Anyone got any travel planned? 2018 version

[aja8888]

The other two friends we hesitant taking the trip with the RV since it had a rear brake drum/shoe freeze up a few weeks ago on a short local trip. I was OK with it for the trip, but... Even though both rear axles were rebuilt with new drums, wheel cylinders and shoes at a cost of $700, long trip trust was not there. So the trip was downsized and a cottage was rented about a mile from the boat building school.

The Chrysler van is set up for hauling the unfinished boat hull back to Texas. We made a rack and will strap it down pretty well. Cost wise, the van will work out less as the van averaged about 26 MPG getting up here (vs about 7 MPG for the RV) I'm using hotel points for stays along the way (I need to use them up or some will expire later this year). The cabin rental is the expensive part, but is partially offset by the gas savings and one less day on the road in each direction.

(so we have wimped out)

 

[aja8888]

1500 each way?

So 2-3 days, about 10 hours or more on the road each day?

Sorry, didn't see your post, yes 1400 - 1500 miles each way, or thereabouts.

 

[NW-Bound]

Well, we understand. A breakdown may mean missing the boat building class, and throwing a monkey wrench in the trip.

It's better to use the RV when you have more time and flexibility. Like going to Alaska for a summer or something.

 

[aja8888]

Well, we understand. A breakdown may mean missing the boat building class, and throwing a monkey wrench in the trip.

It's better to use the RV when you have more time and flexibility. Like going to Alaska for a summer or something.

Yes, there is $3000 paid up front for the class and the kit. Next class would be months out (for that particular boat).

My two friends who jointly own the RV have been using it visiting locations in Texas only with two breakdown incidents over their ownership. This trip would have been a stretch, but certainly doable. But they did not care to take the risk. I'm just a helper on the boat build (although there is an additional enrollment cost for me that is paid to the school).

Alaska trip? Nah, we friends have all been there several times in the past.

 

[exnavynuke]

I leave for 6 days in Playa Del Carmen tomorrow.
Memorial Day week has 3 of us going to Cozumel.
Probably doing another liveaboard trip either over Thanksgiving or Christmas (will be using a boat with suites that trip to keep friend's SO happy though).

Others TBD yet..

Cozumel was a great time. Got 11 dives in (2 cenotes over in PDC, the rest in the marine park in Cozumel), got some shopping done, ate some good food (both cheap and not so cheap), had some nice drinks, and enjoyed some great time in the water.

Also booked my next dive trip since my last update, doing a "citizen scientist" liveaboard in the Bahamas over Labor Day week.

 

[NW-Bound]

Alaska trip? Nah, we friends have all been there several times in the past.

Alaska is a big place. There's got to be some places the 3 geezers have not been to. Even if you have, this time is more fun with friends.

How about the other corner of Canada, like Newfoundland. Or try to take the new boat to the Hudson Bay.

 

[brokrken]

OK- I leave for the Baltics (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) on 4 June-17 June I fly to Stockholm and then take a train to Falun to stay with a friend for a week. I've planned the trip myself - will be flying into Vilnius from Frankfurt, taking a bus from Vilnius to Riga and Riga to Talinn -a flight from Talinn to Stokholm and then back to Frankfurt and home. I'm staying in guest houses and converted convents

I've got a rough idea of what I want to see/do in the Baltics, but would love any advice from anyone on suggestions in the itinerary. I've read Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, Trip Advisor, etc, so have a handle on the general stuff, but if there is anything truly unique, then I'm all ears. For example, I will be going on a bog hike in Laaheemaa Natl park in Estonia.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

I am also looking at this trip, but really struggling to find too much to do outside of the cities and don't want to spend the whole trip travelling. Now looking to either Do Riga, Tallinn, Helsinki for 3 days each.

 

[brokrken]

If I don't do the Baltics trip, any suggestions for a mid July trip that will not be packed with tourists. We did Slovenia last year and fell in love, but are having a harder time this year. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Nemo2]

If I don't do the Baltics trip, any suggestions for a mid July trip that will not be packed with tourists. We did Slovenia last year and fell in love, but are having a harder time this year. Any suggestions appreciated.

Don't know what it's like in Bulgaria & Romania at that time of year (we did both on shoulder seasons) but we enjoyed both countries.

 

[Freedom56]

Was at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood Alaska on Saturday and Sunday night. That place is fantastic. The Seven Glaciers Restaurant was incredible. However, other towns we passed through have been dumps (Whittier, Moose Pass, Seward). Outside these small towns, Alaska is really stunning. The hiking trails are really nice and the people are friendly. We are at Seward now and it's okay but the area is in sad need of a Home Depot and owners willing to fix up their properties. Some photos are attached from Alyeska.

 

[WestUniversity]

Always have travel planned. Usually 4 or more trips per year. Once I’m retired I’ll be ready for more...

 

[thatguy]

We just applied for Nexus cards by mail. A charge card number is on the application. I think it's gonna be $50can which will be about $40us. The card has no foreign transaction fee. If we get the approval on time we should be able to get the interview in Calgary later this year. Otherwise Detroit is the nearest interview location. Could spend a day at Greenfield Village.

 

[braumeister]

We just applied for Nexus cards by mail. A charge card number is on the application. I think it's gonna be $50can which will be about $40us. The card has no foreign transaction fee. If we get the approval on time we should be able to get the interview in Calgary later this year. Otherwise Detroit is the nearest interview location. Could spend a day at Greenfield Village.

