The Travel Thread (links)

[ah123]

We’re planning to go to New York early July, so I am looking for decent priced hotels in Midtown. Any recommendations would be very appreciated

[Ferarri]

My wife and I want to plan a trip to Lake Tahoe around mid September. Has anyone been before? Any recommendations on where the best location is to stay?

[edslunch]

Any recommendations for Portugal? We’re going with my wife’s parents in October. Thinking a week each based is Lisbon and Porto with day trips. Douro valley for sure.

[Fuzz]

Lagos is great, if you want beaches/more natural stuff down south.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Any recommendations for Portugal? We’re going with my wife’s parents in October. Thinking a week each based is Lisbon and Porto with day trips. Douro valley for sure.

Never been to Lisbon but Porto is very nice. Douro valley, Coimbra and Guimaraes for day trips would be good options.

[icarus]

I've spent a lot of time in Portugal. The Douro Valley is probably the most beautiful place I've been in Europe, don't just do a day trip, spend a night or two. You'll be there at harvest time, I don't know if that will be better or worse for tourists.

Porto and Lisbon are both amazing cities. Don't do too many day trips out, enjoy the cities, but certainly from Lisbon check out Sintra and Cascais.

Midway between them you can check out Peniche if you're a surfer and in Nazare the swells should be picking up if you want to watch insane people take on the biggest waves in the world.

Personally, I am not big on the Algarve (Faro and Lagos). It's Brits and Germans with their holiday rentals and while there are some beautiful cliffs it is just too touristy.

I'd rather spend my time exploring some of the other amazing wine regions like Alentejo or Dao. That will connect you more to the culture and no doubt you'll find some off the beaten track gems rather than some dudes persistently trying to sell you oversized novelty sunglasses on the beach.

[jar_e]

Having to make an unexpected trip to Europe for a funeral in September. Anyone have any recommendations for must see things in Amsterdam and Krakow?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Having to make an unexpected trip to Europe for a funeral in September. Anyone have any recommendations for must see things in Amsterdam and Krakow?

For Krakow, you can obviously visit Auschwitz. I would also recommend Zakopane and doing some hiking, spend some time in the hot springs/thermal pools or maybe check out the steel art gallery. In Krakow itself you can check out the famous things like the Wawel or basilica or just hang out in the rynek. There is also a really cool salt mine tour, Wieliczka, that I would highly recommend as a different experience. They hopefully still offer tours in English at the mine.

There is also a really cool, underground restaurant that I went to in Krakow which I will try to find the name of. It was very close to the rynek. Eat as much Krakowska kielbasa as possible and also be sure to try some smalec.

[edslunch]

Does anyone have recommendations for a backcountry lodge with hiking, accessible by helicopter. I’m bored next weekend.

No, seriously, my wife is turning 60 next summer and that’s high on her bucket list. Also, what is the best time for hiking.

[Fuzz]

CMH has lots of options, not sure how they are on last minute. Maybe try Assiniboine?