need destination advice!
 

Hello, <BR>Previously I was planning a 4 day trip <BR>to Vegas from Orlando for first week <BR>of May. I had 2 transportation vouchers <BR>with American Air, but found out that <BR>their fares went up yesterday to like <BR>$350/ppd. <BR> <BR>So, I'm looking for another warm <BR>destination (outside Fl of course) <BR>with good scenery and sightseeing. <BR> <BR>Can anyone recommend a good city/natl <BR>park to visit early May (out of <BR>Orlando) for which the roundtrip <BR>airfare would be $250 ppd roughly. <BR> <BR>Thanks for any advice!

Well, these are the questions I would have. When do the vouchers expire? I take it from your post that the value is $250 per voucher and you have two of them. Do you have to BOOK by a certain date or must you TRAVEL by a certain date? Maybe you could you simply wait for the next fare sale. At this point, your best bet might be to pay something in addition to the fixed dollar value of the vouchers, since it would open up a lot of other destinations for you. Is there some reason you don't want to do that, such as affordability? Honestly, choosing a destination based so heavily on the price of the ticket to get there seems like an awkward way to attempt to plan a trip. There will be other cost items in your trip that will be variable based on the destination and activities, so do you REALLY have to be so rigid on the airfare component -- perhaps due to some kind of condition attached to the vouchers or something?

vouchers expire in May 2nd. <BR>I need to book by then. <BR>In general I'm looking for <BR>a destination that is priced <BR>less than $300 round-trip.

Ohhhh, NOW I get it! Here's something that you might consider: something in Texas. Okay, now I KNOW what you're thinking: "Why Texas?" Well first, because American Airlines has a ton of flights there. I haven't checked American's route map, but here are some "possibles": Gulf coast spots like Galveston (fly into Houston) San Antonio (stay on the River Walk) Austin (fun college town). Corpous Cristi (South Padre Island, etc.); Dallas (I'm lying -- don't go to Dallas!) ...That should get some Texans on here with suggestions... :o) And other than that, just get on the AA website, start picking apart American's route map, start plugging in possibilities and pricing them. I'm guessing you will eventually find an especially competitive destination, a new route or SOMETHING that will interest you -- but it IS a shell game at this point, I would concede.

Pati, you say a National Park? Jim, you say Texas? <BR> <BR>Okay... see if it's cheap to fly to El Paso from Orlando. Then get the heck out of there! <BR> <BR>You will be within a couple hours drive from Guadalupe National Park and Carlsbad Caverns (relatively close to one another). Hot desert and moderate mountain temps at Guadalupe; cool caverns and bat watching at Carlsbad. <BR> <BR>OR... follow the Rio Grande down to Big Bend National Park (4 hour drive from El Passo?) It is the most remote Nat'l Park in the lower 48... pretty large, too. Mountain country dropped in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert plus Rio Grande carved mountains equals varied temperatures, varied plants and animals that come from all biospheres. Excellent hiking opportunities, Chisos Mountain Lodge is a moderate place to stay. <BR> <BR>Check out www.nps.org for park ideas.

How about New Orleans? Warm in May, lots to do and less than $200 from Orlando.