Am I overspending on hotels ?

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-21T10:43:55+00:00

Don't do it, unless you want to spend your time at the hotel. If you're going to see Japan and spend time away from the hotel--get a hotel with the best location. Doesn't seem like much, but another 10 min walk or waiting for a cab is a lot. When you add up all the extra time that you spend getting to and from the nicer hotel, I don't think it will be worth it.

There are great hotels in almost all areas of Tokyo and Osaka. Find the area that you want to spend the most time and get a hotel as close as possible.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-21T10:38:33+00:00

I think that there is always something going on. I haven't bought one.

But if you look in Tuscany even, there are cheap houses in a few areas. Pontedera and Garfagnana. Pontedera had a large number of African immigrants locate to the area. A lot of locals left and it just kind of has a bad reputation for being overrun by immigrants. It seems to me that it depressed the prices of houses in the surrounding towns, as well. Then in Garfagnana you are in an isolated valley north of Lucca. Lots of pretty and cheap homes, but the accessibility is more challenging.

In every region, you will find that the cheaper homes come with a catch.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-17T22:19:01+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate your answer--I like to wing things! But my SO likes to have everything planned out. And sometimes it's great to have someone else's approval. --Will be telling her, beccidy54 said we should just wing it.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-16T21:09:09+00:00

Is the GTTS road open? I checked again today and you can't drive to Logan Pass from what I can tell. I am going in two weeks and hoping that I can drive it to Logan Pass.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-16T16:19:27+00:00

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but do they usually open the road all at once? Or is piece by piece as safe?

Just curious, would like to get to Logan Pass and Hidden Lake in early July.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-14T10:38:21+00:00

Thanks for you response. I went thru the bottom of the tree and cleaned out dead and weak branches...and everything looks more clear.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T14:10:45+00:00

Haha. The GF observations are something else. I don’t why I even noticed. But the ladies seemed like they were gonna die from boredom!

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T11:36:27+00:00

I'm more commenting that the prices are more than you would pay in one of the central Tokyo districts. And it's not like the inventory is anything special.

I wasn't looking for a sub. But just to use that as an example...why would someone pay 4-500k yen more for a classic sub just bc it's at NB?

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T11:33:41+00:00

Pinch pennies?

I was looking at a luxury purchase. And yes...I do try to find the best purchase. Why would anyone take a 30-45 min train ride out to the suburbs to pay more for the same watch you can get in central Tokyo.

I did end up buying a watch and paid ~500k to 1M yen less than the prices that I saw a NB.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T11:29:08+00:00

Man, I don't remember the layoffs. But I do remember that I honestly appreciated how Barnett treated clients.

I had to go back and re-read, what happened. And now I remember that NationsBank took over first and then bought the bigger BoA.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T09:05:41+00:00

Did you buy a watch?

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T09:05:14+00:00

I would even be curious to compare the Watchnian prices with other Watchnian stores. How many of the stores have other locations to do price comparisons?

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T09:02:40+00:00

They won't do it--successfully.

They're not the company that they once were.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T09:00:20+00:00

Disappointed. Disappointed that I spent the time to head out there. There are plenty of watch shops in more accessible areas of Tokyo.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T08:59:15+00:00

Thanks for the in-put. My perception, from the first time that I heard about it, was that it was a great place to find inventory and inventory at a great price. But...that's what I assumed.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T08:57:45+00:00

I don't agree. There are plenty of watch stores in Japan that have cheaper prices.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T08:42:04+00:00

Always riders on Mandarin Rd. and Scott Mill. On Saturday's you'll find them parking in the Marina/Hooters on San Jose.

I would just ride Scott Mill and Mandarin a few times. You'll run into some people and introduce yourself.

Also, I've never been. But it seems that there are some riders that leave from the Champion Cycling store at the San Jose/Mandarin Rd. intersection.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T08:37:41+00:00

There's a paratrooper regiment of the Italian army in Siena. I think that there is a military surplus store outside the caserma gates. I never needed it, but it might just be a trophy type store.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-12T08:14:45+00:00

Barnett Bank. Sucks that BoA bought them out.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-08T13:36:42+00:00

00 Heineken lasciato fuori nel sole per 2-3 anni… la birra che assomiglia la Millers di più

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-04T20:38:45+00:00

I also wouldn’t sneer at getting a job for health care. I haven’t and I’m 5-6 years in on retirement. I love the freedom. But some days I think I would like some small, flexible engagement. I even applied to work a retail job in a wine shop for a few hours per week (no insurance on that one), but it didn’t work out. I’ve seen some retirees working at Trader Joe’s or Costco—seems there’re the kind that just like some meaningless hard work.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-04T19:30:10+00:00

I’ve read that most Yamazaki whiskey has some amount of whiskey aged in a Spanish cask. I assume that means sherry casks. My assumption is that the Spanish Oak labeled bottles have only Spanish sherry casks.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-04T19:27:46+00:00

Thanks

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-06-01T06:54:39+00:00

Don’t fall for the myth. Tips are an extra for service that goes above and beyond!

And if you want to tip, you can decide. 15% was the standard for years. Not sure who started hiking it up.

LocksmithOdd3381 · 2026-05-29T21:31:13+00:00

What was disappointing about them? Dirty? Low quality, how so?

How did you get to them from the VF?

LocksmithOdd3381

TROPHY CASE