Trip Reports

[Shrmdougluvr]

Here's a quick report on Aruba (just got back early early this morning):

• We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Resort.
• Its pretty much is as everyone says.
• Convection oven like weather, which I like (though it did briefly rain twice).
• Did an Island Jeep tour (ABC), some snorkling (Mango Halto, Baby Beach, Arashi Beach), a sunset cruise (Jolly Pirates), offshore fishing (Driftwood), and a visit to the Butterfly Farm.
• Everything was pricey, but we mostly stayed in the Palm Beach area, which is a tourist mecca.
• Didn't have a bad meal.
• I was surprised by how clean things were.
• I can't recall an Aruban who wasnt genuinely friendly. Many of the locals seemed as curious about us as we were of them. My older boy is very sweet and my younger is very little and has a precious vibe. Adults tend to like to interact with us i think partially for that reason.
• Loved how everything was fully staffed and that staff was attentive and worked hard at getting things right. It's a marked contrast between hotels and restaurants in the States.
• I suppose the "One Happy Island" slogan works, but I don't think it perfectly fits. There is a real lack of pretentiousness (Instagrama and Tiktok models not withstanding) and a sincere appreciation for finding joy. I really liked that.
• We will return, but I doubt before my eldest finishes high school (he is a rising 7th grader).

 

[Ghost]

Never been to Vienna or Berlin before so decided to check the box and go see what's up.

I kinda felt like I would love Berlin, but be lukewarm on Vienna.

Opposite.

Anyway, overall:

Bratislava was cool af, but on the small side. 1 or 2 day place max.
Hamburg was cool and walkable, pretty chill.
Nuremberg cool, and you can do some fun side journeys to Rothenberg, Bamberg. All are pretty nice.
Prague, well, been a lot, everyone has, always cool.
Salzburg was pretty dope, but small like Bratislava. Plenty to see though, and great walkable city. That Hallstatt place that's IG famous is pretty freaking adorable tbh and also easily accessible with a rental car.

Munich was good - great walkable city, transport super easy to pick up fast, food sucks as German food sucks - tooooo heavy. Random people seemed super friendly which is a nice vibe. Did a quick trip down South to the Disney castle (I can say the name, not gonna try to spell it)/Bavarian Alps, gorgeous. Should have spent more time down there. Oh wellz.

Germany had been doing this $9 "All You Can Ride" train deal - which seems utterly insane. Perhaps the greatest deal I've ever stumbled upon. It ended at the end of August, but they may try to bring it back in some form by taxing cars. Very interesting and worth reading a bit on if you care about, or find such things, at all interesting. Car usage went down dramatically over the 3 months, etc...

Vienna was tremendous. Loved it.
Berlin is so so. I liked it, but maybe my least favorite city in Europe I've spent time in. Night life is good, but it feels sort of oddly American in some ways. Like a sucky NYC, but with Germans everywhere. Also, traveling with some friends, city felt a bit...like racist or something. I can't quite explain how. Maybe that colored my perception a bit....People were odd. I don't know. My friend picked up on it too - and I trust him and I thought the same, as did my GF. YMMV.

**Note - Sometimes I'll refer to a place as a 1 or 2 day at most, but in some you could do more if time isn't of the essence at all.

 

[Ghost]

Oh, went to France earlier this year too:

Paris is Paris. Great time.
Lyon - I really liked it a lot. Food was as good as advertised. No complaints. Scenice enough, seemed like a lot of young people - vibrant, pretty cool imo.
Annecy - Cute. If you want a day trip or something, it's worth a day.

Did the Brittany Coast from Rouen to Vannes to Nantes and back to Paris again - would highly recommend. The coastline is great, beautiful throughout. You can stay at some amazing spots for what I would consider cheap. I don't know, couldn't recommend doing that road trip highly enough.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I hope to get to a safari one day. My B-in-L will be hiking Kilamonjaro later this year.
my wife and I, and our best friends, are on our way to JFK to fly to Rome. We will spend a week in Italy, culminating with 2 nights at an AifrBnB in Lake Como, then to Paris for a week. Looking forward to the sites, if not the heat.

