2026 travel plans

Hmm. That's not too bad. Way more than I had at the start of my planning but looks like a good use of them.
Can't get Perth to Doha J rewards for two people it seems these days.
So flying to Doha via Singapore added a bunch of points
 
Can't get Perth to Doha J rewards for two people it seems these days.
So flying to Doha via Singapore added a bunch of points
I was looking at saving points and flying that route if I could get a decently priced SYD-PER flight so as to have some time in PER but I also couldn't find 2 seats at the time I was looking. Plus getting cheap seats to PER is not easy at all.
 
Have just locked in some travel plans for 2026. Europe via Doha in March :D

Heading to London for a few things including hopefully the London Book Fair and a day trip to visit a magical shop in Matlock run by a YouTube personality I've watched for years.

Then to Cologne for a mini river cruise (only 4 nights) to test the waters (pun intended) on whether sensitive to seasickness me can cope with the much calmer river waters. I really want to be good for it, because I would love to do a longer river cruise one day. This mini cruise does a loop back to Cologne, but with stops in Rotterdam, Huizen and Emmerich.

Then we go up to Amsterdam for Flight Sim Weekend, meeting up with friends from past years at Flight Sim Expo. And then a few nights in Doha on the way home thanks to the stopover program.
 
We already have Mar-Apr 2026 trip booked to Thailand.

Now looking to book Sep-Oct 2026 trip but airfares are not that inviting. Tried looking at award flights on various carriers and award availability is poor close to 1 year out.
 
Have booked Jakarta for June and Singapore for August, have been looking for somewhere for March/April.

Has just dawned on me, (anxious) teen grandson is going to bunk in at our place for the year while he studies - not sure if his Mum will let us leave him "Home Alone" 🤭
Might not be going anywhere 🫣
 
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In luck today with our trip to the Tattoo in August. I had booked awards BNE t0 BKK and DOH-EDI. But nothing came up on BKK-DOH. Looked at VA, AA, BA and in desperation QFF. Seats aero also so no awards in J.
But today a hit on my watch list. F awards via VA available. One day before my date but 1 less day in BKK and having to fill a day in Doha is no problem.

The problem though is the flight to EDI is 32 hours after arrival. So can I stay at the Oryx and use the Al safwa the moning of my arival All reports sugest that around midnight when our BKK flight arrives sleep rooms very unlikely to be available. Has any one else had a similiar circumstance
 
In luck today with our trip to the Tattoo in August. I had booked awards BNE t0 BKK and DOH-EDI. But nothing came up on BKK-DOH. Looked at VA, AA, BA and in desperation QFF. Seats aero also so no awards in J.
But today a hit on my watch list. F awards via VA available. One day before my date but 1 less day in BKK and having to fill a day in Doha is no problem.

The problem though is the flight to EDI is 32 hours after arrival. So can I stay at the Oryx and use the Al safwa the moning of my arival All reports sugest that around midnight when our BKK flight arrives sleep rooms very unlikely to be available. Has any one else had a similiar circumstance
They are very strict on the same day rule so I suspect you won’t get Al Safwa access but you can only try
 
In luck today with our trip to the Tattoo in August. I had booked awards BNE t0 BKK and DOH-EDI. But nothing came up on BKK-DOH. Looked at VA, AA, BA and in desperation QFF. Seats aero also so no awards in J.
But today a hit on my watch list. F awards via VA available. One day before my date but 1 less day in BKK and having to fill a day in Doha is no problem.

The problem though is the flight to EDI is 32 hours after arrival. So can I stay at the Oryx and use the Al safwa the moning of my arival All reports sugest that around midnight when our BKK flight arrives sleep rooms very unlikely to be available. Has any one else had a similiar circumstance
If looking for a cheap airport hotel, Premier Inn very good
 
Flying back from Tokyo on New Year's Day through Aeroplan award bookings.
HND-PEK ANA J
PEK-SIN-PER SQ J
PER-MEL VA J

Will be my first time flying with VA so it will be interesting to compare it with the Asian carriers I tend to frequent.

Flying with Vietnam Airlines to Cambodia for a month a few weeks later, will spend a few days at Sofitel Phnom Penh. I'm currently 2/2 for free Y to PE upgrades as VN Platinum, will hope to continue the trend, maybe even a Y to J upgrade is on the cards.
MEL-HAN-KTI (with a maintenance stop in VTE) in VN Y
SAI-HAN-MEL (maintenance stop in LPQ) in VN Y

Will have to go to HKG during the June/July semester break, deciding between VN or CX for direct, or if I make a stop in AKL will be with NZ.

If all goes to plan will be going to AMS from July to November, so will have to plan for that as well.

Looking to book the annual KUL trip in December as well, which will wrap up my 2026.
 
Number Plate meet over Easter in Mulhouse at the Automobile Museum, Max locked in to go to jail. Then, not sure, Croatia rally is the next weekend, but her and I want to go to Poland. I may have mentioned before, that although her father was born in Dortmund, his surname is very Polish, we have seen a bit, but I want more!
However, as also mentioned previously, we have a desire to go back to the Balkans as I have unfinished business there.
 
Just added 2 more back-to-back Ponant cruises - the one on the right is first, but just showing the progression, 18 days all up. Two stops in Algeria, which will be a highlight, together with Crete.

1762225570730.png 1762225531344.png

In November next year, so not the best weather, but priced accordingly, together with my 7.5% loyalty discount and a further discount for them being back-to-back cruises. I'll be in Syracuse twice within a couple of days so will be looking for something special on a private tour.

So 2026 is looking like:

February: 10 days in Saudi Arabia and Doha
March: AFF dinner in Wellington
April: Back-to-back (almost) cruises around the Canary Islands and Sicily
June: AFF LHR crawl followed by 3 weeks in Brittany and Normandy
November: Cruises around Greek Isles and northern Africa and Spain, as above.
 
Just added 2 more back-to-back Ponant cruises - the one on the right is first, but just showing the progression, 18 days all up. Two stops in Algeria, which will be a highlight, together with Crete.

View attachment 479684 View attachment 479683

In November next year, so not the best weather, but priced accordingly, together with my 7.5% loyalty discount and a further discount for them being back-to-back cruises. I'll be in Syracuse twice within a couple of days so will be looking for something special on a private tour.

So 2026 is looking like:

February: 10 days in Saudi Arabia and Doha
March: AFF dinner in Wellington
April: Back-to-back (almost) cruises around the Canary Islands and Sicily
June: AFF LHR crawl followed by 3 weeks in Brittany and Normandy
November: Cruises around Greek Isles and northern Africa and Spain, as above.
Weather is still pretty decent that time of the year down there, wouldn't worry too much. It'll be like a British summer.
 

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