The Travel Thread

[KennyTheKangaroo]

If you are refering to portland oregon, this gentleman spent a month and a half in portland, OR for work about 5 years ago. we spent a few weekends there, and it was the summer, so there were fun opportunities to be had (mt hood, the oregon coast, a portland beavers game featuring a post pirates mark redman pitching in it, etc). kenny the kangaroo sadly cant remember most of the restaurants. if you are looking for an interesting place neighborhood, go to the pearl district. if you are looking for beers, they should be everywhere. if you are looking for wierdos on bikes, they should be everywhere too. the only thing more common than beer and bikes is liberals. something that is not common at all is attractive women.

[Troy Loney]

Yeah, I figured a brewery would be a pretty easy to make happen. Going with the gf, so wont be bothered by the last item. We're staying with friend's of hers, one of which is a chef, so i'm sure they know where the good food is. I'd like to check out Powell's and maybe find some local clothing places to shop around at.

[redwill]

How come no one ever asks about things to do in Wichita?

(BTW, it's the home of White Castle ...)

[columbia]

How come no one ever asks about things to do in Wichita?

(BTW, it's the home of White Castle ...)

All of the action is in Omaha; that's not a Manning reference, btw.

[Gaucho]

This looks like fun:

http://www.attrap-reves.com/en/

[tifosi77]

Has anyone ever renewed a passport? Mrs Tif and I just booked airfare for our adventure in Spain. End of March through early April. One tiny problem...... both of our passports are expired. I'm thinking we probably should have checked that out before dropping 2 grand on plane tickets, but what's done is done. I want to be able to keep my old passport (for the stamps and whatnot), but it looks like you have to turn in your old passport when you do a renewal. From what I'm reading it seems renewals are processed much more quickly than new applications (which is what mine would be if I 'lost' my current passport). Does anyone have any relevant experience along these lines?

[Letang Is The Truth]

I can't touch on that but are you doing San Sebastián? We were just looking at Spain/Portugal honeymoon options

[mac5155]

Has anyone ever renewed a passport? Mrs Tif and I just booked airfare for our adventure in Spain. End of March through early April. One tiny problem...... both of our passports are expired. I'm thinking we probably should have checked that out before dropping 2 grand on plane tickets, but what's done is done. I want to be able to keep my old passport (for the stamps and whatnot), but it looks like you have to turn in your old passport when you do a renewal. From what I'm reading it seems renewals are processed much more quickly than new applications (which is what mine would be if I 'lost' my current passport). Does anyone have any relevant experience along these lines?

My new application was returned within 3 weeks at this time last year. I'd get er dun tomorrow or Wednesday and you should be fine

[tifosi77]

I can't touch on that but are you doing San Sebastián? We were just looking at Spain/Portugal honeymoon options

Yup. Barcelona for eight days then San Seb for four. As soon as we get our accommodations sorted I'm booking a ressie at Restaurante Arzak (you need to include the contact info for your hotel when you book). This is the only restaurant on my bucket list, and we'll be in town over my birthday. The restaurant is in a building built by the current owners' grandfather in 1897. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars since 1989, and has been on the Restaurant Magazine list of top fifty restaurants in the world since 2003. It is currently ranked #8.

I told Mrs Tif that if we could swing it ($$$$$$$$) she would never have to do anything for me ever again.

The big thing is we're going during Lent, but getting out of Dodge before Easter. Apparently Spain gets uber-Jesus-y during Holy Week.

[shmenguin]

when i renewed my passport 2 years ago, they gave me back my old one, just with some holes punched in it.

[Letang Is The Truth]

I can't touch on that but are you doing San Sebastián? We were just looking at Spain/Portugal honeymoon options

Yup. Barcelona for eight days then San Seb for four. As soon as we get our accommodations sorted I'm booking a ressie at Restaurante Arzak (you need to include the contact info for your hotel when you book). This is the only restaurant on my bucket list, and we'll be in town over my birthday. The restaurant is in a building built by the current owners' grandfather in 1897. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars since 1989, and has been on the Restaurant Magazine list of top fifty restaurants in the world since 2003. It is currently ranked #8.

I told Mrs Tif that if we could swing it ($$$$$$$$) she would never have to do anything for me ever again.

