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

I'd fly on Cathay just to fly on Cathay.


Great airline. I flew to Bangkok this past April free with their points.

Funny...when I went in Jan, I checked my flight status a few days before leaving NYC and they had changed my Bangkok > HK return flight without really notifying me. Ok. No biggie(not the rapper.) So I call just to say that just changing was fucked up. They apologize and send me a free upgrade certificate for my next flight(I could not use it on the upcoming flight as they sent it/mailed it from HK.)

I receive the cert. I then have enough points for a free trip back in April. I book. Then I remember the certificate. It CLEARLY states on the back that it can't be used when in conjunction with a flight booked with points. Ok. I figure WTF.

I get to Newark(I believe) and figure I would try it at both EWR and returning from HK(I flew EWR > HK. BK.) I check in. Give the guy the cert. He says..."wow, haven't seen one of these in a while." He says that he needs to speak to his mgr. He comes back. My points already had me flying premium economy. I was upgraded to biz/first. Great time flying 15 hours on Cathay from EWR to HK > BK.

The coupon didn't apply coming home but I still flew premium economy.
 
My points already had me flying premium economy. I was upgraded to biz/first. Great time flying 15 hours on Cathay from EWR to HK > BK.

Winning.


I cashed in points for a pair of F tix for my wife and I to HKG two years ago on Cathay. I honestly could have just hung out on the plane for the week.
 
I used to be upgraded from economy to business 40-50% of the time when I was flying by myself. I usually flew with the same airline and I flew five or six times a year, with two or three of those flights being international. Sometimes I'd politely ask for an upgrade, at other times I'd just be issued with a business-class boarding pass when I checked in, which was always a very pleasant surprise.

Nowadays, I usually fly with family, and never get upgraded. That's unfortunate, but it makes sense, as it's much harder to upgrade four people in one group than it is to upgrade one person.

Flying back from Japan on one occasion, I noticed a group of sumo wrestlers in the check-in queue behind me. I wasn't upgraded when I checked in but was given an exit row seat, with more legroom.

When I got to the departure lounge, I heard my name being paged so I walked over the desk and was handed a business class boarding pass, and the airline employee explained to me that they had to bump me up to business class as they needed to put a sumo wrestler in my exit row seat.
 
Bangkok review:

-I have been going since 2009. I only stay at the Dream Hotel on Soi 15/Sukhumvit. Great hotel. 2 buildings right across the street from each other. 1 houses the rooftop pool(where I stay but hardly utilize) and the other houses the restaurant. Great breakfast buffet. Free wifi with pretty good reception for Bangkok. There is also a PC(computer) in the lobby of one of the buildings. Great staff. Friendly. They remember me each time I return. Sukhumvit is busy! But the Dream is just off of Sukhumvit so a lot quieter, but still a short walk to the strip.

I know someone who actually owns a hotel in BK(One8) and he has asked me to stay there. I still stay and pay for my stay at the Dream. I like to be comfortable and familiar.

-Food. What can you say! Some of the best food I have ever eaten. Street stalls are the best. Just go where you see local Thais eating. Some of my favorite foods are the fresh seafood/morning glory(youtube it)/etc. Amazing fresh veggies/fruit/etc. I often youtube Bangkok vids just to see/remember my trips. The malls(and Bangkok has loads) also have good food courts: MBK/Terminal 21/etc.

-Weather: It's hot. And humid. There are 3 seasons in Thailand...hot...hotter...and hottest! For my flight, I usually wear jeans/loafers/sweater/linen safari jacket. That is basically the only time that I am in "long pants" outside of visiting the temples. Shorts/tees/polo shirts/sneakers or flip flops/straw hat. That is literally all you need. I do take a pair of linen pants or linen jeans solely for the temples or rooftop bars. I do know to respect the Thai "values" and don't walk around like I see some people-shirtless/etc.

I Kopped a straw hat at the weekend market, JJ aka Chatuchuk a few years ago. I take that with me on every trip. Great $5 investment.

-Airline: I ONLY fly Cathay. Great service. Food is very good. Inflight entertainment is pretty current. You can see what movies are playing a month or so prior to your flight. Free booze. I usually drink 10-15 beers on the longhaul portion(NY > HK or HK >NY.) Their Marco Polo club is great. I was not a member during my first trip as I didn't know if I would ever go back. I signed up before my 2nd trip. Great perks. Great point spend ability.

