Your Next Vacation Destination.....?

[keko jones]

8 days, we both love Turkey. One of our favorite places we frequent. She took Turkish Airlines.

Man, Turkish Airlines are wild for only allowing 17 lbs for carry-ons and charging $160 extra for checked bags. My party didn't even check the baggage policy before booking and they did non-refundable. First time going to Turkey, and I didn't plan the whole trip, but I definitely took charge of the Cappadocia part. Got the hot air balloon, ATV tour, air museum, underground city, and pottery experience all lined up before we head back to Istanbul.

Now I'm trying to figure out round-trip transportation from IST airport to our hotel in Sultanahmet. The hotel wants $400 round trip for 13 people - but I've seen standard private vans online going for like $140 round trip. If you got tips or a solid recommendation, I'm all ears. We're going to be there for 13 days but within those in the middle we are going for 3 to Cappadocia.

 

[Grine]

Man, Turkish Airlines are wild for only allowing 17 lbs for carry-ons and charging $160 extra for checked bags. My party didn't even check the baggage policy before booking and they did non-refundable. First time going to Turkey, and I didn't plan the whole trip, but I definitely took charge of the Cappadocia part. Got the hot air balloon, ATV tour, air museum, underground city, and pottery experience all lined up before we head back to Istanbul.

Now I'm trying to figure out round-trip transportation from IST airport to our hotel in Sultanahmet. The hotel wants $400 round trip for 13 people - but I've seen standard private vans online going for like $140 round trip. If you got tips or a solid recommendation, I'm all ears. We're going to be there for 13 days but within those in the middle we are going for 3 to Cappadocia.

Yeah, that carry on rule applies even to First/Business Class which is what we usually fly. Atlanta tends to be more relaxed about it, but once you’re outside the U.S., they get strict real quick.

Sounds like you’ve got Cappadocia all mapped out. Be sure to check out Goreme and Ihlara Valley while you’re there. Both are religious history and a scenery.

Are y’all flying into Cappadocia? That’s usually the way to go, either Nevsehir or Kayseri airport, otherwise it’s a long, rough drive.

I recommend Ephesus. You’ll see the ruins of the Library of Celsus, once considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. Tons of Roman, Greek, and early Christian history.

Consider Pamukkale with its natural thermal pools. it’s a bit out of the way, but it’s beautiful.

check out Cesme, chill beach town with a great vibe, lots of shops, cafes, and you can take a boat ride to a Greek island.

From Bodrum or Marmaris, you can catch a ferry to Kos or Rhodes, Greece islands.

And yeah, $400 for the airport transfer sounds way too high. Definitely look into options like KiwiTaxi, Welcome Pickups, Bitaksi, or even Viator. You should be able to find a private van or shuttle for much less.

 

[Grine]

Wife changed her mind about Nice - we on a flight to Madrid. Any recommendations of restaurants?

 

[keko jones]

Yeah, that carry on rule applies even to First/Business Class which is what we usually fly. Atlanta tends to be more relaxed about it, but once you’re outside the U.S., they get strict real quick.

Sounds like you’ve got Cappadocia all mapped out. Be sure to check out Goreme and Ihlara Valley while you’re there. Both are religious history and a scenery.

Are y’all flying into Cappadocia? That’s usually the way to go, either Nevsehir or Kayseri airport, otherwise it’s a long, rough drive.

I recommend Ephesus. You’ll see the ruins of the Library of Celsus, once considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. Tons of Roman, Greek, and early Christian history.

Consider Pamukkale with its natural thermal pools. it’s a bit out of the way, but it’s beautiful.

check out Cesme, chill beach town with a great vibe, lots of shops, cafes, and you can take a boat ride to a Greek island.

From Bodrum or Marmaris, you can catch a ferry to Kos or Rhodes, Greece islands.

And yeah, $400 for the airport transfer sounds way too high. Definitely look into options like KiwiTaxi, Welcome Pickups, Bitaksi, or even Viator. You should be able to find a private van or shuttle for much less.

We're starting the trip in Istanbul, heading to Cappadocia in the middle, then finishing things off back in Istanbul. So I'll mostly be between those two spots and looking for things to do in the city-especially good food.

If we venture out, near by, I'll keep these in mind.

 

[Grine]

Hotel my wife chosen in Madrid looks like a movie - The Palace Luxury Collection Hotel. Top notch service and in the middle of everything. They did a great job on the renovations. Apparently they brought this glass from Barcelona.

 

[brockbo]

Atlantis

Finally made it down to Nassau and it’s don’t disappoint. Was down there for 10 days 8 at Atlantis 2 at Four season beach club. Atlantis was sick but next I go will be staying at the cove which is there newest most luxury property. The royal tours are cool but way too many kids. The cove has it own private adult only pool and the vibes and prospects were out. Highly recommend. Customs on both ends was beyond easy and a direct flight out of Chicago was $580. I’ll be back before the end of the year

 

[turbospartan]

Yeah, that carry on rule applies even to First/Business Class which is what we usually fly. Atlanta tends to be more relaxed about it, but once you’re outside the U.S., they get strict real quick.

Sounds like you’ve got Cappadocia all mapped out. Be sure to check out Goreme and Ihlara Valley while you’re there. Both are religious history and a scenery.

Are y’all flying into Cappadocia? That’s usually the way to go, either Nevsehir or Kayseri airport, otherwise it’s a long, rough drive.

I recommend Ephesus. You’ll see the ruins of the Library of Celsus, once considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. Tons of Roman, Greek, and early Christian history.

Consider Pamukkale with its natural thermal pools. it’s a bit out of the way, but it’s beautiful.

check out Cesme, chill beach town with a great vibe, lots of shops, cafes, and you can take a boat ride to a Greek island.

