$5000 trip: where would you go? UPDATE: HAWAII!
#2749354
03/05/20 06:46 PM
03/05/20 06:46 PM
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Hemi_Joel
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It looks like I will be awarded a $5000 custom travel package for my achievement in a sales contest. From what I know so far, I will be contacted by a travel agent to put together a trip. If the trip cost more than $5000, I'd have to pay the difference. I'm looking for ideas where to go. Here is some background: It will be me and my wife, we are both 60, and even though I'm game, she can't/won't do real strenuous stuff like long hikes up mountains, or scary stuff like jump out of a plane or zip line, etc. Also, we are not really into night life, but we enjoy fine dining when on trips. We live in Minnesota, and I'm super busy in the summer, so a warm, interesting winter get-away seems like the best idea. We don't like to just lay on the beach in one spot all day. But walking around on beaches and seeing cool stuff is very interesting to us. I like to see new stuff that I've never seen before, natural wonders, cool man-made stuff like tours of gigantic dams or historic ruins for example. We discussed going to the holy land at one time, but personal safety is kind of a concern on a trip like that. Is that really something we need to be concerned about? Since I don't have a cash option, only the trip, I feel like we should do something that I wouldn't do if I was spending my own money. What ideas do you guys have for me?
Last edited by Hemi_Joel; 03/15/20 01:54 AM.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2749361
03/05/20 06:54 PM
03/05/20 06:54 PM
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Hemi_Joel
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The wife has mentioned that she would like to learn how to snorkel.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2749368
03/05/20 07:02 PM
03/05/20 07:02 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,450 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
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Well.....since someone else is paying.....Hawaii is an obvious choice. Spend some time on Oahu —Honolulu for some city activity, Waikiki beach, and Pearl Harbor for the tours.
Then puddle jump to Maui for super relaxing times, LaHaina, snorkeling and drive up to Haleakala. 5000 would pay for a lot of activity and some damn nice hotels. My 1st thought was Hawaii, My wife's uncle did 2 weeks in Italy maybe 2 or 3 years ago and said they WILL go back, but I doubt thats in the $5k or less budget I personally would love to see Greece,or Italy, Switzerland , Ireland etc etc etc. But wife doesn't like to fly so getting her on that long of a flight is near impossible
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Pacnorthcuda]
#2749381
03/05/20 07:23 PM
03/05/20 07:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,826 A collage of whims
topside
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I agree that Hawaii would be my choice, but the Big Island is the one to visit and soak in. I lived in HI for a couple years and then returned pretty much every year for a visit for quite some time. Hilo has an old-town charm, Kona area has some interesting old sites, and the terrain & climate change in different areas. There's also the volcanos, various farms & stores selling the farmed goods, waterfalls, etc. If you like fresh fish, it comes into Hilo every morning before dawn. It and Kauai are the most Hawaiian of the islands that are easy to visit. What I didn't like about Maui is it's full of condos for haoles; Lahaina & Haleakala are very cool, but a lot of the Hawaiian character got lost IMO in the condo boom. Oahu's become pretty built up, enough that friends have moved from there to Big Island. If you stay in Hilo, get a room on the bay side of the Hilo Hawaiian: incredibly peaceful, plus the adjacent park & waterfront are almost heavenly.
Only other area I'd visit outside the US would be England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany & Italy, but they won't be as warm right now. Everyone I know that's visited those places has loved them.
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: srt]
#2749393
03/05/20 08:00 PM
03/05/20 08:00 PM
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Hemi_Joel
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Great ideas, thanks! Hawaii sounds like a great idea. New Zealand in a motor home would be really fun too. We would like to see Europe, but that would probably have to wait until after I retire so that we can go in the summer instead of the winter. Doc, I'm glad there is not a cash option so don't have to make that choice. I love to travel, but it's hard to get my wife to go with. She loves her life at home and being around our grandkids and kids. It's hard for her to leave, even if it's only for a couple of weeks. But when I do get her to go somewhere she always has fun and we make great memories. But if there was a cash option should say to take the money and split it with her.
Last edited by Hemi_Joel; 03/05/20 08:03 PM.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Dcuda69]
#2749398
03/05/20 08:23 PM
03/05/20 08:23 PM
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pittsburghracer
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Are you going to wait till the corona scare is over. I wouldn’t take a plane or ship now if you paid me.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#2749406
03/05/20 08:38 PM
03/05/20 08:38 PM
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Posts: 30,454 Florida STAYcation
dOoC
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Great ideas, thanks! Hawaii sounds like a great idea. New Zealand in a motor home would be really fun too. We would like to see Europe, but that would probably have to wait until after I retire so that we can go in the summer instead of the winter. Doc, I'm glad there is not a cash option so don't have to make that choice. I love to travel, but it's hard to get my wife to go with. She loves her life at home and being around our grandkids and kids. It's hard for her to leave, even if it's only for a couple of weeks. But when I do get her to go somewhere she always has fun and we make great memories. But if there was a cash option should say to take the money and split it with her. But HJ ... can you transfer that (sell it) ?
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: gtx6970]
#2749419
03/05/20 09:18 PM
03/05/20 09:18 PM
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MarkZ
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Hawaii, big island. Spent a week there on the honeymoon and never felt so at ease in my life. Absolutely beautiful and a great place to soak up WWII history if you're into that. I went a decade ago and and all inclusive trip cost us $6500 with airfare. Included a two day stay in a hotel overlooking Waikiki Beach. Take a tour of Punch Bowl and when asked what car you want to rent, get the convertible!
1987 Fifth Avenue - 512/518/D60
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: MarkZ]
#2749425
03/05/20 09:28 PM
03/05/20 09:28 PM
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Hemi_Joel
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We are planning to an Alaska trip in our camper, but we don't want to do it in the winter. And while I'm still working in roofing, all the time I can afford to take off in the spring/summer/fall goes into racing and car stuff. So Alaska will have to wait until I retire. Hawaii is starting to sound pretty good. If we go there, I do want to see Pearl Harbor. So we would need to spend some time on that island.
This would be for next winter, I assume the coronavirus will be gone by then.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: $5000 trip: where would you go?
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#2749434
03/05/20 10:00 PM
03/05/20 10:00 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 206 Paducah, KY USA Earth
jcruse64
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Big Island. Start looking to book now, and go in December-February. This is high season though, and lots of hotels and rentals will be more expensive. But, you'll be in Hawaii in winter! It's a HUGE island; you'll need a rental vehicle. Jeep or convertible is best. If you're lucky, Mauna Kea will have a big snow while you're there, and you can go to the beach, then go up the mountain and ski and hike in snow, then bring snow back down to the beach. Lots of Humpback and other whales in the area at this time, and definitely recommend going out on a boat ride. Lots of different kinds of beaches to visit. Cliff jump at South Point. Fish. Pig hunt. Do a day trip to Oahu and visit Pearl. We can't wait to visit again. And there ARE some Mopars on the islands.
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