Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread

[Spotcheck Billy]

You cant prove otherwise. No terrorist attacks since 9/11?I think they do a good job, along with the ALA's the FBI uses.

some studies found that TSA has cost more lives than it has saved
https://www.vox.com/2016/5/17/11687014/tsa-against-airport-security

One paper by economists Garrick Blalock, Vrinda Kadiyali, and Daniel Simon found that, controlling for other factors like weather and traffic, 9/11 provoked such a large decrease in air traffic and increase in driving that 327 more people died every month from road accidents. The effect dissipated over time, but the total death toll (up to 2,300) rivals that of the attacks themselves.

[lawdog77]

And you can't prove that they've been effective.  Terrorists, like all people and animals, adapt.

TSA is theater.  Securing the doors on the cockpits of airplanes, and the public's willingness to fight back has stopped hijacking of American flights since 9/11.

Prior to 9/11 it wasn't as if flights were being constantly blown up either... so uhhhhhhhhhhh yeah.  Great job, good effort TSA.

You sound like a bad stand up comedian when you complain about your toothpaste. There have been thousands of arrests as the result of TSA screenings. You don't know if one of those was a potential terrorist. The FBI does.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I'll take a 4-pack of the Arm and Hammer Advanced Care.  That or a bag of sand and glue will do.

I ain't picky

Your British teeth resemble that remark.

[mubb3434]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

[Uncle Rico]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

Everything as far as accommodations will be too much.  Avoid the hotel in downtown Napa unless you really don't care where you stay.  I'd recommend staying in Sonoma, tbh, though I like Napa better overall as a place to explore

There really aren't any bad food places but two places in Napa you should go to.  Go to Jax's White Mule Diner for breakfast.  The food is great and you get a lot of it.  For lunch or casual dinner, go to Gott's Roadside in downtown or in St. Helena.  The mahi mahi tacos or Baja fish tacos are wildly delicious.

Mumm Napa on the Rutherford Trail is an underrated gem as far as views and experience and guest dinners/tastings

[Hards Alumni]

You sound like a bad stand up comedian when you complain about your toothpaste. There have been thousands of arrests as the result of TSA screenings. You don't know if one of those was a potential terrorist. The FBI does.

Ah, so you agree, you don't know if the TSA and its $10 billion annual budget have actually caught any terrorists.

You just *think* that it's possible.  The TSA is there to make you feel safe, and it exists because of an attack that worked once, and cannot possibly work again.  It exists to solve a problem that does not exist.

I wasn't trying to be funny about my toothpaste, it was an honest story about how stupid of an organization the TSA is.

If you really want to cry about how much terrorism they prevent, consider that leaving a backpack with an explosive in the lengthy TSA line is just as effective an attack as putting the bomb on an airplane.  Jesus Christ, it's as if you haven't even given this a moment of thought until today.

[lawdog77]

Ah, so you agree, you don't know if the TSA and its $10 billion annual budget have actually caught any terrorists.

You just *think* that it's possible.  The TSA is there to make you feel safe, and it exists because of an attack that worked once, and cannot possibly work again.  It exists to solve a problem that does not exist.

I wasn't trying to be funny about my toothpaste, it was an honest story about how stupid of an organization the TSA is.

If you really want to cry about how much terrorism they prevent, consider that leaving a backpack with an explosive in the lengthy TSA line is just as effective an attack as putting the bomb on an airplane.  Jesus Christ, it's as if you haven't even given this a moment of thought until today.

I have thought about it, and I wont go full blown Chicos about what I know. Just, that TSA has assisted ALA's in more cases than you know. You just sound like a whiny little bitch having to spend an extra 15 minutes in a line.If you don't like it, don't fly.

[Hards Alumni]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

We stayed at the Geyserville Inn and thought it was exceptional. 

Breweries:  Lagunitas and Russian River (Do not miss)
Wineries: Sterling and Castello de Amorosa are cool spots... Personally, I like Vincent Arroyo. 

Also, watch out for Black Porsches

[Hards Alumni]

I have thought about it, and I wont go full blown Chicos about what I know. Just, that TSA has assisted ALA's in more cases than you know. You just sound like a whiny little bitch having to spend an extra 15 minutes in a line.If you don't like it, don't fly.

Damn, who shat in your cheerios today?  Or is does your kid work for the TSA? 

The TSA isn't worth its budget.  Period.

[CreightonWarrior]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

Yountville is great for food and wine

Breakfast
Model bakery
Bouchon bakery

RH (lunch and dinner)

Lunch
Oakville Grocery
Gotts Roadside

Dinner
bouchon
Rutherford Grill
R&D kitchen
French Laundry
Anything else Thomas Keller

Wineries
We also try to do boutique wineries (no distribution) but there's millions and most are good. I can send recommendations if needed

[jesmu84]

Anyone been to Fredericksburg in Texas outside Austin? Recommendations?

