18 hours ago, xzmattzx said:

Nice!  How hard was it to get a flight to an out island?  How was the connection?  How expensive was it?

 

Dunmore Town is supposed to be the prettiest town in the Bahamas, so I want to go there some time.

The flights weren’t so easy.  It’s about 4k round trip for a 6 seater plane…my wife and mom were not happy about that, although my dad, son, and I enjoyed it.  There is a cheaper option with a bigger commercial plane, but apparently they have some safety issues, so I figured it wasn’t worth it.

It was a nice flight, but if there are winds, I bet it can be uncomfortable.  

Little guy loves it.

I’m obsessed with traveling, but man, I’ve started to hate flying.  During a more stressful time in my life, flying was actually my oasis of calm…nothing to do for the duration of the flight, no one to bother you.

Recently, I’ve developed a full blown irrational phobia of it.  I plow straight through it and white knuckle it, but I’m miserable.  I say this while at 30,000’ on a bumpy flight.   A few bumps and I’m a mess.

18 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I’m obsessed with traveling, but man, I’ve started to hate flying.  During a more stressful time in my life, flying was actually my oasis of calm…nothing to do for the duration of the flight, no one to bother you.

Recently, I’ve developed a full blown irrational phobia of it.  I plow straight through it and white knuckle it, but I’m miserable.  I say this while at 30,000’ on a bumpy flight.   A few bumps and I’m a mess.

My dad just last week had an experience. Plane was landing. You can hear the landing gear come down. Ground is really close. Suddenly the pilot guns it, pulls up hard, and banks right super hard. They went back up for a while and eventually landed. 

My dad thought he was a gonner. No idea what happened.  Now he dreads having to go again.

He did just go get TSA pre-check this week to at least take some of the stress and hassle out of the security lines. But that landing experience had him shook on the actual flying part.

 

Your trip looks amazing.

We are taking our kids to the bahamas in June. Itll be their first time seeing that kind of water. Theyre used to the murky OCNJ water. 

I had a flight into Denver where we got ready to land and got close to the ground, and then the pilot gunned it and took off before we touched the ground, and we circled again.  He explained later that the plane landing before us never cleared the runway in time.

14 hours ago, HazletonEagle said:

My dad just last week had an experience. Plane was landing. You can hear the landing gear come down. Ground is really close. Suddenly the pilot guns it, pulls up hard, and banks right super hard. They went back up for a while and eventually landed. 

My dad thought he was a gonner. No idea what happened.  Now he dreads having to go again.

He did just go get TSA pre-check this week to at least take some of the stress and hassle out of the security lines. But that landing experience had him shook on the actual flying part.

 

Your trip looks amazing.

We are taking our kids to the bahamas in June. Itll be their first time seeing that kind of water. Theyre used to the murky OCNJ water. 

Sounds like a balked landing with go-round (the only things I know about aviation are from googling these things due to my fear).  Apparently completely safe and routine for pilots.  Would terrify me and I'd have a heart attack.  On this flight, the pilot said "we've tried every altitude and this is the best one, unfortunately we'll just have to forge ahead and plow through."  I suppose it wasn't that bad, but it's not the best thing to hear from a pilot.

Flying with just my wife used to be a fun experience.  Now with a kid and 25 bags and this new fear, it takes a lot out of me haha.

The Bahamas are great, although the murky NJ water will always be special to me.  

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

Sounds like a balked landing with go-round (the only things I know about aviation are from googling these things due to my fear).  Apparently completely safe and routine for pilots.  Would terrify me and I'd have a heart attack.  On this flight, the pilot said "we've tried every altitude and this is the best one, unfortunately we'll just have to forge ahead and plow through."  I suppose it wasn't that bad, but it's not the best thing to hear from a pilot.

Flying with just my wife used to be a fun experience.  Now with a kid and 25 bags and this new fear, it takes a lot out of me haha.

