Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

[hockeyplayer1015]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Gonna fire up the popcorn stand, butter and salt are to your left.

(I agree with you bbdl).

[Deutsche Gopher Fan]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

I can certainly imagine circumstances that would make me want another passport. Lol.

One week from today I'll be in the Cook Islands! Can't wait.

[unofan]

I can't even imagine a situation where I'd ever consider wanting a citizenship other than with the USA. And if you get another citizenship you should have to forfeit your US citizenship.

[alfablue]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Some people need to get out more... I can (and have) see(n) the benefit of having a US and another country's passport, for sure.

But, hey, for a country of immigrants....

[joecct]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

My nephew and his wife plus pets evacuated go here from Charleston.

http://www.grassycreekcabooses.com

[joecct]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Add British Airways to the Thrifty/Dollar banned by the message board group??

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ne...don-to-athens/

[mookie1995]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

For the record, Mookie REALLY likes London!

[manurespreader]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Has anyone been to Dubrovnik? Can I spend a week there and not go crazy? What about Split?

[Kepler]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Has anyone been to Dubrovnik? Can I spend a week there and not go crazy? What about Split?

I have no but my god Dubrovnik (Ragusa, for the purists) looks breathtaking.

[Stauber1]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Has anyone been to Dubrovnik? Can I spend a week there and not go crazy? What about Split?

When are you thinking of going?

I haven't been to Croatia, but have been to Belgrade and surrounding areas in Serbia a few times as one of my very good friends from college is a Serbian who moved back there. So I don't have any real specifics on Croatia, but I think you will have a good time.

From what I understand, Croatia is quite beautiful particularly along the coast. The coastal areas are very much geared toward tourism, and if you are into beaches and are going during "beach season" you will be well entertained.
If neither of those things apply, I'd suggest taking advantage of the highly affordable car rental rates and doing some driving, particularly into Bosnia and Herzegovina. The landscape is ruggedly impressive, and while there aren't "major" tourist attractions there are a lot of interesting things to see - an area that has changed hands and been influenced by a number of different cultures throughout history. If you have a full week it will afford you the time if you are strategic and do some planning.

And the bonus is everything is insanely affordable. Less so in Croatia (though still affordable) as the tourism market has helped to solidify and bolster their economy, but the further east you go from the coast the cheaper everything will get - to an almost absurd point, really.

The one caveat is that once you get out of major cities or the touristy areas along the coast, the harder it will be to find people who speak English - as in, in some cases nary a person who speaks a lick of English. So if you aren't comfortable with that it's something to consider; but my opinion and experience is if you learn a few phrases you can get by with muttering, pointing, gesturing and smiling. And in my mind it's well worth the little bit of extra effort for the opportunity to have those interactions.
If you speak any German, you may have some luck with that when all else fails.

EDIT: I should add, my Serbian buddy swears Montenegro is more beautiful than Croatia, but....well...of course he thinks that =P

[Kepler]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

but my opinion and experience is if you learn a few phrases you can get by with muttering, pointing, gesturing and smiling. And in my mind it's well worth the little bit of extra effort for the opportunity to have those interactions.

Interactions without a common language can be great or terrible, depending on the attitudes of both people. You're only in control of one of those people, obviously. :-)

I've also seen tourists with shirts with about 25 basic symbols (food, toilet, car, ATM, bed, first aid, pharmacy, hospital, train, police...) and you would be amazed the extent that covers what you're most likely to need.

Learn "please" and "thank you" and just be pleasant, and remember you're a guest. I have happily never really seen an "ugly American" tourist in Europe. That seems to be left to the Russians and Chinese who as a broad generalization are real jerks, especially in groups.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Sometimes fate smiles...First visit to the thread is a year.

Has anyone been to Dubrovnik? Can I spend a week there and not go crazy? What about Split?

Many times. While I only drove through Split at night, Dubrovnik is great - maybe the best in the region for an average western tourist. Enough beauty/development and enough eastern European flair to make it more interesting than western Europe. And they filmed a good chunk of game of thrones there.

I would parlay a week into 3 days in Dubrovnik and 3 days in nearby slightly more rustic but beautiful Montenegro. Croatia is where the Balkan hills run into the Adriatic...Montenegro is where the Balkan mountains run into the Adriatic. Montenegro has been rated the top country in the world for tourist opportunity by the UN's tourism board for years - due its sheer beauty. It has a stunning coastline, a coastal beach Riviera (Budva region) with an ancient island community St. Stephan, an inland lakes region (Podgorica), an area of Norwegian style fjords (Kotor area), inland skiing in the mountainous inland region...and a multitude of beautiful beaches tucked under 200 foot cliffs (I.e., Mogren beach). It had one of its beaches rated the most beautiful in the world...and is the home of the hotel Splendid of James Bond Casino royale fame (though the movie was not shot there). I'd go to Kotor and Budva/Becici...and further south down the coast if you have time. Full disclosure I own property in Montenegro.

[manurespreader]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Sometimes fate smiles...First visit to the thread is a year.



Many times. While I only drove through Split at night, Dubrovnik is great - maybe the best in the region for an average western tourist. Enough beauty/development and enough eastern European flair to make it more interesting than western Europe. And they filmed a good chunk of game of thrones there.

I would parlay a week into 3 days in Dubrovnik and 3 days in nearby slightly more rustic but beautiful Montenegro. Croatia is where the Balkan hills run into the Adriatic...Montenegro is where the Balkan mountains run into the Adriatic. Montenegro has been rated the top country in the world for tourist opportunity by the UN's tourism board for years - due its sheer beauty. It has a stunning coastline, a coastal beach Riviera (Budva region) with an ancient island community St. Stephan, an inland lakes region (Podgorica), an area of Norwegian style fjords (Kotor area), inland skiing in the mountainous inland region...and a multitude of beautiful beaches tucked under 200 foot cliffs (I.e., Mogren beach). It had one of its beaches rated the most beautiful in the world...and is the home of the hotel Splendid of James Bond Casino royale fame (though the movie was not shot there). I'd go to Kotor and Budva/Becici...and further south down the coast if you have time. Full disclosure I own property in Montenegro.

Thanks for the advice. I'll get going on the Montenegro stuff. I have no problems with languages usually, I can stumble my way thru three or four, and if all else fails I have an app( Nemo, it's free) thats speaks the phrase I want to say. Though I rarely have to use it. I'm leaving in three or four weeks depending on the air fare situation.

[5mn_Major]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Thanks for the advice. I'll get going on the Montenegro stuff. I have no problems with languages usually, I can stumble my way thru three or four, and if all else fails I have an app( Nemo, it's free) thats speaks the phrase I want to say. Though I rarely have to use it. I'm leaving in three or four weeks depending on the air fare situation.

Yeah and language shouldn't be a problem in either place. They're used to foreigners who don't speak the language...and many speak English anyways.

[busterman62]

Re: Travel Part 2 - Where ya headed?

Need some advice from our Yooper posters. Over the past few years I've wanted to travel to God's country and play Greywalls/Sweetgrass/Timberstone. The stars have finally lined up and we're heading there next week. Need advice on where to eat & drink since the last time I was in the western UP most of you weren't born. Staying at the casino in Harris (package deal wasn't too bad) but will probably eat & drink in Marquette & Iron Mountain after golf. Any recommendations for there and Harris/Escanaba would be appreciated. Nothing fancy, just good. I'll also be bringing home real pasties to my ignorant kids. They've never had a real one with rutabaga in it. Where's the best place for these?