We are also going to Ireland this year. First time with the kids, though my husband and I have both been. We are going with several of my cousins and their families, and we are visiting family there, so it should be wild and fun. I cannot wait.
Also my husband and I are looking for a quick 3-4 night trip just us to Banff, Canada and he wants to see the Northern Lights.
Depending on when we book Ireland (definitely sometime in August) and depending on when our usual Lake George crew goes to Lake George, we may also throw that in. We go yearly for a week with the same group, and while we probably wouldn't go for the full week this year since it is in summer and we are toying with 2 weeks in Ireland, we might be able to pull off a Thursday to Sunday.
Also looking into DC for spring break for 2 or 3 nights, but we will have to see what the budget can handle. Haha.
Seeing the Northern Lights is so on my bucket list. What parts of Ireland do you think you'll see? I know I want my son to see the Cliffs, and I'm toying with the idea of Skelig Michael. I mentioned 2 weeks and people thought that was a lot, but I'm not sure we can go for less? I figure it's the airfare that's so expensive, why not stay and make the most of it? Maybe we'll do more like 10-12 so we have time to recover. We're going for a party, so my son is missing school and he is not the least bit upset about it.
I have family in Galway, so that will be our home base, so to speak. I'd love to take my kids to see the Cliffs, too. I have a dinner scheduled with 3 of my cousins in two weeks to hammer out our itinerary. There is a group of at least 18 of us going, so I'm certain there will be plenty of opinions. The good thing is all of my cousins and I have been, and my husband did a trip with his dad for his 40th to visit where they are from, so I don't really even care what else we do. I just am excited to bring my kids there to see our family over there (they have met them here). My husband wants to rent a car, yet one of my cousins' husbands is nervous to drive over there, so we have a lot to figure out. I am leaning towards 10 days there, though I have never stayed less than 14 days. But I've also never been with my kids, lol, so there's also that. Haha. I think the only thing that would make it better for my kids would be missing school.
My husband's grandmother on his other side was born and raised in Iceland, and when she passed he went to Iceland with his aunt to bury her ashes there. He was able to see the Northern Lights there, and he is so excited to hopefully do it again.
I also forgot, we are going up to the Catskills over MLK weekend for some skiing with some friends, and will go up to Vermont for more skiing in February. These kids travel way more than I ever did now that I think about it.
The Rock Boat cruise in 3 weeks. I’m most likely going solo bc H is waffeling. He loves cruises, but this one is too much for him. Too much people (and they are all extroverts!), too loud, too much drinking, etc.
I have hotel reservations in yellowstone this summer. We were going to go last year, but I literally had a stroke while I was pricing flights. I should put the rest of that trip together.
In Dec, we have a 10 day southern Caribbean cruise.
I had to look up The Rock Boat. A boat full of extroverts - I think I see where you're husband is coming from! We went to Yellowstone once in the winter and it was breathtaking. I would love to see it in the summer.
Seeing the Northern Lights is so on my bucket list. What parts of Ireland do you think you'll see? I know I want my son to see the Cliffs, and I'm toying with the idea of Skelig Michael. I mentioned 2 weeks and people thought that was a lot, but I'm not sure we can go for less? I figure it's the airfare that's so expensive, why not stay and make the most of it? Maybe we'll do more like 10-12 so we have time to recover. We're going for a party, so my son is missing school and he is not the least bit upset about it.
I have family in Galway, so that will be our home base, so to speak. I'd love to take my kids to see the Cliffs, too. I have a dinner scheduled with 3 of my cousins in two weeks to hammer out our itinerary. There is a group of at least 18 of us going, so I'm certain there will be plenty of opinions. The good thing is all of my cousins and I have been, and my husband did a trip with his dad for his 40th to visit where they are from, so I don't really even care what else we do. I just am excited to bring my kids there to see our family over there (they have met them here). My husband wants to rent a car, yet one of my cousins' husbands is nervous to drive over there, so we have a lot to figure out. I am leaning towards 10 days there, though I have never stayed less than 14 days. But I've also never been with my kids, lol, so there's also that. Haha. I think the only thing that would make it better for my kids would be missing school.
My husband's grandmother on his other side was born and raised in Iceland, and when she passed he went to Iceland with his aunt to bury her ashes there. He was able to see the Northern Lights there, and he is so excited to hopefully do it again.
I also forgot, we are going up to the Catskills over MLK weekend for some skiing with some friends, and will go up to Vermont for more skiing in February. These kids travel way more than I ever did now that I think about it.
We're seeing family, too and I'm so excited. My son has no cousins his age here. I didn't either and I was his age the first time I went, so I know how thrilled he's going to be. But I remember asking my Mother why she ever left, because Ireland seemed so much better and I'm afraid he's going to think the same thing after seeing so much family.
