Yank needs travel advice

[ncp]

I have a 2 for 1 coupon on British Airways that will expire in the first week in May. The terms allow me to use frequent flier miles (avios is what they are calling their miles/points now). So, for example, I can fly Los Angeles to London roundtrip for 50,000 points...for two of us. Straight to Paris, for two of us, 58,000, etc. Very reasonable!!!

I did a quick trip (11 days) back in 2001 which was Paris/Rome/Florence but, obviously, I need to see other places. Based on weather, proximity to attractions, etc., where would you go between now and early May?

I haven't had any good reason to head over but it seems stupid to let this coupon go to waste (and, yes, I need to be one of the two travelers so I can't sell it). I surf, dive, hike, and ski (but skiing seems like a bit of a hassle).

[spartacus]

That's a nice position to be in. Everyone will have their own taste for a trip to Europe, in terms of sight-seeing, culture, food, and activities. If it were me, then a week in Norway, Denmark and Sweden would be great. Scenery should be fantastic. Temperature wise it may still be chilly. Opportunity to do diving, surfing and fishing.

Facts about the Kingdom of Norway - Official Travel Guide to Norway - visitnorway.com

[treerat]

What's your restriction on location? Seeing you dive can you get to Egypt or perhaps Bali? Both have lovely diving and top side attractions.

If in Europe only Cyprus has some great wrecks, Plymouth will be great diving in May as will Weymouth for UK wrecks and reefs.

You could tie this up with some walking in the UK, Lake District or Dartmoor are two good options.

Again if you can get there Malta offers great diving as well

[ncp]

Originally Posted by spartacus

If it were me, then a week in Norway, Denmark and Sweden would be great. Temperature wise it may still be chilly. Opportunity to do diving, surfing and fishing.

Finland,Sweden, and Norway are on the list but think April still might be a bit cold for most hiking and watersports.

Originally Posted by treerat

What's your restriction on location?

As far as my miles will take me (and I have plenty).

Originally Posted by treerat

Seeing you dive can you get to Egypt or perhaps Bali? Both have lovely diving and top side attractions.

Egypt...is it safe right now as an American? (just going off what our media tells us) Bali...probably too far as I would have to fly Los Angeles-->London-->Asia

Originally Posted by treerat

If in Europe only Cyprus has some great wrecks, Plymouth will be great diving in May as will Weymouth for UK wrecks and reefs.

You could tie this up with some walking in the UK, Lake District or Dartmoor are two good options.

This may be a good idea as they will let me do a multiple day layover in London on the same ticket.

Originally Posted by treerat

Again if you can get there Malta offers great diving as well

Sadly, It doesn't look like I can get to Malta as it's a codeshare flight. I got really excited once I started researching it!

I'm going to keep brainstorming!

[John Kennett]

How about Valencia in March for Fallas?

http://www.donquijote.org/culture/sp...las-fallas.asp

[John Kennett]

Or see if anyone has spare seats for the Easdale Rib Rendezvous in Scotland?

http://www.rib.net/forum/f18/easdale...3-a-52524.html

[treerat]

Originally Posted by ncp

Egypt...is it safe right now as an American? (just going off what our media tells us)

The main resorts of Sharm, Luxur and Hurgada are safe as houses, when I was out there last year we asked about the strife and was told as its the tourist area they'll not touch it - they Country needs the cash tourists inject.

Siva Grad Hotel in Hurgada is a good resort and dive with Diamond Red Sea, I'm happy to ping them an introduction for you

Originally Posted by ncp

Bali...probably too far as I would have to fly Los Angeles-->London-->Asia

Shame as it's lovely diving, I guess the whole of this area is out of scope? Thailand, Silawise etc? Don't write off Fiji. Had some great diving there and flew direct from LA

Originally Posted by ncp

I'm going to keep brainstorming!

Good luck. Google the Zenobia if you like wrecks and book with Alpha Divers - Chris is a great guy.

[willk]

Originally Posted by treerat

The main resorts of Sharm, Luxur and Hurgada are safe as houses, when I was out there last year we asked about the strife and was told as its the tourist area they'll not touch it - they Country needs the cash tourists inject.

I've visited both Sharm and Hurgada a number of times in the 90s. The diving was good but even coming from where I do , I felt that the security presence was very high. That didn't make me feel safe, quite the opposite - I assumed that they felt there was a need for it! The part that worries me is that in certain trouble spots around the world, tourists are just accidental victims, but in that region, they're the specific target.

