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

fxh said:
We are off to Korea (South) in September.
The first week and a bit we are set - Ms has an international women's group art exhibition in Gwangju she's part of so they have organised a bus to pick us up in Seoul and take us there and organised the week of food, booze, tours, art etc - not a minute to spare. We'll sped a couple of days after that in Gwangju decompressing and freelancing. Would be happy to hear anyone's experience of Gwangju - especially music - jazz, classical etc. Keen to catch some Korean Reggae/Ska bands. (Yes its a thing).

Then we are up to Seoul for a few days. Probably want to stay around Jongno stations 1 - 4- any accommodation recommendations gratefully accepted. Also music and "Melbourne Coffee" cafes.

Then fly back home with 3 days in break on long flight in Singapore - never been before - any similar recommendations.
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Giving this a bump as only 4 weeks away
 
fxh said:
We are off to Korea (South) in September.
The first week and a bit we are set - Ms has an international women's group art exhibition in Gwangju she's part of so they have organised a bus to pick us up in Seoul and take us there and organised the week of food, booze, tours, art etc - not a minute to spare. We'll sped a couple of days after that in Gwangju decompressing and freelancing. Would be happy to hear anyone's experience of Gwangju - especially music - jazz, classical etc. Keen to catch some Korean Reggae/Ska bands. (Yes its a thing).

Then we are up to Seoul for a few days. Probably want to stay around Jongno stations 1 - 4- any accommodation recommendations gratefully accepted. Also music and "Melbourne Coffee" cafes.

Then fly back home with 3 days in break on long flight in Singapore - never been before - any similar recommendations.
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Basically off in a weeks time.

Staying in Seoul near Jongno No 3.

Singapore - staying near Boat Quay.
Sadly, just discovered today that is Formula 1 week. Thankfully its really on the weekend - a day after we leave, but no doubt the place will be full of idiots during the week we are there. Some places - bars etc already have a minimum spend for that week.
 
The Raffles in Singapore is a tourist trap hotel, but still worth visiting for lunch, afternoon tea or a cocktail.

We just booked flights to Paris.
 
I think I’ve got the basics covered for Paris: flights, accommodation, places to see, where to eat, etc.

Maybe someone in this group can recommend some men’s shopping? I’m not looking for bespoke shirts or anything high end (sadly), but something unique/local and reasonably priced. Casual clothes or accessories, mainly.
 
Dropbear said:
I think I’ve got the basics covered for Paris: flights, accommodation, places to see, where to eat, etc.

Maybe someone in this group can recommend some men’s shopping? I’m not looking for bespoke shirts amor anything high end (sadly), but something unique/local and reasonably priced. Casual clothes or accessories, mainly.
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Ties?

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Overpriced vintage workwear?

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Grand Potentate said:
Maybe take the missus to the Hermes mothership?
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We are going to go to the Dior gallery - my youngest is really interested in fashion design and history.

www.galeriedior.com

La Galerie Dior

La Galerie Dior
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Might do a short macron making class and maybe a scent making class. Plus all the usual touristy shit. I have a high school friend who lives there now and just sold his cafe that I’ll catch up with. I’m also going to mange a croissant at the cafe Camus used to hang at during the war.
 
I'll be in South Korea Tuesday am. Then in Gwangju all week - heatwave - 33C days 20C nights - aaaagh.

In Paris the taxi (like a bus service) boats (I think that's what they are called) do a 6 stop or so round trip up and down - also around Notre Dame from memory. You can get on or off at any point - I think they run every hour or 30 mins. If you get a 24-hour tick it's great value - do a night run or a few stops one night then also the whole next day - get on or off many times.
 
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Don't know for sure around the Eiffel Tower, but I still assume you are right. I used to be in the 8th arrondissment (near Parc Monceau) a few times each year and I never had a bad lunch, in fairly unassuming cafes, for fairly little money. None of that was fine dining but I've been told plenty of times that unless you speak French, this can be a difficult experience anyway.
 
QuandoDio said:
How did you enjoy Paris Dropbear Dropbear ?
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We will be there at the end of November.

