Tagged With "Andrew Low House"
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Re: France: Cameras are watching more than speed
Well said. I've always thought that aggressive driving is more dangerous than speeding...especially in areas where the limit is set too low.
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Re: August 5, 2017: The Potter and his Wife
An interesting insight garage med by poking around in unexpected places. The caste system is still a blight on Indian society, though breaking down in towns and cities due to the pressures of modern life (sharing transport for example), in rural areas it can be deadly serious when low caste people try to assert democratic rights
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Re: Visiting My Backyard—Riverside Park
Glad kids are still using the park. I also think I going to parks is an important part of growing up and in most cases very safe. A few years ago FBI statistics showed crime was at a 40 year low in a lot places in the US, but perception was crime was the highest its ever been. The rates might of gone higher a bit in the last few years but crime is still at historic lows.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#288)
Gumbo gets on the train and sees some low tech.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 13, 2015: Gettysburg at dusk
Thanks for the note, Marilyn! I agree. The low light really added to the drama of that setting.
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Re: EU Court rules baggage fees legal
Baggage fees are often avoidable. Links from AirFareWatchdog.com's newletter this morning included this one , a SmartTravel.com piece on ways to do it. While the suggestions don't generally apply to the low-fare airlines such as Spanish carrier Vueling, the subject of DrF's news, they can certainly help us avoid domestic charges.
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Re: Wow! Iceland Express successor adds U.S. flights
I really am excited about hearing this.I was a big fan of Iceland Express, so I'm hoping Wow will offer the same consistent low prices to North America as they did.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Lots to consider. I can't go through Thailand without hanging out a few weeks so the 2 ticket plan may suit me better. I see Cathay Pacific also flies to Colombo, connecting in HKG. Will have to do more research to see if any of the low fare Asian airlines can facilitate a plan. What season is your favorite there? Is there an off-season when there are bargains to be had?
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Re: Do you Like these Hotel Tipping Tips ?
I just don't know what to think. Does every question to a front office staff or concierge deserve a tip? How many envelopes do I need to carry for three weeks for housekeeping? If you are fortunate enough to get twice daily service do you tip both times? On my last trip because it was low season, we spoiled ourselves with a very nice hotel.... I admit more times than one desperately searching my pockets for change or (gulp) even a five Euro note... I understand that hotel staff does not make...
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Re: Doctor List for Traveling
Mac says, a good travel insurance policy is an absolute requirement - The part he left off was "for me", for him. Insurance, any kind, is playing the odds. When you buy it you're betting you'll have a disaster. When you don't you're figuring the likelihood of a dire event is low. If you take an occasional trip of short duration and can afford insurance, sure, why not. When the number & length of trips begins to mount and the budget becomes more of an issue then maybe not. It's called...
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Re: Share Your Budget Tablet and Laptop Picks
Those are some pretty cheap devices...didn't realize the Kindle had gotten that low. I have an original Kindle Fire, and I've been pretty happy with it, although at 7" and limited word processing, it hasn't been everything. The little laptop in your list I went on Amazon and looked at it and it is 7" too...sort of like a mini-iPad with a keyboard, except that it's really an Android tablet with a keyboard! A tablet that size with a keyboard might just be the smallest practical tool.
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Re: British Parents Prosecuted For Taking Vacation During School Time
Often we find that the problem is greatest for the working parents with the fewest resources: those working in low-wage service industries whose cycles don't match those of schools. For instance, hospital workers have time off spaced through the year--no slow season, sadly--and workers in tourism-based industries are often most in demand at the very same time that their children are off! I think the solution goes in two directions: First for parents to consider all other alternatives first,...
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Re: Swindon's 7 layer traffic circle
That is amazing! And I see it as a convincing argument for traffic lights. Perhaps locals know their way, but for a tourist traveling here it would be a nightmare. While the videoclip says that there are few fatal accidents, that's likely because of the low speeds involved in the roundabout. I suspect the rate of fenderbenders is extremely high. Thanks for sharing this, Jonathan.
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Re: London: Top 10 Places to Travel in 2018
I noticed that nobody has yet responded. The question is a bit too general: are you looking for low budget options, how long are you going to stay, do you need to be right in the centre or doesn't it matter, do you want a hotel or a B&B or an apartment, etc. ? I, myself, am not an expert on London accommodation - I normally just pass through on my way elsewhere - but I'm sure there will be others who can help, once you have narrowed down the scope of the question a bit.
