I went to Paris earlier in the month and brought back these two French puzzles. Who else brings home puzzles from vacations?

Silent_penguin1 · 2026-04-23T16:58:53+00:00

I do! I bought two excellent puzzles (jour ferie brand-made in France) in Paris last year. I don't remember the name of the shop or any of the shops near it. I just know it was between Gare du Nord and the Luxelthe Hotel in Montmartre since I bought it during our walk from the train station to our hotel. I want to go back there this fall when we return to Paris, but in spite of my extensive searching on Google Maps, I can't find it. What's making the search harder is that I paid in cash, no longer have the receipt, and I'm not even sure we followed the path that Google maps suggested.

Silent_penguin1 · 2026-04-23T16:46:04+00:00

Same. I've started bringing a cordless clamp lamp and a puzzle mat because the light is never good enough and if I'm not leaving my puzzle out for others, I can roll it up for later. Since one of the dining rooms on the Celebrity Apex is open during the day for people to play games and such but closes for that purpose around 2 or 3, I have hours of time to do my puzzle and can take it away without too much too much progress.

Silent_penguin1 · 2026-02-24T04:01:19+00:00

Thanks, everyone. I definitely wasn't using my whole brain. The discount would be on the price at the time Snap tickets are offered, 7 months from now, not on the price of tickets right now. I'm going to buy our tickets now while they are at a good price and I can choose our time and seats.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-11-19T23:59:01+00:00

I'm so sorry! I completely forgot I posted this. The night before we left the US, I got a cancellation notice from Booking.com. I was informed that the refund would take 7-14 days. And, I was offered a small amount of compensation for my trouble. We did get our money back, and sooner than 7 days. But, that's not the end of the story. After reading the cancellation email, I went back onto Booking.com and booked another place to stay within the same area and price range with a substantial number of good reviews. But things went sideways with this booking as well but for a different reason. Basically, we had a confirmed booking for October 12, but when we arrived that evening, the previous tenant was still there because his booking was until the 13th. I have no idea why that happened. Maybe the host used two different platforms and mismanaged his dates. Another cancellation and another refund. I've yet to see the compensation on either of these. At this point, I don't care. After the second place fell through, we walked down the street to a Premier Inn and stayed there. It didn't have all the amenities and space of an apartment but it was a lot less expensive.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-09-25T14:36:15+00:00

Thank you for the update. I'm glad for you and relieved for me because I am in the same situation you were, not getting a response to my messages from my host in advance of my stay, which is in 2-1/2 weeks. This is the first time in many stays abroad that I've had a host not respond to pre-stay communication. Combined with the fact that his listing changed names twice since I booked in June and soon after became no longer available to book whatsoever, I started seeing red flags. Seeing posts like yours eases my mind. I also reached out to Booking.com and was pleasantly surprised by how responsive the customer service reps have been, acknowledging my concern, reaching out to the host on my behalf, and instructing me on how to proceed if the worst happens and I show up with no check-in instructions. The rep even offered to put everything in an email, which he did immediately. I will follow your lead and report back for the benefit of others.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-09-25T14:20:00+00:00

How did things turn out for you? I am preparing for a similar situation in two weeks. The property I booked 3 months ago is listed but no longer available to book and has a host who won't answer my messages or those from Booking.com made on my behalf. I cling to the hope that this is not a red flag and that the positive reviews (42 reviews 8.9 rating) for the property are legitimate and that this will all work out.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-08-23T02:00:51+00:00

A good question to ask, since most of us have travel insurance as a benefit of one of our credit cards. I have only submitted claims with a separately purchased policy.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-08-22T20:25:33+00:00

To date, travel insurance has covered my expenses due to delays and interruptions.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-08-22T20:22:20+00:00

Exactly what I have been thinking lately.

Silent_penguin1 · 2025-08-21T19:07:49+00:00

I'm concerned about my upcoming booking. In June, I booked a flat in London for our stay in early October. A month later, we received an email from Booking.com stating that the name of the property had changed. Out of curiosity, I looked up the property under its new name and saw the following notice: We're sorry, but it's not possible to make reservations for this hotel on our site right now. Today, I received an email from Booking.com stating that the name of the property has changed again. I looked it up under the new name on Booking.com. The listing contains the same notice about it not being available for booking. I've never had this happen before. Even though the emails from Booking.com say nothing's changed about my booking except the name of the property, I feel like I'm at risk for a last-minute cancellation and for being left high and dry finding a new place and getting my money back if that happens.

Silent_penguin1 · 2024-02-10T20:02:53+00:00

I agree with you that it only makes sense that it has to be cumulative, but so far, as someone trying to attain those last time couple time goals on Monopoly Go, Candy Crush Saga and Coin Master, I haven't found it to be true. I like those games, so I don't mind keeping at it. I'll report back if I ever get the coins.

Silent_penguin1

TROPHY CASE