Originally Posted by
enki
Here are my ground rules:
- I have to be able to get there on miles (*A)
- I should be able to find cheap lodging
- It should challenge me in some interesting way (Ecuador = culture, Austria = isolation, Nepal = terrain)
- It should be far from SFO (how far is negotiable, but it should be outside North America)
- I should feel like I'm in a different world/foreign culture/another planet
How about Uruguay?
You can get there on TAM (which is for now still a *A member, so you should be able to book the flight on miles) or Copa (which even though it's not a *A member is still available since it's a UA partner, no?).
There are lots of small towns, many near nice beaches, and I'm sure you can find a reasonably priced inn, particularly if you go during off season.
The culture/language will be different, and you're very unlikely to meet too many tourists (unless you go to Punta del Este, but that's easily avoided.) Actually, outside of Montevideo and Punta, it's very easy to unwind because the country is so sparsely populated.
Very far from SFO.
It's also extremely safe, so your wife should be comfortable with the idea. Plus you can eat and drink very, very well there. ^