Travel / Vacation thread

[calvegas04]

Happy this thread bumped. I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that gives a Rolex at 5 years and a trip anywhere around the world at 10.

Well, gents (some ladies), it'll be 9 years in March 2020 and our policy is to book a year or so ahead...close to time to start weighing options.

Any suggestions, please? My boss recommends the 10 day, all exclusive cruise to Europe that she chose. I've been to the Caribbean plenty times but never across the "pond".

Thanks in advance.

Bora Bora or Northern Europe

 

[NDBoiler]

The plane has a pretty cool layout. There's a mini cabin in between first class and coach that only has 12 seats and loads of extra room to move around. We upgraded to that for both flights.

That’s called business class my man. You must not fly as much as a normal non-poor to not know the layout of a typical long haul flight.

 

[calvegas04]

That’s called business class my man. You must not fly as much as a normal non-poor to not know the layout of a typical long haul flight.

It is probably prem economy

 

[NDBoiler]

It is probably prem economy

Could be I guess, wouldn’t consider it a separate mini cabin though. Total poors move if so. Frequent flying non poors get that upgrade for free.

 

[wizards8507]

That’s called business class my man. You must not fly as much as a normal non-poor to not know the layout of a typical long haul flight.

It's not business class. The Hawaiian Airlines A330s have lie-flat seats in first class, so that takes up the extra square footage.

It is probably prem economy

It's sold as "Extra Comfort" but there's Extra Comfort in the main cabin as well. The little mini cabin is a first-dibs thing for Extra Comfort people.

 

[NDBoiler]

It's not business class. The Hawaiian Airlines A330s have lie-flat seats in first class, so that takes up the extra square footage. It's sold as "Extra Comfort" but there's Extra Comfort in the main cabin as well. The little mini cabin is a first-dibs thing for Extra Comfort people.

Good, hope you enjoy the trip. I hope you understand I’m just messing with ya.

Not sure how much you’ve flown with kids, but I can say from experience that you’ll want to try and keep them somewhat contained. People tend to lose their normal common decency when they fly for some reason, and may be stupid if a kid is running up and down the aisles or something like that. I’ve heard of parents bringing notes for the people around them, but screw that. You and your kids have just as much right to be there, no need to apologize if the kids is just being a kid.

 

[wizards8507]

Good, hope you enjoy the trip. I hope you understand I’m just messing with ya.

I do, I was struggling to describe this little room because I've never seen the configuration before.

I priced out first class but it was $12,000 pp and I'm too Poors for that.

 

[IrishLax]

Thank you, Lax. I think the company caps the trip at 10 grand if that helps with budget. I'd be willing to fork in a few more if worth it.

So the hotel I linked ran us about $600/night, and normally would've been about $1000/night for the room we had. It was a legit 5-star hotel, and you get what you pay for. I was probably the poorest person staying there. On their premises they have a Michelin 2-star and a top 5 dining experience of my life. I've eaten at a lot of 1-star and 2-star places around the world, and this place earned its ranking. They also had the best gin bar I've ever been too, hands down. Private beach club and a separate 1-star restaurant in a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean. Lots more details I can PM you if you're interested.

What I will say is that I do not think Capri would've been great if it we tried to do it on a budget. Like I wouldn't go there and stay at a 3-star hotel. If you're in it to do great food, day trips to coastal places, rent a boat, etc. it's excellent... very indulgent place, and you can make it very relaxing or very adventurous or a little of both. And you avoid a lot of the touristy issues of the rest of the Amalfi Coast outside of certain parts of the day in certain areas. So if you want to go all in, I'd recommend it. If you think you have to stretch too much past your $10k budget to make it work, I would go somewhere else.

International trips I've taken in the past 10 years include 2 weeks in Ecuador/Galapagos (Silver Seas cruise), 2 weeks in France (Paris/Loire Valley/Provence), 3 weeks in Italy/Switzerland (Rome/Umbria/Tuscany/Venice/Lake Como/Lugano), 2 weeks in Italy (see above), a week in Belize (twice), and a Spain trip. The Galapagos was the most unique put-those-photos-on-Instagram place I've been, Capri was the most luxurious. But they all had their positives and negatives.

We travel a lot because we don't have kids at this point and my wife works internationally. She worked in Rome for awhile, and now she works for a global hotel company that sends her lots of places (for example, she is about to embark on a trip to Dubai, Shanghai, Barcelona, Cabo, and some other less exotic locals over the next two months for work). So we have a pretty good grasp of most travel hot spots at this point, especially in Europe. I'm blind to places like Fiji, Bora Bora, Turks and Caicos, etc. because that's not our type of trip. Likewise, I think Hawaii is overrated AF.

