[Travel] Holiday plans this summer?

darkwolf666 · Jul 4, 2022

Just got back from a week at Greatstone in Kent. Lovely house sited right on/in the sand dunes, with a great view of the Royal Naval ship doing its daily best to stop the immigrants reaching Blighty... Better than I-Spy...

LamieRobertson · Jul 4, 2022

Gwylan said:
It was great fun and the kids really got into it. I thought a pair of stroppy teenagers would be a bit moody but they loved all the activity. The only one who wasn't impressed was the dog - she didn't think much of a home that was moving around

I certainly recommend a canal trip for a good family experience.

I did several canal holidays when I was younger and loved them….mooring up a hundred yards away from a waterside pub was enjoyable too.

BN9 BHA · Jul 4, 2022

LamieRobertson said:
I did several canal holidays when I was younger and loved them….mooring up a hundred yards away from a waterside pub was enjoyable too.

The first and only time I have been on a canal boat I ended up in Guildford A & E having my head sewn up :annoyed:

raymondo · Jul 5, 2022

Gwylan said:
When I struggle to be brief, I become obscure - the cry of writers down the ages (at least the ones paid by the word)

I should add that it's a quote from Horace - who's full of little epigrams like this

Thanks, nice one - the 'ancient' writers were very wise. Reminds me of:. 'I'm sorry for writing such a long letter... I just didn't have time to write a short one', and I can't remember where I read that.

LamieRobertson · Jul 5, 2022

bn9 bha said:
The first and only time I have been on a canal boat I ended up in Guildford A & E having my head sewn up

That was a bit silly..why did u do that for

Bozza · Jul 6, 2022

Potential issue on the horizon for anyone hoping to fly out of Heathrow later this month...

Members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, employed by Aviation Fuel Services (AFS) Ltd at Heathrow airport have announced strikes later this month in a dispute over pay.

The workers will stage an initial 72 hour walkout beginning at 05:00 on Thursday 21 July and ending at 04:59 on Sunday 24 July.

The strike action will cause considerable disruption and delays throughout Heathrow. AFS provides fuelling services to over 70 airlines at the airport including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United, SAS, Air France, Emirates, Delta, JAL, KLM and Singapore Airlines.

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-...ite-members-bid-to-end-three-year-pay-freeze/

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jul 6, 2022

'British Airways is to cut 10,300 more short-haul flights due to feature in its schedule between August and the end of October.'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62070451

Why do BA even bother running an airline? And who in their right mind would choose to fly their over-priced penny-pinching service even if they DON'T cancel your flight and/or lose your luggage? It's beyond pathetic. BA need consigning to the dustbin of aviation history IMHO :wave:

Marty___Mcfly · Jul 7, 2022

WATFORD zero said:
I'm not big on detail, but my daughter went to Australia for a year four weeks ago and we currently have an old friend staying with us having arrived from Australia a week and a half ago, so I guess this is old news

It’s the requirement to provide evidence of a covid jab / test that Australia has dropped. So tennis players will be fine to come in for the next Australian Open.

All European countries have also dropped the requirement to provide evidence of a covid jab / test other than-

-France -unjabbed need a test result

-Malta -same as France

-Spain - unjabbed EU residents fine to come in, unjabbed non-EU residents need test result

-Netherlands - same as Spain

The other biggie is USA which scrapped requirements for a test result in June, but still doesn’t let in unjabbed folk from the UK.

Poojah · Jul 7, 2022

Not holiday plans per se, but I’m travelling to New York on Monday on business. Some questions:

1. I have completed an ESTA for a separate family holiday to Orlando in August. Presumably I need another ESTA for this?

2. It’s a little while since I’ve been to the States so I’m not 100% on tipping etiquette. What’s considered an acceptable % to tip, and can you tip using a card or is it likely to be cash only?

3. I’ll have a little bit of downtime, what do I absolutely have to see? My hotel and office are both close to Times Square.

Cheers!

