I'm a young 20-something and I grew up with parents who worked for the airline and flew all over the place for free. Flying to MSP to go shopping at the Mall of America for a day or flying to wherever the Indians were playing for a baseball game was no big deal. As a result, I've done a fair amount of travelling, but my wife hasn't as she has been forced to stay local due to aging family members etc.
I work at one of the largest executive search firms in the US and I won the grand prize of a sales contest back in 2007. The trip was supposed to be at an ultra-luxury timeshare where you stay in $3 million mansions and they had properties all over the world you could stay at. I brokered a deal with the President of the company that I couldn't take the trip until I went back to college and completed my 4 year degree and they would pay the tuition, which I did successfully. In the interim, the timeshare company went bankrupt as well as the owner of our company who filed for personal bankruptcy. The owner is now out of bankruptcy and to make a long story short--there is no trip left to take anymore. To compensate for this, they are going to pay for me to go wherever I want in the world for a week or two (with the wife) and have the bill sent to them (within reason) and they'll cover the cost (they're also paying for graduate school now). Now, instead of ~50 spots on the map, I can go anywhere.
I've been pretty much everywhere I've ever wanted to go in the world due to my airline benefits through the parents, but my wife hasn't. She doesn't want to hijack the trip, so she wants me to decide where we're going and what we're doing. The question is, where the heck should we go? I live in western North Carolina and I'm a 2 hour drive from CLT and 3 hours from ATL, so we've got 2 of the largest airports in the world nearby and should be able to get pretty much anywhere with relative ease. My wife is a wedding planner, which means Februrary through April (non-wedding season) works best for a trip and I'm thinking we need to be going to the southern hemisphere where it will be Summer. Any ideas on where we should go and what we should do?
To be honest, I suggest Paris. While it seems like a really cliché choice, if you haven't traveled, there really isn't a better place to go. If you want to do the exotic thing, you could try Australia, however there isn't much to do but go to the beach, drive in the desert, hold koalas, and swim. If you enjoy shopping, I suggest Dubai, because their economy is hurting and everything is mad cheap there, and they have good tourist attractions as well. If you want adventure, I'd suggest trying an African safari. If you want drugs, pretty much anywhere in central/south america should do (KIDDING). If you enjoy eating food, I suggest a cruise. Carnival is the best from what I've heard, although I've also heard that Royal Carribean is good too. If you don't want to travel too far and are into nature, I suggest Sedona, Arizona. If you want to visit Asia, I suggest Singapore, as it is the most tourist friendly place in the area. If you want danger, I suggest a package tour into North Korea (completely serious. I've heard that it is a great and UNIQUE experience). If you want a traditional romantic getaway, I suggest Hawaii. If there is something else in particular that you or your wife wants, mention it and I can come up with a good suggestion.
I've done quite a bit of travelling and several cruises. If you contemplate a cruise, please consider Holland America Line. You simply cannot do better. They are tops in my book. Norwegain Cruise Lines would be a close second. Both lines have wonderful itineraries in the Mediterranean for the time of year you mentioned and there really is no better way to see all you can in a short space of time.
London is my favorite city in the world and, contrary to what might seem logical, early Spring is a wonderful time to visit as the temperatures are mild and the fares are not yet peaked for the high season. Plan a trip to the Cotswolds region as the quaint little villages with stone, thatched-roof buildings are charming.
I've also been to Helsinki and really love that city. Prague is also a beautiful city and was lots of fun to visit. And the locals in both these cities were very friendly and welcoming. Copenhagen is also a wonderful city to visit.
I second Helsinki and Copenhagen, very nice cities, but London gets dreary with the rain and poor weather between February and April
Quote from: BobTheCactus on April 29, 2011, 03:02:36 AM
I second Helsinki and Copenhagen, very nice cities, but London gets dreary with the rain and poor weather between February and April
I'll third Helsinki and Copenhagen, but I would add Iceland as well. Make it a "scandinavian adventure". I really like Iceland, it really has a unique personality, and despite the name, is not really cold in the spring.
Barcelona and Madrid are two of my favorite European cities, even in early November it was nearly 80 F and the beaches were full in Barcelona. Some time in either and a side trip to the Basque region with its' amazing cuisine, tapas and local dishes, is worth some time. Spain is very cheap by western European standars so you should be able to live it up there.
A side trip from Madrid worh mentioning is Segovia, here you can see an historic disneyesque castle and a massive roman aquaduct, A good day trip by rail.
Quote from: BobTheCactus on April 29, 2011, 03:02:36 AM
I second Helsinki and Copenhagen
But only during the warm and nice summer months, unless you like to be in snow up your knees. (btw. here in midsummer the un never sets; very much light also in middle of the night .. confusing.)