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Re: Welcome to The Golden State.
Later today, after I'd posted this photo, I was watching the local 6:00 news, Sacramento. A fire had started in Lincoln, NE of Sacramento, a yard full of trucks engulfed and spreading into grass, moving toward a subdivision. A spotter plane left the Grass Valley Base, flew over my house and I looked to see what it was. About 10 minutes later the news helicopter showed it arriving low over the fire to inspect it. I went out again to watch the next plane, a retardant tanker, possibly the one...
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline
Amazing the way these calculations work out. We're going to England next spring, using American Airlines points. The flight selection offered us flights on British Airways and American. The AA flights cost the points plus government fees. The BA flights cost the points plus the government fees, plus enough surcharges to make a $1000+ difference. If I only had the BA flights, I'd certainly rather find a low-cost carrier! It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming year as Aer...
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Re: Air Miles vs Low Fare Airline
Continuing my search for an economical way to use my miles and avoid absurd fees, I tried a combination of 2 one-way flights, one with miles, one on Norwegian. One way on Norwegian is as low as $286. If I avoid using BA with points, flights on AA to Paris are 20,000 miles (before May 15th) plus a $5 fee (excellent!) but with a stupid schedule, 3 flights and 2 days to get there. And 1 possibility available. All the rest are BA flights, $326 in fees + 20,000 miles. Next thought, why is AA...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? #62
No conversation? Well, it looks limited in the yacht/marina element. Low industrial buildings or shopping center across the water? No signs of big shipping, though larger ships/ferries on other side. Fog bank in the distance. And a somewhat elaborate window from the observer's viewpoint.
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo? (#71)
The building looks built too low on the tracks for this to be a significant active line. Also the tracks have lots of weeds on them. So I favor an abandoned line somewhere.
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Re: Trainer for Day: Dolphinarium, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Great question -- and I should have put that in. The water was warm -- in the low to mid 80's ( Fahrenheit ). My wife is a woos, so she wore a skin (actually to prevent sun burn). You are not allowed to wear sun-screen as it contaminates the water for the dolphins!
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#77)
Certainly hangers but with quite low doors... A large fuel(?) bowser? Looks like a jet blast shield at the end of the runway and sea all around(?). Must have public access or just 'not secret' due to the ferry and Dr. F taking photos, so not military. Why does Dr F ask what the hanger shapes remind me of? It looks as if cars are in front of the hanger doors.. Is that logical? Are we talking seaplanes I wonder... but no slipway and why a runway? Head aches...
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Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#77)
I think it's time for some more clues. Some excellent observations so far. Here's what's true: 1) It is an airport and those are hangers. The hangers do have low doors, implying huge aircraft don't use these hangers. 2) That is a ferry in the foreground of the photo 3) The water is indeed very calm 4) Not a secretive facility. Everyone is welcome. Last clue, another photo. This is what it looks like from the other ferry terminus, looking back at where the original photo was taken. Does this...
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Re: Help with mobile phone for Morocco
One more thought. Think long term. If you're likely to travel again and might need a phone again, buying one will be even more cost effective. And buying one after you arrive will be least expensive. Phone service in the US is notoriously expensive. People in developing countries all have mobile phones because of the lack of infrastructure for land lines. So low-income working people all over the world rely on cell service and it must be cheap. So doing as the locals do when you travel...
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Re: What to expect from Air Travel in 2015
The bar for new carriers is pretty high, though. They can't have full route systems, so they are forced to either try to horn in on high-volume routes, where others can easily drop prices low enough and long enough to push them out, or on low-volume connector routes where money can be made only with poverty-wage crew...which is why the majors have left those routes. We'll see, but I am skeptical.
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Re: Ryanair's 5-year plan: Trans-atlantic for 10£
But just around the corner, if they succeed, won't we hear the legacy airlines complaining they're being crushed between the ultra-low-cost-carriers and the limousines of the Gulf? Wow, what a fiesta of dueling press conferences that will be!
