Anyone got any travel planned? 2018 version

[Niuatoputapu]

So far,

March - Las Vegas to watch Rugby 7's
May - Anchorage for a HS graduation
June - Buffalo for a conference
July - 12-day romantic cruise - Venice to Barcelona
August - backpack the Lost Coast Trail (California)

 

[gayl]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sf...tes-get-US-do-not-travel-warning-12488170.php

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Five states in Mexico now have the sternest "do not travel" advisories under a revamped U.S. State Department system unveiled Wednesday, putting them on the same level as war-torn countries like Syria, Yemen and Somalia.

The five states are Tamaulipas on the U.S. border and Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero on the Pacific coast. All the states are hotspots of drug cartel activity, either hosting trafficking routes or extensive drug-crop cultivation.

Mazatlan is in Sinaloa but it was fine when i was last there. It also has Baja Ca on alert (Cabo) ... neither dangerous IMHO

 

[Fishingmn]

Biggest planned trips are Cozumel in February with our kids and significant others and a 17 day trip to Italy in October with another couple.

A number of little things in between.

 

[GoBears]

Maui the week of my birthday in March. Hopefully there will still be some whales in the area. Mama’s Fish House for my birthday eve dinner. Can’t wait.

 

[RenoJay]

Last year’s travel included Hawaii, California gold country, Baltic Europe and French Polynesia. This year (2018) has already included Hawaii and will likely have trips to Alaska and possibly Kenya/Tanzania.

 

[exnavynuke]

Playa Del Carmen was nice and relaxing overall. I don't, however, plan on doing anymore boat dives there unless they put in some piers and start launching from them. I'm not a fan of shore dives and certainly wasn't expecting that my "boat dive" would consist of starting and ending with a shore dive (going full gear minus tank to the beach, across the beach, then "swimming/pulling myself on a rope against the current" to the boat to climb aboard.

 

[athena53]

Reading this list does bring back some not so fond memories.

40 Tourist Scams to Avoid During Your Travels - Relatively Interesting

Thanks- everyone should read this. DH was a pickpocket magnet (tall, elderly, moved slowly) and he eventually quit carrying cash after his pocket was picked in 3 different countries. We've also seen but avoided the beggars, the folks with the petitions and the "spill" scam. (DH pointed out that when we turned down the helpful guy who appeared after stuff fell on us from a balcony in Barcelona, the guy retreated in the direction from which he'd come rather than proceeding on his way.) Fortunately, whatever was spilled on him dried to a powder and was easily scraped off.

Back to the OT- last week I got my passport back with visas for India and Nepal. I'm taking a tour in March with Overseas Adventure Travel and my Aunt (who's only 5 years older than I am) will also be on the tour.

Late last year I concluded that I could fund another trip in 2018 so I have flight reservations to Edinburgh, with a side trip to Paris, in September. DH and I LOVED Edinburgh and he was of Scottish descent. Some of his ashes will be left there, as well as in the Ganges and maybe somewhere in Kathmandu.

 

[Marita40]

Eastwestgal: I travel frequently to Vienna and Salzburg. In Salzburg I always stay at the Bergland: index Wonderful, friendly accomodation, walk to everything, reasonable price. In Vienna I usually stay at one of the many pensions on Mariahilferstrasse, such as the Hargita. I've also stayed at the Donauwaltzer: https://www.donauwalzer.at/
P.S. I'm not sure why the link I included above says 'index,' but it does go to the Bergland.

 

[gayl]

I had to get a visa for Australia / Tasmania next month but it's hooked to my passport online?!? I have the receipt & validation as a screenshot in case there's an issue

Still mulling over Budapest to Bucharest early summer .... that's as far as my brains gotten. I've only been on 1 tour ever and I left it mid tour (1980 South America roundabout). Still trying to figure out if I want a train ticket with multiple stops or a driver

 

[Mango1956]

Early March, headed back to Troncones, Mexico (north of Ixtapa)for a week to practice my marguerita drinking and body surfing moves-gathering with family there to celebrate my sister's 70th birthday. Late March, 7 days in Death Valley with DH to 4WD explore, boondock camp and hike several remote canyons. Very much looking forward to both trips!

 

[calmloki]

Just booked airfare to Halifax from Oregon in August (a Merill+ card bonus and $74 for $1107 worth of tickets - Thanks BofA!). We'll be doing the 10 day Caravan bus tour from there in mid August. The name of the food Donair has attracted me for several years, so looking forward to that gyro variant.

The Delicious History of the Halifax Donair

 

[explanade]

I had to get a visa for Australia / Tasmania next month but it's hooked to my passport online?!? I have the receipt & validation as a screenshot in case there's an issue

Still mulling over Budapest to Bucharest early summer .... that's as far as my brains gotten. I've only been on 1 tour ever and I left it mid tour (1980 South America roundabout). Still trying to figure out if I want a train ticket with multiple stops or a driver

Yes they will look up your passport and see if electronic visa is there for Australia.

I think they won't let you board if they don't see it.

