I think you wanna pick the MPV class.
Printable View
I think you wanna pick the MPV class.
Thx. Will look more closely at that larger size/class.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
It really depends on how much comfort you demand when you are cruising around. For example - our CX-5 would work in a pinch to carry around 5 people with carry-on luggage. Would not be terribly comfortable, but TBH I would not want anything much bigger for driving around in Italian villages...Quote:
Originally Posted by bodywhomper
ETA: Bottom line is that I, personally, would go for the SMALLEST vehicle I thought I could get away with.
<p>
I /gasp/ generally agree with skared....</p>
<p>
But I would just size up one... you'll want to buy a pair of shoes, bottles of wine, and/or a chachkie </p>
One of our cars is a Toyota matrix, which is similar in passenger space as a Toyota Corolla. We all fit and it would easily be able to fit our baggage. It’s tight in the back (heh!).
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
That size should be fine for putzing around the Italian Alps.Quote:
Originally Posted by bodywhomper
wow. For shits and grins I looked up Malpensa rentals, and great for sedans and wagons. Not so great for anything else.
The Peugeot will be pretty ideal, if not a bit big for backroads around Italy. It’s about Passat/Camry sized. We rallied one around Spain years back; turbo diesel manual wagon fun.
The other Euro threads were pretty specific, so my question lands here.
Has anyone done a European River Cruise. Viking has all the ads, but a few others come up as good. My my knee replacement recovery, this could be a decent alternative.
Probably one of the Danube cruises. Amsterdam to Basel
Budapest to Regensburg
A few others are similar. Being able to unpack once for a week is attractive. I haven't been attracted to Ocean Cruises as being unable to get off and explore isn't as easy. These dock daily for city exploration.
Mrs C and I did the Viking river cruise two years ago, with my mom and sister, from Budapest to Regensburg. Happy to talk to about any Qs you have - way more than I could write here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowagriz
Try to get the package / promo with free airfare from the US included - and you can extend it up to IIRC a total of 30 days if you want, into any major Euro city and return from any major Euro city. We extended ours a few days at the start, and then for about a week at the end, and did our own sightseeing in Germany. It was $100 pp to extend - I thought that was well worth it.
The Viking ship is very nice, food and drinks are excellent. Think of it as floating hotel with very small rooms. The itinerary is kind of rushed at each stop - - there's not a ton of time in each place. And the included excursions cater to an older, more sedate crowd - - walking tours are at a very gentle pace. This trip was a birthday trip for my 90-year old mom, and she did fine on the walking tours.
I've only been on one cruise and never thought I'd like them. But they are great for multi generational trips.
After my mom died. My dad was pretty despondent. He had never been on a cruise or to Alaska.
So we booked a big family trip and it gave him something to look forward to. He did great!
My folks just got back from a Viking cruise in Europe and everyone on the boat got Norovirus. Kinda ruined the trip. I think they got a refund of some sort.
That right there is why I never want to go on a cruise.Quote:
Originally Posted by Name Redacted
Any y’all use the Timeshifter app? My BIL swears by it. he travels internationally for work. The app has a free trial.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
My parents went on a bunch of those Euro river cruises and a couple of times they got hung up as the river level was too high and the ship/boat couldnt get under the bridges.
Just something to research if they anticipate those conditions.
My wife was supposed to do a one day cruise from Vienna to Bratislava--canceled due to low water. No notification, she found out when she showed up at the dock.
I'm generally a *hard* no on cruises, but would consider an AK one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shredhead
I tried it on a trip to Hawaii about a year ago and it seemed to work well, but that's not a big time difference. I turned on a coworker to it who has used it for a few Euro trips and he says it's a game changer for big trips like that. Definitely try it.Quote:
Originally Posted by bodywhomper
I’m gonna give timeshifter it a shot. They provide for a free trial for a trip. I plugged in our trip and the prescription seems pretty reasonable. The “avoid light” prescription could be challenging. It’s a running joke for my BIL at his work when it’s attending in-person meetings wearing dark glasses.
Re: euro river trips. When my folks went, they had to change ships because of low river levels. I think they got shuttled/bussed.
I am sure it is old hat for some on here, but I’d like to take the AK ferry from WA to Valdez or Whittier.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums
I haven’t done it for a long time, but in the 80s and 90s, the AK ferry was a pretty f’n cool. I’d get a cabin or roomette if I was feeling pretty solvent (get one with a window or porthole) but you can stay on deck under a solarium or in a deck chair, even pitch a small self-standing tent. I don’t think cabins and such are always available.
The bar patrons were usually interesting.
We rode the ferry from Wittier to Valdez one year and our group drank the boat out of beer. They wouldn't let up go down to get more out of our vehicles. Probably a good idea. Some of us played poker with the captain for a majority of the cruise.
