Welcome to the IHoP

[dem beats 1,223]

I like culture and beach.

3k gets close to uncomfortable. 4k is too much.

For both of you? For how long? Willing to take 7 hour flights?

Yeah for both. Min a week. More would be nice, and trading fine hotel for more time may be worth it for me. Yes.

[///M5 2,833]

Hell we had three private dancers come to my buddies house and didn't spend $900 total. Included a shit load of booze and some seriously nice food. Probably close to 30 of us as well.

*excluding tips

[///M5 2,833]

I like culture and beach.

3k gets close to uncomfortable. 4k is too much.

For both of you? For how long? Willing to take 7 hour flights?

Yeah for both. Min a week. More would be nice, and trading fine hotel for more time may be worth it for me. Yes.

Do you like the beach to sit on it and do nothing or for another reason?

[sandt38 448]

Look at real mower dealers if you want a mower that will give you a decade or more of good service.

Can be said about ANY outdoor appliance. I learned the hard way on leaf blowers. Bought a cheap homelite backpack at HD. It didn't blow shit and broke in 2 years. Then I bought the biggest Echo they carry. It didn't blow shit so I sold it. Now up to $525 in Leafblowers that I then sold for $125 - net cost $400. Then I found a real dealer and bought a Shindaiwa. Holy fuck, I can "shovel" with it. Thing rocks. $450 more but considering I wasted that figuring out the rest were shit it was a lesson learned. Something to be said about a real powersports yard dealer for tools.

True that. I have mostly Stihl gear bought at a real Stihl dealer. I have been the Lowes/HD route with weedeaters, chainsaws, etc. I don't waste my time or money anymore.

Another thing is, look at the listed EPA/CARB times on the units. Each small motor must be EPA certified and have a listed figure. The figure let's you know how many hours the motor will run and stay within the EPA/CARB emissions guidelines. The motor should far outlast that figure, but it gives you a decent idea of how well built the motor actually is.

Another consideration is a repair shop. Sometimes you can go and find a good deal on an item the owner bought and didn't pay for after the repair. Generally you can get the item for the repair cost plus a few bucks so the shop can get it's money back. I needed a lightweight chainsaw to get some high limbs in a tree as the old farmboss was just too heavy to get up the tree. I bought a little POS Poulan for $20 from the shop near me. It has been a few years and it still runs great.

[MKader17 332]

Sounds like you have the budget for a flight and two meals. Peaked at flights and they were around $350 from Houston. Considering that is so much of your budget I'd seriously consider looking for something close to you or an all inclusive special 4 day weekend somewhere like Costa Rica or something more memorable. What you'll remember from Vegas is that the strippers don't do jack unless you spend too much, you wasted too much money attempting to gamble, you overpaid for shows that aren't anything special, and that you engaged and saw the scum of the earth walking around. Of course the one benefit could be you had one hell of a meal someplace, but then you won't get to do anything else.

I wouldn't mind looking elsewhere but it would have to be somewhere in the states (no passports). Unfortunately he's getting married "early" since the only guy that has really started his career is our Navy buddy, so this bachelor party will be (hopefully) the cheapest one.

$900 is NOT a cheap bachelor party. I've never spent anywhere near that, lol. Drinks and a few lap dances is a cheap bachelor party.

Well more of a weekend. When you consider flight, hotel, food it racks up fast. We just want to go somewhere with some bad ass hotels, good night life, and gambling would be cool too. Are there any dog races in Vegas?

[///M5 2,833]

I'd suggest noobie gambling in Vegas is just throwing money away...which removes from your budget. If you want to stretch dollars I'd do that elsewhere.

There are cool hotels, but the nightlife in general is a shit show of just people watching and no real place to go. Transient populations and night life aren't typically what I would call entertaining. Of course your definition of night life and mine might be completely different.