Just a tip: You probably want to go for Calgary. When we got our Nexus cards, the Detroit location didn't have the capability to do the iris scan so we had what I called "crippled" Nexus cards. What I mean is that if you're flying into a Canadian airport from overseas, you don't have all the cred you need.

What we did to fix that was to stop into the Nexus office in the Halifax airport while on our way to Newfoundland and get the iris scans done. It took about ten minutes and made us full-fledged Nexus members.

For those who might not be aware, Nexus is a wonderful program that gives you all the benefits of Global Entry at half the cost ($50 vs $100 for five years), plus the extra benefit of very expedited border crossing between Canada and the US. The only catch is that you have to do the interview somewhere around the US/Can border. For us that was a four hour drive, and well worth it.

A couple of years ago our Nexus cards saved us well over an hour (easily!) when driving across the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit.

 

[braumeister]

Just got back from a major road trip. Put well over 7,000 miles on a brand new car, driving northwest from Kentucky and doing lots of travel throughout Washington and Oregon. Wonderful trip (and I love the car). Even got to meet a fellow E-R forum member while we were there!

We live in a wonderful country with incredibly diverse environments. I was particularly struck this time by the majestic scenery going through southwestern Wyoming and southern Idaho. It's not the most popular route, but I found it just breathtaking.

 

[Freedom56]

Just went horseback riding in Palmer Alaska. It was breathtaking. This part of Alaska is really fantastic if you are active. The area is also very clean and well maintained.

 

[gibor]

Always have travel planned. Usually 4 or more trips per year. Once I’m retired I’ll be ready for more...

We also travel about 4 times per year. Last year got retired at 51, but my wife is still working and daughter at finishing grade 11. So, would like to travel more, but it still doesn't happen (my wife hates to leave our daughter alone), so we kinda restricted on dates .
Last half year went to Mexico adult only resort (only 2 of us), Honduras (Roatan), Cuba (Cayo Largo), Jamaica adults only (Negril) only 2 of us and for now booked 8 nights in ireland (with our daughter).
Hopefully when our daughter goes to University in 1 year, we gonna travel more

 

[aja8888]

Alaska is a big place. There's got to be some places the 3 geezers have not been to. Even if you have, this time is more fun with friends.

How about the other corner of Canada, like Newfoundland. Or try to take the new boat to the Hudson Bay.

I have been as far North in Canada as Norman Wells and also on both coasts. Canada is "old news" for me and my friends.

One of my retired friends is Canadian and he is so tired of Canada he and his wife are applying for U.S. citizenship at their current ages of 70.

 

[poppydog]

Mrs PD and me have just returned from two weeks in Spain, enjoying the sun in Marbella. We missed a rare heatwave back home in Scotland though, just our luck.

At the end of the month we’re off on our first ever visit to New York, which we’re really excited about. This trip will include a shopping visit to Tiffany’s on fifth avenue, Lord help me!

 

[aja8888]

At the end of the month we’re off on our first ever visit to New York, which we’re really excited about. This trip will include a shopping visit to Tiffany’s on fifth avenue, Lord help me!

Bring $money$ or a credit card with a large maximum!

 

[NW-Bound]

I have been as far North in Canada as Norman Wells and also on both coasts. Canada is "old news" for me and my friends...

I looked up Norman Wells, and its latitude. I would beat you if I go up to Prudhoe Bay, or even Inuvik.

But I won't. Afraid of getting stuck with my motorhome. And my wife would not let me anyway.

 

[Koogie]

I looked up Norman Wells, and its latitude. I would beat you if I go up to Prudhoe Bay, or even Inuvik.
But I won't. Afraid of getting stuck with my motorhome. And my wife would not let me anyway.

Even better, they opened up the permanent highway to Tuktoyaktuk last fall.. you could tell DW you could drive the RV to the Arctic Ocean !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk_Highway

 

[urn2bfree]

Road trip reservations vs spontaneity

Driving from Saint Louis to Grand Tetons, Yellowstone via Kansas and Colorado then back across northern Wyoming, South Dakota. It will be late September, early October.
I have rooms in Grand Teton and Yellowstone reserved, but wonder about stopping points. We will likely either get to west Kansas or just across border to Colorado on day 1 and into mid Wyoming by the evening of day 2. What do people think, should I pick likely towns and make reservations or just play it by ear and stop wherever. Same thing regarding South Dakota Black Hills and Badlands areas? Make reservations or wait til we get there?

 

[NW-Bound]

Even better, they opened up the permanent highway to Tuktoyaktuk last fall.. you could tell DW you could drive the RV to the Arctic Ocean !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk_Highway

Thanks. I did not know about this new development.

I will have to see how my class C handles the benign Alcan Hwy, and how my wife likes it. Don't want to push it too much.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Leaving Wednesday for 6 week 5k trip by car with our 3 dogs all over the country.

 

[Doribe]

Driving from Saint Louis to Grand Tetons, Yellowstone via Kansas and Colorado then back across northern Wyoming, South Dakota. It will be late September, early October.
I have rooms in Grand Teton and Yellowstone reserved, but wonder about stopping points. We will likely either get to west Kansas or just across border to Colorado on day 1 and into mid Wyoming by the evening of day 2. What do people think, should I pick likely towns and make reservations or just play it by ear and stop wherever. Same thing regarding South Dakota Black Hills and Badlands areas? Make reservations or wait til we get there?

I would check to make sure there aren't any NASCAR or other things that could use up all of the hotel rooms in an area. Just check availability on your approximate dates.

Once drove all night (unplanned, with a sick baby) due to something or other.