Bozza · Jul 7, 2022

Poojah said:
Not holiday plans per se, but I’m travelling to New York on Monday on business. Some questions:

1. I have completed an ESTA for a separate family holiday to Orlando in August. Presumably I need another ESTA for this?

2. It’s a little while since I’ve been to the States so I’m not 100% on tipping etiquette. What’s considered an acceptable % to tip, and can you tip using a card or is it likely to be cash only?

3. I’ll have a little bit of downtime, what do I absolutely have to see? My hotel and office are both close to Times Square.

Cheers!

1. No new ESTA required - they're valid for two years.

2. We go with the 15-20% on meals and a dollar or two per drink in a bar.

3. Walking (although I appreciate it may well be a bit warm)...

- The High Line is a great way to see some of the city - https://www.thehighline.org/visit/
- Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. If you only do one direction, do it coming back towards Manhattan.
- Central Park
- Little Island (I've not been to this one, as it opened since my last visit, but it looks great) - https://littleisland.org

Go up a tall building. I prefer Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center as you get to see the Empire State Building (which you don't if you are actually up the ESB). Aim for dusk if you can, so you see the city light up - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/#top-of-the-rock-observation-deck

Another one to consider is Summit at One Vanderbilt (also new since I last went) - https://summitov.com

Take a (free) Staten Island ferry over to Staten Island to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Maybe take a quick look at the Empire Outlets nearby the ferry terminal on SI if you fancy a quick shop - https://empireoutlets.nyc

Poojah · Jul 7, 2022

Bozza said:
1. No new ESTA required - they're valid for two years.

2. We go with the 15-20% on meals and a dollar or two per drink in a bar.

3. Walking (although I appreciate it may well be a bit warm)...

- The High Line is a great way to see some of the city - https://www.thehighline.org/visit/
- Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. If you only do one direction, do it coming back towards Manhattan.
- Central Park
- Little Island (I've not been to this one, as it opened since my last visit, but it looks great) - https://littleisland.org

Go up a tall building. I prefer Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center as you get to see the Empire State Building (which you don't if you are actually up the ESB). Aim for dusk if you can, so you see the city light up - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/#top-of-the-rock-observation-deck

Another one to consider is Summit at One Vanderbilt (also new since I last went) - https://summitov.com

Take a (free) Staten Island ferry over to Staten Island to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Maybe take a quick look at the Empire Outlets nearby the ferry terminal on SI if you fancy a quick shop - https://empireoutlets.nyc

Thanks Bozza - appreciate you taking the time. Can I just double check that my ESTA will be valid even though my US contact will be different?

Bozza · Jul 7, 2022

Poojah said:
Thanks Bozza - appreciate you taking the time. Can I just double check that my ESTA will be valid even though my US contact will be different?

Yes, ESTA approval is based on the information you provided about you, not where you happen to be staying.

That said, you can re-access the ESTA and update it if you wish. It doesn't make any difference either way though.

Albion my Albion · Jul 7, 2022

Are flight cancellations as big a problem in Europe as they are in the States?

Herr Tubthumper · Jul 7, 2022

Albion my Albion said:
Are flight cancellations as big a problem in Europe as they are in the States?

From my experience, flights within mainland Europe has been fine, in and out of UK a shambles. All airports seem understaffed with big queues.

Poojah · Jul 7, 2022

Bozza said:
Yes, ESTA approval is based on the information you provided about you, not where you happen to be staying.

That said, you can re-access the ESTA and update it if you wish. It doesn't make any difference either way though.

Amazing, thank you mate! Much easier trying to get this kind of information from the oracle that is NSC than it is the official sources.

Weststander · Jul 7, 2022

Bozza said:
1. No new ESTA required - they're valid for two years.

