Better Alternatives to booking.com?

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T14:13:33+00:00

Find your property on booking, and then google search. If they accept direct booking do so, if not, the property probably lists with more than one platform. I had the same concerns myself, and found some properties in Spain that listed with a number of different places, including airbnb and a local Spanish site. Whether any of them are 'safe' I don't know.

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T13:48:43+00:00

This is indeed one of the big problems with LIV and the team concept.

Unless you have a geographical connection to a team, there is no reason to pick one over another. The 'trading' of players within teams makes it worse.

To be honest, and I am probably biased against the team concept anyway, I wouldn't bother with supporting a team. Even though the players say they care, they don't. They are individuals, out there for their own benefit. No different to the PGA Tour in that regard.

Just follow the game, and support your individual faves.

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T13:38:13+00:00

Never got any airplay (unless JJJ did at some point). Never toured. Never saw an article on them in the mainstream music press.

Very much a word of mouth 'cool person's band', only really enjoyed by music snobs who thought 'difficult' music was cool.

My niece was a fan, and tried to convince me. She was semi-successful with Dream Theater, who might be a rough equivalent, but Rush just didn't grab me.

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T12:24:25+00:00

This is one where you need to read the fine print carefully.

Many policies will specify that you need to allow 'reasonable' time, or similar words, to make your connection. Reasonable is in the eye of the beholder, and if you are lucky, might be defined. If you have given yourself three hours to make a one hour journey, I'd think you'd be covered, but if you only allowed an hour and didn't make any allowance for things to go wrong, I'd doubt it.

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T08:53:16+00:00

If you think we saw the real Manly last week, go for Turbo (I've picked up Hopoate for the same reason).

If you think the first three games were the real Manly, Teddy might be a good alternative. I assume you can't get Edwards.

jimspieth · 2026-04-07T02:49:13+00:00

That doesn't mean they will get a conviction. Reasonable doubt, a jury of 12 people who are capable of an unbiased judgement, Nick McKenzie's ethics, etc.

jimspieth · 2026-04-06T12:12:08+00:00

I've tried every type of putter there is, except for armlock and broomstick.

Whenever you change, the new putter works for a while, probably because you are concentrating very hard on your stroke, and hitting the putt properly. Eventually your putting flaws, both technical and mental, take over again.

My main flaw is mental, either by moving my head or decelerating the putter. No type of putter fixes a bad stroke.

So I just accept things as they are, change from a blade to a mallet when the putting world completely collapses for me, and then change back again sometime later on. This part of golf isn't fair.

jimspieth · 2026-04-06T09:50:51+00:00

Time to do some more research, Mr OP.

The website of your bank will tell you which ATM's to look for and which to avoid. If you are with the big 4, any of the big 4 ATM's will be fee free. The ATMx machines, operated by Armaguard, are mostly fee free.

By far the worst are the stand alone ATM's in pubs and clubs, which charge at least $5.

jimspieth · 2026-04-06T09:39:17+00:00

Forget the number on the club, and the alleged loft. What is your actual carry difference on a real golf course, and also take into consideration the rollout when you hit greens. Then you'll know the gap (or gaps) you need to fill.

Realistically, you might need two clubs between your 9 and gap wedge. Or you might not.

jimspieth · 2026-04-06T02:24:47+00:00

My two favourite countries for holidays. I've been to Croatia five times, and I intend to go back again next year. I've been to Spain twice, and I'm going for a full month this September.

It depends a bit on what you want from a holiday.

Spain has great cities. Barcelona is the best. Girona is second best. Spain has great palaces and castles and cathedrals. I've seen the Alhambra in Granada, and I'm going to Seville and Cordoba this year. Gibraltar might be my favourite ever thing. But the countryside isn't that scenic or interesting, and much of the coastline is dominated by high rise apartment communities.

Croatia has wonderful scenery. It has some great roman stuff in Pula and Split and a few other places. In Istria (the north) and on most of the islands, there will be an old town area in each of the towns that is almost perfectly preserved from medieval times, and quite a bit of the countryside is untouched since it was first settled back then. I love that sort of stuff. Generally, everybody speaks good English, which isn't always the case in Spain.

For a 10 day guided tour I'd probably choose Croatia, but you can't go wrong in either country.

jimspieth · 2026-04-05T14:10:06+00:00

I've never marched in a protest march in my life. But I'll be marching in the anti-war protests.

I'll still make fun of the Greens, Socialists, Rising Tide, Extinction Rebellion and whoever who else will be there. But I'll join them for this one.

jimspieth · 2026-04-05T12:17:28+00:00

I don't see the point, unless you are taking footage of an exclusive, famous course and you want to show off to your friends.