You can buy a travel adapter at someplace like Staples and use your own headphones on their entertainment systems.
Ex. http://www.staples.com/GE-Headphones-Adapter-Kit/product_209037

I kopped that after my 2nd trip to Thailand.

I always fly thru HK. HK is an amazing airport. It has everything. Free wi-fi. Shops. Food. Etc. Having a layover of several hours is a good thing. The airport also has numerous stations where you can access the internet for free on their PC's.

-Nightlife: Bangkok has it all. Bars. Clubs. Markets. Outdoor venues(Asiatique/etc.) It is a great time. I have only gone during the months of Jan-May. Imagine traveling in Feb when it is 20 degrees here in NYC and 95 in Bangkok. 85 at night.

Bangkok has a reputation of being raunchy. It can be. But if that is not your thing, it doesn't have to be.
2 of the main "raunchy" locations are Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza(aka Soi Nana aka Soi 4.) I have been to both. On Soi 4, you can sit at the Golden Bar(next to the Nana Hotel) and just people watch. The girls are great in that bar. They will try to sit with you but you can blow them off. The bar is DIRECTLY across from Nana Plaza so you can take it all in w/o going inside. "Big Mama" is one of the bartenders at the Golden Bar. Good peeps.

Nana Plaza is a multiple level complex with bars. Soi Cowboy is a strip with bars.
(Soi is basically a side street.)
If you are in a bar and want to "hang" with one of the girls working there, you have to pay a "bar fine." You pay that to the bar(for her time) and the girl is basically yours. You still have to work out a deal with the girl for her time.

There are also loads of night markets around Bangkok. Asiatique is down by the river that is also very nice.

-People/rules: Never had an issue. The Thais are friendly/honest/etc. I think the people who have issues in Thailand/Bangkok are idiots. Drunks. Belligerent. etc.
Some rules: don't speak of or insult the royal family. Don't get into an argument with a Thai no matter how much of a MMA fighter you think you are. You will often find yourself fighting multiple Thais with machetes/etc. If you drop their currency(bills) on the floor, don't use your foot to step on it. The Thai royal family is on the bill and it will seem like an insult. Thai taxis are CHEAP. No matter what, have then use the meter. You may think that a flat rate is a great price....the meter will be cheaper.

Airport: I will speak of the main airport: Suvarnabhumi(had to Google that.)
You deplane and go through immigration. Simple. US citizens get a 30 day visa waiver. You just fill out a form on the plane and present it at immigration. Customs is also no biggie. Then you pick up your bags and head to the LOWER lever and follow the signs for taxis(if that is how you roll....as it is how I roll.) Get on the queue and you are set. I have never waited more than 5 minutes.

A taxi from the airport to central Bangkok is appr 400 Baht(just under $13 USD.)

Temples/floating market/reclining Buddha/exploring the city/ride on the Chao Phraya River/day trip to a beach/weekend market are all things that I would recommend.

Take a knapsack with you and load it up with a big bottle of water and bandana as the heat is no joke. The 2 rail systems: MRT and BTS are inexpensive and efficient. It;s a tiered
system: further you go, the more you pay. But it is still rather inexpensive.

The weekend market...what can I say. The biggest in Asia. Very easy to get to by MRT/BTS. You can buy everything there. But outside that, you MUST stop at Viva 8(in section 8.) It's a cool bar/lounge right in the market with live DJ's playing the best music. Great people watching spot. You can't miss it. There is a guy out front making the biggest vat of paella:





I can talk about Bangkok all day. I can visit every year. As stated, I have been 3 times just this year.
The smell. The heat. The people. The food. The city. It is my 2nd favorite place in the world outside of NYC!

To add........On Soi 4 off Sukhumvit is the Swan Bar. It's a bar/restaurant. Pretty good food/pool hall inside and steps away from Nana Plaza. The girls there are great. Friendly and not looking to game you...unless you look like you can be gamed.

Fish is really good. Morning glory is good. Cold brews. Probably one of my favorite restaurants in Bangkok. It's probably because it was one of the first restaurants that I stumbled on during my first trip.


Another cool spot for tourists and expats: Cheap Charlies Bar on Soi 11. Cool outdoor(literally) bar. The back wall has loads of biz cards from all around the World(mine is there.) Just out front, there is a mobile DJ/bar that is also cool. The entire area is home to loads of Indian restaurants.

If you are going, check this out:
http://migrationology.com

Great food selections that I have personally gone to.


 
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great post

I should have been in Bangkok last January. First class on Thai air. Still sad about it.
 
I may do an Amsterdam/Madrid/London/Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico/Montreal/New Orleans/etc review.
 