I think Iceland is quite cheap now as their currency has been devalued?
After just coming back from there I would say if you can go to New Zealand. I've been to a handful of places round the world, Boston (USA), all over Europe, South Africa and most recently NZ and I would say it is one of the most amazing places I have ever been.
You'll be Southern hemisphere so you can get there in summer time, the country just looks amazing, the people are wonderful and there is literally something for everyone. Be that visiting countless vineyards, throwing yourself off things only attached with an elastic band, walking, shopping (in the right places) lots of scenic flying opportunities. It's also pretty cheap, at least it was using coming from GBP, US$1 is NZ$1.24.
If I were you, I'd go to the Maldives. That is, if you like beaches, diving and sun, a life without cars but with lots of floatplanes and boats. ;D
See for yourself here (http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&q=maldives&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1920&bih=887).
The weather there is practically always good.
Quote from: BobTheCactus on April 29, 2011, 01:56:45 AM
If you want danger, I suggest a package tour into North Korea (completely serious. I've heard that it is a great and UNIQUE experience).
I would love to try this, no joke. ;D
(Maybe flying Air Koryo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Koryo#Fleet) is one of the main reasons. :-[)
This (http://www.vbs.tv/nl-nl/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3) documentary is pretty interesting. It's about an American who goes to the DPRK and films practically everything. A very good watch.
Quote from: Ilyushin on April 29, 2011, 10:25:36 AM
If I were you, I'd go to the Maldives. That is, if you like beaches, diving and sun, a life without cars but with lots of floatplanes and boats. ;D
See for yourself here (http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&q=maldives&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1920&bih=887).
The weather there is practically always good.
As for North Korea, I would love to try this, no joke. ;D
(Maybe flying Air Koryo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Koryo#Fleet) is one of the main reasons. :-[)
This (http://www.vbs.tv/nl-nl/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/vice-guide-to-north-korea-1-of-3) documentary is pretty interesting. It's about an American who goes to the DPRK and films practically everything. A very good watch.
I'd love to go to DPRK too, and as an Indian national, I don't have to deal with the restrictions on American people :D
As for the Maldives, I've been, and I don't suggest Feb to April because it gets HOT. (same climate system as India, except they don't have the monsoons to the same extent meaning 44 degree weather and no rain to cool you down)
Bora bora (http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rKG6TfL7LMKfOru-rOYG&ved=0CDIQBSgA&q=bora+bora&spell=1&biw=1366&bih=601), definitely.
Quote from: Ilyushin on April 29, 2011, 10:25:36 AM
If I were you, I'd go to the Maldives.
Yes you could fly with 5* MALDIVES AIRWAYS ::)
On a serious note I'd throw my two cents in for Istanbul, Turkey. It was the European capitol of culture in 2010. It has a great history so there is plenty of interesting things to do in the day such as visiting the landmarks, seeing the museums. There is also a decent nightlife in the upmarket places. As far as capitol cities go, it's about £2.50 for a beer (which is how I measure these things) so quite cheap, plus the exchange rate for Turkish Lira is good at the moment.
You will get pleasant weather most year round, and with the dates you mentioned, the weather will be nice and warm but not overly hot like it can be in the summer. If you fancy some sand then you could take a cheap return flight to a beach resort for a few days (Dalaman, Bodrum, Antalya, etc.), internal flights with the low costs like Pegasus can be under 100 euros return.
Good luck choosing, hope you enjoy this holiday wherever it is.
Quote from: Quinoky on April 29, 2011, 11:32:12 AM
Bora bora (http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&gbv=2&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rKG6TfL7LMKfOru-rOYG&ved=0CDIQBSgA&q=bora+bora&spell=1&biw=1366&bih=601), definitely.
Or, for cheaper money and more adventure Tora Bora (http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&gbv=2&biw=1920&bih=973&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=tora+bora&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=) :D
Paris, London, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Iceland, Barcelona, Madrid: Europe is almost "too easy" to get to for us. We want to take a trip we'd never take otherwise and we can fly to Europe for ~$500/each for the cheapest flights. I have an aunt that lives in Hamburg and my wife's mother is from Munich and she has relatives back there that my wife has never met who are older and don't speak English. It could be really akward visiting them, which is another reason why Europe isn't high on the list :)
Australia: Literally the opposite side of the world from where we live and the leading candidate.
New Zealand: My wife's crazy friend who is nuttier than squirrel sh*t had her head shaved and got a henna tattoo on the back of her head of the "Air New Zealand" logo to be a walking billboard and get free roundtrip tickets to New Zealand. I've heard more than one person say it's the most beautiful place in the world they've ever been.
