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?

[edslunch]

eSim or local physical sim for European travel?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by edslunch

eSim or local physical sim for European travel?

If your phone supports it, eSim is a lot easier to use and you can get everything set up before you leave home, so it will be working once you land.

I think the only reason to use a physical sim would be if you're travelling to some remote places with limited coverage where eSims might not be supported by the network. I don't know how common that would be in Europe.

[MoneyGuy]

I set up an eSIM on my iPhone (Virgin) a couple of years ago. It was a bugger to set up but I’m glad I have it. We travel a lot internationally.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by getbak

If your phone supports it, eSim is a lot easier to use and you can get everything set up before you leave home, so it will be working once you land.

I think the only reason to use a physical sim would be if you're travelling to some remote places with limited coverage where eSims might not be supported by the network. I don't know how common that would be in Europe.

I’m good but my wife’s phone is too old. She won’t replace it until it literally won’t work. She’ll just get a data plan.

[Cheese]

any recommendations for Mexico. Family/kids/good prices/nice beach

[csnarpy]

Nexus renewal question.


My Son, after his interview, was told he needs to come back for the final interview before his next flight to the US. My question is do we need to let them know prior that we are coming in?

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

Nexus renewal question.


My Son, after his interview, was told he needs to come back for the final interview before his next flight to the US. My question is do we need to let them know prior that we are coming in?

No, you do not schedule that final interview. We did it in November with our kids. You just go through the Nexus line as normal and when you get to the agent tell them you need to do the final interview and they will tell you to go sit down and wait in the corner. Give yourself at least 2 hours for waiting. I think we waited about 90 minutes and a few people in line ahead of us did leave without doing the interview because they had to go to their flight. We almost had to ditch as well because it was getting really tight with our boarding time.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by 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.

We had an amazing trip. Five days each in Lisbon and Porto, a couple of days each in Coimbra and the Douro valley, the latter with a private guide. We barely went into any of the many museums and attractions - just wandering the streets and eating randomly was enough. Highlights include the university library in Coimbra, a Fado dinner at Bella's in Lisbon, a winery near Regua, and the restaurants in Porto.

[csnarpy]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

No, you do not schedule that final interview. We did it in November with our kids. You just go through the Nexus line as normal and when you get to the agent tell them you need to do the final interview and they will tell you to go sit down and wait in the corner. Give yourself at least 2 hours for waiting. I think we waited about 90 minutes and a few people in line ahead of us did leave without doing the interview because they had to go to their flight. We almost had to ditch as well because it was getting really tight with our boarding time.

I guess it depends on the time of day? We will be at the airport for 530am for that nexus interview.

[Knut]

We have recently (last 3 years) checked off a lot of bucket list places to see around the world. I thought i would list them and give you my thoughts on what I think is worth seeing. Now, we travel with younger kids so we generally try and limit how much we actually do on a trip. Try and get some rest too and enjoy great food. These are recent visits. I omitted most of Europe, Mexico etc. as it has been awhile since we have gone.

The best of the best-

1) Petra - Jordan ----> As you walk out of the narrow crevasse into the opening with the Treasury building right in front of you it is awe inspiring. You will take about 25,000 steps to see it all and the hike out is quite uphill. The Bedouin people on horseback were neat too. I highly recommend going there if you can

2) Macchu Picchu/Sacred Valley of the Inca's ----> We did not do the crazy hike up. Opting for the Train/Bus instead. With kids it made sense. You definitely want to stay at the Sacred Valley of Inca's for a few days before to acclimatize to the high altitude. The view was breathtaking at the top. Kids loved the Llamas grazing around up there. Lucked out with weather though as it rained the day before and the day after.

3) Sydney Opera House ----> saw Singing in the Rain there. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect but the whole area is kind of neat. With the giant bats swooping overhead to the the Opera house right on the water with a great view. It was much better than I anticipated it would be. The rest of Sydney was ok, but it is basically just another big city (gave me Vancouver vibes with a wrong accent).

4) Parthenon - Athens ----> The climb up is not grueling by any means but it is worth it to go to the top. I was there in 2018 and 2022. Honestly, Athens was under Austerity measures in 2018 and i found the experience lacking. In 2022 it was much better. Found some really neat places in the side streets around the Parthenon.

5) Rhodes - Greece -----> Was not sure what to expect but I loved the look and vibe of this place. Went to site of the Colossus of Rhodes (which may or may not have actually existed/been there). The castle there and the streets around it were neat. You can see Turkey from there and it has a bit of a Turkish influence vs other Greek isles. Definitely want to go back.

6) Istanbul - Turkey ----> We were not there long enough to truly enjoy it all. Hagia Sofia was pretty neat and the views were remarkable. Definitely need to head back. I want to get to Cappadocia one day so can likely make a bigger trip out of it.

7) Fiji ----> What a beautiful country it is. They have a large Indian population so the food is kind of a blend of tropical and Indian. It was fantastic. Loved the people there and I played a round of golf at a great little track.

8) Panama City/Panama Canal --- > Honestly, I was not sure what to expect. Going to watch boats in a Canal sounds boring, but it is actually really neat. They have a good IMAX show too on site that talks about the history of the Canal. Panama City itself is beautiful and Vibrant. We really enjoyed our time there and found some great restaurants.

Meh -

1) The Pyramids of Giza--> What was nice is that we visited during Ramadan so the crowds were sparse. It is kind of neat to walk around and explore a bit. Going inside was a bit of a let down as it is this long narrow walk way up that leads to a single room with a tomb. The area around it is really run down. All of Cairo was crowded and everything was in disrepair. Poor kids everywhere walking around in bare feet collecting trash. Then you head outside Cairo and there is New Cairo. A place that looks like it could be in Arizona. Department stores, plastic surgery clinics and fast food joints. Saqqara was actually better than the Pyramids in my Opinion. We do eventually want to get to Luxor.

2) Hurghada ----> Resort town on the Coast of Egypt. Really it is resorts with a bunch of waterparks. It was ok. We had a cruise stop there and ended up getting a day pass at a waterpark. Kids enjoyed it. Tonnes of Russians

3) Santorini and Mykonos -----> The views are great but you can tell not much has actually changed since the 80's. Of the two I would pick Santorini for the sunset views alone.

4) Crete and Cyprus ---> Was neat to see, but do not need to return. "Here is an old Ruin" with a crappy city beside it.

5) Lima --> Big city with the worse traffic I have ever seen. It takes so long to get anywhere there. They have some Ruins but they were pretty underwhelming.

Skip all together

1) Dubai ----> Expensive, oppressive and while it looks really nice when you up close its boring and sterile. Museum of the future was decent. The kids liked Atlantis Hotel and the Waterpark there, but you can get that in other places. Cost us $600 to go up The Burj Khalifa and they gave you a "free Coffee" at the top. Malls are sterile. Food was terrible (unless you want to spend 400USD). The Global Village was a complete Flop. I wouldn't bother to be honest and I felt bad about the fact it was built on the back of essentially slaves from Bangladesh and India during modern days.

2) Rio De Janeiro/Christ the Redeemer --- > It was kind of cool i guess. The tram up was busy with long waits. Lots of crowds at the top. It was windy with garbage all over. You also never really felt safe outside of the hotel (lots of sketchy people and police with assault rifles around). Copacabana Beach was more cigarette butts than sand and the Hawkers were relentless there. I am used to them in my travels but they will not leave you alone even when you politely decline.



Just my opinions. I had put something like this together for some friends and thought i would share it here.