2 trips:

1. OhCanada +2

Jun 29: KL692 YYZ-AMS
Jun 30: KL1389 AMS-OTP

Jul 8: KL1358 OTP-AMS
Jul 8: KL691 AMS-YYZ

2. OhCanada +3

Aug 3: KL692 YYZ-AMS
Aug 11: KL1389 AMS-OTP

Aug 12: KL1358 OTP-AMS
Aug 12: KL691 AMS-YYZ

Oh good, I won't be the only Canadian in BUH that week. Whew! :D

Maybe as we get more folks adding their dates we can plan mini-FT do's in BUH, should anyone be so inclined. :)

Riot Nrrrd™ +0

June 7: NW 1651 YVR-[MSP; NW 46 MSP-]AMS
June 8: NW 8359/*KL 1359 AMS-BUH

June 10: KL 1390 BUH-[AMS; KL 1705 AMS-]MAD

June 19: KL 1706 MAD-AMS

June 21: KL 681 AMS-YVR

Trip 1:
KLM 682 YVR 09 June 6:55pm AMS 10 June 1:20pm
KLM 1361 AMS 10 June 8:35pm OTP 11 June 12:20am
KLM 1358 OTP 17 June 6:20am AMS 17 June 8:10am (hi Yaatri)
KLM 681 AMS 17 June at 3:30pm YVR 17 June 4:15pm

Trip 2:
KLM 682 YVR 10 August 6:55pm AMS 11 August 1:20pm
KLM 1361 AMS 11 August 8:35pm OTP 12 August 12:20am
KLM 1358 OTP 19 August 6:20am AMS 19 August 8:10am
KLM 681 AMS 19 August at 3:30pm YVR 19 August 4:15pm

I will probably explore OTP and surrounding areas on trip #1. Trip #2 will probably be used as a gateway for some exploring in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, or Africa.

1 NW 1651 15MAY TUE YVR-MSP 1200-1729
2 NW 56 15MAY TUE MSP-AMS 2125-1240 *16MAY WED
3 KL 1361 16MAY WED AMS-OTP 2045-0030 *17MAY THU
4 KL 1358 09JUN SAT OTP-AMS 0620-0810
5 KL 681 09JUN SAT AMS-YVR 1530-1615

Just got my ticket numbers! Thanks Zuji :D

Both airports are actually rather close to each other. I wouldnt say either are in "the city". You have to take a bus, and then 1 stop on the subway to get to the main rail station(gare du nord). But the distance from OTP(farther out) to BBU is very close, and the same bus runs between both.. i would say less than 20 minutes from one airport to the other.

Calendar updated.

Rockyp has cancelled (I'm doing the CO deal instead). MCRT, you are now the guinea pig to BUH. Sorry that we couldn't share some fine Romanian wine together, but I'm sure there will be other opportunities. ;)

Thinking of booking a flight into SEA and then just taking a ferry to YVR...more cost effective, and would like to incorporate a night in SEA and couple nights in YVR. Anyone know how long the ferry takes to get there?

There is no ferry from Seattle to Vancouver. You could take the Victoria Clipper ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island and then another ferry to Vancouver, but that is highly impractical. Driving from Seattle to Vancouver (bus or one-way car rental) is the only other option, which takes 3 to 4 hours, IIRC.

a bit off topic
 

I was pretty bored in downtown Seattle, no offense to anyone who lives there. The Space Needle was a tourist trap and pointless. Out of all the places I visited, I enjoy the Pike Market Place the best ^ (The "Flying Fish" and the original Starbucks).
And be sure to do the Boeing Factory tour. I made an appt for the tour but had to postpone (no refund) since I was stuck in the US/CA border traffic for 2 hours on my way back from Vancouver. And that was at the border with the shorter line (Peace Arch?) :mad:

I was very impressed with YVR. I've never seen so many asian people in a non-asian country til I get to Richmond (right outside of downtown Vancouver) :p
Make sure you visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge (here's their website). YVR definitely is one of the best cities I've been to and can't wait to go back ^

The train is another great option. I'm not sure about getting from the Vancouver station to the airport, but it shouldn't be too hard. Train fare is $28. There is one train and 4 amtrak buses you can take.

