Wood Goblin wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 10:18 am

Owen wrote: Wed May 08, 2024 10:09 am I am joining the party and headed to Japan at the end of October for two weeks.

Is there an Android friendly version of something like the Suica app for the rail system? If not, is it better to buy a pass before, get it there, any pros or cons? I am kind of fixated on this as it's the only thing I feel I dont have a great handle on.

I am planning to buy a fun Japanese Fender or a Japanese Les Paul style guitar while there, probably a good idea to plan to ship it home?

We didn’t use any apps while we were there but found traveling just fine without them. You don’t really order a Japan Rail Pass before traveling, per se. Rather, you order a voucher, which you redeem when you get there. (I would highly, highly recommend ordering this now!) We redeemed ours at the airport the day we arrived. It was simple, and the wait in line was only about 20 minutes. Basically, you give them the voucher, they ask you what day you’d like to activate the pass, and then they give you the pass. Don’t lose the pass, though, because you can’t get a new one.

The pass works on most (but not all) inter-city trains. We never encountered one where it didn’t work. It also works on some commuter trains in Tokyo and Kyoto. For subways, we just bought tickets at the machines. It seems so intimidating until you actually do it, at which point you realize it’s easy as pie.

I’d recommend making seat reservations for the bullet trains. You can do that at the ticket machines; just have your Rail Pass and passports handy, as you’ll need to enter information from them. When we’d arrive at a new city, we’d just make the reservations for our departure before we left the train station.

Loved Japan.

Ok, that sounds good.

Is there a site you recommend ordering the pass from? Do you put like X amount of money on than refill as you go? Is there a way to refill by card or do you need to go someplace with the card and they refill it for you?

I can’t recall the exact site, but this was for the Japan Rail Pass. It gets you unlimited use for one week, two weeks, etc., for trains in its network. We’d use it to get between cities but also for a couple commuter lines in Tokyo and Kyoto. It also covers the monorail from Haneda Airport to Tokyo.

Not sure if that helps. Are you wondering about what you’d need for subways and busses?

Montreal? Any new-ish restaurants or other delicious fun?

Planning on Au Pied du Couchon (twice!), Jean Talon market and Dieu de Ciel!.

I’ll be there for Canada Day too.

On Japan. They increased the price of the Japan Rail Pass by 70% last year so it’s now definitely worth looking at individual trips. The JRP isn’t the auto take it used to be.

Vermont!

Tell me all about it. I’m going the be in Southern Vermont for a couple of weeks, pretty close to New Hampshire, in a cabin in the woods outside of Brattleboro. Anything I should see or do or eat?

turnbullac wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 11:26 am Montreal? Any new-ish restaurants or other delicious fun?

Planning on Au Pied du Couchon (twice!), Jean Talon market and Dieu de Ciel!.

I’ll be there for Canada Day too.

Ryan! Doubling down on PDC is a baller move. My cholesterol is tweaking just thinking about that... Oysters at the market are great. There's a baklava spot, crepes, a few others while strolling along as well. The market on Atwater south west of downtown has fun food options too. all new to me as of last year... DDC have had a reno lately. Not as cozy and charming as it was but still a great spot and an extended terrasse bit. I usually gravitate north toward Vices Versa now a days (if not 6er of Modelo)... Gema pizza is and always will be great. A newer spot called Vesta, close to home on Jarry, is also great. By the slice, new ish Pizza Bouquet in Little Italy is an easy win... I hit Mr. Azteca on St. Hubert the semi reg for cheap, great tacos and etc. Maison Publique closing up shop about a year back was a huge bummer but there's always another spot to fill that void; Vin Papillon and Mon Lapin are crazy good still, Damas on Van Horne and Rumi on Fairmount... Some friends run a side-by-side thang: Alma (Mediterranean, set menu) and Tinc Set (tapas type & wine) that's just this most wonderful little corner spot it's insane... If you want/need a bigger list of the brand new shit pm me, I can ask some friends more in the know than I...

Dave N. wrote: Mon Jun 03, 2024 12:07 pm Vermont!

Tell me all about it. I’m going the be in Southern Vermont for a couple of weeks, pretty close to New Hampshire, in a cabin in the woods outside of Brattleboro. Anything I should see or do or eat?

Is one of eight states I have not been to.

If I go, I hope to visit:

1) Ben & Jerry’s
2) Alchemist Brewery
3) As many little dinky rustic small towns as possible

Dave N. wrote: Mon Jun 03, 2024 12:07 pm Vermont!

Tell me all about it. I’m going the be in Southern Vermont for a couple of weeks, pretty close to New Hampshire, in a cabin in the woods outside of Brattleboro. Anything I should see or do or eat?

I love Vermont. Would you all swap Alberta for it? Didn't think so...

Winooski/Burlington is always super chill and great. Greg Davis has a cool record shop there.

Stayed in a cabin in a private campground last year on the tip of Mount Mansfield. Loved it. The drive from there to Stowe (also excellent for a short stop) was wonderful.

Haven't made it down to Brattleboro yet but stumbled on several very fun townie towns north of it.


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jfv wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2024 4:24 pm

Dave N. wrote: Mon Jun 03, 2024 12:07 pm Vermont!

Tell me all about it. I’m going the be in Southern Vermont for a couple of weeks, pretty close to New Hampshire, in a cabin in the woods outside of Brattleboro. Anything I should see or do or eat?

Is one of eight states I have not been to.

If I go, I hope to visit:

1) Ben & Jerry’s
2) Alchemist Brewery
3) As many little dinky rustic small towns as possible

Vermont is a beer nerd’s paradise. I don’t think my reco will be all that useful for Dave N, but JFV you should 100% hit Hill Farmstead. Maybe the best brewery in the US. Especially if you have any inclination whatsoever to farmhouse ales. (Their IPAs and stouts/porters are also world class too). Nice little estate too. Alchemist is great, but ultimately it is just about their beer, as the brewery experience itself is pretty modern and small.

Brattleboro is nice and has a small mill-town kinda feel. Haven't been there in a few years, but it was a small business district, so don't plan on spending a day there or whatnot.

If you have a car, the Route 9 drive west to Bennington is pretty. There's a maple sugar shop on the way that's fun. Bennington is another small town. Has an ok brewery but not like Alchemist level. If it's not out of range, going north to Arlington and Manchester is nice as well. If you like pinball, there's a big pinball arcade in Manchester with all the classics.

If you went south from Bennington you can get to North Adams and there's a cool art space called MassMoca. Might be music there, depending. Wilco used to curate a summer festival there. Not sure if the pandemic killed that or not?

Mt Greylock is out there in N Adams as well, if you like hiking. East of Bennington is Mt Monadnock which is a nice little day hike.

If you go north on 91 you will get to Hanover NH , a nice little college (Dartmouth) town. If you like trains, White River Junction is there. King Arthur Flour's HQ is there if you want a class on sourdough or croissant-making.