Why not pick a downtown location in a big city that you normally don't spend time in. Houston, Dallas are fine. If you really want to fly there are a ton of options, but personally I'd save that $$ portion of the trip for something else.

[///M5 2,833]

That and Vegas requires money.

Unless of course you want to sit at the nickel slots all night and mooch free drinks, but whoop-de-shoot-me-do

[The enD 467]

[MKader17 332]

I personally wouldn't mind staying in the state. Don't know about the rest of the group. I wouldn't have a problem hitting up Austin, or Dallas (No Houston, we are from there so it just doesn't offer the "thrill"). Hell, if we did Austin we could do a Saturday thing with a super bad ass hotel, hit up a sushi/steak joint and 6th street for the evening. Could all be done in one night and you could have a killer setup for the money.

[dem beats 1,223]

I guess do nothing. It's my relaxing spot between going out and doing things.

I love the ocean. Perhaps it's not all it's cracked up to be, but the idea of those bright blue beach waters appeals to me. Classically I liked the beach in the morning or evening when I was in Miami. Either I went there to recover from the night before, or to relax before going out.

[///M5 2,833]

I personally wouldn't mind staying in the state. Don't know about the rest of the group. I wouldn't have a problem hitting up Austin, or Dallas (No Houston, we are from there so it just doesn't offer the "thrill"). Hell, if we did Austin we could do a Saturday thing with a super bad ass hotel, hit up a sushi/steak joint and 6th street for the evening. Could all be done in one night and you could have a killer setup for the money.

Austin makes more sense than Vegas IMO. WAY.

[dem beats 1,223]

I personally wouldn't mind staying in the state. Don't know about the rest of the group. I wouldn't have a problem hitting up Austin, or Dallas (No Houston, we are from there so it just doesn't offer the "thrill"). Hell, if we did Austin we could do a Saturday thing with a super bad ass hotel, hit up a sushi/steak joint and 6th street for the evening. Could all be done in one night and you could have a killer setup for the money.

Honestly, that sounds way better to me. I have never stayed in a hotel room that impressed me save one in Duluth MN. It was cheep considering it had super high celings and an in room hot tub that was huge and more square footage than most of my friends apartments. It had 16"-20" CRT tv's though, furniture from the 70's and the place was under construction so we got a SMOKING deal. $75 per night or so over the weekend.

For 99% of my trips I now stay at a near by hotel what is nicely equiped, but cheep as hell. Or I stay at a hostel. Unless I travel for buisness the ONLY thing I use the room for is passing out in after I went out all night. Unless you want to party in the room go cheep IMHO.

[///M5 2,833]

I guess do nothing. It's my relaxing spot between going out and doing things.

I love the ocean. Perhaps it's not all it's cracked up to be, but the idea of those bright blue beach waters appeals to me. Classically I liked the beach in the morning or evening when I was in Miami. Either I went there to recover from the night before, or to relax before going out.

A 2 second search brought up some ideas. I was tyring to get you to Costa Rica, but that looks like its a budget pusher (inclusive) but not by much.

http://www.funjet.com/hotdeals/detail.asp?OAC=MSP

I am sure if you look harder you can find an even better deal.

[///M5 2,833]

I personally wouldn't mind staying in the state. Don't know about the rest of the group. I wouldn't have a problem hitting up Austin, or Dallas (No Houston, we are from there so it just doesn't offer the "thrill"). Hell, if we did Austin we could do a Saturday thing with a super bad ass hotel, hit up a sushi/steak joint and 6th street for the evening. Could all be done in one night and you could have a killer setup for the money.

Honestly, that sounds way better to me. I have never stayed in a hotel room that impressed me save one in Duluth MN. It was cheep considering it had super high celings and an in room hot tub that was huge and more square footage than most of my friends apartments. It had 16"-20" CRT tv's though, furniture from the 70's and the place was under construction so we got a SMOKING deal. $75 per night or so over the weekend.

