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Right, here goes. Am stuck for a little inspiration and so thought I would see what the HiveMind can suggest.
Recent jaunts have included Mauritius (Ace, lovely place) and Barbados (Another great place, really laid back, lovely atmosphere and people)
Criteria;
Mid to late summer, about 10 days stay probably
Laid back, relaxed atmosphere
All inclusive preferred
Budget - Anything from "avoiding the budget end of the market" upwards (PLU only, donchaknow)
Mid to long-haul flight, but could perhaps tie in a work trip if it was in the APAC region, so that might swing it
Warm sunshine, blue skies, good snorkelling, sailing, wakeboarding general watersports fun and perhaps a little tennis too
Crucially, must be served by BA flights, as it's going to be an Airmiles holiday! 🙂
I'd go to Faliraki with a Vejazzling kit...
Costa Rica
Fiji
Hawaii (Big Island or Maui)
Lombok is brilliant.
Blackpool!
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You been to Hawaii before? I love the place and I generally hate any sort of holiday which involves a beach.
Maui is preferable, but Kahala area on Oahu (stay at the Kahala) gives you the benefits of not being in a "resort", but far enough away from the busy areas of Honolulu/Waikiki etc.
Whitsundays, Qld
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You could fly into Blackpool International Airport!
Croatia?
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Here's hora!
Binners - do you fancy meeting me in Skeggy for some Water Sports?
If you're thinking of Hawaii, I can recommend the island of Kauai. Less developed, stunning scenery, great snorkelling etc. Kalalau Trail is a fantastic hike too, if you're interested in that sort of thing.
THE LION AND ALBERT
by
Marriott Edgar
There's a famous seaside place called Blackpool,
That's noted for fresh-air and fun,
And Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom
Went there with young Albert, their son.
A grand little lad was their Albert
All dressed in his best; quite a swell
'E'd a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle
The finest that Woolworth's could sell.
They didn't think much to the ocean
The waves, they was fiddlin' and small
There was no wrecks... nobody drownded
'Fact, nothing to laugh at, at all.
So, seeking for further amusement
They paid and went into the zoo
Where they'd lions and tigers and cam-els
And old ale and sandwiches too.
There were one great big lion called Wallace
His nose were all covered with scars
He lay in a som-no-lent posture
With the side of his face to the bars.
Now Albert had heard about lions
How they were ferocious and wild
And to see Wallace lying so peaceful
Well... it didn't seem right to the child.
So straight 'way the brave little feller
Not showing a morsel of fear
Took 'is stick with the'orse's 'ead 'andle
And pushed it in Wallace's ear!
You could see that the lion didn't like it
For giving a kind of a roll
He pulled Albert inside the cage with 'im
And swallowed the little lad... whole!
Then Pa, who had seen the occurrence
And didn't know what to do next
Said, "Mother! Yon lions 'et Albert"
And Mother said "Eeh, I am vexed!"
So Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom
Quite rightly, when all's said and done
Complained to the Animal Keeper
That the lion had eaten their son.
The keeper was quite nice about it
He said, "What a nasty mishap
Are you sure that it's your lad he's eaten?"
Pa said, "Am I sure? There's his cap!"
So the manager had to be sent for
He came and he said, "What's to do?"
Pa said, "Yon lion's 'eaten our Albert
And 'im in his Sunday clothes, too."
Then Mother said, "Right's right, young feller
I think it's a shame and a sin
For a lion to go and eat Albert
And after we've paid to come in!"
The manager wanted no trouble
He took out his purse right away
And said, "How much to settle the matter?"
And Pa said "What do you usually pay?"
But Mother had turned a bit awkward
When she thought where her Albert had gone
She said, "No! someone's got to be summonsed"
So that were decided upon.
Round they went to the Police Station
In front of a Magistrate chap
They told 'im what happened to Albert
And proved it by showing his cap.
The Magistrate gave his o-pinion
That no-one was really to blame
He said that he hoped the Ramsbottoms
Would have further sons to their name.
At that Mother got proper blazing
"And thank you, sir, kindly," said she
"What waste all our lives raising children
To feed ruddy lions? Not me!"
Sounds like a great idea Yeti. Or how about a spot of diving?
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QLD is a possible, as is Lombok
Hawaii really appeals, time to research some more I think. Some great suggestions so far, thanks (To most of you anyway! 🙂 )
😆
Kauii. Far better than the other islands.
The only problem I can think of is the lack of BA flights to it. From memory (went there on my first honeymoon) you need to fly Hawaiian Airlines or Delta to get there from Oahu.
If you want secluded, head to the north part of the island. It's lush and green and not that built up. The southern part is semi-arid and a lot more touristy (big hotels etc). As a side note, "Lilo and Stitch" was set there, being mainly based around the Hanalei Bay/Kilauea area. The whole of that area gets used a lot in films too. I think "Wind Talkers" was partially filmed there too.
[slight plug]
you may (or may not) find some inspiration on our [url= http://pinterest.com/muchbetteradven/ ]Pinterest page[/url]. some lovely holidays on there!
[/slight plug]
😳
Hawaii is a long way to fly for 10 days!!!
Bahamas? more local something like Lanzarote, club la santa sporting and beach heaven...allegedly I've never been!
MC, I'm used to it! Did a 9 day trip to Australia last year, doing a three day trip to San Francisco in a few weeks.
If holiday was Oz or Hawaii, I can work it around a work trip, thus cutting down the [s]cost[/s] travel time. 😉
Crucially, must be served by BA flights, as it's going to be an Airmiles holiday!
If you're redeeming 'Avios' from your Exec Club account you should be able to use any OW carrier - opens up some more interesting destinations (S7 airlines anyone?)
"Should" is the appropriate word there. Have heard tales of nightmares using BA miles on other airline's metal. Codeshares are OK, apparently, but not direct bookings on OW partners, opening up a few QA and CX options. Would prefer the "main" flight to be a BA code, though, for ease and availability. Plus, you always get better looked after on the airline you're a direct club member with than on the OW alliance partners. Sadly.
It's true that it's not always easy to find availability (although the same is true on BA to popular destinations unless you have access to a 'joker') but they do exist and it's definitely possible to book them.
Plus, you always get better looked after on the airline you're a direct club member with than on the OW alliance partners.
There are definitely OW members that consistently treat all OW 'emerald' members better than BA treats its own... CX springs to mind.
Hmm, odd. CX were very good, but I find I get much better treatment from BA than anyone else! Three upgrades in last five flights, for example...! 🙂 "Gold" just sounds better than "Emerald", doesn't it?
CFH - I codeshare on BA/AA all the time and never have any problem redeeming or collecting miles.
BA will get you into the US and AA will take you where you need for connections. Not sure how it's working with the Avios swap, but my AAdvantage account is still letting my redeem miles on BA flights.
You might be a tad disappointed if you go to New Brighton and not just because there is no swimming pool there any longer!
Croatia.
Costa Rica.
Not Australia (too far, too time changey, wrong time of year for the nice bits).
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CFH, on holiday yesterday.
😆 @ konabunny! 😆
London, England. I've been told it's an interesting place so I'm off there on my next holiday. I've booked a guide for some mountian biking in a nearby forest called Swinley. (and they think I'm joking)