2019 Travel Plans

[VPS]

@swanning_it Also consider the Baltic States and/or Moscow and St Petersburg.

Rural Italy - around Lucca and Siena.

Spain - lots of old architecture but great food. San Sebastian was a favourite.

Bruges is a lovely city and pleasant to wander around for a couple of days.

Also consider parts of rural England, Wales and Scotland. Some beautiful countryside, great food if you plan where to go.

I have lots of suggestions for France but shall refrain from mentioning those.

Happy planning and looking forward to the TR

 

[LadyC]

Planning to visit the Munich Christmas markets and some skiing for the Gentleman at Courchevel to finish up 2019. Seems like I will need to start a 2020 travel thread shortly!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

@swanning_it Also consider the Baltic States and/or Moscow and St Petersburg.

Many thanks for the tip! My biggest challenge right now is finding time for the research ... no idea how I'm going to fit the actual travel in!

 

[oobi doobi]

Many thanks @Renato1. It seems to be firming around that neck of the woods err, continent!

Another thought maybe Portugal. We were there 5 weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely. Drove north of Lisbon and stayed in 2 timeshares the last being Esposende, just north of Porto.
There were many good points about Portugal. Beautiful clean beaches, very friendly people and cheap food and wine. The freeways were nearly empty as the locals can’t afford or won’t pay the tolls, so take the minor roads.

I would go back there again and probably go South of Lisbon. The weather in early/mid October was superb.Nazare was another place visiting, with the biggest waves I have ever seen.

Cheers

 

[moffat39]

Wife and I both 60 in 2019. We were planning a trip to Japan and Korea to celebrate but one of our sons is now working at the Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna Canada in between working at the Summer Camps in USA. Understandably wife wants to see our son in between the seasons so plans changed to Canada for a 4 week trip.

For the last 6 years have been travelling in J on SQ using points for trips to Europe and Asia. Wanting to keep what points we have for future Europe flights so having to pay for international flights is a somewhat new! Plan on flying on China Airlines in PE on the way there and J on the way back and at around $3000 each from Brisbane return is in my view good value with the bonus of a day to see Taipei on the way there and back. Will be leaving at the end of April.

We will have a few days in Vancouver and then pick up a hire car and drive to Kelowna to pick up our son and then take around 8 days to drive to Calgary. Will then fly back to Vancouver for a 7 day Alaska cruise. Son will then fly on to New York. Once back in Vancouver will then take a ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island for a few nights and then on to Seattle for a few nights before flying home from Vancouver.

Am surprised by the high cost of hotels (will stay in some Airbnb) in Canada and Seattle and also internal flights in Canada (Calgary to Vancouver). Looking like the 4 week trip will be about double what a 4 week Europe trip would cost though that does include the cruise. Will be the first time in USA and Canada for me though wife had a trip there in the early 80s.

Not looking forward to the coffee and beer in Canada and USA! From doing some research Kelowna is the main wine producing area in Canada so hoping to try some Canadian wines.

 

[jb01]

Mrs JB is in full swing planning our next (there have been quite a few of them) Disney trip which will be Oct-2019 for our 10 year wedding anniversary. WDW in Florida first, then back to LA for Disneyland. Yep, we’ll hit both.

My part is organising flights, reward J seats and getting around on the ground, her part is planning out in maticulous detail how we attack the parks to minimise wait times - she’s exceptionally good at it!

 

[Pushka]

Mrs JB is in full swing planning our next (there have been quite a few of them) Disney trip which will be Oct-2019 for our 10 year wedding anniversary. WDW in Florida first, then back to LA for Disneyland. Yep, we’ll hit both.

My part is organising flights, reward J seats and getting around on the ground, her part is planning out in maticulous detail how we attack the parks to minimise wait times - she’s exceptionally good at it!

We also did both when in the USA. They are quite different. WDW is huge. We stayed at the Caribbean Resort which is onsite to one of the lands. There are also books now explaining how to tackle the parks.

 

[Cossie]

Another thought maybe Portugal. We were there 5 weeks ago and enjoyed it immensely. Drove north of Lisbon and stayed in 2 timeshares the last being Esposende, just north of Porto.
There were many good points about Portugal. Beautiful clean beaches, very friendly people and cheap food and wine. The freeways were nearly empty as the locals can’t afford or won’t pay the tolls, so take the minor roads.

