The Travel Thread

[Adamski]

Off to Malaga for a week this morning. Let’s hope the forecast of 16 degrees is on the pessimistic side.

[Kikó]

Gonna probably jack New York in this year (cowardice) for a London and Dublin double-header in March. Or something.

How come? What worries you?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Doesn't think he can handle one of their breakfasts, and to be honest I see his point.

[phonics]

I like Dublin but anyone turning down going to New York to go there and Dublin is a fucking wrong'un.

[Spikey M]

London is shit. Dublin is alright, though not loads to do. Never been to New York but I would be going there over those 2 given the choice. It'll be full of Americans, but London and Dublin are too, so never mind.

[Kikó]

London isn't shit.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I do everything I can to avoid London these days and I live 20 minutes away. Why you'd come for a visit is anyone's guess. Crowded, expensive hell hole full of overpaid smug pricks. Gets a lot worse with every passing year, too.

The only people who get anything out of it must be those who have grown up on some sort of farmyard with only geese for company, and so the novelty of simply having other humans around in large quantities is in itself an irresistible draw. I can't think of a single other reason to go there.

[Spikey M]

London isn't shit.

It really is. Birmingham is worse, but it remains one of the worst slums in the country.

[Kikó]

I do everything I can to avoid London these days and I live 20 minutes away. Why you'd come for a visit is anyone's guess. Crowded, expensive hell hole full of overpaid smug pricks. Gets a lot worse with every passing year, too.

The only people who get anything out of it must be those who have grown up on some sort of farmyard with only geese for company, and so the novelty of simply having other humans around in large quantities is in itself an irresistible draw. I can't think of a single other reason to go there.

You're just used to it and aren't into how magic it is for Johnny Tourist. The museums, galleries, royalty, and iconic places are great for foreigners. Bit like when you visit NY, it feels special because you've grown up watching the place in film.

I'm in North London and it's pretty good. Well priced restaurants, parks, good boozers and not too many tourists (unless arsenal play)

I'd hate to be around Oxford Street or Soho which needs to be removed. Ateast Soho has De Hems pub

[Giggles]

London is a horrible place, but then again I couldn't see myself liking the tack of New York either.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm really talking about zone 1/2. 3 and out are golden. Well, mostly.

I'm a south of the river kinda guy (modern wanker Clapham/Balham not included in this).

[Spikey M]

I would almost certainly hate New York too, but I'd give it a go.

[Giggles]

I would almost certainly hate New York too, but I'd give it a go.

I'd give it a rattle over Dublin anyway, it has absolutely nothing to offer.

[Kikó]

I'm always south of the river and I couldn't stand being in Clapham. Balham seems slightly better but it's probably been infiltrated by Foxton workers. Putney isn't bad either but it is a pain to get to.

I'm zone 2. I think North London has a protective buffer from some of the internal 1/2 twattery.

[Kikó]

I would almost certainly hate New York too, but I'd give it a go.

It is great to visit. Go to a dive bar, walk around central park, get some Chinese dumplings, see the sights. All good, not as cheap as once but still worthwhile.

[Spikey M]

Is that buffer Finsbury Park Mosque?

[Kikó]

insha'Allah brother. The park is more worrisome than the mosque.

[Boydy]

The Finsbury Park area's alright. The Faltering Fullback is a quality pub.

[Jimmy Floyd]

This isn't a popular opinion, but I prefer areas of London the fewer % of white people are in them.

[Shindig]

Honestly, I'm just getting a little iffy over what would be the first proper use of my passport. Dealing with air travel, money, etc for the first time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd go to New York if I were you. As long as you have dollars in your pocket and a passport (and whatever else it is you need to enter the USA), you get there and it's largely what you know from the movies. You just need to tip people slightly more and remember they don't add 'tax' onto prices until you get to the till.

[Giggles]

Honestly, I'm just getting a little iffy over what would be the first proper use of my passport. Dealing with air travel, money, etc for the first time.

Get a Revolut card and get to the airport early. Not a thing to worry about.

You'd have to do all that to go to Dublin anyway (unless sailing) so you may as well go to NY.

[Kikó]

I'd go to New York if I were you. As long as you have dollars in your pocket and a passport (and whatever else it is you need to enter the USA), you get there and it's largely what you know from the movies. You just need to tip people slightly more and remember they don't add 'tax' onto prices until you get to the till.

Yep. 15-20% tip on everything and the sales tax are the two annoying things about cheap prices (which aren't). The esta is the only thing you need to enter the US.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Sales tax is seriously fucking annoying.

[Giggles]

Not half as annoying as expected tipping.

[Spikey M]

It was Canadians rather than Yanks (because Castro) but they fucked up our All Inclusive in Cuba. They were all stood at the bar handing over dollar tips for every drink. We had to follow suit in the end or we just got skipped over in favour of some Smug faux-French cunt.

[Pen]

What, like even bars and stuff?

No, I think those were open as you’d expect, but everything else seemed to close super early. I don’t think anything (apart from bars snd restaurants were open on Sunday for example).

[Shindig]

Meh, I've booked that two week gap for a proper holiday so I might as well just man up. Tipping's such a bloody weird thing, though. When it's compulsory, just do the common courtesy to whack that on the bill.

[Boydy]

No, I think those were open as you’d expect, but everything else seemed to close super early. I don’t think anything (apart from bars snd restaurants were open on Sunday for example).