The big thing is we're going during Lent, but getting out of Dodge before Easter. Apparently Spain gets uber-Jesus-y during Holy Week.

that is awesome.

and your last point is definitely true. saw it first hand about 5 years ago.

[Letang Is The Truth]

anyone have experience booking blocks of hotel rooms? are there any hotel chains that allow the person reserving the block to accrue reward points? this is a self serving endeavor

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

I did it for a wedding but I was just reserving rooms not actually purchasing the rooms. I didn't think to ask for reward points. I would imagine that you have to pay for all of the rooms in order to get them.

[viva la ben]

anyone have experience booking blocks of hotel rooms? are there any hotel chains that allow the person reserving the block to accrue reward points? this is a self serving endeavor :pop:

We only needed 10 bookings under our parties code to get a free room(ours). This was for embassy suites 11 years ago in moon twp.

[count2infinity]

Has anyone ever renewed a passport? Mrs Tif and I just booked airfare for our adventure in Spain. End of March through early April. One tiny problem...... both of our passports are expired. I'm thinking we probably should have checked that out before dropping 2 grand on plane tickets, but what's done is done. I want to be able to keep my old passport (for the stamps and whatnot), but it looks like you have to turn in your old passport when you do a renewal. From what I'm reading it seems renewals are processed much more quickly than new applications (which is what mine would be if I 'lost' my current passport). Does anyone have any relevant experience along these lines?

My new application was returned within 3 weeks at this time last year. I'd get er dun tomorrow or Wednesday and you should be fine

yeah, mrs. c2i renewed her with a name change and it only took a few weeks.

[mac5155]

anyone have experience booking blocks of hotel rooms? are there any hotel chains that allow the person reserving the block to accrue reward points? this is a self serving endeavor

Pretty sure my buddy's mom booked me a hotel room for his wedding to accrue points. She then told me to call and change the reservation to my credit card.

[Letang Is The Truth]

I did it for a wedding but I was just reserving rooms not actually purchasing the rooms. I didn't think to ask for reward points. I would imagine that you have to pay for all of the rooms in order to get them.

If you (the person reserving) pays in advance for the rooms, when someone books them, do I get paid back? Or is the example you are alluding to thay I would buy the rooms out of the kindness of my heart

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

You would have to work out getting paid back with the people staying in the rooms. I doubt the hotel would arrange that for you.

[eddysnake]

Has anyone ever renewed a passport? Mrs Tif and I just booked airfare for our adventure in Spain. End of March through early April. One tiny problem...... both of our passports are expired. I'm thinking we probably should have checked that out before dropping 2 grand on plane tickets, but what's done is done. I want to be able to keep my old passport (for the stamps and whatnot), but it looks like you have to turn in your old passport when you do a renewal. From what I'm reading it seems renewals are processed much more quickly than new applications (which is what mine would be if I 'lost' my current passport). Does anyone have any relevant experience along these lines?

renewed mine in the fall. You do send your old one back, but they'll send it back to you with holes punched in it. New ones are very shiny and patriotic. took about 3-4 weeks. I believe you also have the option to expedite the process for a few extra American dollars.

[tifosi77]

Yeah, I'm paying to expedite just to be safe. All in, gonna cost like $180.

Had a new photo taken at FedEx/Kinko's; I think they used every camera flash within 100 miles. The white levels are off the chart. The graphic designers at work all are of the opinion that the color balance is so far out of whack that State might not accept it as an accurate image. So one of the guys said "I did [his department head's] passport photo last year. It's easy; I'll go down and get my camera and we'll shoot a new one in the office."

Thanks, FedEx. Jerks.

[Hockeynut!]

Passport pics are on a white background, right? Should only take a second to correct the white balance. You can email me the file if you want me to do it.

[eddysnake]

I had my 6 year old take a picture of me against a plain wall in me house for the passport. No issues at all, which puts some pressure on FedEx/Kinkos.

[eddysnake]

you can also goto the passport gov website and use their photo tool to crop everything, its actually very simple to use

http://travel.state.gov/content/passpor ... hotos.html

[Letang Is The Truth]

any advice on cheap/good rental car deals? going to be driving from myrtle to tampa this summer

[mac5155]

Walmart does great passport photos for likr $6.


We just booked a trip to the Valentin Imperial Maya in Riviera Maya for the last week of June. Anyone ever been?