I’ve booked a few things (Louvre tour, Eiffel Tower, restaurants, macaron and scent making class) and also decided not to pack too much in - leaving plenty of time for cafes and people watching. Skipping the catacombs, for example.
 
Ah, ok. Seems lovely except maybe the Louvre tour. I get, it the Louvre is cannon. But as someone who has been there a few times and regretted it nearly every time but the first , there are more interesting museums.

At least you are going in November, so it won't be so hot . To be warned though, there will be a lengthy queue! particularly around the tiny underwhelming Mona Lisa
 
If we went to throw silly money at a fancy dining experience, L’Ambroisie or Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen?
 
Hmmm, Alain Passard and his acolytes do magical things with vegetables but at the end of the day, it is vegetables. Some animal protein is welcome.

The honest truth is there is a surfeit of excellent restaurants in Paris and a few duds.

For breakfast/ lunch,
  • Highly recommend Mokonuts (need reservation weeks in advance) for a cosy but worldly and authentically French place, owned. It is only open for Breakfast and Lunch (they close for dinner, radical idea) and often packed. Outstanding food and a season menu that rotates daily. Eat the cookies for dessert (seriously).

For lunch/ dins

  • La Pie Noir - A hidden gem in Paris, filled with locals. You can walk in during lunch. Everything on the menu was great but the pistachio creme brulee was truly otherworldly. The service was exceptional (a rarity in Paris)

For a fancy dinner experience (there are plenty and you can't go wrong ) but I am partial to Yam'tcha. Intimate. Excellent food and the teas to go with food (instead of pushing wine, though that is available) is a novel and still interesting concept.

Miscellaneous: After/before visiting the Louvre or exploring, stop by ‘Angelina Cafe’ for the best Hot chocolate in Paris, arguably the world. No hype or kidding, it is that good! You must book ahead (for dine-in and its iconic tea room) or be prepared to queue. If time-pressed ( and my preference tbh) just take the takeaway!
 
QuandoDio said:
Hmmm, Alain Passard and his acolytes do magical things with vegetables but at the end of the day, it is vegetables. Some animal protein is welcome.

The honest truth is there is a surfeit of excellent restaurants in Paris and a few duds.

For breakfast/ lunch,
  • Highly recommend Mokonuts (need reservation weeks in advance) for a cosy but worldly and authentically French place, owned. It is only open for Breakfast and Lunch (they close for dinner, radical idea) and often packed. Outstanding food and a season menu that rotates daily. Eat the cookies for dessert (seriously).

For lunch/ dins

  • La Pie Noir - A hidden gem in Paris, filled with locals. You can walk in during lunch. Everything on the menu was great but the pistachio creme brulee was truly otherworldly. The service was exceptional (a rarity in Paris)

For a fancy dinner experience (there are plenty and you can't go wrong ) but I am partial to Yam'tcha. Intimate. Excellent food and the teas to go with food (instead of pushing wine, though that is available) is a novel and still interesting concept.

Miscellaneous: After/before visiting the Louvre or exploring, stop by ‘Angelina Cafe’ for the best Hot chocolate in Paris, arguably the world. No hype or kidding, it is that good! You must book ahead (for dine-in and its iconic tea room) or be prepared to queue. If time-pressed ( and my preference tbh) just take the takeaway!
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You have to book ahead to get the hot chocolate (to go?) or just to sit and schmooze at the cafe?
 
QuandoDio said:
Hmmm, Alain Passard and his acolytes do magical things with vegetables but at the end of the day, it is vegetables. Some animal protein is welcome.
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I don’t know - you can have animal protein anywhere, any other time, no? That’s what makes L’arpege so special!

There are plenty of places that celebrate animal protein (I’d go to the Basque country or Japan for that probably), but so few that can create an experience like Passard does using vegetables only.
 
No, you book to sit down and have tea/ macarons / hot choc and other pastries du jour.

However, Angelina also runs a patisserie stall adjacent to the tea rooms where you can get most of what is served in their tea rooms and fancy china but in a bag and takeaway cups to go where there is less of a queue.

