A short defrost after US winter travel - but where?

[rock86]

Hi all,

After a very hectic, 2 children later 5yr year anniversary, my wife and I are planning on doing a special trip in January 2019. We are going to do about a fortnight in the US (mostly in NYC as we've never been) and were thinking that it'd be nice to tack say 3 nights on at the end of the trip to lay back on a beach and defrost before heading home.

Now I know this is a fair way off, but we are just looking for some inspiration as the trouble is where not sure where we'd like to go. I was thinking of flying back through the ME to home so was looking at maybe doing Seychelles or the Maldives, but gee whizz it's expensive!! We're not really to fussed which way we travel back to Oz and were really just looking for some suggestions to get our minds going.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all,

After a very hectic, 2 children later 5yr year anniversary, my wife and I are planning on doing a special trip in January 2019. We are going to do about a fortnight in the US (mostly in NYC as we've never been) and were thinking that it'd be nice to tack say 3 nights on at the end of the trip to lay back on a beach and defrost before heading home.

Now I know this is a fair way off, but we are just looking for some inspiration as the trouble is where not sure where we'd like to go. I was thinking of flying back through the ME to home so was looking at maybe doing Seychelles or the Maldives, but gee whizz it's expensive!! We're not really to fussed which way we travel back to Oz and were really just looking for some suggestions to get our minds going.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

The obvious choices would be hawaii (you could get fares with a one way stopover through either Qantas or Hawaiian Airlines), or Fiji (Fiji Airways). Fiji might be a nice option if you are flying economy... Fiji is close to Australia and you get the long haul out of the way (just four hours home after that). Fiji also has some good hotels with beach clubs for children if you are travelling with them. On line, fiji airways will only take you as far as LAX, so you'd either have to go via a travel agent, or book separate tickets LAX-NYC.

Garuda might also be re-entering the US market soon, that would give you a stopover in Bali, but it's a long way around.

 

[Pushka]

Hawaii is what I’m thinking of doing after Alaska.

 

[rock86]

The obvious choices would be hawaii (you could get fares with a one way stopover through either Qantas or Hawaiian Airlines), or Fiji (Fiji Airways). Fiji might be a nice option if you are flying economy... Fiji is close to Australia and you get the long haul out of the way (just four hours home after that). Fiji also has some good hotels with beach clubs for children if you are travelling with them. On line, fiji airways will only take you as far as LAX, so you'd either have to go via a travel agent, or book separate tickets LAX-NYC.

Garuda might also be re-entering the US market soon, that would give you a stopover in Bali, but it's a long way around.

Hawaii is what I’m thinking of doing after Alaska.

We did think Hawaii, but we'll be utilising Oneworld 'RTW' Award and I am yet to see 2 x award tickets from mainland US to Hawaii in my searches. And after reading these forums it would seem that Hawaii award seats are as rare as hens teeth if you don't hold status.

 

[RooFlyer]

If you are coming through the middle east, but don't want to stay in Dubai or Doha, then Oman isn't a bad place to think about. You can have a pure beach/snorkling experience or go inland for a desert experience.

I veged out at the Shangri-La for a few days on my way home and ended my Trip Report about that here (go to post #135)

 

[RB]

Not sure how flights would fit but the south, south-west of Sri Lanka expects good weather around then. Would be pretty budget friendly & is quick to get to these days. Downside would be visa costs

 

[rock86]

If you are coming through the middle east, but don't want to stay in Dubai or Doha, then Oman isn't a bad place to think about. You can have a pure beach/snorkling experience or go inland for a desert experience.

I veged out at the Shangri-La for a few days on my way home and ended my Trip Report about that here (go to post #135)

Hi RooFlyer, I hadn't even considered Oman and I guess naive as whenever I associate the Middle East I associate it with desert!! I will have a look into that and Doha a bit more, done Dubai only last year so would rather try something different this time.

Not sure how flights would fit but the south, south-west of Sri Lanka expects good weather around then. Would be pretty budget friendly & is quick to get to these days. Downside would be visa costs

Will have a look into this also, what places in south-west Sri Lanka are recommended?

I also hadn't considered the Bahamas, not realising it was so close to Miami. I'm going to have a look into Nassau as well. Anyone been to the Bahamas and would recommend?

 

[RB]

Will have a look into this also, what places in south-west Sri Lanka are recommended?

We enjoyed all the places we stayed. The later part of the trip report I did concentrates on the south west-see in my signature

 

[RooFlyer]

I made a short visit to Nassau because I had some spare time while in Nth America on business and the trip report is here: A quick trip to the Bahamas (Atlantis / Nassau)

It was OK but I wouldn't go there as a specific destination unless you are into 'resorts'. If you go to the Bahamas, I'd go to one of the outlying islands. If there is a cruise ship or two in Nassau, the place is a zoo.

But I definitely would recommend Bermuda as a short hop from the US. See here: A RTW study tour, mostly on Star Alliance Its compact, laid back, lots of history, lots of swimming/snorkelling and very pleasant people.

 

[rock86]

I made a short visit to Nassau because I had some spare time while in Nth America on business and the trip report is here: A quick trip to the Bahamas (Atlantis / Nassau)

It was OK but I wouldn't go there as a specific destination unless you are into 'resorts'. If you go to the Bahamas, I'd go to one of the outlying islands. If there is a cruise ship or two in Nassau, the place is a zoo.

But I definitely would recommend Bermuda as a short hop from the US. See here: A RTW study tour, mostly on Star Alliance Its compact, laid back, lots of history, lots of swimming/snorkelling and very pleasant people.

Thanks for that RooFlyer, I will have a read thorough your TR's and research some more. I suppose in respect to Nassau, we'd be looking at a resort type of few days just because we'll be cramming a heap into the fortnight/ish time we're in the US.

All food for thought, we could possibly go back through Asia as well and have a few days say at like Kota Kinabalu - haven't been to Malaysia yet also.