The Travellers Thread

[diableri]

Originally Posted by daveshookme

Shit I stayed at one a few years back that was awesome. The hotel was meh, it wasn't in downtown or anything, but it was like a 2 minute walk to a great metro line.

Let me go back through my emails and see if I have it.

So, I stayed at the Quality Inn at 501 New York Avenue NE. The hotel has now moved to 1600 New York Ave NE. It looks newer, and nicer. But it's a 14 minute walk to the metro station according to google maps. Depending on price and weather, it may work for you. But I don't blame you if you go a different route. When I stayed at the old location it was super quick.

You gotta be kidding me!

I'm going to play around with it a bit more but thank you for the heads up. That is probably just what I was after, a shower and bed near a station.

I need to bite the bullet and just trudge through the time on google maps. Thanks!

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by diableri

You gotta be kidding me!

I'm going to play around with it a bit more but thank you for the heads up. That is probably just what I was after, a shower and bed near a station.

I need to bite the bullet and just trudge through the time on google maps. Thanks!

well fuck man, that blows. Probably commencement & mother's day weekend, if I had to guess.

But, I'd look around that area. There may be something open somewhere? it was like a 30 minute train ride to the mall/WH/memorials area. Not too bad at all. If the room's like $150 you save ~$350 to ride the train for a half hour? I'll take that any day.

But yeah, sucks that that particular one is sold out

[AllifromOhio]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

I wish, I lived there a while in the 90s and my brother still lives there, but I'm going to the worst big city in America, Phoenix (Scottsdale, even worse). But they have a couple portillos now so at least nice to have. I think they have a Lou mals now as well. I try to limit my time there but unfortunately my folks live there. Lots of food and card games with my parents will be nice but not quite the same as going to the norther rif mountains in morocco with friends. But unfortunately this appointment is not one I can miss.

Have fun, it could be worse. You'll be able to see your family.

Heading to Vegas Thursday. We go often but we always stay in a different hotel to spice it up. Another trip planned to NYC for Thanksgiving as well. We really need to branch out and go to new places. Thinking about taking a van/small RV trip next fall or we will finally go to Europe. Either way, I'm ready for vacation.

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by AllifromOhio

Have fun, it could be worse. You'll be able to see your family.

Heading to Vegas Thursday. We go often but we always stay in a different hotel to spice it up. Another trip planned to NYC for Thanksgiving as well. We really need to branch out and go to new places. Thinking about taking a van/small RV trip next fall or we will finally go to Europe. Either way, I'm ready for vacation.

Fucking rub it in.

I think I'm gonna talk to my boss when I see him tomorrow and find a weekend I can get out on vacation since this week I got fucked.

[aeroshady]

Everything looking okay from Lisbon so far. Guess the snow was not as bad as it sounded!

[DIDriveOut2SPAC]

Hey I'll be in Lisbon in July. Recommend some places.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by diableri

Looks like I'm headed to DC for a graduation and some sightseeing in late May. Anyone have any hotel advice (Marriott, Sheraton or Hilton properties preferred) that is really close to a metro station that's not $400/$500 a night? I'm paying instead of work so I'd rather not blow money on the hotel unless I have to. All my work hotels are great for getting around but expensive. I'm sure we'll go to the Mall, Cathedral and Udvar-Hazy at a minimum. I know Udvar-Hazy will be a car service but the rest I was hoping to stay near a metro station for without paying an arm and a leg for it. Probably out there for five days.

Mall is off the orange/blue/silver
Cathedral is off the red
Udvar hazy is out in Dulles and not metro accessible, though you could silver out to reston and uber...

Hotels may be cheaper around Alexandria/Springfield (that'll get you on the yellow/blue with an easy red transfer). If you're lookin in DC, maybe try NE. Avoid SE. Could also try by DCA, tons of hotels around there. anything in NW/SW DC will be an arm and a leg. Though you could try up around Columbia Heights/Shaw/U. May is prime tourism start.

Keep an eye on safe track plans. metro service has been...rough since they've been doing safety "improvements"

feel free to PM me, it's my stomping grounds.

[Cscottrun]

Can anyone recommend a website that has package deals that included airfare and hotel (preferably all inclusive). Looking to go somewhere warm like Mexico or the Caribbean next month.

Also, any sites for last minute deals?

[YouNeverKnow25]

in my experience package deals are not cost effective compared to a la carte purchasing

however I'm sure there are exceptions

[Cscottrun]

Originally Posted by YouNeverKnow25

in my experience package deals are not cost effective compared to a la carte purchasing

however I'm sure there are exceptions

Thank you. Yea, airfare is the killer. I thought maybe I could save via a package deal but I will make sure to check prices separately as well.

