The "I'm Traveling somewhere" Thread

[ReaperKK]

Looks amazing! Was Poland your only stop? I've been to Poland once and very briefly when visiting Lithuania.

[Phoenix87x]

Thanks Reaper

The only other place was at Frankfurt Germany for a transfer flight, but Poland was the main stop.

I can't wait to go back. And I also have a whole list of other countries I would like to visit as well.


And to save people from having to click back a page here is the post again

Back home after leaving the US for the first time ever.

 Went to Warsaw, Poland and it was truly incredible. And in addition, I've been studying the language for a year and half and for the most part was able to speak only Polish while there and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.











My only regret was I didn't do it sooner.

[Azyiu]

Have you guys thought about taking a nice hike and visit Kjeragbolten in Norway?

[Lonk]

Has anyone here ever been to the Azores? My wife and son have been talking about going. I looked at a map and it's like 5 big rocks in the middle of the fucking ocean!!

Never been there, but I was researching it a few years back. Since like a nice place honestly. That and Canary Islands are on my list of places to visit in the near future.

[XJDenton]

Went to Venice for about a day last weekend. Few of the shots I took.

[TAC]

This one is awesome!

[XJDenton]

One of the few benefits of waking up for a flight at 06:00, sunrise shots!

[Phoenix87x]

The Venice pics look great.

Anybody do Global entry? Is it worth it?

[cramx3]

Nice pics XJ

The Venice pics look great.

Anybody do Global entry? Is it worth it?

I had it for a bit. It comes with TSA pre-check (or did, I haven't followed lately).  I guess if you travel in/out of the country enough it may be worth it.  In EWR they redid the customs area to make it more digital and it's fairly quick.  I'm usually through before my bags arrive at the carousel and I'm traveling outside the US maybe twice a year.  I don't think it's worth it.  I also don't really have an issue waiting for TSA so I don't care for paying for these extras like TSA-pre check either.  It's nice, and it usually is quicker, but I can wait 15 minutes. 

I actually just reached United Premiere 1k status which has a perk of free Clear.  I need to figure out how to claim that and see if that's a huge time saver.

I should also add, your home airport may be a bigger mess to get through security than my experiences flying United out of EWR.  (I almost never use their Premiere security line either, it's often slower than the main line).

[El Barto]

Yeah, I was going to say it probably depends on your home airport more than anything else. DFW is quick as hell letting you back in. I'm not sure how something like global entry could make it much quicker. There might be a time when 8 fully loaded A380s arrive simultaneously, but I've never seen such a thing.

[Phoenix87x]

Yeah, I think its really a Philly airport issue more than anything. They were recently voted worst airport in the country and I may have to agree.

They had 50 customs checkout counters and they had maybe 8 open. And even though I'm a citizen, I waited in line for almost an hour. All for one very checked out, indifferent guy to ask me 3 questions: where I was coming from, how long and if I bought anything 

After a 9 hour flight, it just broke my brain a little.

[faizoff]

As cramx said, global entry is a boon for those who travel a lot and use multiple airports in the US. I have family that use it and some find it useful and other not so much. Like everyone else said a lot depends on the airport. I've used different airports for re-entry to the US, I think the immigration has been mostly an ok experience esp after long flights (between 8-16 hrs) I'm heading back to the US in a week or two and entry point will be Logan airport. I have no idea how long the wait will be, I am just loathing the 6 hour layover I have at that airport.

[cramx3]

There might be a time when 8 fully loaded A380s arrive simultaneously, but I've never seen such a thing.

I guess I should add that one bad experience could change my opinion   

[wolfking]

Those pictures are just amazing.

[lordxizor]

If you're traveling with coworkers, would you check with them to see if they want to join you for tourist stuff after work hours, or would you just go do your own thing?

[cramx3]

If you're traveling with coworkers, would you check with them to see if they want to join you for tourist stuff after work hours, or would you just go do your own thing?

Depends if you would like their company or not.  I kind of felt like a dick when I was in Denver with a coworker and went to a concert at Red Rocks without telling him, but I honestly wouldn't of wanted to go with him.  But when I was with my other coworker in Amsterdam, we spent one of our days off doing touristy stuff together and one day doing our own things. It really depends on your relationships. 

[pg1067]

If you're traveling with coworkers, would you check with them to see if they want to join you for tourist stuff after work hours, or would you just go do your own thing?

There are a couple guys I work with whose company I enjoy.  I've had occasion to travel on business with one of them.  I might go grab a beer with him, but for the most part, once the work function is done, my time is mine.

