Trips I Might Take

[+ Lucky]

In the course of my life, I have traveled well. Some 14 trips to the Orient, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh City and the southern area of the country, Hong Kong, Shenzen and Guandong, and a few trips to Japan, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagasaki. There have been multiple trips to Europe, and five trips to Brazil, with two to Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls. Many trips to Mexico back when it was safe, covering a large area of the country. We did Canada from one end to the next, as well as the United States. I love traveling and want to add Colombia to that list.

 

Money is a bigger issue now, especially in that the bf does not like it as much when I travel alone and leave him home. With two dogs, that makes the cost even higher. We have boku frequent flier miles. I've got enough on United alone to fly first class to Bangkok, then, on the return, make a stop in Shanghai. Of course, I can't go to Shanghai without bringing the bf, so there goes first class.

 

One trip I know I want to make is London theater and a side trip to Paris. I'd like to go to Costa Rica, Colombia. That return trip to Thailand could go by the wayside as I think the Thailand that I fell in love with has changed so much. I could do Colombia in conjunction with a trip to Brazil But, even if all of these trips were covered by FF miles, there are hotels and sightseeing and nightlife expenses that just add up. And I would never want to give up semi-annual trips to New York.

 

I post this because I want your feedback. Maybe some ways to save money, a way to prioritize where I really want to go. Any hints that you have on maximizing the use of those FF miles. London/Paris seems to be at the top of the list. If I did not get to Thailand or Brazil again, that would be okay, but the bf definitely wants Brazil. It's an abundance of riches and a privilege to even be thinking of making these trips. Don't worry, I already give a significant contribution to charity.

[MsGuy]

If I did not get to Thailand or Brazil again, that would be okay, but the bf definitely wants Brazil.

 

If i had a BF cooking me gourmet meals to order, I'd give him that one little thing.

 

It's an abundance of riches and a privilege to even be thinking of making these trips. Don't worry, I already give a significant contribution to charity.

 

Bobbing and weaving before there's even a punch thrown. I'm getting to where I can spot the seasoned forum fighters. LOL

[+ WilliamM]

After The Watch Thread, Some Travel Issues Others May Wish They Had to Resolve

 

I post this because I want your feedback. Maybe some ways to save money' date=' a way to prioritize where I really want to go. Any hints that you have on maximizing the use of those FF miles. London/Paris seems to be at the top of the list. If I did not get to Thailand or Brazil again, that would be okay, but the bf definitely wants Brazil. [/quote']

 

I am in the same situation. My solution so far is to visit countries I have not seen before, most recently Sweden at the end of last summer. I was invited to stay in Tuscany two years ago. I really did not want to return to Italy, but solved the problem by using frequent flier miles to fly to Prague and commute back and forth from Prague to Florence. As you know, flights within Europe are cheap. I deeply loved Sweden and Prague, probably because I almost missed seeing such wonderful places (if I had continued to concentrate on France, Germany, Holland and Italy).

 

Like you, I have been thinking about Columbia. Once I made the decision to skip another repeat visit to places I love like Sydney, Rio and a few of the countries you mentioned in Asia, I felt better about travel decisions.

 

My problem is what to do about invitations from friends to visit California yet again. I can not continue to say no & retain the friendships (especially since these several friends visit me frequently in Philadelphia). Like your New York trips, I really like the surfing beaches in Malibu & peaceful Topanga Canyon. The closest place I can stay for a visit is Riverside...quite a distance from the beaches of West LA. I can not imagine not returning to those beaches and canyons in a future spring or fall!

 

How do other cope with situations like this?

[Epigonos]

Like you, Lucky, I have traveled extensively in Europe, Latin America and Asia. As I have aged and as air travel have become more and more arduous and unbearable I find that I am limiting my trips to places that require a maximum of four or five hours flight time.

 

I still have three trips to Europe planned but I will most definitely spread them out to one a year. I am planning on renting an apartment in Madrid, with a friend, and visiting three of the placed I haven’t yet visited: 1.) Santiago de Compostela, 2.) Avila, and 3.) an extended visit to Cordova. I hope to make a three week visit to Paris. For years I have wanted to do a series of day trip to visit the great French Gothic Cathedral at Chartres, Amiens, Reims, and Rouen. I also plan to spend a month in England visiting the great country house to country house. Places like Waddeston Manor, Highclere Castle, Berkley Castle, Bowood House, Hatfield House, Holkham Hall, Sandringham, and Chatsworth to mention just a few. Unfortunately most are only open during the summer so I will be there with the crowds.

 

When traveling on the European continent I do extensive advance research to locate inexpensive bed & breakfasts. I eat a hardy breakfast, a light inexpensive stand-up lunch and a large dinner in a nice restaurant. When traveling in the U.K. I eat a hardy breakfast, a late large pub lunch and a light inexpensive dinner. I can save lots of money this way.

 

I am still traveling a great deal in Mexico, which I love, partly because it doesn’t involve long flights. I have never felt physically threatened in Mexico and I am a great fan of the history and culture of the country. Travel in Mexico is still very reasonable and renting a condo, if visiting one of the beach resorts, is a great way to go.

 

I am also embarking on one to two weeks trips to various parts of the U.S. I plan, in the not too distant future, to visit the Florida Keys, Savannah, Charleston, the Amish country of Ohio and Pennsylvania and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Again I do tons of research looking for inexpensive and interesting bed & breakfasts.