[daveshookme]

Originally Posted by Cscottrun

Can anyone recommend a website that has package deals that included airfare and hotel (preferably all inclusive). Looking to go somewhere warm like Mexico or the Caribbean next month.

Also, any sites for last minute deals?

Dmband.com had some inclusives including two dudes playing guitar? Heard it was fun, but awfully pricey. Probably a waste of $$, if you ask me.

[lockman21]

Originally Posted by Cscottrun

Can anyone recommend a website that has package deals that included airfare and hotel (preferably all inclusive). Looking to go somewhere warm like Mexico or the Caribbean next month.

Also, any sites for last minute deals?

No, because you should avoid those.

[Cscottrun]

Originally Posted by daveshookme

Dmband.com had some inclusives including two dudes playing guitar? Heard it was fun, but awfully pricey. Probably a waste of $$, if you ask me.

Lol, well everything I read about Mexico is positive, despite the price.

[recentlyJTR41]

I've always wanted to drive cross country, but this is my new bucketlist trip: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/t...hway.html?_r=0

[FromTheMorning]

Hands down worst part of traveling is having to say goodbye to people. Just had an epic weekend with a couple people I had met a few years ago in Thailand. I get along especially well with the girl and it makes me wish we lived in the same city. But alas, the guy is back in England now and the girl just flew up to Hong Kong this morning to teach English. Paths will cross again I know but still a shit feeling nonetheless.

[dontburnthe_pig]

Originally Posted by FromTheMorning

Hands down worst part of traveling is having to say goodbye to people. Just had an epic weekend with a couple people I had met a few years ago in Thailand. I get along especially well with the girl and it makes me wish we lived in the same city. But alas, the guy is back in England now and the girl just flew up to Hong Kong this morning to teach English. Paths will cross again I know but still a shit feeling nonetheless.

Yep, this. It never gets easy. The last time I said goodbye to friends and family (in my 'old' home, so to speak) was a little more than two years ago. I still get choked up when I think of that moment outside of the airport.

Traveling is in many ways like developing a new habit of saying goodbye - to people, to places and to other things that grab our attention and make us, for a moment, consider what life would be like in a new place.

[recentlyJTR41]

I know some of yall have used Airbnb and just had a couple questions. Is it worth saving the money over a hotel? How's the privacy?


Might be splitting one this summer with a few other people. I'd rather stay at a hotel, but this is much cheaper and I'll be with friends. I just don't like the idea of staying inside a stranger's house if they're still there idk.

I'd much rather spend the extra for a hotel so I can get a pool too. Help me out, ants.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by recentlyJTR41

I know some of yall have used Airbnb and just had a couple questions. Is it worth saving the money over a hotel? How's the privacy?


Might be splitting one this summer with a few other people. I'd rather stay at a hotel, but this is much cheaper and I'll be with friends. I just don't like the idea of staying inside a stranger's house if they're still there idk.

I'd much rather spend the extra for a hotel so I can get a pool too. Help me out, ants.

I like it for big(er) groups for extended stays. Have done it in CA/WAS/NYC.

Only issue was in CA where we had a rodent die under the house -- was stinky for a couple days. Our Seattle stay the people rented out their main house and stayed in an RV next door -- that was weird from a privacy perspective.

[recentlyJTR41]

Originally Posted by unccrombie

I like it for big(er) groups for extended stays. Have done it in CA/WAS/NYC.

Only issue was in CA where we had a rodent die under the house -- was stinky for a couple days. Our Seattle stay the people rented out their main house and stayed in an RV next door -- that was weird from a privacy perspective.

Cool thanks. This is only for two nights in Nashville. There's a ton of options and I just didn't know if it would be better than a hotel.

My main concern is we're going to be coming in super late both nights rip roaring drunk from a wedding/wedding parties and didn't want to have to worry about waking people and shit.

[Peregrine]

Anyone ever been to Banos, Ecuador? There is an eco-lodge there being sold via a $30/ticket raffle.

Sounds too good to be true . . .

Fuck it. $30 well spent.

[DIDriveOut2SPAC]

eco-lounges sound like they dont serve booze. I like booze on vacation.

[FromTheMorning]

Setting my sights on a trip to New Zealand for a month in November/December. Anyone been? Figure I spend maybe 3 weeks on the south island and a week on the north.

[DavefaninNZ]

How do you plan on getting around? 3/1 sound like a good ratio.

[FromTheMorning]

Ideally I would drive it. Meet some people at a hostel and get a van.

[DavefaninNZ]

Do you have your route planned yet? Or at least a vague idea of where you want to go and how long in each area? I can definitely give you some good recs and ideas for your trip if you want.