Dubai: There was a story in the news about a British couple who were jailed for kissing in public, which has my wife completely turned off from Dubai. We're also your stereotypical white Americans and while Dubai is an international city, the Middle East isn't the friendliest place for Americans to visit :)
Africa: Wife and I have zero desire to go here--especially the northern countries going through revolutions right now.
Sedona, Arizona: Too close. I've been to Sedona (I used to live in Las Vegas), but the wife hasn't. We can fly out on our own dime for a couple hundred bucks.
Singapore: I'd love to go here, but the wife isn't too gungho about it. Same goes with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, etc. Asia is like a different planet compared to America in terms of culture and way of life, but I fear we'd tire of big cities rather quickly--New York City is easily one of my least favorite places on earth to visit (my wife's from NYC).
Hawaii: High on the list. Wife has a strong desire to go here, but it is rather expensive. We can fly to San Diego and take a cruise to Hawaii (which is the preferred way to get there), but a 15 day cruise is probably too long for us--see cruise section below.
North Korea: My best friend was in the Army and stationed at Camp Casey just outside Seoul and has crazy North Korea stories. We have zero interest in an "adventure" such as this. See stereotypical white American comment above :)
Maldives: Looks amazing...need to do more research.
Bora Bora/Tahiti: High on the list, but very expensive to get to and I've read some pretty ugly reviews online of vacationing in the area.
Tora Bora: Hell on earth.
Cruises: I've been on at least 10 cruises in my life and my wife has been on 3-4 and just got back from a girl's only cruise last week. I'm 100% fine on the boat, but my wife never feels 100% as she gets motion sickness. I've been on Carnival all but once when we chanced it on Royal Carribean and I wouldn't recommend them. The food on Royal Carribean was really mediocre (I have a culinary degree) whereas we were used to Carnival's higher expectations (think ranch steak versus filet mignon). The Royal Carribean boats are laid out terrible as well. Carnival has all the clubs and activities on the upper decks with cabins on the lower decks whereas Royal Carribean has everything intermingled--our cabin was right by a night club and you'd hear loud music through the night.
If I had to book it right now, I think the plan would be Australia with a cruise. We can fly Atlanta to Sydney for $3000 round trip and take a 9 day cruise to Nomea, Fiji, and Vanuatu for another $2000. We can spend a few days in Sydney or otherwise taking in Australia, but this option doesn't get us to New Zealand at all. Part of the allure of a cruise is that the actual travel part is relaxing. You wake up each morning at a different destination versus battling airport crowds and being stuck in an airplane seat. If anyone has any other Southeast Asia/Australia/New Zealand ideas, please let me know...
Personally, I'd rather go to the maldives than take a cruise from australia, but that might just be me
Heres a weird one for you, why not try Budapest? I went there last summer with my girlfriend who is hungarian and I LOVED IT... Great food, and great people... they have a giant lake called Lake Balaton with surrounding beaches that we went to and its incredible...
alternatively the bahamas are a great place to go the hotel atlantis is stunning, I used to live in Florida and took regular flights to Nassau in my dads mitsubishi, a great vacation.
J. Oates
The reason those exotic islands (British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, etc.) are sometimes ill received by western tourists is because of the huge cultural gap between ours and theirs. The locals score really high in what is called "uncertainty avoidance", which means that if you are a bad whining and troublesome tourist, they'd rather avoid your table than serve you better. This sounds incredibly weird to us, but to them, it only makes sense, again due to the cultural gap. So if you just don't make a fuss about everything like the usual whiny tourist and simply have fun with the employees, you'll be fine. :)
So I'd still recommend Bora Bora, Tahiti, Mauritius, etc.etc. Also, the Netherlands Antilles are great (St Maarten, Aruba, Curacao etc.). For the typical white American it is really great. I believe a lot of cruises also sail in between those caribbean islands as well.. Should make a perfect vacation. :)
Edit: Talking about sailing.. Why not try a sailing cruise for once? There are really huge sailing ships which have full restaurants, cabins etc. out there. It is really of a completely different class of cruising, and being an avid sailing enthusiast myself, I'd really recommend it. http://www.starclippers.com/eu/our-fleet/royal-clipper.html
I have been to Bonaire and it was beautiful! But the sea there is really for divers only, not to take a 'casual dive' cause you can't stand anywhere (coral, etc)
The rest of the island is pretty dull, btw.
Unbelievable that no one has said Japan yet.
Tokyo is a fantastic city, it's modern but still with an old traditional touch, great culture, kind people and there is a lot to see there.
