Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Anyone been to Rome and have comments on areas to stay? We tend to stay in more locals neighbourhood areas that are a few metro stops from the main central sightseeing stuff to get better accommodations and less tourist trap restaurants.

In Rome we stayed at an AirBnB nearby to Spagna metro station. I thought it was convenient to walk to everywhere we wanted for our 4 days there as a first trip. Most things were within a 2km radius. The food nearby was pretty mediocre though. I really don’t have much positive to say about the food in Rome, other than it was meh and expensive.

Of the places we went, the pizza in Naples is the only thing that stood out as exceptional.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Anyone been to Rome and have comments on areas to stay? We tend to stay in more locals neighbourhood areas that are a few metro stops from the main central sightseeing stuff to get better accommodations and less tourist trap restaurants.

We were just there in May and stayed in the Testaccio neighborhood. Lots of great little bars and restaurants, and a nice quiet escape from the hustle and bustle. We walked or bussed from their easily to the touristy areas.

[me_dennis]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Anyone been to Rome and have comments on areas to stay? We tend to stay in more locals neighbourhood areas that are a few metro stops from the main central sightseeing stuff to get better accommodations and less tourist trap restaurants.

If you aren't aware, because of the Vatican's Jubiliee in 2025, most of Rome is under construction in 2024 to prepare for that:
https://www.frommers.com/blogs/arthu...s-need-to-know

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Trastevere is a great little area of Rome. Also put a bit of a guide together on Rome when we went back in June:

Rome

The key things you need to know about Rome is that they’re known for four different types of pasta and you should try all of them if you can:

(1) Cacio e Pepe - 2/3 pecorino, 1/3 parmigiano, pepper, pasta water
(2) Spaghetti Alla Carbonara (so different from whatever they call carbonara here in North America) - pecorino mixed with egg, guanciale
(3) Amatriciana - pecorino, guanciale, red sauce
(4) Alla Gricia - pecorino, guanciale, black pepper

Another big thing to get in Rome is Roman-style pizza. It’s very different from Neapolitan and hard to find in North America. There are two types of pizza that Rome has:

(1) Pizza Al Taglio - Square pizza served mostly in bakeries by the slice, often with interesting toppings
(2) Pinsa - An oval type of pizza. When done well, it’s got a really great airy crust but it’s also crispy.

This is a good article on some Roman pizzerias if you’re looking to try: https://www.eater.com/maps/best-pizz...taly-pizzerias

Meals

* Poldo e Gianna Osteria - Great spot for food and wine. All’Amatriciana is excellent here
* Dar Sor Olimpia al Drago - Typical Roman cuisine and definitely our favourite place we went to when we wanted a quiet dinner out. It was in Trastavere which is away from the touristy sights, but very cool shops and restaurants you don’t mind wandering around getting lost. Best Carbonara I had on the trip for sure
* Da Enzo al 29 - The Amatriciana is so good here (also burrata and olive oil appetizer)
* Roscioli Salumeria - This is an epic place in Rome. Gotta get the Cantabrian anchovies and butter starter. Mortadella with grated parmigiano is awesome, too. Spaghettone with anchovies and butter on the primi menu is awesome as well. Carbonara is incredible and cacio e pepe is, too. Don’t need to get any dishes past primi and for dessert just go down the street to Gelateria del Teatro or Carapina

Gelato

* **Come Il Latte (really good, near villa borghese)
* Neve di Latte (good gelato and granita, also near villa borghese)

Other Places We Didn’t Get to Try (but came highly regarded):

* Colline Emiliane - If you start craving food from Emilia-Romagna, this is a very highly regarded spot. We tried to get in but it was lined up to the gills. Reservation recommended
* Cuoco & Camicia - Nice little place with traditional and seafood options
* L’Arcangelo - Does the All’Amatriciana with gnocchi
* Armando al Pantheon - Carbonara and Alla Gricia (reservation needed)
* Cesare al Casaletto
* La Carbonara - Carbonara and Oxtail
* Osteria da Fortunata - cheesecake for dessert
* Maritozzo Rosso Kitchen Lab - Carbonara

Pizza List

* Seu Pizza Illuminati - #6 pizza place in the world. Had a reservation but wasn’t able to make it
* Emma - also good suppli
* Peppo al Cosimato (Trastavere)
* 180g Pizzeria Romana
* Forno Campo de’ Fiori

Pizza Al Taglio

* Pizza Chef Roma (casual, by the slice)
* Casa Manco - Testaccio Market Box 22
* Bonci Pizzarium (near Vatican City and by the slice. Somewhat touristy after appearing on some food shows, but it's good. Go after 4 PM, less busy)

Gelato we didn't get to try

* La Romana
* Marave Gelateria
* Otaleg - Gelato (Trastevere)
* Fata Morgana
* Torce
* Fiordiluna di Eugenio Morrone
* Stefano Ferrara Gelato Lab (known for their chocolate)

[bagofpucks]

Looking for some help on a flight leaving tomorrow. Third party status sites like flight aware and flight radar are showing it as cancelled, but WestJet and YYC are showing it as on time. It is WS1580 or DL6920 on November 30th. We talked to WestJet and they are quite confused as to why it is showing as cancelled as they are still seeing it as on time. The problem is there aren’t many alternatives, so the sooner we know the better if it is cancelled.

[FurnaceFace]

In the past I’ve noticed some odd things on flightaware. I think you need to trust the airline knows more about their flight schedule than a 3rd party. Flights seem to be landing today in John Wayne so the airport appears functional.

[Weitz]

You talked to the airline and still aren’t convinced?

[bagofpucks]

I talked to quite possibly the least engaged call center employee I’ve ever experienced who basically said I should just trust WestJet. I can’t say they’ve really earned that trust over the last 18-24 months, which is why I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by bagofpucks

I talked to quite possibly the least engaged call center employee I’ve ever experienced who basically said I should just trust WestJet. I can’t say they’ve really earned that trust over the last 18-24 months, which is why I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience.

Yeah, I don't agree with those saying "just trust whatever westjet has for the status". I've had flights where there was no plane arrived at the gate 1 minute before departure still listed as departing on time. If flight aware has it as cancelled that's definitely a bad sign, although sometimes that just means it's getting a different size plane or flight number or something like that. I'd keep watching closely and have backup plans scoped out as much as possible.

[sureLoss]

Got a notification from WestJet that a flight the next day was cancelled. 30 minutes later got an e-mail that the cancellation notification was sent in error. FlightAware still showed the flight as cancelled the next day, but WestJet still confirmed it was happening.

I was also unsure if the flight would actually go through because the destination was near an active hurricane.

In the end the flight did end up leaving on time as originally scheduled.

[Bigtime]

Looks like bagofpucks gets to go to California after all:

https://www.flightradar24.com/WJA1580/382cd25a

[Table 5]

Just want to say thanks to all the great advice given on Tokyo a few pages back. We came back last week and it all lived up to expectations and more. The place reminded me of of a more civilized NYC....and like there, I'm sure we only scratched the surface on a first visit. Can't wait to go back and dive in deeper.

For those wondering if it's a good place to take kids, ours (9 and 11) absolutely loved it, and the fact that it's so organized, clean, and orderly just makes it really easy as a parent. TeamLabs was their hilight, and they still haven't stopped raving about 7-11.

The only crappy part was booking 2 days in relatively expensive Hakone to see Mt. Fuji and it being cloudy/rainy the entire time. I literally only saw it for 2 seconds through the train window across the aisle, mostly blocked by some guys head. Oh well, reason to go back I guess.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Just want to say thanks to all the great advice given on Tokyo a few pages back. We came back last week and it all lived up to expectations and more. The place reminded me of of a more civilized NYC....and like there, I'm sure we only scratched the surface on a first visit. Can't wait to go back and dive in deeper.

For those wondering if it's a good place to take kids, ours (9 and 11) absolutely loved it, and the fact that it's so organized, clean, and orderly just makes it really easy as a parent. TeamLabs was their hilight, and they still haven't stopped raving about 7-11.

The only crappy part was booking 2 days in relatively expensive Hakone to see Mt. Fuji and it being cloudy/rainy the entire time. I literally only saw it for 2 seconds through the train window across the aisle, mostly blocked by some guys head. Oh well, reason to go back I guess.

You just experienced the Fuji curse

[bagofpucks]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Looks like bagofpucks gets to go to California after all:

https://www.flightradar24.com/WJA1580/382cd25a

Yup, made it safe and sound with a very uneventful flight, which was perfect!

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Table 5

TeamLabs was their hilight, and they still haven't stopped raving about 7-11.

I was at TeamLabs a few weeks ago, maybe we were there at the same time!

[marsplasticeraser]

Originally Posted by icarus

I was at TeamLabs a few weeks ago, maybe we were there at the same time!

Can you describe what makes team labs so good? Also, I see there’s a few of them. Is there one that you think is better or was the one you went really good?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by marsplasticeraser

Can you describe what makes team labs so good? Also, I see there’s a few of them. Is there one that you think is better or was the one you went really good?

It's basically just multiple rooms that you walk through (barefoot) where in each one you have various sensory experiences with light/sound/water etc. It kind of feels like being on mushrooms in space or something. Kids loved it, but was pretty cool for adults too.

We went to TeamLab Planets, which according to the internet is the better one, but I'm sure the other one is good too (one thing I liked about this one is that you can take an elevated train to the island it's on). The one thing to keep in mind though if you do go, there's parts with water that goes up to your knees (or higher if shorter) so wear something that you can easily roll up.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Just want to say thanks to all the great advice given on Tokyo a few pages back. We came back last week and it all lived up to expectations and more. The place reminded me of of a more civilized NYC....and like there, I'm sure we only scratched the surface on a first visit. Can't wait to go back and dive in deeper.

For those wondering if it's a good place to take kids, ours (9 and 11) absolutely loved it, and the fact that it's so organized, clean, and orderly just makes it really easy as a parent. TeamLabs was their hilight, and they still haven't stopped raving about 7-11.

The only crappy part was booking 2 days in relatively expensive Hakone to see Mt. Fuji and it being cloudy/rainy the entire time. I literally only saw it for 2 seconds through the train window across the aisle, mostly blocked by some guys head. Oh well, reason to go back I guess.

Hope you at toured the greater Hakone area, did the ropeway up to the volcanic valley, had some black eggs, did the mega outdoor art installation, experienced the pirate ship across the lake, did the railway that literally zig zags up a mountain (it goes forward, tracks flip and it goes backwards UP the next switchback, does this upward zig zag several times) and some shrines?

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's basically just multiple rooms that you walk through (barefoot) where in each one you have various sensory experiences with light/sound/water etc. It kind of feels like being on mushrooms in space or something. Kids loved it, but was pretty cool for adults too.

We went to TeamLab Planets, which according to the internet is the better one, but I'm sure the other one is good too (one thing I liked about this one is that you can take an elevated train to the island it's on). The one thing to keep in mind though if you do go, there's parts with water that goes up to your knees (or higher if shorter) so wear something that you can easily roll up.

Oh okay, I went to the newer one, TeamLabs Borderless.

Yeah it's cool to walk around and explore different rooms, and take cool photos and videos. It's like going to an art museum but fun and immersive, and you don't have to try to understand anything.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by icarus

Oh okay, I went to the newer one, TeamLabs Borderless.

Yeah it's cool to walk around and explore different rooms, and take cool photos and videos. It's like going to an art museum but fun and immersive, and you don't have to try to understand anything.

Funny, but a good point. So much contemporary art today is layered behind pretentious BS that just hides lack of actual talent...but here you can just walk in and just enjoy these for what they are.