Travel Information, Dining Recs, Tips, & Tricks Mega Thread

Dropbear said:
Based on other family member’s advice, we were looking at Playa Hermosa or Cochal, flying in through Liberia airport and visiting Rincon de la Vieja for a day to see the animal reserve there.

Bad idea?
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Haven’t been to any of those so can’t comment really.
I think you should not miss Tortuguero
 
Still looking at Costa Rica, but Roatan island just caught my attention with cheap flights over spring break. Had anyone here visited this spot?
 
Dropbear said:
Still looking at Costa Rica, but Roatan island just caught my attention with cheap flights over spring break. Had anyone here visited this spot?
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yo. i got my master diver certification there back when my body worked.

roatan and utila are scuba diving hotspots in honduras, utila being the more popular with the backpackers and hippies and roatan more with the hotel stayers. if you're planning on learning to scuba dive its a FANTASTIC place to go - cheap flights, good schools, relatively good reefs and dives. there really isn't much to do there other than dive, especially on utila, but if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
 
Grand Potentate said:
yo. i got my master diver certification there back when my body worked.

roatan and utila are scuba diving hotspots in honduras, utila being the more popular with the backpackers and hippies and roatan more with the hotel stayers. if you're planning on learning to scuba dive its a FANTASTIC place to go - cheap flights, good schools, relatively good reefs and dives. there really isn't much to do there other than dive, especially on utila, but if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
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Cheers. We are booked to fly direct to Roatan and have a house on the beach at Sandy Bay next March. Kids might be a bit young to scuba but we plan to do a lot of snorkeling.
 
Dropbear said:
10 and 13
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minimum age is 10. i definitely taught a few kids that were around 8-9 and several families. if you could do it as a group I would absolutely HIGHLY recommend it. its such an incredible experience, and if i could have had it at a young age like that, it probably would have completely shaped my beliefs about environmentalism and nature in a positive way as opposed to watching everything die a slow death from above.

www.padi.com

Open Water Diver | PADI

Start your scuba diving certification online with PADI Open Water eLearning. Earn your scuba license and lead a more extraordinary life.
www.padi.com www.padi.com

they also have a few 'discovery' courses which are like "get your feet wet" courses.
 
“TikTok popularized the idea of dupes … and the concept is increasingly taking off in the world of travel...

Likewise, flight searches to the island Curaçao, a stand-in for St. Martin, were up 228% in the U.S. and 185% worldwide. Those to Perth, Australia, a dupe for Sydney, jumped 33% in the U.S. and 109% globally. Additionally, those to Liverpool, England, a London alternative, spiked 138% in the U.S. and 97% worldwide, according to Expedia."

Uhh... Perth is on the other side of the continent. Do people know that when they book a trip to the "dupe"?
 
You wonder why people travel when the destination they choose isn't the one they wanted. It seems like anywhere that's not where I spend 300 days of the year is acceptable which makes you wonder if we've got life all screwed up.
 
ballmouse said:
You wonder why people travel when the destination they choose isn't the one they wanted. It seems like anywhere that's not where I spend 300 days of the year is acceptable which makes you wonder if we've got life all screwed up.
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Because travel expands your horizons. You need to travel to learn. Posting nice photographs on your Instagram or videos on YouTube and TikTok reaffirms your life choices.

Or if you have kids like one of my mates they make it a point to go two places in North America each year (States, Mexico, Caribbean cruise), once to Europe (always west or Mediterranean west of Turkey, never North Africa), and once to Dubai or Asia. They consider it an education for their children like the Grand Tour in the 19th century. They also consider travel a right. When they are home I constantly hear them moan about how they don’t make enough money, it is hopeless to get by here unless your combined income is 400-500k per year, and standards are declining and this place they immigrated to is a shithole.
 
In the past few weeks I just read about these people from my hometown who picked up and went to Puglia like Belinmad.

Alper Ozdemir and Cynthia Liu bought a property in the Puglia region

...and I lost the e-mail from the private/caterer chef but basically he came here, got married, had a kid, and moved back - Massimo Bruno

I bought a few of his al fresco dining pop up events for others but I never managed to go my self. Now he's gone for good. That Puglia place must be really attractive.
 
Grand Potentate said:
very nice. its definitely on the laid back relaxing side.
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Just got in yesterday afternoon and very impressed so far

IMG_5353.webp


IMG_5348.webp
 
Planning a stop-off in Japan this summer with the fam. First-time for all of us, so open to any good recs
 
Grand Potentate said:
make sure to see a baseball game and stop at a distillery. sumo would be great as well.
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I like the sumo idea! One kid wants to go to Sanrio Puroland. Other wants the samurai/ ninja experience. The kimono tea ceremony and cooking class gets good reviews. A few castles and temples and some shopping and street food plus this place:

www.teamlab.art

[Official] teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu

teamLab Planets is a museum where you walk through water, and a garden where you become one with the flowers. It comprises 4 large-scale artwork spaces and 2 gardens created by art collective teamLab.
www.teamlab.art www.teamlab.art

What else?
 
In Kyoto I would visit Unsodo and get one or two nice prints. I'd also spend some nights in a Ryokan.
 