Everything's closed on sunday in Germany.

How early did things close outside sunday? And what things do you mean? Museums and stuff?

[Pen]

What, like even bars and stuff?


Everything's closed on sunday in Germany.

How early did things close outside sunday? And what things do you mean? Museums and stuff?

Can’t remember exact times, but it felt like nothing was open after seven or so. Museums and the likes were open maybe ‘til six. We don’t really do much shopping or anything during our trips, but it just felt odd walking past closed shops so early.

It didn’t really bother me or anything, but I thought it is worth to know.

[Adamski]

In Malaga city for two days. Any suggestions on food. dino have you been?

[-james-]

Nope. Let us know how it is.

[Adamski]

Aye it’s terrific. Airbnb is just across from the Picasso museum. Numerous terrific tapas within 100 yards. Two euros a tapas and a red wine. Good times.

[phonics]

I did a poster for that museum back in highschool I think.

[Bam]

:yawn:

[Shindig]

Hmmmm .... New York for a week in March is coming up to £1.5k. Flights are £322 with a two hour stop at Heathrow on the way there. I'm thinking a week will probably sort me because I know I'll be back again at some point and it means less shit to take with me.

[Mellberg]

It really is. Birmingham is worse, but it remains one of the worst slums in the country.

Triggered.

[Spikey M]

Don't worry, Coventry makes Birmingham look like Disney Land.

[wullie]

City of culture 2021 bitches, they're painting the ring road.

[Spikey M]

You can't polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes, as Cov has been out of the limelight for a while might I suggest 'Hello, hello, good to be back' as the corporate strapline.

[Shindig]

What happens in Coventry stays in Coventry.

[Spikey M]

Nothing happens in Coventry.

[Panda Bear]

It was Canadians rather than Yanks (because Castro) but they fucked up our All Inclusive in Cuba. They were all stood at the bar handing over dollar tips for every drink. We had to follow suit in the end or we just got skipped over in favour of some Smug faux-French cunt.
Sorry. We tip on everything.

[Spikey M]

It's all Inclusive you generous bastards.

[Shindig]

When in doubt, I'll just eat shit from a MacDonalds.

[Boom-Boom-18]

I have just got back from New York and I would certainly recommend it. I went for 4 nights which I felt was long enough but we did cram a huge amount into the time and could easily have spent a week there.

It wasn't as expensive as I expected, you just need to look around / do a bit of research before going. We bought a 'New York Pass' which costs $198 per person (for 3 days) and it was well worth it, not only did we save money but we also did things we probably wouldn't have done had we not had the pass.

Going up the Empire State Building in the evening is something I will not forget. The scale of the city is humbling.

Beware of scammers, the city is full of people trying to get your money. Thankfully I had read for it was prepared in advance and therefore it was easy to avoid but we saw people getting caught all day. We had someone try to sell us tickets for the Staten Island ferry (which is free and runs 24/7).

[Raoul Duke]

I've just got back from a week out there - cracking city, loads going on and the tourist stuff is pretty good. Easy to get around too.

[Shindig]

Looking forward to it. Probably going to use the subway to get around for most of it, depending on where I wind up staying.

[phonics]

I hated the Empire State Building. It's just a tall, but nowhere near the tallest anymore, building. Ellis Island was my favourite of the tourist spots.

[Pepe]

I think I like Ellis Island / the Statue best too.

[Spikey M]

I like the giant fence they're building best

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ellis Island is the one thing you have to visit, especially if it's your first time, it explains the city perfectly. Maybe even the country.

[phonics]

Going to an international school at the time, it was fun to type in friends last names into the computer they have to find out what they were actually called when their families arrived.

[Kikó]

Looking at the empire state is better than being in the empire state. I like the 911 memorial and the utterly bizarre shopping mall they've built next to it.

[phonics]

Looking at the empire state is better than being in the empire state. I like the 911 memorial and the utterly bizarre shopping mall they've built next to it.

I went in 2003 when it was still just a big hole in the ground and a series of hand written eulogies. It was weird how quiet it was considering the rest of the city.

[Kikó]

They are still holes in the ground and it's still pretty silent. Bit bizarre seeing people take selfies in a place of mass murder.

[-james-]

They are still holes in the ground and it's still pretty silent. Bit bizarre seeing people take selfies in a place of mass murder.

People do that at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin as well. Very strange behaviour.

[phonics]

They are still holes in the ground and it's still pretty silent. Bit bizarre seeing people take selfies in a place of mass murder.

I thought they built a giant whopping sky scraper on it and called it Freedom Tower?

[Jimmy Floyd]

The better thing to look at there is the little church across the road where they housed the firefighters and so on.

[Pepe]

http://media3.s-nbcnews.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090327-worldtradecenter-vmed-7a.grid-4x2.jpg

Freedomz :happycry:

[Shindig]

Unlimited subway travel for a week at $32 sounds pretty decent. Could cover a lot of ground with that within a short space of time.

[phonics]

Unlimited subway travel for a week at $32 sounds pretty decent. Could cover a lot of ground with that within a short space of time.

Erm, can I see the t&c's on that?

[Boom-Boom-18]

Unlimited subway travel for a week at $32 sounds pretty decent. Could cover a lot of ground with that within a short space of time.

We did that, good value for money. Found it surprisingly easy to use and it never felt too busy which you sometimes get on the London underground.

