Airline/Hotel Loyalty Programs

[Jeff Lebowski]

15 days? I would do either London-Paris-Rome, or London-Paris-Amsterdam/Delft/Rotterdam. You can take the TGV (high speed rail) from Paris to the Netherlands. Going 200 mph on land is fun.

[Pelado]

use chase points on virgin atlantic to book delta one for like 100k round trip per ticket. can also do flying blue and do klm business direct slc to ams for 150kish.

I was looking at non-United options for transferring my points, but didn't see much if anything available through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue. And what was available cost a lot more points than going United Polaris.

Maybe because I've been planning to fly out of BOI instead of SLC? If I can get round-trip Delta One from SLC for just 100k points each, maybe it makes sense to make SLC part of our trip.

Any other things I should be considering to maximize value for the points?

How can you even consider giving Ireland such short shrift?!? Are you not a student of my posts?

I know nothing about Paris, so I'll comment on the first potential 2/3rds of your trip.

You'll be traveling with smallish children, right? I'd tell you to concentrate on the non-Dublin parts of Ireland and non-London UK, but you need to keep them entertained. As beautiful as Ireland is, there's not much to do but look at grass, rocks, and livestock. Dublin will have some more kid friendly options. Same goes with the UK. I would minimize your time in the big cities (with the exception of Edinburgh) and stay in the country. But the main attractions in London will hopefully keep the surliness and eye-rolling at a minimum.

Unless you are never going to see Ireland again, I'd probably stick to the UK. If you're then splitting the time between UK and France, I'd do 4 days in London, 2 days in Edinburgh, and have a couple of days open to see either the Cotswolds, Lake District, etc.

Our kids aren't that little anymore (they're all teenagers now) but we're not taking them with us. This is our belated (thanks, Covid!) 20th wedding anniversary trip.

I was giving Ireland the boot because I'm a student of your posts. If you liked it so much, it's probably not for me.

Actually, I was thinking we might get our fill of scenic, lush greenery in Scotland, Wales and/or England. My wife has expressed more interest in palaces (not castles) and Princess Diana memorials than in scenic landscapes.

So we're definitely spending at least 2-3 days in and around London. We have a lot of ancestors from Wales, so I'd like to check that out. Scotland would be cool to see, but I didn't see great options for trains to/from Scotland, so we might skip that, too.

And I need to put my 500+ day Duolingo streak to use, so we're definitely spending some time in France. I want to see the cathedral of St. Chapelle and Notre Dame (to the extent possible), the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles.

I'd like to see Normandy, but I'm not sure the Mrs. will be up for that. Can it be seen/appreciated in a day trip from Paris? If so, maybe I let her rest/recuperate in the hotel in Paris one day while I check out Normandy.

[Pelado]

15 days? I would do either London-Paris-Rome, or London-Paris-Amsterdam/Delft/Rotterdam. You can take the TGV (high speed rail) from Paris to the Netherlands. Going 200 mph on land is fun.

My wife has expressed interest in seeing tulips, so the Nethlands is a possibility.

My original plan for the trip was 2 weeks (including travel days) with a flight to London, chunnel train to Paris, flight to Venice, train to Rome, and then a flight back home. I figured that was a bit too ambitious and would wear us out too much. I've expanded the trip by a few days and reduced the number of destinations, so it should be more enjoyable.

if we did go to Italy, I'd be most interested in seeing Florence.

[Jeff Lebowski]

My wife has expressed interest in seeing tulips, so the Nethlands is a possibility.

My original plan for the trip was 2 weeks (including travel days) with a flight to London, chunnel train to Paris, flight to Venice, train to Rome, and then a flight back home. I figured that was a bit too ambitious and would wear us out too much. I've expanded the trip by a few days and reduced the number of destinations, so it should be more enjoyable.

if we did go to Italy, I'd be most interested in seeing Florence.

I love Florence but you have to experience Rome too.

[old_gregg]

I was looking at non-United options for transferring my points, but didn't see much if anything available through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue. And what was available cost a lot more points than going United Polaris.