Updates -
Rome 4 days
Florence 3 days
Lake Como 2 days
Paris 5 days

We sprang for guided tours of some kind almost every day, except Como, which was just a relax and chill break.

 

[Ghost]

Updates -
Rome 4 days
Florence 3 days
Lake Como 2 days
Paris 5 days

We sprang for guided tours of some kind almost every day, except Como, which was just a relax and chill break.

Dang! That first pic is nice (all the pics are nice, but that first pic is NICE!)

 

[OttoMets]

Dang! That first pic is nice (all the pics are nice, but that first pic is NICE!)

I love that view. So unassuming and then -- BAM -- you start to take it all in.

 

[DMDMD]

Time to revive this thread!

Trip this year was to Banff & Jasper national parks in the Canadian Rockies. We went 6-7 years ago, but didn’t stay in the parks themselves, and thus we were not able to see as much of the park as I wanted. This time we camped in the parks themselves.

We drove our camper van from upstate all the way there, about 36 hours worth of driving time. Which is a lot. However, its absolutely worth it, it is among the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Unfortunately, everyone else knows that too, and that’s lead to some compromises in the more popular areas.

First, we camped in the Lake Louise soft-sided camping area. This is surrounded by an electric fence to keep the bears out, which is nice. It has decent bathrooms, warm showers and free firewood! Lake Louise itself is an absolutely stunning glacial lake. It’s the most popular place in the park. We rolled into the parking lot at the lake at 7:15-7:30 AM and got one of the last 3 spots. They do have shuttles set up, so if you’re going long after sunup, just plan on the shuttle. First day there we hiked to the Lake Agnes Teahouse -> big Beehive -> plain of 6 glaciers teahouse. We grabbed some tea a the Plain of 6 glaciers before our return hike then we grabbed a couple beers in the bar at the Chateau Lake Louise. The parking lot had thinned out by the late afternoon. The area around the Chateau is a shite show, pretty much always. The hikes in the area are popular, but they thin out pretty quick.
Lake Louise looking away from the Chateau:

Lake Agnes Tea House:

View from the Bar at the Chateau (I've had worse views):

 

[DMDMD]

Second Day we went to Lake Moraine. They no longer allow private vehicles to drive up there, it is shuttle only due to the popularity. You must purchase tickets in advance. I booked a sunrise shuttle with a private company, Moraine Lake Bus Company that left at 5AM. We had tea and breakfast on the beach of the lake while we watched the sun come up. There were perhaps 20-30 other people who came on the same shuttles, which is a secluded as this place will ever be. I heard the 7am shuttles weren’t too bad yet. Sunrise was a bit disappointing due to clouds, but what can you do? We did a hike up to the larch valley (not gold yet) and up to Sentinel Pass. A really great hike with great views. Came down and spent a little time at the lake before the rain came in. You can see why the canucks put it on their money.

Tea waiting for sunrise and Moraine before the masses:

Meh sunrise, but I'll live:

For instagram:

Sentinel Pass:

 

[DMDMD]

The $20 dollar view from the rockpile:

 

[DMDMD]

After our time at Moraine, that’s when the badness happened. Our dog, Otto, suffered some seizures and lost the use of his back legs. I drove my wife out to Calgary and she flew home to be with him in his final day. RIP to a great one.

I returned the next day to rejoin my brother and we went over to Yoho National park to do a few short hikes: Laughing falls and Takakkaw Falls and subsequently emerald lake. The next day we moved up to Jasper national park, stopping to hike on the Athabasca glacier, which was really cool. The drive North out of Banff and into Jasper is called the “icefields parkway” and is widely considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. It truly deserves the moniker. The drive alone and what can be seen just from roadside stops justifies a trip to Banff even if you don’t want to walk more than ¼ mile from your car. There is truly too much to even bother writing it all down. Just go.