We're hoping the weather starts to get cold so we can ski in PA. We definitely can't be traveling anywhere else this year! I know what you mean, though. The life my son has is absolutely nothing like my childhood. Nothing.
The Rock Boat cruise in 3 weeks. I’m most likely going solo bc H is waffeling. He loves cruises, but this one is too much for him. Too much people (and they are all extroverts!), too loud, too much drinking, etc.
I have hotel reservations in yellowstone this summer. We were going to go last year, but I literally had a stroke while I was pricing flights. I should put the rest of that trip together.
In Dec, we have a 10 day southern Caribbean cruise.
I had to look up The Rock Boat. A boat full of extroverts - I think I see where you're husband is coming from! We went to Yellowstone once in the winter and it was breathtaking. I would love to see it in the summer.
The lineup is amazing this year (if you are into indie bands). The problem is it’s very cliquey and so many people thinks it’s THE BEST THING EVER. The amount of flack I get for not loving it is ridiculous. This will be my 3rd in 9 years, which is just about long enough for the annoyances to fade LOL
But it is cool. And I am on a first name basis with a couple of the bands, so there is that. Ok, like one band, plus Patrick Murphy from Gaelic storm. Lol
I have family in Galway, so that will be our home base, so to speak. I'd love to take my kids to see the Cliffs, too. I have a dinner scheduled with 3 of my cousins in two weeks to hammer out our itinerary. There is a group of at least 18 of us going, so I'm certain there will be plenty of opinions. The good thing is all of my cousins and I have been, and my husband did a trip with his dad for his 40th to visit where they are from, so I don't really even care what else we do. I just am excited to bring my kids there to see our family over there (they have met them here). My husband wants to rent a car, yet one of my cousins' husbands is nervous to drive over there, so we have a lot to figure out. I am leaning towards 10 days there, though I have never stayed less than 14 days. But I've also never been with my kids, lol, so there's also that. Haha. I think the only thing that would make it better for my kids would be missing school.
My husband's grandmother on his other side was born and raised in Iceland, and when she passed he went to Iceland with his aunt to bury her ashes there. He was able to see the Northern Lights there, and he is so excited to hopefully do it again.
I also forgot, we are going up to the Catskills over MLK weekend for some skiing with some friends, and will go up to Vermont for more skiing in February. These kids travel way more than I ever did now that I think about it.
We're seeing family, too and I'm so excited. My son has no cousins his age here. I didn't either and I was his age the first time I went, so I know how thrilled he's going to be. But I remember asking my Mother why she ever left, because Ireland seemed so much better and I'm afraid he's going to think the same thing after seeing so much family.
We're hoping the weather starts to get cold so we can ski in PA. We definitely can't be traveling anywhere else this year! I know what you mean, though. The life my son has is absolutely nothing like my childhood. Nothing.
I know exactly how you feel! I am just looking forward to my kids running around in the green spaces and breathing in all that good air. My children have no first cousins, which is a stark difference to me having loads of them. But I was raised so closely with so many of my cousins that our children are being raised as close cousins. Even though they see their cousins plenty here in the US, experiencing Ireland together I think will be magical for them.
We are planning on going to Europe. We haven’t quite narrowed anything down yet. Barcelona, Béziers, Copenhagen, Florence, Nice. We work with a travel agent so we give her places we want to go and she’ll come back with the numbers and itineraries. We won’t go to all of these places but they are places we would like to go. We’ll probably have something scheduled in the next month or two.
I'm leaving for Iceland in a little over a month. I'm very excited and very nervous. It will be the first time I've traveled internationally by myself. A friend was supposed to go with me, but she's leaving Monday to visit her parents in Singapore for two weeks, so there goes that. Over the last few years though it has been a goal of mine to do more things out of my comfort zone. I have been holding myself back for too long, so this is definitely a big step towards that.
Other than Iceland, I may visit my brother in Pensacola later this year, but haven't decided yet. My next big trip will be in 2.5 years. I'll be going to Alaska for my 45th birthday. Probably a cruise, we'll see. I'm constantly adding places to my bucket list.
Good for you! Traveling alone was the most freeing, amazing experience of my life! I couldn't do anything alone, and for me it meant holding on to relationships/friendships that weren't great for me just so I'd have people to be with. I bought myself a trip to Africa for my 30th birthday and life has never been the same since. I hope you have the best time in Iceland!!!
Yes! For the past 5 years I’ve done an international trip alone every year. I look forward to it every year. Best decisions ever!
We just got back from Maui (BTW joenali thank you for recommending the trilogy trip to Lanai'i - we loved it!).
We are doing two weeks in England and France over the summer. I haven't been to England in like 20 years, and H and the girls hae never been to Europe.
Oooh! I’m so glad. I think Trilogy was the highlight of our trip!
