Help Needed! Where to instead of South Africa?
Nov 27, 2021, 4:39 pm
#76
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 677
Thanks everyone. Some lovely ideas here.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
Nov 27, 2021, 6:41 pm
#77
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,579
Thanks everyone. Some lovely ideas here.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
Nov 27, 2021, 7:02 pm
#78
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: EVA Air , * G, QR Privilege Club S
Posts: 5,170
Thanks everyone. Some lovely ideas here.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
I love California and I’m looking forward to Coachella with my girlfriends next year for a big birthday. We also love Hawaii and had a fantastic time in Maui and the Big Island. Our trip to Argentina and Uruguay for Christmas 2015 was fabulous, especially Punta del Este where we stayed at the extraordinary Playa Vik.
For this year I have just on a whim booked 4 club work seats to the Maldives and I’ve got the 24 hour cancellation period to find somewhere to stay. Flights surprisingly reasonable and less than Premium Economy which I would have booked given that this trip is somewhat financially constrained.
Nov 27, 2021, 7:42 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,834
wake up and smell the coffee a proliferation of "smash and grabs" streets parks roadways full of homeless from SD to Portland to Seattle. If the state is so great why is there a outward flow of people? We lived in HalfMoon Bay, Belmont, El Dorado Hills and SD Ill informed no sir/madam. If one stays at a resort and does not "take in the local flavor" you're fine.
Nov 28, 2021, 3:10 am
#80
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 91
It wasn't a joke...I'm onboard BA263 tomorrow out to Riyadh for one week to see how things have changed since I left 4 years ago.
The trip was originally scheduled for before the Covid...but the Saudi's nicely extended my tourist visa till April.
See the country now before it changes anymore and it becomes more touristy like the UAE. Other posters above agree.
I'll be enjoying a desert campout next weekend with some friends...Chris
The trip was originally scheduled for before the Covid...but the Saudi's nicely extended my tourist visa till April.
See the country now before it changes anymore and it becomes more touristy like the UAE. Other posters above agree.
I'll be enjoying a desert campout next weekend with some friends...Chris
Nov 28, 2021, 5:41 am
#82
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, DL Platinum
Posts: 597
wake up and smell the coffee a proliferation of "smash and grabs" streets parks roadways full of homeless from SD to Portland to Seattle. If the state is so great why is there a outward flow of people? We lived in HalfMoon Bay, Belmont, El Dorado Hills and SD Ill informed no sir/madam. If one stays at a resort and does not "take in the local flavor" you're fine.
The outflow of people is mostly due to the high cost of living resulting from insufficient housing stock. Demand is outstripping supply.
It all reminds me of the Yiddish joke about the old lady complaining of a restaurant, "The food was awful. And the portions were so small!"
Nov 28, 2021, 6:04 am
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,502
I think that the main issue that the OP is facing right now is the predictable uncertainty we will all have to powerlessly experience in coming weeks. Several of the destinations mentioned upthread are no longer realistic or authorised, and it is worth noting that the hazards are multilateral here: countries the UK might put on the red list (e.g. Southern Africa), countries that might close their borders entirely to tourists (e.g. Israel), countries that might specifically put the UK on the red list especially if UK numbers of cases involving the omicron variant were to go up in coming weeks which is entirely possible given the strong links between the UK and South Africa.
In that sense, I can see no "definitive" alternative, and with family in tow, the question is whether it is even worth risking multiple plans being consecutively cancelled and reorganised.
In that sense, I can see no "definitive" alternative, and with family in tow, the question is whether it is even worth risking multiple plans being consecutively cancelled and reorganised.
Nov 28, 2021, 7:42 am
#84
Moderator: Qatar Airways
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: LHR/NCE/MIA
Programs: BAEC GfL & GGL, SQ Gold, Amex Centurion, Mucci des Chevaliers des Bons Mots et Qui Savent Moucher
Posts: 8,944
Nov 28, 2021, 2:02 pm
#85
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 677
So, 9 nights in the Maldives it is. Staying that the Fairmont which looks nice enough. £33k including J flights, sea plane transfers, Christmas gala dinner and the kids eat free. Converted to a BA holiday so well protected if we can't travel due to further restrictions.
Mr NW felt bad so gave me a blank cheque, and I was tempted by the Waldorf but I couldn't bring myself to spend another £20k plus it looks like it would have cost a further £1k per day for F&B.
Not a bad result and hopefully our non-refundable accommodation in Cape Town (booked and paid for in January 2020) will still be there for Christmas 2022.
Mr NW felt bad so gave me a blank cheque, and I was tempted by the Waldorf but I couldn't bring myself to spend another £20k plus it looks like it would have cost a further £1k per day for F&B.
Not a bad result and hopefully our non-refundable accommodation in Cape Town (booked and paid for in January 2020) will still be there for Christmas 2022.
Nov 28, 2021, 2:10 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,540
Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh... I think my wife might have had words about a £33k 'solution' to this problem. But kudos to you for making it work out 
Nov 28, 2021, 2:25 pm
#87
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,986
So, 9 nights in the Maldives it is. Staying that the Fairmont which looks nice enough. £33k including J flights, sea plane transfers, Christmas gala dinner and the kids eat free. Converted to a BA holiday so well protected if we can't travel due to further restrictions.
Mr NW felt bad so gave me a blank cheque, and I was tempted by the Waldorf but I couldn't bring myself to spend another £20k plus it looks like it would have cost a further £1k per day for F&B.
Not a bad result and hopefully our non-refundable accommodation in Cape Town (booked and paid for in January 2020) will still be there for Christmas 2022.
Mr NW felt bad so gave me a blank cheque, and I was tempted by the Waldorf but I couldn't bring myself to spend another £20k plus it looks like it would have cost a further £1k per day for F&B.
Not a bad result and hopefully our non-refundable accommodation in Cape Town (booked and paid for in January 2020) will still be there for Christmas 2022.
Sorry, hard not to bite.
Nov 28, 2021, 5:15 pm
#90
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London
Programs: Sir Ratechaser Seigneur de la Patience d'un Saint (Mucci), BA Silver, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 2,540
https://amp.theguardian.com/food/202...-et-steakhouse