We camped at the Wabasso campground which is right on the Athabasca river. Unfortunate amount of beetle kill there recently, but some sections of the campground were still great. Campground had good bathrooms, no showers, however, so just took a bath in the river, which is as cold as you would expect glacial runoff to be. Hikes from there included taking the Jasper SkyTram up The Whistlers and then hiked out to Indian Ridge (not for amateurs - scary loose scree on final ascent). Next day we did Bald Hills near Maligne lake. Weather turned on us that morning, temps were low 30’s in the AM, getting into the 50’s in the evening with off and on rain and remained that way until the last day of our trip. Maligne lake was beautiful even in cruddy weather and you could do several days hiking this area by itself.

After a few days at Wabasso, we moved back into the Northern portion of Banff and stayed at Rampart Creek, which was more rustic campground with traditional drop toilets and no other facilities. Around this area we hiked Wilcox Pass in the sleet, abandoning an attempt for the summit due to wind and weather, but a beautiful alpine valley none the less. The next day we hiked down by Peyto lake, an incredible roadside glacial lake, and followed its water source as far as we could toward Peyto glacier.

We stopped in the town of Banff on our way out with a quick hike up Tunnel Mountain. The town of Banff itself has become a little silly and is mostly “sold out.” The main street is souvenir shops, high end outdoors clothing retailers and chains. There is a Chili’s on Banff Ave. Seriously?

In all, a beautiful place. Unfortunately, my wife missed much of it, so I’ll be delighted to come back. Looking at the thin silver lining to her having to fly back, my brother in I did much tougher hikes in crappier whether and then drank a ton more Molson than we otherwise would have.

Emerald Lake:

Indian Pass:

Wilcox Pass:

Wilcox Pass looking toward Columbia Icefields, some bighorn in the foreground:

 

[DMDMD]

Peyto Lake:

Town of Banff from Tunnel Mountain:

RIP Otto, chasing the ball in heaven:

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Peyto Lake:
View attachment 231114

Town of Banff from Tunnel Mountain:

View attachment 231115

RIP Otto, chasing the ball in heaven:
View attachment 231116

RIP Otto. It's too bad the two events happened at the same time. Looks like a fantastic trip.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Just got back from the Big Island. We packed in more than usual on this one. In one day we drove down one of the steepest paved and winding roads known anywhere in the US, to sea level, to the black sand beach in Waipio Valley (the valley of the kings). Then later that day drove up to the peak of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset at 13,800'.

Both of these are monitored and mandatory 4 wheel drive. You cannot access Waipio valley on your own at all (walking or driving) unless you're a local and also have 4 wheel drive. If not you can buy a ticket for a ride on a tour van. There's a water crossing at the bottom as well. The movie Waterworld was filmed here, not sure how much or anything. Shout out to my uncles LandCruiser that did all the work that day with 8 of us in it.

On the sunset photo, notice how low the clouds are beneath the mountain tops. It was around 36-38 degrees up there. Rangers check to make sure you not only have 4wheel drive, but demonstrate your 4 LOW works. On the way down at the first parking lot they measure the heat of your brakes. My cousin is one of the rangers and said the highest temp he's seen is 600 degrees. I'm thinking that must've been like the scene in Ford vs Ferrari. Ours was 100, barely touched the brakes on the way down. The lowest recorded is 80 degrees, my uncle said he's headed back to break that low record. Have to also state the obligatory, these photos don't do any of it justice.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Just got back from the Big Island. We packed in more than usual on this one. In one day we drove down one of the steepest paved and winding roads known anywhere in the US, to sea level, to the black sand beach in Waipio Valley (the valley of the kings). Then later that day drove up to the peak of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset at 13,800'.

Both of these are monitored and mandatory 4 wheel drive. You cannot access Waipio valley on your own at all (walking or driving) unless you're a local and also have 4 wheel drive. If not you can buy a ticket for a ride on a tour van. There's a water crossing at the bottom as well. The movie Waterworld was filmed here, not sure how much or anything. Shout out to my uncles LandCruiser that did all the work that day with 8 of us in it.

