Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread

[dgies9156]

Our HR/Travel Policy explicitly permits expensing WiFi when traveling on business.

It also allows leaders to fly first class wherever they go and it allows staff to fly first class if the trip is three hours or more.

I don't see what the big deal is. It's $8.00 domestically and $20.00 internationally. Because of it, I can monitor emails, review projects and offer advice while in a plane. It allows our firm to be more productive.

Delta's new free for all plan does bother me. They pass on data to authorized providers and we the user have no control over what happens once the data is passed on. Of course, you can opt out and pay for wifi or not use it, but dadgummit, those trips get long without it.

https://crankyflier.com/2023/01/10/delta-sync-turns-free-wifi-into-a-marketing-machine/

I've been traveling for 40 years and onboard wifi sure does make a difference.

[4everwarriors]

On Executive Jet, da flight is free and mandatory WI-FI is $8k ta Des Moines, hey?

[MuggsyB]

Hopefully Scoopers are not traveling this morning.  Good freaking grief. 

[CreightonWarrior]

Naturally, I'm flying today. Airport is packed

[MuggsyB]

Naturally, I'm flying today. Airport is packed

Be safe.  The FAA knew about this at apparently 3pm Eatern yesterday.  What a complete and utter meltdown. 

[JWags85]

Appreciate all the responses about WiFi, sort of tracks with what I thought.  I certainly get the "unplugged" aspect, but being able to keep up to date with my wife/friends, breaking news, travel delays/changes, etc... is totally worth it for me.

As for this big FAA SNAFU, Royal Mail is reporting issues and disruptions with their international delivery, so this may be a bigger cyber attack issue.

[tower912]

I assume hackers.

[pbiflyer]

Naturally, I'm flying today. Airport is packed

Eh, was supposed to be on a flight during the Marquette game tonight. Extra meal in New Orleans and got to watch Marquette kick UConn's butt!

[BM1090]

Any Tampa recommendations? I'll be there for three nights in February.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Any Tampa recommendations? I'll be there for three nights in February.

Where are you staying? 

For restaurants:
- Bern's (ask your waiter for tour of wine cellar) for the experience. Get dessert so you can experience the dessert part of the restaurant which is separate from main dining room. Try to get someone else to pay.
- Ulele
- Columbia (Cuban)

[BM1090]

Where are you staying? 

For restaurants:
- Bern's (ask your waiter for tour of wine cellar) for the experience. Get dessert so you can experience the dessert part of the restaurant which is separate from main dining room. Try to get someone else to pay.
- Ulele
- Columbia (Cuban)

I'll be at the Hilton downtown.

Thank you for the suggestions! Columbia restaurant on 7th?

[ATL MU Warrior]

That's the one.

[lawdog77]

Where are you staying? 

For restaurants:
- Bern's (ask your waiter for tour of wine cellar) for the experience. Get dessert so you can experience the dessert part of the restaurant which is separate from main dining room. Try to get someone else to pay.
- Ulele
- Columbia (Cuban)

Columbia restaurant is Spanish, with some Cuban. Still worth going. Bern's definitely. One day I would head over to Clearwater Beach and eat at Frenchy's, grouper sandwich and she-crab soup.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Columbia restaurant is Spanish, with some Cuban. Still worth going. Bern's definitely. One day I would head over to Clearwater Beach and eat at Frenchy's, grouper sandwich and she-crab soup.

Lol. I've never actually been. It's is my chief client's favorite restaurant in Tampa and he's a restaurant snob who lived there for several years so I am going purely on his recommendation.

I have been to both Bern's and Ulele with him and can vouch for those from personal experience.

[BM1090]

I'm a huge fan of Spanish and Cuban food, so either way we'll check it out.

[pbiflyer]

I'm a huge fan of Spanish and Cuban food, so either way we'll check it out.

It is the only restaurant I know of that has significantly expanded, yet kept its quality. Definitely not to be missed. Since you are staying at the Hilton, you could take the trolley car there, well at least close and walk down the strip at Ybor City. Carmine's in Ybor is a solid lunch choice for Cuban.

