jelane

I came across a thread while doing some research and it mentioned walking about in the plane on long flights and meeting fellow Fordorites. How does that happen, it would be fun to meet people who have helped me plan trips for the past three years.

sandi_travelnut

You can mention where you will be and plan a get together (GTG)....otherwise I think it's by luck.

JulieVikmanis

From what I've been able to glean from reading various posts here, at one time several years ago, Fodors actually had pins made that posters could get somehow and wear them while traveling in order to facilitate identification of fellow fodorites.

jelane

well that makes sense, I can understand the GTG but I couldn't imagine the plane, it would be pretty wierd standing at the loo and announcing you were looking for Fodorites I may see if anyone is interested in a GTG at Harry's Bar in Paris on June 12th.

PatrickLondon

Wear white shoes, wave your money around and see who winces....

ira

Good advice from PL.

Also look for obvious tourists not carrying a Rick Steves guidebook.

suze

Good one!, Patrick London.

Maybe you can carry a Fodor's guidebook around. See if anyone strikes up a conversation.

But the likely hood of having a forum participant on your plane (unless you knew ahead of time) seems somewhat a long shot.

Don't you all think so??

LJ

I have one of those pins and wore it proudly, but the odds of coincidentally running into someone sporting the same on his/her lapel seem slim. And I dopn't fancy spending my vacation wandering around with my eyes at 'lapel level' looking...that behaviour could end up giving tourism a bad name!

The GTG posted in advance with a range of possible times has worked well for Paris, Rome, Venice, Toronto and many local festivities in US cities. I have been to a couple and it is a lot of fun to trade travel tales.

StCirq

I once was having dinner at Le Petit Bistro in Bayeux and was talking with my family about our house in St-Cirq. The couple at the next table apparently overheard us and figured out who I was and came over and introduced themselves as fellow Fodorites. Quite amazingly coincidental, actually.

Padraig

There are Fodorites that i would never wish to meet.

jelane

Well Patrick I have been known to wave money around well actually NOT, probably trying to separate currency but I am not wearing white shoes.....I probably wouldn't wear a pin but I have to say if I ran into some of these people who give us such good advice and love to travel I would love to meet them. I am from the US but live at this moment in a country that would not be a choice for most, we are expats, travel is my passion, it gives me such joy in my life.

Jed

Sometimes, while in a group, if travel comes up, I mention Fodors. No one has piped up yet.

tod

If you happen to be a solo traveller at any time, a Fodorite GTG is a great way to find a little company for a few hours.
In my experience this has been a most enjoyable and rewarding experience and to be repeated in the near future hopefully!

Mathieu

"...it would be pretty wierd standing at the loo and announcing you were looking for Fodorites..."

I think you should try doing just that Jelane. Hilarious !

Failing that, how about wearing full black with a fanny pack and parading up and down the aisles on a flight to Paris ? Bound to attract some attention.

I agree that outside of pre-planned GTGs, chance meetings of fellow Fodorites while on vacation is pretty rare, but I have been amazed at some of the stories I have read on this board about such coincidental meetings. Really quite neat.

"...but live at this moment in a country that would not be a choice for most,..."

Try us.
Sounds interesting; we're from all over the world and travel all over the world too, don't forget. We'd need to know where you are to bump into you

M

sandi_travelnut

I know quite a few people that have jumped on airfare sales have posted here about it. Many were on the same flight so that may have been the deal on the plane.

jelane

Failing that, how about wearing full black.....

that was priceless, I have to wear black quite often but not with a fanny pack. I live in KSA...so Mathieu now you know why I said what I did.

Mathieu

Ahh, thanks jelane.
Even so, under the right circumstances, I'd love to visit the KSA, and have been in the region recently : Jordan for 9 days in 2005 and last November in Dubai and 3 of the UAE. All different and fascinating.

Dukey

EVERY time they make ANY announcement on the PA, get up out of your seat and REPEAT it, word for word, in a loud voice. Then, when the flight attendants start serving the meal, walk behind them and every time another passenger answers a question about what they want to eat or drink, REPEAT IT, word for word to the FA.

Those who are Fodorites will understand and recognize the behavior.

Katie_H

I did see a woman reading a Fodor's guide to Australia on the subway this morning but she wasn't close enough for me to say hello. I really wanted to though!

On a flight back from California I say two rows in front of an editor I work closely with here---that was weird.

One of our editors, Rachel, was heading to a GTG in New Jersey with a huge bag of Fodor's loot. The woman next to her on the subway was a tourist looking at the Fodor's NYC guide. They struck up a conversation---imagine that woman's surprise when Rachel out of the blue pulls out some Fodor's stuff for her and tells her that she's an editor at Fodor's. That must have been strange for that tourist!

I often carry a bright orange Fodor's bag around NYC--- I feel very "Where's Waldo". So if you're in New York and happen to see someone carrying a bag that's a tad too orange; come say hi.

jdraper

Katie: I do believe I may have seen you and your bright orange bag at one time in New York. How funy. Next time I will come up and say hi and it will probably be someone else who will think I am terribly odd.

How about Fodor's reinstating those fodors pins? Even if we had to purchase them it would be kind of neat to have.

Jackie