy way to taste local foods and know that you're getting the best version of them and not some sketchy food truck of tourist trap.
4. If your'e a photo person - look into photo half day safari's  ... locals walk you around to alley ways and angles on buildings and sites that you'd never see otherwise.  Also typically they can give you insight on where to dine and drink, and you learn along the way.
5. If you are traveling more than 7-8 hours by plane seriously consider the upgrade to business class.  It will allow you a better start to your trip when you arrive.
6. Buy & use an RFID wallet/passport holder.
7. If you travel often make sure to do Global Entry.

 

Additional question:  Where have you travelled to that you would return to?  Are there any places you've visited that you could see yourself living?  (I think that says a lot about a city or country)

[Big Red 40]

Why was Sweden bleh ? Supposed to be some of the happiest people on earth there and the pictures I’ve seen of it are always pretty? 

[Big Red 40]

I’ve only traveled in the US still have most of the East and West coasts left  to do . Colorado, Texas , The Ozarks , and Vegas , were some of my faves so far  .  Next trip will probably be Washington state , Oregon etc . From what I’ve heard I wouldn’t mind retiring in that area, but  I want to see it myself first . I doubt I’ll ever get out of the US but the Caribbean , Australia , Africa , and Europe look interesting . 

[Fru]

13 hours ago, NM11046 said:

 

Additional question:  Where have you travelled to that you would return to?  Are there any places you've visited that you could see yourself living?  (I think that says a lot about a city or country)

 

Definitely want to go back to Iceland. I was only there for a few days. Saw and did a lot, but the country offers so much more. I want to do their "Ring Road" tour. 

 

Could see myself living in London or Ireland. My family has pretty extensive Irish ancestry, and I oddly felt very at home there. I told my aunt about this "Cliche feeling of 'being home'" and she said "It's not cliche. Your bones know where home is."

[Xmas32]

12 hours ago, Big Red 40 said:

I’ve only traveled in the US still have most of the East and West coasts left  to do . Colorado, Texas , The Ozarks , and Vegas , were some of my faves so far  .  Next trip will probably be Washington state , Oregon etc . From what I’ve heard I wouldn’t mind retiring in that area, but  I want to see it myself first . I doubt I’ll ever get out of the US but the Caribbean , Australia , Africa , and Europe look interesting . 

 

I lived in Seattle, WA for a few years when I was a kid, it's fantastic although if you hate rain, it's a real struggle up there.  That being said, the summers are typically so perfect that you're willing to deal with all the rain.  Lots of good stuff to do in Seattle and Portland, OR.  You can also jump a ferry and head up to Vancouver, BC from there.  I still get up to Portland at least once a year.

[BigRedBuster]

When I was a kid, my family took a vacation to Costa Rica.  Even as a kid, this trip stands out as an amazing trip.  I would love to go back.

 

I recently spent a week in Germany for work.  Am planning on going back next year and spending an extra week to just tour the place and have fun.  Was very very impressed with the country.

[Fru]

16 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

When I was a kid, my family took a vacation to Costa Rica.  Even as a kid, this trip stands out as an amazing trip.  I would love to go back.

 

I recently spent a week in Germany for work.  Am planning on going back next year and spending an extra week to just tour the place and have fun.  Was very very impressed with the country.

 

What did you enjoy most about Germany? What city/cities did you get to see? How were the people? 

[Fru]

Has anyone been to Colombia? I got into the show "Narcos" a couple years ago and have become fascinated with the country. I've read that it's safer and more tourist friendly than it's ever been. 

[BigRedBuster]

Just now, Fru said:

 

What did you enjoy most about Germany? What city/cities did you get to see? How were the people? 

I was attending some meetings in Dusseldorf.  We spent time there and Cologne.  We flew into Frankfurt and took the train to Dusseldorf.  The country is beautiful and the people were great.  The beer and food was awesome.  The cities were so clean, no homeless or beggars laying in the streets.  Probably one of the highlights was touring the Cathedral in Cologne.  It is an absolutely amazingly beautiful site.  I've heard of other similar type historical buildings/sites around Germany and want to visit them.  

 

The breweries there are awesome and totally different than what you find here in micro brews.  A brewery only brews one beer.  One of them we were in started brewing beer in the 1400s....and still brewing the same beer.  Needless to say, they had it perfected.  

 

I want to go back and visit Berlin and Munich.  The train system over there is great.  Hop on a  train and you can get places fast and easy.

 

Octoberfest would be awesome to go to.

[wiby_NU]

I second BRB on Costa Rica.  Amazing country with such a laid back lifestyle.  Get away from the Resorts and experience the culture.  The food and scenery are also top notch.

 

Oahu was also a nice trip.  I had a buddy in the military who was stationed there so we had a free place to crash and his wife took us anywhere we wanted to go.  I'd suggest getting out of Honolulu where traffic is crazy and the tourists flock and go experience the north shore.  We snorkeled the North shore and saw Dolphins / Sea Turtles and some other cool marine life.  We also went to a traditional Luau dance and did some hiking up in the mountains.  Hit up Pearl Harbor as well, it's a pretty sobering experience.  One thing not many people tell you about Hawaii is that the locals DO NOT like american tourists.  They view most mainland Americans as the people who destroyed the Island and took it over for military purposes (which is somewhat true).   

 

The wife and I have a trip to Iceland coming up in a couple months.  We plan on driving the Ring Road and staying at a number of AIRBNB's and a couple hotels.  Our only regret is not having enough time to explore the West Fjords.  This will be our first International trip where we are on our own so we're both pretty excited and have most of the places we want to go mapped out. 

 

Next trip is hopefully Thailand in 2020.  Also want to experience New Zealand and Australia..Anyone want to pay me to travel?  I could live life on the road if it wasn't so darn expensive.