From Bodrum or Marmaris, you can catch a ferry to Kos or Rhodes, Greece islands.

And yeah, $400 for the airport transfer sounds way too high. Definitely look into options like KiwiTaxi, Welcome Pickups, Bitaksi, or even Viator. You should be able to find a private van or shuttle for much less.

Turkey was really a big surprise for me when I went - so much nicer and lively than I expected. I didn't go to Instanbul as I was in Izmir, most of the time but did Pumakkale and Cesme too - both good recommendations. Though Pumakkale was like 3+ hour drive, and we chose that over Ephesus (which I would have preferred to see).

 

[Grine]

 

[Mark Antony]

But why though, are they getting a cut? Just to be vindictive?

 

[brockbo]

Ocean Club Four Seasons Nassau

 

[lovehateself]

While ripping off tourists had been a thing forever

Ordering from any place without knowing prices on a menu , you should expect to get ripped off

 

[zmaqbool]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

 

[Comparison Ford]

Looks like we’re planning for Hawaii in early spring. Most likely Maui and Oahu. Gonna do some surfing and hiking, but I’m down for just about any recs if you got em.

 

[Grine]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

Usually they sell local SIM cards in the airport but your phone needs to be unlocked.

Or, T-mobile sells an International Pass.

 

[zmaqbool]

Looks like we’re planning for Hawaii in early spring. Most likely Maui and Oahu. Gonna do some surfing and hiking, but I’m down for just about any recs if you got em.

Is the USS Arizona Memorial far from there?

 

[nonnative]

Looks like we’re planning for Hawaii in early spring. Most likely Maui and Oahu. Gonna do some surfing and hiking, but I’m down for just about any recs if you got em.

It's been a long time since I've been to Maui but I know Oahu very well

Lanikai pillbox hike (can get crowded but it's one of the best views you'll see, especially at sunrise)
Ko'olau summit hike
Mt. Ka'ala summit hike
Koko head hike

Please don't do any of the illegal hikes e.g. the stairway to heaven or sacred falls.

I like the windward beaches the best (lanikai, waimanalo, Kailua, bellows) but the surfing isn't the best there.

North and South shores are best for surfing generally but some of them have a lot of coral which can be pretty dangerous if you aren't that good. Sunset and Ehukai are good spots. Waimea Bay is another good and famous spot (where they do the Eddie) but parking is awful there.

 

[lovehateself]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

depends on your destination



like Grine mentioned, you can buy a regional provider sim at all airports or even a pocket wifi
the only place i really considered it was Japan, and thats cause all YT videos i researched mentioned it but i decided to thug it out

i have ATT and their international plan ($10 a day) has worked for me everywhere

 

[calibeebee]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

Yep lovehateself I have Verizon and my plan includes Travel Pass™ for $10 a day (if you use it) too. High speed. It’s worked in every country I’ve been, automatically activating when I cross international zones.

My fiance is on a family plan with her sister and their plan excludes travel pass, so they either bought SIM cards from the Verizon store before leaving, or they just relied on me/whatsapp for things.

 

[keko jones]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

eSim for data only + Whatsapp for calls

I use nomad, but there are a few like Holafly, etc.

 

[zmaqbool]

Usually they sell local SIM cards in the airport but your phone needs to be unlocked.

Or, T-mobile sells an International Pass.

Yeah, I did some digging around & the International Pass sounds promising. Last year in Pakistan I only had service when I was someplace that blessedly had wifi. Other than that pretty much no service.

depends on your destination



like Grine mentioned, you can buy a regional provider sim at all airports or even a pocket wifi
the only place i really considered it was Japan, and thats cause all YT videos i researched mentioned it but i decided to thug it out

i have ATT and their international plan ($10 a day) has worked for me everywhere

Yeah, the destination is back to Pakistan in a few days. It's a "developing" country so infrastructure & day-to-day stuff we, here in the US, take for granted are luxury items there. Local sim should work fine. I just want to be able to use the internet outside wherever it is that I'm at.

Outside of the capital city it was just terrible service wise everywhere else. My family lives high up in a remote village in the KPK region which is super mountainous. They have a cell tower closeby their house which is nice but it's surrounded by huge mountains in every single direction. And due to which even locals have a hardtime making/receiving calls.

 

[zmaqbool]

eSim for data only + Whatsapp for calls

I use nomad, but there are a few like Holafly, etc.

Thank you. I'll look into those as well. It's weird in Pakistan locals have 2 choices for data/phone plans. 1 is monthly like we do here which literally no one signs up for out there & 2 is a small data package. When it runs out you re-load. 98% of the population does it like this in Pakistan.

Apps out there are by-the-package deal as well. There's a package for WhatsApp, a package for email, a package for internet. Kind of annoying to me but that's what they're used to.

 

[turbospartan]

When you guys travel internationally, what do you do or use for cellphone service? For fast internet browsing speeds mainly. I have free roaming on my plan with TMobile but let's get serious it's pretty ***. What're my options?

Google Fi has worked pretty flawlessly in: Japan, Turkey, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Germany, India

 

[zmaqbool]

Landed in Pakistan almost 4 hours ago. On the way home stopped at our fave breakfast spot. Got channa, parathas, omelets, pani puri & halva and kadak(strong) chai. The quintessential Pakistani breakfast

 

[kdawg]

Just booked Disneyland Paris for June - my wife's sister and her family are coming too which will be cool - they've got younger kids. One of them has serious food allergies so we're staying in a self-catering place nearby. With the announcement yesterday (Frozen Land!) the availability was disappearing as we were looking - but we got a pretty good deal.

 

[Grine]

Thats dope. Memories to have when more people tag along. Best one imo is Japan.

We’ve taken my daughter to ever Disneyland in the world.

Have an amazing time!