Category: Travel Planning

Swapping spring and fall trips

Today we flew back and are getting reacquainted with home. “Now, where are the cutting boards?” The next trip was to be to Italy with family but we just learned my SiL busted a knee, so we’re rescheduling to the fall. That was an opportunity to move my fall solo Japan trip. It’ll be too cold to start in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, so while I was flying to Minneapolis, I changed the start city to subtropical Fukuoka, Kyushu, leaving in 12 days.

Simplifying Travel

Here, I’m waiting for a TTP (Trusted Traveler Program) interview via Zoom to renew Global Entry. With a simple selfie using an app as the plane arrives, I can skip immigration lines and I don’t even show my passport. Last time at O’Hare, I walked past a two-hour line and easily made my connection.

Cheap Tix

Booked a round-trip to Japan using miles earned from a United Airlines credit card I opened earlier this year. The sign-up bonus and other perks covered the cost. I’ll be flying with ANA on the transpacific portions, which generally offers better service than United. My outbound flights will take me to Asahikawa, Hokkaido, a gateway to Daisetsuzan National Park. Traveling on the cheap adds to the adventure!

The Day After

It was a day for embracing jet lag and planning future adventures. Later this month, we’re day-hiking sections of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) on the North Shore of Lake Superior. To mentally prepare, I organized timelines of previous SHT hikes at my Web site. And for next year, I started researching a potential multi-day…… Continue reading The Day After

Good Eats

Substantial dinner after planning a trip to Italy next spring with my sister- and brother-in-law: pork ribs, pork belly, walleye, roast Brussels sprouts.

Planning for the Inevitable

Bought snowbird flights for our winter getaway, cashing in a bunch of Delta e-credits that will expire soon. Come February, all these seats will be filled.

Applying a Large Language Model to Travel

These days, navigating a massive Japanese train station with its multi-level tracks feels less like studying a map and more like following a personal guide. Google Maps provides step-by-step instructions, delivered straight to my wristwatch. A gentle vibration tells me when to turn, making the journey to the exit for my hotel less stressful. This…… Continue reading Applying a Large Language Model to Travel

Plant Parenthood from Afar

Packed bags, checked-in flights for tomorrow, and corralled plants await our departure. Dwight has consolidated the houseplants and hooked them up to the watering system. While he insists on manual control, albeit remotely via the Internet, cameras offer visual and auditory (pumps whirring) assurance of their well-being.