[Kikó]

I thought they built a giant whopping sky scraper on it and called it Freedom Tower?

Not on the actual foundations of the twin towers though.

[Shindig]

Erm, can I see the t&c's on that?

https://new.mta.info/fares-and-tolls/subway-bus-and-staten-island-railway/about-metrocard


Note: PATH, AirTrain, and Express buses do not accept 7-Day or 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCards.

[Raoul Duke]

Unlimited subway travel for a week at $32 sounds pretty decent. Could cover a lot of ground with that within a short space of time.

Yeah, that's what we did. Good value.

The Rockefeller Centre tour + Top Of The Rock and also the Ellis Island tunnels tour were great. Roughly $40 each but well worth it.

If you want some recommendations of places to stay/eat/drink then lemme know.

[Shindig]

Throw them at me.

[phonics]

https://new.mta.info/fares-and-tolls/subway-bus-and-staten-island-railway/about-metrocard

Incredible value. Wish they had that back in the day, we walked 90% of the time.

[Raoul Duke]

Throw them at me.

More generally I'd highly recommend getting Foursquare before you go - but some of my faves from my trip below

Manhattan
Margon - ace Cuban restaurant near Times Square. Get the Cubano sandwich
Katana Kitten - cocktails
Employees Only - speakeasy
Mudspot - breakfast place
Strand - bookstore
Tom & Jerry's - dive bar
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - coffee
Top Hops - beer bar
YN - tapas place
The Ship - cocktails

Williamsburg/Bushwick
William Vale Hotel - Leuca / Westlight - amazing views of the city. Not cheap but worth a beer here for the view
Union Pizza Works - pizza
Carthage Must Be Destroyed - hipster brunch place
City Of Saints Coffee Roasters - coffee
Grimm Artisanal Ales - brewery + taproom
Casa Publica - Mexican place

[Mazuuurk]

Lisbon was really great. I can see it being really crowded when it's a bit warmer, since it was quite full of people already now!

Thanks for the tips guys. Eating at Time Out was pretty good. Apart from that we mostly went to Taco- & Burger places etc. We tried a Portuguese place which was meant to be great but kinda sucked, and then another called Bairro do Avillez which was pretty decent tho (but only had one small dish there).

Mostly was just walking around in the city in various places. LX Factory was a highlight, and the Aquarium. I also have a thing for Cargo Ships (don't ask why) and there was plenty of good ones to look at there :)


Also had a look at that Sky Bar you recommended Keeks, but it was shit I'm afraid. Completely deserted :(
I'm sure it's alright in summer.

[Clunge]

Can’t wait to go back there, and Porto.

[Shindig]

Alright, NYC's finally booked. Five days in March, staying in Times Square which will be great for the subway. Can't seem to avoid an overnight flight on the way back but whatever. Now to print all the shit off on the sly at work.

[Giggles]

Sofia in March. Anyone ever drive there?

[Raoul Duke]

Alright, NYC's finally booked. Five days in March, staying in Times Square which will be great for the subway. Can't seem to avoid an overnight flight on the way back but whatever. Now to print all the shit off on the sly at work.

Good lad :cool:

[Kikó]

Sofia in March. Anyone ever drive there?

Never but Sofia is great so good choice.

[Giggles]

Never but Sofia is great so good choice.

Been a few times before and it's grand but wouldn't mind some transport of my own there this time.

[AyDee]

Heading to Rome for a few days at the end of the month, anyone got any restaurant/general recommendations? Want to gorge myself silly on food.

[Pen]

I haven’t been there in a decade, but il dittirambo was great back then.

[-james-]

I'll have some time to kill in the Wood Green/Harringay area in London tomorrow, anywhere I should check out?

[Spikey M]

Of the area.

[-james-]

Of the area.

How come?

[Boydy]

The Faltering Fullback has one of the best beer gardens I've ever been in but it might be a bit cold for that.

[niko_cee]

Things to do in the green lanes:

1 - go to a kebab shop with seats and fill your boots
2 - go into a 24 hour mini-mart, preferably late at night, and ask for whatever your heart desires
3 - erm, do you like gold?
4 - get on the 29/N29 back to civilisation

[Spikey M]

How come?

You'll get Baby P'd, Honour killed and pay more for sub-Glasgow surroundings. Plus, Kiko thinks it's good and he's always good for a nibble.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Who here has been to Italy that can offer some insight to this?

Thinking of going there in October for a little under a fortnight, aiming to stay in 3 different cities. Initial thoughts (due in part to flights and travelling by train across the country) are either Venice/Florence/Rome or Florence/Rome/Naples.

Florence and Rome are pretty much a dead cert in my eyes but open to suggestions for the third, bearing geography in mind. Hear a lot about how rough Naples can be which is a bit off-putting.

[Kikó]

I've not been to Rome but I'm sure Yev will tell you to spend loads of time there and you can't do it in a short period of time. I've done Bologna - Siena - Florence in 6 days and it was fantastic.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Venice is a shithole.

It smells and the boats are shit.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I wish you guys would stop sitting on the fence with everything.

[Raoul Duke]

Do Florence / Siena / Bologna / Pisa - base yourself in Florence and spend most of your time there. Day trip to the other places.

[phonics]

My Italian Review:

Lucca is nice but once you've gone up the tower and walked round the town there's fuck all to do. Bit Bruuges.

Florence is beautiful but queues of tourists are so long they go round the corner.

