Help me figure out my winter break!

So, my winter break is coming up soon, and I'll *finally* have time to travel! I'm looking to go as far away as possible during my 3 stretches of ~3.5-4.5 days. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I'm the kind of guy that's really content with walking around a city a bit without really doing too much other than taking photos and trying out the local food, maybe an attraction or two. For example, I was considering a trip to HKG Mon-Tues, spending Tues night-Wed in the city, and arriving back Thursday afternoon (the time change works in my favor coming home).

Now, I need to work out destinations. I kind of want to visit as much of a variety of places as possible, preferably within UA's destinations but DL is also an option (I get ID95s on them, but haven't had the 6 months of seniority needed for a ZED). Places I've considered:

Asia:
HKG: Pretty well set on this one. Nonstops to/from ORD that tend to be nicely open on a 747, which is a plane I've wanted to fly on as long as I can remember but haven't had a chance yet. English is an official language according to wikipedia, which helps.

NRT: Possible alternative to HKG just because of the frequency of flights and large city, but I'll probably stick with HKG (there's some kind of appeal to that idea for me)

BAH/KWI/DXB: I'll admit that I don't know a whole lot about any of these cities, but not too many Americans go to this region and I'd like to see what it's all about over there. Seems like there have been some pretty successful nonrev journeys in the past, too.

Europe:
MAD/SVQ: I'd love to go back to SVQ, but probably won't be able to work it in with my lack of IB ZED possibilities and expense of the train (I'm trying to keep each trip relatively cheap). Maybe over Spring/Summer. On the other hand, I haven't been outside the airport at MAD and wouldn't mind checking out the city a bit, and I know the language and love the country.

AMS or BRU: Both cities I've wanted to visit but haven't had a chance to while I was in SVQ for a semester. I'm sure I can find stuff to do/see, it's just a question of if it's the best choice

FRA: I missed Oktoberfest when I was in Spain in favor of a school trip to Portugal, but still wouldn't mind going out here. I might go with a friend (I'll get buddy passes and ZEDs just before the last week of break) and he has a friend staying out there that could probably give us a free place to stay

South of the border:
PVR/CUN: Good beaches, and my knowledge of the language helps a lot. However, outside of the resort areas you kind of have to watch it a bit (and I do enjoy meandering :) ).

SXM: not really a UA option, but might be worth taking a DL ID95 flight. I've really wanted to see Maho Beach, and the weather is bound to be great.

EZE: Probably my preferred option, but it's a little hard to justify the $130 entry fee for US citizens on top of the $60 taxes I'd have to pay for the flight. On the other hand, that entry fee would be good for 10 years.

GIG/GRU: More flight options, though they seem to be a little full at times. Popular destinations, but I don't really speak Portuguese (just Spanish with a bit of a horribly faked accent :P )

Any recommendations? I'm trying to get to one destination in each region, but it doesn't necessarily have to be one of those options if there's an idea that I hadn't thought about. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
-Brian

PS: Also, I'm already going to LAS before Christmas (anyone wanna meet up?) with the girlfriend, but that's pretty well set already. This will be a good break.

I'd say you have a pretty good list there. I always decided my destination by how the flights were, I'd rather go to BCN in J than CDG in Y. Not sure if you ever read my report of my spring break trip in '08 on the old blogs, but I did something like this. MDT-ATL-MXP-ZRH-MUC-TXL-JFK-ATL-DEN-ATL-SXM-ATL-PHL in 6 days. I would go to 3 different continents in 3 trips instead of going the same place 3 times.

I've always wanted to go to HKG, but never got around to it. It looks like a fun city to see. I've been to Tokyo and it was nice, but HKG sounds like it might be a bit better. KWI is super hot, pretty humid, and smells funny. DXB is nice, but I think it's a bit overhyped. I'd like to get to BAH, but not certain exactly what to see/do there.

