Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Where should I go in Jan-Feb 2005?

Any of the CX routes. I want to use some of my miles for an award ticket. Just make sure it'll be a fun experience, and it will be safe, or I'll have to get my bodyguards to come along. Thanks in advance!

PS - The reason why this thread is here is because I am limiting your replies to CX routes only. ;)

Chinese new year is Feb 9th, so plan accordingly. Ten days before and after the new year is a bear to travel through HKG.

Perfect time of year for visiting South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.

Perfect time of year for visiting South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.

Except, for Australia and New Zealand anyway, award space will be severely restricted when all the kiddies flock back to school.

Heck, revenue space will be limited; forget about award space.

I am SO Suprised that our imfamous SKYE will ask about CX routes and destiantion. Surely such a widely travelled F Class pax should know where they should go without consulting us lame man!

As for award space, I must say I am so suprised I was able to claim a U Class HKG-SYD around the Chinese NY period! All confirmed already

skye is a Dimond member, isn't she? Award inventory for Diamonds is different from others. Unless revenue seats are sold out, it should not be a problem securing a seat.

Given Skye is a F Class traveller and the thought of she going in J must be a Horrifying and Unacceptable experience for her!

Therefore that rules out amost half of the CX network already!

Yes, I am mentally prepared for the HKIA crowded-ness, thank you.

Actually, I was planning to go to Australia, since I went to S.A. this summer already. Any fun places/things to do in Australia that anyone can suggest?

And hold it, Newcx12345, I am appalled at your replies. You sound like a 14 year old teenager going through menstruation. I do know "where they should go" but I wanted to hear from you all "lame man". It's "lay men", by the way. And I think "imfamous" is "infamous". That is innuendo, and out of line.

"Given Skye is a F Class traveller and the thought of she going in J must be a Horrifying and Unacceptable experience for her!" - That is the funniest thing I've heard all day. Just because I travel F, doesn't mean I think J or Y is horrifying and unacceptable. J and Y are only uncomparable, and none of the disgusting adjectives you used.

Okay, now. The show can go on.

Unless revenue seats are sold out, it should not be a problem securing a seat.

That's my point :D

skye - it depends what you're looking for. Cairns is a bit off the beaten tourist track (cf SYD, Gold Coast etc.), but never been though, so can't comment.

Sydney's a nice city but personally I've been there too much to really enjoy it nowadays. I've heard good things about Melbourne (but never been).

Other than that, the remaining CX destinations are Perth & Brisbane... Perth I haven't heard much about; BNE, well, most people in NZ use it as a stepping stone to get to Surfer's Paradise (Gold Coast) which I found dreadfully overpopulated with tourists.

But how about NZ? I'd gladly take NZ over Australia any day... but that's national pride talking ;).

That's my point :D


So are there any routes to Australia or New Zealand where F, J or Y has already been sold out for January or Febuary? CX must be doing very good. :cool:

Sapporo (SPK) Snow Festival is held from 7th Feb to 13th Feb 2005.

http://www.snowfes.com/ (in Japanese)

You can see some pictures in 2004.
http://www.snowfes.com/english/index_e.html (In English)

http://www.snowfes.com/contents/place/setsuzo01-05.html
http://www.snowfes.com/contents/place/setsuzo06-10.html

If OZ is your choice (if summer heat doesn't worry your skin), try Heyman or Hamilton islands, or those island off the coast of Queensland. I would personally avoid SYD/BNE/MEL those seasons. To the extent ur budget allow, you will find those exotic private island to be very peaceful and enjoyable.

Go onto Qantas board. They have lots of info.

Skye, how much time do you have? Like others have said, burning miles to go down under may not be possible due to lack of availability, but it's who you know not necessarily what you know... :)

Anyway, my suggestion is similar to that of an island off the QLD coast is to go to the Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island in NZ. Unless you're a keen tramper, many tourists miss that part of the country, but it's one of the best. Often has the best weather in NZ, and there're many quiet and private bays and beaches for you to enjoy. Not to mention the many vineyards in that region.

Just make sure you've plenty of sunblock.

B-HXB, I too have been to Sydney on countless occasions, but Cairns sounds interesting. I went to Perth, and there's nothing much to do, and the heat there seriously kills me. What is fun about NZ? :)

Wasabi Tofu, I love the snow. I'll take a look at the sites, thanks. ;)

fakecd, I think I saw Hamilton Island being mentioned in this Qantas advert the other day. Do you know of any good (5/6* hotels on the islands)? Or are there any at all.

