Getting to HNL or anywhere really

[laffer]

So as is my way, I have left booking a break away from the mad house til the last minute. I decided the other day that I needed to get away fo a week or so. I was looking at HNL but found the flights crazy (2k) on Deathstar. Do people generally think it is cheaper to fly to the US and then come back to HNL?

Anyway, it does not have to HNL so if ny of you FF gurus are aware of any last minute specials to somewhere nice (pref with a beach) then feel free to post here. Looking to go at the end of Sept (so yes, it is that last minute).

The O/H is saying we should consider Oz? What do you reckon about nice places to relax and unwind?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Fiji is the cheapest international destination with nice resorts to unwind.

Hnl is nice but it's generally the same price as mainland USA. Same goes for points redemptions

Closer to home... Central to northern coast nsw? Whitsundays? Port Douglas? Broome? Plenty of options !


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[BensAdventures]

My favourite place to unwind is still Chiang Mai in Thailand! No beach, but just so chilled. Cheap return to Bangkok, then AirAsia to Chiang Mai, perfect! AirAsia in Thailand was surprisingly good.

Whitsundays are fantastic too! Recently hired a house on Hamilton Island, magic!

 

[laffer]

My favourite place to unwind is still Chiang Mai in Thailand! No beach, but just so chilled. Cheap return to Bangkok, then AirAsia to Chiang Mai, perfect! AirAsia in Thailand was surprisingly good.

Whitsundays are fantastic too! Recently hired a house on Hamilton Island, magic!

Was thinking about Hua Hin as an option.

Its funny, I can get to BKK for about 1000 but a trip to Cairns will set me back close to $800. Tourism in Oz must really struggle.

 

[Alanslegal]

Its a bit more expensive but thought about heading to the Maldives? Fly SQ for around $1,600 pp from the east coast of Oz.

 

[laffer]

Thanks for the tips all!

Can get to LA for $1500 (not bad considering the late notice) and could possibly hire a car and take it down to San Diego. Anyone ever stayed around there? OH has a preference for Hyatt properties.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What about Vietnam? Not sure what city you're in but JQ fly SYD via DRW to SGN or you could fly QF or JQ from your city & connect in DRW.
We stayed in Mui Ne (pronounced Moo Nay) which is on the coast about 5 hours drive from SGN which is apparently the kite boarding capital of SE Asia. It seems to attract lots of tourist from South Korea & Russia as there are many advertising billboards in these languages.

Our hotel was called the Canary Resort which was about USD40.00 per night including breakfast in March 2009. A slightly nicer hotel to stay at if we went again would be the Saigon Mui Ne Resort. There is a great French restaurant called Chaseur Blanc which has great food - about USD25.00 total for two which included a glass of house white each.

Another place is Vietnam which is becoming more popular is Phu Quoc which is an island in the Gulf of Thailand & by all accounts is very reasonable. You'd probably still be at the tail end of the wet season though.

Remember you need a visa for Vietnam & 6 months validity on your passport also so you'd need to get cracking.

Another option would be to combine two destinations eg maybe get a cheap one way fare to DRW & have a couple of nights there & either take JQ to Asia or you could book AirAsia (QZ) & go to Bali or beyond as they have good onward connections - if you don't mind an 0445 departure. :shock:

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I've been trying to book a trip to Thailand, also last minute.

FYI Emirates SYD-BKK direct is $881 rtn for random dates over the next few weeks which is the best you will do (trust me I've put in the hours).

Thailand is my choice because it is easy, no hassles, cheap massages daily, nice beaches, nice people, etc.

In saying this flights to Asia have risen about 20% so it is getting harder to be spontaneous (I'm always booking last minute). Many flights to Asia are the same price as USA or even Europe - crazy!

PS. I have woken up to JQ's fare pricing strategy: offer 'sale' fares 4-6 months in advance for about cost price and make money from add-ons (baggage/food/etc) and price fares similar to or in excess of mainline carriers for spontaneous folks like me AND still charge for extras.

 

[straitman]

Thanks for the tips all!

Can get to LA for $1500 (not bad considering the late notice) and could possibly hire a car and take it down to San Diego. Anyone ever stayed around there? OH has a preference for Hyatt properties.

You can get to Fiji and return in J for that sort of money :!: