NOCO Wanderlust

A classic topic that always stirs debate and stories. Come with your pros and cons. Remember "It's a good time or a good story!"

In the middle of Kansas, in a town you've probably never heard of, Hutchinson, there's a really fantastic-looking space museum, the Cosmosphere. Among all the many cool things to look at, they have the Apollo 13, Gemini 10, and Liberty Bell 7 Mercury capsules. There's plenty of other exhibits, there's a planetarium, there's a dome theater...just check out the website, this is really something to see. https://cosmo.org/

If we got time there's also a salt mine museum we can check out before returning.

It's like a seven and a half hour drive to Hutchinson, and they're in Central time an hour ahead of us, and I got classes on Friday afternoon (last one ends at 2:50), so I'd like to hit the road ASAP preferably before 4, no later than 5.

I found this deal that it too good not to share with the group. Fully guided 16 day trip in India (Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Abhaneri Camp, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi). Guaranteed max of 16 participants. Some of the highlights (in my opinion) are a safari drive, a home meal, a visit to a school with the opportunity to interact with students and staff, India under the stars during a tented camp stay in rural Rajasthan, an advantageous view of the aarti ceremony (sacred light ceremony on the Ganges).

https://www.oattravel.com/trips/land-adventures/asia/heart-of-india

The pricing: If you follow that link, it will show "From $5099". However, if you go to the Special Offers section on your phone (I didn't find this particular trip on in the special offers section on my desktop), you will see a price of $995 for 10/24 & 10/29/26. Then, if you book a trip and provide my name as a referral, you will receive an additional discount of $100 (this works for this particular trip, or any of their trips)

The accomodation: above average, but not luxury. Think Radissons and Novotel. The 10/29 trip has 3 spots left. 2 are together in a double occupancy room. One is as my roommate. I don't need a roommate because they have limited single occupancy spots and I snagged one, but if we are compatible, it could be fun.

The recommendation: This is my first trip with OAT, so I do not have personal experience. I do not generally do guided tours because I feel comfortable planning and going on my own, but I could not have done this trip at this price on my own. However, I know 2 different people who have traveled with OAT and they could not say enough good things about the company. The person who referred me will soon go on her fourth trip with OAT. The main recommendation seems to be that the small group size allows them to get their guests better vantage points at the hotspots and into places that the big groups cannot go, including interactions with locals.

Tickets are running in the $590s. I'll buy a ticket this week. It's anyone interested in joining me?