[BTBaboon]

Heading to Riviera Maya a week from today for our honeymoon. I've been before, but never this late in the season. Hoping for sun and dry weather. Forecast looks good right now, some days say "partly cloudy" but I've learned this is more likely to mean that there will be a few clouds in the sky rather than what we traditionally think of as "cloudy"

Can't wait, been a while since I've gone somewhere warm!

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by FromTheMorning

Ideally I would drive it. Meet some people at a hostel and get a van.

Do a Google search for "camper van relocation NZ" or something similar. Good way to get free campervans for a few days at a time, so long as you're willing to travel from Point A to Point B (but by whatever route you want).

Did this with Juicy several years ago, relocating a campervan from Christchurch to Auckland. Had 3 days and made an awesome roadtrip of it. Free van, free fuel, free ferry from South Island to North Island. Fun adventure.

[FromTheMorning]

Originally Posted by DavefaninNZ

Do you have your route planned yet? Or at least a vague idea of where you want to go and how long in each area? I can definitely give you some good recs and ideas for your trip if you want.

No route planned but I was thinking of flying in and out of Christchurch or Auckland because it's the cheapest from Melbourne. Pretty much will want to see Queenstown, Tekapo, Milford Sound/Fjordland, Mount Cook. Those are all obviously on the south island though so I'm totally open to advice and ideas.

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Do a Google search for "camper van relocation NZ" or something similar. Good way to get free campervans for a few days at a time, so long as you're willing to travel from Point A to Point B (but by whatever route you want).

Did this with Juicy several years ago, relocating a campervan from Christchurch to Auckland. Had 3 days and made an awesome roadtrip of it. Free van, free fuel, free ferry from South Island to North Island. Fun adventure.

Wow that sounds awesome, I'll have a look!

[aeroshady]

Originally Posted by DIDriveOut2SPAC

Hey I'll be in Lisbon in July. Recommend some places.

Totally missed this post.

Anyway, I can recommend some stellar places in the airport!

I was only in the airport for extended layovers to and from France/Switzerland. I will say that the surrounding area looks amazing though. I was definitely feeling the urge to go explore and will totally be back to actually see Portugal one day.

As for my next adventure...I am just under 2 months away from wedding and honeymoon! Wedding will be in Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland (near the Isle of Skye), and the honeymoon is going to be in Bali!

I have been taking Scuba lessons to prepare for the honeymoon as Bali has some of the best diving in the world apparently!

[SmoothG]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Anyone ever been to Banos, Ecuador? There is an eco-lodge there being sold via a $30/ticket raffle.

Sounds too good to be true . . .

Fuck it. $30 well spent.

Did you win?

Originally Posted by recentlyJTR41

I've always wanted to drive cross country, but this is my new bucketlist trip: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/t...hway.html?_r=0

I dig the idea of a long, weird road trip but I'm not sure that'd be my pick. I'd like to drive from Colombia all the way down to Patagonia. I think Patagonia might be the top of my bucket list. And going to the alps.

Originally Posted by dontburnthe_pig

Yep, this. It never gets easy. The last time I said goodbye to friends and family (in my 'old' home, so to speak) was a little more than two years ago. I still get choked up when I think of that moment outside of the airport.

Traveling is in many ways like developing a new habit of saying goodbye - to people, to places and to other things that grab our attention and make us, for a moment, consider what life would be like in a new place.

The art of saying goodbye is something that becomes easier over time. Saying goodbye is really just an inevitable reality for most people I meet. It was simpler I think before social media.

On the other hand, I know it's easy to ownplay goodbyes when they are so frequent but in some respects it never gets easier. Getting older and saying goodbye to my brother and parents eye tougher anytime.

Originally Posted by DIDriveOut2SPAC

eco-lounges sound like they dont serve booze. I like booze on vacation.

Me too. Reminds of some people traveling in hostels that I can't fuckin stand...the ones that only do cultural things and museums and look down on people who like to go out and drink when traveling. I like to do both, as I'm sure most people do. Smug travellers can be unbearable.

Originally Posted by FromTheMorning

Setting my sights on a trip to New Zealand for a month in November/December. Anyone been? Figure I spend maybe 3 weeks on the south island and a week on the north.

I've heard Milford sound is absolutely gorgeous. What's going in aus? How's it going?

Originally Posted by BTBaboon

Heading to Riviera Maya a week from today for our honeymoon. I've been before, but never this late in the season. Hoping for sun and dry weather. Forecast looks good right now, some days say "partly cloudy" but I've learned this is more likely to mean that there will be a few clouds in the sky rather than what we traditionally think of as "cloudy"

Can't wait, been a while since I've gone somewhere warm!

Wish I could help, but I've never been. I'm pretty sure there's some people here who have been or could help. When on holiday I kind of enjoy the cloudy days. Have fun man.