Fifth Avenue Forum

Thought I'd get the ball rolling.

Just came back from Vegas. Going to Niagara Falls for my birthday. Who else has upcoming travel?

Golf trip in May with a bunch of college buddies. We do Pinehurst, NC for 4 days each year its a blast.

I also did the Pens West coast trip a few weeks ago.. Went to games in Anaheim, LA, and SJ. It was a lot of fun. Have to say, I have never been in a colder arena than the Staples Center.

I want to go to the Maldives or back to the Caribbean again for some more scuba

Going to Jamaica in September.

I want to go to the Maldives or back to the Caribbean again for some more scuba

For those who have been to the Caribbean, how would you rank the top 3 islands to stay on? I have never been and have always wondered......

My top 3 were Cozumel, Turks and Caicos, and Antigua. I've been to Cozumel and it was fantastic. More of a scuba location than anything. Turks and Caicos is also a scuba destination and i plan to go in the next few years. From what i understand, Antigua is the place you go for a honeymoon. Quiet and not much else to do but be with each other.

I've only been to Grand Bahamas island. Aside from Black Rock Beach, there wasn't much to do.

It has been almost exactly one year since we left for Spain.

sad face

I liked going to Freeport because there were not that many people there (went middle of July). I go on vacation to get away from humans.

I liked going to Freeport because there were not that many people there (went middle of July). I go on vacation to get away from humans.

Agreed, basically the opposite of Nassau. "FIVE DOLLA! FIVE DOLLA!"

I've only been to Grand Bahamas island. Aside from Black Rock Beach, there wasn't much to do.

Yeah, if you're going anywhere down in that part of the world, you need to plan ahead to make sure there's actually stuff to do. Everyone says they'd just lay on the beach and enjoy the beautiful weather, but the fact is EVERY place has beaches and beautiful weather down there. That's a given. It's all the other stuff that is or ISN'T available that makes or breaks a destination in the Caribbean, IMO.

My make or break is scuba and/or local food outside of the resort. Cozumel was amazing but it's because we left the resort everyday and went to find places to eat or things to do that made it so enjoyable. If i had stayed on the resort, i would have been bored out of my mind for a week.

I liked going to Freeport because there were not that many people there (went middle of July). I go on vacation to get away from humans.

Port Lucaya, on the other side of the island, is kind of dicey. Just need to be aware.. When we were there couple of tourists were robbed at gunpoint in the public restrooms. Cops did nothing.

Had great jerked grouper in Port Lucaya, though.

Offline games would be good. I'm taking a vacation this summer that will involve plane rides in excess of 10 hours, so games in my phone will be one way to kill time.

Oh, Shyster, I forgot to ask: What airline are you flying for your Japan trip? And once there, are you getting around in-country via shinkansen?

(Moved from the Video Games thread)

Oh, Shyster, I forgot to ask: What airline are you flying for your Japan trip? And once there, are you getting around in-country via shinkansen?

Yes to the shinkansen part. We haven't made airline reservations yet. I've been looking at flights, and I think the most likely airline is United, possibly paired with ANA (which is in the same alliance). We're coming back from Osaka Kansai Airport, and United offers a direct flight from KIX to San Francisco. JAL flies from Osaka to LAX, but my sister-in-law (who is a seasoned world traveler with numerous cross-Atlantic and -Pacific trips to her name) hates LAX with a passion. United flies to Tokyo-Narita (we're staying much closer to Narita than Haneda) from multiple airports, and ANA flies from SFO to Tokyo. My s-i-l strongly recommends making the transoceanic flight as short as possible, so we are looking at flying to more western city and departing from there. I think we'll probably fly to SFO and catch a second plane there, either a United or ANA flight. So it's probably:

Outbound: PIT -> SFO -> NRT
Inbound: KIX -> SFO -> [intermediate stop] -> PIT

There are direct flights coming back from SFO to PIT, but all of them leave before the flight from Osaka would land. So we're going to have to make an extra stop somewhere else on the way back like Denver, Chicago, or D.C.

