Any Travel Plan for 2019?

[NW-Bound]

Another thing about the Douro Valley. Along the way, I saw many abandoned buildings and older homes not too far from Regua. It looked like Regua has seen a revival of interest due to the cruise boats that bring visitors. The area is still not heavily frequented, and the region is nothing at all like Napa. In another 10 or 20 years, it may not be the same (but I will not live or be back to see it).

I still remember what Yountville and St Helena looked like when we first visited it in 1980 for our honeymoon. We have been back a few times recently, and it is not the same.

 

[Lsbcal]

Thanks for the Portugal info NWB! Have fun.

Another thing about the Douro Valley. Along the way, I saw many abandoned buildings and older homes not too far from Regua. It looked like Regua has seen a revival of interest due to the cruise boats that bring visitors. The area is still not heavily frequented, and the region is nothing at all like Napa. In another 10 or 20 years, it may not be the same (but I will not live or be back to see it).

I still remember what Yountville and St Helena looked like when we first visited it in 1980 for our honeymoon. We have been back a few times recently, and it is not the same.

I think there are better areas near Napa to visit that are less touristy. There are tons of wineries around the Sonoma county area. A few places to visit off the top of my head in no particular order:
1) Jack London State Park and some of the wineries there on Highway 12.
2) Some of the wineries in the Dry Creek area outside of Healdsburg
3) Drive to Occidental. Have a casual breakfast at Howard's. Then take the Colman Valley road. When you hit Hwy 1, go north for beaches and to get to Goat Rock State Park or maybe Jenner Headlands for a hike. Or go south through Bodega Bay to either Bodega Head or Doran Regional Park (beach walks).
4) Point Reyes Seashore with a lot of nice hikes and strolls. Eat at the Station House Cafe in Point Reyes.

The app AllTrails is great for finding walks and hikes.

 

[Scuba]

Booked our anniversary trip to Greece.



3 nights Athens, 5 nights Paros and 5 nights Santorini.



Never been there so should be interesting.



Thanks to "Scuba" for information on Greece.

Glad you found the information useful, Capjak. Enjoy your trip!

 

[NW-Bound]

I think there are better areas near Napa to visit that are less touristy. There are tons of wineries around the Sonoma county area. A few places to visit off the top of my head in no particular order:
1) Jack London State Park and some of the wineries there on Highway 12.
2) Some of the wineries in the Dry Creek area outside of Healdsburg
3) Drive to Occidental. Have a casual breakfast at Howard's. Then take the Colman Valley road. When you hit Hwy 1, go north for beaches and to get to Goat Rock State Park or maybe Jenner Headlands for a hike. Or go south through Bodega Bay to either Bodega Head or Doran Regional Park (beach walks).
4) Point Reyes Seashore with a lot of nice hikes and strolls. Eat at the Station House Cafe in Point Reyes.

The app AllTrails is great for finding walks and hikes.

Thanks for the info. I don't know when I will head that way again, but when I do, that will be useful. I did camp out in Bodega Bay with the motorhome a couple of years ago.

 

[RobbieB]

Two nights at the Peppermill Reno next week. Jacuzzi suite. Spa.

2 days of utter debauchery -

 

[scrinch]

Going to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for the son's graduation (master's). Then at the end of May he and I will head down to the East Cape for a few days of fishing. Later in the summer he will join the Peace Corps in West Africa if all his medical tests check out as expected.

 

[Luvdogs]

We're heading out to Omaha this weekend for the Berkshire meeting (just class B stock-ha).

Then going to Vegas, will meetup with a friend there I have known since kindergarten! Then doing the grand circle National Parks; our son is meeting us halfway at Moab, doing a jeep tour there, maybe Hell's Revenge if I don't chicken out, finishing up at Zion and Vegas again, about 2.5 weeks in all.

 

[Finance Dave]

We are going to Ireland May 28th. Looking forward to some nice scenery. We do one international trip every year. Germany has been our favorite...Neuschwanstein Castle was awesome as were the waterfalls in Triberg (pics below).

 

[Freedom56]

My wife took our car yesterday for various errands with my in-laws. It was a nice day so I picked up a SBB municipal day pass (about $40) that allows you to the Swiss ground transportation network (trains, trams, busses, and boats) for one day. So I grabbed my video gear and took some inter-city trains to Interlaken (from Lausanne) and then smaller trains to Lauterbrunnen. The pass also allowed me to take the cogwheel train to Wengen and I hiked down to Lauterbrunnen. The last we were there, it was cloudy but yesterday the weather was perfect. I also took the train to Brienz and took the Lake Brienz BLS cruise boat back to Interlaken and had lunch on the boat. I then took the lift up to Harder Klum (not included with day pass) and then took the train back to Lausanne. I attached some frame grabs from the videos I took on this day trip. We rarely use trains here in Switzerland, but I have to say the network is pretty good. Note if you book 2 weeks in advance, you can get the same day pass for about $52 (SBB saver day pass).

 

[6miths]

Two weeks in London and the south of England for a family wedding. I enjoy the UK but hate to leave home this time of year as I am a gardener and it's go time!!

