I recently used the new 144 hour transit visa-on-arrival in Shanghai. No hassles. You need to arrive from one place and depart to another - no round trips. For example, you could fly from Tokyo and then depart to Manila.

I would be wary of leaving from or going to Hong Kong or Taiwan, as both are considered part of China.

The 144 hour visa is also good for Hangzhou and Nanjing. There is no charge and there is a special line, which was short when I went through.

I recommend you print out this to show to airline agents as you board the plane to China:
http://www.sh-immigration.gov.cn/listPag...40&id=4414

Also have your onward flight within 144 hours printed out.

An easy option for those who have not visited China and a reason to bump the lounge up.

At the airport HK and Taiwan are separate countries subject to international border controls so they work fine for this purpose.

Giving this thread a bump

I was able to use IHG point breaks for Tampere, Finland. The options aren't great for Europe right now with the exception of Lisbon and Budapest perhaps.

Dantes,

When are you going to Tampere? It's wonderful during uni time and not so much during the summer.

I've been there once for a few days in the spring of 2015. The weather was warming up and the girls were out and about. I had a blast as far as girls and partying but there isn't much to do there.

^ Are you coming to Tampere?

Lots of universities in Tampere, hence why it feels so empty in summer time.

^Wow that's almost as bad as the $10 buffet I went yo in Tampa last year that was filled with obese families pigging out.

^^Suits, what exactly is your point. I was at a buffet this morning in Shenzhen, at a Hyatt. No one was fighting over anything. People mostly just waited - and I was the only white person at the buffet (all others appeared to be Chinese). So does that mean anything more or less than your videos? I mostly stuck to eating, so I don't have video proof of the lack of a rampage.

Anyway, I have kind of a crazy itinerary coming up. I found a cheap biz class flight back to the USA (I need to do some passport paperwork), but it leaves from Dhaka (via Doha, and then to Miami where I need to be). Though I am approaching 70 countries, this is a first for me in Bangladesh. Not a lot on here regarding it.

After Bangladesh, I hit Doha for an day and an overnight, and then direct onto Miami.

Finally, after that I have to take jet blue flight somewhere...though I'll figure out that for myself.

Question is, having looked at the hotel situations in both Dhaka and Doha and being less than impressed by the cost/benefit ratio in both (especially given that I have pretty early departures in both), am I absolutely mad to think about trying to find some high end dude (relatively) on couch surfing and hit him up? I know, I know, Global Entry couch surfing (would be a first for me), but wondering if it might be something to try. I see some people on there that look to have interesting profiles, even in Dhaka, and while Dante's is always nice to point out, I have an extensive social circle, I don't know anyone in either of Bangladesh or Qatar.

I'll probably just get a hotel, but the idea is admittedly, truthfully, and not trollingly stuck in my mind.

(08-14-2016 08:32 AM)Global Entry Wrote:  ^^Suits, what exactly is your point. I was at a buffet this morning in Shenzhen, at a Hyatt. No one was fighting over anything. People mostly just waited - and I was the only white person at the buffet (all others appeared to be Chinese). So does that mean anything more or less than your videos? I mostly stuck to eating, so I don't have video proof of the lack of a rampage.

No point. I just happened across the videos and found them entertaining enough that I decided to share them. If they were truly note worthy, I would have started a thread.

Those are videos of Chinese tour groups. Yes, they do that. I'd doubt you see that in 1st tier Chinese cities, but you'd see that anywhere rmore rural Chinese travel in large groups, like Thailand. They will taste things on buffets with their hands and put back what they've half eaten on buffet. Nasty.

(08-08-2016 10:37 AM)Mentavious Wrote:  Dantes,

When are you going to Tampere? It's wonderful during uni time and not so much during the summer.

I've been there once for a few days in the spring of 2015. The weather was warming up and the girls were out and about. I had a blast as far as girls and partying but there isn't much to do there.

I was there just for two days. There wasn't much going on. I would like to hit Helsinki again.

Some Chinese asshole in Da Nang grabbed a bunch of bananas out of a street vendor's basket, ate them, then tossed the peels back in the basket before asking the price. Tried to pay in Yuan. Actually saw a chick on Tinder here whose profile said "If you are fucking CHINESE get the fuck off my profile!"

I'm glad China is taking over America's crown as biggest assholes abroad.

Chinese people are rude and obnoxious. The whitewashed Canadian or American born Chinese are ok, but there is a well deserved hate on for foreign born Chinese in Canada right now that has seemed to become pretty mainstream, especially in the last few years.

My EU passport just came in the mail. Fuck yes.

Is there a website that shows direct flights between cities? For example, I want to click on say, Bangkok, and see a list of airports I can fly to without layovers both to and from Bangkok.

Never mind, found a site that's in beta.

(10-03-2016 11:37 PM)Patriarch Wrote:  Is there a website that shows direct flights between cities? For example, I want to click on say, Bangkok, and see a list of airports I can fly to without layovers both to and from Bangkok.