March-Galveston for a long weekend with family (was supposed to be this year but we had to postpone due to the flu) June-Wedding in Florida followed by a cruise on the Harmony of the seas October-Long weekend somewhere with DH for our 15th anniversary. Sedona is the front runner right now. November-Disney World for DD's 10th birthday
DH has a business trip to San Diego in May and we may tag along. May not.
Post by ChillyMcFreeze on Jan 3, 2020 12:21:13 GMT -5
The last 2 years have been huge travel years, so we're scaling back this year. We've spent the last 2 Labor Days in Chicago, but this time I want to stay in Milwaukee and just drive down for the event DH goes to. I also want to get out to CA in late spring to see my BFF before they get their next orders from the Navy.
I currently have planned: Boca Raton, FL (for work) in February Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid in April or May Las Vegas in August Charleston for Thanksgiving
We will also do a trip in June for our anniversary and something at Christmas but those locations are tbd
I'm currently looking at booking flights for the Spain trip so if anyone has any advice on how long to spend in each place, please share!
We spent 4 nights in Barcelona, and took the train to Madrid for three nights
We just got back from Maui (BTW joenali thank you for recommending the trilogy trip to Lanai'i - we loved it!).
We are doing two weeks in England and France over the summer. I haven't been to England in like 20 years, and H and the girls hae never been to Europe.
Oooh! I’m so glad. I think Trilogy was the highlight of our trip!
Same here! I was so impressed with how they take care of everything, down to the mats for the beach, ginger pills, Dramamine, etc.
Post by lexxasaurus on Jan 3, 2020 12:31:20 GMT -5
We are going to try to go back to Alaska home because D has never been, and hopefully stop in Seattle to spend time with my bestie. Would like to go back to Florida to visit another best friend.
- Yellowstone this fall as a family (H and I have been but the kids haven't). - Possibly a 4-ish day spring trip. I'm working on that now. Toronto? Atlanta? NYC? - Possibly a girls' trip for me and DD (NYC if we don't do that with the whole family, otherwise she wants to go back to Chicago)
That's it for interesting trips. The rest will be visiting family in various states, etc.
We're still hoping to buy a property this year, so probably no big trips. A couple of camping trips up island and maybe 1-2 weeks at the family cabin in the interior. I was sort of thinking we might go to Hawaii this year but it will all depend on when/if we buy.
2 weeks in Denver for work starting Monday (and probably another few trips back throughout the year) 7 day western Caribbean cruise for a friend's wedding in March 5 days in Iceland at the end of September with another couple
We’re going to South Lake Tahoe for my mom’s birthday next month. Probably Moab in April with friends. Possibly a raod trip around one of the Great Lakes with some of the same friends.
We also talked about going to Warsaw in May, but I think tickets sold out for the race H wanted to go to. So, that’s prolly not happening.
Post by amandakisser on Jan 3, 2020 13:02:02 GMT -5
2019 was a HUGE travel year for me and it reignited our travel bug. So far we are looking at a long weekend in Nashville for H and I to visit a friend, then a cruise in June or July with the kids. Likely a Caribbean cruise, either 5 or 7 days. It’ll be our first with the girls and we aren’t sure how long to go for (we have a credit with Southwest that we need to use by July 8 so we will 100% go SOMEWHERE).
I’m also hoping to do another long weekend or two with the kids, just not sure where. We are thinking about NYC or Philly, or possibly DC. That will be a fall trip.
We are planning a low key year as we are hoping to buy a new house end of this year/start of 2021. We are doing a kid free trip to FL in May for a friends wedding and a family vacation to Vail in December. I am also planning two staycation weeks (july and sept) to go to the beach alone as we live in a resort town in New England.
Same here! I was so impressed with how they take care of everything, down to the mats for the beach, ginger pills, Dramamine, etc.
Sunscreen, alcohol, cinnamon buns and a great dinner!
That dinner was amazing. I have a note to myself to go find their recipes on their blog.
I was talking to someone at our resort about having gone and they said they couldn't get past the pricetag. I went through everything and was like, "well figure $30 for dinner, $10 for breakfast, at least $30 in drinks" and you're well under $200 per person at that point. Plus it's eight hours!
I love talking travel and seeing what everyone else is doing!
We have a few things planned for this year: March - Caribbean cruise (8 days - Ft. Lauderdale, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba) April - Disney World May - Finger Lakes for a wine weekend with my H's aunts and cousins (we've been making it a girls weekend for years) July - Syracuse for a Doobie Bros concert October - Sandals resort in St. Lucia
My H's aunt/uncle recently spent a long weekend n Quebec City and now I really want to go. Maybe this year or next year we can go.
wildrice you can get great value by transferring Chase to Southwest, especially where we live. Plus cancellation is so easy it allows for a lot of flexibility.