The Bahamas are great, although the murky NJ water will always be special to me.  

For sure. Its been our spot since I was a kid. Even going to the bahamas, we will miss it. Even though not a whole vacation to NJ this year, Im sure we will at least take a weekend just so we dont feel like we missed out on it. Maybe crash my parents hotel room for a few nights on their vacation. 

 

We flew with kids last year for the first time. Just to Florida for Disney. Not bad.  They were 7 and 5. Old enough to pack like a regular person without all the extra equipment and supplies you need for a baby or small toddler. Short enough flight that they dont get too bored and ramy. 

Our Bahamas trip is a cruise on Oasis of the Seas out of NJ. Easy drive to the cruise terminal. For the minimal time we are in the room, it will be hell. Luckily, there is plenty for them to see and do on the ship to keep them distracted from fighting with each other. I think we are gonna be alright.

 

 

I can't remember the last time I flew. Early 2000's I think. Going up there tomorrow. Only slightly nervous-the worst is just getting there and getting thru TSA.  If there's time you can bet I will suck down a bloody mary or a beer before boarding.  Also worried about getting sick.  It's freezing here, going to be in the 80's in FL, and all those people. I also have the little tiny meatballs for holiday soup in a gallon freezer bag that should make it thru.  They are frozen.  Not taking any freezer packs since they have to thaw out anyway.

Lead story on the news was a top military official on a plane hitting birds on take off.  All is fine.  Thankfully.  Should you not see a pretty pic posted by me in the next day or two you’ll know what happened.  Lol.  
Both children still at work.  They are adults yet neither is going to like me at 4 am getting them up and out the door tomorrow morning.  

Bloody at the bar by 6:30.  Record time.  
 

Safe travels everyone.  Happy Thanksgiving!  🦃 

My honeymoon was supposed to be in May of 2020. We were going to stay 10 days at an all-inclusive adults only resort in the Exuma Islands. Damn Covid cancelled it. We were going to do the swim with pigs excursion also. Was really looking forward to it. 🤬

Home. My 1st visit to south FL was great.  Newphew and fiancé’s house was amazing.  She could be a designer.  They have a pool and they are on a canal. He bought a little dingy boat. They will be renovating the back yard.  We stayed in an air bnb a block in a half away.  These homes are like concrete huts made modern. Ours had dated patios that were in need of repair and pressure washed. The pillows gave me a stiff neck but heating pad and Advil are helping that.  
We visited the Hard Rock, Pompano Beach light house, spent the afternoon on Hollywood Beach. The ocean was great and we were impressed by the grandiose boats/yachts compared to what we see here on the Chesapeake. My goodness!!  

On 11/24/2022 at 10:37 AM, LacesOut said:

My honeymoon was supposed to be in May of 2020. We were going to stay 10 days at an all-inclusive adults only resort in the Exuma Islands. Damn Covid cancelled it. We were going to do the swim with pigs excursion also. Was really looking forward to it. 🤬

Similar story with my wedding/honeymoon in Costa Rica. Planned originally for March 2020. COVID sucks. 

@rambo Do you have any recommendations for family friendly, budget friendly all inclusive in the Caribbean?  I don't particularly love all inclusive but I promised paco we could do an easier vacation for 2023.  We are also trying to include family members who are sensitive to pricing.  I think you said your wife works with Dreams?  Or was it Beaches and Sandals?  I was looking at Dreams Onyx Resort in Punta Cana.  I'm open to islands other than the DR.  In fact I would love to find somewhere else, but it seems the most budget friendly.  I've been once but it was 20 years ago.  Obviously driving through the island from the airport and super depressing and sketchy, but the resort I stayed at back then was very nice.  I do not have any interest in returning to Jamaica and don't really feel like dealing with Mexico either.

Anyone else have suggestions?  I'm also specifically looking for kid friendly resorts.  So water slides or kids amenities would be nice.  Also I've been looking at packages through cheapcaribbean.com.  Does anyone have experience using this site?

I'd really like to find a balance between budget friendly but still great service, food and clean.  I'm a travel snob and typically insist on the best of everything  so this one is a challenge for me.  But I'm more motivated by being able to include family members that are sensitive to pricing this time so Ellie can have her cousins with her.

the wife & I are going to iceland this october. 

3 hours ago, mr_hunt said:

the wife & I are going to iceland this october. 

Split the Golden Circle into a two-day trip, if you do it.  I did that when I went there, and it was a really good decision.  Thingvellir N.P. gets buses with daytrippers, so after about 3 PM, you can basically have the whole park to yourself, if you are staying nearby.  We stayed in a cabin east of Laugurvatn, so we took our time from Thingvellir N.P. to our cabin, stopping in Laugurvatn at the village spa/pool, and then took in the midnight sun from our cabin in the bush.  And we stayed only 30 minutes from Geysir, so we didn't have any crowds at Geysir (or Gullfoss after that) because it was the morning, and the buses weren't there yet.

 

It kind of makes you think about why some people rush through these sights so quickly.  It's akin to people who spend a few hours at the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls.  Nature's great sites are worth a full day, or 24 hours, or a day and a half, not some quick stop before you rush to the next place.

On 3/5/2023 at 1:49 AM, xzmattzx said:

Split the Golden Circle into a two-day trip, if you do it.  I did that when I went there, and it was a really good decision.  Thingvellir N.P. gets buses with daytrippers, so after about 3 PM, you can basically have the whole park to yourself, if you are staying nearby.  We stayed in a cabin east of Laugurvatn, so we took our time from Thingvellir N.P. to our cabin, stopping in Laugurvatn at the village spa/pool, and then took in the midnight sun from our cabin in the bush.  And we stayed only 30 minutes from Geysir, so we didn't have any crowds at Geysir (or Gullfoss after that) because it was the morning, and the buses weren't there yet.

 

It kind of makes you think about why some people rush through these sights so quickly.  It's akin to people who spend a few hours at the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls.  Nature's great sites are worth a full day, or 24 hours, or a day and a half, not some quick stop before you rush to the next place.

thanks for the info & advice. friends of ours are going & asked if we'd like to join them. they already have a bus excursion to the golden circle booked so we're kind of already locked into that.  but we are renting a car so we have the flexibility to drive back there ourselves to spend more time. we're staying in reykjavik & will probably do the most touristy things since it's only a 5 day visit.   hopefully the crowds won't be too crazy since october isn't the high season. it is the high season for rain & wind...so we'll have that going for us! 

 

On 12/10/2022 at 11:13 AM, binkybink77 said:

@rambo Do you have any recommendations for family friendly, budget friendly all inclusive in the Caribbean?  I don't particularly love all inclusive but I promised paco we could do an easier vacation for 2023.  We are also trying to include family members who are sensitive to pricing.  I think you said your wife works with Dreams?  Or was it Beaches and Sandals?  I was looking at Dreams Onyx Resort in Punta Cana.  I'm open to islands other than the DR.  In fact I would love to find somewhere else, but it seems the most budget friendly.  I've been once but it was 20 years ago.  Obviously driving through the island from the airport and super depressing and sketchy, but the resort I stayed at back then was very nice.  I do not have any interest in returning to Jamaica and don't really feel like dealing with Mexico either.

Anyone else have suggestions?  I'm also specifically looking for kid friendly resorts.  So water slides or kids amenities would be nice.  Also I've been looking at packages through cheapcaribbean.com.  Does anyone have experience using this site?

I'd really like to find a balance between budget friendly but still great service, food and clean.  I'm a travel snob and typically insist on the best of everything  so this one is a challenge for me.  But I'm more motivated by being able to include family members that are sensitive to pricing this time so Ellie can have her cousins with her.