Milan is basically Edinburgh if it had 3x the people. Good nightlife.

Venice smells and isn't particularly interesting outside of the fact that it's Venice. Does have a great glass blowing factory on a little island on the sea though.

Naples has wonderful weather, is cheap and has that classic Italian alley layout but can be a little rough round the edges. The people are great, go to a restaurant more than once and they'll treat you like family.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

Is going in mid-late October not a bit of a help in avoiding the worst of the peak tourist season?

[phonics]

Is going in mid-late October not a bit of a help in avoiding the worst of the peak tourist season?

It's Florence mate. The Japanese don't stop for nothing.

[Raoul Duke]

Queue-wise is wasn't that bad, and queues are mainly middle aged people who can't work the internet waiting for things they could buy instantly online

[The Merse]

October is ok. We went late October and whilst the Basilica was queuing out the door for a half hour as expected, it was nowhere near what people warn of in the peak times.

Not as quiet as Rome or Naples attractions were in the preceding week though, I will say. We did 3 nts Naples, 3 nts Rome and 2 nts Florence. Naples was cracking - really grand in terms of weather for that time of year and Pompei is fun obviously, Florence was our favourite, Rome is grand and all but we could have done 1 less day on this trip easily.

[Giggles]

Naples is a ghetto shanty town.

[hfswjyr]

Florence is amazing, don't miss it.

Rome is great too, but huge. Perhaps make another trip for it?

Naples is a shit-hole. Can't believe how much rubbish in the streets we had to walk around. But right next to it is the Amalfi Coast and Positano which are both incredible. Would highly recommend staying in either of those two, rather than Naples. And you can still get to Pompeii as well.

Venice is alright. Other than the whole being on the water thing, it doesn't have much else going for it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In Dominican Republic after the worst flight ever. The seats were big standard economy crap to Europe, alright for a 2/3 hour flight but not for 9 hours. Legroom was also limited and even worse when the dickhead in front reclined is chair.

Landed at like 8pm local time and it was still 27c. Very much a we'll do anything for a dollar country which is nice when you're knackered.

Oh and the buffet restaurant has marble flooring which my shoes refuse to grip onto. Even standing still my legs were trying to part.

[Spoonsky]

+1 to Siena, and it's close to Florence. Pisa's really dull except for the tower. Also Naples is brilliant, fuck the haters. It'll have far fewer tourists than any of the other major cities. But if you're someone who judges a city on the basis of its cleanliness then definitely steer clear. You can't go wrong anywhere really.

[Spikey M]

Pisa's really dull except for the tower.

A wonky tower seems about as interesting as a house on a hill, right, that isn't wonky. What a load of shit.

[Spoonsky]

I mean, it is beautiful. The lean for its own sake isn't much to write home about.

[Spoonsky]

Plus you'll encounter a million people doing this.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/2016/September/pisa-pictures-of-tourists-l.jpg?imwidth=450

[Spikey M]

One pushing it over, two holding it up. Is this Italy's version of the 'glass half empty/full' argument?

[Giggles]

That would be a great place to do a cull. They're basically advertising that they're imbeciles.

[Ian]

Legroom was also limited and even worse when the dickhead in front reclined is chair.

The key to this when somebody's doing that in obviously cramped space is to wedge your knees against the seat and let them jiggle with it a bit until they decide it's broken and give up.

[Spikey M]

If it's too late, just fidget like a cunt and keep knocking their seat.

[Ian]

:nodd:

[John]

Or ask them to put their seat back up because it's crushing your legs. A reasonable person will apologise and do as you've asked and even an arsehole will realise the folly of pissing off the person behind them on a long flight.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I always end up internally seething :(

The landing almost fucked up too. The plane made two big swerves just after touching down.

[niko_cee]

Have you got food poisoning yet?

That's all I've ever heard from anyone that's been there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm imagining Mahow in the state described in a Bill Bryson book whereby he leans down to tie his shoelaces, and at the same moment the person in front reclines their seat, meaning he is left stuck with his head between his legs for 9 hours.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Have you got food poisoning yet?

That's all I've ever heard from anyone that's been there.

I've only had two meals thus far.

Seems like decent fare.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

30c on the beach after some swimming in a pool and sea (which had some brilliant waves) eating some freshly made paella.

Scenes.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

An entertainer at the hotel made some ladies go round kissing men on the cheek, collecting their shirts and taking people's shoes.

He ended up calling me his brother and mocking my large flip-flops, asking if I was planning on using them as water skis.

[Spikey M]

Keep us updated bro.

[Pepe]

'how's Travelogue would be quite the show.

*Mahow in the swimming pool with a t-shirt on*
'Was the waitress looking at me? Good day'

[Spikey M]

*Ian on the voice over*

'She was not looking at him'.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

'how's Travelogue would be quite the show.

*Mahow in the swimming pool with a t-shirt on*
'Was the waitress looking at me? Good day'
:D

It was the singer last night :(

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I've tapped into my feminine side today. I've been drinking non alcoholic banana mamas. It is a banana, pineapple, coconut and grenadine iced cocktail which is pink.

[Spikey M]

Why don't you drink alcohol Mahow? Maybe you're like the Indian fella on The Big Bang Theory.

Tonight, no fuck it, today, you are to get shit faced on proper Bananarama's or whatever they are, and start chirpsing Caribbean gash. Report back with your findings.

[Giggles]

I always thought grenadine was alcoholic.