For 99% of my trips I now stay at a near by hotel what is nicely equiped, but cheep as hell. Or I stay at a hostel. Unless I travel for buisness the ONLY thing I use the room for is passing out in after I went out all night. Unless you want to party in the room go cheep IMHO.

Agreed, unless you are under age and have to stay in the hotel I'd save there and instead spend my money on things with more utils per dollar.

[dem beats 1,223]

I didn't know central america was a good option still. Admitedly I don't pay attention but I had the perception that it was all effed up south of Texas.

[dem beats 1,223]

Not that Texas isn't effed up. Just a different kind.

[dem beats 1,223]

Texas TOP.

[///M5 2,833]

I didn't know central america was a good option still. Admitedly I don't pay attention but I had the perception that it was all effed up south of Texas.

CR is safe.

[sandt38 448]

I guess do nothing. It's my relaxing spot between going out and doing things.

I love the ocean. Perhaps it's not all it's cracked up to be, but the idea of those bright blue beach waters appeals to me. Classically I liked the beach in the morning or evening when I was in Miami. Either I went there to recover from the night before, or to relax before going out.

West Coast Mexico? We stayed at huatulco mexico when Club Med was there. The sunsets are awesome. Lots to do. But we looked at Club Med, because we wanted to go back there, and apparently they are no longer there.

The waters in the Caribbean are amazing. Cozumel had the prettiest blue water you ever saw. I have some shots from the catamaran we went on while we were there... I have never seen such blue water. It almost looked like it had been dyed blue. But Belize was kinda murky, so I guess it depends where you go to.

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

I personally wouldn't mind staying in the state. Don't know about the rest of the group. I wouldn't have a problem hitting up Austin, or Dallas (No Houston, we are from there so it just doesn't offer the "thrill"). Hell, if we did Austin we could do a Saturday thing with a super bad ass hotel, hit up a sushi/steak joint and 6th street for the evening. Could all be done in one night and you could have a killer setup for the money.

Indeed; DFW is a hoot too, especially if there is a convention in town (there's always a convention in town, BTW)

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

I didn't know central america was a good option still. Admitedly I don't pay attention but I had the perception that it was all effed up south of Texas.

Not just south of Texas; El Paso, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, and the Brownsville areas are all pretty fucked up ATM

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

Gulf Coast area is nice, but almost all of the towns along the coast subsist exclusively on fishing and tourism so their really isn't much to see/experience except the water and beaches. Also, you can do far better for 3k

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

or you could take the monumental amount of money you would save and spend it on booze and hookers

[Penguin4x4 1,761]

but then again, Gulf Coast hookers

[Adrian_D 520]

Our Kubota has been nothing short of exceptional, if that helps any

I have heard good things. I'm most likely to buy used and I haven't seen too many on the market but knowing they last helps.

My big tractor is a Kubota. It kicks @ss, but being a diesel it plays hell to start in freezing weather. My rider for the main house lot is an old Wheel Horse circa 1982 when Wheelhorse was it's own entity. 52 inch deck, 18 HP V-twin Briggs, hydrostatic trans (with hydraulic lift). It ain't pretty but it is built like a brick shithouse, and aside from replacing starter gears (they shatter in the freezing cold) deck wheels, belts, blades, normal maintenance stuff I have never had an issue. I have a 4 foot plow blade for it and tire chains and it will clear the driveway in a heartbeat. It was my Grandfather's and he bought it brand new. He gave it to me when I bought my first house many years ago. Toro bought them in the 90s though, so I am not sure they are of the same quality.

As was mentioned, steer clear of the Home Depot/Lowes mower lines. Most are farmed out POS MTDs. Even the John Deere's are MTD crap with a green paint job. Look at real mower dealers if you want a mower that will give you a decade or more of good service.

Doesn't the Kubota have some cold start aids ? My Cummins has a grid heater, can't complain about cold weather starting. And the Jeep has glow-plugs, it started no problem in -20*C.