The Trips and Travels Thread

[Bender]

I thought this would be interesting: I didn't see a thread dedicated to the trips and travels people take throughout the year, as well as tips, pointers and recommendations for people with questions.

I will be going on a trip for 20 days through Europe and I'd like to hear about any experiences you all may have in regards to picking hostels and whatnot.

I have a friend coming with me but I don't know if I fully trust him doing all the research/booking...

 

[Bullfrog]

Europe's a big place, perhaps you can make your request a bit more specific. 

I've been to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. I might be able to give you some tips if you're going to any of those places.

One tip I'd give you: couchsurfing. I saved a tonne of money and some of my best experiences were with staying with locals. Generally speaking, people who are willing to open their homes to strangers are generous in all respects are are usually willing to give you tours of their towns and give you all the tips.

If you're only going to be there for 20 days, I wouldn't move around too much. Spend some time in fewer areas and have some fun. No sense going to Europe and spending it all on trains and buses.

Need to know a little bit about you and your friend too. Big partiers? or are you looking for a more calm trip.

 

[Bender]

Europe's a big place, perhaps you can make your request a bit more specific. 

I've been to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. I might be able to give you some tips if you're going to any of those places.

One tip I'd give you: couchsurfing. I saved a tonne of money and some of my best experiences were with staying with locals. Generally speaking, people who are willing to open their homes to strangers are generous in all respects are are usually willing to give you tours of their towns and give you all the tips.

If you're only going to be there for 20 days, I wouldn't move around too much. Spend some time in fewer areas and have some fun. No sense going to Europe and spending it all on trains and buses.

Need to know a little bit about you and your friend too. Big partiers? or are you looking for a more calm trip.

Hey, sorry! I thought I mentioned we'll be making our first stop in London. We'll be travelling quite a bit, mostly because we're trying to visit friends. We'll doing London, Amsterdam, Brussels/Paris, Portugal (Algarve).

We'll be traveling quite a bit but a main reason is we wanted to visit a few friends. I probably won't be staying in Belgium for too long, as it's mostly going to be used as a stopping point - our friends work there and will be taking us into Paris directly from there.

From Paris we'll be going to Portugal where my buddy's family lives. So it's a bit crazy but there's a method, and Ryanair I think can make it pretty quick.

We're sort of partiers but we're also interested in meeting interesting people, locals and travelers (not just boozehounds). But we're two single dudes: We're going to have fun too

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Not related to yours, but I spent 20 or so days last year travelling around the north & south islands of New Zealand in a campervan with my girlfriend.  Was probably the most amazing experience of my life.

 

[Bender]

Not related to yours, but I spent 20 or so days last year travelling around the north & south islands of New Zealand in a campervan with my girlfriend.  Was probably the most amazing experience of my life.

Sounds amazing! Have any pics?

 

[hockeyfan1]

No, folks, these are not Photoshop(ped) images.  These planes appear as if they're ready to touch the beach, well almost.  The airport in question has a very short landing  (& take-off), that planes coming in need to descend sooner to touch down as low and as close as possible to the short runway.

The location:  Maho Beach in the Dutch Caribbean island of Saint Martin (next to St. Maarten).

The airport:  Princess Juliana international Airport.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Take your pick in worst airport, most improved, complaints, needs, wants, etc., in Canada...

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/10/worst-airport-in-canada_n_3416841.html

 

[OldTimeHockey]

IMO, the most improved is the Winnipeg Airport! What a difference!

 

[KoHo]

hockeyfan1:

I was in St. Maarten in December and everyone kept on telling me about this "plane beach." I never understood what they were talking about and assumed it was just called that because it was near the airport. Never made it to that beach because it was farther from where I was staying than other beaches. By the looks of that picture I kinda regret that decision now.

 

[sampson]

Has anyone done any solo trips to BC? I've been to the east so coast (lived in NFLD briefly) so many times and not once have I visited the west side. I just don't know how to go about it. I feel hostel travel is better suited in Europe and other countries. It seems like it could be very expensive.

 

[Rick C.]

Has anyone done any solo trips to BC? I've been to the east so coast (lived in NFLD briefly) so many times and not once have I visited the west side. I just don't know how to go about it. I feel hostel travel is better suited in Europe and other countries. It seems like it could be very expensive.

Same.  I've visited Cape Breton, Nfld, and PEI many times, but only once to BC when I was too young to remember it.  I'd love to plan a visit out there - my sister lives in Prince George.  Maybe next year...

 

[Derk]

Bender: Not sure how you are planning to get around, but the Eurail Pass is something to look into. I was in Europe for a couple weeks last year and it was indispensible. I can't really speak to hosteling though - I mostly stayed with friends, but also at a couple cheap hotels. Did the Swiss Alps, SW Germany, Belgium, short stay in Amsterdam.

And to other travellers to Europe, you may want to look into using Icelandair if you want to visit that country. They have an offer where you can connect through Reykjavik and stay for up to 7 days without paying extra on your plane ticket. Be warned - it is pretty expensive there! I went with some friends last year before continuing to Europe, and we rented a camper van and drove around the island. Something worth considering.