Planning the right trip for you on a healthy budget of $10k is all about having goals and picking the right destination/lodging/activities to realize those goals.

 

[NorthDakota]

I think Hawaii is overrated AF.

I've never so much as seen the Pacific Ocean, but I have no idea why people go to Hawaii. Seems like an awfully long flight to go.....there.

 

[wizards8507]

I've never so much as seen the Pacific Ocean, but I have no idea why people go to Hawaii. Seems like an awfully long flight to go.....there.

I get 60% off at Aulani: A Disney Resort and Spa.

I go to Florida twice a year and international travel with kids is a whole separate set of headaches. I don't go to Hawaii often but once every five years or so feels about right.

 

[NDBoiler]

I've never so much as seen the Pacific Ocean, but I have no idea why people go to Hawaii. Seems like an awfully long flight to go.....there.

It depends on what you want to see/do I guess. Hawaii has world class beaches, beautiful landscapes, volcanoes, and some great food. You might be able to find a couple of those in one place closer to parts of the US, but you’d be hard pressed to find all of those at one location closer to the majority of the mainland.

 

[wizards8507]

It depends on what you want to see/do I guess. Hawaii has world class beaches, beautiful landscapes, volcanoes, and some great food. You might be able to find a couple of those in one place closer to parts of the US, but you’d be hard pressed to find all of those at one location closer to the majority of the mainland.

Especially in winter.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Happy this thread bumped. I'm fortunate enough to work for a company that gives a Rolex at 5 years and a trip anywhere around the world at 10.

Well, gents (some ladies), it'll be 9 years in March 2020 and our policy is to book a year or so ahead...close to time to start weighing options.

Any suggestions, please? My boss recommends the 10 day, all exclusive cruise to Europe that she chose. I've been to the Caribbean plenty times but never across the "pond".

Thanks in advance.

I think too many Americans overlook SE Asia (I never thought about it until I moved to the region). Obviously depends on what you want, but there are world class resorts and beaches, along with history and culture. Plus, the local food is top notch. Getting there can be a pain in the ass, but for $10K, depending on where you go, you will get top notch service and amenities.

 

[ACamp1900]

I loved Capri but also thought it was so similar to Catalina off LA that it felt odd...

 

[BGIF]

I'm starting to look at honeymoon options.

...

1. Bride
2. Maid of Honor
3. Bridesmaids
4. Floozy that travels with the band
5. Reception drunk
6. Good divorce attorney
7. Pre-nup

 

[calvegas04]

I think Hawaii is overrated AF.

Hawaii is amazing, as long as you stay outside of the tourist area. Food is amazing. Beaches are world class. Culture and history is there.

 

[calvegas04]

I get 60% off at Aulani: A Disney Resort and Spa.

I assume you are getting a rental car? There isn't much on that side of the island to do.

 

[wizards8507]

I assume you are getting a rental car? There isn't much on that side of the island to do.

We are but we don't plan on doing a whole ton anyways. Wife will be seven months pregs so the plan is to sleep until noon and soak in the Pacific.

 

[IrishLax]

Hawaii is amazing, as long as you stay outside of the tourist area. Food is amazing. Beaches are world class. Culture and history is there.

OK hear me out. For the same amount of travel time, I can get from DC to basically anywhere in Europe or Central America or the Continental United States. And the bottom line is that in any travel category (food, nature, whatever) I can find a place that trumps Hawaii.

The food, frankly, is by far the most overrated part of Hawaii. Great flavors, great fish. But if you spend an extended amount of time there it becomes apparent quite quickly how many things they are missing from a culinary standpoint. Hawaii is not even a top 25 food travel spot if we're being honest.

Snorkling and diving I did in the Galapagos embarrasses Hawaii. Same for Belize. I find beaches to be subjective, and I'll concede that they have world class beaches.

The time I went to Hawaii the only touristy stuff I did was take a helicopter ride into a volcano (which was actually pretty great) and go to the obligatory Luau... because you have to do it once. Hana Highway and all the marine activities and all the nature were fun but I've had better nature experiences in multiple national parks and I've had better marine experiences throughout Central America.

These are just my opinions, I respect yours and everyone else's that disagrees with me. I'm not saying Hawaii sucks, I'm more saying that the juice isn't worth the squeeze to me.

