My last European trip....
Jul 2nd, 2018, 07:11 AM
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My last European trip....
I returned on Saturday from a month-long trip to Poland. I'm tired and jet-lagged, and my knees hurt. I've been thinking maybe this should be my last trip.
Then, on impulse, I checked my frequent flyer miles, and....I have 62,000 miles accumulated. Enough for a trip to Europe. Obviously that means I HAVE to take another trip--I just don't know where. I've been traveling almost yearly for close to 20 years now, and in the 60's, when I lived in Japan and in Heidelberg, I went somewhere several times a year--Asia, the middle east, Egypt, the Soviet Union, eastern Europe, etc., as well as Italy, England, Scotland. When asked, I generally say I've been everywhere, but that's not literally true. I haven't been anywhere in Africa except Egypt. I've been all over Europe, but there are other places, too, that I haven't visited. I've been to Denmark but not to other Scandinavian countries. Haven't been to Iceland. I've been to Hawaii several times.
Nowadays, I take Alaska Airlines from Spokane to Seattle, then Lufthansa to Frankfurt, then either Lufhansa or another airline to my first destination. This time it was to Warsaw. That's a long trip, and it's just as bad returning home, plus I have much worse jet lag coming home than going to Europe.
I'm just sort of rambling here...but I'm trying to figure out my next destination.
I need to take into account that I'm a chubby 82 year old. Perhaps I should plan on going to a Goethe Institute to study German or to somewhere in Spain to work on my Spanish.
Then, on impulse, I checked my frequent flyer miles, and....I have 62,000 miles accumulated. Enough for a trip to Europe. Obviously that means I HAVE to take another trip--I just don't know where. I've been traveling almost yearly for close to 20 years now, and in the 60's, when I lived in Japan and in Heidelberg, I went somewhere several times a year--Asia, the middle east, Egypt, the Soviet Union, eastern Europe, etc., as well as Italy, England, Scotland. When asked, I generally say I've been everywhere, but that's not literally true. I haven't been anywhere in Africa except Egypt. I've been all over Europe, but there are other places, too, that I haven't visited. I've been to Denmark but not to other Scandinavian countries. Haven't been to Iceland. I've been to Hawaii several times.
Nowadays, I take Alaska Airlines from Spokane to Seattle, then Lufthansa to Frankfurt, then either Lufhansa or another airline to my first destination. This time it was to Warsaw. That's a long trip, and it's just as bad returning home, plus I have much worse jet lag coming home than going to Europe.
I'm just sort of rambling here...but I'm trying to figure out my next destination.
I need to take into account that I'm a chubby 82 year old. Perhaps I should plan on going to a Goethe Institute to study German or to somewhere in Spain to work on my Spanish.
Jul 2nd, 2018, 08:08 AM
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Indeed. Keep traveling Peg! You may find that you need to change the way you travel; it may cost a bit more; you may cover less ground. Whatever accommodations you need to make, do it and keep moving. My mom and dad continued to travel well into their eighties and I think there are so many benefits that go along with that. All the best to you!
Jul 2nd, 2018, 08:10 AM
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Jul 2nd, 2018, 08:26 AM
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Peg,
Good for you!
Why not, put aside your concerns....knees, jet lag, etc. and think of where you'd like to visit, absent your concerns. If you come up with a place, then make adjustments that will make it a really enjoyable trip!
Have you done a river cruise? We have friends and family who enjoyed their European river cruises. (Not for me, but it sure is for others)
Good for you!
Why not, put aside your concerns....knees, jet lag, etc. and think of where you'd like to visit, absent your concerns. If you come up with a place, then make adjustments that will make it a really enjoyable trip!
Have you done a river cruise? We have friends and family who enjoyed their European river cruises. (Not for me, but it sure is for others)
Jul 2nd, 2018, 10:43 PM
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Welcome home . Peg - we have missed you!
Flew LH to LIS last month, doing it again this month to celebrate my birthday in Porto and Lisbon. . If you have not explored that part of the world, I highly recommend it. Do bring comfortable shoes!
Flew LH to LIS last month, doing it again this month to celebrate my birthday in Porto and Lisbon. . If you have not explored that part of the world, I highly recommend it. Do bring comfortable shoes!
Jul 3rd, 2018, 03:58 AM
#14
My suggestion would be to allocate a larger portion of your travel budget to the comfort of travel.
