2008 Travel

[omegaet]

Community Members....have you made or are you planning your 2008 travel plans. Regardless of your country of residency, does the buying power of your currency come into play when you are making your decisions?

We recently attended (as guests of a delegate) a cocktail party/mixer for a travel forum held in South Florida. It was interesting to listen to a number of the participants discuss the shift in the travel patterns they were experiencing (i.e. more European and Canadian visitors and longer stays from these visitors). The obvious explanations were the stronger foreign currencies and the actual and perceived value of traveling in the US. There were additional comments regarding many of these travelers using South Florida as an interim way point or extended stop-over in route to South and Central America for the same reasons.

There were also a number of comments noting reductions in travel to European destinations from US residents and more requests for new and less frequented destinations in South and Central America (the assumption being the US Dollar was still strong against these currencies).

On a personal note, our first trip of the year will be to South America (unfortunately, LL had limited and no offering in the area we will visit). We are still evaluating a trip to Europe later in the year (LL does have some interesting destinations, however we would like to see more eastern European choices). Currency valuations are a consideration when we make a decision, but not the final consideration.

Have any of these dynamics come into play with your decisions....or what is driving your decision(s)?

[jashermd]

Hello,

Very interesting thread, O!

I'm sure it's no surprise to LL regulars that my 2008 travels will take me back to Africa (South Africa in May; South Africa and Botswana in July / August; and possibly Tanzania in March or April). The main portion of the Botswana trip was booked over a year and a half ago due to the camps I wanted to stay in, but I'm still adding bits onto it and the others haven't been booked yet. My only other long-haul trips will probably be to the US (for medical conferences and to visit family).

We have a number of three day bank holiday weekends scattered throughout the year, and for those I plan to return to some favourite spots in France and Italy, and hopefully to visit either Istanbul or Marrakech. Two of the holidays fall in May so I'm keeping an eye on LL packages to those destinations (right now a lot of the offers are for the earlier part of the year). I already have Paris booked for Easter (not an LL package unfortunately, as I prefer smaller boutique hotels and the ones on offer are all for the big palace hotels). I'm also considering Jersey, simply because the LL package for The Club looks amazing.

I have to say that I don't think overmuch about the strength or lack thereof of the currency, but then it's not so much of an issue for people in the UK as it is for those in the US. If anything, going on holiday tends to be less expensive than living here -- for the price of an average meal at a mid-level restaurant in London I could eat two meals at a five-star restaurant in Cape Town.

Cheers,
Julian




Message Edited by jashermd on 12-06-2007 07:54 PM

[kyshel]

Happy Holidays, Omegaet and all!
Travel 2008--hmmmmm
Our first planned trip is Brasil--Ariau Towers in March or April. Still working logisitics w/visas, dodging Carnival dates, wet season, etc.
My husband will continue his European airline routes this winter, so I may accompany him a time or two, but with the Euro/dollar "imbalance" it seems smarter to spend $ at LL to Central or South America, or Asia in lieu of eating $7 hot dogs in western Europe!! It's tough for me, because I dislike the cold, but standby seats are more plentiful to Italy after Christmas and I've seen so little of it. Advantage is paid hotel, tho!
I still have to review our Thailand trip--the US/Asia travel time is long, but money goes so far--the level of luxury you get for about half the price in Europe is amazing. Bali is on the short list I would happily see more of Africa, as well. The new preview auctions in Morocco are very enticing!
So, as I like to say...

[claassenam]

What excellent travel plans already posted!

We are still in the mulling-over stages for our 2008 travel. A new job means more limited vacation days (at least in a row - no more taking 3 weeks off at once) so we will likely stick closer to home. If I can ever get my hands on one of those Morgan's Rock, Nicaragua packages that would be excellent. We're going to Mexico in February for a family wedding. I'd love to try a long weekend at some romantic West Coast (USA) hideaway, maybe in Mendocino or San Diego. And on the "dream trip" horizon if we can work out the logistics would be one of the Soneva properties in the Maldives or maybe Nihiwatu in Indonesia. We've done a lot of intense trips lately where we're changing cities or venues every couple days, I guess we're ready for the beach now.

