Help Please! New parents and only 4 months left to travel non-rev

**Mommabee** · 03-Sep-2014, 01:47 AM

Hello all! I'm new here. This site is so informative! My daughter was recently hired by Delta Community Credit Union here in Atlanta. When she was hired she was told that the Credit Union will be splitting from Delta in January 2015. Therefore, she and of course we as parents, will lose flight privileges at that time. So, my hubby and I have 4 months to live it up...so to speak

. We have a trip planned to Paris & Rome at the end of this month. This would be our first time to Europe and it's been a dream destination of ours'. So we hope all goes well and as planned. We are also trying to do a couple of weekend domestic getaways. But my DH also has time off around Thanksgiving and we would love to take another trip at around that time but we don't know where to go. I know that is a tricky time to travel. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We would like to do something with a flight time of 8-10 hours or less each way. We can leave on Thursday (11/27) or Friday and return on Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

**mrs767er** · 03-Sep-2014, 02:01 AM

Departing on TGDay is usually a good option w/return on Wed after.
Interests? Budget, moderate or splurge? ATL offers lots of options.

**Mommabee** · 03-Sep-2014, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by mrs767er

Departing on TGDay is usually a good option w/return on Wed after.
Interests? Budget, moderate or splurge? ATL offers lots of options.

**Mommabee** · 03-Sep-2014, 02:21 AM

Definitely budget. These travel were not even in the picture a couple of months ago. So we are open to type of trip. We thought about Alaska but November may not be the best time to go. We like mountain vacations but also enjoy the Caribbean and Mexico....really liked Cabo. Even open to Central or S. America. I know I'm all over the place.

**29palms** · 03-Sep-2014, 07:48 AM

You like mountain trips? Lots of mountains to go around in Central America. El Salvador is a nice mountainous place with neat restaurants up on the top of these mountains overlooking San Salvador for instance. Also, NEW MEXICO is very nice and mountainous. Try RUIDOSO. Not expensive at all and close by, a nice casino called "Inn of the Mountain of the Gods". Albuquerque is nice too. Inexpensive. You can rent a car, ride up to Santa Fe even Taos. All mountains and very nice. Casino's all over New Mexico on Indian land. Not many travelers there as in say Denver. Anchorage is beautiful for mountains, but I don't think November is good to go there. Mexico has a lot of mountains. In fact, Mexico City is basically on top of a mountain. Elevation from 8-10 thousand feet. Texas has no mountains. (Except west Texas out by El Paso.) Kind of lame being all flat, no character, just heat and big cities. I like to getaway to mountain places myself.

Europe is great. I like southern Spain in ANDALUSIA area, where the bullfighting and Flamenco dancing and what you think of "REAL" Spain is like.

**Mommabee** · 03-Sep-2014, 08:01 AM

Great suggestions 29palms! Thank you! We would probably enjoy any of those places. We did talk about Texas too for a weekend getaway. What do you think about San Antonio? In C. America, what do you think about Costa Rica? Do you think we would have any problems with the flights traveling there or to any of the destinations you mentioned around Thanksgiving? Also thought about Brazil. Sorry.....Lots of places running around my head

**Migflanker** · 03-Sep-2014, 10:34 AM

Welcome aboard MMbee, and welcome to the nerve racking world of non-rev travel.
You have definitely landed in the right place

For a first trip
Familiarize yourself with your airline travel rules and policies
Be flexible - Tue/Wed and holidays are usually the best travel days and the first /early flights usually give you your best shot.
Plan meticulously and always have backups - a plan A, B, C
Don’t check a bag- carry-on only. It will give you the flexibility to make a last minute dash.
Dress for success- business casual.
Never leave the gate until pushback (because you never know).
Never argue with on-duty staff.
Expect a curve - delays, diversions, weather, all can throw your trip for a loop -
Have A “What If “ Plan - Remember your bags are packed, you’re already at the airport and it’s always sunny somewhere.
Expect the middle seat and expect to seat separately.
Put a copy of the non-rev prayer http://nonrev.net/open-discussion/17...vs-prayer.html in your carry-on and repeat it on your way to the airport.
And finally relax , it’ll be fun.
Enjoy, you’re going to have a great four months of travel.

**Mommabee** · 03-Sep-2014, 12:02 PM

I love the Non-rev's prayer!

Thanks so much for all the great tips! I'm getting prepared for the adventure. Of course I will continue to peruse this wonderful site for all of your generous tips and ideas. Wish I could give some in return. But after 4 months...who knows?

"Thank you" to all you veterans for sharing!

**29palms** · 03-Sep-2014, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by Mommabee

Great suggestions 29palms! Thank you! We would probably enjoy any of those places. We did talk about Texas too for a weekend getaway. What do you think about San Antonio? In C. America, what do you think about Costa Rica? Do you think we would have any problems with the flights traveling there or to any of the destinations you mentioned around Thanksgiving? Also thought about Brazil. Sorry.....Lots of places running around my head

San Antonio if you've never been there is GREAT! Gotta check out the river walk for sure. I would wait till it cools down a bit. Maybe end of September on. I could sit here all day long and tell you about San Antonio, but if you've never been there, you are missing the boat. It's cheap and LOTS to do there.

Costa Rica is GREAT too. I was first there in 1974 so things have changed drastically since, but its still a very neat place. It's nice and cool in San Jose at night, breezy in the day time, far more pleasant then the coastal areas. Pubic transportation is cheap, easy to get around. Go see VOLCAN POAS, which is the closest volcano to San Jose. Airport is in ALAJUELA which is some 12 miles to San Jose, and its closer to see the volcano from the AIRPORT since going to San Jose is the other way. Costa Rica has some neat looking markets and you really feel you are in a typical Central American town. Tropical juices, fruits and seafood all great. I don't think you would have problems flying there aside the weekends. Especially around now. Lots of European backpackers there. They go for that ECOTOURISM thing. Coffe is super.

Brazil, kind of stopped in Sao Paulo a few years back when I went to Argentina. It's very crowded build up. But you can find a lot of fun there and much to do there. I didn't check out anything outside of a mall and the hotel we stayed two nights. Mall had all these restaurants and lots of walking around. Kind of stayed in the general area. The food alone in Argentina and Brazil is reason enough to go there I think.

**29palms** · 03-Sep-2014, 03:32 PM

You gotta check out ROSTIPOLLO in ALAJUELA Costa Rica when you come in. Just take a cab, maybe 2 minute ride. All these hotels there too and a casino. You can spend the night there and go to San Jose by bus for a buck and a half.

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