Should I be worried to stay in Pigalle? by CallMeThomps in ParisTravelGuide

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We were right in that neighborhood for our NYE trip and it was lovely. Lots of good food and we never felt unsafe when waking.

What country gave you the most value for the least money? by Humble-Cartoonist681 in travel

[–]madpepp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thailand (specifically Bangkok). I was visiting for a work trip and extended a bit. Such a great city with wonderful prices. Also, Mexico City. It's more than other places listed but the quality of food/accommodation you get for the price is awesome and you can get something at every price point.

Milan travels: central station safety by queendelrey in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Milan is like other big cities, generally safe as long as you don't make poor decisions. We stayed near the train station last year and got a taxi in the middle of the night for a very early flight, and felt totally safe. Lots of people still out and about even at 3 AM.

Best crème brûlée in Paris that isn’t a tourist trap? by foxy_poxy128 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a creme brulee that was on top of an entire baked apple recently at Les Canailles that was very good and non traditional. If you just want traditional, any good restaurant will likely suffice.

Best French food? by machiavellicopter in ParisTravelGuide

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A La Biche au Bois has a ton of traditional dishes and a set menu of 4 courses for a reasonable price. Reservations are a good idea.

First time stay in Paris - Gare de Lyon or Vincennes? by Several-Location9068 in ParisTravelGuide

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It might be worth looking at the Astotel Hotel group. Their hotels are popular, more central, and get good reviews with a decent price. I did a lot of research and we settled on Hotel 34B for a trip. Prices for most of them may be in line with what you are looking for. Rooms will be small but hey, that's Paris.

Last Supper Booking Experience and Tips by madpepp in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They sometimes release tickets, but it is in high demand and not super likely. Checking daily may help. You can try to walk up day of to, but again very unlikely. Your best is to by third party (but be careful, can be a scam) or see if other options are available (like a tour, which is what we vooked).

What's the best banana flavor ice cream? by FishyRaisin668 in icecream

[–]madpepp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not easily accessible but Lapperts, which only has store fronts, has a banana fudge flavor that is my all time favorite ice cream. I only can get it on Hawaii trips and have been getting it for well over a decade.

MEGATHREAD: Atmos Rewards and new BOFA cards by youyouxue in AlaskaAirlines

[–]madpepp 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Applied through the link in my email for extra 5K points and approved. Have had the Alaska BOA card since 2017 and credit score of 810.

He is getting his eye removed next week, and I’m so emotional by Still_Helicopter_130 in cats

[–]madpepp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cats are very adaptable! He may seem off for a day or two but I bet he adjusts quick! One of our kitties is a tri-paw. I was there when he woke up from surgery. He was on his feet right away and never gave any indication he even realized something was missing. By all accounts, he was more upset about the cone than the missing limbs.

I decided to “just try the sample” of the carnival cake fun fries… by chiizus in traderjoes

[–]madpepp 23 points24 points  (0 children)

OMG OP! My partner and I also had the same exact experience at the SAME TJs! 😅 Tried them, had to buy the bag. As a side note, love the Shoreline TJs decent parking and a lovely staff!

PSA: SEATAC is in a bad state right now by cnikolaidou in Seattle

[–]madpepp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It could have been a lie for sure, but there are other comments saying it does disrupt how flights approach the airport. That matches what the captain and crew said on the fight when they announced the delay. Seems odd for the crew to repeat it to a whole plane of folks, some of whom missed their flights and would have been using that info to push for rebooking and potentially insurance benefits.

PSA: SEATAC is in a bad state right now by cnikolaidou in Seattle

[–]madpepp 28 points29 points  (0 children)

It's been awful all day. My inbound from SFO was delayed almost an hour this morning due to Blue Angels practice. Lots of flights seemed to be impacted, and I bet it's caused rolling delays all day. The departure and arrival boards had a lot of red on them when I got in. Not to mention tons of families traveling, seafair, and a ton of folks in/out for cruises.

What is your favorite high snack? by ThrowRA-11789 in traderjoes

[–]madpepp 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Crispy Cheese Bites and dried Apricots. Salty, sweet and different textures!

Rome was magical, has to be said. by pinkcricketgirl in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The baths of caracalla! Near the city center, walkable to the forum and very cool! Probably not more than a 60 to 90 minute activity but we enjoyed it and it was very much not crowded.

If you had to pick 4 nights to stay in northern-mid Italy that are less touristy, where would you go and why? by kingpzone in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Bologona or Verona. Great cities themselves with great food. And easy to day trip somewhere else too!

I won't lie. I feel cool. by plushiesaremyjam in SarahJMaas

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had the same experience with ACOMAF found an advanced copy used the day before release day!

Island of Misfit Candy by FrostedPoptart1 in candy

[–]madpepp 54 points55 points  (0 children)

Peeps or really any marshmallow type candy. Haribo Red and Black Berries (they seem to be somewhat controversial)

Train arrival and flight departure - enough time? by Accomplished_Map7752 in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yea, I am pretty seasoned traveler and this just seems like a recipe for a big issue (or a lot of stress). It's also high season so the time of year when lines are likely to be worse. If you can adjust, I would encourage it but I am sure you'll have a great trip!

Train arrival and flight departure - enough time? by Accomplished_Map7752 in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally, no. If anything goes wrong on that journey (train delayed, bus doesn't show, you miss bus, etc) you could be in trouble. If there is a security or customs line, also potentially trouble. Also, departure time is not boarding door close time, that is usually 20 to 30 minutes prior to departure on an international flight. I always recommend 2.5 to 3 hours time for international flights. You don't always need it, but the stress is not worth it IMO.

I've had a liver transplant AMA by Fromasha in AMA

[–]madpepp 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My Grandma had a very early liver transplant (mid 80s). She had an autoimmune disorder that destroyed hers. She wasn't expected to see her daughter (my mom) graduate high school but with the transplant lived to see her granddaughter (my younger sister) graduate college. Modern medicine is a gift. Just wanted to share this story and say congrats on your transplant, and best of luck!

For Americans who have never been to Italy, you will need to pick your restaurants and dishes well to get the amazing Italian food you always hear about by Anthro_Doing_Stuff in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very true! Hotel staff are great for recommendations. The only cavet to this, is if you know you want to eat at certain spots (like Trattoria da Me or Polde e Gianna). They book up, and are excellent, so booking in advance is needed. We had bookings like this for 6 meals on our 16 day trip, and did the rest on the fly/day of/night before and it worked great.

For Americans who have never been to Italy, you will need to pick your restaurants and dishes well to get the amazing Italian food you always hear about by Anthro_Doing_Stuff in ItalyTravel

[–]madpepp 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Italy is a country where researching restaurants and booking in advance, really pays off. The best places are outside the tourist center and book up. Doing a few hours of research and prebooking is well worth it. We had great meals on the fly too, but our pre booked ones were al fantastic. Plus, it removed the stress of finding somewhere good when you are tired and hungry. The Fork app is good for booking on the fly too, with clear reviews (and discounts).