Good with kids

www.ghibli-museum.jp

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Visit the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, located in suburban Tokyo. Experience the maze-like building, the fun of animation and discover the many fascinating and beautiful treasures created by Studio Ghibli.
www.ghibli-museum.jp www.ghibli-museum.jp
www.teamlab.art

teamLab

teamLab (f. 2001) is an international art collective. Their collaborative practice seeks to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, and the natural world.
www.teamlab.art www.teamlab.art

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
+81 3-3570-9151 https://g.co/kgs/2xnJcMz

maps.app.goo.gl

Tsutaya Books Daikan-yama · 4.4â(7574) · Book store

Japan, ã150-0033 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Sarugakucho, 17â5 代å®å±±ï¼´ï¼ï¼³ï¼©ï¼´ï¼¥ ï¼å·é¤¨ï½ï¼å·é¤¨ ï¼éï½ï¼é
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

maps.app.goo.gl

Kyu Asakura House · 4.3â(868) · Historical landmark

29-20 Sarugakucho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0033, Japan
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl


sake bars:

Tokyo

www.japantimes.co.jp

Eureka moments abound at sake sommelier Marie Chiba’s new bar

The acclaimed nihonshu maven hasn't lost a step — in fact, she might be better than ever before.
www.japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp

Kyoto

京都 日本酒 酒バー よらむ

ゆったりと座る８人カウンターでゆるりと、おいしいお酒を味わう日本酒バー。個性豊かな純米日本す酒ばかり揃えてます。古酒も多々。京都、二条通りの静かな一角で、ご堪能下さい。日本酒通もお勧めの京都の日本酒バーです
www.sakebar-yoramu.com www.sakebar-yoramu.com
 
Dropbear said:
I like the sumo idea! One kid wants to go to Sanrio Puroland. Other wants the samurai/ ninja experience. The kimono tea ceremony and cooking class gets good reviews. A few castles and temples and some shopping and street food plus this place:

www.teamlab.art

[Official] teamLab Planets TOKYO, Toyosu

teamLab Planets is a museum where you walk through water, and a garden where you become one with the flowers. It comprises 4 large-scale artwork spaces and 2 gardens created by art collective teamLab.
www.teamlab.art www.teamlab.art

What else?
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Definitely a baseball game. It’s an entirely different world over there to what it is in the states. I’ve heard it’s a fantastic time and desperately want to go.

What about some clothes buying for you?
 
Dropbear said:
Definitely interested in this, though there is nothing in particular I’m looking for.
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There are a bunch of Americana places worth visiting, although prices are eye-watering.

Beams, Brycelands, etc also fun. And nice vintage stores too although the price comment also applies. Happy to send you notes if of interest.
 
belinmad said:
Happy to send you notes if of interest.
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Please! Not so interested in Americana at this time, but maybe shirts, ties or a suit? Pretty sure shoes would be a non starter for my feet, sadly. Is there something like Kamakura but a level up in quality?
 
Dropbear said:
Please! Not so interested in Americana at this time, but maybe shirts, ties or a suit? Pretty sure shoes would be a non starter for my feet, sadly. Is there something like Kamakura but a level up in quality?
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I’d check out Beams F then.
maps.app.goo.gl

BEAMS F / International Gallery · 3.8â(92) · Clothing store

Japan, ã150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 3 Chomeâ25â15 ç¥å®®åãã©ã¹ 1Fã»2F
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

Brycelands also carries a decent set of Italian RTW stuff (shirts, trousers, ties), and Ethan should be able to give you some additional pointers.
 
belinmad said:
I’d check out Beams F then.
maps.app.goo.gl

BEAMS F / International Gallery · 3.8â(92) · Clothing store

Japan, ã150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae, 3 Chomeâ25â15 ç¥å®®åãã©ã¹ 1Fã»2F
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl

Brycelands also carries a decent set of Italian RTW stuff (shirts, trousers, ties), and Ethan should be able to give you some additional pointers.
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Looking at more notes:
- check out Tomorrowland, although expensive AF. Flagship store is in Shibuya but there are several around the city.
- ISETAN has some interesting stuff. Can't remember which store location though. You'd need to check which one carries more menswear.
- Ring Jacket was pretty cool, although I couldn't find anything my size - you might have more luck.

Also if so inclined, you could check out some of the famous Japanese denim brands - many have pretty sizeable stores in Tokyo.
 
Grand Potentate said:
How about the new Nintendo theme park?
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Hard no from me, but while the women are in Puroland my son and I might split to do our own ‘boy’ thing. Maybe the anime thing or a samurai/ninja experience? Drift cars? Chatting up hostesses in schoolgirl outfits at a yakuza sake bar?

Grand Potentate said:
No interest in a nice pair of denim?
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Not something I need, so I won’t go looking for it … but I if I stumble on something amazing and affordable I may still bite.

This will be a stop-off on the way to Oz, so we can’t buy too much bulky shit.
 
Dropbear said:
Hard no from me, but while the women are in Puroland my son and I might split to do our own ‘boy’ thing. Maybe the anime thing or a samurai/ninja experience? Drift cars? Chatting up hostesses in schoolgirl outfits at a yakuza sake bar?
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If any of you/kids are into guitars/music instruments, Tokyo has a few places that are like fucking candy stores...
Akihabara is a must if you're into manga/gaming/cosplay/anime/kinky shit.
 
Dropbear said:
Eh, just trying to narrow down neighborhoods at the moment. Akasaka also looks central, convenient and nice.
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We and friends over the years have stayed in a small hotel in Ueno. Great. Modern , in expensive but traditional - sleep on floor, deep small bath etc
 
Dropbear said:
Hard no from me, but while the women are in Puroland my son and I might split to do our own ‘boy’ thing. Maybe the anime thing or a samurai/ninja experience? Drift cars? Chatting up hostesses in schoolgirl outfits at a yakuza sake bar?



Not something I need, so I won’t go looking for it … but I if I stumble on something amazing and affordable I may still bite.

This will be a stop-off on the way to Oz, so we can’t buy too much bulky shit.
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Please send hilarious pics of you trying on clothes made for Japanese - whole body shape - not only height is way different.
 
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