Author Topic: travel thread (Read 1807207 times)

felix rex · « **Reply #425 on:** April 28, 2012, 12:14:29 PM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 25, 2012, 02:08:05 PM

Quote from: EuroCat on April 25, 2012, 01:58:03 PM
The black cab tour thingy is different than a "black cab". The real black cabs are regulated by TFL (Transport For London) and require the drivers to know every road within a 6 mile radius of Charring Cross. It takes most drivers around 3 years to pass the test, which is why black cabs are the best and most expensive cabs in the world.

same drivers, you think I just picked this place without seeing it on Rick Steves?
Quote
It begs the question, "Who is there better than a fully qualified and highly experienced black cab driver to guide you through the streets of London?".
Surely it's beyond question that London's cab drivers make the perfect personal guides because they have "The Knowledge", that unsurpassed inside knowledge of London which is a prerequisite to them passing their exam and gaining their license.
Aspiring London cab drivers face the toughest exam in the world for any cab driver, and they are expected to know every alley, street and short cut in London, as well as all about London's historic sights, palaces, museums, galleries, shops and markets.
•your driver has passed the most stringent test before being granted a license to operate.
•your driver has an individual badge and registration number which is permanently on display in the taxi cab.
•your driver is a qualified, registered Blue Badge Guide.
All our Black Cab Tours
drivers are fully trained
BLUE BADGE GUIDES Freeman of the
City of London

The Knowledge actually changes the wiring of their brains. Not kidding. They are like a super breed of worker drones engineered only to find the most efficient routes.

Bloodfart · « **Reply #426 on:** April 28, 2012, 01:32:12 PM »

Is this for real?

Saulbadguy · « **Reply #427 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM »

Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Trim · « **Reply #428 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:27:52 AM »

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM

Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Can't wait for this to turn into a discussion about Saul's prospective trip to Ft. Lauderdale (south florida).

steve dave · « **Reply #429 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:33:13 AM »

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM

Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Are you a Gold from getting the SPG card? I think you should be. You should get an upgrade to a better view unless they are booked up for that date. Send the manager an email about a week out and tell them your trip is for a special occasion and you are a Gold and you would like a beach view if possible. Also, tweet something to the hotel and SPG about your upcoming stay like, "Excited for a romantic weekend with my wife at the @whatevertheirnameis". Properties will usually try to accomodate people that are active on social networks because they don't want to get bad reviews on those same networks. Mention to the manager in the email that you chose their hotel based on tripadvisor reviews for the same reason.

Saulbadguy · « **Reply #430 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:33:40 AM »

Quote from: Trim on April 30, 2012, 08:27:52 AM

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM
Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Can't wait for this to turn into a discussion about Saul's prospective trip to Ft. Lauderdale (south florida).

Discussion will be limited to the topic at hand.

T-Y,

Saulbadguy

steve dave · « **Reply #431 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:34:54 AM »

Also, check for paid availability on the date you are checking in right before you actually check in. If they have ocean view available for purchase you should mention that you are a gold and ask for an upgrade to it. If they say they don't have any show them the paid availability. I've never done this but a lot of the travel bloggers always throw their weight around like assholes and get pretty much whatever they want by doing this.

Saulbadguy · « **Reply #432 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:35:14 AM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2012, 08:33:13 AM

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM
Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Are you a Gold from getting the SPG card? I think you should be. You should get an upgrade to a better view unless they are booked up for that date. Send the manager an email about a week out and tell them your trip is for a special occasion and you are a Gold and you would like a beach view if possible. Also, tweet something to the hotel and SPG about your upcoming stay like, "Excited for a romantic weekend with my wife at the @whatevertheirnameis". Properties will usually try to accomodate people that are active on social networks because they don't want to get bad reviews on those same networks. Mention to the manager in the email that you chose their hotel based on tripadvisor reviews for the same reason.

I'm a preferred guest plus(?)

Trim · « **Reply #433 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:35:46 AM »

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:33:40 AM

Quote from: Trim on April 30, 2012, 08:27:52 AM
Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM
Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Can't wait for this to turn into a discussion about Saul's prospective trip to Ft. Lauderdale (south florida).
Discussion will be limited to the topic at hand.

T-Y,

Saulbadguy

Well, Daris and I will just have to speculate. You can "no comment."

steve dave · « **Reply #434 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:37:20 AM »

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:35:14 AM

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2012, 08:33:13 AM
Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM
Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Are you a Gold from getting the SPG card? I think you should be. You should get an upgrade to a better view unless they are booked up for that date. Send the manager an email about a week out and tell them your trip is for a special occasion and you are a Gold and you would like a beach view if possible. Also, tweet something to the hotel and SPG about your upcoming stay like, "Excited for a romantic weekend with my wife at the @whatevertheirnameis". Properties will usually try to accomodate people that are active on social networks because they don't want to get bad reviews on those same networks. Mention to the manager in the email that you chose their hotel based on tripadvisor reviews for the same reason.
I'm a preferred guest plus(?)

crap, it is the Hilton Surpass that gives you gold. my bad. well, do the manager email mentioning tripadvisor thing anyway.

Saulbadguy · « **Reply #435 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:44:22 AM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2012, 08:33:13 AM

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM
Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

Are you a Gold from getting the SPG card? I think you should be. You should get an upgrade to a better view unless they are booked up for that date. Send the manager an email about a week out and tell them your trip is for a special occasion and you are a Gold and you would like a beach view if possible. Also, tweet something to the hotel and SPG about your upcoming stay like, "Excited for a romantic weekend with my wife at the @whatevertheirnameis". Properties will usually try to accomodate people that are active on social networks because they don't want to get bad reviews on those same networks. Mention to the manager in the email that you chose their hotel based on tripadvisor reviews for the same reason.