On the sunset photo, notice how low the clouds are beneath the mountain tops. It was around 36-38 degrees up there. Rangers check to make sure you not only have 4wheel drive, but demonstrate your 4 LOW works. On the way down at the first parking lot they measure the heat of your brakes. My cousin is one of the rangers and said the highest temp he's seen is 600 degrees. I'm thinking that must've been like the scene in Ford vs Ferrari. Ours was 100, barely touched the brakes on the way down. The lowest recorded is 80 degrees, my uncle said he's headed back to break that low record. Have to also state the obligatory, these photos don't do any of it justice.

View attachment 238262View attachment 238258
View attachment 238264

Friends of ours were there this weekend for their only daughter’s wedding. We got the invite to their ‘celebration’ party in Richmond VT in July…..

 

[ssbriefcase]

Friends of ours were there this weekend for their only daughter’s wedding. We got the invite to their ‘celebration’ party in Richmond VT in July…..

Oh wow same time then. We did see one wedding on a beach on the Kona side. We all actually watched a good bit of it as we were there watching my nephews snorkel anyways

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Oh wow same time then. We did see one wedding on a beach on the Kona side. We all actually watched a good bit of it as we were there watching my nephews snorkel anyways

These are our rich friends. It was at the Four seasons in Kona

 

[DMDMD]

Just got back from the Big Island. We packed in more than usual on this one. In one day we drove down one of the steepest paved and winding roads known anywhere in the US, to sea level, to the black sand beach in Waipio Valley (the valley of the kings). Then later that day drove up to the peak of Mauna Kea to watch the sunset at 13,800'.

Both of these are monitored and mandatory 4 wheel drive. You cannot access Waipio valley on your own at all (walking or driving) unless you're a local and also have 4 wheel drive. If not you can buy a ticket for a ride on a tour van. There's a water crossing at the bottom as well. The movie Waterworld was filmed here, not sure how much or anything. Shout out to my uncles LandCruiser that did all the work that day with 8 of us in it.

On the sunset photo, notice how low the clouds are beneath the mountain tops. It was around 36-38 degrees up there. Rangers check to make sure you not only have 4wheel drive, but demonstrate your 4 LOW works. On the way down at the first parking lot they measure the heat of your brakes. My cousin is one of the rangers and said the highest temp he's seen is 600 degrees. I'm thinking that must've been like the scene in Ford vs Ferrari. Ours was 100, barely touched the brakes on the way down. The lowest recorded is 80 degrees, my uncle said he's headed back to break that low record. Have to also state the obligatory, these photos don't do any of it justice.

View attachment 238262View attachment 238258
View attachment 238264

what a cool sunset

 

[chugg21]

Oslo - Hvar - Dubrovnik - Helsinki

Friends from Michigan decided to get married in Hvar. Made no sense and was a pain to get to but thankful they did. Flew Icelandair Saga Premium to Oslo. Very enjoyable flight. Icelandair has a gin library of 6 or 7 Icelandic gins and tried each of them at least once or twice between the trip in and out.

Oslo - Beautiful place. Offensively expensive. Knew it was one of the most expensive cities in the world but it really is absurd. The 30 min train into the city was somewhere around 90 Euro round-trip for the 2 of us. Uber/Taxi is closer to 80 each way. The basic bottom of the barrel pilsner runs 11 euros out anywhere. Anything better is more obviously. We got there on Sat evening and no alcohol is allowed to be sold outside of restaurants on Sat after 6 and all day Sunday so that was fun. Nothing better than $30 rounds for 2 days. Stayed smack dab downtown at the hotel in the old Central Station. Typical tiny European room but was fine for the 2 of us with only 2 nights to explore so we were hardly in the room. The Opera House is beautiful and you can walk up onto the roof for the views of the city and harbor. Munch Museum is next door as well. Took a harbor cruise that was alright but nothing special. Coolest thing we saw was walking around the harbor and ran into what is essentially a "beach". They have built an area over the sea where people were laying out in bathing suits to tan. There are areas to jump off of 5 foot or so platforms. A semi-enclosed area with ropes creating swimming lanes. It's really kind of crazy to see but there were a lot of people enjoying it. Overall, not really interested in going back.

Hvar - Flew into Split, took a 30 min Uber to the ferry docks and then an hour ferry over to the island. It's pretty spectacular to pull up to. Shared an Airbnb with another couple. The view was ridiculous to wake up to...

Some great restaurants all over. It's similar to a lot of cities where you have to go up and down tons of stairs and through alleyways to find things but it's worthwhile. The small Hvar Brewing Company surprised me a lot, everything I tried was above average. The wedding was up on top of the fortress and there were 25mph winds with 40mph gusts. That was an ordeal but everyone got through it. I'd go back.

Dubrovnik - Day after the wedding we hopped onto a ferry for a 3.5 hour ride. Dubrovnik was on my bucket list for the majority of my youth but once Game of Thrones came out, it fell off because of overcrowding. Experienced both sides of it in our one night there. Unbelievably beautiful. If you go up onto the fortress and look over the city, it's one of the most incredible things you'll ever get to see. Being down in Old Town during the day though is fairly aggravating. I do not enjoy being constantly surrounded by people and having to avoid 500 people to walk 100 yards. Had a great dinner at an Italian place where the people we were sitting next to ended up also being from the DC area with the girl being an A&M grad like my wife so that was fairly bizarre. If we ended up back in Hvar you have to come from Split or Dubrovnik so would be perfectly fine spending a day or 2 here again but wouldn't have any interest in taking a week vacation due to the overcrowding.

Helsinki - At this point it had been like 9 days and I was at the point where I wanted to be done traveling and be home. Boy was that wrong. Flew from Dubrovnik into Helsinki and was immediately intrigued by the Airport. It was ultra clean and the interior design is modern and my wife made a statement along the lines of it being so nice it would be somewhere she'd want to visit to go shopping. Took the train into the city, took somewhere around 40 mins. Along the way there were just tons of parks and green spaces, people riding bikes and walking all over. Everything downtown is nice and ultra clean. Only had 2 nights and wish we had more. We walked around everything downtown fairly easily. It was around 65-70 out the whole time and tons of locals were having picnics and drinks in the parks together. Every interaction was pleasant or better. We tried some of the local must try foods like Muikku and it was alright despite it being something I would generally avoid at all costs. Tried the reindeer meatballs as well and those were good. We actually had 2 dinners that make little sense as to why they were so good. A Neapolitan style pizza that was as good as most of the ones we've had in Italy and then hand pulled noodles at a place where you watch the chef make each bowl of noodles. My wife is still talking about them and sent multiple texts about finding a place similar near home. On the last day we had a reservation at Loyly and what an experience that is. The Finns LOVE saunas. We were told they have somewhere around 3 million in the country which is more than they have automobiles. Loyly is downtown on the water and is a Sauna/Restaurant. We had a 2 hour reservation and it was A+. There are 4 saunas and they are about 50 feet from the Baltic. So you go do a 15 min session and then can come out and drop down into the Sea to shock yourself. It's brutal but kind of awesome at the same time. One of the saunas must be for pros because it was so hot that it felt like it was singeing my nostrils. Ditched out of that one after about 3 minutes. Was sad to have to leave. Wish we had another few days there. We both agreed it is in the very top tier of places we've ever been and want to go back sometime. My favorite cities prior were likely some combination of Mexico City, Prague and Budapest. I think Helsinki is now right in the mix.

 

[TexanMark]

You have to be a good friend to spend thousands on a destination wedding.

 

[cusefan88]

You have to be a good friend to spend thousands on a destination wedding.

The whole thing has gotten out of control. The ladies have expensive bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and if they're a bridesmaid and expensive dress to rent/buy. It's ridiculous at times.