[Shindig]

All we'll get out of Mahow on the sauce is a post in the Health and Fitness thread about his shits.

[Spikey M]

Making his posts more interesting would indeed be a compound bonus.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Why don't you drink alcohol Mahow? Maybe you're like the Indian fella on The Big Bang Theory.

Tonight, no fuck it, today, you are to get shit faced on proper Bananarama's or whatever they are, and start chirpsing Caribbean gash. Report back with your findings.

I don't like the taste, my Dad had problems with drink (he'd start bad mouthing my Mum to me until the early hours when I would stay at his house), I'm scared of not being fully in control and the pink elephant scene in Dumbo.

The camwhore got me tipsy by getting a waitress to put alcohol in my drinks. I went along with it and I was largely the same so I'm not sure about your theory.

[Luke Emia]

Plus you'll encounter a million people doing this.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/Travel/2016/September/pisa-pictures-of-tourists-l.jpg?imwidth=450

What dressed like they are from the 90's?

[Lewis]

He took it with that magic camera he has.

[Pepe]

That's due to his hipster camera.

EDIT: Advanced final, our match.

[Lewis]

This is why we've split the lol vote.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Some Canadians stole one of our pool beds after they or some Polish people (likely the Poles) stole one of our beach towels. Wankers.

[Lewis]

Get smashed and go tell them off.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Well we just pinched one from the Polish lot as there was a spare after they left.

It was either ours or a sleeping drunk Polak a few beds down who woke up and started groaning like he was dying, stood up and almost tripped over a couple of beds.

[Spikey M]

So the Polish have taken our women, our jobs, and now our sun beds?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why are you even on this holiday?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

So the Polish have taken our women, our jobs, and now our sun beds?

Complete scum.

[Lewis]

Why are you even on this holiday?

Filming the anxiety Christmas Special.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://i.imgur.com/6XiVVtH.jpg

:gay:

[Giggles]

Bodes well...

1102357260548874241

[Boydy]

Was your flight on? Heard on the radio loads people slept in the airport last night. Grim.

[Giggles]

Mine's this evening so hopefully the backlog is sorted by then.

[phonics]

I'm going to Mexico in the summer. Who should I fly with: Iberia, AeroMexico or Lufthansa?

[Boydy]

Malaysia Airlines.

[Raoul Duke]

I'm going to Mexico in the summer. Who should I fly with: Iberia, AeroMexico or Lufthansa?

Former or latter.

[Giggles]

My flight this morning was meant to take off at 6:10 and left the ground at 6:11. God bless those Germans.

[Mazuuurk]

You should complain tbh.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

There's a twat here who carries around a guitar with him constantly. I've seen him every day by the pool and a few times in the restaurant now.

Simmer the fuck down lad.

[hfswjyr]

Play Freebird!

[Shindig]

Applying for an ESTA is being a bit bollocks. Point of contact information in the US? I can give them the hotel address but no actual name.

"Do you seek to act in espionage, sabotage or genocide?" :D And, I'm in. Just got to sort out roaming charges for my phone and currency.

[Raoul Duke]

Applying for an ESTA is being a bit bollocks. Point of contact information in the US? I can give them the hotel address but no actual name.

"Do you seek to act in espionage, sabotage or genocide?" :D And, I'm in. Just got to sort out roaming charges for my phone and currency.

I guess you can just put the hotel.

For roaming, O2 do a thing where you can pay a fiver a day and use it fairly freely. If you're not with them then your network might have an equivalent. For currency, get a Starling Card (or Revolut/Monzo etc.). Rates are pretty good and it's far simpler to manage that through an app.

[Shindig]

Roaming's been active on my account already. My data's unlimited on my plan so I only have to worry about calls to US numbers at £1.40 a minute.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

We had a BIG MEGA Michael Jackson show last night.

They would play the intros for the videos (christ they've aged badly, especially Bad which is actually laughable) and then a semi-decent dancer who dressed up like him (pre-white era ofc) came out with some crew whilst badly lip syncing.

It was pretty woeful with the only real saving grace being some LOCO DANCERS who threw in some break dancing during Bad and for the encore.

[Giggles]

Is it a noncing holiday?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

They did invite kids up during their Heal the World bit :sherlock:

This was the best bit:

https://i.imgur.com/gsB4kNi.jpg

One of the LOCO guys doing a break dancing spinny thing but doing so with his legs between a chair.

[Giggles]

Also, entertainment nights on holidays? Are you a pensioner?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

In spirit, absolutely.

This is the first holiday I've been on that has these nights on the regular, I don't usually go to big All Inclusive resort type places. They've got all sorts of shit on all day.

[Shindig]

Thinking about a New York Pass for all the attractions but, to be honest, there's not a huge amount on their list to make it worth my while. Not $250's worth, anyway.

[Kikó]

What does it include?
I'd recommend you get the PATH to Hoboken and look at the view onto Manhatten. It's cracking.

[Shindig]

https://www.newyorkpass.com/new-york-attractions/

So I can get on the things I want for free but would spend $200 in the process (if I bought it before midnight) for 3 days cover. A lot of tours and art museums which I'm not big on. I might as well list what I'm likely to be looking at:

- 9/11 memorial
- USS Intrepid
- Ellis Island
- Statue of Liberty ... maybe. (might as well as the ferry fare usually covers both)
- MoMA
- Museum of Moving Image (not covered by the pass because it's out in Astoria)
- Central Park
- Grand Central

And then anything else I fancy.

