Travel Thread

[tifosi77]

Not that it matters. Just read an article that said TSA agents were unable to detect explosive devices when tested. Like a failure rate of 99%.

Successfully got guns and/or explosives through security 67 out of 70 attempts in the last test.

[blackjack68]

That really doesn't sound like something that should be publicized.

[tifosi77]

We've been trying to get to Europe to visit my wife's sister and her family for a couple of years now. Airfare is the main issue, as we can't get our tickets below $1000 per person. With four of us, we've had quotes of $4000-5000 or even higher. We've changed airports, and short of driving to JFK or Dulles, we haven't been able to get it much lower than that.

With the lower Euro, it's a really good time to go...except that with reduced airline competition, the airfares are ridiculous (even with lower fuel prices).

What travel sites/apps do you guys use to find cheap airfare? Which days/times of the year are best?

Where in Europe?

[DigitalGypsy66]

They live in southern Sweden, but the closest major airport is Copenhagen. We'd visit two countries for the price of one!

[Avyran]

I've always been happy with Kayak.com's selection of flights.

[Gaucho]

They live in southern Sweden, but the closest major airport is Copenhagen. We'd visit two countries for the price of one!

So Malmö?

[DigitalGypsy66]

Malmö seems to be more expensive to fly into from the U.S., but that is closer.

Just checking now, it's $1800-1900 per person round trip to Malmö vs. $1200-1300 to Copenhagen.

[mikeenike]

I've always used google flights with good success.

[The U]

Malmö seems to be more expensive to fly into from the U.S., but that is closer.

Just checking now, it's $1800-1900 per person round trip to Malmö vs. $1200-1300 to Copenhagen.

Have you tried looking at flights from the US to any "big European hub" that you can get at a good rate and then finish the trip on a budget Euro airline?

That is one strategy I've used once or twice. Find the cheapest city you can get to from the US. Find a flight from East Coast US to London, Zurich, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Amsterdam, etc... and from there....take German Wings, Ryan Air, etc...to get to your final destination. Sometimes you can save a few hundred dollars per ticket. Multiply that by 4 tickets and you are saving some $.

Flying to Europe in the summer is always way more expensive than the other times of the year. You won't find a flight under $800 unless you get lucky. The Scandanavian countries have always been more expensive to get to than the rest of Europe (if memory serves me right). Icelandair used to have pretty good deals (if you are OK with a layover in Reykjavik) but I don't think they are as cheap as they used to be anymore.

I use Kayak and Hipmunk for my research. Google flights is good too. Play around with 1 way flights, alternate dates, flying mid-week, etc.

[llipgh2]

Has anyone flown Air Canada? Thinking of flying to Quebec City for the Pens preseason game against the Habs.

Air Canada seems to be the most reasonable travel wise (one stop in Toronto) and cost wise.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Thanks for the tips, U. I'll have to look into the smaller carriers. I wonder how difficult it is to get your baggage transferred?

I've flown Air Canada a few times. Nothing remarkable. They used to have a direct flight from Toronto to Charleston.

[The U]

I wonder how difficult it is to get your baggage transferred?

Not really much of an issue because you'll have to collect your bags upon arrival to go through customs anyway.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Ah, good point. I hadn't thought of that.

[eddy]

Anyone ever holiday in Sandbridge, VA?

[Miami Vice]

Any recent reports on Hershey? I'm off for two weeks, and while I'm busy with a bunch the first week I'm looking for a short 2 or 3 day trip the second week.

Cedar Point is an option, but I thought I might try Hershey Park.

[blackjack68]

I enjoyed it last year when we took the family. It can get crowded, so get there at opening and/or on a weekday.

Look for local places that have discount coupons.

For a "small" park they have some decent coasters. The Zoo America is pretty basic, but it's usually quiet and the kids seemed to like it.

[MR25]

Anyone ever holiday in Sandbridge, VA?

Yes. About a 15 minute drive to VA Beach, but gives you the same vibe without the thousands of people.

Definitely a good place for younger kids. Pretty close to a lot of different activities and food stuff.




Visited the WTC today, since we're staying 15 miles from NYC for a wedding. Pretty neat to see, but it was about as much of NYC as I could tolerate. Way too many people.

[shoeshine boy]

Visited the WTC today, since we're staying 15 miles from NYC for a wedding. Pretty neat to see, but it was about as much of NYC as I could tolerate. Way too many people.

is the 9/11 site a regular guided tour or self-guided? we have to spend a night in NYC on our way back from Italy in September so we've booked a hotel near the 9/11 site so that we can hit it in the morning when it opens.

[MR25]

You can walk through the museum by yourself for free, or pay a fee to have a guided tour.

[blackjack68]

We did self-guided and it was more than enough.

They did the memorial and exhibit very respectfully and it was hugely impactful.

[DigitalGypsy66]

I've been seeing a lot of "How many places have I been" maps popping up on my Facebook feed lately, and it really reminded me how little of the country I've traveled to/through. Pretty pathetic really. I've got the east coast and Ontario locked up, and west to Tennessee. I stayed in Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, and will knock out San Francisco this month. But other than that...nothing.

For those of you that travel a lot - does the anxiety level ever drop? I'm very nervous/anxious about an upcoming trip with the family to California. I don't know if it's because it's the first time all of us have flown together, or our packed itinerary, or the cost to us and my employer (which has me very worried). Ugh.

[Gaucho]

Ontario

*cough cough*

[LITT]

Can I make it from a flight landing at midway at 1445 to ohare for a flight departing 1810 for Barcelona?

sort of along the same lines. two options here

option 1

leaving rome 0715 landing in london 0900. flight departs london 1120 lands jfk 1355. flight from laguardia 2055 lands pittsburgh 2230.

option 2

leaving rome 0715 landing in london 0900. flight departs london 1310 lands jfk 1550. flight from laguardia 2055 lands pittsburgh 2230.

does option 1 leave enough time between connections in london? im a little nervous that it is not. does option 2 give enough time between jfk and lga? i think that should be okay but wanted to make sure with clearing customs, etc.

[mac5155]

I've only done it once, but the Airporter will get you from JFK to LGA in an hour, max. I would think 5 hours would be plenty of time.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Ontario

*cough cough*

Heh, heh...I know it's in Canada. The maps I've been seeing in my FB feed are of North America, so Ontario is on there.