On our walk back from our informal microbrew tour yesterday, Catman, Scott the Flyer, Dorian and I all agreed that a new Forum should be started on FlyerTalk.

This would be a place where each of us could post our two or three favourite home town restaurants -- and not necessarily the "best", most expensive, or most reviewed -- so visitors can get familiar with what's on offer when passing through. We would similarly be permitted to post our favourite hometown microbrews and/or brewpubs, etc. without eating into the three restaurant choices.

While we know that this is often done on an informal basis by many of us on a few of the current forums, organizing a dedicated Forum would make life easier for old timers and new comers alike to find spots in unfamiliar cities. Obviously, such a Forum could be open to abuse from hospitality service operators, but we've experienced such postings from self-promoters on almost all forums. Most such posts can be spotted as they would come from those with 1 or 2 postings, so recommendations can be taken at face value, or with a grain of salt.

Any thoughts from others before we pitch it formally to Randy when he gets back from his current travels?


Admitting to some revisionism. Mistakenly referred to Scott the Flyer as Quantum Leap. Appologies all around. Mea culpa. Too many beers over the weekend?

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 09-11-2000).]

Excellent idea, Shareholder! It would really be an asset to have expert suggestions and recommendations from locals throughout the world.

By the way, restaurants were mentioned as part of the information to be included in a new forum that raffy suggested:
FlyerTalk Suggestions
Travel Book Library
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum73/HTML/000149.html

I had suggested Travel Resource Center as a possible title for that new forum. It's still available.

I've always thot this would be a good idea.

And I think the hype factor by the hospitality industry would be nil since most locals will speak up to the contrary.

However, the General forum might suffice for this purpose. Yes, you'd have to use the search function, but it's not that difficult.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 09-10-2000).]

I've always liked the idea of a Travel Book Forum...I have one great non-fiction ready to go!

The idea of a restaurant and bar category is great. I cannot count how many times I have gone to a city and not had the slightest clue where to go. I then ask the desk...but who knows if they really know where to go?!

Dorian



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Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

But if I tell you the good Tokyo spots, you might end up going without me...!

I'll contribute if people are interested, but not sure how often people get out here.

-KP

PS Invites'll be appreciated.

Excellent idea!
Being a wining and dining freak I have missed a forum where one can systematically find suggestions/reviews and be able to pose questions.
Alas: This again might "dilute" an already expanding FT?

I disagree with the dilution concept...in fact it would be the opposite for me.

SO MANY irrelevant posts (for me) pop up in some forums I (and others!) no longer even visit the forum! The more targeted a forum gets the more likely I am to visit it if it is interesting for me.

The Buzz, General Traveltalk, OMNI and other forums are often to general and therefore overwhelmed with new topics that I have to skip the forum altogether.

Dorian

p.s. besides, it would be really nice to search ONE forum for a city name to find the restaurant and bar of choice....where would you do this now? muliple places i guess? or nowhere?



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Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

A new forum called "flyertalk dining and Travel guide" or something like that could work.

We also could put the reviews and info in a BOOK that Inside FLyer could sell thru their "store."

Flyeratlkers would contribute their restaurant, microbrew and other "local things to see" tips and put it in one place.

That might work as well.

Great idea !!!

I would have some things to contribute on cities like Buenos Aires, Beijing, and (with the help of my buddy Kimosabi), Jakarta.

Where do I sign the petition for Randy ??


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Gaucho100K

I actually find the idea so compelling if Randy declines I will put up a forum myself! I own a UBB license (same software as this) that is currently going unused.

I say if we don't see a new forum for it within 2 weeks (as it takes under 10 seconds to add it) I will put up a bulletin board for it...separated into world regions and/or major countries. Could work out quite well.

Dorian



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Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

It's always wonderful to find out that in the cold, sober light of day, the idea you had after a few cold brews -- or other fine libations -- holds up under rigorous scrutiny. As for this origin of this idea, it was Catman's with enhancements from Dorian, Scott the Flyer and myself, so please spread the cudos around. I was just the first one to get back online since I didn't have to spend the afternoon flying yesterday.

As Dorian has suggested, we'll let the idea percolate a few more days for a response from Randy and company. After that, if the forum appears, we'll start posting. If not, we'll take Dorian up on his offer.

I also like the book review idea, for both non-fiction travel writing and even guidebooks.

Thanks all for the quick replies.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited 09-11-2000).]

I'd been thinking about this myself for some time (great minds think alike, no?), but would suggest adding hotel recommendations and reviews as well. The challenge would be to keep the thread manageable, both in size and content. Howabout using the new FT perosnal page feature to create "home pages" for each city, and a moderator for the content on that page? Yes, it would be a chunk of work, but I believe it would have instant credibility, given the input from the FT community.

I guess that basic problem is that it is a departure from the basics of the origin of the board....it starts to make it a general travel board....but maybe that is the way it is going anyway?

Be interesting to see what Randy thinks...

Dorian



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Star Alliance RTW Price Chart: http://www.informationlab.com/rtw.htm
Star Alliance Comparison Chart: http://members.home.net/deercroft/starall00.html

I suggested such a forum way back in the old days, Jan 1999.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum73/HTML/000020.html

Great idea! I have used the advice of board members before on my trip to Hawaii - went to some great resturants and went site seeing to some places I would not have otherwise. As to being a more general travel board - if this is kept as a different forum, then there is no problem. Just like SPAM is not exactly what this was originally intended for - don't visit if you are not interested.