If you have time and book their tea rooms in advance, no queue. If you don't, they have walk-ins and you queue for ages. Personally, I hate queuing if I can help it. If pressed for time and you don't want to spend an hour or more sipping and people watching, go the stall and grab stuff to go.
belinmad said:
I don’t know - you can have animal protein anywhere, any other time, no? That’s what makes L’arpege so special!

There are plenty of places that celebrate animal protein (I’d go to the Basque country or Japan for that probably), but so few that can create an experience like Passard does using vegetables only.
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I think you misunderstand me. I don't disagree that L'arpege is indeed heavenly (been twice) but I felt short-changed as there was no animal protein (entirely, my issue though). My then girlfriend loved it!! I recall having the tasting menu and one of the items I had was just seasonable vegetables served on crisps and it cost a pretty penny. I felt short-changed.

L'Arpege is booked months in advance anyway . So, unless he is lucky, I doubt he will get a reservation now .Besides, I heard meats, fish and seafood is back on the menu at L'Arpege.

I just prefer a more encompassing experience and I had more enjoyable experiences at Yam'Tcha.

Like I said earlier, Paris has a lot of excellent restaurants and some with exceptional value.

PS
Service is universally terrible across the board in Paris so be prepared to be patient. I found L'Arpege amongst the worst, on my visits. Maybe, it was a bad day or two.
 
Dropbear said:
If we went to throw silly money at a fancy dining experience, L’Ambroisie or Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen?
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Just don't, unless you desperately want to spend a few hundred bucks on a museum visit.
 
The maitre d from Alleno called to get some ideas for the chef to put together for us, for next week. I’m probably more excited about some of the good bistros we are going to, but the Mrs is really into having one fine dining experience in Paris.
 
PARIS

General
Navigo week pass rocked: unlimited travel on all the trains. Bring passport photos and pick up a card at the airport station. This made getting to and from the airport easy and getting around the city a breeze with the metro system and not having to mess with tickets. Google maps is awesome for navigating public transport.

The locals were super friendly and helpful. If we stopped for more than a minute in the subway to check the map, someone would stop to offer help.

Service was good everywhere, no one asked for or expected a tip. Some salespeople didn’t smile or act as obsequious as Americans would, but were not rude or unhelpful either.

I gave my kids a lesson in safety, awareness to avoid scams and pickpockets. My wife didn’t listen as she thought of herself as a seasoned traveler - and had some cash expertly removed from her purse.

Shopping
We didn’t do much shopping, except a few incidental cruises through boutiques and gift shops. Picked up a Porchet handbag for a friend and got a few more as gifts. Cosmetics and skincare are excellent, natural and cheap - Claudelle, Nuxe and Embryolisse are good brands the locals love. 313 is a popular retinol type cream that’s available OTC at a fifth the price you pay in the US.

Food
Bread, butter, milk, cheese taste amazing here.
Alleno was fun. 5-6 hour dinner with a dozen courses. Worth it if you want to have a once in a lifetime fine dining experience, but not somewhere I’d ever go back to.
The Blue Train is a spectacular restaurant for the decor. The food was also amazing, and the feel a lot less stuffy.
We did a Seine River dinner cruise the first night - the food and wine blew me away. Highly recommended
Angelina’s has a spot inside the Versailles palace without long waits to get in. Kids said it was the best hot chocolate of their lives.
Soufles and French bistros were awesome, but some of the best meals were at the local bakery - those 5 Euro subs were incredible

Activities
Walking around Montmartre was lovely. I found Camus’ old apartment building and we just enjoyed walking the little streets and sipping mulled wine.
We did a macaroon cooking class that was lots of fun. Great teacher and very family friendly. They also do croissant classes and one where you all make lunch and then eat it there with a few bottles of wine.
Sitting in cafes and people watching is a national pastime for good reason!

