Last minute trip ideas! Either in Y or J
Nov 9, 2018, 10:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Edinburgh
Programs: BA Gold, HHonors Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 759
Last minute trip ideas! Either in Y or J
Hello
I have just accepted a new job where the start date is the 6th December. I finish up my old job on the 30th November giving me 4/5 days. Any ideas where is good to go? I’m based in Edinburgh but can fly anywhere.
I know at this short notice the chances of getting good J deals are slim so Y deals are fine. I need to be at work on the 6th so back into Edinburgh on the 5th December
As always open to all suggestions
I have just accepted a new job where the start date is the 6th December. I finish up my old job on the 30th November giving me 4/5 days. Any ideas where is good to go? I’m based in Edinburgh but can fly anywhere.
I know at this short notice the chances of getting good J deals are slim so Y deals are fine. I need to be at work on the 6th so back into Edinburgh on the 5th December
As always open to all suggestions
Nov 9, 2018, 11:00 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
I think we're going to need some more clues here. Do you have a rough budget? Do you like cities, mountains or beaches? Are you more interested in the journey or the destination? Do you want long-haul or short-haul? Do you want some relaxation before you start your new job, or an adventure where you get back exhausted and ready for some office-work? Hot or cold?
Nov 9, 2018, 11:10 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,816
Almost all of my longhaul travel is for short duration, usually a day or two maximum.
If you have a reasonable amount of Avios, you could book something last minute, when new availability becomes available.
That’s my standard modus operandi for using Avios, very short longhaul trips booked often on the day of departure itself, but also two or three days before when availability starts showing for the return segment. I’ve even managed three weekend RTW redemptions in F on Avios, but more typically it’s somewhere in the Middle East or SE Asia for a weekend, such as Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, KL, Tokyo, Seoul, or Bangkok (when BKK had F to BKK) I only ever redeem in F.
About five years ago I went for Sunday lunch in Sydney, leaving my desk at 5pm Friday and back at the same desk 8am Monday, but that was a paid ticket on Qantas, not a redemption, within a week of travel.
Auckland’s a bit harder, I haven’t figured out a reasonable way to achieve a “weekend” there without having to stay overnight, meaning you need a three day weekend, which I have done, of course ;-) on Emirates on those occasions on paid tickets.
Bangkok isn’t a bad place to aim for if you want to reduce costs both in terms of getting there and accommodation and dining.
There’s something terribly hedonistic if not weird about booking last minute to take you around the planet in a weekend, even if you have no reason to go there. Long may it continue.
If you have a reasonable amount of Avios, you could book something last minute, when new availability becomes available.
That’s my standard modus operandi for using Avios, very short longhaul trips booked often on the day of departure itself, but also two or three days before when availability starts showing for the return segment. I’ve even managed three weekend RTW redemptions in F on Avios, but more typically it’s somewhere in the Middle East or SE Asia for a weekend, such as Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, KL, Tokyo, Seoul, or Bangkok (when BKK had F to BKK) I only ever redeem in F.
About five years ago I went for Sunday lunch in Sydney, leaving my desk at 5pm Friday and back at the same desk 8am Monday, but that was a paid ticket on Qantas, not a redemption, within a week of travel.
Auckland’s a bit harder, I haven’t figured out a reasonable way to achieve a “weekend” there without having to stay overnight, meaning you need a three day weekend, which I have done, of course ;-) on Emirates on those occasions on paid tickets.
Bangkok isn’t a bad place to aim for if you want to reduce costs both in terms of getting there and accommodation and dining.
There’s something terribly hedonistic if not weird about booking last minute to take you around the planet in a weekend, even if you have no reason to go there. Long may it continue.
Nov 9, 2018, 11:52 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Nov 9, 2018, 12:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Aspen, CO
Posts: 792
Last edited by Gino Troian; Nov 9, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Nov 9, 2018, 12:44 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,899
Nov 9, 2018, 12:57 pm
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bath, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,000
If you can leave EDI by 18:10 on the 30th you could spend 3 nights and 4 days in Cape Town - lovely weather most likely, time in the winelands and some great food at reasonable prices and all without the jet lag!
Nov 9, 2018, 1:16 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Cumbria
Programs: BAEC GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 4,510