Did you ever settle on a place?  We're looking around for a place to go this summer but haven't found the right "deal" yet.  Done a lot of AI's over the years in Jamaica, DR, Mexican Riviera Maya, St Lucia and Barbados.  Some hits, no real misses, I mean how bad can it be with a beach & pool and a ready supply of alcohol?  The only thing we're sweating is the seaweed has gotten increasing bad the last few trips... 

12 hours ago, mr_hunt said:

thanks for the info & advice. friends of ours are going & asked if we'd like to join them. they already have a bus excursion to the golden circle booked so we're kind of already locked into that.  but we are renting a car so we have the flexibility to drive back there ourselves to spend more time. we're staying in reykjavik & will probably do the most touristy things since it's only a 5 day visit.   hopefully the crowds won't be too crazy since october isn't the high season. it is the high season for rain & wind...so we'll have that going for us! 

 

I did Iceland in 5 days, so you can get it done pretty easily.  I did Reykjavik and sleep off the jet lag on the first day; Thingvellir and Laugurvatn on the second day; Geysir, Gullfoss, the Secret Lagoon (better and cheaper than the Blue Lagoon), Skalholt, and Kerith (Kerid) crater on the third day; Skogafoss, Solheimajokull glacier, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Seljalandsfoss on the fourth day; and a museum in Reykjavik before our afternoon flight on the fifth day.  So we got everything on the Golden Circle and most of the South Coast of Iceland done in 4.5 days.

 

Did you rent your car yet?  I rented from carsiceland.com.  They were the only website that included mandatory taxes in the price.  I liked the peace of mind of knowing that I had everything included taxes paid for ahead of time, rather than show up and maybe have to pay hundreds of dollars in taxes when I arrived.  There's a pretty big list of mandatory taxes to pay with the rental.

13 hours ago, xzmattzx said:

I did Iceland in 5 days, so you can get it done pretty easily.  I did Reykjavik and sleep off the jet lag on the first day; Thingvellir and Laugurvatn on the second day; Geysir, Gullfoss, the Secret Lagoon (better and cheaper than the Blue Lagoon), Skalholt, and Kerith (Kerid) crater on the third day; Skogafoss, Solheimajokull glacier, Reynisfjara black sand beach, and Seljalandsfoss on the fourth day; and a museum in Reykjavik before our afternoon flight on the fifth day.  So we got everything on the Golden Circle and most of the South Coast of Iceland done in 4.5 days.

 

Did you rent your car yet?  I rented from carsiceland.com.  They were the only website that included mandatory taxes in the price.  I liked the peace of mind of knowing that I had everything included taxes paid for ahead of time, rather than show up and maybe have to pay hundreds of dollars in taxes when I arrived.  There's a pretty big list of mandatory taxes to pay with the rental.

thanks. we haven't booked our car rental yet so we'll definitely check out that link. 

I'm going to Key West in April.  I'm staying on a military base, or something.  I didn't know Key West had a military base.

20 hours ago, Redden said:

I'm going to Key West in April.  I'm staying on a military base, or something.  I didn't know Key West had a military base.

There are kind of 3 on the island itself, and then about 4 miles north of where you exit key west (boca chicka I think) there is a large naval base that takes up that entire island. 
 

very prominent in the 1960s Cuba days (tons of satellite dishes). 

Red circles are all military areas. That "Dredgers” is only accessible from key west and is military family neighborhoods, commissary, etc. The red one by the orange circle is coast guard base. Orange circle might be military land but not sure. Bottom left red circle is where all the spy satellites are. I want to say navy. There is a fort Zachary Taylor area that i think is still for tourism. That south west section of the island has a lot of former military housing. Truman I think spent a lot of time down there in his presidency. 
 

then the other island is nothing by naval base and vegetative space  

https://ngis.dodlodging.net/propertys/Key-West-NAS

According to Ange, we are staying at the Key West Navel Air Station at the Department of Defense lodging.