Post by georgeglass on Feb 24, 2023 10:19:33 GMT -5
So - Spring Break starts a week from today for us. My kids are high school seniors. This is our last spring break that will happen at the same time. I booked a trip to Iceland (mini road trip, several hotels) and have been pretty pumped.
Workers in Iceland in hospitality and oil transport (gas fueling) are on strike. It is not great and it's about to get worse.
Somehow I booked refundable plane tickets (am I psychic?). Most of our things are cancellable. One hotel that was a splurge is already in the non-refundable window and they say they are not affected by the strike but there is no gas so we don't know how we'd even get to them. We can eat the cost. It's not great, but neither is getting there and being stuck.
So - with one week to plan and a lot of cold weather gear, what would you do? I'm looking at Norway - igloo hotel, arctic adventure stuff - but it's a lot of travel time.
I've never had so many options. I have been playing with Google Flights Explore but nothing is jumping out at me. It doesn't have to be cold weather either.
Which igloo hotel in Norway? We seriously considered Kakslauttanen and ugh, the reviews are so bad. I’m curious for another rec or to tell you not to go there!
Tromso, Norway is supposed to be completely lovely. North Cape looks fun. Svalbard is also on my list.
In Mexico, Mexico city has plenty for all ages-history, food, several neighborhoods to explore and doesn't take much planning or reservations. You could also check out the list of pueblos magicos for smaller more unique towns.
I imagine there are still eco resort type places in Costa Rica where you could hike/zipline and have some beach time.
Domestically New Orleans is interesting and has some good historical stops and culture that might appeal to teens.
Which igloo hotel in Norway? We seriously considered Kakslauttanen and ugh, the reviews are so bad. I’m curious for another rec or to tell you not to go there!
Tromso, Norway is supposed to be completely lovely. North Cape looks fun. Svalbard is also on my list.
I was going to ask if the hotel was canceled, but then I see that you have no gas. Since you are presumably looking for a similar vibe, I agree with the Norway/ Sweden idea. Since you will have a week, I think the longer travel times should be fine as long as you can find a flight that is halfway decent.
Check to see if your credit card offers any travel protection for the nonrefundable hotel since you can't actually access it without gas to get there.
For your nonrefundable plane tickets, they may let you change your flights for a fee/the difference in price.
I second the recommendation of Costa Rica if you can find availability. There's a nice variety of things to do. If you can go for a week, I'd split time between mountains and the beach.
We aren't cold weather people so no suggestions on those places but a friend was an expat in Norway for several years and loved it. He said there was a lot to do.
We’re considering doing Tromso next spring break for my H’s 40th. You can see the northern lights!
That said, it’s a lot of stress to totally change vacation plans a week from today and if I were you I’d be tempted to switch gears entirely to an all inclusive somewhere tropical and just say fuck it. I’m sorry the trip you had planned didn’t work out : (
Post by georgeglass on Feb 24, 2023 11:56:17 GMT -5
Thanks all! This is helpful.
More context/history -
We are going to the UK this summer for their graduation trip.
Previous Spring Breaks have included Costa Rica (2020 as the world shut down), New Orleans, London, California road trip, Mexico (playa del carmen area), Quebec, Disney.
Really, since it's so close to the date, I'd look and see what deals you can get and what seems fun. It actually sounds exciting to see what's affordable and just go on an adventure.
We’re considering doing Tromso next spring break for my H’s 40th. You can see the northern lights!
That said, it’s a lot of stress to totally change vacation plans a week from today and if I were you I’d be tempted to switch gears entirely to an all inclusive somewhere tropical and just say fuck it. I’m sorry the trip you had planned didn’t work out : (
There is a scene in a Brooklyn 99 episode where Amy has to figure out how to get everyone to NY in a super short amount of time, and I'm an obsessive planner and I really feel like that and like this could be my moment. HA! But I am also looking at all inclusives because I understand reality a little bit. My issue is that a bunch of high school seniors are going to all inclusives for spring break and I told my kids we were doing the opposite.
Are you looking for more outdoor/hiking type things or not? I would say go to Norway, do the area around Oslo and then take the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen and spend the rest of the time there.
I just went to the Azores, so this may interest you! You can still see natural hot springs all over on the island of Sao Miguel, which I enjoyed in Iceland. The flight from NYC was also about the same length as it was to Iceland. Obviously the climate is different, but the similarities in the volcanic history was appealing to me. We stayed on the same island for 8 days and didn't run out of stuff to do or see.
It was also incredibly affordable and Iceland is .... not. (My last big trip before this was Iceland, actually. So the comparisons are easy to make.)
Which igloo hotel in Norway? We seriously considered Kakslauttanen and ugh, the reviews are so bad. I’m curious for another rec or to tell you not to go there!
Tromso, Norway is supposed to be completely lovely. North Cape looks fun. Svalbard is also on my list.
Kakslauttanen is in Finland. We actually went there a few years ago and loved it, but I wouldn’t go with kids. No internet in the rooms/cabins and little in the way of entertainment. If you wanted to ask any questions about it, though, I’d be more than happy to answer!
georgeglass, how about Ireland? Travel time will be similar, and there’s a ton to do and see. You may even see northern lights.
Which igloo hotel in Norway? We seriously considered Kakslauttanen and ugh, the reviews are so bad. I’m curious for another rec or to tell you not to go there!
Tromso, Norway is supposed to be completely lovely. North Cape looks fun. Svalbard is also on my list.
Kakslauttanen is in Finland. We actually went there a few years ago and loved it, but I wouldn’t go with kids. No internet in the rooms/cabins and little in the way of entertainment. If you wanted to ask any questions about it, though, I’d be more than happy to answer!
georgeglass, how about Ireland? Travel time will be similar, and there’s a ton to do and see. You may even see northern lights.
Lol - yes. It’s in Finland. My head was just thinking “igloo hotel!!”
Post by georgeglass on Feb 24, 2023 14:49:46 GMT -5
And to keep it interesting (ha!), looks like there is perhaps some progress in the Iceland strikes. So now I am planning like three vacations just in case.
georgeglass, at least I picked some spots that lined up with your interests!
I went to Norway in February and it was super cold and dark, but I was in Oslo for work so your experience may vary. Unless someone points out something really cool in Oslo I'd say it only really needs a day or day and a half, spend the time out of the city!
Post by chickadee77 on Feb 24, 2023 22:15:34 GMT -5
Banff!
Was going to say Quebec, but then saw you've already been.
I could make a week out of just about anywhere with a few good restaurants and/or breweries, and a decent massage, though, so my idea of a fun time may differ from most, lol.
Not sure where you are in all of this as of today, but Iceland is incredible and I do hope it works out for you. I have a hike suggestion if you end up going.
Not sure where you are in all of this as of today, but Iceland is incredible and I do hope it works out for you. I have a hike suggestion if you end up going.
I'll take it! Rumors of more talks on Monday ahead of planned lock out, so things will either be awesome or terrible.
Not sure where you are in all of this as of today, but Iceland is incredible and I do hope it works out for you. I have a hike suggestion if you end up going.
I'll take it! Rumors of more talks on Monday ahead of planned lock out, so things will either be awesome or terrible.
This is what you want to follow. The road to get to it is unmarked, but it's very close to the glaciers. It's pretty much the most stunning thing I've seen in my life (and we hiked this at the end of our road trip, so I had seen some pretty amazing things along the way).
Also, wish I had known about this site when we went because I used it when I was in Sedona and was not disappointed. There's some great looking stuff on here and they have other guides as well.