Kyoto: Also in japan, the old capital of japan, alot of old and traditional exciting things to see, such as teahouses/shops Ginkaku-ji (a temple made out gold) and much much more.
Japan is generally a fantastic country with lots of oppertunities. A place you have to go before you die!
It is not unbeliavable in the slightest.
Now is not a good time to go to Japan for VACATION. They are rebuilding, are leaking nuclear fuel, and vacation will turn into cancer treatment, not the desired outcome. I agree that it USED to be one of the greatest cities in the world to visit, unfortunately not any more. Give it a year or 2, and then I will readd it to my list of good places to visit.
Quote from: BobTheCactus on April 29, 2011, 11:13:19 PM
It is not unbeliavable in the slightest.
Now is not a good time to go to Japan for VACATION. They are rebuilding, are leaking nuclear fuel, and vacation will turn into cancer treatment, not the desired outcome. I agree that it USED to be one of the greatest cities in the world to visit, unfortunately not any more. Give it a year or 2, and then I will readd it to my list of good places to visit.
Maybe you can get better deals now. Japan is kind of expensive normally, more so with USD in the toilet.
The radiation threat is way overblown. Most tourists go to Tokyo and Kyoto, not North of Tokyo.
Hawaii- Freaking Amazing.... and you wouldn't have to worry about the whole customs issue. If you go, do Kauai, or Maui with a trip to Lani. I was on Kauai when that huge earth quake hit Chile, and tsunami warnings were put out. We did fly out before the huge waves that turned out to be nothing were supposed to hit.... It was quite the experience.
I wuld suggest Australia+New Zeland. It's going to be warm enough for having some seaside holiday in Australia and experience the beautiful mountains of NZ.
However, even the Middle East is nice. I've been to Oman, UAE and Qatar for a few months and they're nice places, always pretty warm even in feb-march-april. Oman is vary laid back and you can have a blast at the "Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah" in Muscat, then spend one week between Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Doha doing shopping and enjoying those places...
Edo
Quote from: EYguy on April 30, 2011, 02:53:07 AM
However, even the Middle East is nice. I've been to Oman, UAE and Qatar for a few months and they're nice places, always pretty warm even in feb-march-april. Oman is vary laid back and you can have a blast at the "Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah" in Muscat, then spend one week between Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Doha doing shopping and enjoying those places...
Edo
you kidding mate, gulf is good for 1 day in each of those above mentioned places. If you want a perfect package then there is only one place in this world
CUBAWarm climate, vintage cars, amazing old buildings, lotsa history, cheap booze - amazing mojitos & daiquiris, gorgeous women, samba, salsa, pristine beaches,need anything else folks???
Try it and you will love that place-
VJC
Come to Australia and I'll buy you a beer ;D
I'd suggest Taiwan. Beautiful country, delicious food and friendly people. They also have High speed railroad which makes it very convenient to travel from point A to point B in the country.
Quote from: V.Castelino on April 30, 2011, 04:54:47 AM
you kidding mate, gulf is good for 1 day in each of those above mentioned places. If you want a perfect package then there is only one place in this world
CUBA
Warm climate, vintage cars, amazing old buildings, lotsa history, cheap booze - amazing mojitos & daiquiris, gorgeous women, samba, salsa, pristine beaches,need anything else folks???
Try it and you will love that place-
VJC
VJC, everything depends on what you want to do... If you're average John visiting the UAE, you'll probably end up in any hotel drinking booze and watching russian prostitutes loitering in the bar, trying to hook up any available customer... ;) If you want to explore the country, especially Oman, you can spend 2 weeks with your days full of things to do and to see! :)
Edo
Quote from: V.Castelino on April 30, 2011, 04:54:47 AM
you kidding mate, gulf is good for 1 day in each of those above mentioned places. If you want a perfect package then there is only one place in this world
CUBA
Warm climate, vintage cars, amazing old buildings, lotsa history, cheap booze - amazing mojitos & daiquiris, gorgeous women, samba, salsa, pristine beaches,need anything else folks???
Try it and you will love that place-
VJC
I think for someone who has admitted to being a stereotypical white American Cuba wont be the best place to go. While we're at it I suggest Venezuela! :P
He already said that he's an average John, so therefore 2 weeks in Oman isn't happening.
Sri Lanka!
Why not Argentina? Plenty of good steaks and wine, plus beautiful places besides Buenos Aires.