[Spikey M]

Some people I know got the boat to IKEA because it takes you right past the Statue of Liberty for free.

[Kikó]

Boat to Staten Island does the same.

I think the subway is easy enough to navigate to make your own plan. New York is a grid so you'll also be able to walk around without any issues.

[bruhnaldo]

I heard some of those passes are a scam because a lot of the things they sell you on are actually already free.

[Shindig]

Oh, shit! NY Red Bulls vs Orlando on the 23rd!

[Josh]

So the pass thing is rarely worth it. It makes you do stuff you wouldn't normally do which I suppose could be good but there's so much to do here that you don't want to waste time.

For statue of liberty, Kiko is right that the Staten island ferry takes you quite close past liberty island and is free. However, personally I have enjoyed Ellis island as I find the immigration thing interesting.

You absolutely must go see the Brooklyn bridge. Walking it is the best option and is only 30 minutes. You can get some great photos back on Manhatten too.

Another thing you should do is walk the high line which is an abandoned railway line that is now a park. Beautiful in the summer but still pretty good now and the weather is warming up.

You've covered the other stuff mainly but you should do one of the observatories too. I would suggest top of the rock as you get to see the empire State building rather than be on it and it's an amazing piece of architecture. I work 2 blocks down from it and I still love looking at it.

Kiko suggested Hoboken for views of Manhatten but I would suggest Williamsburg in Brooklyn for amazing views. It's also where I live so I think it's pretty great. Lovely area with lots of great restaurants and Domino park and the water front is a really nice spot.

You should catch some American sport here too. It's very very different to football but good fun in its own way.

Let me know if you want any advice on restaurants/other things to do. When are you over?

[Shindig]

I'm over 21st - 25th. I can't see myself enjoying a baseball game but at least it'll work out cheaper than seeing MLS - which is cheaper than watching the Knicks but I'd get to go to MSG. How are these like for paying at the gate?

As for food, throw some ideas out. Probably won't end up eating out too much but anything is welcome.

[niko_cee]

Baseball is pretty decent, just view it as a stadium food degustacion job though. 1 course per innings. Take money.

I guess Yankee Stadium has moved/changed though since I went there.

[Spikey M]

Go to the baseball and get a Nacho hat. And a beer hat. And a baseball cap, I guess.

[Kikó]

I loved ice hockey when I was there. New York devils at the back end of the PATH train line.

Go to a shakeshack or 5 guys. They're much better than in the UK.

Also - beauty and Essex is a pretty cool speakeasy type place around lower East side (also cool). There's a bbq place nearby called Georgia or something which was immense.

[phonics]

Baseball isn't in season. Nor is the NFL. The only thing on atm is the Basketball and both the Knicks and the Nets suck.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Baseball starts on the 28th so you're out of luck.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, don't go to hoppyball.

[Kikó]

Basketball was absolutely wank.

Defence! Defence!

[phonics]

Oh Ice Hockey is on but both of their teams are in New Jersey so it's a good 90 minute commute total.

[Josh]

The Islanders play in Brooklyn and out towards Long Island but currently it's the Long Island location which is a huge trip. Rangers play at MSG.

I prefer ice hockey live but basketball is good fun too.

The cheapest tickets you'll get is for football - it's still not exactly big here, especially New York.

For tickets, download an app called Gametime and get some last minute. You should be able to pick something up pretty cheap. MSG is worth going to though if you can but obviously it's the most expensive venue for any event.

There are actually plenty of baseball pre season games going on but I've never seen baseball and have no idea where/when they're happening. Would probably be cheap though...

[phonics]

Is Long Island not New Jersey?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Long Island is that bit of New York that juts out into the sea.

Actually google says it is an actual island, I assumed it was a peninsula.

[phonics]

I presumed as the streotype of Long Island seems to be second generation Italians it must be part of NJ.

[Josh]

Long Island is past the east river side of Manhatten. Jersey is the Hudson River side.

Stereotype of a lot of New York is Italians and is pretty fair.

[Yevrah]

Mahow's holiday. :D

That Jacko tribute is the stuff of nightmares.

[Giggles]

Long Island is that bit of New York that juts out into the sea.

Actually google says it is an actual island, I assumed it was a peninsula.

Never knew that either. They've filled in a good bit of the gap with bridges at this stage by the looks of Google Maps though.

[Shindig]

Baseball starts on the 28th so you're out of luck.

They sell tickets for Spring Training which is probably why it works out cheaper than seeing MLS.

[phonics]

I can't think of anything more depressing than watching Spring Training. Imagine one of the most boring sports around that don't play their best team 90% of the time because they have to play 200 games a year and then add in 'lack of competition'.

[Shindig]

Well, I did say it was low on my priorities. Honestly, I could skip sport altogether. I was chuffed when I realised I'd booked it over an international break.

[phonics]

What have you got on your list of stuff you actually want to do and let people add their ideas to that.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I thought spring training was all in Florida/Arizona. Either way, it's very much like football pre-season friendlies. Avoid.

[Shindig]

What have you got on your list of stuff you actually want to do and let people add their ideas to that.

Have you not been reading the thread?

[niko_cee]

I've never watched much (or any) 'spring training' but the game itself is probably about the same, seeing as the actual game is an absolute shambles. I suppose the lack of atmosphere might be an issue, but then, regular season game No.765 always seems to attract a crowd so perhaps even that isn't really a problem.