2. We go with the 15-20% on meals and a dollar or two per drink in a bar.

3. Walking (although I appreciate it may well be a bit warm)...

- The High Line is a great way to see some of the city - https://www.thehighline.org/visit/
- Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. If you only do one direction, do it coming back towards Manhattan.
- Central Park
- Little Island (I've not been to this one, as it opened since my last visit, but it looks great) - https://littleisland.org

Go up a tall building. I prefer Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center as you get to see the Empire State Building (which you don't if you are actually up the ESB). Aim for dusk if you can, so you see the city light up - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/#top-of-the-rock-observation-deck

Another one to consider is Summit at One Vanderbilt (also new since I last went) - https://summitov.com

Take a (free) Staten Island ferry over to Staten Island to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Maybe take a quick look at the Empire Outlets nearby the ferry terminal on SI if you fancy a quick shop - https://empireoutlets.nyc

Hi [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION],

We’re off to NYC on the 19th with Virgin (thanks @KG :bowdown:

), so lucky with those the strike dates, I hope.

Planning to do The High Line, out of city shopping at Woodbury Common, 9-11 Memorial, a theatre evening and much more.

One question …. do we have to tip in cash, or do all US restaurants allow you to simply add it to the card payment these days?

dazzer6666 · Jul 7, 2022

Bozza said:
1. No new ESTA required - they're valid for two years.

2. We go with the 15-20% on meals and a dollar or two per drink in a bar.

3. Walking (although I appreciate it may well be a bit warm)...

- The High Line is a great way to see some of the city - https://www.thehighline.org/visit/
- Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. If you only do one direction, do it coming back towards Manhattan.
- Central Park
- Little Island (I've not been to this one, as it opened since my last visit, but it looks great) - https://littleisland.org

Go up a tall building. I prefer Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center as you get to see the Empire State Building (which you don't if you are actually up the ESB). Aim for dusk if you can, so you see the city light up - https://www.rockefellercenter.com/buy-tickets/#top-of-the-rock-observation-deck

Another one to consider is Summit at One Vanderbilt (also new since I last went) - https://summitov.com

Take a (free) Staten Island ferry over to Staten Island to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Maybe take a quick look at the Empire Outlets nearby the ferry terminal on SI if you fancy a quick shop - https://empireoutlets.nyc

Agree with absolutely all of this. New York is very walkable (the locals will think you’re mental though…why walk when there is a subway ?). I once walked from Battery to Harlem when I was there working and had a weekend to kill. Absolutely fascinating and spent the whole day doing it - just followed Broadway/Fifth all the way.

OK to tip by card if paying by card……don’t worry, taxi drivers and restaurant servers will make it blindingly obvious where you add your tip

If you want to go shopping get over to Jersey City - no sale tax on clothes and shoes so quite a bit cheaper. Jersey Gardens Mall is pretty good.

Marlton and Hove Albion · Jul 7, 2022

Weststander said:
Hi [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION],

We’re off to NYC on the 19th with Virgin (thanks @KG ), so lucky with those the strike dates, I hope.

Planning to do The High Line, out of city shopping at Woodbury Common, 9-11 Memorial, a theatre evening and much more.

One question …. do we have to tip in cash, or do all US restaurants allow you to simply add it to the card payment these days?

Can generally do both. Staff prefer cash, but grateful of the tip either way.

Super Steve Earle · Jul 7, 2022

Mrs Earle went to York in May and came back with Covid. We went on a cruise in June and I came back with Covid. Next opportunity for Covid is a week in the Peak District in October, but might take a Warners break between now and then to avoid flying to catch Covid again (probably).

Weststander · Jul 7, 2022

dazzer6666 said:
Agree with absolutely all of this. New York is very walkable (the locals will think you’re mental though…why walk when there is a subway ?). I once walked from Battery to Harlem when I was there working and had a weekend to kill. Absolutely fascinating and spent the whole day doing it - just followed Broadway/Fifth all the way.

OK to tip by card if paying by card……don’t worry, taxi drivers and restaurant servers will make it blindingly obvious where you add your tip

If you want to go shopping get over to Jersey City - no sale tax on clothes and shoes so quite a bit cheaper. Jersey Gardens Mall is pretty good.

I’ve been to the US and Canada a few times, always tipping 15%. Heard the stories about waiting staff coming after English skint-flints :lolol:

I’m working out if I need to take cash and how much.

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[Travel] Holiday plans this summer?

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