The threat level has just been raised, BTW

[Chris Caton]

or there's the Round Anglesey Cruise end of April, I'm sure we can find a couple of spare sets amongst us

http://www.rib.net/forum/f18/round-a...3-a-52316.html

[treerat]

Originally Posted by willk

I've visited both Sharm and Hurgada a number of times in the 90s. The diving was good but even coming from where I do , I felt that the security presence was very high. That didn't make me feel safe, quite the opposite - I assumed that they felt there was a need for it! The part that worries me is that in certain trouble spots around the world, tourists are just accidental victims, but in that region, they're the specific target.

The threat level has just been raised, BTW

When there last year the security was very low key, there but as we only went off resort to dive never felt it intruded.

The change in the threat level is another thing -Eqypt is off the list in my book

[Zippy]

without wanting to sound negative, would suggest you check with BA as to what flights they have avaliable to use those flights on.

We get the companion vouchers through our amex cards (usually 2 per year) and its always a struggle to find flights to use them on. Generally flights to and from US are ok if looking for world traveller but elsewhere or in any of the premium cabins, avalibility is very restricted.

Trying to use them for some flights to Sydney and seats are rare as hens teeth!

[EnglishLes]

[QUOTE=ncp;513469]

Egypt...is it safe right now as an American? (just going off what our media tells us)

/QUOTE]

Being safe is a comparative measure. Have you heard about the guy who starting sleeping on the floor after he heard that most people died in bed!

I used to go paragliding, I always thought that the car trip there and back was far more dangerous than the actual flying.

The media will NEVER have a headline 10,000 Americans have a holiday in Egypt all survive uninjured.

Being a diver is surely more risky than any problems caused by civil unrest.

I was in Egypt in March 2011 (just after the Arab spring) tour buses had armed guards (pistols and bigger things), armoured mobile guns all over the place, felt perfectly safe and never saw any problems.

Choose the place you want to go based on what's there for you and not what you think could happen.

Just my two cents worth.

[willk]

Originally Posted by EnglishLes

I was in Egypt in March 2011 (just after the Arab spring) tour buses had armed guards (pistols and bigger things), armoured mobile guns all over the place, felt perfectly safe and never saw any problems.

Just packing your bags for Syria then?

[bingosucks]

i was in sharm a couple of years ago ,it cannot be classed as egypt no visa neccessary (though you might for the national park) we went to a bedouin evening and were well guarded i asked why did everyone have machine guns and was told `bandits want to sell you to al queda` wot ffs ..some seriously gorgeous fish there go before the russians destroy it. most resorts are gated with armed security with dive clubs on the beach. but would have to say bude is a great place to visit in the uk

[treerat]

Originally Posted by bingosucks

but would have to say Bude is a great place to visit in the uk

It is, with some great diving on the doorstep with the back up of Plymouth only an hour away.

Weather can be tricky, but if you're happy to surf if there is no diving or hill walk (Dartmoor) if the sea is just horrid than it can be great

[bingosucks]

bude is located in cornwall about a 5 hour drive from london,i`m sure treerat could sort out some diving and surfing ,tintagel and newquay would be a must too. most brits stay away from london as a holiday destination ,weymouth ,isle of wight,woolacombe ,bude and newquay are very notable destinations on the s coast ,i have seen lots of german and dutch tourists visiting due to the exchange rate... wales is very picturesque too anglessey is about a 4 hour drive away some good surfing too, if it was night life you were after a visit to liverpool could be added to your welsh trip fairly easily or you could head a bit further north and take in `the lake district` scenery is simply breathtaking..any journey north could be broken up with a visit to birmingham which is very nice around the canal district. don`t believe all you hear about the u.k ,good food and cold beer are fairly easy to find however a dry day is like rocking horse sh...oh and the locals ,can be friendly too even to a yank

[ncp]

Originally Posted by Zippy

without wanting to sound negative, would suggest you check with BA as to what flights they have avaliable to use those flights on.

We get the companion vouchers through our amex cards (usually 2 per year) and its always a struggle to find flights to use them on. Generally flights to and from US are ok if looking for world traveller but elsewhere or in any of the premium cabins, avalibility is very restricted.

Trying to use them for some flights to Sydney and seats are rare as hens teeth!

You are correct.

I've done some research (need to do a bit more and get on the phone with them). USA--> is the bottleneck with redemption. I can get business to London and economy on the way home. I was really hoping to be able to get them for a free 1st Class ticket but there are only one or two available....next Nov/Dec!

So, instead of the goal being 2 for 1 2st class, it might be 2 for 1 business or economy and travel further to get the most out of this!