I don't mean to be disparaging, I always found baseball the most passionately supported and therefore best to watch live/in the stadium (bleachers!) of the American Sports. Just that, for the most part, the (specific) game itself is incidental.

[phonics]

I've never watched much (or any) 'spring training' but the game itself is probably about the same, seeing as the actual game is an absolute shambles. I suppose the lack of atmosphere might be an issue, but then, regular season game No.765 always seems to attract a crowd so perhaps even that isn't really a problem.

I don't mean to be disparaging, I always found baseball the most passionately supported and therefore best to watch live/in the stadium (bleachers!) of the American Sports. Just that, for the most part, the (specific) game itself is incidental.

More than Ice Hockey? Really? I've never been to a US game but considering the Guildford Flames crowd at the local swimming pool got rowdy I can imagine that being good.

[niko_cee]

Never went. I'm sure Nascar and that figure of 8 madness is also pretty rowdy, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Ice hockey is just a travesty of a thing.

[Shindig]

I did have a look for that stuff but I'm missing Figure 8's by a month. :moop: There's a couple of WWE house shows in the area as well. :D Speaking of sports ... well, live events that don't look great in person.

[Pepe]

Hockey is quality live. I like basketball too fwiw.

[bruhnaldo]

I'd skip any MLS outings in New York. NYCFC plays in Yankee Stadium and that's fucking stupid and no one goes to NYRB matches and if I recall their stadium is outside the city some ways but I could be wrong.

Spring Training / baseball is cool if you just wanna go hang out somewhere and drink. I actually live in walking distance from the Miami Marlins' spring training home so I've gone to a couple games already.

Hockey is pretty great live for whatever that's worth.

I'd say go to MSG just because it's MSG but that's your call obviously.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Went to 'Dolphin Island' today.

Got to stroke, play and swim with a dolphin (called Ronny), go on a 'Radikal' Jet boat (https://www.radikaljetboat.com/) and do some snorkelling with some sting rays and sharks.

https://i.imgur.com/OFJ0b0y.jpg

Almost missed his fins when he swam over but grabbed on and he was surprisingly strong.

https://i.imgur.com/3qqg3E0.jpg

You can sort of make out 2 sharks at the bottom there and you get a shot of thumbs up Beadle hand.

Genuinely brilliant and the dolphin was a proper show-boat.

[Kikó]

What a don picture.

[Bernanke]

Mahow. :cool:

[Shindig]

I wish Benny was here to photoshop Lurch's face into that picture.

[-james-]

https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world

#8. Suck it, chumps.

[Spikey M]

They have London at #4. Safe to ignore this list I reckon.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Paris being as high as 9 invalidates the list unfortunately.

[SvN]

I have a similar photo of when I went to Miami a few years ago. My wife was adamant that she wanted to see the dolphins and while I wasn't particularly fussed, it ended up being alright.

[SvN]

https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/best-cities-in-the-world

#8. Suck it, chumps.

Melbourne is brilliant, but I didn't really get New York. I'd probably have Barcelona higher than 17 too, but that's probably because I had a brilliant time there with friends when I went.

[niko_cee]

Give me Sydney over Melbourne any day, although I can see that as 'a city' Melbourne is maybe more legit.

Cities are shit.

[SvN]

I'd live in Sydney if I had unlimited wealth.

[Giggles]

Glasgow :D

Closed.

[-james-]

You should see the state of some of the long pasta we have here.

[Giggles]

You should see the state of some of the long pasta we have here.

That's not done to death at all yet.

Still though, Glasgow.

[igor_balis]

Sir Andy Mahowry

:D :D

Grinned and giggled to myself for a good 5 minutes after I saw that photo. Good work.

[Shindig]

I can't take American money seriously. Statue and Ellis Island tour booked. Unfortunately, the tours to get you inside the statue are sold out until July. :moop:

[Shindig]

Evenin'. Let me bring you guys up to speed:

Flights and airport were fine. Well, to Newark was delayed by baggage and some jetty bother. Then I had to go through passport screening twice because I didn't pick up a customs form.

All of this meant I got to the hotel way after midnight. Weather was blustery shit and New York at night is .... just full of the strangest people. I have not been on a single train ride without a homeless pleading for change.

Ellis Island was amazing! Just a top, focused museum that took up 3 hours. It can't be topped. Liberty island was decent for th view of Manhattan and the statue. Also, anybody doing some kind of customer service has a proper warmth to them. Airport staff, the subway drivers reacting to the shit happening on their trains, etc. Makes a contrast when I'm used to uniform British politeness.

Visited the 911 memorial and I find it a bit bleak how tourist heavy that is. To me, it's still a grave site, not some place to take selfies and arty shot of the names around the pool.

I keep forgetting about the intrepid so that's tomorrow's priority. Might skip some museums in favour of more sightseeing. Couldn't be arsed with the MoMA today. The weekends peaked early, tbh.

[phonics]

The Americans just do museums better than us. Go to the Natural History Museum, it's a banger.

[mugbull]

Go to Five Napkin Burger. I never went, but i thought the name was hilarious

[Shindig]

Well, that was five hours at the Intrepid. Awesome exhibits there. Food's taken a hit with me grabbing whatever I can.

[Baz]

Sounds fun. :thbup:

Meet Josh!