I'd like to see MAD at some point. I've been to BCN and loved it. I'd like to get to AGP or VLC too. Are you able to get to GIB? That's somewhere else I'd like to go. There are a million places to go in Europe, I'd go with the easiest place to get to in front of the curtain.

South of the border....You should drop everything and get to SXM immediately. I love that place. EZE is a cool place too, but that new reciprocity fee probably would keep me away. GIG/GRU you need to make sure you have your visas...

HKG, MAD, and SXM sounds like an awesome winter break. A bit more exciting than driving to the beach. We're in a pretty sweet industry!

Whatever you do, let us know where you went and how it was!

Hey Brian, gonna get to your msg on HKG in a minute sorry!

In regards to HKG, most people will know english yes, except cab drivers so it's helpful to have stuff written down in Cantonese. If you want better English ability head to SIN :p The only issue with SIN is you gotta go via NRT on UA/DL and that builds some complexities.

I've been to BAH, it was VERY expensive and hot. There really wasn't that much to see, the airport is poky also. Gulfair was interesting but not too bad.

As ColoAvs said, i'd drop everything and go to SXM. It's close, it's easy, it looks awesome. I can't wait to get there.

Otherwise i'd recommend HKG, but you're gonna be tired!

I second HKG!!!
GIG is $140 visa fee and done in advance--90 days lately

EZE might be worth the fee if you'll go enuff times--food and wine are cheap but digs can be high. You can return and see spectacular Iguacu Falls another time or just eat steaks a few times!)

What about Ecuador--it's a pretty HOT destination in the trav mags?

So--HKG--DL has nonstop DTW or the NRT cnx (that's really brutal, but I know you've prob had worse...)
You can get some great room rates--accor has a few places you can use DL discount and the Y hotels are supposedly very GOOD. Food is incredible--transport is cheap--3 day pass:
MTR > Airport Express Services > Airport Express Travel Pass

You WILL be tired but if you do the DTW--3:30 pm arr next day 9pm, the rtn is 10am back same day noon
I just researched new stuff for our trip in Feb and have been once before. Of course, Nick has the skinny on all the details and then some!
Good luck!!
PS--I always vote for Prague or Bud over anywhere else in EU--Boss and I favor them! He does FRA alot--and is there now for 2 trips.

As a side note--DL will fly Palau (pronounced Bell-ow, as in Survivor SHow) soon (no buddy passes) from NRT
not certain of schedule but might be future interest?

I would also go for HKG.
I have been twice and love it!
It is not too expensive, especially compared to other cities on your list. It is easy to get around. They do speak english. There is great food.
I have been to all three of your Middle East options and they are rather boring in my opinion. It will not be too hot at this time of year but will be expensive. The Kuwait Dinar is the highest valued currency in the world. Bahrain is not far behind.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrs767er

I second HKG!!!
PS--I always vote for Prague or Bud

---

What happened to the BUD flight?
I do not see it in the schedule but it does not list it as seasonal..........

Yeah, I'm not too worried about connections to HKG... my station only really does flights to ORD on United Express, and I get free UA flights (ID95 on DL, which I'd like to avoid if possible). From ORD I can get a nonstop to HKG, and loads tend to be very good on that flight.

I've mentally scratched the DXB/KWI/BAH ideas and circled HKG. Now I think it's between PVR and EZE for a southern trip (I haven't crossed the equator yet, would love to do that) and pretty much any of the above European options.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vulindlela

What happened to the BUD flight?
I do not see it in the schedule but it does not list it as seasonal..........

---

It's expected to return next year, but it may not be DL metal or just out of ATL vs NY base? My husband LOVED that rotation!
Great hotel near the Danube and I could get extra trip deals on LL if we wanted to go for fun.