We're going to Puerto Rico in February to celebrate 10 years together and get away from winter (combination of Chase and Hilton points)
In July we're doing a week at a fancy villa in Tuscany with my family for milestone birthdays and may add a few days on somewhere else in Europe
I’m impressed everyone has vacations for the year booked/planned already! We are lucky if we book 3 months in advance.
Here is what I am tentatively thinking:
-Bali is a top priority. Maybe June? -Nashville. This will be a girls trip. 4 days max. Likely this spring or fall. -London. IF I get into the Royal Parks Half Marathon Lottery. This is a big IF. Would likely do London and Portugal OR do London as a stopover to India OR a girls trip Lon weekend. It will all depend on how much PTO I’ve burned through. This is in October. -India. We go every year to visit family, so this is non-negotiable. May do a stopover in Dubai or London if I can convince H (unlikely). Not sure when? Summer or Fall?
This is my first year in 5 years that I have a set amount of PTO (5 ish weeks, including sick) so I am trying to be mindful of not blowing through all my time on vacations. I have a 2 year old in daycare who gets sick ALL THE TIME so I will need to save at least a week for sick days.
end of Jan--New Orleans for a wedding & my bestie's 50th birthday (just me) May--H and his brother (hopefully) are going to BALI! June--Alaska (me, H & E) August--Yellowstone/Grand Tetons/Mt. Rushmore (me, H & E)
Sprinkled in there will be trips to the lake (weekends for skiing, Spring Break, summer weeks when we're not traveling) so that we can find a property to buy. We had the best time this week there and we're pretty much sold on the location to find a place.
Planning a Disneyland trip this summer that will include exploring LA, San Diego and San Francisco. The plan is to fly into LA do Disneyland and rent a car to explore LA - San Diego and then drive up to San Francisco to explore and fly out of San Francisco back to San Antonio.
Possible multi-family river trip to Concan this summer too
Already booked another Christmas trip at Disney World. So we will do that unless I can get a good TA rate on a Disney cruise.
I have a girls weekend planned to either wine taste in the Hill Country or go to Austin or Dallas for a spa weekend.
I would love to do just a short couples trip this summer with Eric, maybe New Orleans again.
We're trying to decide on a location for our annual friendcation this summer, with two other couples. This year is a doozy to plan: - two couples flying from SFO. one couple flying from the northeast. - five children between the ages of <1 year to 6 as of this summer. - looking for a 6 bedroom VRBO to share. - preferably in the middle-ish of the country. All three families have babies, and we're trying to share the travel/time zone burden.
We took 2019 off from the annual gathering because all three families had babies a few months apart. In years past we've done Sonoma, La Jolla, and Tybee Island.
Figuring that out is probably our only big trip this year. I did just renew my passport though so I am looking forward to what bigger trips we will be able to take when the kids get a little older. Right now we are still in the "two separate nap schedules" years which is hard. I went to Barcelona for work a couple years ago and loved it, I would really like to go back for fun.
In 2022, we're going to do the friendcation in Hawaii for our (the wives - we are old college friends) 40th birthdays. We're the east coast couple so the flight will be rough, but I'm really looking forward to it. The Big Island and Kauai was our last pre-baby trip, and I can't wait to go again.
I currently have planned: Boca Raton, FL (for work) in February Barcelona, Seville, and Madrid in April or May Las Vegas in August Charleston for Thanksgiving
We will also do a trip in June for our anniversary and something at Christmas but those locations are tbd
I'm currently looking at booking flights for the Spain trip so if anyone has any advice on how long to spend in each place, please share!
We spent 4 nights in Barcelona, and took the train to Madrid for three nights
Did you feel like you had enough time in Barcelona? I'm currently looking at 4 days in Barcelona, 2 in Seville and 4 in Madrid.
How was taking the train? I am seeing a lot of recommendations to fly from Barcelona to Seville and then take the train from Seville to Madrid.
Our road trip this year will take us to Colorado and Utah. We are visiting the following: -Great Sand Dunes NP -Ouray -Telluride -Mesa Verde NP -Moab -Arches NP -Canyonlands NP -Dead Horse Point SP -Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP -Colorado National Monument
This will be over the 4th of July/early July, and I know Utah will be hot as hades, but as a teacher, summer's the only time I can take 12 days off for vacation, so we make the best of it. We plan on a lot of hiking and also doing a guided jeep/off-roading tour to Hell's Revenge in Moab.
We usually do at least one other long weekend, and right now I'm thinking of Pere Marquette State Park, which is more local to us. Doing a long weekend there with hiking, biking, and visiting wineries, possibly early June.
Our 10 year anniversary is in 2021 and we are saving up for Glacier NP and then driving into Canada to visit Banff, Lake Louise, and possibly a couple other Canadian national parks.