Topic: Vacations 2024

[bridgecity]

Beware of car break ins? I hear its a real bad problem in SF.

Streets are incredibly steep in places, parking isn't great, and it's a complicated street system to begin with. In Seattle and Portland which are similar we just parked our vehicle and ubered around. San Fran I was by myself and rented a bike, walked (including one memorable walk through the Tenderloin in the middle of the night, note to never do that). Think public transit is pretty good there too

That’s the plan, won’t be renting a car. Walking, Uber, public transit.

[Firm]

Haven't taken any time off work since Christmas 2022 due to the job change, move, etc. So, long overdue for some downtime. Took a week off in May and booked us for a resort in Pensacola Beach Florida. About a 6.5-7 hour drive from here, still feels weird planning a beach vacation on the gulf and driving to it, lol. Looking forward to sitting in the sand and just relaxing for a couple days. That fact that we'll have our truck with us means we can do some exploring, and bring whatever items we want for the beach. Hopefully it's decent weather and the kids behave....

[Bubba]

Haven't taken any time off work since Christmas 2022 due to the job change, move, etc. So, long overdue for some downtime. Took a week off in May and booked us for a resort in Pensacola Beach Florida. About a 6.5-7 hour drive from here, still feels weird planning a beach vacation on the gulf and driving to it, lol. Looking forward to sitting in the sand and just relaxing for a couple days. That fact that we'll have our truck with us means we can do some exploring, and bring whatever items we want for the beach. Hopefully it's decent weather and the kids behave....

Sounds like a great time.  I have never visited Florida, but, if I do, it will be likely to attend Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School. 

[Firm]

Thanks. I've been to Florida a few times, but always for work, usually Orlando area. In fact, I am going to Ocala (outside Orlando) in a few weeks for work. Never been to Pensacola, or even the beach in Florida for that matter.

[Bubba]

Thanks. I've been to Florida a few times, but always for work, usually Orlando area. In fact, I am going to Ocala (outside Orlando) in a few weeks for work. Never been to Pensacola, or even the beach in Florida for that matter.

Ocala, you say?  Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing

[OliverD]

We're off to Mexico this week. We wanted to fly into Merida and the issue with that is that there are very few direct flights there from outside of Mexico. There's a weekly WestJet flight from Toronto, and then more frequent flights from Miami and Houston IIRC. No decent itineraries from here so we're driving down to Boston to catch a flight. My wife being a teacher and not having the flexibility with dates exacerbates the issue. Leaving Thursday afternoon, overnighting in Portland where we'll find some good eats and drinks. Fly out of Boston at noon and arrive in Merida in the evening. We're got an Airbnb there for two nights downtown then we're off to Chicxulub Puerto where we've got a house on the beach for four nights. There's eight of us going down so it should be a lot of fun.

[sailor723]

We're off to Mexico this week. We wanted to fly into Merida and the issue with that is that there are very few direct flights there from outside of Mexico. There's a weekly WestJet flight from Toronto, and then more frequent flights from Miami and Houston IIRC. No decent itineraries from here so we're driving down to Boston to catch a flight. My wife being a teacher and not having the flexibility with dates exacerbates the issue. Leaving Thursday afternoon, overnighting in Portland where we'll find some good eats and drinks. Fly out of Boston at noon and arrive in Merida in the evening. We're got an Airbnb there for two nights downtown then we're off to Chicxulub Puerto where we've got a house on the beach for four nights. There's eight of us going down so it should be a lot of fun.

Sounds like a LOT of fun Oliver. I assume you are saving a ton by flying out of the US?
I looked at a short (7 days or so ahead) notice flight to Vancouver last fall. $1106 one way out of SJ......under 400CAD out of Portland Maine. 

[OliverD]

We're off to Mexico this week. We wanted to fly into Merida and the issue with that is that there are very few direct flights there from outside of Mexico. There's a weekly WestJet flight from Toronto, and then more frequent flights from Miami and Houston IIRC. No decent itineraries from here so we're driving down to Boston to catch a flight. My wife being a teacher and not having the flexibility with dates exacerbates the issue. Leaving Thursday afternoon, overnighting in Portland where we'll find some good eats and drinks. Fly out of Boston at noon and arrive in Merida in the evening. We're got an Airbnb there for two nights downtown then we're off to Chicxulub Puerto where we've got a house on the beach for four nights. There's eight of us going down so it should be a lot of fun.

