The Travel Thread

[ulf]

yeah i've been called a xenophobe. i just so happen to think america is the best country and all the other countries suck. used to be called patriotism!

[PensHckyFan79]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersCho ... e.expanded

We went to #7 on our honeymoon... and ended up a night at #9, when our flight was delayed.

Didn't know this at the time, but I went to #22 for an anniversary trip. I enjoyed it, the wife a little less (I think the hurricane ruined it for her). About halfway through our trip the weather channel was projecting a hurricane coming right for Cozumel that was supposed to make landfall the day of our return flight. We ended up getting off the island and getting an early flight back. Turns out the Hurricane faded and they just got 1/2 day of rain storms.

[Dickie Dunn]

As far as all-inclusive resorts go, where would you more experienced folk recommended for a young married couple looking for more of a romantic destination? Cancun, Cabo, Punta Cana, Jamaica, Caribbean, Cozumel, Playa del Carma, etc.? Or does it have less to do with the location and more to do with the resort?

[ExPatriatePen]

less to do with the location and more to do with the resort?

IMHO, yes.

[blackjack68]

I would agree, the resort could make or break the mood.

[mac5155]

The iberostar grand resort I stayed at was amazing for us. I loved every minute of it

[Rylan]

Its for 2 separate classes. One is to go to Switzerland and study different businesses and their marketing practices, and the other is to go to Cyprus and study its culture.

I lived in Cyprus for a year and have been back many times for business. I think of their culture as the 70's with modern paraphanelia. If you gave a bunch of villagers Audi's and cell phones and redbull/vodka and hairstylists, you'd get Cyprus. They suffer from extreme xynophobia, as most islanders do, assuming that Cyprus is the navel of the universe and all neighbors are ignorant villagers. Of course, they haven't yet worked out issues with the Turks yet, who stole their land. And now they're more or less broke.

That said, the women are exotic and beautiful blends of bloodlines. Think african bodies, asian eyes, european coloring and middle eastern culture (though they're all a little "cooked in the head"). The ruins are mildly interesting, though nothing like Greece. The food is not very diverse, but if you're only visiting, you can thrive on seafood mezze for a while.

Happy to answer any questions you might have about the place. Where would you be staying Limassol?

So far all I know about the trip is that it would be in Northern Cyprus. As far as the exact locations, they haven't told me yet and I will find out more over the next few weeks.

[Gaucho]

The Turkish, contended part?

[nocera]

Boarding a train to Chicago in a few hours. Any suggestions for must-do weekend activities?

If you remember the SNL Cheeburger, Cheeburger skit, it originated at the original Billy Goat Tavern.

Timothy O'Tooles is a good sports bar with a ton of TVs.

If you go to the Hancock Tower, forget going to the observation deck. Go to the lounge and get a beer instead. Pretty much the same view, but for $10 you get a beer and a view vs. just a view.

The Rush and Division area has a lot going on. Downtown Dogs has great Chicago dogs and Italian Beef sammiches. Pippin's right next door is a good "divey" bar.

And of course, you have to see The Bean.

Great suggestions, thanks. We checked out the lounge at the Hancock building, the bean, and the Rush and Division area. Tomorrow we'll be looking for a Steelers bar to watch the game

[blackjack68]

Timothy O'Tooles or Pippins.

[blackjack68]

Boarding a train to Chicago in a few hours. Any suggestions for must-do weekend activities?

If you remember the SNL Cheeburger, Cheeburger skit, it originated at the original Billy Goat Tavern.

Timothy O'Tooles is a good sports bar with a ton of TVs.

If you go to the Hancock Tower, forget going to the observation deck. Go to the lounge and get a beer instead. Pretty much the same view, but for $10 you get a beer and a view vs. just a view.

The Rush and Division area has a lot going on. Downtown Dogs has great Chicago dogs and Italian Beef sammiches. Pippin's right next door is a good "divey" bar.

And of course, you have to see The Bean.

