Where do you travel? ( or where do you want to? )

[Joaz Banbeck]

After a hectic day of doing business in the SF bay area, I often stop at the Point Lobos Reserve to unwind before the long drive back to southern Califonia. 'Lobos' is Spanish for 'wolf', and the point is so named because of the sea lions that inhabit the several tiny ( 1 acre approx ) islands immediately offshore. Their constant barking sounds like a pack of seagoing wolves.

Point Lobos is also home to some seals and otters, and the occasional great white shark.

I was resting there today with my camera. The following four photos show a California harbor seal riding a wave.

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[daniel_the_smith]

I've been to many states in the US, the Czech Republic (and I stepped across the boarder into Poland at the top of Mt. Sněžka), and Italy.

Oh, and I changed planes in Frankfurt, but I don't think that really counts.

[Joaz Banbeck]

If you are planning anything in the next year or so, buy soon.

The average price to fly one mile rose 14% in August, compared to the same month in 2009, according to a report by the Air Transport Association (ATA) of America -- the industry trade group for U.S. airlines. The ATA considers the average price paid per mile to be an accurate measure of air fares.

The industry trade group did not provide a forecast for the holiday season. But Rick Seaney, chief executive of Farecompare.com, said there's no reason to believe that fares will decline for the holiday season.

"Consumers are thinking that if they wait until the last minute, prices will drop, but that's just not going to happen this year," he said.

Seaney said that by his own calculations air fares are up 17% year-to-year. One of the reasons why the increase is so dramatic, he said, is because air fares bottomed out in 2009 -- along with the recession.

[Stefany93]

I really want to get to Pleven anytime soon

[hyperpape]

Joaz, perhaps you know more than me, but my first thought was that the article sounds dangerously like journalists getting spun by self-interested folks in the industry, just like there's a spate of articles every other year announcing that "the suit is BACK" or vaporware announcements. Convincing people that they can't wait and get a better deal is just too convenient for the airlines.

Here's some poorly thoguht out reasoning: prices often drop in the airline industry, as they try and engage in price discrimination. Presumably the economic fundamentals of the industry make this a good strategy. Unless the last two sentences are false, you'd expect that to continue happening this year unless the fundamentals have changed. Even if prices bottomed out last year, you'd expect that to just mean that prices have a bigger bounce early on, but then drop at some point before the flight.

Now don't take this as advice! For all I know prices will not drop, but will rise. I'm just reporting the first thought that popped into my head.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Joaz, perhaps you know more than me, but my first thought was that the article sounds dangerously like journalists getting spun by self-interested folks in the industry...

That, for all I know, might be true of the ATA. But the folks at farecompare, in my experience, actually are independent and knowlegable.

[Koosh]

I've been to Japan and Australia on programs (exchange and otherwise).
However, I really want to spend some time backpacking. Perhaps Vietnam or Germany.

Right now, school loans and the job are getting in the way.
Gah!

[tj86430]

But if I have to select only one place then I"ll either go for Europe

This might be news to you, but Europe is not generally regarded as "one place".

Perhaps I will make a trip to the America next time I want to see only one place. Or Asia, it might be nice too. (OTOH, it would be convenient to see the whole world in just a couple of trips)

[Joaz Banbeck]

But if I have to select only one place then I"ll either go for Europe

This might be news to you, but Europe is not generally regarded as "one place".
...

More interesting news is that Johnson is probably a bot.

[tj86430]

But if I have to select only one place then I"ll either go for Europe

This might be news to you, but Europe is not generally regarded as "one place".
...

More interesting news is that Johnson is probably a bot.

I responded before seeing his other posts. After reading them I thought of deleting my answer, but I decided to let it stay.

[Joaz Banbeck]

Mrs Banbeck and I just got tickets for Kona,Hi, in November. Expect to see some pics of mantas soon after. ( There are several places in/near Kona where big lights are hung over the water, which attracts plankton, which attracts mantas.)

[tchan001]

I just want my family to be able to continue traveling safely from and to home safely everyday. Things are getting more and more hectic around town (HK) especially at night. Let's not go into details further as it will become a political issue and that's not allowed here.

[Applebaps]

I hope you and your loved ones can stay safe, tchan.

[Joaz Banbeck]

The virus is on the run, so it is semi-safe to travel again.

Mrs. Banbeck and I both want to see Prague; she wants to see Berlin, Vienna and Milan; I want to visit the chocolate factories in Turin.

There are major conventions for my business every spring in both Prague and Turin ( about 150 km from Milan ).
For years, the organizers of these conventions have put them on the same weekend. Finally, the stars have aligned: the conventions are now one week apart.

The conventions and travel to/from them are business travel according to the IRS, as are hotel rooms and other reasonable expenses. This allows me deduct all of my travel expenses, and any that Mrs. Banbeck and I share, thereby making this trip affordable in a time of high inflation.
If all goes well, I should be able to develop a bunch of new business opportunties.

So we have bought airfare for May. The basic itinerary is Berlin -> Prague -> Vienna -> Innsbruck -> Milan/Turin. This may include stops in Dresden and few other places enroute.

Does anyone have advice on playing go in the aforemention cities? ( Especially Prague on a Saturday )
Or any general travel tips? ( Especially restaurants. Not bars - rather fine dining or ethnic. )