I would go back there again and probably go South of Lisbon. The weather in early/mid October was superb.Nazare was another place visiting, with the biggest waves I have ever seen.

Cheers

If you go to the north of Portugal, consider the Asturias region of Spain, about 2-3 hours from Oporto, stunning countyside and coastline, I was very surprised and will consider returning to that area again.

 

[Cossie]

Added Vietnam to our list for next year, L.E. on Phu Quoc island, anyone been there? We also hope to see some of the mainland as well.

 

[RooFlyer]

In addition to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in August/September, noted above, just booked Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia for July and, pending @JohnM's advice on Visas, will tack on Sudan at the end!

Potentially 10 new countries

 

[Flashback]

In addition to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in August/September, noted above, just booked Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia for July and, pending @JohnM's advice on Visas, will tack on Sudan at the end!

Potentially 10 new countries

If I have some free time in July I may pop over and catch you in Macedonia and Kosovo!

 

[RooFlyer]

If I have some free time in July I may pop over and catch you in Macedonia and Kosovo!

In the end, I decided on a tour ... I can't believe that I'm turning into one of 'those people' ! I blame @JohnM.

Now, add Sudan to your itinerary and its a deal (just tell Mrs Flashback that you are doing some secret research for an anniversary trip )

 

[MartinMemo]

Finishing touches have been put on my 30th birthday trip - 48 Sectors, 100k miles, 17 Countries, 32 cities - 50% business, 25% First, 25% economy (short domestic hops only). Booked on a complex array of awards, RTW award, primarily on SQ, CX, JL, QF. Just a little excited for 2019 .

 

[RooFlyer]

Finishing touches have been put on my 30th birthday trip - 48 Sectors, 100k miles, 17 Countries, 32 cities - 50% business, 25% First, 25% economy (short domestic hops only). Booked on a complex array of awards, RTW award, primarily on SQ, CX, JL, QF. Just a little excited for 2019 .

Which will, of course, be suitably written up as a Trip Report.

 

[CMak]

Off to Morocco via Barcelona and Paris (SQ J reward) in April - a bit concerned with the Air Maroc flights to and from Morocco though. The rest of the year is still to be decided but probably we will stay in Australia.

 

[Flashback]

Off to Morocco via Barcelona and Paris (SQ J reward) in April - a bit concerned with the Air Maroc flights to and from Morocco though. The rest of the year is still to be decided but probably we will stay in Australia.

What's the concern?

 

[jb747]

2019 will be busy.

January will be a normal work month, which should end with a London trip.

February off to NZ for a couple of weeks, via Wellington.

March/April tow the van to Esperance/Albany, WA

August. Las Vegas with my son.

September/October. Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and a couple of others in the middle.

 

[nickykim]

Just finished messing about booking flights to Paris in late July for a friend's 60th Birthday. A chateau near Versailles has been booked (I think the term chateau has been applied imaginatively by the owner). I'll have a couple of days in Paris prior and still have to work out what to do with about 10 days afterwards - I'd love to go to Morroco but it is a little hot in early August. With all the advice and knowledge here, I have J booked for Hong Kong - Paris - Hong Kong (SAS paid flight $2,880) and Hong Kong - Melbourne (Virgin points) and Y for the initial Melbourne - Hong Kong with an Economy X seat booked if the premium upgrade bid doesn't come through.

 

[Flashback]

2019 will be busy.

January will be a normal work month, which should end with a London trip.

February off to NZ for a couple of weeks, via Wellington.

March/April tow the van to Esperance/Albany, WA

August. Las Vegas with my son.

September/October. Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and a couple of others in the middle.

The retired life, finally

 

[Flashback]

Just finished messing about booking flights to Paris in late July for a friend's 60th Birthday. A chateau near Versailles has been booked (I think the term chateau has been applied imaginatively by the owner). I'll have a couple of days in Paris prior and still have to work out what to do with about 10 days afterwards - I'd love to go to Morroco but it is a little hot in early August. With all the advice and knowledge here, I have J booked for Hong Kong - Paris - Hong Kong (SAS paid flight $2,880) and Hong Kong - Melbourne (Virgin points) and Y for the initial Melbourne - Hong Kong with an Economy X seat booked if the premium upgrade bid doesn't come through.

It would be quite hot, but still manageable - there's nothing better than getting back to your riad and having a swim in the pool in the courtyard.