Where do you holiday?

[HighFlyer]

Just out of curiosity, where do all our V Flyers go on holiday? and do you try to go to places on the VS routes?

Some people seem to go back to the same places each year, others try different places. Which are you ?

Im not fortunate enough to travel for work, so all my flying is purely for leisure, which sometimes makes me quite amazed that im a Silver member! I love going to Orlando, US City Breaks and the Carribean, so VS is great for me, although sadly, i will be taking in a few other airlines next year as VS havent made it to DBX and MRU.

I quite fancy trying DEL some time too, anyone been? Cant get my partner interested though, somehow, seeing the Taj Mahal doesnt appeal to him

So where do you all go for you hols then?

Florida one year, then a skiing resort (vermont, NH, Colorado etc..) the alternate year, plus a week in Spain, just to relax and drink lots of San Miguel

I'd recommend DEL and northern India generally, although it does take a certain mindset to be prepared for it.

I don't limit my travel to VS routes, but they are certainly my carrier of choice if they fly where I'm going. I'd probably go as far as using them to get part way on a journey and then connect to another carrier, if this was vaguelt sensible.

Have done both East and West-coast USA recently. A couple of years ago I went to Bhutan (via DEL on VS) which was stunning. Am hoping to manage to see more of Europe, and both Egypt and Uzbekistan look interesting. I struggle between the desire to go back to places I've enjoyed, the wish to see lots of new places, and th elimits of my budget and leave allowance.

[Nottingham Nick]

My flying is also purely leisure flying. I try to make at least three annual trips, at least one of which has been to Fla. for the past few years. Three trips is the minimum for retaining silver and I have to make use of the tier points awarded by partner airlines like Am West and Gulf Air.

I am also a big fan of Boston and New England plus, of course, the best city in the world - Las Vegas. :D

We have the silly idea of visiting every state in the USA, we have been travelling since 1984 and only have seven left to go - five on the mainland and then Alaska and Hawaii. We have flown to every US destination VS serve, plus Chicago which unfortunately is a thing of the past.

We did DXB last year and really enjoyed it. A great place for some R&R in the sun.

Nick

[mitchja]

Here goes (in no particular order):

VS Destinations

Florida (Orlando, The Keys (Key west + Key Largo), Marco Island, Sarasota, St Pete's) - had various 2 week holidays here usually a 2 or 3 centre fly into MCO and out of MIA - there's so much more to Florida than just Orlando!!!!

NYC - had 2 long weekends there with another this coming Septmeber - fly into JFK

San Francisco - had 2 seperate 1 week stays here (and loved every single minute of them both) with a detour to Vegas as well, also did Yosemite (now that place is amazing!!!!)

Los Angeles - did that a few years ago - sorry but was nothing special except for the 3 day trip to Grand Canyon which was breath taking

Boston - had a long weekend here too - very nice it was too - highly recommended!!!

Barbados - the first year VH launched the Caribbean, was supposed to be on VS but they did not get the licence in time and ended up flying BA of all people.

Toronto - got a really cheap PE ticket here a couple of days after VS launched this now sadly cancelled route. That was where I discovered Upper Class - I payed to upgrade on the way back....you know the rest!!!

Non-VS Destinations

Sydney/Ayres Rock/Cairns - all I can say is WOW, after putting up with a BA flight in econ. with over night stop-overs in SIN going and HKG coming back (Qantas too coming back - much better), it was SO worth it when I got there though. Bridge climb in SYD, Ayres Rock and diving on the Great Barrier Reef...WOW WOW WOW that was still my best ever holiday so far.

Diving holiday to Maldives this coming November flying with Qatar Airways (booked via VH)

If I can I usually have a long weekend somewhere then a 2 week holiday. Some places I like to go back to, others I dont. I prefer city breaks to resort holidays though.

Just had to re-new my passport to no stamps any more [V]

Regards

Edit - I forgot YYZ

My place I seem to return back to again and again are:

New York (sometimes business, sometimes pleasure)
Orlando
Northern California, SF
Benidorm (its simple, its British, its sunny and cheap - I feel no guilt!)
I also recommend Green Tortoise, they're trips across the USA and to Central America on converted Greyhound buses, you sleep as they driving top to toe or out under the stars. Done two now, coast to coast and one in Costa Rica. Really good fun but you have to be a people person to enjoy them.

Going to Hong Kong later this year and thats opened me up to wanting to see more of the East now, Japan, Oz and still might do that SIN-KUL miles run one day...

Dean

Mitchja, I don't fancy LA either. Maybe its because I don't drive.
And the Grand Canyon is fab, nothing prepares you for it.

If I can't fly VS, which I normally do, I'll try and get a partner airline..

Dean

These days, you can usually find me in California for my holidays. I have some great friends up in Napa and spend 10 days - 2 weeks with them

VS aren't so much a decision factor for this route - it's rather a bonus that I can use such a great airline to travel somewhere I really enjoy going to That said, VS routing would be a major factor if I decide to go somewhere else!

Although I do miss going to different destinations, I'm sad to say that I think I've sort of graduated from the week long package p*&&-up with the lads (although I still try to fit one week in now & again )

Cheers

Michael

[buns]

I suppose my most frequent destination is Orlando - albeit that Mrs Buns and I then make tracks for the Gulf Coast (roll on the day when VS go direct to Tampa.

Like Nottingham Nick, travel is for lesuire but ensuring the tier points are maintained so occasional forays to Las Vegas New York and Los Angeles.

buns

the place where I really would like to go back to is naples, on the gulf coast of FL, although I'm going to SFO on friday, and I ain't got a clue what I'm gonna do while I'm there.

I am really hooked on this forum !

My travel with family is Orlando & Barbados (no more babies on the floor) and I go to Vegas every year with the boys.

I am trying to learn all the airport codes and will catch up soon - promise !

I now find myself deciding to go for Gold so I need three more UC flights within the year (i think ?) - Orlando / Vegas / and one other or I may fly on business anyone recommend a good holiday for a long weekend on Virgin route (other than New York)

The Cat and the Kitten are lucky enough to do a RTW every other year, last time with VS/SQ/NZ, time before that with BA/AA, and next time with *Alliance in Feb 05. We always route differently, but tend to go for a mixture of cities (SFO being the favourite, but also SAN, HKG, SYD etc.) and the outdoors (Mexico, Patagonia, Tasmania, NZ South Island and so on). Next time it will be UA to Costa Rica and Belize, and then on via SFO to AKL and back via SIN. Probably. In any case a RTW is a great solution for packing stuff in and gettig relatively cheap flights. You have to make sure you don't spend too long flying though, and you really do need 3 weeks at a minimum.

The availability of VS flights tends to incentivise us more on shorter holidays: our annual Carribean holidays are usually via ANU for this reason, and the ease of the overnight flight usually means CPT/JNB at least once a year for a long weekend.

I'd encourage anyone to go to DEL just to experience a very different culture from the west (I went to India for a few weeks a while back and covered Delhi and Rajasthan), it's also possible to do it as part of a RTW if you have time.

My travel for work is on and off (used to be a lot of RSA/US). The only VS flights I haven't done are the China and Japan ones... so little time, so many places!

BC

quote:Originally posted by Blythy
although I'm going to SFO on friday, and I ain't got a clue what I'm gonna do while I'm there.

Here's some sites that might help you out:
http://www.sallys-place.com/travel/san_francisco/p_things_menu.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60713-Activities-San_Francisco_California.html
http://www.ego.net/us/ca/sf/ttd/default.asp

If you're there til 21st/22nd July, the Giants are at home v San Diego Padres those two nights if you fancied taking in a baseball game - see http://www.sfgiants.com

Eating wise, several restaurants are mentioned in this thread.

HTH

Cheers

Michael

quote:Originally posted by milan marcus
I am really hooked on this forum !

I now find myself deciding to go for Gold so I need three more UC flights within the year (i think ?) - Orlando / Vegas / and one other or I may fly on business anyone recommend a good holiday for a long weekend on Virgin route (other than New York)

I would reccommend Boston, lots of shops, bars, restarants and you can walk around the city, most residents do. We have been there once and enjoyed our day there and will be going back next year. Some others can fill you in more

cheers michael

[HighFlyer]

Wow, great replies guys!

I really want to do the RTW trip sometime, we keep putting it off but dare say we must take the plunge!

I have had plenty of 'beach' holidays this year so we are putting those on the back burner for a few years and are going to concentrate on a few more City breaks and a nice trip to JNB/CPT later in the year. I also want to see some of Asia and the far east, HGK, KUL, SIN etc are all future trips in my book.

Im glad that DEL has had some good reviews from peeps here, although i still dont see myself being able to drag the other half there

I too vote for BOS and NYC for weekend trips, short flight times and you can see most of it on foot (or short cab rides) I walked most of MYC on my last trip there, purely because there are so many small shops and cafes on the main roads.

All our trips are leisure, used to like a week in the sun mostly Barbados or St Lucia but now I cannot get away from work for that long so all are now 3/4 day weekend/Bank holiday trips.Last 12 months we have been to Hong Kong, San Francisco, Boston,Washington DC,Hong Kong again,New York,(all VS)Lisbon,Seattle(BA)Booked for later this year, Boston,LA not booked but on the cards Boston again and Tokyo(all VS).I would love to do 5 weeks watching The British Lions In NZ next year,Did it 11 years ago and it was fantastic.

[Bazz]

We only fly for leisure on personal bucks and try to take a break every three months. This can be a couple of nights (New York this October) or a couple of weeks (SoCal this September). We have family in SoCal so have spent much time there over the last twenty years and love the place. This year we will have been to the US four times . Always fly VS if they service our destination (or one nearby )

We like to do the Carribean once per year and are working our way through the islands having been to St Lucia, Cuba, Barbados, Mexico (not an island, I know) and the Bahamas (not in the Carribean, I know) we would have gone to Antigua next year but for VS inaugural flight to NAS.

Other places we like are SFO , LAS [8D] (two of my most favourite cities along with NYC and London), Hong Kong, Tenerife, and many more.

We would love to do a RTW but as BC says you really do need a minimum of three weeks and it is difficult for me to leave our business for that long, so no RTW in the near future for us [:(]

I go to New York every year, for the past five years. I never tire of the place! I always manage to sneak in another long haul trip as well, usually exploring the West Coast of the USA or to Hong Kong. For the ultimate trip I can see a RTW looming on the horizon though

Its good to hear so many people like lots of holidays each year. I'd rather save for these than go out and spend shed loads every weekend on alcohol. Saying that I've just found a pub in town that does Westons Old rosie by the pint. Yum Yum.

One question though, what does everybody see in Boston, everyone I know who has been loves the place, but three of us went a few years back and was thoroughly unimpressed. Think our reason was that we had already been to New York, Toronto and PTown previous so it had nothing new to offer. And the people were miserable. Sorry to diss the place but it really didn't work for me.

New york on the other hand...

Dean

Thought I'd kick this topic up again!

Asia is a popular destination for me, got a trip to HKG planned in Jan, with a side order of Beijing, Singapore (shopping again!), and Macau - all in 2 weeks

States is fantastic, NYC and SFO are my two favourite places, though I'd like to go to Chicago, Boston, Toronto and (again) to Vancouver. Not been to South America or Africa - there's still time left for them.

Helsinki was really good (understandably cold in December) so perhaps Stockholm and Copenhagen are in order too!

Cheers,

Sahajesh

I manage to travel quite a bit for work, unfortunately not anywhere exotic!! Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Brussels, Phoenix, Athens.

For leisure...well I own a Vacation Home in Orlando so no guessing where I spend most of my time:D

I have friends in NYC so try and fly down to MCO via JFK and spend a few days there. I also have friends in New England so try to make it over there too via BOS sometimes. In the past I've done the Caribbean, Barbados, Antigua, Aruba (loved Aruba...that was a freebie with KLM Miles, makes it even better when its free:D:D).

But at the end of the day I like Florida so thats why I bought a Villa and now return there at least 4 times a year. Although a lot of time is spent there doing odd jobs ready for our rental guests!!

Matt

Matt,

Just looked up your villa on the net - wow!

I may be in touch for some dates next year friends and I have agreed dates. Always the possibility of a VF social do there as well??

Cheers,

Sahajesh.

Sahajesh,

Thanks, I like to think I made a good choice when I originally bought, and have had no complaints from our previous guests.

Next year is getting pretty well booked now, so if you are interested then you need to get your skates on, especially for the holiday and summer seasons.

Matt

Sorry.....regarding holding a social event over at mine in Orlando, it was put forward on another thread somewhere.....!!!

Don't think we would all fit in!!! Maybe Gold Card holders only:D

Matt