Great suggestions, thanks. We checked out the lounge at the Hancock building, the bean, and the Rush and Division area. Tomorrow we'll be looking for a Steelers bar to watch the game

Where'd you end up?

[nocera]

Boarding a train to Chicago in a few hours. Any suggestions for must-do weekend activities?

If you remember the SNL Cheeburger, Cheeburger skit, it originated at the original Billy Goat Tavern.

Timothy O'Tooles is a good sports bar with a ton of TVs.

If you go to the Hancock Tower, forget going to the observation deck. Go to the lounge and get a beer instead. Pretty much the same view, but for $10 you get a beer and a view vs. just a view.

The Rush and Division area has a lot going on. Downtown Dogs has great Chicago dogs and Italian Beef sammiches. Pippin's right next door is a good "divey" bar.

And of course, you have to see The Bean.

Great suggestions, thanks. We checked out the lounge at the Hancock building, the bean, and the Rush and Division area. Tomorrow we'll be looking for a Steelers bar to watch the game

Where'd you end up?

We stayed with family Saturday night and they ended up getting Sunday ticket just so we could hang out and watch. Family... Gotta love em.

[Letang Is The Truth]

what is the point of the bean?

[eddysnake]

what is the point of the bean?

not sure the exact point, but I guess it's just art? I thought it was really cool, made for some great family pictures and the skyline reflecting off it was different.

[blackjack68]

Yup. Big art installation and touristy destination.

[pensfan1989]

I'm going to China for study abroad in the spring. It's a 10 day trip. Going to Shanghai, some other city that starts with an S, and Hong Kong.

[ulf]

i had no interest in going to the bean but it was actually pretty cool /coolstorybro

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

In the same park and not too far from the Bean is the fountain from the opening credits of Married with Children.

[count2infinity]

Anyone an emerald club member with national? I just became a member and have my first car rental this week. When I return it, do I just return it like a normal rental car? Or is there a drop of place and I just go on my way?

[ExPatriatePen]

Anyone an emerald club member with national? I just became a member and have my first car rental this week. When I return it, do I just return it like a normal rental car? Or is there a drop of place and I just go on my way?

The premium clubs for rental cars change the pickup procedures but the drop off is the same.

[count2infinity]

thank ya sir.

[largegarlic]

Without much research, my wife and I just booked a trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Playa del Carmen area over New Year's. A couple questions...

1. How careful do we need to be eating the food in the resort? When traveling outside the US, Canada, or Europe, I try to abide by the rule that you should avoid tap water, ice, and fresh fruits and vegetables, but I didn't know that still applied to these fancier resorts.

2. Are there tours to places outside the resorts in that area that people would recommend? I'd probably be content to sit by the beach/pool and drink for the couples days we're there, but my wife wants to make sure we have some more active, edifying things lined up too.

[ExPatriatePen]

Without much research, my wife and I just booked a trip to an all-inclusive resort in the Playa del Carmen area over New Year's. A couple questions...

1. How careful do we need to be eating the food in the resort? When traveling outside the US, Canada, or Europe, I try to abide by the rule that you should avoid tap water, ice, and fresh fruits and vegetables, but I didn't know that still applied to these fancier resorts.

2. Are there tours to places outside the resorts in that area that people would recommend? I'd probably be content to sit by the beach/pool and drink for the couples days we're there, but my wife wants to make sure we have some more active, edifying things lined up too.

As long as you're "on the reservation" you're generally fine.

The wife is right, look for excursions.

A good thing to do is look at Trip Advisor and see what others recommend. Oh yeah, and never take the first price, there's always a better deal.

[mac5155]

For the most part... the food is OK. They "filter" the water. I still wouldnt straight drink it, but cooking with it and washing the veggies in it should be OK. I'd just read reviews to get an idea. Trip advisor is your friend.

[ulf]

They'll probably give you bottled water. That is fine. Don't use the tap water even at the resort. Brush your teeth with the bottled water, it's free anyway. Food is fine.