Sounds like a LOT of fun Oliver. I assume you are saving a ton by flying out of the US?
I looked at a short (7 days or so ahead) notice flight to Vancouver last fall. $1106 one way out of SJ......under 400CAD out of Portland Maine. 

Oh yeah, our flights were about $850 from Boston and would have been $2k from here. Four of us are flying from Boston so spending a few hundred bucks on a meal and a couple hotel rooms and gas is worth it when you're saving over $4k. Plus we always have fun in Portland.

Another couple is flying out of Bangor but their itinerary isn't great either as they have overnight layovers both ways. Just sucks getting anywhere from this part of the continent.

[sailor723]

We're off to Mexico this week. We wanted to fly into Merida and the issue with that is that there are very few direct flights there from outside of Mexico. There's a weekly WestJet flight from Toronto, and then more frequent flights from Miami and Houston IIRC. No decent itineraries from here so we're driving down to Boston to catch a flight. My wife being a teacher and not having the flexibility with dates exacerbates the issue. Leaving Thursday afternoon, overnighting in Portland where we'll find some good eats and drinks. Fly out of Boston at noon and arrive in Merida in the evening. We're got an Airbnb there for two nights downtown then we're off to Chicxulub Puerto where we've got a house on the beach for four nights. There's eight of us going down so it should be a lot of fun.

Sounds like a LOT of fun Oliver. I assume you are saving a ton by flying out of the US?
I looked at a short (7 days or so ahead) notice flight to Vancouver last fall. $1106 one way out of SJ......under 400CAD out of Portland Maine. 

Oh yeah, our flights were about $850 from Boston and would have been $2k from here. Four of us are flying from Boston so spending a few hundred bucks on a meal and a couple hotel rooms and gas is worth it when you're saving over $4k. Plus we always have fun in Portland.

Another couple is flying out of Bangor but their itinerary isn't great either as they have overnight layovers both ways. Just sucks getting anywhere from this part of the continent.

It's been that way for years unfortunately.

Back in '09 I needed 3 return tickets to LA . My wife had (and still has) serious back/chronic pain issues that make long distance flying really challenging. Because of this I was looking at business class.  Air Canada was right around $15,000 for 3 seats out of Saint John......Delta was $4500 CAD  total for us to fly out of Portland. The 10K+ saving more than took care of driving expenses and hotel rooms!   Based on about 10 hours roundtrip driving time even after expenses I figured I was paying myself more than $900/hr to sit and steer.

That was nearly 15 years ago and I was so shocked I still remember the numbers.

[Layne]

167 km backpack of the Highline Trail in Utah in August.

Yes I have started training 😂

[Jaeger]

167 km backpack of the Highline Trail in Utah in August.

Yes I have started training 😂

I'm sure Derek can give you tips - I think he's hiked or cycled bloody well everywhere at least twice. 

[ktm525]

167 km backpack of the Highline Trail in Utah in August.

Yes I have started training 😂

Utah? August? Sounds hot.

[quadzilla]

That will be an awesome trip, take a lot of pictures.

Shouldn't be too hot as it is in the mountains, a lot of time spent over 10,000 feet.

I haven't done anything in those mountains as I spend my time down in the canyons.

[ktm525]

Maybe. I rode Idaho mountains 9-10' in August and it was hooooot during day. Cold at night. So much solar exposure

[Bubba]

Save over $50 by choosing a Max 8 flight, a not-insignificant saving of almost 24%!

This during the last week in June.  Phoenix in April is too expensive for the likes of me.

Edit: Phoenix booked for June 24th to July 1st.  My first Arizona visit in five years. 

From October 2005 to July 2019, I visited Arizona twenty-one times.  I hope I still like it.  lol

[JG20]

Booked our 2 week vacay in Japan this summer. Wife and I lived there from 2005 - 07 and this will be our first time back . It will be my son's first time there. We're all super excited!

[sszoomzoom]

Booked our 2 week vacay in Japan this summer. Wife and I lived there from 2005 - 07 and this will be our first time back . It will be my son's first time there. We're all super excited!

I’m going there next week for 2 weeks. First time for us. Found a nice hotel with 2 rooms, full kitchen and also in suite laundry.

[PJungnitsch]

Love Japan, so clean, so interesting, so deeply odd

[Allen]

 Enjoy,  funny I am driving my son and his wife to the airport Saturday to head of to Japan for a couple of weeks.

[rrocket]

Dang!!

I need some fishing tackle from Japan!

Where can I send my list and payment?

Enjoy your trips! Am jealous!