Maybe because I've been planning to fly out of BOI instead of SLC? If I can get round-trip Delta One from SLC for just 100k points each, maybe it makes sense to make SLC part of our trip.

Any other things I should be considering to maximize value for the points?



Our kids aren't that little anymore (they're all teenagers now) but we're not taking them with us. This is our belated (thanks, Covid!) 20th wedding anniversary trip.

I was giving Ireland the boot because I'm a student of your posts. If you liked it so much, it's probably not for me.

Actually, I was thinking we might get our fill of scenic, lush greenery in Scotland, Wales and/or England. My wife has expressed more interest in palaces (not castles) and Princess Diana memorials than in scenic landscapes.

So we're definitely spending at least 2-3 days in and around London. We have a lot of ancestors from Wales, so I'd like to check that out. Scotland would be cool to see, but I didn't see great options for trains to/from Scotland, so we might skip that, too.

And I need to put my 500+ day Duolingo streak to use, so we're definitely spending some time in France. I want to see the cathedral of St. Chapelle and Notre Dame (to the extent possible), the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles.

I'd like to see Normandy, but I'm not sure the Mrs. will be up for that. Can it be seen/appreciated in a day trip from Paris? If so, maybe I let her rest/recuperate in the hotel in Paris one day while I check out Normandy.

the virgin atlantic site is terrible and takes some time to find upper class award availability. this is a good guide, but make sure you’re changing the url to show flexible calendar (which shows 30 days) instead of flexible dates (which only shows a week).

https://onemileatatime.com/guides/re...-points-delta/

[Pelado]

the virgin atlantic site is terrible and takes some time to find upper class award availability. this is a good guide, but make sure you’re changing the url to show flexible calendar (which shows 30 days) instead of flexible dates (which only shows a week).

https://onemileatatime.com/guides/re...-points-delta/

Gracias. Or merci. Or grazie. Or thanks.

[Bo Diddley]

My wife has expressed interest in seeing tulips, so the Nethlands is a possibility.

My original plan for the trip was 2 weeks (including travel days) with a flight to London, chunnel train to Paris, flight to Venice, train to Rome, and then a flight back home. I figured that was a bit too ambitious and would wear us out too much. I've expanded the trip by a few days and reduced the number of destinations, so it should be more enjoyable.

if we did go to Italy, I'd be most interested in seeing Florence.

Yep. Travelling too much can both eat away at the time you have to spend doing things and take a physical toll. Just changing hotels in the same city eats up time. If your wife needs more time to recuperate, I'd simplify the itinerary.

I've never been to Wales, but the Cotswolds are pretty cool, and within driving distance of London for a day trip. We drove up to Scotland, but it was a long drive. I'd be happy to help dial in your London leg itinerary if you'd like.

[Northwestcoug]

Our kids aren't that little anymore (they're all teenagers now) but we're not taking them with us. This is our belated (thanks, Covid!) 20th wedding anniversary trip.

I was giving Ireland the boot because I'm a student of your posts. If you liked it so much, it's probably not for me.

Actually, I was thinking we might get our fill of scenic, lush greenery in Scotland, Wales and/or England. My wife has expressed more interest in palaces (not castles) and Princess Diana memorials than in scenic landscapes.

So we're definitely spending at least 2-3 days in and around London. We have a lot of ancestors from Wales, so I'd like to check that out. Scotland would be cool to see, but I didn't see great options for trains to/from Scotland, so we might skip that, too.

oh cool. Then totally do Ireland and skip France

Wales is beautiful. If your family history chops are anything like my FIL’s, go to the towns where your ancestors are from and just walk around. Mrs. NWC found 2 chapels that her ancestors would have worshipped at, one a nearly forgotten medieval chapel next to the land they were tenant farmers at.

re: Italy. If you’re never going to go to europe again then I guess you should try to rope that in this trip. But I’d just make sure you go again to do Italy on its own. I agree with Jeff: I’d go to Florence again but I’m done with Rome. Still, you absolutely have to see Rome once.

[Jeff Lebowski]

You know you’ve arrived as a travel snob when you claim you love Florence and hate Rome. Always makes me laugh.