Never mind, found a site that's in beta.

Skyscanner is one I've used in the past. Select one way flights and 'Bangkok Any' as your departure airport to search from both airports; DMK & BKK. Type in Everywhere as your destination and check the 'non stop flights only' box. It will only list destination countries in the main list but if selected the cities are shown.

In the past the search engine would often miss the odd airline so I use it in conjunction with ITA, Google flights etc and my own knowledge of who flies in and out of the region.

https://www.skyscanner.net

Do any of you have suggestions for a Saturday night in New England? I'm driving south from Canada and would like to be within an hour or two of Boston, are there any smaller cities that could be fun to check out? Basically I'll be driving 10-12 hours that day and am looking for a place where I can get a cheap hotel and go out for a few beers, hopefully pull a scallywag from Tinder or a bar haha.

(10-03-2016 11:37 PM)Patriarch Wrote:  Is there a website that shows direct flights between cities? For example, I want to click on say, Bangkok, and see a list of airports I can fly to without layovers both to and from Bangkok.

Never mind, found a site that's in beta.

(10-04-2016 01:13 AM)Kamaki4 Wrote:  Skyscanner is one I've used in the past. Select one way flights and 'Bangkok Any' as your departure airport to search from both airports; DMK & BKK. Type in Everywhere as your destination and check the 'non stop flights only' box. It will only list destination countries in the main list but if selected the cities are shown.

In the past the search engine would often miss the odd airline so I use it in conjunction with ITA, Google flights etc and my own knowledge of who flies in and out of the region.

https://www.skyscanner.net

Nice, good resources. In the past I used the wikipedia pages for respective airports, they list all passenger destinations and are pretty accurate. However they don't tell you if the flights only happen on certain days of the week, which Patriarch's web page does.

(12-07-2016 07:19 PM)scotian Wrote:  Do any of you have suggestions for a Saturday night in New England? I'm driving south from Canada and would like to be within an hour or two of Boston, are there any smaller cities that could be fun to check out? Basically I'll be driving 10-12 hours that day and am looking for a place where I can get a cheap hotel and go out for a few beers, hopefully pull a scallywag from Tinder or a bar haha.

I used to visit my uncle when he lived in Lawrence, MA which is an hour north of Boston.

I would only recommend it if you're into meth-head looking chicks. Those are the only types I remember seeing there.

Here's a question to the collective wisdom of the travel forum.
Recently I've been thinking about where to spend New Year, wanna see a new city and preferably also country.
Did a quick search for convenient and cheap flights. Stay for 1 week, max. 150€ for the flights. These are the results:

UK:
Birmingham - 84€
Liverpool - 91€
Edinburgh - 110€
Leeds - 121€

Sweden:
Stockholm - 81€
Malmö - 121€

Italy:
Naples - 103€

Netherlands:
Amsterdam - 121€

Ireland:
Dublin - 88€

Romania:
Cluj - 54€
Bukarest - 69€
Timisoara - 96€

Bulgaria:
Sofia - 113€

Ukraine:
Kiev - 157€

Serbia:
Nis - 14€ (it's true! )


I know my way around Europe in general, but is one of those cities famous for its New Year's celebrations in particular?
What I'd be looking for is obviously the most bang for my (very limited) buck, in terms of sightseeing, party and girls (I could imagine that in many places they go to some smaller cities to visit their family for the holidays).
Right now I'm really tempted to go to Nis, I know nothing about this place, but look at that price!
All input is appreciated.

^ Can't beat that price for Nis. Never been to Serbia, but Nis population is 200k so if you're there for a week I'm sure you'll find either a girl or a party to do for New Year's.

@Jámes Aside from Boston itself somewhere in Western Mass is probably your best bet, the route would take you far from the Boston traffic and there are a ton of colleges in that area. If you're going that route, Northampton is a cool little hippie town for a day. Smith College is all girls but full of feminists and lesbians as is the whole town you'll love it! Nothing better around there unless you have an in at one of the colleges.

Portland Maine and Providence RI would be good too, but are probably out of your way and not worth it for the HB5s

(12-07-2016 07:19 PM)scotian Wrote:  Do any of you have suggestions for a Saturday night in New England? I'm driving south from Canada and would like to be within an hour or two of Boston, are there any smaller cities that could be fun to check out? Basically I'll be driving 10-12 hours that day and am looking for a place where I can get a cheap hotel and go out for a few beers, hopefully pull a scallywag from Tinder or a bar haha.

Newport, RI Plymouth, MA Hyannis, MA Framingham, MA - full of Brazilians

In the midst of what might be the best vacation I've ever taken.

Currently in Nozawa Onsen. Skiied for 6 hours of tons of fresh powder until my legs couldn't take any more and then hit up an Onsen afterward.

Tbh I had no idea what these were.





