Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: International Travel by the Staff

This is topic International Travel by the Staff in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-15-2004, 04:05 PM:

The jet setting lifestyle that our staff is able to pull off with our underpaid jobs always surprises me. Here is a partial list of the places our staff has been in the past 4-years we have been open.

Ireland - Vanessa (Before working here)
England - Shannon (Before working here), Ian, Jake, Evan (soon), Ian Sherine, Vanessa
France - Ian
Italy - Ian, Ky, Michael
Tunisia - Ian (Before working here)
Mexico - Ian, Ky, Michael
Scotland - Ian
Amsterdam - Ian
Norway - Michael
Sweden - Michael, Casey
Romania - Evan, Lincoln
India - Payal (twice)
Argentina - Lincoln
Guatemala - Sierra (twice)
Honduras - Sierra
Australia - Sierra
New Zealand - Sierra
Cuba - (Somebody) [Wink]

Senegal - Allison
Singapore - Ian Sherine
Canada - Cayla, Sierra, Ky, Ian (lunch)

Then we have one manager who had never been on an airplane before this January. The farthest he has ever been from home is Las Vegas.

Do you yearn to travel?
Where have you been?

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-15-2004, 04:19 PM:

I hate travelling with a passion! It takes too long, is boring, way too inconvenient and expensive. If I am with someone it isn't so bad. But needing to get to the airport 2 hours before your flight is BS! And driving takes way too damn long and is way too damn boring and with gas at $90 per gallon, screw it! The terrorists have won! I concede!

But I have been to the following:
Baltimore
Wilmington, Delaware
New York City
Los Angeles (definitely not as cool as NYC)
Dallas
Houston
Galveston
Sandy, Utah (boring state, btw)
Las Vegas
Atlantic City

Probably elsewhere as well.[av=d]

I have zero desire to leave the United States as no other countries interest me except Japan. That's it. They have lots of fine women over there. Plus they are actually somewhat interesting, technologically.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-15-2004, 04:54 PM:

I've actually been planning a trip to Amsterdam this summer to visit some fellow collectors and see the sights. Does anyone know of cheap airfare? Hotel isn't a problem at this point as I would have a place to stay.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-15-2004, 05:00 PM:

My favorite topic.....my grandfather and father where travelers in their business and I am trying to catch up [Smile]

47 USA states, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Netherlands Antilles, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belguim, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Holland, China, Thailand, Japan. I hope to make some new destinations over the next two years.... I am now part of a staff of 2 1/2 persons versus 9 - 10 in the past.
Traveling now is several times more wearing than the past....it was not unusual to do three airline connections per fly day but two is now straining with security issues...recent example 21 hours to get from Miami to Bangkok became 30 hours...you learn to pace yourself, be positive and forgiving and stay aware. Before going to a new location I learn as much about the region, leave time to get "lost" which many times you find the local flavor more fun than the "touristy" spots. They say that only 15% of Americans have a passport.....more travel would probably enjoy what we have more and gain a wealth of insight into this little rock we live on being bathed by a star that could turn us into toast any minute [Eek!]

how is that for a tangent....

Mike, British via London is usually the cheapest way into Amsterdam....stay away from the "Red Light" district and don't smoke too much pot or you will be falling out the cafe doors [Razz]

Take time to see the Van Gogh Museum, Tuschinski Cinema and have your walking shoes [Smile]

Joe, Japan is sqeaky clean, the women are hyper apoligetic ( sorry , sorry my fault ) and the world used to making up signs with Microsoft Word, most are hand lettered "marks a lot" specials...

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 04-15-2004, 05:10 PM:

I believe that Northwest and KLM have a tie-up which results in lots of spare (and therefore cheap) capacity between Minneapolis and Amsterdam/Schiphol. I've been to two conferences in the US in the last three years, and on both occasions that was my way in (with the short-hop connection from Newcastle to Schiphol being thrown in by KLM, either free or at nominal cost, I'd imagine). Knowing my employers, they wouldn't have sent me that way unless it was cheap! There again, going to AMIA last November they sent me on a combination of Aeroflot and Alaska/Horizon Air (Newcastle - Amsterdam - Moscow - Anchorage - Vancouver), so KLM/Northwest probably isn't the cheapest way from Europe to the US any more.