I got the wife excited about a Transatlantic cruise and seems to the be the top choice right now. Australia/New Zealand is high on the list, but the cost is very high (thanks to the US Federal Reserve printing off money like its nothing and wreaking havoc on the exchange rates) and will require 30 hours on a plane each way just to get there. Instead of 7 days in Australia/New Zealand, we're looking at a 16 day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome with stops in the Canary Islands, Spain, and France. After we get to Rome, there is another 7 day cruise on the same boat that goes to Italy, Greece, and Turkey, but not sure the wife will go for more cruising after 16 days at sea. The other option is to take a train around Italy/Germany/France to see the sights for a week before flying back to the states.
The next question is what is the cheapest way to get home? We're really stretching the budget by turning a 7 day vacation into a 23 day vacation, so I'm not sure how much my boss will shell out for this and we're obviously going to have out of pocket expenses either way. I've found flights from FCO to JFK for $1100 for two people and then we can get a cheap flight for $89/person on JetBlue from JFK to CLT to make it home. Anyone who has been there/done that have any advice on what to do if we're spending 7 days in Europe (starting in Rome) and cheap routes to the States?
You'll love fort lauderdale, lived there for like 11 years on Las Olas ... Beautiful
Quote from: BobTheCactus on April 29, 2011, 11:13:19 PM
It is not unbeliavable in the slightest.
Now is not a good time to go to Japan for VACATION. They are rebuilding, are leaking nuclear fuel, and vacation will turn into cancer treatment, not the desired outcome. I agree that it USED to be one of the greatest cities in the world to visit, unfortunately not any more. Give it a year or 2, and then I will readd it to my list of good places to visit.
You're right about that though. Just an idea for furture vaccation. Have i slipped some part about it has to be now or this summer? :-[
Quote from: LemonButt on April 30, 2011, 05:07:42 PM
The next question is what is the cheapest way to get home? We're really stretching the budget by turning a 7 day vacation into a 23 day vacation, so I'm not sure how much my boss will shell out for this and we're obviously going to have out of pocket expenses either way. I've found flights from FCO to JFK for $1100 for two people and then we can get a cheap flight for $89/person on JetBlue from JFK to CLT to make it home. Anyone who has been there/done that have any advice on what to do if we're spending 7 days in Europe (starting in Rome) and cheap routes to the States?
If you're going with the Germany option, you can get cheap TATL flights on Condor to Ft. Lauderdale, and then hitch a Spirit flight to ATL.
Quote from: EYguy on April 30, 2011, 09:11:41 AM
VJC, everything depends on what you want to do... If you're average John visiting the UAE, you'll probably end up in any hotel drinking booze and watching russian prostitutes loitering in the bar, trying to hook up any available customer... ;) If you want to explore the country, especially Oman, you can spend 2 weeks with your days full of things to do and to see! :)
Edo
EY, I know there are a few good places hidden but DXB is the most artificial place in the world. I have seen the place changing since 1985 and I think i liked it when it was more natural than now (concrete jungle).
CUBA may not be everyone's taste i completely understand.
Why not try AFRICA- some great places to discover there too .
VJC
I thoughroughly enjoyed taking trains around europe, and think you would too
Best combo IMO is France Germany Belgium Italy
Quote from: LemonButt on April 30, 2011, 05:07:42 PM
Australia/New Zealand is high on the list, but the cost is very high (thanks to the US Federal Reserve printing off money like its nothing and wreaking havoc on the exchange rates) and will require 30 hours on a plane each way just to get there. Instead of 7 days in Australia/New Zealand, we're looking at a 16 day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome with stops in the Canary Islands, Spain, and France.
I think that is the best decision. I live in Australia and although it is a beautiful country, it is so far away from the rest of the world, and to be honest, you may be disappointed with the weather. Lately, it's hasn't been itself. Summer for me, was cool, wet, (our dam levels went from 50% to 100%) and of course Queensland had the terrible floods. Usually, summer is hot, dry, not a cloud in the sky and everyone is saving water (in the south) - so who knows what it will be like later on. (And your flights will be $2000-$2500 return from LAX for two people).
Enjoy your cruise!