The main thing is, I'm barely thinking Europe these days. I'd love to get back to Paris or Spain or try a new country in Eastern Europe or Russia but I can't afford to travel there in luxury for any length of time the same way I can in Central/South America or Asia.

Can't wait to hear others' plans!

[funtimes]

It is so enjoyable to hear of the LL member trips planned. This group certainly does enjoy travel. I've also started a new job but fortunately the Co is fairly flexible so far. We will be in Arizona through Christmas and early January. Not so exciting but good to see family at a wedding in Cleveland in late Jan we've never been there soI suppose the Rock& Roll hall of fame is a go Yikes Planning a long weekend around Valentines day - destination unknown now. Then Az again in April and our big trip will be to Europe at the end of May and early June - mostly LL trips ...London, Paris, Munich, Salzberg and Bad Gastein. We are really looking forward to this however it will be expensive! It is just our time to travel so...make the most of stretching the dollar when possible. 4th of July will be spent in Virginia - Smith Mountain Lake with family. Another long weekend in mid july destination unknown also So far so good Fun Fun Fun hope to get to the Carribean since we've gone every year for over 20 years! happy travels ...Funtimes

[bonniejoy03]

2008 plans are almost all finished: January to Belize and Guatemala (using Ka'ana LL auction property in Belize.) Visiting Tikal. Yeah. May to Anguilla as usual, September to Virgin Gorda as usual, November to Mustique and/or Anguilla. Sneaking my husband to Washington DC for his 50th Birthday in June. No more vacation time!!! November trip is the only one not officially planned. Yes, my travel plans center around affordability!!!! We hope to travel back to Europe in 2009 to celebrate our 20 year anniversary where we honeymooned. (Yugoslavia.) We will retrace our steps to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Lake Bled (now Slovenia.) Hope the dollar improves if not, it will be an extremely short trip!!!!

[kyshel]

BonnieJoy--Delta is planning to start service to Zagreb this summer. I am extremely interested in Dubrovnik and the region. I think I'll have to pick your brain when the time comes. I just put Bali on the calendar for fall 08--Kupu Kupu Barong combo package. As always, plans change with the wind (or standby flights!) so we'll see! Glad you mentioned Yugoslavia again--I might have forgotten it.

[cruisinred]

Great topic....I love talking about upcoming travel plans.

I am taking my Mom to Marrakech in February to stay at the Riad Kniza.

My husband and hope to do a long weekend in Savannah or Charleston in March.

We're doing a bareboat sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands in June (with 4 kids in tow....)

And then we have 2 weeks set aside for a big trip in September....still deciding on the destination but most likely Southeast Asia...(Sri Lanka, Vietnam and/or Bali).



Happy travels everyone!







PS Santa, if you're reading this, all I'd like for Christmas is an extra 4 weeks vacation at work and a contribution to my vacation fund. Thanks

[bonniejoy03]

Hi Kyshel. Just told my hubby the good news about Delta. We could then fly from our small town to Atlanta and then on to Zagreb. We have been to this region about 5 times during the 80's and 90's. It will be quite fun planning a trip back! In the past, we mixed stayed in small properties and pensione type properties. I am a little concerned about Dubrovnik though. It was never a cruise ship destination and now it is. My friends cruised there (and of course loved it) but said it was overwhelming with people. I think we will probably head to a less touristy beach locale such as Hvar, Sveti Stefan, etc. We really don't enjoy the crowds or day trippers. We haven't been to Bali. I really do need to learn more about the region. Plus, we have never been to any Asian countries......have to put this on the list!!!! I think Vietnam would be a great adventure because it is JUST beginning to open up to tourism.

[disneygal]

Wow, you all have such exciting adventures planned! Please report back! I was influenced a bit by the devalued American dollar when planning a ski trip for the winter. We were considering Canada (either Whistler or Banff), but I couldn't bring myself to pay a premium for one of those destinations. We will be going to visit some friends in Halifax, but that's different.... I booked Squaw Creek (Lake Tahoe) LL "a la carte" for the ski trip. In the spring I'm planning a trip to the Ukraine, with a possible stop in Copenhagen. Still working out the details, and unfortunately no LL offerings in those locations. For later in 2008 I'll have my eyes open for another LL trip, possibly Central or South America. Will have to see what's available for that timeframe. Wishing you all happy holidays and safe travels!