If you do decide to head to Amsterdam via London, it's worth checking out the UK-based low cost airlines, Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet 2. This will mean moving between airports within England, but you may well get such a cheap fare as to make doing that worth the hassle.

quote:
Where have you been?

In Europe: France, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Faroe Islands.
In North America: Minneapolis (though only the airport); Anchorage (ditto); Seattle; Lincoln, Nebraska; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Vancouver.
In Asia: Moscow.

quote:
Do you yearn to travel?

I know this sounds stupid, given how small the UK is, but there are bits of my own country I haven't seen and would very much like to - the Orkney and Shetland Islands for example, not to mention the interior part of Wales (Swansea is as far 'in' as I've ever got).

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-15-2004, 05:43 PM:

Mike, a quick check on Orbitz found hundreds of flights via up to 10 airlines with the cheapest being Northwest/KLM for about $725. It is always cheaper to fly to Europe in the winter than the summer. The most interesting routing was Kuwait Airlines.

I'm glad Joe chimed in on this subject because as inexplicable as it seems, Joe's reaction to travel isn't all that unique.

I like travel just for travels sake. How many people would do something pointless just in order to travel? Say, fly around the world without leaveing the airports? If I didn't have to pay for it, I would do it just to say I had flown around the world. I would like to take a ship around the world. Of course I would like to stop in many places and see the sites.

Let's all band together and buy Joe a ticket to Japan. Perhaps one-way. I think it would be funny as hell to have Joe wake up in Japan and have a video crew follow him around.

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-15-2004, 05:58 PM:

Leo, don't feel bad, we have the Bahamas available via 10 - 12 flights a day from Miami ( less than 30 minutes ) but I have never gone over to bug Manny [Big Grin]

Orbitz, Expidia, AA.com are my favorites with a little help from end destination agents.

Joe in Japan....it will be like those lost little bulldog commercials on T.V. [Wink]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-15-2004, 06:13 PM:

I could manage in Japan. My Engrish is quite good. [Big Grin]

[av=v]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-15-2004, 06:56 PM:

What I'd like to do sometime is to drive a car from NY to CA, just to see how long it'd take me. Oh wait that's been done before. [Smile]

Thanks for the tips on the plane fares, I will have to do more research on that. I don't smoke weed, no problems there, but I wouldn't mind a visit to the red light district! My friend there said everything you've heard about it is true.

Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 04-15-2004, 07:52 PM:

Joe in Japan. Would property values go up in the US while he is gone? [Wink]

I've been to NYC twice, Los Angeles once. Denver once. Lived in Nashville, and Atlanta. Loved all of the above cities.

Have been to Mardi Gras 11 times. New Orleans is Wild!

I've only flown 6 times. The first was a 30 minute flight between Asheville and Nashville in the 1970's [uhoh]

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 04-15-2004, 08:30 PM:

I remember my first flight when I was five years old on a Lockheed Constellation ( four piston engines and 3 wing tail ) with my grandmother on my way to visit relatives...I thought we where going to crash in the water since the airport runway jutted out into the bay...rinse the landing tires before touching the runway....I was hooked by the air bug [Cool]

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-15-2004, 10:32 PM:

I do not travel now as often I used to but when I did, I have visited 32 states and Washington DC. During my many trips cross country, I have been to cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York City countless times. I have been to Japan twice and Canada three times. I have only been to the border town of Tijuana but never had the opportunity to visit the other parts of Mexico. I Never had the opportunity to visit Europe but hope to in the not too distant future.

-Claude

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 04-16-2004, 12:32 AM:

I have been to 17 countries and 48 US states (Vermont and Rhode Island are the only ones I have missed)

The countries:

Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Canada
Cuba
England
Germany
Honduras
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Netherlands
Panama
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Turkey

-Aaron

[ 04-17-2004, 01:21 AM: Message edited by: Aaron Sisemore ]

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 04-16-2004, 02:12 AM:

Hmmm, US states and districts visited: AL, AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DL, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA--32 out of 50 states so far.

Canadian provinces and territories visited: AB, BC, MB, SK, YT--5 out of 13 so far.

Countries visited (outside of North America): Spain, Portugal, (West (at the time)) Germany, Ireland, Australia, Japan.