Sites
Do the one hour Louvre tour (book in advance) - they take you to all the highlights and get you closer to the Mona Lisa. After that, you can decide what you want to go back to linger on.
Versailles was a good day trip. We also did a short tour here, which was just meh.
Eiffel Tower has spectacular views (book early) and is pretty lit up at night. Touristy but still worth seeing up close
Sainte Chapelle was worth a visit, but after that we didn’t want to go into any more churches or cathedrals
 
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belinmad said:
It is!
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Another one. Although she is making 25.2K EUR per month (I assume net) and paying 750 EUR per month for rent. For the south and someone who barely knows Italian I read that is like winning the jackpot in terms of salary.
 
Looking for a spring break beach destination for the family for 4-5 nights that isn’t stupid expensive. One kid is over cultural experiences, museums and fast pace vacations right now, and wants to chill by a pool and beach.

I was thinking Mexican inclusive resort, but Mrs Dropbear has found a few affordable airbnb’s in Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood Beach, Florida. Grand Potentate Grand Potentate is that a terrible idea? College binge drinkers gone wild?
 
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Dropbear said:
Looking for a spring break beach destination for the family for 4-5 nights that isn’t stupid expensive. One kid is over cultural experiences, museums and fast pace vacations right now, and wants to chill by a pool and beach.

I was thinking Mexican inclusive resort, but Mrs Dropbear has found a few affordable airbnb’s in Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood Beach, Florida. Grand Potentate Grand Potentate is that a terrible idea? College binge drinkers gone wild?
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Skip FL! Ever been to Akumal and surroundings? You’ll love it
 
Dropbear said:
Looking for a spring break beach destination for the family for 4-5 nights that isn’t stupid expensive. One kid is over cultural experiences, museums and fast pace vacations right now, and wants to chill by a pool and beach.

I was thinking Mexican inclusive resort, but Mrs Dropbear has found a few affordable airbnb’s in Fort Lauderdale/ Hollywood Beach, Florida. Grand Potentate Grand Potentate is that a terrible idea? College binge drinkers gone wild?
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ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC.

Cancun is busy as well, sure, but at least it’s an experience. Much nicer beaches as well. I can give you recs on things to do over there if you want. You can also check out Tulum and Playa del Carmen.
 
belinmad said:
Skip FL! Ever been to Akumal and surroundings? You’ll love it
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Akumal and Tulum sound cool and at least it’s a bit more of a cultural experience, but wife’s been pricing it out and says that will cost about twice as much :/
 
Dropbear said:
Akumal and Tulum sound cool and at least it’s a bit more of a cultural experience, but wife’s been pricing it out and says that will cost about twice as much :/
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It shouldn't but I'm not up to date on current pricing. You could always stay in Playa del Carmen and take the bus down. IIRC its only about an hour away. If you're hunting deals Cancun is definitely going to have more of them.
 
Grand Potentate said:
It shouldn't but I'm not up to date on current pricing. You could always stay in Playa del Carmen and take the bus down. IIRC its only about an hour away. If you're hunting deals Cancun is definitely going to have more of them.
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Thanks! I’ll look at prices this evening. I know we have left it late to plan to go to a beach on a budget for spring break
 
Dropbear said:
Thanks! I’ll look at prices this evening. I know we have left it late to plan to go to a beach on a budget for spring break
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often times you can find very good deals on last minute reservations. i'd also double check the weather. i can tell you that there aren't exactly a ton of happy people on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale at the moment since its 50 fucking degrees.
 
Issue is air travel costs are twice as much, but I agree Mexico sounds a whole lot more interesting than Miami. Will look into it tonight
 
Dropbear said:
Akumal and Tulum sound cool and at least it’s a bit more of a cultural experience, but wife’s been pricing it out and says that will cost about twice as much :/
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Should have skipped Paris! If you go to Akumal, rent a house close to Yal Kul, so in the area between Yal Kul and Bahia Media Luna. I think it is by far the nicest area to live there.
 
Dropbear said:
Issue is air travel costs are twice as much, but I agree Mexico sounds a whole lot more interesting than Miami. Will look into it tonight
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not necessarily. often airlines will sell unbooked seats for cheaper. you can look at Spirit to go to Cancun. its only a 2 hour flight I'm sure you guys can grin and bear it.
 
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