The Travel Thread

Exciting adventures IRL.
elgaucho
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by elgaucho » Thu Apr 18, 2019 6:07 pm

arqueturus wrote:
Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:59 pm
Hong Kong is amazing if a bit expensive - we were there for 5 nights but could have used so more time. The architecture of the place just blew me away.

In Malaysia we went to Kuala Lumpur which was nice but then onwards to Kuching and that was fantastic - that's the one I really want to go back to.
Kuala Lumpur was too big, busy and noisy for my liking. Interesting place though, and reminded me more of large cities in South America than i expected.

Borneo was amazing though when I went - stayed at the Shangri La and they treat you like a king there!

Would love to go back, but it's a long way and I'm struggling to find time for long holidays these last couple of years.

If anyone decides to visit tiny Luxembourg be sure to let me know - would be most happy to join for a drink or something!
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Rossell
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Sun May 19, 2019 9:15 am

Going back to Berlin for a sec. I wanna book a hotel but if I do that, its the whole pay at the property thing. What card should I use? Will they charge me in euros at the end? I don't know this works.

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Sly Boots
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Sly Boots » Sun May 19, 2019 9:26 am

Rossell wrote:
Sun May 19, 2019 9:15 am
Going back to Berlin for a sec.
Seems like a long way to go for such a short stay...

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Mantis
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Mantis » Sun May 19, 2019 3:17 pm

If you're paying at the hotel then it's pretty likely that you'll be paying Euros, though some places let you pick between sterling and euros so it may be worth asking beforehand. I've always used my debit card abroad and it typically winds up being better to just pay the small non-sterling transaction fee on top of whatever rate your bank gives you than getting shafted with exchange rates at random outlets abroad.

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Strudel
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Strudel » Sun May 19, 2019 8:34 pm

If you've got time, get a Monzo card and transfer enough money onto that for your trip. You'll get the MasterCard base rate, so it's the best you can get.

Rossell
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Sat Jun 15, 2019 12:21 pm

Just bumping to say thanks for everyone's advice. I take off for Berlin a week on Monday. Staying in a Hilton in alexanderplatz (I know its a tourist trap but the s bahn is two blocks away). Got reservations for the TV tower and reichstag. Gonna try the pergamonmuseum and Jewish museum on the way. Petrified because I'm doing this solo for the first time but very excited :D

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Animalmother
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Animalmother » Sat Jun 15, 2019 3:44 pm

I did the spy museum while I was there, very interesting. They have all sorts of Cold War gear there and cool stuff like miniature cameras and that glove gun from Inglorious Basterds :)

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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Wed Jun 26, 2019 4:32 am

In Berlin and its going very well. Not really delved beneath the surface but I don't feel I need to. Just letting the adventure come to me. Here until Friday afternoon. Bloody hot outside.

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The Jackal
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by The Jackal » Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:27 pm

Animalmother wrote:
Sat Jun 15, 2019 3:44 pm
I did the spy museum while I was there, very interesting. They have all sorts of Cold War gear there and cool stuff like miniature cameras and that glove gun from Inglorious Basterds :)
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Medicine Man
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Medicine Man » Sun Jun 30, 2019 2:47 pm

It's a big birthday for the missus coming up next year and I was planning a surprise trip to New York for her. Well I say 'planning', I've planned hee haw as it turns out things have changed since I last booked a holiday abroad in 2001, but the thought's there.

Any tips/sites or general advice you seasoned travel regulars can sling my way to help me along? Anything on everything would be great. Flights, hotels and all that jazz.

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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Sun Jun 30, 2019 3:14 pm

Unless you're planning on a package holiday where they do this for you, you'll both need an Esta to get into the states which you can do here:

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Also would be worth considering a tourist pass as this has some beat the queue type stuff and involves the hop on hop off buses too. We used what looks to have morphed into the New York Pass. Have a look at this article to see what's about:

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-city-passes/

I'll admit that my recommendations on hotels in NYC is a bit squiffy because out of the two trips, one hotel was a replacement for a double booking and the other was an Airbnb. The hotel we did stay in was called the The Blakely which we found to be well worth it but that was a decade ago. Here's the site if you'd like a look get creative juices flowing:

https://www.blakelynewyork.com/accommodations.htm

Another thing to mention. The statue of liberty, for me family and friends at least is better seen from a water taxi/sightseeing cruise. It can take many hours to queue to climb it and its better off seen from the water. For the best view do not bother with the empire state. Go up the rockefeller centre on a good clear day. You then have a corker of a view with the empire state and wtc 1 in view.

The subway is easy as wink to use, still here's a guide, and a good explanation of streets and avenues:

http://www.nycsubwayguide.com/subway/basics.aspx

For Broadway, I watched School of Rock which I thought was utterly fantastic and so comes recommended.

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Medicine Man
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Medicine Man » Sun Jun 30, 2019 8:08 pm

Outstanding stuff Rossell! Just the kind of thing I was after. Thanks fella, much appreciated. :D

Rossell
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:09 am

You're welcome sir. Anything else, just lemme know I'll see what I can dig up.

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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Rossell » Tue Jul 16, 2019 7:41 pm

If anyone has experience of Las Vegas / San Francisco such as transport to and from airports, and stuff to see and do, would be fantastic please :D

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Animalmother
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Re: The Travel Thread

Post by Animalmother » Wed Jul 17, 2019 6:10 am

I was in Las Vegas about 10 years ago so memory is a bit hazy. Some hotels will have a shuttle service or just jump into a taxi and name the hotel, easy as that. I had zero interest in gambling and was with a bunch of lads so ended up doing a lot of my own thing. Went to a gun range and fired a Tommy gun and MP 40, also went to the Grand Canyon which is spectacular. There's loads to do if you look for it.

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