Leumas, I have about three to four weeks, depending on my schedule. Are there any good accomodation on the island(s) you mentioned? That's a priority. :)

Well to my knolwedge those small islands (inc. Hamilton or Hayman) are pretty much exclusive resorts of very high quality, and yes 5/6*. The rooms go around $1000 per night (of course there are avenues to get cheaper). I personaly never stayed there before, so I really can't comment. But some would argue that these islands are too "commercialized" to be enjoyable.

check out
www.hamiltonisland.com.au
www.hayman.com.au
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/

Or, do a search on qantas board under "queensland holidays" or "private island" or... well, keywords as such. I'm very sure I've seen some extensive discussion on this topic.


Just a note about sapporo. If you like snow, you might enjoy the snow festival. But I don't think you will find the city that spectacular. There isn't much 5/6* hotels in that area. If you don't mind bathing with other ladies/men, you might want to also consider a hot-spring tour of Japan. In hokkaido during winter, you will find this a real treat.

Hayman looks interesting. I'll take a peek at the sites. Thanks! :)

PS - What's that thing Guy Betsy mentioned? Australian Flower Essences or something like that?

Don't forget New Zealand. The North Island has Auckland and the lakes to its north. The trout fishing in the middle regions of the North Island is fantastic. Nearly Rotorua is a thermal fantasywhere geysers of boiling water erupt in the air, mud bubbles in mysterious pools and steam wafts in eerie clouds from the surface of the lake. The South Island has Queenstown, Milford Sound, Christchurch and more.

New Zealand is cooler than Australia in February. I arrived New Zealand February 16 and Australia 2 weeks later. I spend time in Melbourne, staying in the St Kilda area. I did the Phillip Island Fairy Penguin tour. I next drove the Great Ocean Road and through wine country to Adelaide. I arrive March 6th and the town was filled with activity, a maor festival. I flew to Kangaroo Island and spent an incredible day there with a naturalist.

I also stayed at Hayman. Note that February is the height of the rainy season. It likely rains 20 to 25 days. That worried me and I called the resort and asked how bad was it. I was told not to worry the rain would not be a problem. It wasn't. In 3 days, 2 nights I had one hard rain about 4 in the afternoon. It was over in well under an hour. Most rains are late afternoon, short and intense there.

Sidney is a world class city with much to do. I took a 6 hour harbor cruise, went to the zoo and aquarium, found great shopping , enjoyed the weekend flea market (high class) at the Rocks and more. Chinatown has great restaurants with walls of live seafood in tanks. Don't miss Sydney.

My tour can be found at http://www.gifs.net/australia/ for more information.

Leumas, I have about three to four weeks, depending on my schedule. Are there any good accomodation on the island(s) you mentioned? That's a priority. :)

There're quite a few good accommodation around Queenstown and central Otago. It'll be nice to spend a couple of weeks there, plenty of sights to see, things to do, wine to drink (assuming you like wine). Having said that, these properties offer enough privacy so you can shut yourself off from the outside world too. Type 'Queenstown' into Google.

Then, you can head up towards the central North Island and towards Auckland and beyond. There're plenty of nice properties there too.

I don't know many nice properties around the Marlborough Sounds, not to say there aren't any. I suspect in the Sounds, nice properties tend to be private home rental.

The generic NZ tourism site - www.newzealand.com
www.slh.com will show some nice small hotels. The NZ properties listed there are some of the best in NZ.

Let us know or PM if there's anything we can help with.

I don't know many nice properties around the Marlborough Sounds, not to say there aren't any. I suspect in the Sounds, nice properties tend to be private home rental.

Try www.nzherald.co.nz, going to "Advanced Search" (up the top of the webpage), search for "Marlborough Sounds" in Travel.

The first hit tossed up the Portage Hotel www.portage.co.nz which looked like quite a nice property.

There are a lot of really nice small lodge-style hotels tucked away in pockets throughout NZ - never had the chance to stay at one myself but from the travel shows and news clips, most look spectacular. With views to boot, too.

Unless you really want the heat, stay South of Brisbane. Also don't forget that schools are on holidays till about 25 Jan.

Thought about Tasmania?

Any of the CX routes. I want to use some of my miles for an award ticket. Just make sure it'll be a fun experience, and it will be safe, or I'll have to get my bodyguards to come along. Thanks in advance!

PS - The reason why this thread is here is because I am limiting your replies to CX routes only. ;)

If you want safe go to SIngapore, no body guards needed :D

B-HXB, I too have been to Sydney on countless occasions, but Cairns sounds interesting. I went to Perth, and there's nothing much to do, and the heat there seriously kills me. What is fun about NZ? :)

Here is a link for things you might want to do in New Zealand.

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/activities/activities-home-page.cfm

Good luck.

If you want safe go to SIngapore, no body guards needed :D
Even BKK?