Just got out and I'm buzzed. Pristine skiing, natural hot bath, and then back out into the cold followed by some killer chow tonight.

There's an Argentinian chick at the equipment rental shop who's also staying the in same lodge as me. I flirted with her in Spanish yesterday and this morning at brekkie she was asking me lots and lots of questions. I'm the only Spanish speaker she's talked to in a while and she was eating it up. Hot European face (I thought she was Scandinavian at first) and fat Latina ass. If I can get a bang in before I leave that would just be icing on the cake.

Regarding the onsens, the minute I started washing up next to a few Japanese villagers something triggered inside of me. I felt like a goddamn primate in a tribe. I now know what that tribal instinct is, something I don't feel too often. America is all about competing with each other.

As I sat and listened to these guys chat in Japanese, I imagined them talking about the age-old gripes; wife spends too much, mistress is getting needy, kids are forgetting the old ways and glued to smart phones, boss at work is a dick, subordinates are lazy, parents are getting sick...what an incredible tradition to have a place to have a shave and soak in natural spring water and shoot the shit with the guys.

(12-14-2016 02:41 AM)Veloce Wrote:  In the midst of what might be the best vacation I've ever taken.

Currently in Nozawa Onsen. Skiied for 6 hours of tons of fresh powder until my legs couldn't take any more and then hit up an Onsen afterward.

Tbh I had no idea what these were.





Just got out and I'm buzzed. Pristine skiing, natural hot bath, and then back out into the cold followed by some killer chow tonight.

There's an Argentinian chick at the equipment rental shop who's also staying the in same lodge as me. I flirted with her in Spanish yesterday and this morning at brekkie she was asking me lots and lots of questions. I'm the only Spanish speaker she's talked to in a while and she was eating it up. Hot European face (I thought she was Scandinavian at first) and fat Latina ass. If I can get a bang in before I leave that would just be icing on the cake.

Regarding the onsens, the minute I started washing up next to a few Japanese villagers something triggered inside of me. I felt like a goddamn primate in a tribe. I now know what that tribal instinct is, something I don't feel too often. America is all about competing with each other.

As I sat and listened to these guys chat in Japanese, I imagined them talking about the age-old gripes; wife spends too much, mistress is getting needy, kids are forgetting the old ways and glued to smart phones, boss at work is a dick, subordinates are lazy, parents are getting sick...what an incredible tradition to have a place to have a shave and soak in natural spring water and shoot the shit with the guys.

The onsen.....

The great equalizer among men.

Amazing bro, what a vacation. Your instagram has me reminiscing.

The only unpleasant part about this trip so far has been the Australians here in Nozawa.

For the most part a weird lot. They're either oddly antisocial or obnoxious and loud. I also despise 99% of female snowboarders. The types of chicks that walk into a bar screaming "WOOOOOOO! Let's get our facking drink on aye?!?!" Bunch of dumpy ass fat white bitches that kill the vibe of such a tranquil place.

So last night I'm at the only bar in town that stays open until 2am, was actually hoping the Argentine girl would show up. I've had a few whiskeys, lightly flirting with the somewhat bangable bartender, and she couldn't help herself, "So I just have to ask you what you think of Trump, did you vote for him?"

So the next hour or so was me politely and slightly drunkenly red-pilling the shit out of the bar.

"What better place to discuss this than Japan. Look at this society. It's largely homogenous. There is a distinct quality about Japan...Japan is for the Japanese. Japanese care for their neighbors and the well-being of their own people. Their food, their language, their history, their way of life. Yes they have adopted foreign technologies and certain things from Korea, but at the end of the day it's only to benefit their citizenship. Now look at France. Marine Le Pen is saying 'France for the French' and somehow that's racist? Why is it that when Western countries do the same thing it's racist and offensive?"

Another tirade I like that seems to be effective:
"I grew up liberal democrat from California. I'm with you guys, I really am." *point to the others in the bar* "We can all agree that we're a basic level of empathetic and compassionate towards others right? I mean that's where this concern for poor downtrodden immigrants comes from right? Okay, so we're empathetic and compassionate, great. What you don't realize is that it's a privilege to be that empathetic and compassionate that's the result of hundreds of years of war and anguish in Europe, millions of lives lost in wars and political upheavals, brilliant political documents and events going back to the Magna Carta and religious revolutions like the Protestant Reformation, military revolutions and monarchies toppled so that you and I can enjoy our 'empathy' and 'compassion'. Well guess what, that's a distinctly Western thing. People in other parts of the world, specifically the middle east, haven't gone through that same history. They don't give a fuck about your 'empathy' and 'compassion'."

Look on their face was pretty priceless. Bartender says "You don't sound like a typical Trump supporter". I told her she should talk to more of them.

Anyway for most of it I'd get nods and "Oh yeah I guess I never really thought of it that way....but Trump just says some really awful things!"

Fucking hopeless.