Fifth Avenue Forum

Coral Canyon is good, just up the road from what I guess you'd call 'town' in Malibu. (Pepperdine, the Country Mart and other retail a bit further south) Paradise Cove is nearby, which has an unofficial topless beach (right next to a big family restaurant, so that's neat); further up are Zuma and Matador. Good spot.

Chatsworth is farther than you think. It's like 30 minutes away from being 30 minutes away from stuff. On a map it doesn't look that bad, but it will sneak up you because it's all surface street traffic. And then you're stuck in the epicenter of Pr0n Valley.

As for the DR chatter I am staying at Breathless in Punta Cana in October. Taking notes.

As for the DR chatter I am staying at Breathless in Punta Cana in October. Taking notes.

Take a bunch of ones and fives with you for tips. I went to the bank and took out a few hundred before we left for tips.

I read that some all inclusives strictly forbid tipping, which would be tough for me.

I read that some all inclusives strictly forbid tipping, which would be tough for me.

A good “handshake tip” will be good.

I could see tipping banned at extremely high end resorts. In general resort workers get paid **** and are often given bonuses (or penalized) based on what is said about them in online reviews. We tend to tip very well when we go to one and by the end of our stay have a personal wait staff that's eager to please.

I read that some all inclusives strictly forbid tipping, which would be tough for me.

A good “handshake tip” will be good.

Yeah I’m seeing people throw tips and people not. I will say the airport is crazy. Everyone expects a tip.

I timed it but we taxied after landing in CLT for about 15 minutes. We didn't stop to let another plane by or wait for ground crew to ready the jetway. Literally driving around in a 737-800 for 15 minutes. I thought we landed in Freddy's backyard and rolled up to Charlotte.

I've flown out of there hundreds of time but I don't remember taxiing that long.

Airport reno looks nice though.

I'm thinking you probably landed on the far-west runway, 36L/18R? It's quite a way over there.

Trivia: I want to say that I read that the most-distant runway at a major airport is 18R/36L at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It's closest end is over three miles from the terminal, and a taxi runs around 20 minutes. The airport apparently had to put it way out in the middle of a bunch of farmland due to noise prohibitions that the local government had imposed.

Just got my new passport, just over 4 weeks after mailing the renewal non-expedited. Not as quick as others in this thread, but that's still pretty fast imo.

Nice. Mailed the wife's renewal last week. Good to know.

@shoeshine boy: Figured you'd be interested in this. I was honestly a little surprised with how far north the fire spread.

I was notified by United on Wednesday morning that my 6:22 PM flight IAH-PIT on Friday was canceled due to crew scheduling. That's easily the earliest I've ever had a flight canceled. They rescheduled me on a flight that went to IAD around the same time but the connection didn't leave until 8 AM Saturday. Yeah, I'm not doing that. I had pretty much wrapped up what I was doing in Houston and got on the Thursday night flight. It actually worked out due to the aforementioned passing of my cat on Friday night which I was able to be home for.

Not sure whether to give UA kudos for knowing well in advance about the problem so I could work out an alternative or bash them for scheduling a flight they didn't actually have anyone to fly. I'm sure some people have looked at things like this though and said, oh good I'm on another flight at the same time, only to look at the departure board and find that they are sleeping in Dulles Airport or shelling out for a hotel.

Is it possible to go in a vacation and not have 800 people tell you they are from Pittsburgh

When your entire wardrobe is black and gold?

Nah.

Every freaking new person I meet when on the road:

"So where are you from?"
"Pittsburgh"
"Oh, I bet you're a big Steelers fan then."
"No, I root for the (hopefully former) worst franchise in the NFL and there's a story behind that....."

@shoeshine boy: Figured you'd be interested in this. I was honestly a little surprised with how far north the fire spread.

appreciated. I too, didn't realize exactly how far that fire spread. I didn't realize that it basically jumped Old Lahaina Luau and The Cannery Mall.

Yep, and Old Lahaina Luau officially reopens tomorrow. Aloha Mixed Plate is actually returning to its old location on Front Street, with Star Noodle moving down a few buildings. That was awesome to read, as AMP was one of our favorites before it closed years ago. Also heard that 808 Grindz is considering opening in the Cannery mall. I don't care where they open so long as they do - one of our favorite breakfast spots on the island.

Welp, got out of going back to Kansas for 4 years, but that time is up. Booked flights this morning for later this year. AA has a newer requirement that when booking award flights, the AA account owner who is using the miles must use a credit card with their own name for the taxes; they will not accept a card with somebody else's name on it. I guess it's a security feature, but still kinda lame.

@CBear3: Finally gonna get around to checking out Q39.

**** hell, MCI has to be the most expensive airport to rent a car at. $500 for a week after taxes for a Full Size. I paid around $300/week in Maui and BI in peak summer, for comparison.

I guess this counts as travel, but we looked at getting a hotel for two nights near Clemson for parents' weekend in September. The Hampton Inn we've stayed in before - and actually will stay in May for a baseball weekend for $140 a night - is charging $700+ a night. I know football season throws everything off, but that's insane.

$700 to stay at Hampton Inn? I'd rather sleep in my car.

I know - we ended up getting a lake house 25 minutes from campus for about that price for 2 nights.

I guess this counts as travel, but we looked at getting a hotel for two nights near Clemson for parents' weekend in September. The Hampton Inn we've stayed in before - and actually will stay in May for a baseball weekend for $140 a night - is charging $700+ a night. I know football season throws everything off, but that's insane.

are you or your wife considered a government employee? is the gov rate any cheaper?

We both are - but I doubt it would've made a significant enough discount. But going forward, we'll check that rate.