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Re: Ryanair's 5-year plan: Trans-atlantic for 10£
It's too bad. With two budget airlines making a go of trans-atlantic we might finally of gotten consistant low prices.
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Re: Budget airlines pushing seat squeeze on new planes
Besides being happy with the low price I got, I thought their service was good the last time I flew them. And, as they let you know about, they have a great on time rate.
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Re: A Price War over Trans-Atlantic? TravelGumbo interviews Norwegian Air
I wish them success. And I hope they start flying into Canada. We could a new low cost carrier here. Nice piece, Rob, thanks. I found it very informative.
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Re: A Price War over Trans-Atlantic? TravelGumbo interviews Norwegian Air
I recently saw a cheap fare from Norwegian posted on The Flight Deal website. What struck me is what they said in the post (below) and how it really demonstrates the same Skytrain price matching problem . I do think consumers have to think that if they choose the legacy carriers price match ,instead of Norwegians, there might not be these lower fares in the future that Delta or United will match. " Norwegian is a low cost carrier so they will charge you for everything – advanced seat...
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Re: Euro airlines: Delays continue in compensation for delays
Yes, the fines are steep. That's intentional...if they were set very low, the airlines would have no incentive to make the improvements and arrangements necessary to avoid them! Remember...these fines only apply to situations in which the airlines could have avoided the delay but didn't.
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Re: Euro airlines: Delays continue in compensation for delays
Rules that may be perfectly reasonable for a large airline, the crew issue for instance, may be less reasonable for a small airline or a low-fare airline that needs optimally efficient practices to make money and continue to offer us the low fares. That may not include extra crews hanging around "just in case". As passengers, we can't have everything - low fares and no occasional delays, although those airlines appear better at avoiding delays than any others, of necessity. At the same time,...
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Re: In-flight refueling for airliners? Worth a look!
Existing planes can travel half way around the world now, without refueling. For example, from Texas to Singapore. I'm not sure I see the point to this. Having a plane full of fuel flying around waiting to refuel another craft has to be expensive, and while the low risk of fire and such for the military might be acceptable, I'm not sure it is for commercial aviation. I'd rather have my plane refueled in the usual manner.
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Re: Do Airlines offer the Best Loyalty Rewards Programs?
A very interesting interview...and one of the points that comes clear from it is the one I've always made: What are you looking for? He gives examples, for instance, of how younger people may want low-cost rewards (dinner, say) that they can get immediately. Others may be mainly interested in the free wifi, lounges and upgrades some hotels offer. And others, like I, who seldom stay in hotels (Airbnb, thank you!) are interested mainly in convertibility to air travel. For those in my...
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Re: Around the World in 80 Airbnbs
On the Airbnb link I cited, alongside the price ($5000) is a button, "coming soon" which seems to indicate that they aren't yet officially selling the trip, or maybe they sold the 6 places for the 3 dates listed and more will be "coming soon"? Who knows. Having already gone around the world twice, once for 6 months & again the opposite direction for 4, I'm not interested in a package tour, especially one that offers an if-this-is-Tuesday-it-must-be-Bhutan sort of experience as it...
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Re: Around the World in 80 Airbnbs
I also thought the price was low, but assumed it was set there to seem accessible, and also assumed that they probably have a web of supplier special deals wrapped up in it...
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Re: Florence, Italy: A city made for walking
Just there myself. Phone's battery running low, so pix are limited. A shop's window. On the way to Ponte Vecchio with a friend who bought two enormous gold rings.
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Re: More airlines join PreCheck; total is now 72
Room for one more! The total is now up to 73, with Brazilian low-cost carrier Azul joining the crowd.
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Re: Porto: The Second City
Could scarcely be more comprehensive - and cheaper than going, if you're low on funds ! I loved the old parts of the city, though the outskirts are typically unprepossessing. I used to stay in the Peninsular with ancient gated lifts and a lobby where pensionistas of similar vintage perused the days papers and incoming guests with equal scrutiny. 😃😍 The local specialty takes you rather by surprise, stewed tripe smothered in coriander. The locals have the nickname 'os tripeiros' from a time...
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Re: Mosaic Floors, Paphos, Cyprus
Beautiful photos, Ian! I know how low the light in these places is and how challenging it is to get such great images. I'm always amazed at the genius of Romans, and how 2000 or so years later, the floors they crafted still survive!