For airport-to-airport service check out these guys, 3:25 hours bus ride

Works from both SEA and BLI airports

http://www.quickcoach.com/schedule.htm

looks like $43 one way

my schedule
4/6 YVR-AMS
4/8 AMS-SVO
4/10 SVO-AMS-OTP
4/13 OTP-AMS-YVR

too cool SVO, I tried like a son of a gun to get that stop over but couldn't force it...

Calendar Updated.

Only two weeks til I head out. I am planning to arrive in Budapest then take the train to Brasov. I'll stay there three nights at the Rolling Stone Hostel. Then I'll head back to Bucharest and stay at the Butterfly Villa Hostel. I'll be sure to let people know how it goes. I know many of this crowd is the Hilton/Marriot type, I guess I just represent the other end of the scale.

You and me both.

Let me know your opinion about the Butterfly Villa Hostel. I thought of staying there as they provide a transportation from/to the hostel. (for a fee)

Actually, I'm a hostel pricing, Hilton staying type. :) Too bad no Presidential suites in OTP for $50. :(

Perhaps there will be one posted in here ;)

I have a stay coming up towards the end of the month. Would really appreciate any feedback on the hostels in Bucharest and also the airport to city bus travel experience. When I travel on leisure, it is usually at the "common man" level.

my itinerary
 

12/1 commute SEA-YVR then flying YVR-AMS
12/2 AMS-MAD
12/6 MAD-AMS-OTP
12/8 OTP-AMS-YVR then commute back to SEA
in MAD will be staying at the Room Mate Mario Hotel
in OTP will be staying at the Hotel Sofitel

I'm curious, does anyone know anything about these hotels? Personal experiences?

:-: updated :-:


The first ones out, mcrt and Julest, depart in 12 days. Looking forward to their reports. Let's all wish them Happy Contrails!

Don't forget the train. www.amtrak.com The fare is about $28 each way. Just be careful if you have your heart set on the train because their booking schedule includes bus transports as well.

A

Here is my first itinerary:
11/26 yvr-sea-dtw-ams
11/27 ams-otp-fco-ams
12/3 ams-yvr

Next one is:

5/10 yvr-sea-ams
5/11 ams-otp
5/15 otp-ams-cdg
5/17 cdg-dtw-msp-yvr

Then June's:

6/13 yvr-ams
6/16 ams-svo
6/19 svo-ams-otp
6/21 otp-ams-yvr

July's:

7/8 yvr-ams-otp (arrive July 10th 12:20 AM)
7/15 otp-ams-yvr (arrive July 15th 4:15 PM)

Sixteen tickets total. Hope to meet another FT on one of the flights!

Wildman

Anyone have/heard of any feedback on the Rembrandt Hotel in BUH? It fairs well on tripadvisor, good location, smaller, boutique-type hotel. I'm toying around with trting something new and skipping the Hilton for a two night stay at the Rembrandt.

Any info appreciated.

:)

Ditto. Especially since I'll likely only be sleeping for a few hours before I run back to the airport and go...wherever (I haven't decided yet). It looks clean and the private room looks ok and reasonably priced. I just don't want to burn a gazillion points (or pay 200 dollars) for a shower and 5 hours or sleep. I like the idea of the airport pick up too, since their taxi caution looked quite adamant and I'll arrive very late at night (well, morning) and travelling solo. I'll look forward to the review!

Well hostel stay is a great idea if you are a solo traveler.

This gives you the opportunity to find things to do and meet other people without having to go to the bar ;)

Hey, I lost track of this thread, finally got around to sifting through the Mileage Run thread to find the link. Looking at the calendar, I find that I'm among the first to travel.

I leave from YYZ on Saturday, 18 November at 4:30pm to AMS via DTW. Sunday night in AMS, then a side trip by train to FRA to visit friends, then back to AMS on Wednesday, fly to Bucharest on Thursday for two nights, then one more night in AMS before I fly back to YYZ on Sunday.

