Travel

[World Traveler]

I enjoyed the threads during October and particularly liked seeing new posters on our forum. The more posters, the more diverse opinions we get, and that means I always learn something.

Here are some of the new topics I enjoyed in October:

• Cruise company rating
• Toiletry/Makeup Bag by @Shiloh09
• Homicide Hunter Fans: Cruise with Joe Kenda and Carl Marino by @Montana 
• Travelon Luggage Scale by @arubakathy 
• 10 Secrets Hotel Employees Won’t Tell You
• 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites
• How to Pack a Suitcase in 30 Minutes or Less
• Mini Backpack Review by @JudyL
• Last Night I Traveled to My Garage by @BalletBabe  
• Took an Amtrak Vacay by @LoriMI  
• Got That Cruising Itch Again by @Gardengal55  
• Alaskan Cruise Recommendations by @mac116  
• NYC Restaurants by @bargainsgirl  
• Other Passengers by @adamlambert  
• 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn’t Know About Airlines
• Hawaii Travel Suggestions by @michigangirl723  
• Best Road Trips of 2017 – Hit the Highways!
• In Defense of Overpacking
• Funny: What Choosing a Window Seat Says About You (It’s Not Good) Psychology Says So by @VaBelle35  
• Just Returned from Fall Foliage trip by @Janealma
• Cheapest Destinations by Month
• Five Myths About Hotel Room Service
• Went to Italy by @Kalli
• 3 men were escorted from our plane yesterday by @lulu2

And, of course, the continuance of threads started prior to October are still being commented on.

Looking forward to this month’s new posts!

[LoriMI]

What a nice posting!   I love reading everyones adventures too!   2018 is Alaska, Alaska Cruise with inside passage and then the Canada train from Vancouver to Toronto!   I love travels!

[BalletBabe]

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@World Traveler wrote:

I enjoyed the threads during October and particularly liked seeing new posters on our forum. The more posters, the more diverse opinions we get, and that means I always learn something.

Here are some of the new topics I enjoyed in October:

• Cruise company rating
• Toiletry/Makeup Bag by @Shiloh09
• @Homicide Hunter Fans: Cruise with Joe Kenda and Carl Marino by @Montana 
• Travelon Luggage Scale by @arubakathy 
• 10 Secrets Hotel Employees Won’t Tell You
• 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Online Travel Sites
• How to Pack a Suitcase in 30 Minutes or Less
• Mini Backpack Review by @JudyL
• Last Night I Traveled to My Garage by @BalletBabe  
• Took an Amtrak Vacay by @LoriMI  
• Got That Cruising Itch Again by @Gardengal55  
• Alaskan Cruise Recommendations by @mac116  
• NYC Restaurants by @bargainsgirl  
• Other Passengers by @adamlambert  
• 16 Secrets You Wish You Didn’t Know About Airlines
• Hawaii Travel Suggestions by @michigangirl723  
• Best Road Trips of 2017 – Hit the Highways!
• In Defense of Overpacking
• Funny: What Choosing a Window Seat Says About You (It’s Not Good) Psychology Says So by @VaBelle35  
• Just Returned from Fall Foliage trip by @Janealma
• Cheapest Destinations by Month
• Five Myths About Hotel Room Service
• Went to Italy by @Kalli
• 3 men were escorted from our plane yesterday by @lulu2

And, of course, the continuance of threads started prior to October are still being commented on.

Looking forward to this month’s new posts!

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Little did anyone know how exciting traveling to their mailbox or Garage could be?    Lesson learned----Never leave without a can of Raid and a Fly swatter or shovel, just incase.    HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE 

[itsmagic]

I didn’t think this really warranted a new post so I’m putting this in travel chat. The last flight I was on before we could depart they asked for a couple people sitting at the front of the plane to move to some open seats at the back of the plane. I got the impression it was to balance the plane. It was a smaller commuter jet (maybe 40-50 people). Luckily a couple people did volunteer without incident but it struck me as odd that it would actually make a difference (and it wasn’t like the biggest people volunteered).  I also wondered if these people had paid extra to pick their seats up front and then ended up in the back. I didn’t hear them offer the people who moved anything for doing so. 