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Re: A shout-out for Ryanair...no kidding!
Ireland's Ryanair has overtaken Lufthansa as Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers. Lufthansa's 109.7 million passengers last year fell short of the 117 million passengers reported by low-cost carrier Ryanair last week, a 15% increase on the previous year, as Ryanair pulled in passengers with low prices. Any airline that gets me across Europe for $15 US (one way) can be as rude as they like. But Ryanair have always been a courteous and professional company to deal with. Delta and...
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Re: Luggage to withstand airline handling
We alternate, depending on trip configuration, on two "soft" but not very 21" Delseys and a single 25" Swissgear of similar construction. They're all from a lower-price territory than Eagle Creek, but have worked well for us. But my experience with the Swissgear has taught me to watch one thing I didn't think so important before: the wheels. The Delseys are a 'trolley' style with two wheels; they're easy to move over almost any terrain, even cobblestones. But the Swissgear is a 'spinner,'...
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Re: Luggage to withstand airline handling
Good point about the wheels. It was while pulling a suitcase across cobblestones that I became devote to the trolley-style wheels. Even Eagle Creek and Pacsafe bags can be purchased on sale or at discounted travel supply vendors. Whatever you buy, be sure it is a well constructed bag with heavy duty zippers and latches that won't fall apart on you when you travel (which has happened to me with a cheaper duffel-style roller made by Sierra Design).
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Re: Neighborhoods in Santiago de Cuba
I'm not familiar with Santiago de Cuba. Casa particulares will provide you with meals and drinks. Stores and Restaurants are hard to find and most food is still rationed to the Cubans. Cuban water is safe for the locals but carries a high mineral content, which may cause gastro problems. Bottled "Montero" water is available and low cost. Quite nice too. Santiago de Cuba is not on the tourist lists for us Brits. Most Cuban food uses - Rice -Beans - Eggs - Chicken - Pork (No Beef) - Fish...
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Re: Cost of Japan flights to plummet in 2016
With fuel charges at a 12 year low all the Air carriers should stop gouging the public and give us all a refund.
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Re: Italy joins anti-food-waste movement
In my local UK store I can buy a 5 Kilo bag (10 pound) of irregular shaped fruit and veg for £2 ($3) in prime condition. It's to help low income families but there's plenty more where it came from. The photo above looks like fruit that's ready for the trash. That's not the idea behind the scheme that's all across Europe. Wonky Potato !
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Re: Weaker 'loonie' good and bad news for Canada travel
With the fall especially of oil prices (and other natural resources, which Canada is a major producer of), the loonie has indeed fallen compared to the US dollar but kept its relative value with most other currencies, including the pound and Euro. It seems despite a reasonably healthy economic profile, including until recently an almost balanced federal budget and low debt-to-GDP ratio, the value of the Canadian dollar is pegged to its natural resource valuation. With the pullback in the...
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Re: NYC's Laguardia gets builder for new terminal
So you're taking the low end of the pool? LOL! Actually, there is a smallish incentive to keep the cost low as possible, because the consortium's $2.5 billion share is meant to be made back out of operating profits once the terminal is open. So, if they run the cost up, it will take them longer to get their money back. On the other hand, my guess at the scenario is that they'll have arranged for most of any overrun to come from PA or state funds...
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Re: Classic American Cars #3
No Dave. I've had it since new and it gets a very easy life ! Still only done 24,000 miles. Its has an Aluminum body and is very lightweight. So even the low HP has an amazing power to weight ratio. Red line on RPM is around 11,000 rpm and it flies up to 89mph. Which is where the Maximum speed is electronically governed. The metal roof fits into the trunk in 3 sections and the rear window drops down too.
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Re: Improving airline food: Do you hunger for umami?
It is very good to know that the airlines are still trying to improve the "customer experience". I rather like airline food. Perhaps my expectations are low, but I find it a modern miracle that food arrives at my lap at 35,000 feet. What a luxury to sit in a metal tube, examining each bit of the meal, while, outside of the window, I know that the immediate environment is not survivable. Hurray for overcooked mystery meat and somewhat bland chicken. A good dose of umami fixes that. Say,...