Thorn Tree travel forum

USA branch FAQ

This branch covers: Mainland USA, Hawaii & Alaska

So many posts request the impossible - that a bunch of people who have never met you magically intuit how much you have to spend and what will make you happy on vacation, generally planning out your route for three months and helping you get discount flight reservations.

So, what can you do to get great travel advice?

1. Do your homework
The web is filled with basic information like how far it is from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, or how to get from JFK to Manhattan (all major US airports have websites with transit info). Google is your best friend. See the list of indispensable sites below. Get your basic info first, then you can ask intelligent questions on the TT and pick the brains of the many knowledgeable locals who frequent this site just hoping someone will ask about a romantic B&B in New Orleans or a baseball g... more »

Don't forget to calculate in the luggage fees.....

... they can bite you in the ass. From Bing Travel News.

By Robin Dalmas, Bing Travel

Just in time for the holidays, new fees that airlines charge for your luggage have clocked consumers on the head like a giant nutcracker doll falling out of the overhead bin. If you’re not seeing stars yet, try making sense of each airline’s baggage-fees policy. You’ll need a complex decision tree, and perhaps a calculator.

Do you have one, two or three bags? Do they weigh less than 50 pounds, 51 to 70 pounds or 71 to 100 pounds? Did you buy your ticket this month or last July? Will you pay your baggage fees online or at the airport? Are you traveling domestically or heading abroad for the holidays? Are you flying coach or business class, and are you an elite frequent flier? Are you a civilian or a member of the military? And, if that weren’t dizzying enough, consider this: Are you flyi... more »

Zero entry pool - Marriot Ocean Pointe

Hi, does anyone know if the Marriot Ocean Pointe resort in Palm Beach has a zero entry pool? I've heard that it does but looking for more confirmation.

If anyone can recommend other family resorts with z/e pools in Florida it would be much appreciated.
Thanks & Cheers!!

Driving from Seattle to San Francisco in winter

We're driving from Seattle to San Francisco in mid December. We only have 2 days to get there (on the way back we have lots of time) so we're looking for the quickest route as well as one where there is little or no (hopefully) snow or ice.
Any advice ?

Chicago: Hancock Observatory v. Skydeck (fka Sears Tower)

We'll want to go to the Hancock Observatory or the Skydeck - are there any pros and cons to either over the other?

Looks to be pretty much price neutral.

(Another option we're considering is to simply go up to the Signature Lounge in the Hancock Building and enjoy a drink while enjoying the view. This option would also be about the same cost as doing the tour. But presumably no lines and no rush-rush while atop the building.)

Also: Is the only difference between the two buildings' express elevator ticket and the regular admission the faster access to the top? Or is there some other factor I'm not getting? The price for the express is significantly higher than the regular admission.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Weather in Kauai in January, places to stay

My question is two-fold.

I know the weather in January in Kauai is rainier, and that the North Shore is going to be one of the rainier parts.

If you were going there for 10 days in January, would you avoid staying on the North Shore?

Also, I'm having difficulty finding options that sleep 5. I've been looking at rental houses, but they are either expensive, in Princeville, or booked already.

Any recommendations and tips appreciated.

Thanks,
N

3 nights camping trip to Everglades

This is a question to people who have camped both at Long Pine Key and Flamingo campground: if you had 3 nights in Everglades, which of these two frontcountry campsites would you base yourself at? Or you would rather spend time in both - let's say one night in one and two in the other, or vice versa? Also, if you know any specialized camping-oriented forums, please let me know.

Florida Everglades - which area?

Hi,

I have been researching travel options for a Florida trip next month and I've been having a great deal of difficulty finding the information and/or advice I need.

I will be staying in Tampa for 3 days for work, then heading down to Miami for 3 days. While I am in the area I would like to go into the Everglades, and the original plan was to rent a car in Tampa and dive it one way to Miami, spending one night on the way in Everglades city, and then exploring the Everglades on the drive to Miami the next day. However, I've read that part of the park is more for boaters, and that it is better to see the park via Homestead. Even Lonely Planet Florida states that Homestead to Flamingo Point offers "the best horizons of the Everglades" and "some of the most quietly exhilarating scenery the park has to offer".

I'd love to hear from someone who has been to both areas how much o... more »

Where to live in California

Dear all,
I will be studying for a year at University of California next year. I am in the middle of the application proces trying to figure out what campuses to give priority in my application. Besides San Fransisco and L.A. I have narrowed my choice of destination down to either Davis, Santa Barbara or San Diego. The UC campuses in these cities all offer courses that I am interested in. What cities can you recommend living in?
I am looking for cities with the predictable classics: a flourishing art, dance, drama and music scene, bikes, parks, and (ethnic) neighborhoods with a nice atmosphere.
Looking forward to any input from you!
Best,
Anne