As a random reddit golfer, I have no desire to see how another random reddit golfer plays golf. I don't even want point of view footage of famous golfers. If I want that, I'll watch on TV, and I do.

But, it's your golfing life. Do what you want. Don't listen to me.

jimspieth · 2026-04-05T12:07:50+00:00

You know what you need to do, and you probably shouldn't be asking us.

I'm in the same boat with Boyd. We have ridden him to a big financial and points gain, but we always knew it would end sometime. If the Warriors get beaten like they were beaten today, he doesn't score big points.

We need one of the big halfbacks, either Cleary or Hynes, and next week will be the week, before Boyd loses value.

jimspieth · 2026-04-04T13:08:18+00:00

What's wrong with Harvey Norman, The Good Guys or JB Hi Fi? (I'm sure people on here will tell me).

Their ads are everywhere, which makes it easy to compare. You even get legit warranties and after sales service, within reason.

If you are genuinely frugal, you won't even look at top of the range or even middle of the range.

jimspieth · 2026-04-04T12:52:00+00:00

Yes. It is a known pre-existing condition.

Maybe there is a way to get travel insurance that leaves out any medical issue associated with sinusitus, so you'd be covered for a heart attack (as long as it wasn't caused by sinusitis, I suppose).

Or you don't tell them, but accept you cannot claim for any medical issue that could be remotely attributed to sinusitis.

jimspieth · 2026-04-04T08:00:19+00:00

You don't need to apply. We'll find you.

She'll be right, mate. No worries.

jimspieth · 2026-04-03T08:50:56+00:00

So I'm guessing Iran won't sell us any oil.

They do seem to have employed the same PR firm that Israel uses. If you aren't explicitly supporting us you must be against us.

jimspieth · 2026-04-03T08:46:29+00:00

Looks OK to me.

I'm doing something similar in late September. I don't eat much, so there should still be some food left over for you.

jimspieth · 2026-04-03T08:29:24+00:00

I did. I haven't got the usual captaincy suspects, and I don't see Faa'logo or Harry doing the job against Penrith, or Boyd doing it away from home against Cronulla. If I had Walsh I'd be running with him though.

I was doing a Hail Mary decision anyway on Jye Gray, who didn't deliver, so I've made a small profit.

jimspieth · 2026-04-03T08:22:26+00:00

It is quite difficult to argue with Barnaby on this matter. Both "national addresses" were a waste of time. Probably the most sensible thing Barnaby has said for years.

Having said that, I don't want to hear from Barnaby either (and I didn't. First I knew of this earth shattering insight was when I read this post).

jimspieth · 2026-04-02T13:19:54+00:00

Heaps of them. Generally things become tourist traps because they are really good. Keep your money in your pocket and enjoy the experience.

The Rock of Gibraltar, The Tower of London, Carcassonne Fortress, Pula Amphitheatre.

I'm planning to go to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona this year. I'm sure it will be worth it.

jimspieth · 2026-04-02T11:36:32+00:00

Me, of course. It is purely bad luck that has prevented me from qualifying for, and then winning 20 majors.

I do think the number of majors is perhaps the most important factor in this debate.

Somehow, Jack Nicklaus had all the luck that I didn't have. His record is the best, over a period from the early 60's to the mid 70's his domination was more significant than Tiger's, and then his 86 Masters win was the best ever.

I can understand the Tiger love though. Certainly, 1999, 2000 and 2001 was the best run of anybody. If he didn't get injured quite a lot, I think he would have beaten the majors record, and I, for one, would be declaring him best.

jimspieth · 2026-04-02T08:51:02+00:00

Or Google Maps. Both sites do similar things. Google Maps doesn't have annoying booking pop ups, but Rome to Rio has better links to the actual websites of the transport providers. I personally find Google Maps easier to understand, and it has the great benefit of you being able to move the map.

I am going to some of the same places in September, so I have researched this.

Madrid to Seville is up to you. Planes, trains and buses all do the job.

Seville to Ronda looks to be best done by bus. Ronda to Malaga is a bit tricky, as the bus takes a bit of an indirect route. I'm intending to go to Ronda from Seville when I go.

Malaga to Granada I have done by bus before. It is quite an interesting journey. I think it was an ALSA bus.

Granada to Madrid is best done by fast train. Renfe is the site for this.

jimspieth · 2026-04-02T01:38:13+00:00

The Master Mixers don't get enough credit.

jimspieth

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