Don't know if this is a "hack" so much as a decent promo worth taking advantage of if you're a business traveler. I guess they do this a few times a year, but if you fly Delta they're doing that thing where you can rack up MQDs if you book your hotels (and car rentals) through them. $1:$1
I'm just a lowly Silver, but this is gonna get me to Gold in like a month or two between flights and hotels. If I keep at it whenever they're running this promo, I should be able to hit Platinum easy enough, all on the company dime. :D
https://carsandstays.delta.com/lp/b/...May25MQD.Hotel
Still renting my cars through National since I'm so close to hitting status on that one too. Executive Elite FTMFW!
Sent from my Pixel 8 using TGR Forums mobile app
If you are bored and looking ideas for places to travel and to do it cheap, go to google flights and enter the airport that you are leaving from and the dates but leave the destination open. I'll show you the cheapest flights available all over. Pretty fun way to start planning an off-the-cuff trip.
Ooh. I need to try this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Name Redacted
Yup, the explore function. I have left the dates blank and try different departure airports for flying to Yurp. For the last 9 months flying out of Calgary or Vancouver has been much cheaper than the west coast USA. Recently saw some smokin deals from LAX to Rome direct on ITA.
O and I am talking Business class.
Yeah, I used that feature when Thanksgiving flights to warm places were crazy expensive. Discovered that there were much cheaper flights to, say, Rome, than to Cancun (even though the flight is at least twice the length). So I'm going to Rome instead of sitting on a beach.
Rome is so much better than the beach. Where else ya goin'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
https://matrix.itasoftware.com/search
This is the underlying tech that runs google's flight search with a ton of ability to customize search parameters. Convoluted and cumbersome, but you can find crazy deals
Realized yesterday that if I pay for work expenses on my personal card from OR (no sales tax) and then submit for reimbursement, the company saves 10% on sales tax. Hack for getting airline miles? Going to talk to my supervisor and see if it has legs.
Turkish Airways through Istanbul. So we're gonna spend 3 nights there then 4 nights in Rome. Quick trip for that much flying but should be great, and for my kiddo's first international trip, it's so much better of a choice than Cancun.Quote:
Originally Posted by skaredshtles
Capitol One Venture X lounge changing access come February. I haz a very big sad.
I have read some pretty shit reviews on Turkish Airways, so I won't try them, but they have some deals occasionally. GLWTF.
My future son in law has flown them a bunch and said they are really good. :shrug:
Top 10 according to this: https://www.airlineratings.com/artic...lines-for-2025
We've flown Turkish from Seattle to Istanbul and then on to other destinations twice in the last 2 years. Their staff at seatac all seem to be contractors who don't give much of a shit about anything, but the planes are pretty nice inside and the flight crews are good. We'll do it again because it is often the cheapest deal around.
--------
Edited to add: I remembered that last year we booked our flight with miles through my Chase card and there was some kind of bullshit confirmation and schedule change that neither Chase nor I was aware of. Only found out because I couldn't see my itinerary on the Turkish website and then had to get on the phone with everyone involved (which shockingly was incredibly irritating) to get it resolved. Something to keep in mind if you're not booking directly with the airline
<p>
</p>Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
<p>
</p>
<p>
I just scanned the email. Looks like primary card holder still has full lounge access but any secondary/authorized users will have to pay a yearly fee? Is that the gist? </p>
<p>
Also, Istanbul is very cool. Sounds like you have a tight schedule but Esphesus is awesome if you can swing it. </p>
Yeah, I think so, they can pay a yearly fee for additional cardholders or a per-visit fee for guests. My GF has the card and that has allowed her, myself, and my daughter to use the lounges when we travel. But come February, she won't be able to get us in for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by zion zig zag
Enjoy. I like Rome a lot. Make sure to wander through Piazza Navona at some point...Quote:
Originally Posted by Danno
That's what I read. I've had this Cap One Venture X since they came out with it, Mrs C is an authorized user and so has been able to use the lounge access when she's traveled without me.Quote:
Originally Posted by zion zig zag
They're also removing guest access for all Priority Pass lounges.
I suppose if you're going to travel at all, just pay the $125 extra for the authorized user to get lounge access - - a handful of uses per year and that pays for itself.
For purchases used in a sales tax state, the business is usually required to remit any tax that wasn't collected by the vendor; Vermont will check this if you get audited, I haven't been involved in sales tax audits elsewhere, so I have no idea what "normal" is or what the likelihood of getting caught in your state is. Delivery address will matter for physical goods.Quote:
Originally Posted by dan_pdx
If you want to use your personal card for the miles, I'd ask that way and not lead with the tax dodging. Personally, I'd want to consider carefully the possibility of something happening and the business being unable to cover the charges.
Husband of my kids’ teacher used their personal cc for all work expenses to accrue miles. Guy was a land manager of a large ranch/private preserve. He and his family spent most of one summer (over a month) on a trip to Africa, all paid through accumulated points.
The corporate cards that we must use at my work for expenses are personal cards that are tied to the employee. We used to have cards that gave us miles (chase sapphire) and the company paid the annual fee. None of that is true now.