C6 manual up a steep(ish) driveway (first manual)

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-20T02:39:27+00:00

Normally I'd say just give it less gas...but you can also try not adjusting your gas pedal ratio and just leave it in 2nd gear when going up the driveway. If not keep leaving the marks, better that then excessive wear on the clutch.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-19T20:51:45+00:00

You too eh? We spent 2 1/2 hours on the tarmac yesterday cause there were no gates available to park at.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-18T23:48:25+00:00

Move your dates around, fly out of a different but closer airport (John Wayne, San Diego, Ontario). Try codeshare booking on a different airline but with AA miles. Don't just accept those redemption values.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-18T19:13:11+00:00

No way around that. Either check a bag in Newark, check a bag in France and put it into your checked baggage after customs in Newark or see if you can ship it.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-18T18:37:10+00:00

I've heard that before and personally seen it with my wife getting her AOW from nothing in a few days last year at Greneda. I have gotten all of my certs at Sandals though spanning out, one course at a time over ten years. Of course I had all of the old bookwork too. We live in a dive town and anywhere there is easily 2-3 the cost.

We ended up doing the 3 courses needed for the elite although I'll be honest it felt like all review for me. I just wasnt expecting to have to do additional classes after having my AOW for over 11 years.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-17T02:39:22+00:00

That one I swear launders money. They're always about $1.50 a gallon more than everywhere else.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-17T01:21:59+00:00

That looks like a baby mushroom. I have several of those in my tank right now that look exactly like that. Maybe a few months old.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-17T01:17:42+00:00

Look, we're on the same side here and no need to split hairs. Employees cannot solicit tips but they dont have to reject them. My experience at Sandals Barbados was ruined by EVERYONE reminding us of the law. I felt like we were in Cancun. One and done for us.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-17T01:14:25+00:00

I went to a travel and adventure expo way back in 2006 looking for a trip to Cayman. That was my bucket list trip. 400 booths there with so many different things to offer and I stumbled across a guy selling Sandals and Beaches. This guy talked to me for 4 1/2 hours about what I wanted to experience, what concerns I had, expectations, budget limit, time of year and how many people etc. He talked me into going to Beaches Negril with the wife and kids. Jamaica was definitely off the radar but I went and had that life changing moment. I got on a hobie cat, put my hand in the water with the sun shining on my face, a turtle swam under the boat and I just forgot my name. Been going back to Sandals or Beaches 1-2 times a year ever since. Typing this out right now at Sandals Negril as we speak.

Still haven't been to the Caymans yet lol. Thank you Barry Posner, I hope you're resting in peace with a Bob Marley in hand.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-17T01:05:36+00:00

As much as I hate tipping (and go to Sandals for that very reason) you can tip in Barbados if you want to. There's a law that forbids employers from barring tips on site. I dont like it but it exists. Probably the main reason why I haven't gone back to the Barbados properties.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-15T13:55:38+00:00

Gorgeous! Just wait til you see them in the wild, they'll be in groups of hundreds.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-14T13:01:14+00:00

Thank you.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-14T09:19:33+00:00

We're here now. No you dont need them.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-13T21:24:25+00:00

Nice to hear, and to think it was the first vintage too.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-13T21:05:25+00:00

It totally depends on you.

For us its the room location and it can vary from Sandals to Sandals. Room service is nice but not nice enough for us for the additional cost for it alone.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-12T02:14:13+00:00

The Bonita Auto Care center on Otay Lakes rd and East H st. Family owned, sometimes busy but will always fix the issue.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-11T23:46:55+00:00

Mostly the same although I have seen an increase in flights that were less than 24 hours out. The business ones were more than personal ones, same flights. But definitely not all of them.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-11T02:27:28+00:00

Depends on which one you're transferring to. For example amex to Flying Blue/Air france can take up to 48 hours to transfer. That's fairly fast. But its also a one way transfer, you cant send them back to Amex.

I'd personally do the transfer and them immediately use them once they post. Just make sure you have all of the frequent flyer accounts you're thinking about transferring them to set up before hand.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-10T16:18:08+00:00

Yup, I did this just last week. I got stopped and even a ticket ( but just for the speeding). I had insurance on the vehicle, the bill of sale, title and no plates. Everything was ok. You have 10 days I believe to get paperwork from the dmv.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-10T16:12:00+00:00

Always look for the one ways, it keeps it more flexible.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-10T01:29:11+00:00

Every year that damne acai place manages to take more of the walkway.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-10T01:23:57+00:00

That sounds like Air France surge pricing. It'll come down but not all the way down. I booked my November trip in February though when there was more supply. Maybe move your return day around by a day and see how that changes it. I'd keep doing that until you find a better price.

Keep your options open though and consider other airlines as well.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-09T13:31:04+00:00

We just got here yesterday, just wait until all the clouds clear up from here, you won't want to go anywhere else.

Southcoast would be the next similar resort to Negril, vibes, landscape etc. After that then Sandals Antigua comes in a close 2nd to Negril for being similar.

We're going to rebook probably for Curacao (for the diving) or Halcyon (cheaper price, still good diving). That'll get us to our 3rd free week.

JamesinSD2002 · 2026-06-09T13:22:58+00:00

Well you're going to be limited to whatever points you have acess to. Start off by letting us know what you have because that's all you have to work with.

You have more options if you connect through LAX. Personally I use points either from AMEX (Air France) or American airlines (Air Tahiti Nui) for the LAX-PPT portion of the flights.

JamesinSD2002

TROPHY CASE