 

[Souschef]

My wife took our car yesterday for various errands with my in-laws. It was a nice day so I picked up a SBB municipal day pass (about $40) that allows you to the Swiss ground transportation network (trains, trams, busses, and boats) for one day. So I grabbed my video gear and took some inter-city trains to Interlaken (from Lausanne) and then smaller trains to Lauterbrunnen. The pass also allowed me to take the cogwheel train to Wengen and I hiked down to Lauterbrunnen. The last we were there, it was cloudy but yesterday the weather was perfect. I also took the train to Brienz and took the Lake Brienz BLS cruise boat back to Interlaken and had lunch on the boat. I then took the lift up to Harder Klum (not included with day pass) and then took the train back to Lausanne. I attached some frame grabs from the videos I took on this day trip. We rarely use trains here in Switzerland, but I have to say the network is pretty good. Note if you book 2 weeks in advance, you can get the same day pass for about $52 (SBB saver day pass).

That sounds like the trip we took, using the Berner Oberland rail pass and staying in Wengen.
I have attached the story of our trip

 

[Stonewalker]

We're heading to CO this weekend for a week. After these posts, our trip sounds boring, but it is to visit kids/grandkid and to be in an author's panel in Aurora's library Mini-Con.

 

[Freedom56]

That sounds like the trip we took, using the Berner Oberland rail pass and staying in Wengen.
I have attached the story of our trip

That was a nice trip,. Mine wasn't that elaborate. I just did a day trip to take advantage of the weather and lack of a car that day. I bought another day pass for next week along with my sister-in-law's husband (with a bike pass) and we will go to places in Switzerland where the weather is sunny. He was suggesting cycling around Zermatt.

 

[Souschef]

Alaska cruise

Dear Friends, we just got back from a cruise to Alaska.
I have attached the trip story

 

[brett]

If we can go, and chances are we can we will not be able to book until early August.

It will be six or seven weeks starting late Aug or early Sept. Either Greece and Israel or Portugal and Morocco. Plus a city or two depending where we land in Europe. It will depend on what kind of last minute air we can get or a last minute Israel tour after their religious holidays. We only do accommodation a few days in advance so that is not an issue.

Subject of course to any last minute travel opportunity that comes our way to somewhere else on our list! We typically have a plan A and a plan B, sometimes a Plan C when we are booking late or last minute.

 

[TrophyWife]

Just returned from Barcelona Spain. And surrounding areas. Loved it. We stayed downtown at the Cotton House Hotel-a Marriott Property. The Hotel was lovely and the breakfast was perfection. The location is perfect for seeing the city.

 

[Rickt]

Visited Atlanta, GA last week for our daughter's graduation.
Going to Dallas, Tx next week for 4 days.
Then 3 week trip to London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels starting May 20, 2019.
To Niagara falls (Canadian side) end of June, 2019 --reunion with some college friends.
In July to Pittsburgh, PA to help son set up his apartment as he starts grad school and then to Dallas, Tx to help daughter set up her apartment as she starts her first job after school.
Planning a month long trip (TBD) end of the year to southeast asia.

 

[Freedom56]

Took a day trip to Grindelwald an Spietz Switzerland. Some incredible scenery in central Switzerland. We are off to Santorini Greece in a few days followed by attending a wedding in Southern France.

 

[DrRoy]

Two weeks in London and the south of England for a family wedding. I enjoy the UK but hate to leave home this time of year as I am a gardener and it's go time!!

DW and I are just back from 5 days in London and then two more weeks from Beachy Head along the coast to Land's End and up to Heartland Quay.

 

[Sunset]

I'm in the throes of planning a trip in the Spring of 2020.

Either Japan, or Athens Greece, or Transatlantic cruise combined with Mediterranean cruise.

One issue is, I've never booked a flight from 1 country to the other, example Athens to Czech Republic, so I don't even know if Expedia or what to use , since here in the USA I book directly with AA/United/Delta.

What do folks do/use ?

 

[Nemo2]

We look around, and if Expedia's price is comparable we book through Expedia for TD because we get points. Otherwise we'll book directly through the airline offering the best price/flight.

 

[6miths]

DW and I are just back from 5 days in London and then two more weeks from Beachy Head along the coast to Land's End and up to Heartland Quay.

Has been a great two weeks and the weather has co-operated nicely. As well was cool and rainy at home but forecast to return is very nice so was a win-win in the weather department!

I love the train, tube and transit system!

 

[Scuba]

Took a day trip to Grindelwald an Spietz Switzerland. Some incredible scenery in central Switzerland. We are off to Santorini Greece in a few days followed by attending a wedding in Southern France.

Gorgeous scenery!

 

[Scuba]

I'm in the throes of planning a trip in the Spring of 2020.

Either Japan, or Athens Greece, or Transatlantic cruise combined with Mediterranean cruise.

One issue is, I've never booked a flight from 1 country to the other, example Athens to Czech Republic, so I don't even know if Expedia or what to use , since here in the USA I book directly with AA/United/Delta.

What do folks do/use ?

Google flights or kayak are pretty good, but some discount carriers may be missing. Travel forums for the specific area can usually help.

 

[Scuba]

If we can go, and chances are we can we will not be able to book until early August.

It will be six or seven weeks starting late Aug or early Sept. Either Greece and Israel or Portugal and Morocco. Plus a city or two depending where we land in Europe. It will depend on what kind of last minute air we can get or a last minute Israel tour after their religious holidays. We only do accommodation a few days in advance so that is not an issue.

Subject of course to any last minute travel opportunity that comes our way to somewhere else on our list! We typically have a plan A and a plan B, sometimes a Plan C when we are booking late or last minute.

Do you not travel to destinations during their high season? I was hoping to book spontaneously in the ABC Islands next winter, but a huge percentage of accommodations are already sold out for Dec-Feb. Now I’m afraid to wait.