[cheebs09]

Anyone been to Fredericksburg in Texas outside Austin? Recommendations?

I'd probably avoid Chris Beard.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

Applewood Inn in Guerneville in the Russian River Valley
Harvest Inn in St. Helena
The Lodge at Sonoma Resort

[ATL MU Warrior]

Yountville is great for food and wine

Breakfast
Model bakery
Bouchon bakery

RH (lunch and dinner)

Lunch
Oakville Grocery
Gotts Roadside

Dinner
bouchon
Rutherford Grill
R&D kitchen
French Laundry
Anything else Thomas Keller

Wineries
We also try to do boutique wineries (no distribution) but there's millions and most are good. I can send recommendations if needed

I was going to suggest Taylor's Refresher until I googled it and saw they changed their name to Gotts

[CreightonWarrior]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

I also recommend flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco

[Dr. Blackheart]

Hey all!

Thinking about heading to Napa/Sonoma next summer/fall. Any recommendations on places to stay, taste, and eat?

A must for me is going to Seghesio which is on the Sonoma side. Appreciate it!

Let's start with what type of wines you like?  I see Mumm's and Rutherford mention here, if that's the case, go to Binny's instead.

[mubb3434]

I also recommend flying into Oakland instead of San Francisco

I heard the complete opposite from a few others. Reasoning?

[CreightonWarrior]

I heard the complete opposite from a few others. Reasoning?

Smaller, less traveled airport that I've found a lot easier to get out of.

[pbiflyer]

I heard the complete opposite from a few others. Reasoning?

And closer to Napa. Less traffic. But I would pick flight times over airports. If Oakland lines up with the times, a better choice.

[The Sultan]

And closer to Napa. Less traffic. But I would pick flight times over airports. If Oakland lines up with the times, a better choice.

You also may want to look at Sacramento, which is further away but going to generally have a lot less traffic.

If you do fly into San Francisco, and you have time and not been there prior, its kind of fun to drive through the city and across the Golden Gate.  Depending on traffic, may add a half-hour or so?

[CreightonWarrior]

And closer to Napa. Less traffic. But I would pick flight times over airports. If Oakland lines up with the times, a better choice.

Great point...SW into OAK works great for us and the free checked bags allow us to bring more wine back.

[pbiflyer]

While I appreciate the advice I really really hate cruises, plus we got married Memorial Day weekend last year so no recent wedding stress.

We both work remote so are probably going to just work there for about a month.

Cool a month in Italy!

I would skip Milan, unless the flights are just so great versus other options.

The Amalfi coast is great, very romantic, lots to do. Blue grotto is amazing. Portofino was mrs pbiflyer's favorite city.
If you are in that area and choose to do Pompeii, get a guide to show you around. Also Herculaneum is a less visited, great alternative. https://www.visitpompeiivesuvius.com/en/herculaneum

Almost anywhere in the Tuscany area is great. Maybe a farmhouse/vineyard (with wifi to work remotely).

An off the wall idea if you do fly into Milan - Switzerland? Stunningly beautiful. Train ride is stunning.

[Uncle Rico]

You also may want to look at Sacramento, which is further away but going to generally have a lot less traffic.

If you do fly into San Francisco, and you have time and not been there prior, its kind of fun to drive through the city and across the Golden Gate.  Depending on traffic, may add a half-hour or so?

I did that once and it was great, flying into Sacramento.

San Francisco is a fun drive, imo, too.

[JWags85]

The Amalfi coast is great, very romantic, lots to do. Blue grotto is amazing. Portofino was mrs pbiflyer's favorite city.
If you are in that area and choose to do Pompeii, get a guide to show you around. Also Herculaneum is a less visited, great alternative. https://www.visitpompeiivesuvius.com/en/herculaneum

Almost anywhere in the Tuscany area is great. Maybe a farmhouse/vineyard (with wifi to work remotely).

Co-sign.  Capri is also a very cool day trip.  Rent a boat, see the grotto, stop off at Capri and roam around.

Herculaneum is also an awesome trip, a little less touristy.

Can't co-sign Tuscany enough.  Florence is beyond incredible, obviously, but that whole region is sublime.

[Hards Alumni]

You also may want to look at Sacramento, which is further away but going to generally have a lot less traffic.

If you do fly into San Francisco, and you have time and not been there prior, its kind of fun to drive through the city and across the Golden Gate.  Depending on traffic, may add a half-hour or so?

When we did our trip, we flew into SF and then out of Sacramento.  Sacramento was far easier.