 

[Nemo2]

Still mulling over Budapest to Bucharest early summer .... that's as far as my brains gotten. I've only been on 1 tour ever and I left it mid tour (1980 South America roundabout). Still trying to figure out if I want a train ticket with multiple stops or a driver

We'll be back Mid-May, so can let you know how the Romanian trains fared..(and also the Romanian train fares ).

 

[gayl]

What's up with the Romanian government today?

We'll be back Mid-May, so can let you know how the Romanian trains fared..(and also the Romanian train fares ).

anyway, waiting on your info .... whatever is going on with them should be over by then They seem to change quite a bit

 

[Nemo2]

What's up with the Romanian government today?
anyway, waiting on your info .... whatever is going on with them should be over by then They seem to change quite a bit

Reshuffling the deck, it would appear...they should have a 'new' PM post-haste.

Trip: We fly into Bucharest from Lisbon, and appear to have found a bus to take us from Bucharest airport to Brasov....we prefer trains to buses but this should circumvent the need to go from the airport to the train station and then to Brasov.

 

[IMATERP]

Anyone know of nice, safe, cheap lodging in Barcelona Spain ?
It would be terrific if you could vouch for somewhere you have stayed.

I'm looking at about 10 days in April.

Prior to our last TransAtlantic cruise, we stayed at the Hotel Canton. Very Basic but a block or two from Ramblas and three blocks from the Barcelona Cathedral. It was rather inexpensive, no frills but such a good location - it made for a good base for 3 or 4 days. 35 Euro taxi from the airport.

One day we will be back to Barcelona and that is where we will stay.

I

 

[YoungSaver]

Hoping for: Oregon
Planning for: Colorado, Arizona, SE Asia

 

[Sunset]

Prior to our last TransAtlantic cruise, we stayed at the Hotel Canton. Very Basic but a block or two from Ramblas and three blocks from the Barcelona Cathedral. It was rather inexpensive, no frills but such a good location - it made for a good base for 3 or 4 days. 35 Euro taxi from the airport.

One day we will be back to Barcelona and that is where we will stay.

I

That is a good recommendation, must be popular as it's booked up already at our times.

For the future, do you recommend the street or the back ?

 

[Ronstar]

Planning a couple of side trips. Las Vegas for a few days this winter. Then Sedona for 5 days. The Sedona stop is the start of our spring Phoenix-Chicago road trip.

 

[gayl]

Delta is cracking down on animals on planes!! as most of my flights involve international travel, I've been spared some of the nightmare stories my friends talk about. Such as dogs pooping on on planes, long barking episodes, and the animals climbing over them while they try to rest. I'm so glad that Delta is not going to let non service animals on planes now. From what I understand, the animal must be (1) well trained enough to travel, (2) potty trained, and (3) have a letter from an MD verifying that they are medically necessary (ie: blind / deaf / paraplegic) in order to be on the plane. I certainly hope more airlines follow suit

 

[Bamaman]

Wife again for bored and started looking at repositioning cruises. She found two incredibly inexpensive 12-23 day cruises on Norwegian--one from Miami and one from NYC.

We ended up booking the cruise NYC to Southampton with stops in Azores, Ireland, England, LaHavre and Southampton --about $750 each including all port taxes and gratuities. that's a bargain.

We will spend a couple of days in London before flying to Dublin for a week. Flights back to NYC are from Dublin are really cheap on Norwegian Air Shuttle.

 

[candrew]

Delta is cracking down on animals on planes!! as most of my flights involve international travel, I've been spared some of the nightmare stories my friends talk about. Such as dogs pooping on on planes, long barking episodes, and the animals climbing over them while they try to rest. I'm so glad that Delta is not going to let non service animals on planes now. From what I understand, the animal must be (1) well trained enough to travel, (2) potty trained, and (3) have a letter from an MD verifying that they are medically necessary (ie: blind / deaf / paraplegic) in order to be on the plane. I certainly hope more airlines follow suit

I believe that airlines have been allowing what are termed "emotional support" animals to fly with their humans. There is a definite distinction between the emotional support designation and "service animals". Service animals have been trained to to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person's disability.

DW & I know several acquaintances and even a family member that have been able to get their M.D.'s to declare their dogs as "emotional support" animals for the sole purpose of taking their dogs with them on trips. I take it then that Delta will no longer permit "emotional support" animals on their aircrafts.

 

[DrRoy]

Has anyone hired a private guide?

I booked a guide through ToursByLocals for Martinique, and it worked out quite well.

 

[DrRoy]

Southern Utah (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Arches) in June.

You'll love it. How long are you going to take? Last October we spent 2 1/2 weeks to do Zion, Bryce, Grand Staircase Escalante, Capital Reef, Bears Ears, Canyonlands, and Arches.

 

[IMATERP]

That is a good recommendation, must be popular as it's booked up already at our times.

For the future, do you recommend the street or the back ?

Either is fine - as the street in the front is very quiet. Plus, there is a laundry mat 50 yards away. I pack light - so this is another plus.

I