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OT: Vacations

A buddy of mine just went on "vacation" to New York, which is probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You get to look at a bunch of concrete but in a different location. The same applies to basically any destination unless you are staying at a resort or something where the standard of living is higher. Even then, it is exorbitantly expensive for a temporary thrill that will only enhance depressive feelings when returning back to the mundane chore that is day-to-day existence. That is without even factoring in the nightmarish logistics of planning, packing, and rotting in either an airport or a car for several hours. If I want to see different trees or buildings or something I would rather skip the hassle and look on Google images instead. As for trying different food, don't make me laugh. Corporate fast casual chains that are found everywhere have 99% of my needs covered already. Thanks.
 
G-Dub said:
A buddy of mine just went on "vacation" to New York, which is probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You get to look at a bunch of concrete but in a different location. The same applies to basically any destination unless you are staying at a resort or something where the standard of living is higher. Even then, it is exorbitantly expensive for a temporary thrill that will only enhance depressive feelings when returning back to the mundane chore that is day-to-day existence. That is without even factoring in the nightmarish logistics of planning, packing, and rotting in either an airport or a car for several hours. If I want to see different trees or buildings or something I would rather skip the hassle and look on Google images instead. As for trying different food, don't make me laugh. Corporate fast casual chains that are found everywhere have 99% of my needs covered already. Thanks.
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For myself, part of the enjoyment is watching sporting events in other cities. For example a NFL game. It's a different experience live vs watching in at home. "The usual tourist destinations" in a particular city is secondary.

Was in Dallas (not long before COVID) to see the Cowboys Vs Giants. On the day prior of the game, went to visit the Texas School Book Depository museum. On that same stretch of highway where JFK was shot (its was busy with traffic back then), you'd see people run in the middle of the road to take selfies! Right cars/trucks were buzzing by. It was a miracle nobody got run over. Saw a NBA preseason game as well. Heh, the Mavs were playing the Memphis Grizzlies of all team (Vince Carter was on the Grizzlies then as well). Caught a NHL game as well (Stars vs Canucks). All in the same vacation trip.
 
G-Dub said:
A buddy of mine just went on "vacation" to New York, which is probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You get to look at a bunch of concrete but in a different location. The same applies to basically any destination unless you are staying at a resort or something where the standard of living is higher. Even then, it is exorbitantly expensive for a temporary thrill that will only enhance depressive feelings when returning back to the mundane chore that is day-to-day existence. That is without even factoring in the nightmarish logistics of planning, packing, and rotting in either an airport or a car for several hours. If I want to see different trees or buildings or something I would rather skip the hassle and look on Google images instead. As for trying different food, don't make me laugh. Corporate fast casual chains that are found everywhere have 99% of my needs covered already. Thanks.
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Puerto Rico is booked....renting a car and doing a lap of the island. 15 days in December.

-4 days in San Juan
-2 days in Mayaguez
-4 days in Ponce
-4 days in Fajardo with an overnighter on Vieques island sandwiched in there.
 
I’m eyeing a 5 day getaway to Mexico City this fall. Art, culture, food, and other sorts of of overstimulation— convincing myself it’s New York City in the tropics.

Anyone ever been?
 
G-Dub said:
A buddy of mine just went on "vacation" to New York, which is probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You get to look at a bunch of concrete but in a different location. The same applies to basically any destination unless you are staying at a resort or something where the standard of living is higher. Even then, it is exorbitantly expensive for a temporary thrill that will only enhance depressive feelings when returning back to the mundane chore that is day-to-day existence. That is without even factoring in the nightmarish logistics of planning, packing, and rotting in either an airport or a car for several hours. If I want to see different trees or buildings or something I would rather skip the hassle and look on Google images instead. As for trying different food, don't make me laugh. Corporate fast casual chains that are found everywhere have 99% of my needs covered already. Thanks.
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TL DR

1693680661077.jpeg
 
CH1 said:
I’m eyeing a 5 day getaway to Mexico City this fall. Art, culture, food, and other sorts of of overstimulation— convincing myself it’s New York City in the tropics.

Anyone ever been?
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Yes, but only for a quick weekend trip when I was staying in GDL.

Food is crazy good, weather is great (not as hot as you would expect, most of central mexico is high plains/mountain foothills), transit is good to very good (metro closes early though I think, we took an uber from centro to the hotel the one night because the metro was closed?).
Safe by latam standards. Traffic is obscene. Centre of the Mexican arts and culture universe, and living costs are cheap so it has a ton of artsy neighbourhoods (think Queen West 10 yrs ago, but there's a dozen of them). Fwiw, I stayed in Condesa which was awesome.

Dunno if I would compare it to NYC though, different beasts. CDMX isn't overly comparable to NYC, it's not built up like that. I've never been to LA so I can't say if I agree, but I've heard it compared to LA.
 
Thanks man!

Yeah, from what little I know it’s a series of distinct hoods (unlike super dense and semi monolithic NYC) so that lends itself to an LA comparison
 
I was in CDMX last Christmas, and the weather was actually cool. Highs under 20 some days, so definitely don't get it in your mind that it's like Cancun all year.

But yeah, it's an interesting city. It's a big city, but ways to get around. 5 days should be good - probably take a day to head out to the ruins outside of town, and plenty of stuff in town to do. Along with eating as many tacos as humanly possible.

Condesa, Roma Nte, or Juarez I think are the main places to stay, a little more touristy, but still central to everything.
 