[Northwestcoug]

You know you’ve arrived as a travel snob when you claim you love Florence and hate Rome. Always makes me laugh.

[BigPiney]

You know you’ve arrived as a travel snob when you claim you love Florence and hate Rome. Always makes me laugh.

Ha, you described Topper right there.

[All-American]

I was looking at non-United options for transferring my points, but didn't see much if anything available through Virgin Atlantic or Flying Blue. And what was available cost a lot more points than going United Polaris.

Maybe because I've been planning to fly out of BOI instead of SLC? If I can get round-trip Delta One from SLC for just 100k points each, maybe it makes sense to make SLC part of our trip.

Any other things I should be considering to maximize value for the points?



Our kids aren't that little anymore (they're all teenagers now) but we're not taking them with us. This is our belated (thanks, Covid!) 20th wedding anniversary trip.

I was giving Ireland the boot because I'm a student of your posts. If you liked it so much, it's probably not for me.

Actually, I was thinking we might get our fill of scenic, lush greenery in Scotland, Wales and/or England. My wife has expressed more interest in palaces (not castles) and Princess Diana memorials than in scenic landscapes.

So we're definitely spending at least 2-3 days in and around London. We have a lot of ancestors from Wales, so I'd like to check that out. Scotland would be cool to see, but I didn't see great options for trains to/from Scotland, so we might skip that, too.

And I need to put my 500+ day Duolingo streak to use, so we're definitely spending some time in France. I want to see the cathedral of St. Chapelle and Notre Dame (to the extent possible), the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and Versailles.

I'd like to see Normandy, but I'm not sure the Mrs. will be up for that. Can it be seen/appreciated in a day trip from Paris? If so, maybe I let her rest/recuperate in the hotel in Paris one day while I check out Normandy.

We did a day trip to Normandy when we were in Paris. Highlight of the trip. Do it.

[Moliere]

We did a day trip to Normandy when we were in Paris. Highlight of the trip. Do it.

Yes, you can make it a day trip, but I don't think you get the best experience that way. I think you need at least a full day in the WW2 area to really enjoy it. We had friends that were in Paris and did a day trip and enjoyed it but they wished they'd spent more time there. They basically took the train to Bayeux and got there around lunch time. They did a half day tour with Overlord tours (www.overlordtour.com) and caught the last train back from Bayeux to Paris. You can do it but you are then limited to seeing only Omaha Beach, the American cemetary and maybe Point due Hoc. IMO you also need to see Saint-mere Eglise, Utah Beach and maybe a couple other sites like the Longues sur mere battery. My suggestion would be to take hte train to Bayeux the night before, stay the night in Bayeux (it's an awesome little town) and do a full day tour the next day and then take the train back to Paris...well actually I'd suggest you go to the Mont Saint Michel the next day if you can. The Mont Saint Michel will blow your minds, it's that awesome.

For a quick two day trip in Paris, you can easily hit the Louvre (maybe 2 hours), the Eiffel tower (2 hours), Saint Chapelle/Notre Dame (2 hours but I'd suggest going to a concert in the Saint Chapelle), Sacre Coeur and Place du Tertre (2-3 hours), Arc du Triomphe and walking the Champs Elysees (2-3 hours) and a ride on the Bateux Mouche (2 hours). If you go to Versailles, plan on that taking the full day and you might be able to do something that night...also Versailles is closed one day a week so don't go that day, whatever day it is. The temple is also right outside the Versailles gardens and has a visitor center if you don't want to take the time to do a sesh or baptisms.

If you like impressionism, go to the Musee d-Orsay and the Orangerie, they are both much better than the Louvre...but you have to go to the Louvre since it's the Louvre.

[RC Vikings]

Ha, you described Topper right there.

I wonder when they work because they are always traveling. I like his real subtle or not so subtle ways of telling everyone where he is.

[BigPiney]

I wonder when they work because they are always traveling. I like his real subtle or not so subtle ways of telling everyone where he is.

he is non stop. His woe is me, I will never have enough money to retire, yet I am heading off to my 7th international trip of the year. He is funny.