Sorry to morph your thread, spongebue! I forgot BUD is off DL right now.
If you can stretch one of those breaks for 4.5 days, HKG is a winner--just watch out for the feb 3 lunar new year travel

Ha, no worries about the thread morphing. I don't even think I'd have to stretch the break that much with the nonstop option out of ORD... it looks like I can get there at about 18:00 on Tuesday, have all day Wednesday there, and leave again at about 11:00 on Thursday. Thanks to the international date line and everything, I'll be back home at about 16:00 that same Thursday, in time to work my shift at 22:45 with a small nap in between (I'll try to get some sleep on the flight)

Oh, and I also figured that I can probably justify the EZE entry fee IF I don't try for J or F. Starting to focus on that one more, and probably MAD for the Europe trip.

Brian, I would be interested in trying to make one of the trips with you. I work Skywest out of SLC. SWOL mail me at 036233.A quick trip to HKG would be great if it matched up with my days off.Tony

After you cross the equator, you might want to try standing on it. I totally forgot about Quito. Beautiful city, super cheap, very friendly people. You can head up the teleferico to volcan pichincha and watch airplanes land below you. At the airport you can stand at the fence just short of the threshold almost as close as SXM. You can head up north and put one foot on each side of the equator. Not sure if DL still has the daily ATL-UIO, but it's definitely worth going. One of very few places I've returned to

UIO flight still exists but being a 737-700, it is a bear to get on!

All this central/south american talk reminds me of Banged Up Abroad

Our title is slightly different but what a show! There are some incredibly stooooooooooopid people! (very sorry, too)
"Locked Up Abroad"
I expect our young Spongebue will avoid questionable situations....

To be honest, I haven't heard of that. I'm guessing it's something about young Americans getting into trouble that has some pretty bad long-term stuff? Yeah, I should be ok. I just kind of walk around, look at the sights, and do my research on rough areas of cities (my dad is a cop, so that has been drilled into me over my lifetime). If something does happen, I can usually adapt my personality to the type of person I'm talking with and make an effort at Spanish that impresses the vast majority of native speakers (of course, that wouldn't help much in HKG).

Just don't be an idiot like me and tell a waiter in Paris "Gracias"

But yea, as long as you're smart and blend in with local culture and don't wave money around in dark alleys you should be fine pretty much wherever you go

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrs767er

As a side note--DL will fly Palau (pronounced Bell-ow, as in Survivor SHow)
?

---

Sorry, but it's pronounce Pal - ow and it's a great place if you're a diver. some nice places to stay as well.
Cheers......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spongebue

To be honest, I haven't heard of that. I'm guessing it's something about young Americans getting into trouble that has some pretty bad long-term stuff? Yeah, I should be ok. I just kind of walk around, look at the sights, and do my research on rough areas of cities (my dad is a cop, so that has been drilled into me over my lifetime). If something does happen, I can usually adapt my personality to the type of person I'm talking with and make an effort at Spanish that impresses the vast majority of native speakers (of course, that wouldn't help much in HKG).

---

I haven't seen an actual episode with young Americans--just the BBC based one--really rough stuff--"easy" smuggling jobs botched and ending up in horrid prisons. Joran Van der Sloot has so much to look forward to prison in Peru...
Sing it, Sponguebue, "So, be good, for goodness' sake!!"

interesting since the Palau website tells me otherwise. The P is a B sound, as it was explained to me in an email from one of the properties I contacted.
Kinda like Nandi? or Benga for Beqa Island?
Don't try to order a pizza in some countries--you won't get it unless you order a bizza.
Other than that--how did you like and where did you stay? Was it a long time ago? Details would be appreciated!

Quick update, for those interested: went to LAS with the lady this past week for a short trip, made all flights as planned. Also got F DEN-LAS, since it was my 100th ever commercial flight and I figured it'd be fun to try that out for something different (haven't been in F before). Now, I'm planning on going to HKG Mon-Thurs for a quick trip. After I get back I'll have my probation review (standard thing for new hires at OO) which I think I'll get through, but I'm not 100% sure on that (rather not get into that, though). After that, I'll take things one step at a time, probably going to DEN for training 1/10-14 if that counts.

