Where to go for 10 year second honeymoon?

[DJSapp]

Well, here's the deal. I have 210,000 frequent flier miles and a 10 year anniversary next spring, and I think the grandparents could handle watching the kids for 2 weeks while we roam. Miles are from Alaskan, so they're good on AA, Air France, Emirates, KLM, Korean Air, Delta, Fiji, Quantas, British Airways, and some others. Preferred departing airport would be SFO, but could get to LAX or SEA if necessary.

Preference to avoid crazy high landing fees aka London and Paris, or 18+ hour one way travel duration, and for being able to get by with english, or the equivalent of a 4 year old's spanish or german. Extra bonus if we can afford to do business class r/t. She's been to China/Vietnam/Thailand and Japan, I've been to NZ and Japan. Adventure and landscape excites us more than cities. Never been to Europe to see old shit, so that could be cool, but we might get bored.

Where to?

[LightRanger]

Spain and Morocco? See cool old shit, eat awesome food, trek in the Atlas?

[Foggy_Goggles]

Spring like during ski season or not? English and a good attitude will get you by in most of Europe. Skiing sounds like the obvious answer but what do I know. What would be the budget excluding the air travel?

[fatnslow]

Start in Spain and work your way to France. Two weeks should give you enough time to explore and get local flavors of each country. If you want to go gonzo you can try Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos. This might be much more adventurous but might have a bit more of a language barrier.

[XXX-er]

Barcelona warm will be nice in the spring

[plugboots]

Why do you guys like the Pacific Rim so much? Since you do, just pick another one in the list. Maybe Hong Kong and Macau? I'd do Paris for this type of trip. Edit: well after remembering you said adventure, what about S. America? Go to Mendoza for wine and eating, etc. then the Andes near Aconcagua.

[Bromontana]

I'd go wander around the Dolomites, but the timing may be a little early in the season to fully enjoy them.

[DJSapp]

^^ Main reason for Pacific rim is accessibility. Europe is generally a long series of flights and poor connections from Northern California (i.e. get to JFK), whereas LAX and SFO access the pac rim direct.

Skiing as an activity would be fine, but it's not a dedicated ski trip. Warm is also not a requirement, her first reaction was ireland and scotland.

Budget has not been set yet, would prefer to keep it somewhat economical though. Under 3k? edit: hard cap at 6k excluding airfare but I'm a cheap bastard.

[mcski]

Last I heard, LAX and SFO go direct to pretty much every major euro city. 10 hrs direct is shorter than anywhere to the other side of the pacific.

And English has been fine to get by with everywhere I've ever been.

PS she already said Scotland and Ireland so this entire thread is moot

[Buster Highmen]

Air France fly direct from SFO to Paris and I'd be surprised if British Air Lufthansa don't have at least a couple of flights direct per week. $3k budget is the limiting factor there.

That said, I'd do 1 week in Paris, then 1 week in La Grave.

[hutash]

Africa...end of thread.

[plugboots]

That said, I'd do 1 week in Paris, then 1 week in La Grave.

My wife and I did that exact thing.

[Bromontana]

For $3k you could live like a king island hopping 2 weeks in the Philippines.

[plugboots]

Africa...end of thread.

http://www.tropical-ice.com/itinerar...alk-of-africa/
We did a walking safari with these guys similar to the one highlighted.

[liv2ski]

^^ Main reason for Pacific rim is accessibility. Europe is generally a long series of flights and poor connections from Northern California (i.e. get to JFK), whereas LAX and SFO access the pac rim direct.

Skiing as an activity would be fine, but it's not a dedicated ski trip. Warm is also not a requirement, her first reaction was ireland and scotland.

Budget has not been set yet, would prefer to keep it somewhat economical though. Under 3k?

Good luck with the under $3k if your guys roll like we do. We flew direct to Paris from SFO on Air Chance and Delta flies there direct from SLC. We have done 3 Yurp trips and have loved them all. Cheap flights are easy to get in Yurp so you can fly between countries as needed, but we often take the trains, as we like to travel that way.
I liked Scotland/England more than I did Ireland, but all are pretty. Taking the steam train from London to Edinburgh was something we both loved and will never forget. Staying in Edinburgh at the Balmoral and touring that city will never get old.
Last trip we flew into Zurich, took the train down to Milan with many stops between the two cities. Milan is a great city for a few days. I found the Italians very entertaining and Milan is gorgeous if you stay by the Domo Cathedral. From Milan we flew to Budapest. What a great city. Hung there for 3-4 days, then a train to Vienna. From Vienna we took a train to Prague a few days later. The museums in Vienna blew my mind and the architecture in every city we saw was incredible. All of those cities are "Must See Places" IMO.
Next trip we are talking flying into Germany and then going to Amsterdam, Copenhagen and flying over to St Petersburg before flying home. Or maybe we will fly back into Milan, tour northern Italy/Venice before flying to Split in Croatia.
There are so many great places to see. Get busy making plans and have a great time.

[fatnslow]

^^ Main reason for Pacific rim is accessibility. Europe is generally a long series of flights and poor connections from Northern California (i.e. get to JFK), whereas LAX and SFO access the pac rim direct.

Skiing as an activity would be fine, but it's not a dedicated ski trip. Warm is also not a requirement, her first reaction was ireland and scotland.



Budget has not been set yet, would prefer to keep it somewhat economical though. Under 3k?

I think $3K/without flights for 2 will limit things for your choices in Europe. Even with the euro being a bit weak outside of staying at hostels you'll eat a big chunk of your budget on lodging for 2 weeks.

[fatnslow]

For $3k you could live like a king island hopping 2 weeks in the Philippines.

for $3K in the PI's DJSapp can bring home a second Mrs. DJsapp that knows how to shoot ping pong balls.

[MakersTeleMark]

what about S. America? Go to Mendoza for wine and eating, etc. then the Andes near Aconcagua.

Seconded. Wine harvest time down there is an absolutely beautiful time to visit and explore.

[DJSapp]

1. 3k budget is not a hard budget at all, just a preference. Probably have a hard cap at 6k for two weeks, excluding airfare.
2. She likes the idea of a Fiji NZ combo more than scotland/ireland. All options are open.
3. Yes, there are some direct flights from the west coast to europe, but I'm trying to play the frequent flier game so it's a bit harder than that because they screw with the routing and class designations. British Airways pretty much insists on stopping in London so that's a $700/pp landing tax round trip. Lufthansa is not a mileage partner.

[plugboots]

But Delta/KLM is.

[neufox47]

Argentina

[4matic]

Quebec City, QC? Vancouver BC? Cheap Loonie makes Canada a bargain. Four Seasons Vancouver around $300 a night.

[Tippster]

Peru?

If you're in ARG in the summer I'd go to Bariloche and do some fishing & hiking.

[OldLarry]

Anywhere you choose in Europe with a side trip here for some snoggery http://www.belmond.com/reids-palace-madeira/

Was there last fall- perpetually spring. You will be the youngest people there by 25 years or so and the only nonfat pasty filthy rich Brits. Unless you are fat pasty filthy rich Brits.

No need to talk to anyone else- great food- awesome places to explore in island. Your own little terrace perched over the ocean for chillin/jumping in when too hot.

[OldLarry]

And eat limpets every time you see them on a menu...