 

[loomis41973]

OK hear me out. For the same amount of travel time, I can get from DC to basically anywhere in Europe or Central America or the Continental United States. And the bottom line is that in any travel category (food, nature, whatever) I can find a place that trumps Hawaii.

The food, frankly, is by far the most overrated part of Hawaii. Great flavors, great fish. But if you spend an extended amount of time there it becomes apparent quite quickly how many things they are missing from a culinary standpoint. Hawaii is not even a top 25 food travel spot if we're being honest.

Snorkling and diving I did in the Galapagos embarrasses Hawaii. Same for Belize. I find beaches to be subjective, and I'll concede that they have world class beaches.

The time I went to Hawaii the only touristy stuff I did was take a helicopter ride into a volcano (which was actually pretty great) and go to the obligatory Luau... because you have to do it once. Hana Highway and all the marine activities and all the nature were fun but I've had better nature experiences in multiple national parks and I've had better marine experiences throughout Central America.

These are just my opinions, I respect yours and everyone else's that disagrees with me. I'm not saying Hawaii sucks, I'm more saying that the juice isn't worth the squeeze to me.

This pretty much nails it. Add the crime and non stop begging from the tweakers and its an easy no go.

 

[calvegas04]

This pretty much nails it. Add the crime and non stop begging from the tweakers and its an easy no go.

lol what? Ive been 9 times and have never had tweakers begging or any crime happen to me.

 

[loomis41973]

lol what? Ive been 9 times and have never had tweakers begging or any crime happen to me.

Did you leave your resort?

Their are 100's of youtube videos documenting the drug epidemic/problem in Hawaii as well as my own personal experiences.


I've spent HUNDREDS of days in border cities in Mexico and never had a crime happen to me. Does that mean it doesn't happen?

 

[wizards8507]

This pretty much nails it. Add the crime and non stop begging from the tweakers and its an easy no go.

Huh? Wouldn't that also rule out every major city and pretty much every warm-weather country on the planet?

Lax recommended Belize as an alternative. Belize!

 

[calvegas04]

Did you leave your resort?

Their are 100's of youtube videos documenting the drug epidemic/problem in Hawaii as well as my own personal experiences.

I normally stay in Airbnb away from the resort area's but when I do stay in a resort we prefer to get out to the local side of the island where it is more quiet.

But if you hate crime and drugs you must hate visiting Chicago and Detroit then and stay away from any central America country or Caribbean island

 

[wizards8507]

Alternatively, don't leave the resort.

 

[texbender]

I've been to Kauai twice, mainly since I have a free place to stay. From Dallas, it's a day out and a day back. Always go in Jan/Feb, that's when the whales are around . The island is the less touristy of the islands, and most my time is spent walking beaches or exploring off the beaten path. While nice, without the free housing I probably wouldn't go out there since there are similar options closer to home. Also get a 2 for 1 on airfare with SWA, so makes for a cheap exotic vacation with plenty of $ for happy hour.

 

[wizards8507]

I've been to Kauai twice, mainly since I have a free place to stay. From Dallas, it's a day out and a day back. Always go in Jan/Feb, that's when the whales are around . The island is the less touristy of the islands, and most my time is spent walking beaches or exploring off the beaten path. While nice, without the free housing I probably wouldn't go out there since there are similar options closer to home. Also get a 2 for 1 on airfare with SWA, so makes for a cheap exotic vacation with plenty of $ for happy hour.

You fly Southwest to Kuaui?

 

[texbender]

You fly Southwest to Kuaui?

Direct flights from Oakland coming after New Year. Presently flying into Honolulu and then hop over to Kuaui. Still 2 for 1 with my companion pass, as is Dallas to Oakland. Pretty good deal, and SWA always better than AA (no baggage fees!).

 

[Irish2155]

I normally stay in Airbnb away from the resort area's but when I do stay in a resort we prefer to get out to the local side of the island where it is more quiet.

But if you hate crime and drugs you must hate visiting Chicago and Detroit then and stay away from any central America country or Caribbean island

Are these even relevant in a vacation thread? I've never heard anyone excited about a week away in beautiful Detroit.

 

[calvegas04]

Direct flights from Oakland coming after New Year. Presently flying into Honolulu and then hop over to Kuaui. Still 2 for 1 with my companion pass, as is Dallas to Oakland. Pretty good deal, and SWA always better than AA (no baggage fees!).

SWA is better than a lot of airlines