[Diverdan]

Lucky,

If you have the time, I suggest that you look into doing an around the world trip with United and the Star Alliance carriers. You can take up to a year to make the trip, and buy coach and use your miles to upgrade to business class, or by business class and use those miles to upgrade to First Class. In the grand scheme of things it is incredibly cheap. For example, I once did an around the world trip over two weeks that took me to several stops in Europe, Dubai and AbuDabi, Singapore, Sydney , Hawaii and home for the price of a ticket back and forth to Europe. Another trip was to Europe, Beijing, Tokyo and home for the same price as a ticket from Chicago to Tokyo and return. With careful planning you can hit every continent and most of the cities that you would like to visit. You just have to basically travel one direction all the time. If you want more information on this, send me a PM and we can go from there. I am saving up money and my miles to make a couple more of these trips, and will take at least six to eight weeks on the next one.

Good luck and hope you can bring you partner with you.

DD

[+ purplekow]

I do not want to flaunt my extensive travel history, just let it be said that all of the employees of South of the Border know me by name.

 

With that background, i have made a list of ten places I want to see and when I see one, I move another place on to the list. Right now the list consists of: Sicily (family origins) Angkor Wat New Zealand St Petersburg Mongolia Antarctica Fiji Montana Prince Edward's Island Iceland Alaska was the last place crossed off and was replaced by Montana. (I keep at least one place in the US on the list) I was in Iceland once but never made it out of the airport.

[+ Charlie]

I do not want to flaunt my extensive travel history, just let it be said that all of the employees of South of the Border know me by name.

 

With that background, i have made a list of ten places I want to see and when I see one, I move another place on to the list. Right now the list consists of: Sicily (family origins) Angkor Wat New Zealand St Petersburg Mongolia Antarctica Fiji Montana Prince Edward's Island Iceland Alaska was the last place crossed off and was replaced by Montana. (I keep at least one place in the US on the list) I was in Iceland once but never made it out of the airport.

I have never been to Angkor Wat (Lucky has), Mongolia, Antarctica or Fiji, and probably never will. New Zealand is lovely, but it is a lot like Montana (IMHO); I was in St. Petersburg when it was Leningrad, and I have no desire to return (you did mean the one in Russia, not in west Florida, I presume?); PEI is charming but not worth a separate trip unless you loved "Anne of Green Gables" as a kid; Iceland is fascinating (been there three times); I went to Sicily two years ago and loved it--I am now reading an interesting history of the land. The one place on your list that I really would like to see more of is Alaska, especially now that it is summer here in the desert.

 

Did you ever buy the fireworks at South of the Border?

[+ Charlie]

Lucky,

If you have the time, I suggest that you look into doing an around the world trip with United and the Star Alliance carriers. You can take up to a year to make the trip, and buy coach and use your miles to upgrade to business class, or by business class and use those miles to upgrade to First Class. In the grand scheme of things it is incredibly cheap. For example, I once did an around the world trip over two weeks that took me to several stops in Europe, Dubai and AbuDabi, Singapore, Sydney , Hawaii and home for the price of a ticket back and forth to Europe. Another trip was to Europe, Beijing, Tokyo and home for the same price as a ticket from Chicago to Tokyo and return. With careful planning you can hit every continent and most of the cities that you would like to visit. You just have to basically travel one direction all the time. If you want more information on this, send me a PM and we can go from there. I am saving up money and my miles to make a couple more of these trips, and will take at least six to eight weeks on the next one.

Good luck and hope you can bring you partner with you.

DD

 

I did this 20 years ago, and I've been told that it is still a good deal financially. One of the most fascinating flights I ever had was in a window seat from Tokyo to Moscow, on a cloudless day, watching Siberia for hours.

[+ Lucky]

We have previously discussed the round the world trips. One thing that bothers me is that when it is done, so am I. Plus, it does take one huge chunk of time that the dogs would not appreciate. In concept, however, I am all for it. I appreciate hearing the travel plans of others. We are kindred spirits in our desires to see new things and meet new people. I think I will take it one step at a time. Right now, London theater and Paris walking appeal to me the most. That would be the fall. But then again, should someone call and ask me to join him on a trip to Colombia, well, I'd probably say yes.

[Steven_Draker]

I have visited many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently,

you can't go there alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

 

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

 

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven

there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

 

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity.

 

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

 

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

 

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and it seems as though I've been going there more often recently.

 

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!

 

I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember which country I was in at the time.

 

 

Safe travels!

[LurkerSpeaks]

Lucky,

I too can relate, but my list is much smaller than yours. Trying to be realistic and "live within my means", the places that are on the top part of my list would include (new, never visited) Thailand and Prague, and revisits to old fav's, Rio and Montreal. Columbia would be on my "second string" of visits. Of course, I dream that one day I might win the Powerball lottery (even though I do not live in Tennessee, in a single wide trailer with a car up on blocks in the front yard). If that was to happen, I would be on an extended trip around the world, with no time limits/restraints. I would rent apartments/villas whereever I end up, kind of like in the movie "The Talented Mr. Ripley".

[+ Lucky]

Well, you are pretty young, so there is hopefully lots of time for you to take the dream trips and then some. I loved Prague myself, even though Drake's was the only sad action we found. It's a beautiful city. Thailand has so much more than Bangkok and Pattaya. Reading the other guys talk about Europe makes me think of those possibilities as well.

What is interesting, for me, it to make lists where sex is not a consideration, as it used to be.