 

[wnc096]

Has anyone done any solo trips to BC? I've been to the east so coast (lived in NFLD briefly) so many times and not once have I visited the west side. I just don't know how to go about it. I feel hostel travel is better suited in Europe and other countries. It seems like it could be very expensive.

Hostels are fine in BC...if you go to any tourist or skiing areas areas in the interior (Kelowna, Kamloops, Fernie) or on the island (Nanaimo, Tofino)and there are lots of cheap Hostel like places to stay.  Alternativley if you are travelling in the summer and you like the outdoors, camping is always an option.  vancouver on the other hand may be a little harder to find cheap places to stay. 

 

[hockeyfan1]

Dubai no more.  Enter China...

The world"s largest building, the equivalent of 329 football fields, at 19 million sq. ft. (1.7 million sq.metres), opened in Chengdu, named the New Century Global Centre.  It comprises hotels, shops, beaches, water park, an ice rink, 14-screen movie theatre, etc.

A mammoth of a construction housed in steel and glass.

Take a look at the details:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/worlds-largest-building-opens-chinese-city-chengdu-indoor-084044521.html

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Had a nice trip to Arizona this summer, went to the Grand Canyon and on safari, did the whole thing in an rv for the first time, was a lot of fun.

Toured Northern California from Santa Cruz to Tahoe and then Southern California from San Diego to Disneyland on the 4th of July.

Feels nice to be at home now relaxing, it was a month of constant travel.

 

[Leafaholic99]

A co-worker just came up to the control room to talk to me about Toronto, he is going there in September and wanted to know a few things about the area, helped him plan out a few days and places he must go to and check out. After doing that for 45 minutes it made me realize I haven't been to Toronto in a couple years and I need to plan a trip there soon!

 

[OldTimeHockey]

We're planning a family trip down to Toronto next week. We plan on doing Wonderland, a Jays game, and the Zoo...as well as the standard girls' shopping.

Due to how our events are at 3 different points of the city, we are staying at the airport....well that and we are 6 people and Suites are ridiculous every where in the city but at the Airport.

My question is this:

Is there any sort of shuttle to the Rogers' Centre from the Airport? If not, what would be the best way to travel down there? We could drive down and park, but last I was there, they wanted over $40 for parking.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Leafaholic99]

We're planning a family trip down to Toronto next week. We plan on doing Wonderland, a Jays game, and the Zoo...as well as the standard girls' shopping.

Due to how our events are at 3 different points of the city, we are staying at the airport....well that and we are 6 people and Suites are ridiculous every where in the city but at the Airport.

My question is this:

Is there any sort of shuttle to the Rogers' Centre from the Airport? If not, what would be the best way to travel down there? We could drive down and park, but last I was there, they wanted over $40 for parking.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!

When I goto Toronto, I always took the airport shuttle bus, which drops you off at any major hotel downtown, its $20 a person though, so if 6 people are going probably not the best way, its good if one or two are going. Once in a while I would take a luxury sedan, i think thats what they are called, to the airport from the hotel and that was $50 to $60, can seat 4 people.

Maybe someone can give some insight on alternative methods, but that is what I used when I went, as I travelled by myself to Toronto.

edit: Looked at the GoTransit site and found some info for you: http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/travelling/stations.aspx?station=AIRP

 

[OldTimeHockey]

We're planning a family trip down to Toronto next week. We plan on doing Wonderland, a Jays game, and the Zoo...as well as the standard girls' shopping.

Due to how our events are at 3 different points of the city, we are staying at the airport....well that and we are 6 people and Suites are ridiculous every where in the city but at the Airport.

My question is this:

Is there any sort of shuttle to the Rogers' Centre from the Airport? If not, what would be the best way to travel down there? We could drive down and park, but last I was there, they wanted over $40 for parking.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks!

When I goto Toronto, I always took the airport shuttle bus, which drops you off at any major hotel downtown, its $20 a person though, so if 6 people are going probably not the best way, its good if one or two are going. Once in a while I would take a luxury sedan, i think thats what they are called, to the airport from the hotel and that was $50 to $60, can seat 4 people.

Maybe someone can give some insight on alternative methods, but that is what I used when I went, as I travelled by myself to Toronto.

edit: Looked at the GoTransit site and found some info for you: http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/travelling/stations.aspx?station=AIRP

Thanks, I'll be sure to check that out!

Another question....

If I was to drive and park downtown, what area would be best for getting in and out of the city? I know Front is right by the stadium, but last I was there it was a disaster of construction and traffic.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Another question....
If I was to drive and park downtown, what area would be best for getting in and out of the city? I know Front is right by the stadium, but last I was there it was a disaster of construction and traffic.

Not a problem, remember that was a couple years ago since I was there, so prices may have went up.

As for traffic, I never drove there, but during the day I remember Front street being very busy, especially the intersection around Union Station and Fairmont Royal York.