11/18 4:30pm YYZ-DTW-AMS
11/23 1:00pm AMS-OTP
11/25 2:30pm OTP-AMS
11/26 8:00am AMS-DTW-YYZ

That Sunday return was a bad mistake, because everybody's flying back from Thanksgiving weekend. I tried to change it to Saturday, but NWA insists on ignoring the fare rules and refuses to change without repricing, so I may end up driving all the way from MSN to YYZ, since I can't find a reasonable fare with a Sunday return. Or even Monday morning.
The train from Chicago can only take me as far as Detroit or Buffalo, and I don't know what transportation there is from those stations to YYZ, so unless I decide to use 37,500 WP miles (PerkPass return), I'm in for a longish drive of 10-11 hours on Friday-Saturday and the next week Sunday-Monday. On the other hand, I get to see a new city in Europe. I'm excited.

I may rent a car in Bucharest so I can visit a friend's birth town, Harman (Hönigsberg) near Brasov. There's a fortified church there. Then I could go see Bran castle if I wanted. Anyone have any info on car rentals?

It looks like I will get in at 12:30 a.m. and fly to London at 6:30 a.m. the next day. Those of you who will be there before I get there....tell me if I dare sleep at the airport. I've already been to the website that documents the sleeping in the airport thing and it seems like it's been rated between hell and fair. :)

I should add my December trip for the calendar.

Sat 12/9 6:00pm YYZ-AMS-OSL
Thu 12/14 9:55am OSL-AMS-OTP
Sat 12/16 2:30pm OTP-AMS
Sun 12/17 1:25pm AMS-YYZ

:-: updated :-:


PaulMSN, if you end up flying vs driving, think post-holiday VDBs. ;) Great itins. Have fun.

BoyAreMyArmsTired, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one thinking of sleeping in the airport. Misery loves company. :p

Clincher +1
6/1 YOW-DTW
6/1 DTW-AMS
6/2 AMS-OPT
6/6 OPT-AMS
6/9 AMS-EWR
6/9 EWR-YOW

FourWheels thanks for the calendar!

36 hours from now I will be sitting in the YVR AS Lounge waiting to fly back to SEA a couple of miles from where I started. It will be a long haul to OTP. Once there I am immediately catching a train to Brasov. Once there I will crash.

I'll be sleeping there tonight. Wednesday night I slept in the Montreal bus station and Thursday I slept on the flight to Amsterdam. I've spent all day in Amsterdam sitting in the sun and drinking espresso. So I may not be able to give you an accurate report. At this point, I'd be happy with a place to sit that isn't outside.

:-: updated :-:

Your two calendar rulers, mcrt and me, will be away for a week or so. One of us will update as soon as it's possible. Till then, post away!

hmm...
 

montreal bus station, darn, wish i knew.., my condo is being renovated and as such is empty.

but you would have at least had a couch and heat etc..,

ohh well,

About the bus - you go down one level from the arrivals floor and go out the doors and turn right. There's a booth to purchase bus tickets. It costs 5 new Lei for a 2-trip magnetic-strip ticket for route 783 (says 2 Calatorii on the front. The city tansport company is RATB). After buying the ticket turn around and look for the bus stop in front of the terminal. It took a very long time to get downtown because I arrived at rush hour. Between Piata Victoriei and Piata Universitatii I could have walked faster that the bus travelled. If you need to take a second bus or trolley, the city fare for one trip is 1.10 new Lei.

My Visa check card was refused in the one ATM I found at the airport, so I had to exchange money for the first time in over 10 years of travelling in Europe (there's supposed to be another ATM somewhere, but I didn't see it). They socked me for over 10%, but I needed to pay for the bus ticket.

I'm staying at the Euro Hotels and Suites about a mile west of Piata Universitatii. The room's OK but smokey smelling, and you have to schlep everything up two floors to the reception. The included breakfast is downstairs at a cafe in the same building. You choose one of two breakfast plates. It was adequate except for only two pieces of bread. I probably won't stay here next time.

Thanks for the reports guys!

mcrt, based on your comment, I guess it's best for me to avoid the Butterfly Villa Hostel?

I am headed this weekend and have made reservations at the

Bucuresti-Otopeni - Pension Gabriela
Margaritarului Street 18, Vila A 104,
Otopeni
Bucharest
Romania

Close to the airport and is available for booking via HI site. Hopefully it should be good ;)

I'll be there around the 3rd week of February