MilesBuzz! - Where to take my wife for her birthday?

I'd like to use miles to take my wife away on a weekend trip in October for her birthday. We're based in DC and rough balances are as follows:

AA: 80000
United: 80000
BA: 95000

Anyone have good recommendations for destinations where I might be able to get two tickets for these amounts, without too high a copay? Montreal on UA? London on AA? Somewhere I could get rid of those blasted BA miles without paying $1000 in taxes/fees?

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There are no fuel surcharges when redeeming BA Avios for AA flights within the Americas. How about Bermuda or somewhere in the Caribbean?

What kind of destinations do you want? Beaches, shopping, hiking...it's hard to recommend something without knowing what you enjoy. Also, does it need to be premium cabin, or is coach acceptable?

The reduced mileage awards for October haven't been posted yet, but if you have one of the Citi cards, it could be worth waiting a bit to see if anything you're interested in is posted...

Don't waste too much time on the plane, it's only a weekend. Unless it's a long extended weekend. Since it's still warm in October, some place Northeast or Northwest, like Nova Scotia, Canada or Martha's Vineyard... Or one of Vancouver Islands.

Don't waste too much time on the plane, it's only a weekend. Unless it's a long extended weekend. Since it's still warm in October, some place Northeast or Northwest, like Nova Scotia, Canada or Martha's Vineyard... Or one of Vancouver Islands.

Vancouver Island is a long way away for a weekend. But, if you're thinking of Vancouver, 65,000 AA miles and 84,000 BA miles will get you roundtrip Cathay Pacific 77W First Suites JFK-YVR-JFK with DCA-JFK AE connection.

I'm with dagatch. What do you want? If it's only a weekend you could do a slightly farther getaway to the grand cayman islands with Avios/AA (if there's availability). 20K Avios or 40K in business per person, no YQ since you're on AA direct.

If you could come up with more Avios and have more time, you can use Avios on Aer Lingus or Iberia to avoid YQ.

If you could come up with more Avios and have more time, you can use Avios on Aer Lingus or Iberia to avoid YQ.

I agree with this. if you can buy another 5k avios, you can get a great redemption on Aer Lingus. I just booked two business class tickets on Aer Lingus from Boston to Dublin for 50k each for late november. Total cost was under $300. Price for the same route cash on Aer Lingus's webiste? $4k per ticket.

Due to Aer Lingus's mileage (i.e. distance flown) based reward chart, the BOS-DUB route is a great value.

You should be able to get cheap WAS-BOS tickets on US. I'm in PHL and got tickets for like $250 per to get to BOS. I think you'd need more than a weekend, but if you're thinking a long weekend, this or South America on AA seem to be the best use of Avios.

I doubt your wife cares much about spending a lot of time in an airplane if it's just for a weekend. I would take a 2h flight to Miami using BA points (AA). Stay at Miami beach (why not Hilton Bentely right on the beach) and enjoy a nice beach and good food. Maybe you even get lucky at night. London over the weekend by coach, no thanks!

PleasureTown

sea sfo san sju? mia for a 3 day cruise?

your turn re type of place you want.....it might help.....

I'm with dagatch. What do you want? If it's only a weekend you could do a slightly farther getaway to the grand cayman islands with Avios/AA (if there's availability). 20K Avios or 40K in business per person, no YQ since you're on AA direct.

If you could come up with more Avios and have more time, you can use Avios on Aer Lingus or Iberia to avoid YQ.

I think we'd like something relatively low-key, outdoorsy if possible but that could include either activity on the beach or in the mountains.

I'd rather go nonstop so we don't spend too much time in transit for such a short period on the ground.

Isn't late October hurricane season in the Caribbean?

I think we'd like something relatively low-key, outdoorsy if possible but that could include either activity on the beach or in the mountains.

I'd rather go nonstop so we don't spend too much time in transit for such a short period on the ground.

Isn't late October hurricane season in the Caribbean?

well, it's a very basic getaway but New England around then is wonderful, great scenery and generally pleasant weather. Maybe go to Cape Cod for beaches? Um...heard great things about Montreal so that's a good option. Maybe Nova Scotia?

Isn't late October hurricane season in the Caribbean?

Technically, yes, but as a practical matter we are well past the peak in the second half of October.

Montreal's great, especially that time of year. Even Quebec City is nice option. S. Carr islands, like Aruba or Curacao, will be out of normal hurricane paths. Belize?

I don't know about using your points, but from DC you might consider Bermuda. Short flight from the East Coast and it has the beach component.

Technically, yes, but as a practical matter we are well past the peak in the second half of October.Although the last really destructive storm, Wilma, came through on October 24, 2005

I don't like going to the Caribbean sept -oct- because some of the times I've been we've gotten tropical storm threats and winds .(unless on a cruise since cruises will reroute in case of something like that ) . We go on several cruises each year usually in April and second half of November .
How about Vegas ? You could drive to grand canyon and Zion/Bryce in Utah
But With only a weekend you might wanna stay closer to home

I would say save your miles for long trip/vacation.
A weekend is simply short to fly anywhere. You're probably wasting a day to get there, another day to return home.