[Anguyen92]

All right, got my passport in the mail today.  I am pleased.  Now I can go ahead and book a trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in February as I please.  Maybe go to Europe in the Summer.  If I'm really ambitious now that I have the passport, I may contemplate going to London in mid-December.  We'll see.

[cramx3]

Booked a couple trips.... Thanksgiving in Jacksonville to see my parents and 10 days in LA for work in December.

[El Barto]

All right, got my passport in the mail today.  I am pleased.  Now I can go ahead and book a trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in February as I please.  Maybe go to Europe in the Summer.  If I'm really ambitious now that I have the passport, I may contemplate going to London in mid-December.  We'll see.

A bit of unsolicited advice based on my experience. Going overseas isn't like going to NY. Crossing 8 time zones kind of fucks with your head. It's something that's really only worth doing if you're planning a decent sized trip. Even a week isn't really enough, as you'll as much time traveling and getting squared away as you will touristing. I kind of decided that 10 days is the minimum for for me for it to be worth while. As with all things, YMMV, but if you haven't done it before you might want to be prepared for that.

[Azyiu]

All right, got my passport in the mail today.  I am pleased.  Now I can go ahead and book a trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in February as I please.  Maybe go to Europe in the Summer.  If I'm really ambitious now that I have the passport, I may contemplate going to London in mid-December.  We'll see.

Don't bother, other than the British Museum there isn't much worth seeing in London, lol 

[faizoff]

This time tomorrow I begin the dreadful 30hours plane journey back to the US. Longest leg is a 15 hour flight.
Blergh.

[XJDenton]

All right, got my passport in the mail today.  I am pleased.  Now I can go ahead and book a trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in February as I please.  Maybe go to Europe in the Summer.  If I'm really ambitious now that I have the passport, I may contemplate going to London in mid-December.  We'll see.

Don't bother, other than the British Museum there isn't much worth seeing in London, lol 

U avin' a laugh mate?

[TAC]

This time tomorrow I begin the dreadful 30hours plane journey back to the US. Longest leg is a 15 hour flight.
Blergh.

Where did you go?

[jammindude]

Well this trip has been a disaster, but we’re trying to laugh through it. (At some point, you almost have to)

As some of you might have seen in the coronavirus thread, we flew into Orlando on Friday Oct 28th with plans of spending one whole week with my son’s family and my new baby granddaughter, followed by a week at Disney World and Universal.

The first Monday, I woke up feeling like death and tested positive for Covid. I’ve been vaccinated along with 3 boosters, so symptoms were pretty mild (like a head cold) and only lasted about 48 hrs. But the CDC and hotel policy required we quarantine for 5 days, so that was our first week.

The following Saturday, I was still testing positive. However….again….the CDC guidelines were pretty specific that the omicron variant was showing a peak contagious window of 1-2 days before and 2-3 days after symptoms. So based on that, they say to quarantine 5 days, and then proceed about your business wearing a mask. We called Disney Theme parks to confirm this, and they reiterated that as long as we were following that guidance, we were welcome in the park.  (So everyone keep that in mind if you’re going to a theme park or anywhere else)

So this last Monday, we masked up and headed to the park. Monday was great. YESTERDAY OTOH    We got a monsoon ahead of the upcoming storm. We were soaked to the bone by the time we got back to the hotel.

Now today we’ve got Hurricane Nichole just offshore, and we’re thinking Universal Studios will most likely be closed tomorrow.

My son still won’t see me because he’s worried about the baby.

At this point I just want to go home.

[lordxizor]

Well this trip has been a disaster, but we’re trying to laugh through it. (At some point, you almost have to)

As some of you might have seen in the coronavirus thread, we flew into Orlando on Friday Oct 28th with plans of spending one whole week with my son’s family and my new baby granddaughter, followed by a week at Disney World and Universal.

The first Monday, I woke up feeling like death and tested positive for Covid. I’ve been vaccinated along with 3 boosters, so symptoms were pretty mild (like a head cold) and only lasted about 48 hrs. But the CDC and hotel policy required we quarantine for 5 days, so that was our first week.

