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Hooray, booked my FF seats for next summer.
I've been holding segments of our free business class FF tickets with AA for next summer waiting for the appropriate day to book the return. Surprisingly when I checked this evening, AA had now entered July 18 into the system, earlier than expected, so was able to get our seats. Getting first choice of free FF flights is always a challenge. Playing their game I was able to get our first choice of all flights.
Here's the plan. Fort Lauderdale to New York for 9 nights (first class included with the international business class tickets), then Iberia Business Class from JFK to Madrid where we'll stay for 9 nights, then Iberia Busines Class from Madrid to Rome. We're renting an apartment in Rome for a week, then heading by train to Bellagio for 4 nights, then renting an apartment in Venice for a week. From there we'll fly Easy Jet or BMI to London for 9 nights in "our flat" we've rented so many times. Then fly Easy Jet to Nice where we're renting an apartment for a week, and then probably fly Easy Jet to Paris where we're renting an apartment for 10 nights. I'll turn 60 in Paris on our final night, before flying back to Miami Business Class. Our tickets price out at $6868 each. We're allowed the "US gateway stopover in New York, plus the Madrid stopover as part of our Ft. Lauderdale to Rome flight. Coming home is considered Paris to Miami direct. Pretty good deal for 90,000 miles each. I'm happy. |
Congratulations! I just spent my 40th in Paris (in <i>our</i> SANT apartment) and it was magical. I hope you have a wonderful trip~
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ah, mvor, I'm thinking next summer of NOT staying in the Sant apartment. I'm strongly considering one at Place Bourg Tibourg from Bienvenue Paris.
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Me too. I've been following all of the posts (including yours) on the Tibourg apartment and it looks great, plus it would be fun to stay in the Marais.
I think the SANT apartment needs some tweaking. It was very clean this visit but the living room furniture just isn't conducive to relaxing/reading etc. My husband has a meeting in Paris in late June so I feel compelled to join him... |
Patrick, I am truly impressed. You are getting the most for your miles for sure. I am wondering how I could possibly do anything like you next summer, and I am coming up blank. Do you have any ideas about how you strategized for this itinerary? We are thinking of going to Germany...possibly Northern Italy and Switzerland next July. We ran into enough hot weather this last summer, that we have decided to try to go to cool places until we can travel in off seasons.
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Sounds fantastic -- I turned 50 in Paris. Since it's going to happen, it may as well be somewhere wonderful (not that "home" isn't wonderful, but that's too easy).
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Wren - not to hijack this thread - but you might consider going to the southern hemisphere where the climate is reverse ours. Cape Town, South Africa or even Argentina and Chile....
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Patrick, that is fabulous! I know you mentioned it on the thread I started, but how did you manage to get the seating in business class already? You've inspired me to see if I can manage to book business class on our outgoing portion of the trip; I don't think I have enough miles for both directions.
Paule |
We booked a business class free award which is 90,000 miles and allows the two stopovers. I'm not sure that you could upgrade a portion at this stage of the game so far ahead. As soon as you ticket, you reserve your seats.
Yea and about that birthday. We were planning on a week in Paris, and suddenly I said, "hey we get home the day before my birthday. Do I want to turn 60 at home in Naples or do it in Paris?" It didn't take us long to decide that Paris was the better option, so we are extending our stay there to 10 nights. And wren, hi! I'm not sure if you know but Lee has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. We're thinking this trip next summer may be a kind of last hurrah trip for us, so we picked the places we love the most in Europe and are staying a week or more in each (except for that 4 days in beautiful Bellagio). Lee still has a sense of humor and says, "you pick. I probably won't know where I am anyway." But he really wants to do it. Being Floridians like you, wren, we've tried to move it as far forward as possible, doing Madrid in May for example. At least we're avoiding August there, but on the other hand isn't it better being hot in Europe in August than being hot in Florida in August? |
Patrick, you are right to go ahead and plan this wonderful trip. My FIL had Alzheimers and totally enjoyed himself as long as he was with my MIL. When with the one you've loved long and well it makes all the difference in the world. Don't spare the wonderful details! You'll always remember them.
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I must say I get a little miffed at friends who say, "you're really going? Won't it be difficult?" My stock answer is, "so you think it will be a piece of cake if we stay home?" I must say that travel is certainly foremost in his mind. He does drive me crazy with popping out of nowhere with "remember that place we ate?" or "where was that place we drove to?" Huh? Can you give me a clue here? Surprisingly after much talking out, we finally come up with enough details that I actually do figure out what he's talking about.
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Congratulations, Patrick! Don't you just love those U.S. gateway cities, where you can add an extra destination for the same number of miles? We've done that the last few summers, and it's worked out so well for us. Kind of like getting a couple trips in one. Especially nice since you've got so much time to spend over there.
Have fun with the rest of the planning! Happy travels! |
Wow! Way to go, Patrick. I'm very impressed (and also very envious....)
mom |
Patrick, I'm happy for your frequent flyer fortune, but so sorry for Lee's diagnosis. I am glad to know his sense of humor is still intact. He is very lucky to have you by his side and this is a special trip indeed. All the best to you and Lee.
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Hi Patrick!
This sounds just grand! I just read the entire thing to the Yankee and told him to think of something similar, maybe in the fall when our anniversary comes around LOL Like you and Lee, being married "100" years deserves a bit of a big celebration..as does your birthday! Congrats on getting all of your choices! |
Mercy, Miss Scarlett, you must have been a child bride!
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Patrick, you are so right in 'going for it' next year. Hopefully this will not be Lee's last hurrah, what better places can you possibly be in - especially with a caring loved one like you.
My cousin was in the beginning to mid stages of Alzheimer's and they moved to an adult community. They had an Alzheimer's group and a shuttle would pick him up for the meetings. His wife asked him one day what they discussed at the meetings and with his sense of humor still intact, he responded, "what difference does it make - who the hell remembers anything that they say anyway." Nina |
Patrick, thank you for sharing your wonderful news regarding the trip you and Lee will take! It sounds fantastic. I know that it will be no doubt difficult at times for you but with your good spirit and loving and carying nature I truly think and hope that this trip will be filled with many days of joy.
I really can't say that I know how to use FF miles in the clever way you do. But I will keep it it mind. I am so happy for you that you and Lee have this holiday to look forward to. And I truly hope that your dear Lee will be able to look forward to it also. My very best to both of you. |
Patrick, I don't know you well..but feel that I do after reading all your posts. Your vacation sounds outstanding! What a trip. I love it that you are staying in each city for for over a week...just what I hope to do once OH retires.
Hope you both have a wonderful time. |
Only one problem I forsee,Patrick.It looks like you'll need to have a massage therapist along.When do we leave?((f))
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