I've been very fortunate in that most of this travel was paid for by employers or the USAF--the best way to travel is on someone else's nickel! Still so many places yet to see. I would be happy to be on the road (or in flight, or at sea) forever...

[ 04-26-2004, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-16-2004, 09:33 AM:

Canada, Mexico, UK, Germany, France, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Belgium --- usually to conduct training seminars, or participate in ISO/TC36 standards committees.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-16-2004, 09:55 AM:

Ive only left Texas twice. Once to Florida when I was a kid. And I went to Louisiana last year to CineShow. Was anybody there by the way? Also, is anyone going this year?

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-16-2004, 11:40 AM:

States I actually visited/lived in:
Massachusetts
Wisconsin
Maine
New Hamshire
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Vermont
Florida
New Jersey
New York
South Carolina
Kentucky
Michigan
13 States

Other states I drove or road a train though:
Deleware
Virginia
North Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Indiana
Ohio
Pennsylvania
8 States

21 States all together,that's a lot more then I thought!

Outside of the US:
Jamacia
Grand Caymans
Cuba
St. Thomas
St. Martin
(Cruise maybe?) [Smile]

Not bad considering I'm only 23!

[ 04-16-2004, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: Rachel Gilardi ]

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 04-16-2004, 12:52 PM:

When young, up to the early '70s:

Scotland
Wales
France
(West) Germany
Italy
Austria
Switzerland
Holland
Belgium
Luxemburg
Liechtenstein
Russia

Some of these were for only a few hours, on coach trips from other nearby countries where I was staying.

More recently, in the last two years, two U.S. states:

New Jersey
New York

Next week, if all goes according to plan, I will get just into Pennsylvania for a few hours.

Places I would like to go include:

India
China

Posted by Emma Tomiak (Member # 1862) on 04-17-2004, 02:22 AM:

US States
Texas
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Colorado
Oklahoma
Louisiana
Minnesota
Boston
Maine

Countries
USA
Mexico
England
Scotland
Ireland
Italy
France
Australia
New Zealand

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 04-17-2004, 02:43 AM:

There is absolutely no need to go to Mexico. Mexico is coming to us![av=x]

Posted by Mike Spaeth (Member # 524) on 04-17-2004, 02:57 AM:

I've been to 45 states ... missing AK, HI, ID, OR, WA.

Canada is the only foreign country I've visited.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 04-17-2004, 03:08 AM:

quote:
US States
Boston

I can't spell Massachusetts without looking it up, either! [Smile]

Probably best to avoid some of the more obscure parts of Scotland and Wales: get the spellings of those places wrong and you're likely to be skinned alive by the local nationalists...

Posted by Chris Liczbinski (Member # 1957) on 04-17-2004, 03:13 AM:

I travelled with my dad for two years instead of going to the 4th and 5th grade (which I later finished in a German school), surprisingly I still remember many details of these countries:

Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Luxemburg
Liechtenstein
Poland
France
Italy
Greece
England
Vancouver BC
Mexico
Western U.S. coast
Eastern U.S. coast

I was born in Germany and have always been fluent in the language, going every summer to brush up on it helps too though!
I think it's great to see so many international members on the forums!

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-17-2004, 06:00 PM:

Boston's a state? It's definitely a state of mind! [Razz]

Posted by Emma Tomiak (Member # 1862) on 04-17-2004, 06:44 PM:

Oops! I feel like a dummy. I'm not a ditz, I swear! [Razz]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 04-19-2004, 04:36 PM:

quote: Paul Mayer
out of 13 so far.

Wow, good job! Lots of people here on work visas and student visas that wouldn't know that.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 04-22-2004, 04:29 AM:

Philipines
Australia
Hawaii
USA MainLand (Cal ,Utah)

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 04-22-2004, 08:53 AM:

I've missed Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Washington, North Dakota, and Arkansas, so I've been to 44 states. (Plus D.C. Can't forget D.C.)

I've visited Canada (no idea which provinces), Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Belgium, West Germany (back when there was such a thing), Germany, The Netherlands, Luxemborg, Switzerland, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

I have a passport, but it's expired. No point in renewing it until I have plans to travel again.

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 04-22-2004, 12:47 PM:

I would keep my passport up to date for two reasons.

First: The James Bond factor.
Second: You never know when you may have to run away from your politicians.