(I swear Tourism Australia would kill me if they saw this! :laugh:)
Congrats on getting the Free trip Lemon butt ;) if you are genuinely thinking of Australia the best thing to do is Head to do an Great Aussie road Trip
http://www. Australia.com/RoadTrip_17.asp
Please no matter what you do aviod the Tourist Trap of Sydney, its Expensive as all hell, i.e a 4 mile cab ride from the Airport to centre of the City somehow costs $50 AUD roughly $55 USD now and petrol/Unleaeded 91/Gas costs $5.64 a gallon etc you come to Australia to Escape from the world not see city full of breakdowns,
i would suggest a trip past the outback to Western Australia,
http://www.westernaustralia.com/au/Pages/Welcome_to_Western_Australia.aspx
its got everything , 8000 miles of pristine ,near untouched white beaches , Abundant Coral Reefs , Long open Roads and if you head for north to the Kimberly and Broome Tropical Rainforests unlike anything else on Earth, and if Great Ocean drive is not what your looking for why not visit some of the many excellent wineries around the Margret river a drive and enjoy the Mediterranean climate that south west Corner offers
Come during your Fall or Spring since There is no point coming downunder in the Summer unless you are a pasty Pom looking for a tan ( everything full overpriced, overcrowded and Airports are Full to Capacity) and the weather is still warm and comfortable in the off peak seasons
( hi everyone from the Uk ^_^ )
and since this is Airwaysim DO NOT USE A US AIRLINE to transpacific , from the words of Walletpop "When it comes to flying Down Under, I strongly advise you pick an Australian-flagged carrier. They're used to shuttling people across vast oceans, and their in-cabin services are more comfortable than most American carriers'. They simply know how to do it better." and from what everyone says it so true, dont DELTA, UNITED Hawaiian this trip Book Qantas for the A380 from LA to SYD and grab the A330 to Perth and you will have a world class trip even in Economy (Screenback IFE on all seats inc Economy) and Qantas codeshares with Delta so ATL to Lax would be included in the fare, Though i expect a lecture from all Australians how Qantas Standards are slipping fast (still better than most US carriers , just feeling competitions of a lot of Mid East and NEw entrants to International routes) though since its all expense paid Try the A380 biz class, and you'll see why everyone around the world cringes air Travel in the US ;)
Hope you found this Useful Lemonbutt and if you do come to OZ i'll throw a lobster on the Barbie for you
p.s try some Proper Australian Beer and keep that p***weisser at home
sorry for the Crappy first link , heres the link for the that Great Road trip
http://www.australianroadtrips.com/RoadTrip_17.asp
p.p.s. Western Australia is Almost 4 times the size of Texas with a population of Houston and you will feel like being a large country town in its state capital perth ;)
I would fight back with South Africa... Excluding Joburg, the rest of the country is safe (especially Cape Town), still pretty cheap and the nature is beautiful... I still have some pics of me taken while cuddling wild animals like cheetas and leopards... And they were not drugged (those frigging leopard cubs bit my left arm "for fun"!). Even Namibia is nice, and way cheaper than South Africa.
Edo
Quote from: EYguy on May 01, 2011, 04:28:09 AM
I would fight back with South Africa... Excluding Joburg, the rest of the country is safe (especially Cape Town), still pretty cheap and the nature is beautiful... I still have some pics of me taken while cuddling wild animals like cheetas and leopards... And they were not drugged (those frigging leopard cubs bit my left arm "for fun"!). Even Namibia is nice, and way cheaper than South Africa.
Edo
+1
At least we agree on something EY :)
VJC
At least? Uhm, after three pages, I would "at last"! ;) Are you from Cuba?
Edo
Quote from: LemonButt on April 30, 2011, 05:07:42 PM
I got the wife excited about a Transatlantic cruise and seems to the be the top choice right now. Australia/New Zealand is high on the list, but the cost is very high (thanks to the US Federal Reserve printing off money like its nothing and wreaking havoc on the exchange rates) and will require 30 hours on a plane each way just to get there. Instead of 7 days in Australia/New Zealand, we're looking at a 16 day cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Rome with stops in the Canary Islands, Spain, and France. After we get to Rome, there is another 7 day cruise on the same boat that goes to Italy, Greece, and Turkey, but not sure the wife will go for more cruising after 16 days at sea. The other option is to take a train around Italy/Germany/France to see the sights for a week before flying back to the states.
The next question is what is the cheapest way to get home? We're really stretching the budget by turning a 7 day vacation into a 23 day vacation, so I'm not sure how much my boss will shell out for this and we're obviously going to have out of pocket expenses either way. I've found flights from FCO to JFK for $1100 for two people and then we can get a cheap flight for $89/person on JetBlue from JFK to CLT to make it home. Anyone who has been there/done that have any advice on what to do if we're spending 7 days in Europe (starting in Rome) and cheap routes to the States?
Lemonbutt, I would suggest you to have a look on Alitalia.com. A few days ago I saw a MXP (Milan)-JFK flight 449 € r/t... If they ask you more than 500€ for a single leg trip, it's a robber... I mean, you should hit them hard, you're an AWS user after all! :) Try to have a look even with Lufthansa... I know they had a flight from FRA to CLT, so you could be lucky if they are still operating that flight...
Good luck!