99 Y flights before a single flight up front?? Domestic isn't all that incredible, but it is cool to be up front. Now, 14 hours across the Pacific F and J are amazing, and a complete contrast to Y(I'm on a confirmed tkt to NRT in a couple hours, and being that it was booked very last minute I'm in the back of the bus with no seat assigned yet). Hope you get to HKG, and up front. And yes, traveling for work counts too. Try to get to a Colorado Avalanche game(ColoAvs) :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spongebue

Quick update, for those interested: went to LAS with the lady this past week for a short trip, made all flights as planned.

---

But the question remains, how was the $1.99 shrimp cocktail? LOL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ColoAvs19

99 Y flights before a single flight up front??

---

That is rough......but he was with NW before and we had to pay to upgrade there.

I had 40 DL flights this year and was upgraded 22 times...........

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vulindlela

That is rough......but he was with NW before and we had to pay to upgrade there.

I had 40 DL flights this year and was upgraded 22 times...........

---

And how many domestic AC didn't even offer First Class? Good grief--I can barely get up front on domestic MD88's w/23 yrs seniority. depends on the route, date, AC etc...

I had almost 90 and was upgraded 20 times(probably half of those on CR7/9). I'm that stuck up platinum medallion taking all the domestic upgrades! I'd definitely trade them all for a few rides in BizElite, though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ColoAvs19

I had almost 90 and was upgraded 20 times(probably half of those on CR7/9). I'm that stuck up platinum medallion taking all the domestic upgrades! I'd definitely trade them all for a few rides in BizElite, though.

---

YOU'RE the one who got MY seat? (and my free bloody mary!!!) hahaha

I'm currently hoarding miles for future use for retiree/upgrade on rev tkts. I've been using skymilesshopping.com to buy almost every item we can mail order--and putting it all on Amex for the extra ones. Boss just got me a new computer--one with serious memory and GUTS!

Hey Brian did you make HKG or not?

Nah, bit of a schedule issue on that. Plus, the loads getting there were a little questionable. I went to YUL for a night instead during that stretch. I was going to make a day trip to ORD today, but I think I got a cold last week that I'd like to recover from so I decided against that. I also took a couple shifts today so I have some leverage when trying to get some shifts covered later on.

For now, we've had temperatures around 15°F for a while and some snow showers. My girlfriend and I decided we don't like that, and because she isn't able to travel internationally (still under her parent's rule a bit and they don't want that for some reason, sadly) we're going to HNL a week from today. Not so bad either, I suppose :)

I might try for HKG 2 weeks from now, though. Are you still planning on going then, Nick? I should be there around 17:30 on 18DEC if so, but the loads are looking a little full given how far away the flight is. NRT and MAD look pretty good, though.

We'll be in HKG 27th, just in case you end up going later. Our nonstop loads from DTW are WIDE OPEN. We get to stay thru Chinese New year too, home on 4 or 5 Feb. I'll send email on PM if you're there same time.

Yeah, my semester starts on the 24th, and I have a lot of shifts I'd need covered on the weekends, so those times are pretty much out. I also forgot that there's a station meeting on 19 Jan, so that could be a major road block if my manager won't work around that :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrs767er

And how many domestic AC didn't even offer First Class? Good grief--I can barely get up front on domestic MD88's w/23 yrs seniority. depends on the route, date, AC etc...

---

Yeah, but I travel like ColoAvs does.
I never HAVE to be anywhere. I go where open planes go. I will inconvenience myself with an odd route just to have a better shot at first.
So far in 2011, I have 8 flights and 5 have been up front.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vulindlela

Yeah, but I travel like ColoAvs does.
I never HAVE to be anywhere. I go where open planes go. I will inconvenience myself with an odd route just to have a better shot at first.
So far in 2011, I have 8 flights and 5 have been up front.

---

EXACTLY....ATL-PHX-SLC to catch the SLC-CDG up front is alot better than ATL-CDG in Y...or ATL-BCN in J is alot better than ATL-CDG in Y. I'm really craving an Int'l J flight lately, haven't had one in over a year