msj Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Sounds good but why not Venice and Malta before they both sink into the sea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Rome is another one of my have to go places. So far I've only crossed Athens off of that list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Then Rome/Malta it is! Malta is a short flight and only about $200 round trip from Rome so why not add it on as an extra couple of days or instead of Venice? Ok, I have not been yet but my research indicates that it should be sort of like Rhodos on Rhodes in Greece which is awesome. You are already in that part of the world so why not take advantage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 I'll be back to that part of the world though - many times hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Squid Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 4 hours ago, Smallc said: How does everyone feel about Rome and Venice (3 days in each) in May? I'm thinking about that right now. I had to pick something this year, lol. Sounds amazing! Don't wear revealing shorts to the Vatican.... my friend did and they didn't let her in..... and they weren't even that bad.... haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted November 30, 2016 Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Actually, men have to wear pants, period. And shoulders have to be covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted November 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2016 Didn't realize they were that conservative. In Cambodia I am expecting to be able to wear shorts (to my knees) and open toed birks to go through various temples at Angkor Wat. But I won't be able to hold hands with the wife nor kiss her in public so there is a price to pay.... Man I hate conservatism... which is why I travel, so I can see what a crock of poop it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Is it wrong if I buy a trip before I even go on my next one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted December 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 No, that way when you do go it feels like it's free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 (edited) . Edited December 3, 2016 by Smallc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 13 minutes ago, msj said: No, that way when you do go it feels like it's free. Because Hong Kong is on sale (hotels and United Airlines flights). We're talking sub 1000 per person for a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Unfortunately fiancees get to decide things. She's scared to go there so.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted December 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 What a weird phobia. It's a big city. Most likely it smells bad, has bad traffic, and is over populated. You could keep it safe and do what Anthony Bourdian did: http://www.travelchannel.com/shows/the-layover/travel-guides/48-hours-in-hong-kong-travel-guide Or show her his No Reservations episode: https://vimeo.com/73101635 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 There's nothing scary about it. Oh well, something else will come on sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted December 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 Getting lost is one fear I could understand in HK. So grab some of the hotel business cards and be willing to use cabs to get back to the hotel. A few bucks but worth it. As for food: thats what the dukoral is for. I take it every year now. It's my "pond water" to prevent cholera and intestinal diseases. But whatever, I'm off to Vietnam/Cambodia next week and will be bringing 21 days of anti-malaria pills and some antibiotics in case of the runs. For some reason I enjoy spending hundreds of dollars on visas and medicines each year for my vacation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 She'd be fine, and it wouldn't near break me, but I have a few things to pay for in the next month that make it so I shouldn't. I'm sure something will come up. Side note - every major city in the world is booking up towards the end of may. I don't really understand it, as they don't usually book much this far ahead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 3, 2016 Report Share Posted December 3, 2016 But you only live once, right - so I booked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted December 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 Excellent! You only live once. You are not going to wish you worked more on your deathbed. But don't forget to take some business cards from the hotel lobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 (edited) Definitely, since we're staying in a tiny 10 room guest house (something between a hostel and a hotel). It worked out to 940 per person - less than the flight on it's own. I spent $183 pp to cut off an overnight stop at NRT and shorten the total travel time by 13 hours (that was well worth it, IMO) leaving only one stop of just under 3 hours in ORD. I could have spent another $164 pp to get rid of the stop in SFO and shorten the travel time by 2 hours on the way back, but I didn't find two hours to be worth it. The return flight has ample time (almost 5 hours) to clear customs and change terminals in SFO and an ample 2 hours in DEN to connect to WPG. I would have preferred Air Canada through Vancouver to shorten the trip even more, but that was another $400. The sale United was having is what made this all possible. The sale that Expedia was having even made it more so. I saved $800 in total costs. I didn't foresee another opportunity like that any time soon. Edited December 4, 2016 by Smallc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 1 hour ago, Smallc said: Definitely, since we're staying in a tiny 10 room guest house (something between a hostel and a hotel). It worked out to 940 per person - less than the flight on it's own. I spent $183 pp to cut off an overnight stop at NRT and shorten the total travel time by 13 hours (that was well worth it, IMO) leaving only one stop of just under 3 hours in ORD. I could have spent another $164 pp to get rid of the stop in SFO and shorten the travel time by 2 hours on the way back, but I didn't find two hours to be worth it. The return flight has ample time (almost 5 hours) to clear customs and change terminals in SFO and an ample 2 hours in DEN to connect to WPG. I would have preferred Air Canada through Vancouver to shorten the trip even more, but that was another $400. The sale United was having is what made this all possible. The sale that Expedia was having even made it more so. I saved $800 in total costs. I didn't foresee another opportunity like that any time soon. Yeah, you have to jump on deals like that when you get them. I've done the "found an unbelievable price, booked it, then tried to get the time off" game a few times. Never regretted it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 Well, I'm the boss (my fiancees evening job is never a problem to get time off of), so it's never a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 On September 30, 2016 at 3:33 PM, -TSS- said: Freedom will spoil Cuba. Much to the disappointment of 50's cars fanatics the Cunans may even start having modern cars on their roads. I missed this when you first posted it. This is a common misconception. There are LOTS of modern cars in Cuba. American 1950's autos are a small minority of the traffic on the road. Russian and Chinese vehicles outnumber them by far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 Just now, Smallc said: Well, I'm the boss (my fiancees evening job is never a problem to get time off of), so it's never a problem. Nice to be in the drivers' seat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallc Posted December 4, 2016 Report Share Posted December 4, 2016 Yeah, as long as my parents and sister (my partners) have a mostly clear calendar, it's golden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msj Posted December 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2016 A few more sleeps before the long flight to Hong Kong and then Saigon/Ho Chi Min. Then the river cruise begins. We finish in Siem Reap and will stay there for a couple of days for the land tour to arrive (so we will miss Battambang). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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