Edo
Quote from: greenoperative on May 01, 2011, 12:40:51 AM
and since this is Airwaysim DO NOT USE A US AIRLINE to transpacific , from the words of Walletpop "When it comes to flying Down Under, I strongly advise you pick an Australian-flagged carrier. They're used to shuttling people across vast oceans, and their in-cabin services are more comfortable than most American carriers'. They simply know how to do it better." and from what everyone says it so true, dont DELTA, UNITED Hawaiian this trip Book Qantas for the A380 from LA to SYD and grab the A330 to Perth and you will have a world class trip even in Economy (Screenback IFE on all seats inc Economy) and Qantas codeshares with Delta so ATL to Lax would be included in the fare, Though i expect a lecture from all Australians how Qantas Standards are slipping fast (still better than most US carriers , just feeling competitions of a lot of Mid East and NEw entrants to International routes) though since its all expense paid Try the A380 biz class, and you'll see why everyone around the world cringes air Travel in the US ;)
I'm probably the biggest Qantas fanatic in the world, and you are my favourite person right now! :laugh:
Actually, in IMHO the best airline on the Kangroo Route is Singapore Airlines. But even Emirates and Etihad are good... Qantas is friggin expensive for a good service which, unfortunately, is not up to the standard of SQ, EK or EY that are, on the other hand, cheaper and with a better service.
Edo
For cheap airfare
Http:www.airfarewAtchdog.com
From iPhone
Switzerland!
A great country, neat nature with the beutyful alps and very nice people aswell. Go there in the summer and it's fantastic :D
Quote from: MRFREAK on May 01, 2011, 01:04:59 PM
Switzerland!
A great country, neat nature with the beutyful alps and very nice people aswell. Go there in the summer and it's fantastic :D
I always wanted to goto Switzerland until a coworker went there and reported back that you can no longer take Toblerone factory tours :(
Quote from: EYguy on May 01, 2011, 06:43:05 AM
At least? Uhm, after three pages, I would "at last"! ;) Are you from Cuba?
Edo
lol, no matey- I was in Cuba few months ago , its been my long time dream to go there when The legend "castro" was still alive & I loved it. It was the most amazing place I have ever been & already making plans to go back sometime very soon.
I am based in LPL,
VJC
Quote from: LemonButt on May 01, 2011, 01:19:03 PM
I always wanted to goto Switzerland until a coworker went there and reported back that you can no longer take Toblerone factory tours :(
Lolz! :D
Quote from: V.Castelino on May 01, 2011, 02:33:07 PM
lol, no matey- I was in Cuba few months ago , its been my long time dream to go there when The legend "castro" was still alive & I loved it. It was the most amazing place I have ever been & already making plans to go back sometime very soon.
I am based in LPL,
VJC
I wish I could go.
It has to be New Zealand. It's somewhere that seems to be on everybody's wish-list yet many never get around to it and so meets your criteria of somewhere you may otherwise never go. I've never been myself and I guess I'm waiting to win a trip like you. It'll be summer when you're able to visit so it ticks that box too.
Nearest I've been is Australia and I loved it - such a huge, diverse country. It certainly isn't just sitting on beaches and hugging Koalas! I liked northern Queensland - I love the tropical heat, but it's not for everyone. There really is something interesting around every corner (OK, so the corners are VERY well spaced out, but still).
As a British ex-pat relocated to a small Greek island I must also suggest Greece, particularly the islands. I know you don't want to do Europe, but this really doesn't feel much like Europe in many ways - a little more detached and it's far enough from your German relatives too. You could also take in Istanbul while you're close as the other poster suggested. All the tales of the bad economy etc. in GReece really have almost zero effect on tourists so don't be put off by that. The best times would be May, June or early September. Choose a tiny island where you can kick back on a deserted beach with just a couple of little fish tavernas nearby and NO crowds, noise etc. and just do nothing for once.
Lastly, I'm surprised nobody has looked at your trip from an 'airliner-nut' point of view. If it were me, also having visited most of the places I want to see I'd be thinking "Hmmmm. how can I get on a TU-154, A380, 787, IL96 all on the same trip?". Get one of these round-the-world tickets where you can basically fly as many times as you like with a certain alliance. Might not be very relaxing for your wife but could be worth it.
Whatever you do - post a trip report here.
Quote from: Dorito_25 on May 01, 2011, 08:40:18 AM
I'm probably the biggest Qantas fanatic in the world, and you are my favourite person right now! :laugh:
no problem there ;) though people are cringing over the new Seat allocation fee :(
Quote from: knobbygb on May 02, 2011, 05:22:54 AM
Lastly, I'm surprised nobody has looked at your trip from an 'airliner-nut' point of view. If it were me, also having visited most of the places I want to see I'd be thinking "Hmmmm. how can I get on a TU-154, A380, 787, IL96 all on the same trip?". Get one of these round-the-world tickets where you can basically fly as many times as you like with a certain alliance. Might not be very relaxing for your wife but could be worth it.