I may do an Amsterdam/Madrid/London/Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico/Montreal/New Orleans/etc review.
Most excellent.

Madrid is a fucking gem. Way too obscure relative to its merits. Which is ok with me.
 
Most excellent.

Madrid is a fucking gem. Way too obscure relative to its merits. Which is ok with me.

-Agree. Loved Madrid. A friend at work told me to take a tour of Real Madrid/Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. I was not sure but am so glad I did. It was amazing.

-Amsterdam kicks ass. Another city that has that "raunchy" rep but it does't have to be. Great museums/site-seeing/etc. Though I do like going to La Vie En Proost which is a strip club off of Dam Square.

-Montreal is great for me living in NYC. I can be there door to door in 4 hours(cab/immigration/etc) and it feels as if I am in a European city.
 
-Agree. Loved Madrid. A friend at work told me to take a tour of Real Madrid/Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. I was not sure but am so glad I did. It was amazing.

-Amsterdam kicks ass. Another city that has that "raunchy" rep but it does't have to be. Great museums/site-seeing/etc. Though I do like going to La Vie En Proost which is a strip club off of Dam Square.

-Montreal is great for me living in NYC. I can be there door to door in 4 hours(cab/immigration/etc) and it feels as if I am in a European city.

Amsterdam is definitely fun. If you are going to the low countries I would actually say hit Bruges. I must be getting old. Goddamit
 
great post

I should have been in Bangkok last January. First class on Thai air. Still sad about it.


Bro...Go to Bangkok. 6 days is cool. 11 is great.
You will not regret it. Cathay is having sales RIGHT NOW. Hotels are cheap. The USD goes far. You can have a great dinner/3 beers for $15 USD. You can eat street food for pretty much nada and it will be great......
 
Bro...Go to Bangkok. 6 days is cool. 11 is great.
You will not regret it. Cathay is having sales RIGHT NOW. Hotels are cheap. The USD goes far. You can have a great dinner/3 beers for $15 USD. You can eat street food for pretty much nada and it will be great......
Oh, I didn't say I wasn't going to go. IM DEFINITELY GOING. I just didn't make my trip as planned.
 
Amsterdam is definitely fun. If you are going to the low countries I would actually say hit Bruges. I must be getting old. Goddamit


Nah. I stick to Amsterdam. Sorta review(disclaimer-my visits have been for 4 days and the last one was in 2010.)

-Hotel: I have always stayed at the NH Krasnapolsky right in the heart of Dam Square. I have been 3 times(last time in 2010) and have fallen in love with the city. Literally right outside is the National Monument where you will find many people just hanging out/taking photos/etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Monument_(Amsterdam)

As I said, i have only been 3 times but loved each and every visit.
NH Kras is an old school hotel. I can't remember anything special about it...but the location kicks ass.

-Airline: I have flown Continental and KLM(twice.) Honestly, for an appr 7 hour flight, it's not biggie for me(not the rapper.) Both KLM and Continental are cool with respect to food and seatback entertainment. US citizens need no visa. Just get on the plane and you are AOK.

-Area to stay.....as stated, I love Dam Square. Yes, that is sorta like staying in Times Square in NYC, but that is fine for me. Yes the local shops are a little more pricey, but there is a shop around the corner that sells the huge Heineken beers and that is AOK by me.

-Daytime: Heineken Museum/Van Gogh Museum/wandering around/walking along the canals/shopping/etc. I have only gone during Sept...either Labor Day or the week after labor Day. Amazing weather. Shorts. Light jacket at night.

-Bikes....Watch da fuck out! EVERYONE rides bikes. Women. Kids. Men. I mean everyone. You can be standing at a street corner and a bike can almost knock you over. Be wary.

-Women....The upside of everyone riding bikes is that the women look great. They are so fit as they have been riding bikes since they were kids. Dutch women are beautiful!

403j1rM.jpg

-Photo ops: Cameras are a must. Canals. Buildings. Women. Etc. It is a photographers dream.

-Food....Ok. Amsterdam is not a foodie spot. One of the places that I recommend is Albertos Carreta Uruguayaanse Steakhouse. I dig this place. Good steaks and some good sauces on the side.
This is where I WANT to go next time:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/café-loetje-amsterdam-2

I found out about ^ after my last visit.

-Nightlife: Disclaimer...I don't smoke. Never have. But I went with my cuz once and he loved it. You can buy a cigar and chill in a coffee shop or just partake if that is your thing. The other cool thing(IMO) is that you can walk around with a beer in a paper bag without any issues(same in Bangkok.)