[itsmagic]

Going on our Grand Canyon tour this coming week (via bus). Flying to Phoenix on Sunday. Received an e-mail from United Airlines last night that the flights from Chicago have a chance of delay or cancellation due to thunderstorms there on Sunday.  The tour starts Monday morning and they don’t wait for latecomers.   I called United and luckily they got us on a flight later today with no extra charge. Then I had to book a hotel room for tonight in Phoenix.  I did buy travel insurance but I really want to go!  Hope it all works out. 

[Alter Ego]

@itsmagic - I’m having the same problem at O’Hare today.  Flight is over 2 hours delayed and I only have a little over 3 hour layover.  Will keep fingers crossed for both of us!!

When I looked before - gosh, maybe I looked two days ago - all the rain was on Sunday.  Thought I’d be lucky going today.

**Edited to add - no problem with connection.  Currently in Amsterdam, waiting for flight to Johannesburg to board.  No time to look around the airport, but the important thing is that I’m here. The luggage?? Hmmm....we’ll see later tonight.  (To be truthful, the flight attendant did say there were several on my flight with the same connection.)

[FrostyBabe1]

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@itsmagic wrote:

I didn’t think this really warranted a new post so I’m putting this in travel chat. The last flight I was on before we could depart they asked for a couple people sitting at the front of the plane to move to some open seats at the back of the plane. I got the impression it was to balance the plane. It was a smaller commuter jet (maybe 40-50 people). Luckily a couple people did volunteer without incident but it struck me as odd that it would actually make a difference (and it wasn’t like the biggest people volunteered).  I also wondered if these people had paid extra to pick their seats up front and then ended up in the back. I didn’t hear them offer the people who moved anything for doing so. 

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Yes, asking for volunteers to move to the back is for weight & balance issues. It’s not that uncommon on commuter jets. Most of those planes are all steerage, so getting a seat up front isn’t necessarily advantageous, other than getting off quicker at the end of the flight. I’ve done it before and have always ended up with 5-10,000 miles deposited in my frequent flyer account. 

[VaBelle35]

Have any of you read about the TripAdvisor changes related to reviews that talk about abuse and assaults? 

I had not until this morning when I received an email from TA about it.  I am a Destination Expert and we all received a lengthy email about the forum posting policy change and letting us know not to flag a post for profanity or details related to an assault (if too many people flat a post it is automatically deleted).

TA has restored reviews and forum posts that were previously removed because the posts and reviews had violated posting policies at the time.  

TA has also starting putting warning badges on hotels and resorts where reviews indicate everything from robbery to rape.

I didn't realize TA removed these types of posts.  As a traveler who scans the TA forums and reviews for safety issues, I feel they did us a disservice by not allowing these posts on their site.  

[World Traveler]

Today, Sunday, November 12, there are several shows on travel, including the luggage line of Triforce (3-piece). I posted a separate thread on it.

Not familiar with this line of luggage, but if you like hard-shell luggage, here is one deal of the day on QVC2 that you might want to take a look at.

Lug also has some presentations.

[World Traveler]

I want to wish all our travel fans a very Happy Thanksgiving Day! I hope you are exactly where you want to be on this day, whether it is with your family, friends, or by yourself. 

I am VERY thankful for this Travel Forum, for your participation on the forum, and your cyber friendship with me. I enjoy your posts (pros and cons) and appreciate how you all have helped to keep this Forum a great exchange of ideas and not let it get into any areas that would shut us down. Even when you disagree, you do it in an agreeable way! LOL!!!

And, of course, all the photos! When you post your travel photos, you make me feel like I am right there with you. It helps me think about different places to go.

Thank you also for always being helpful with suggestions when anyone new comes to the Forum and posts a question or concern. You are so considerate and jump right in to give help any way you know how.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!