[Shindig]

Fate dealt me a five napkin burger. I rate the place. Took mine to go but the staff seemed canny. Burger seemed too pink to be medium rare, though.

[mugbull]

Hell yeah! I have heard it’s really good. Did anyone explain to you the origins of the name? I wonder to this day

[Kikó]

Go to beauty and Essex bar shinners.

[Shindig]

I haven't actually drank since I got here. I never asked about the name either. It was a messy burger so that might be it.

[7om]

Not sure why you got done because of the customs form. They haven't required those for quite a while now.

[Shindig]

Yeah, I wasn't the only one that got confused by it. Someone left their ESTA on the desk whilst they were filling it in, too. Hope the airport got a message out for that.

Maybe it's a Trump thing?

[mugbull]

Idk if i understand the question, but every time I re-enter the US from abroad I have to fill out the customs form and wait in the customs line. It’s been like this for as long as i can remember.

[Kikó]

ESTA means you just log in on those terminals.

[Shindig]

Well, I'm in the home stretch now. Didn't get to the transit museum but spent a while walking around Brooklyn. That place is a lot more relaxed than Manhattan.

The views over the bridge were great. Central Park was decent. Seeing black and red squirrels everywhere was cool. The one way signs don't do much, do they?

Didn't feel too bothered by the Natural History Musrum. There's lots of stuff there but nothing that I'm super into. It's a big, traditional museum which doesn't hit me like the Intrepid or Ellis Island.

Tomorrow I have about 4 hours after checkout to kill. I'm thinking about Times Square and Wall Street.

[mugbull]

Times Square is garbage, Wall Street is marginally more interesting. I would go to the neighborhood in Brooklyn that’s full of ultra-Orthodox Jews and people watch

[igor_balis]

Get a chance to visit MSG, Shindig?

[igor_balis]

Times Square is garbage, Wall Street is marginally more interesting. I would go to the neighborhood in Brooklyn that’s full of ultra-Orthodox Jews and people watch

You can do that in North London though tbf. Had a quality bagel in Finnsbury park last Sunday.

[mugbull]

:D

Borough Park is the name of it. It’s quite a trip.

[Shindig]

Get a chance to visit MSG, Shindig?

Nope. Although I'll be past that place again as my train to Newark goes from Penn Station. To compensate, I've been watching Mert's lot sneak their way through March Madness. And Rocky 3 is on BBC America. Stallone wrote and directed that. Explains a lot.

[Offshore Toon]

You can do that in North London though tbf. Had a quality bagel in Finnsbury park last Sunday.
It is quite strange experiencing the rapid shift from 'no jews' to 'all jews' for the first time.

[7om]

The only part of Brooklyn I saw was around the vicinity of the Barclays Center and that was rough as hell. Didn't enjoy the walk back to my hotel at midnight.

[Spikey M]

The more I hear about New York, the less interest I have in ever going. My in laws have just got back and described it as London but without the good bits.

[Kikó]

It's better than London imo

[phonics]

It's way, way better than London. And that's just factoring in that people have to pretend to be nice to you so they don't get fired.

[Spikey M]

Faux-sincerity is probably the most irritating American trait of them all, so that's not really selling it.

[SvN]

If you think someone pretending to like you is a positive, then that says a lot about your self esteem.

[Baz]

I pretend to like everyone.

They're all welcome. The pricks.

[phonics]

If you think someone pretending to like you is a positive, then that says a lot about your self esteem.

Where did I say anything about liking me?

[Queenslander]

Sexual tension

[Queenslander]

Shindig you should to the Creek and the Cave for the Legionbof Skanks show.

[SvN]

Where did I say anything about liking me?

Where did I say anything about you?

[phonics]

When you used the pronoun 'you' in direct context of what I'd just said. We're not speaking Queens english or something.

[SvN]

I think you're paranoid, mate.

[SvN]

That was directed at Baz, by the way.

[Shindig]

The more I hear about New York, the less interest I have in ever going. My in laws have just got back and described it as London but without the good bits.

Bigger is better. And there's a proper culture shock going from mostly white Britain to Manhattan's melting pot.

[niko_cee]

I always preferred Chicago, but that was because New York felt too European. Chicago is a proper American city.

[Shindig]

True. It made asking for directions tricky because you never knew what accent you'd land on. Or whether u could contain mine.

[Giggles]

The more I hear about New York, the less interest I have in ever going. My in laws have just got back and described it as London but without the good bits.

So, London then.

[mugbull]

I’m with Spikey. London is so much better. It’s got as many people as New York, but without the towering, oppressive skyscrapers everywhere

[Josh]

That says more about you than the area, I've never felt unsafe in any part of New York or Brooklyn although I haven't done anything silly like venture out to East New York at night or anything.

[Josh]

The only part of Brooklyn I saw was around the vicinity of the Barclays Center and that was rough as hell. Didn't enjoy the walk back to my hotel at midnight.

That says more about you than the area, I've never felt unsafe in any part of New York or Brooklyn although I haven't done anything silly like venture out to East New York at night or anything.

[phonics]

Describing gentrified Brooklyn as sketchy is peak whiteness. It’s not the Bronx.

[Spikey M]

Phonics listened to The Best of Biggie last night so he'll be adding 'New York' to his list of things to be smug and patronising about now.

Good stuff.

[Pepe]

Been in Pasadena for the last three days. I have not done anything. The weather though. :drool: