Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What's the verdict on sites like Trivago, Super dot com and the like?
When I search hotels on Google, these places come in way cheaper but there must be a catch, right?

I only use them as basically a search engine amd then always, always book direct. Have never found I couldn’t get the same price direct and if something does go wrong I’m way better off than being through a third party.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Brupal

Fuzz you call out anyone who has even looked at a Tesla from across a parking lot as being a Nazi, but you have zero qualms about spending your tourist Deutchmarks visiting actual Nazi tourist sites (ie Hitler’s Mar-a-Lago above)? Did you have any pangs of regret booking that holiday or did it never occur to you that you were somehow supporting a culture that had an history of being evil? Or is it not like that and someone can travel in modern Germany or own a Tesla without supporting an ideology?

When Trump and his Gestapo are roundly defeated and he succumbs to a cyanide capsule or a Nuremburgish trial, and all his MAGATs are punished for their crimes and/or sulk back into their swamps, I will visit the Real Mar-a-lago and have a coffee on the balcony remembering how lucky we were to have defeated some vile people.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Whynotnow

I only use them as basically a search engine amd then always, always book direct. Have never found I couldn’t get the same price direct and if something does go wrong I’m way better off than being through a third party.

I used Booking for years, and still do occasionally just for the ease of their cancellation policies up to the date.

In some cases, when planning a trip with friends, i will go book multiple hotels on Booking and then have the friend pick - then cancel the rest.

I do find using sites like this, you generally get the shaft on rooms. It's usually subtle, but in more boutique hotels, you certainly get that weird room.

I have earned the top genius level on Booking so i can typically get 20-30% off or get some decent getaways deals. I will usually call the hotel and tell them yhe Booking rate. They will match.

[btimbit]

Yeah I prefer booking direct as well. Easier when something goes wrong, usually the same price, and you don't get the crappy loud room under the stairwell or next to the elevator or something

[bagofpucks]

Well, the watch for Air Canada cancelations is on at our house. My sister was planning a visit on her way back to ON, but her Saturday night flight is likely not the safest bet. My wife is supposed to be flying out for an international trip on Friday night, so we’ll see if her initial flight is cancelled or if she gets stuck anywhere along the way.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Thanks for the tips on booking through various hotel sites.
We ended up booking direct and are heading to Puerto Vallarta (Punta Mita) in late October!

[Freeway]

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

[Whynotnow]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

Kyoto - Sanjusengen-do temple was one of our favs - 1000 plus statues all lined up, very cool. Don’t miss it. In Kyoto we also went to a department store restaurant and had Yakiniku with our kids. This was also where we rented a karaoke private room for an hour right near the train station, that was a lot of fun.

Tokyo - such a blur for me but we found this ninja training experience. Supposedly their ancestors were ninjas, was in this great little spot, they showed us all the tools and stuff and we got to try things out. It wasn’t touristy at all, we were with our kids, they loved it.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

Depends on how you like to travel and what you're into--do you have kids? Do you like cocktails? Shopping? History? Are you nerdy? Kinky?

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

A few years ago, we went to this 500+ year-old soba house in Kyoto. It was so good and a very cool experience:

https://kyotofoodie.com/owariya-540-...ba-restaurant/

If you can find a way to get to Osaka for a day (it's not far), their main market is pretty great.

[photon]

I might end up doing a 7-10 day solo trip this year I ended up with more vacation days than my wife but I don't really want to go to the US anywhere currently and a beach vacation in Mexico seems lame by myself.

Japan would be cool but I feel like I'd want to prepare a lot more, learn more of the language, and go for longer (though I can fly standby so would probably be pretty cheap so still might be worth). Maybe I could find a tour group...

Any other places for Sept-Nov that would be good, if I'm by myself then cities are better so I can see stuff.

[Dodsdomd]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

If you are going up Fushimi Inari go early in the morning. I went up at 6-630am and it was pretty quiet. When we came back down(830 or 9) it was a complete madhouse. Go as early as you possibly can. I don't think I regret going to Kyoto because I had several great experiences but man it is packed. Next level busy.
If you like metal or hard rock go to Rock Bar Crunch. Very fun bar with a great owner.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Got a good chunk of our Japan trip in September mapped out, but anyone with recommendations for must-dos in Tokyo and Kyoto?

A little out of the way in Kyoto but we visited the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple and really liked it. Given it is out of the way it may not be as busy as other sites in the city.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iDBjSjQKxdaWUmoM9

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by photon

I might end up doing a 7-10 day solo trip this year I ended up with more vacation days than my wife but I don't really want to go to the US anywhere currently and a beach vacation in Mexico seems lame by myself.

Japan would be cool but I feel like I'd want to prepare a lot more, learn more of the language, and go for longer (though I can fly standby so would probably be pretty cheap so still might be worth). Maybe I could find a tour group...

Any other places for Sept-Nov that would be good, if I'm by myself then cities are better so I can see stuff.

London would be great. I've been there solo, it's a pretty decent city for that. Lots to see and do there.

[Dodsdomd]

Originally Posted by photon

I might end up doing a 7-10 day solo trip this year I ended up with more vacation days than my wife but I don't really want to go to the US anywhere currently and a beach vacation in Mexico seems lame by myself.

Japan would be cool but I feel like I'd want to prepare a lot more, learn more of the language, and go for longer (though I can fly standby so would probably be pretty cheap so still might be worth). Maybe I could find a tour group...

Any other places for Sept-Nov that would be good, if I'm by myself then cities are better so I can see stuff.

If you've never been I would suggest Mexico City. Lots to do there, great food, and still pretty reasonable prices. If you are in Calgary there is a 5 hour direct flight I think near daily. I've been several times and looking at going back again end of January.