G-Dub said:
A buddy of mine just went on "vacation" to New York, which is probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You get to look at a bunch of concrete but in a different location. The same applies to basically any destination unless you are staying at a resort or something where the standard of living is higher. Even then, it is exorbitantly expensive for a temporary thrill that will only enhance depressive feelings when returning back to the mundane chore that is day-to-day existence. That is without even factoring in the nightmarish logistics of planning, packing, and rotting in either an airport or a car for several hours. If I want to see different trees or buildings or something I would rather skip the hassle and look on Google images instead. As for trying different food, don't make me laugh. Corporate fast casual chains that are found everywhere have 99% of my needs covered already. Thanks.
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Do people still think this is me? This is some psycho shit
 
Just got back from London/UK. Here is a quick review if you ever plan to go.

I hope this helps:

The great:
  1. Could easily spend weeks there and still have things to see.
  2. Sights we particularly enjoyed in no particular order: Hamptom Court, city of Cambridge (hop on hop off bus recommended to take you around), city of Windsor (pro tip, make sure you have fish and chips by the river at "Boatman"), National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, KidZania if you have kids, Tower Bridge, changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, National History Museum, Warner Bros Making of Harry Potter (though too expensive in my opinion). Pro tip: book sights well in advance. If interested ask me and I'll let you know which ones you need to do this for. Pro tip 2: DM if you plan to go, we went to many many more sights I can give you a review.
  3. Public transportation available everywhere. Pro Tip: use the app Citymapper for up to the minute info on arrivals and departures. Also use apps like Freenow and uber for discontented taxis.
  4. Cross city trains, comfortable, fast, on time. Pro tip: use the app Trainpal to buy discounted tickets. No need to book in advance as there are always tickets available. Our favourite station to take these based on our location was Paddington.
The good:

  1. Cities of Oxford and Bath
  2. Lots of options for shopping (ask me for where to shop if you are going). Street markets line Portobello and Sheppard's Bush were particularly fun.

The Bad:
  1. Traffic. getting cabs don't really help you get anywhere faster. In fact public transportation is often faster.
  2. Crossing the streets were super confusing. Pedestrian lights would be green for just a few seconds we had to run to cross often.
  3. Science museum

The Ugly:

  1. Accessibility: if you have kids and strollers, or if you have a disability, good luck. There are no ramps or elevators in many sights and stations.
  2. Toooooo Expensive: we stayed with a relative but still took a huge hit on the credit card (s). Really don't know who can stay in this city for more than a few days if hotel cost is added.
  3. Kensington palace: it felt like a scam. It was very little palace and they had dresses from celebrities as the main attraction.
 
If "vacation" is sitting in an uncomfortable plastic chair in a stadium packed with thousands of drunken slobs while watching sweaty men in costumes play a children's game

- OR -

taking public transportation through a crowded city while meandering from store to store and wasting money on unnecessary, overpriced products,

then count me out! I would literally rather sit at home doing nothing, which is exactly what I normally do. Don't even get me started on cruises either...

 
CTheBigPicture said:
Just got back from London/UK. Here is a quick review if you ever plan to go.

I hope this helps:

The great:
  1. Could easily spend weeks there and still have things to see.
  2. Sights we particularly enjoyed in no particular order: Hamptom Court, city of Cambridge (hop on hop off bus recommended to take you around), city of Windsor (pro tip, make sure you have fish and chips by the river at "Boatman"), National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, KidZania if you have kids, Tower Bridge, changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, National History Museum, Warner Bros Making of Harry Potter (though too expensive in my opinion). Pro tip: book sights well in advance. If interested ask me and I'll let you know which ones you need to do this for. Pro tip 2: DM if you plan to go, we went to many many more sights I can give you a review.
  3. Public transportation available everywhere. Pro Tip: use the app Citymapper for up to the minute info on arrivals and departures. Also use apps like Freenow and uber for discontented taxis.
  4. Cross city trains, comfortable, fast, on time. Pro tip: use the app Trainpal to buy discounted tickets. No need to book in advance as there are always tickets available. Our favourite station to take these based on our location was Paddington.
The good:

  1. Cities of Oxford and Bath
  2. Lots of options for shopping (ask me for where to shop if you are going). Street markets line Portobello and Sheppard's Bush were particularly fun.

The Bad:
  1. Traffic. getting cabs don't really help you get anywhere faster. In fact public transportation is often faster.
  2. Crossing the streets were super confusing. Pedestrian lights would be green for just a few seconds we had to run to cross often.
  3. Science museum

The Ugly:

  1. Accessibility: if you have kids and strollers, or if you have a disability, good luck. There are no ramps or elevators in many sights and stations.
  2. Toooooo Expensive: we stayed with a relative but still took a huge hit on the credit card (s). Really don't know who can stay in this city for more than a few days if hotel cost is added.
  3. Kensington palace: it felt like a scam. It was very little palace and they had dresses from celebrities as the main attraction.
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Thanks for this. Going next August.

I've only ever been in London for a few days but there for a week next time. Ready for the wallet hit though.

Hoping to spend a second week there somewhere in Europe but not sure where yet. Suggestions welcome, people.
 
hockeylover said:
Thanks for this. Going next August.

I've only ever been in London for a few days but there for a week next time. Ready for the wallet hit though.

Hoping to spend a second week there somewhere in Europe but not sure where yet. Suggestions welcome, people.
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- Not sure if you've been, but I know Icelandair does stopovers in Reykjavik on the way to London. Don't technically need a week, but 4-5 days to see the major sites could work.

- Dublin works well, super cheap to fly with a low cost carrier from England.

- I'm biased, but I loved Copenhagen. Expensive though.

I'm looking at a vacation *somewhere* in the next couple of months. Thinking of a safari in South Africa/Kenya.
 
Did the Kenya/Safari thing — was great.

Chilled out for a few days on this secluded island with great beaches called Lamu. There were no cars or trucks on the island — except for a police car and a fire truck. Probably hasn’t changed all that much.
 
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