looking for suggestions

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earendel · #1 Post by **earendel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:21 am

Last year I volunteered to be bumped from an airline flight (American Airlines) in exchange for a round-trip ticket voucher. Well, I forgot all about that voucher until I ran across it over the weekend. It expires on March 3rd, so I need to use it before then. Any ideas on where to go, keeping in mind that I'd have to purchase a second ticket for elwing? Also, can I use the voucher for a ticket but have the ticket for a later date? IOW, cash it in but have the trip scheduled for April or May (as an example)?

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #2 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:26 am

Go to New York and see some shows.

MarleysGh0st · #3 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:22 am

Florida!

I don't know if you can use that voucher for an advance ticket purchase. If not, I'm afraid you'll be paying as much for that last minute purchase of elwing's ticket as you're saving on your own.

tlynn78 · #4 Post by **tlynn78** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:32 am

Check out the various travel sites and see what's on sale. Throw a dart, and take Elwing somewhere neither of you have ever even thought of going. Make it an adventure!

t.

minimetoo26 · #5 Post by **minimetoo26** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:14 am

March 3rd is part of my son's school's Spring Break, so you may not be able to get an affordable ticket anyplace warm at this late date. But I would check with elwing to see if she had her heart set on something when you brought home the voucher....

mrkelley23 · #6 Post by **mrkelley23** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:35 am

Places like this can give you good ideas:

http://us.lastminute.com/LastSecondDeals.html

Make sure you "shop" with Elwing, if you do it this way. That' part's half the fun....

earendel · #7 Post by **earendel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:38 am

mrkelley23 wrote:Places like this can give you good ideas:

http://us.lastminute.com/LastSecondDeals.html

Make sure you "shop" with Elwing, if you do it this way. That' part's half the fun....

It's all the fun - on her side. I really don't get into this vacation planning stuff, so I'll turn it over to her because she loves it. Problem is that although I have sufficient annual leave time to be able to do something, her vacation days are fewer and we've already got an Alaskan cruise planned for June plus the 3-day Bahamas cruise that she won for being "Support Person of the Year" (the company is paying the expenses for this one, but she'll probably have to use vacation days to cover her absence).

mrkelley23 · #8 Post by **mrkelley23** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:41 am

earendel wrote:
mrkelley23 wrote:Places like this can give you good ideas:

http://us.lastminute.com/LastSecondDeals.html

Make sure you "shop" with Elwing, if you do it this way. That' part's half the fun....
It's all the fun - on her side. I really don't get into this vacation planning stuff, so I'll turn it over to her because she loves it. Problem is that although I have sufficient annual leave time to be able to do something, her vacation days are fewer and we've already got an Alaskan cruise planned for June plus the 3-day Bahamas cruise that she won for being "Support Person of the Year" (the company is paying the expenses for this one, but she'll probably have to use vacation days to cover her absence).

(Gentle Push) If she loves it, wouldn't this be a good time to push yourself to enjoy it, too? Or at least pretend to?

Unless you're the type that can't participate without taking over, then you really are better off just leaving her to it.

My marriage has become much happier once I realized that I could learn to enjoy stuff done WITH her that I would never have enjoyed doing by myself. Since this is would be essentially a "found money" trip, there would be much less stress than if this were your actual annual vacation.

earendel · #9 Post by **earendel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:54 am

mrkelley23 wrote:
earendel wrote:
mrkelley23 wrote:Places like this can give you good ideas:

http://us.lastminute.com/LastSecondDeals.html

Make sure you "shop" with Elwing, if you do it this way. That' part's half the fun....
It's all the fun - on her side. I really don't get into this vacation planning stuff, so I'll turn it over to her because she loves it. Problem is that although I have sufficient annual leave time to be able to do something, her vacation days are fewer and we've already got an Alaskan cruise planned for June plus the 3-day Bahamas cruise that she won for being "Support Person of the Year" (the company is paying the expenses for this one, but she'll probably have to use vacation days to cover her absence).
(Gentle Push) If she loves it, wouldn't this be a good time to push yourself to enjoy it, too? Or at least pretend to?

Unless you're the type that can't participate without taking over, then you really are better off just leaving her to it.

My marriage has become much happier once I realized that I could learn to enjoy stuff done WITH her that I would never have enjoyed doing by myself. Since this is would be essentially a "found money" trip, there would be much less stress than if this were your actual annual vacation.

I enjoy the destinations. I don't enjoy the seemingly endless online shopping to get the best deal. I realize its importance but if it were up to me it wouldn't get done. Since elwing does like it, it seems like an appropriate division of labor. She does ask me about some things such as shore excursions on cruises, and such things as that, but for the most part it's her bailiwick.

marrymeflyfree · #10 Post by **marrymeflyfree** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:29 am

Here is a link to American's route maps for some ideas....

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/ ... /world.jsp

What kind of getaway are you interested in? Lazy relaxation? Adventure? Off the beaten path?

earendel · #11 Post by **earendel** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:13 pm

marrymeflyfree wrote:Here is a link to American's route maps for some ideas....

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/ ... /world.jsp

What kind of getaway are you interested in? Lazy relaxation? Adventure? Off the beaten path?

Probably just something to kill a weekend and not kill our finances.

MarleysGh0st · #12 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:15 pm

earendel wrote:
marrymeflyfree wrote:Here is a link to American's route maps for some ideas....

http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/ ... /world.jsp

What kind of getaway are you interested in? Lazy relaxation? Adventure? Off the beaten path?
Probably just something to kill a weekend and not kill our finances.

You're a wild and crazy guy, ear!

marrymeflyfree · #13 Post by **marrymeflyfree** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:28 pm

earendel wrote:
Probably just something to kill a weekend and not kill our finances.

How about something you wouldn't otherwise have done, since it is sort of a 'found trip' kinda thing? Like....a non-touristy non-beachy Mexico weekend? It can be pretty inexpensive, and the people are friendly and fun. I took my dad to Guadalajara a couple of years ago, and he loved it. There are two shopping villages with lots of unique little items, really wonderful food, and I don't think I've ever been there without seeing some neat street performers and whatnot. The taxis are cheap, and the room rates are very reasonable.

Monterry is another one I'd recommend, though it is a bit more urban. Mexico City is great, though it can be a bit overwhelming and sometimes dangerous depending on where you are. Leon is wonderful for shoe and leather shopping, but otherwise underwhelming imo.

Just a few atypical ideas for you..

ghostjmf · #14 Post by **ghostjmf** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:41 pm

Sometimes nice people from the airline will extend the date for you. Sometimes they will not.

In general, the trip has to be booked by the cutoff date, not taken by the cutoff date.

But check with the airline in question.

peacock2121 · #15 Post by **peacock2121** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:22 pm

mrkelley23 wrote:
mrkelley23 wrote: My marriage has become much happier once I realized that I could learn to enjoy stuff done WITH her that I would never have enjoyed doing by myself. Since this is would be essentially a "found money" trip, there would be much less stress than if this were your actual annual vacation.

I just fell more deeply in like with you.

Peter5858 · #16 Post by **Peter5858** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:58 pm

Go to Tucson and check out the Sonoran desert. The timing might be right (or might be a bit too early) for the absolutely spectacular spring flowers. But even if it isn't blooming, it's a lovely time of year to go there. Nice and warm, without all the Florida dreck. Great for day hikes or just hanging out.