Prior to visiting Bangkok, Amsterdam was my 2nd favorite city in the World.
 
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Amsterdam:
My cuz(same dude) went with me in 2006(I believe.) He loved it as much as I(my 2nd time.)
Dude banged several chicks in the RLD(red light district.) Of course he had to pay, but he wanted to. We went to that strip club above and he fell for one of the bartenders. She was blowing him at some bar around the corner after she was done with her shift(appr 4am.) No charge.

He "bought" me a fuck with some Italian chick in the RLD. I went into the room. We agreed on what was up. She got a towel, soaked it in some warm water, washed off my junk and then preceded to blow and fuck me. Nice night in Amsterdam. Hot chick.
 
I've got to try this "hot towel" cock washing thing. Sounds luxurious.


She literally sat me down in the room right in the RLD. We agreed on a "suck and a fuck" and she went to get the towel. She asked me to drop my pants and washed me up. Kinda refreshing.

"Suck and a fuck" isn't my thing. Back in 2006, if you walked around the RLD, the chicks would be in the window saying "X Euro for a suck and fuck." It was/is out in the pen as it is regulated. You just pick the girl you want and go inside.
 
She literally sat me down in the room right in the RLD. We agreed on a "suck and a fuck" and she went to get the towel. She asked me to drop my pants and washed me up. Kinda refreshing.

"Suck and a fuck" isn't my thing. Back in 2006, if you walked around the RLD, the chicks would be in the window saying "X Euro for a suck and fuck." It was/is out in the pen as it is regulated. You just pick the girl you want and go inside.
Did you wrap it up? I can't understand what the washing is for if you've got on a jimmy hat.

If suck and fuck isn't for you, what were you looking for? You really want to go down on a hooker who's working?
 
Did you wrap it up? I can't understand what the washing is for if you've got on a jimmy hat.

If suck and fuck isn't for you, what were you looking for? You really want to go down on a hooker who's working?


-When I say "suck and a fuck" isn't/wasn't my thing, I mean this trip with my cuz was my 2nd to Amsterdam. I didn't "partake" during my first trip which was solo. So I was not really looking for that.
-Of course I used a jimmy. She washed me as I believe as she didn't want smelly balls around her face while sucking.
 
-When I say "suck and a fuck" isn't/wasn't my thing, I mean this trip with my cuz was my 2nd to Amsterdam. I didn't "partake" during my first trip which was solo. So I was not really looking for that.
-Of course I used a jimmy. She washed me as I believe as she didn't want smelly balls around her face while sucking.
Had me worried there for a second
 
Travel Tips:
-Aisle seats.
-Frequent flyer programs.
-Dress appropriately. This doesn't meant a suit. When I travel for pleasure, I wear jeans/loafers/etc and often get upgraded.
-Be nice to airline staff.
-Don't joke with security personnel.
-Get to the airport early vs rushing and having to deal with security/immigration/etc. Airport bars are your friend.
-Rock out with your own headphones.
-Personal travel...turn OFF the cell/etc. When I travel outside the US, I turn off my phone when I board the plane. I turn it back on when I arrive back in NY/NJ. I can communicate every now and then via e-mail. But my vacation is just that...a vacation.
 
Anyone have any other travel city recs?

-I am actually interested undoing the Trans Siberian railway for the experience. I just need to convince one of my homegirls to come with me.......which is doubtful.

-Vegas. No because of Vegas. I am a HUGE boxing fan and have never been there. I want to go during a big fight weekend.

-Germany. Might like to go during Oktoberfest for the experience.

-SE Asia...everywhere that I have not been.

-Iceland....
 
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I can give you Central America, Jamaica, and Cuba.

Will go with you to any of the above
 
I have a Cuba travel book on my shelf. A girl that I worked with said that she went a few years ago and it was rather easy. I believe they flew to Mexico and the to Cuba. That is also a place that I want to go as an amateur photographer to see what it like now, That is on my list. No clue how I missed that.

What gets me now is being spoiled with going to Thailand. Go to Cuba/Amsterdam/etc for 5 days or go to Thailand/SE Asia for 12. No brainer for me. Thailand/SE Asia each and every time.
 
Ok, but seriously if you are going to Africa and have the chance check out the gorillas in congo. Your tourism dollars are one of the largest sources of support for their conservation efforts and it is a great place to check out. Essaouira is beautiful though.
Why couldn't that have been your original post?
 

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