The following Saturday, I was still testing positive. However….again….the CDC guidelines were pretty specific that the omicron variant was showing a peak contagious window of 1-2 days before and 2-3 days after symptoms. So based on that, they say to quarantine 5 days, and then proceed about your business wearing a mask. We called Disney Theme parks to confirm this, and they reiterated that as long as we were following that guidance, we were welcome in the park.  (So everyone keep that in mind if you’re going to a theme park or anywhere else)

So this last Monday, we masked up and headed to the park. Monday was great. YESTERDAY OTOH    We got a monsoon ahead of the upcoming storm. We were soaked to the bone by the time we got back to the hotel.

Now today we’ve got Hurricane Nichole just offshore, and we’re thinking Universal Studios will most likely be closed tomorrow.

My son still won’t see me because he’s worried about the baby.

At this point I just want to go home.

Dang, that all really sucks. I'll be in Orlando next week for a work seminar and some Disney time with the wife and my youngest son. We are pretty much skipping all planned event this week just to stay healthy before we go. So much illness going around right now.

[cramx3]

How are you feeling though?  And yeah, sounds like a nightmare vacation and that's just very unfortunate.  Maybe you should just go home if possible?

[El Barto]

Well this trip has been a disaster, but we’re trying to laugh through it. (At some point, you almost have to)

As some of you might have seen in the coronavirus thread, we flew into Orlando on Friday Oct 28th with plans of spending one whole week with my son’s family and my new baby granddaughter, followed by a week at Disney World and Universal.

The first Monday, I woke up feeling like death and tested positive for Covid. I’ve been vaccinated along with 3 boosters, so symptoms were pretty mild (like a head cold) and only lasted about 48 hrs. But the CDC and hotel policy required we quarantine for 5 days, so that was our first week.

The following Saturday, I was still testing positive. However….again….the CDC guidelines were pretty specific that the omicron variant was showing a peak contagious window of 1-2 days before and 2-3 days after symptoms. So based on that, they say to quarantine 5 days, and then proceed about your business wearing a mask. We called Disney Theme parks to confirm this, and they reiterated that as long as we were following that guidance, we were welcome in the park.  (So everyone keep that in mind if you’re going to a theme park or anywhere else)

So this last Monday, we masked up and headed to the park. Monday was great. YESTERDAY OTOH    We got a monsoon ahead of the upcoming storm. We were soaked to the bone by the time we got back to the hotel.

Now today we’ve got Hurricane Nichole just offshore, and we’re thinking Universal Studios will most likely be closed tomorrow.

My son still won’t see me because he’s worried about the baby.

At this point I just want to go home.

That really sucks, Dude. At least in my case I was able to cancel most of my travel plans.

[faizoff]

As someone who had COVID while on vacation I empathize with the dude, it blows chunks. Hope you're feeling ok.

[faizoff]

This time tomorrow I begin the dreadful 30hours plane journey back to the US. Longest leg is a 15 hour flight.
Blergh.

Where did you go?

Flew from India to the US via Qatar. super long ass flights that I dread every single time.

[jammindude]

As someone who had COVID while on vacation I empathize with the dude, it blows chunks. Hope you're feeling ok.

I feel fine. I was a little surprised when everyone involved including the hotel, the CDC and Disney parks told me to go ahead and proceed with my life as long as I wear a mask even though I’m still technically testing positive.

Just kind of made me realize that apparently a lot of public places no longer care. so everyone else just keep that in mind when you’re the one that’s out traveling.

EDIT FOR DISCLAIMER- I haven’t actually tested since last Saturday and today is Wednesday. So I suppose things could have changed. But at this point, I don’t think I’m going to bother testing again until after I get home. That will be this Saturday.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Got lost on the way home from work and found this big hole in the ground.

[lordxizor]

How grand!

[Anguyen92]

So I'm planning my trip to Toronto in February and looking at hotel prices, I'm contemplating getting an AirBnB instead.  I'm seeing some spots at good prices with some good enough reviews that's cheaper than the hotel I am thinking about booking.  The issue is that I have never reserved an AirBnB before.  Are they an ok thing to book and have a safe sleep in?

[El Barto]

So I'm planning my trip to Toronto in February and looking at hotel prices, I'm contemplating getting an AirBnB instead.  I'm seeing some spots at good prices with some good enough reviews that's cheaper than the hotel I am thinking about booking.  The issue is that I have never reserved an AirBnB before.  Are they an ok thing to book and have a safe sleep in?

AirBnB is fine. I've stayed in plenty. You can often times do quite a bit better, so long as you don't care about the hotel amenities (and I sure don't). Just make sure you're  booking the entire place, and be mindful of the fees. I haven't been using ABB on my last few trips because the idea of a $70 cleaning fee for one night offends me to my very core.