States I've taken my cloths off in. I don't even count the ones I pass through anymore.

Alaska
Arizona
California Currently live
Colorado Grew Up
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts summers
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey Although I'm not sure the Newark Day's Inn counts.
New Mexico
New York Born
Ohio
Pennsylvania One New Years kiss from a fat girl who smoked, when I was 17.
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Vermont Lived one year
Washington
Wyoming

Countries:

Mexico An entire summer
Canada Lunch only, doesn't pass the disrobing rule
United Kingdom Three times
France three times, once by bicycle
Italy By bicycle
Tunisia Arrived by bicycle
Bolivia
Peru
Holland

This countries list looks pathetically small. I must do my best to expand it.

Posted by Adam Fraser (Member # 1074) on 04-22-2004, 11:08 PM:

States:
Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota.

Countries: Canada for a few minutes.

I have never been on a plane.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-22-2004, 11:49 PM:

I've been to the green places so far.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 04-22-2004, 11:53 PM:

I don't think crossing over 2%, at most, of Ontario counts. [Razz]

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-23-2004, 12:02 AM:

I've been to Soo as well as the drive from Detroit to Toronto. So 2.01%. [Razz]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 04-23-2004, 12:06 AM:

Like I said, 2% at most.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 04-23-2004, 12:08 AM:

And where the hell have you been? Huh? Huh?

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 04-23-2004, 12:11 AM:

Adam, you're missing almost all of the East Coast! It's good to know at least you picked the best state. [Razz]

Posted by Kyle McEachern (Member # 2250) on 04-23-2004, 12:52 AM:

Psh, he's got all he needs in California! No need to leave here.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 04-26-2004, 10:56 PM:

I've checked around and it seems orbitz has the best deals for airfare. Now I'm sort of planning what do to while I'm there in Amsterdam. Are there good websites to plan a trip out? For instance, I've heard you can take a train around Europe, or even use the public transporation. How would I plan something like that out?

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 04-27-2004, 03:54 AM:

I sure the hell would NOT brag about being in Detroit...It's a GREAT place to be "from"!

>>> Phil

Posted by German Marin (Member # 918) on 04-28-2004, 01:51 PM:

Venezuela.
Spain: Madrid
Portugal: Lisboa
Italy: Milan, Mortara, Novara, Pavia, Arona, Pescara, Ravenna, Faenza, Montebarchi, Lago Maggiore.
Repubblica di San Marino.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 05-04-2004, 08:38 PM:

Just saw some extremely cheap round trip tickets from Chicago to Amsterdam ($290!) on Kuwait Airways (!). Has anyone flown them before. Overall based on reviews I found online they seem to be pretty reliable.

Also, has anyone here been to South Africa, more specifically the Cape Town area?

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 05-04-2004, 08:56 PM:

So Mike... when you go to Amsterdam be sure to check out the "red light" district. Whatever one's preference, the straight and/or gay clubs there are REALLY hot! Hubba Hubba!

Ummm... BTW: I've *never* been there... I've only be told about them. [Wink]

>>> Phil

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 05-04-2004, 10:16 PM:

Sure you haven't Phil... [Wink]

That'll be one of my first stops!

Posted by Erika McCarty (Member # 2006) on 05-04-2004, 10:40 PM:

States I've Lived In:
Oklahoma, Texas, Florida, (and soon Connecticut)
States I've visited:
Mississippi, Louisiana, New York, Alabama, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico
Countries:
Mexico
Over international waters:
Hawaii (yes, also a state...one of the most amazing experiences of my life, very fascinating place)
Hope to visit:
Alaska, Canada, Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Spain, Costa Rica (my mother lived there)

I'm sure I'm forgetting some... [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 08-29-2004, 05:43 PM:

Anyone been to Rome recently and can recommend cheap but nice places to stay there?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 08-29-2004, 05:51 PM:

My daughter spent a semester in Rome. She recommends the Panda Hotel (near the Spanish Steps), or the Kennedy Hotel (near the train station) as good, budget-priced hotels with convenient locations.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/rome/listings/selection/panda.asp

quote:
HOTELS IN PIAZZA DI SPAGNA
Pensione Panda
V. della Croce 35

PHONE: 06 678 0179
FAX: 06 6994 2151

PRICES HALL SHOWER PRIVATE FACILITIES

SINGLE -- EUR 62
DOUBLE EUR 62 EUR 94
TRIPLE EUR 110 EUR 110-124
QUAD -- EUR 146-168

CURRENCY CONVERTER

euroCHEAPO'S REVIEW

The Panda is another reliable budget favorite, booked solid in high season and for good reason. Located on the same block as the Jonella, one block off of the Piazza di Spagna, the Panda offers freshly renovated rooms, clean bathrooms, painted ceilings, beautiful furnishings and cool management.

http://www.romeby.com/kennedy/

quote:
The Kennedy Hotel is located between the Termini Station and the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore. Within five minutes walking You’ll arrive at the Terme di Diocleziano, the Opera House, and Via Nazionale. Colosseum and Roman Forum are just ten minutes far from us. The Quirinale, Spanish Step and the Trevi Fountain are within fifteen minutes. The main lines of bus and underground are located in front of the Station, 150 meters far from the Hotel.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 08-29-2004, 07:12 PM:

What I'd like to know for all you working folks is:

How did you find teh time/money to travel so much? I mean, Aaron has been to how many countries already?

I've never been out of the country, unless leaving my hometown counts.. LOL..

States visited:
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
Delaware
New Jersey
Nevada
Florida
Georgia
Texas
Tennessee
(several states between Texas and NC, I was two... does that count?)

Places I'd like to visit:
Spain
Greece
(anywhere in the mediterrainian, actually - the women are beautiful!)
Fiji
Japan

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 08-29-2004, 07:27 PM:

Helps to have an employer that will send you overseas. It's always better to travel on someone else's nickel. Or just have a good paying job that can give you enough time off to be able to travel. [Smile]

And the travel doesn't have to be all that expensive either. Lots and lots of deals available for planes, trains, and automobiles, and places to crash, especially if you shop around.

Of my trips:
First trip to Europe, paid for by USAF/CAP (student exchange).
First trip to Canada, paid for by Thrillsphere (work).
First trip to Australia and Japan, paid for by Hughes Space and Communications Group (work).
Second trip to Canada, paid for by me.
Second trip to Japan, paid by USAF/CAP (student exchange, work).
Third trip to Canada, paid for by me.

[ 08-30-2004, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: Paul Mayer ]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 08-29-2004, 11:02 PM:

Suprisingly, flying overseas wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be, depending on when and where you book, etc. As for time, that's another issue... but luckily for me this trip will work out good.

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 08-30-2004, 03:08 PM:

Countries I've traveled, in chronological order:

Eire, N. Ireland, Scotland, England, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxemborg, Japan, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia, Mexico, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, India, Pakistan (East & West), Nepal, Romania, Jamaica, Egypt, Israel

Three crossings by steamship
One crossing by troopship (converted Liberty)
Two trips by bicycle
One hike in the Swiss Alps to Italy
Two trips by VW minibus
One trip by my first new VW Bug
One trip by rented car (Dacia/Renault)

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 08-30-2004, 07:42 PM:

So far:
Alexandria Egypt (Cairo for a night)
Glasgo Scotland
Tokyo
Thessaliniki Greece
Stuttgart Germany for a night (missed flight)
St. Felician Canada
Omaha, Nebraska
Currently "living" in Changchun China doing an installation

All of these trips were on the company card. I tell my wife that I am just scoping out places for us to vacation in.

Posted by Gracia L. Babbidge (Member # 582) on 08-31-2004, 11:04 AM:

Within the USA I've spent time in:
Maine (where I live, was born & grew up)
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Vermont
Connecticut
Rhode Island (brief visit)
New York (only passed through)
New Jersey (passing through)
Pennsylvania (visited the Philly Zoo)
Washington D.C. (Dulles airport only)
Illinois (Chicago O'Hare airport only)
Florida (airport in Miami only)
Texas (Dallas / Fort Worth airport only)
Washington (Seattle area, month-long vacation to visit relatives)

Outside of the USA:
Canada (Heritage Music Festival in Montreal)
Costa Rica (3 week exchange student program)

I do indeed hope to visit many more places across the globe, but I don't forsee it happening immediately, so I'm procrastinating in renewing my passport.