Whatever you do - post a trip report here.
If the TS cares, Aeroflot flies their IL-96 from Moscow to Salzburg, Tokyo, Tel Aviv, and Dubai. But you can also expect 320s or 330s on such routes. Cubana flies their IL-96 from Havana to London, Paris and Madrid.
For (safe) Tu-154 flights you must take a domestic flight in Russia.
Ilyushin
Quote from: Ilyushin on May 02, 2011, 10:23:03 AM
For (safe) Tu-154 flights you must take a domestic flight in Russia.
Found a crazy Tu-154 video: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/05/01/356137/video-tu-154-struggles-against-in-flight-oscillation.html (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/05/01/356137/video-tu-154-struggles-against-in-flight-oscillation.html)
The aircraft is in its first flight out of storage, think it's a Russian Air Force jet. It suffers crazy oscillatory motion due to some dynamic instability. No matter what you say about their planes, there are some great Russian pilots such as the ones who put this bird down safely.
Not trying to but anybody off flying the Tu-154 or anything by the way, the plane obviously wasn't designed to do this.
I have seen that yesterday. That is some amazing airmanship!
I just wonder why you would take a Tu-154B-2 that has been stored for 10 years, out of storage.
Quote from: knobbygb on May 02, 2011, 05:22:54 AM
Whatever you do - post a trip report here.
Looks like we've made the decision to take a 15 night transatlantic cruise out of Fort Lauderdale that stops in Canary Islands/Spain/France/Italy: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itinerary.do?packageCode=NV15T025&selectedCurrencyCode=USD The boat ports in Pisa and Rome--once we get off the boat we're going to spend 2 days each in Naples/Venice/Florence/Rome in that order with the trip home being from Rome to Charlotte.
You can't buy airline tickets for next April/May yet, but the plan is to fly $69/each one way from GSP (Greenville/Spartanburg, SC) to FLL on Allegiant the night before the cruise embarks. The cruise itself is $600/person for 15 days--you can't buy a plane ticket to Rome for that not to mention 15 days of food being covered and visiting all the ports. We're going to take the train around Italy and only Italy as we want to focus our time in one place instead of only doing a few hours of sightseeing in many cities/countries. My aunt lived in Italy for 15 years with my uncle who was in the US Navy, so she has a lot of good insight.
We're going to Naples once we get off the boat to see Vesuvious/Pompeii etc, followed by Venice because it's Venice. After that we'll hit Florence and Tuscany as the original plan with the ultra-luxury timeshare was a week in Tuscany on a 16th century olive farm. After Florence, we'll head south to Rome and spend a few days at the end of our journey visiting Rome before getting on the plane to fly FCO-JFK on whoever is cheapest (right now its Aer Lingus out of Ireland). Once we hit JFK it's another cheap $79 ticket from JFK to CLT to get home. The total trip is going to be ~25 days...we're going to be paying an arm and a leg for a dog sitter, but it will be worth it :) We've calculated the maximum total cost of the trip will be $8200.
Sounds like a great vacation. I hope you have a lot of fun! ;D
Quote from: LemonButt on May 02, 2011, 12:57:39 PM
We're going to Naples once we get off the boat to see Vesuvious/Pompeii etc,
Say hello to Caecilius for me 8)
So, in the end, when are you going to Italy? I think I lost track of the dates... Butw, if I'm in Italy at that time and you need any hints about my homecountry, just ask, ok? :)
Btw, have a look with Alitalia from FCO to MIA. Or you can have a look with Lufthansa from Italy to CLT, they've flights connecting in FRA or MUC, got the flight through FRA once and it was 499€ for the r/t! :)
Edo
Quote from: EYguy on May 06, 2011, 10:21:12 PM
So, in the end, when are you going to Italy? I think I lost track of the dates... Butw, if I'm in Italy at that time and you need any hints about my homecountry, just ask, ok? :)
Btw, have a look with Alitalia from FCO to MIA. Or you can have a look with Lufthansa from Italy to CLT, they've flights connecting in FRA or MUC, got the flight through FRA once and it was 499€ for the r/t! :)
Edo
From what city are you, if I may ask? :)
I'm living in Australia right now... But I used to live 15kms south of Lake Como, about 30kms north of Milan LIN apo.
Edo
I was going to suggest flying home through Toronto, hopping the border into Buffalo and SWA or JBU'ing it home, but I guess JFK works. ;D
Have fun!
Cheers,
ICEcold