We just got back from Poland ourselves, and FRA to PHL was in premium economy.
That extra space and the footrest made a difference.
We just got back from Poland ourselves, and FRA to PHL was in premium economy.
That extra space and the footrest made a difference.
Jul 3rd, 2018, 08:46 AM
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Personally, I don't agree with a lot of these suggestions, to ignore your physical reality, to go to spas or go someplace you've never been or to go on a safari, etc.
I think the easiest type of vacation would be to go to one major city and just stay there. Pick a place you really love and that has great public transportation options for getting around town, or for day trips. If you must fly into/out of Germany (sounds like it from your FF miles), I think the German language option would be fine if that's what you really want to do. Personally, I could not stand all those airline transfers and time myself and I'm somewhat younger than you. In recent years I've been thinking about how as I get older, I just don't want to do the gallivanting around I used to and just going to one great city may be the wave of my future.
If you have to go in/out of Frankfurt, you could pick a place an easy train trip from Frankfurt, though. I wouldn't want to do 3 flights to get there. Switzerland is one idea as it is a beautiful country and pleasant enough. It is about 6 hrs by train to Zurich from Frankfurt, though. And if Switzerland doesn't excite you, fair enough -- it does have a great public transportation system.
You don't mention France, I think you are mostly interested in Germanic and SLovak countries. However, given your interest in WWII and the German influence, you might consider NE France and the Alsace area. You can get to Strasbourg from Frankfurt airport in just 2-3 hours by train (although I do think you must transfer at Offenberg or Karlsruhe), for example.
Of course with a month, you could easily go to Strasbourg, then it's an easy short high-speed train ride to Paris. You could visit the WWII Normandy sites if you were interested, not sure if you've been there.
I think the easiest type of vacation would be to go to one major city and just stay there. Pick a place you really love and that has great public transportation options for getting around town, or for day trips. If you must fly into/out of Germany (sounds like it from your FF miles), I think the German language option would be fine if that's what you really want to do. Personally, I could not stand all those airline transfers and time myself and I'm somewhat younger than you. In recent years I've been thinking about how as I get older, I just don't want to do the gallivanting around I used to and just going to one great city may be the wave of my future.
If you have to go in/out of Frankfurt, you could pick a place an easy train trip from Frankfurt, though. I wouldn't want to do 3 flights to get there. Switzerland is one idea as it is a beautiful country and pleasant enough. It is about 6 hrs by train to Zurich from Frankfurt, though. And if Switzerland doesn't excite you, fair enough -- it does have a great public transportation system.
You don't mention France, I think you are mostly interested in Germanic and SLovak countries. However, given your interest in WWII and the German influence, you might consider NE France and the Alsace area. You can get to Strasbourg from Frankfurt airport in just 2-3 hours by train (although I do think you must transfer at Offenberg or Karlsruhe), for example.
Of course with a month, you could easily go to Strasbourg, then it's an easy short high-speed train ride to Paris. You could visit the WWII Normandy sites if you were interested, not sure if you've been there.
Jul 3rd, 2018, 09:33 AM
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Peg, as a fellow "Peg" I certainly think of you as an inspiration! With that many miles, I would also echo Christina's suggestion of splurging for better seats. Have you also considered confining your trips to ones with fewer transfers? So much of the stress in travel is...the travel...that if can look for a nonstop or, at most, single connecting flight, it would decrease the stress considerably.
Jul 3rd, 2018, 11:22 AM
#17
Having to take a series of flights to get one’s destination in Europe is reality for many who live in smaller cities like Peg. Keep traveling Peg but splurge with miles or dollars for Premium Economy or Business Class seats. Staying in a xity with good public transportation is a nice way to travel. Look at Nice as an example.
Jul 3rd, 2018, 11:29 AM
#18
Maybe you could fly to Seattle and spend the night here at an airport hotel, get a good night's rest. Then take a nonstop to London, Amsterdam, or Paris the next day. And travel by train from there? Just thinking of how to minimize (a little bit) the stress of the plane ride, time change, and jet lag.
Jul 3rd, 2018, 11:44 AM
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I've actually done that: flown down to L.A. for the night, seen some friends, and then had them drop me off at the airport the next day for a flight that was more optimal than the one I would have taken from SFO.