Downtown, Hattricks is a good lunch choice or stop for a beer. Scenery is nice. https://hattrickstavern.com/
The new Sparkman's Wharf, replacing the old Channelside, outdoor waterside venue has a nice outdoor beer garden and shipping container places to eat. https://sparkmanwharf.com/ Also accessible by that same trolley.  Parks & Rec across the street is one of those multi purpose bars with games.



Downtown St Pete is very walkable, a ton of restaurants, bars and microbreweries.

[MU82]

St. Pete is awesome. My cousin and his wife moved there a few years ago, and they live within an easy walk of downtown. We've been to visit a few times and have really enjoyed the food/beverage scene there. I didn't expect it to be that vibrant.

[shoothoops]

I'll be at the Hilton downtown.

Thank you for the suggestions! Columbia restaurant on 7th?

La Segunda Central Bakery on 15th.

Columbia on 7th is good too.

[shoothoops]

I'll be at the Hilton downtown.

Thank you for the suggestions! Columbia restaurant on 7th?

Also keep in mind that its roughly 20 miles not including traffic to Clearwater Beach, Downtown St. Petersburg, and St. Pete Beach. Several locations are these short side trips from Tampa, that take a little longer than you may think. All are worth seeing and each area has its own vibe.

[BM1090]

La Segunda Central Bakery on 15th.

Columbia on 7th is good too.

La Segunda looks worth checking out too.

For those who are local or have visited, are there any specific areas/neighborhoods that you'd recommend? Ybor and Downtown Tampa are on the list. We're probably able to get to one more area.

[JWags85]

La Segunda looks worth checking out too.

For those who are local or have visited, are there any specific areas/neighborhoods that you'd recommend? Ybor and Downtown Tampa are on the list. We're probably able to get to one more area.

Downtown St Pete is actually quite cool and very walkable.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Downtown St Pete is actually quite cool and very walkable.

This would be my vote.

[StillAWarrior]

It's looking like we're heading to the Northeast in late May for a family vacation with our adult kids. We're beginning to make more specific plans including Acadia National Park in Maine and exploring a bit up in that direction; a day or two in Boston; and some time in Cape Cod (fishing and whale watching). We have some family near Exeter, so at least one or two nights will be spent there as a home base but we're also planning on staying up near Acadia for at least one night and down near Cape Cod for at least one night.

If anyone has recommendations in those general areas, I'd be happy to listen.

[Sir Lawrence]

It's looking like we're heading to the Northeast in late May for a family vacation with our adult kids. We're beginning to make more specific plans including Acadia National Park in Maine and exploring a bit up in that direction; a day or two in Boston; and some time in Cape Cod (fishing and whale watching). We have some family near Exeter, so at least one or two nights will be spent there as a home base but we're also planning on staying up near Acadia for at least one night and down near Cape Cod for at least one night.

If anyone has recommendations in those general areas, I'd be happy to listen.

If you can afford it (about $400/night) Salt Cottages is about a mile from Acadia Park's Hull Visitors Center and 3 miles from downtown Bar Harbor.  Old school resort.

[Hards Alumni]

It's looking like we're heading to the Northeast in late May for a family vacation with our adult kids. We're beginning to make more specific plans including Acadia National Park in Maine and exploring a bit up in that direction; a day or two in Boston; and some time in Cape Cod (fishing and whale watching). We have some family near Exeter, so at least one or two nights will be spent there as a home base but we're also planning on staying up near Acadia for at least one night and down near Cape Cod for at least one night.

If anyone has recommendations in those general areas, I'd be happy to listen.

Bar Harbor is neat unless there is a cruise ship around.  Portland is a great city with some good restaurants and breweries.  If you're driving up 1 from Boston and you don't stop at Red's Eats in Wiscasset and get a Lobster roll you will live to regret it.  Also, before arriving in Bar Harbor, stop in Brewing, ME at  Mason's Brewing Company.  Choice.

I love Burlington, VT, but that's kind of out of the way for your plans.  Also, Newport, RI is pretty awesome too... but a little out of the way as well.