I lived in Japan for a year...loved it.

Thanks Uncle Sam!

Oh, Shyster, I forgot to ask: What airline are you flying for your Japan trip? And once there, are you getting around in-country via shinkansen?

Yes to the shinkansen part. We haven't made airline reservations yet. I've been looking at flights, and I think the most likely airline is United, possibly paired with ANA (which is in the same alliance). We're coming back from Osaka Kansai Airport, and United offers a direct flight from KIX to San Francisco. JAL flies from Osaka to LAX, but my sister-in-law (who is a seasoned world traveler with numerous cross-Atlantic and -Pacific trips to her name) hates LAX with a passion. United flies to Tokyo-Narita (we're staying much closer to Narita than Haneda) from multiple airports, and ANA flies from SFO to Tokyo. My s-i-l strongly recommends making the transoceanic flight as short as possible, so we are looking at flying to more western city and departing from there. I think we'll probably fly to SFO and catch a second plane there, either a United or ANA flight. So it's probably:

Outbound: PIT -> SFO -> NRT
Inbound: KIX -> SFO -> [intermediate stop] -> PIT

There are direct flights coming back from SFO to PIT, but all of them leave before the flight from Osaka would land. So we're going to have to make an extra stop somewhere else on the way back like Denver, Chicago, or D.C.

I'm pretty convinced that, on balance, LAX is the worst airport in the whole world. That said, if you fly a national carrier (ANA, Lufthansa, British Airways, etc) and can use the Bradley Terminal, things are much nicer. Actually, things are pretty awesome, with several local L.A. restaurants having outposts. But all of the domestic terminals are utter crap.

SFO might be the best airport in the country, certainly as far as food options are concerned. Once you get through security, you still have the run of the airport. At LAX, after going through security you are locked down in that specific terminal. It's objectively terrible; avoid LAX at all costs if you can.

I was going to suggest ANA for the transPac. I flew United and had no complaints, but that was strictly a frequent flier miles consideration. May not have any complaints, but it probably wasn't all it could have been. Working for a Japanese company for 5 1/2 years, ANA was far and away the preferred airline of the Japanese nationals. Apparently it's quite nice.

Oh, and one other thing............ if you fly into Narita, take the limousine bus into Tokyo. They have a pre-recorded voice welcome thing that admonishes you to refrain from using your mobile phone on the bus as "they tend to annoy the neighbors".

I'm going to the Pens game in Buffalo this Saturday. Anyone been to a game up there and have any tips? I've been to a few Bills games, but never a Sabres game. I'm planning on driving up Saturday morning and hitting Duff's for some wings for lunch. Other than that, I don't really have anything planned.

im not sure theres much else to do there besides that

Mrs Tif and I have been together for ten birthdays. In the past, on the date of my birthday, we have been in Maranello, Italy, New Orleans, and San Sebastian, Spain. That's a pretty good hit rate.

I'm going to the Pens game in Buffalo this Saturday. Anyone been to a game up there and have any tips? I've been to a few Bills games, but never a Sabres game. I'm planning on driving up Saturday morning and hitting Duff's for some wings for lunch. Other than that, I don't really have anything planned.

Drive up to Niagara Falls. It isn't that far. Bring a passport so you can get onto the Canadian side. The US side is meh.

Go to Anchor Bar and have some orignal Buffalo Wings.

Go to Anchor Bar and have some orignal Buffalo Wings.

I find the Buffalo Head Bar/Gideon's Gate (2 places, same owner) actually have better wings. Don't know if either place is still open, it's been a while since I've been to Buffalo.

I know, but they weren't the creators.

I want to go to the Maldives or back to the Caribbean again for some more scuba

For those who have been to the Caribbean, how would you rank the top 3 islands to stay on? I have never been and have always wondered......

Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten.

Don't really see the appeal of Jamaica after a couple visits there.