Reading negative reviews of hotels on tripadvisor has become a brand new "thing" (hobby) for me.

pissclams · « **Reply #436 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:48:32 AM »

bed bugs saul, bed bugs

Trim · « **Reply #437 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:51:44 AM »

Quote from: Saulbadguy on April 30, 2012, 08:17:45 AM

Best way to go about this?

Booking a room at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale beach resort (1 night), planning on using starpoints. The starpoints room is "limited view" - not beach view. Of course I want beach view.

I've had lunch at that hotel, back when it was the "Sheraton Yankee Clipper."

ChiComCat · « **Reply #438 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:11:16 AM »

Yea, say something about reading Trip Advisor reviews/yelp reviews. Also, check and make sure they are active responding to them, as this shows they give a crap

steve dave · « **Reply #439 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:13:48 AM »

Quote from: ChiCat on April 30, 2012, 09:11:16 AM

Yea, say something about reading Trip Advisor reviews/yelp reviews. Also, check and make sure they are active responding to them, as this shows they give a crap

checked for him, their manager has responded to some of them.

ChiComCat · « **Reply #440 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:24:31 AM »

Quote from: steve dave on April 30, 2012, 09:13:48 AM

Quote from: ChiCat on April 30, 2012, 09:11:16 AM
Yea, say something about reading Trip Advisor reviews/yelp reviews. Also, check and make sure they are active responding to them, as this shows they give a crap

checked for him, their manager has responded to some of them.

Whichever manager that is, thats the one to email

Mikeyis4dcats · « **Reply #441 on:** May 01, 2012, 10:55:54 AM »

just booked 7 days in Puerto Vallarta for December.

Is it November yet?

420seriouscat69 · « **Reply #442 on:** May 01, 2012, 11:03:42 AM »

A special thanks to those that helped out with the NYC intenaray. During my time in philly/NYC I housed 2 philly cheesesteaks, 2 Nathans hotdogs w/ the works, and saw all of Manhattan in 12 hours of work, while pak'ing my lil heart out. Also, random, there's a chiefs bar in philly, and they have an emmy from a NFL documentary. I took pics with it of course. I also saw donald trumps daughter while walking the streets w/ emawgeddon.

steve dave · « **Reply #443 on:** May 01, 2012, 11:08:23 AM »

EllToPay · « **Reply #444 on:** May 02, 2012, 02:21:43 PM »

EuroCat, recommendos on which Tube pass to get? Mrs. etp and I will be there from Sun - Wednesday night. Should we just get the 7 day pass, or just pay as we go? We'll be wandering around pretty much every day and will hop on and off at will.

What's the main diff b/w Oyster and Travelcard?

Dugout DickStone · « **Reply #445 on:** May 02, 2012, 02:33:51 PM »

Quote from: steve dave on May 01, 2012, 11:08:23 AM

zip

our first goEMAW match.

EuroCat · « **Reply #446 on:** May 02, 2012, 05:06:49 PM »

Quote from: EllToPay on May 02, 2012, 02:21:43 PM

EuroCat, recommendos on which Tube pass to get? Mrs. etp and I will be there from Sun - Wednesday night. Should we just get the 7 day pass, or just pay as we go? We'll be wandering around pretty much every day and will hop on and off at will.

What's the main diff b/w Oyster and Travelcard?

Not 100% on this but i believe a travelcard just refers to you paying for an unlimited pass for X days on TFL (tube, buses, whatever). I just use my oyster card pay as you go and keep £10-£15 in it. If it gets low i top it up.

You can either go to a ticket machine and buy a 3 or 7 day travel card or buy an oyster card with a £5 deposit and top it up when you buy it. You may also be able to buy an oyster card an buy a "travel card" to put on it but not 100%.

Felt super elite taking the tube and then the DLR this morning during rush hour on the way to London City airport. Doesn't get more elite than the tube.

EllToPay · « **Reply #447 on:** May 03, 2012, 09:02:25 AM »

Quote from: EuroCat on May 02, 2012, 05:06:49 PM

Quote from: EllToPay on May 02, 2012, 02:21:43 PM
EuroCat, recommendos on which Tube pass to get? Mrs. etp and I will be there from Sun - Wednesday night. Should we just get the 7 day pass, or just pay as we go? We'll be wandering around pretty much every day and will hop on and off at will.

What's the main diff b/w Oyster and Travelcard?
Not 100% on this but i believe a travelcard just refers to you paying for an unlimited pass for X days on TFL (tube, buses, whatever). I just use my oyster card pay as you go and keep £10-£15 in it. If it gets low i top it up.

You can either go to a ticket machine and buy a 3 or 7 day travel card or buy an oyster card with a £5 deposit and top it up when you buy it. You may also be able to buy an oyster card an buy a "travel card" to put on it but not 100%.

Felt super elite taking the tube and then the DLR this morning during rush hour on the way to London City airport. Doesn't get more elite than the tube.

Got it, makes sense. We'll just be in Zones 1-2 the whole time, but trying to decide on the Tube or Heathrow Express to get to hotel at Bayswater stop. If we're getting an Oyster card, might as well take the Tube, right?

steve dave · « **Reply #448 on:** May 03, 2012, 09:06:22 AM »

EllToPay · « **Reply #449 on:** May 03, 2012, 09:31:40 AM »

Quote from: steve dave on May 03, 2012, 09:06:22 AM

taxi

i know i'm

and all, but it would be 60 euros from the airport to hotel. looks like it would be 5 euros apiece to get from LHR to hotel stop on the tube and walk 5 min to hotel.