Trip ideas based on dates/low mileage required?
 

I am looking for some suggestions for low mileage awards during certain times of the year. Class does not matter, and can be on AA, UA, or US (originating from the East Coast - JFK or nearby).

Here are the ranges I am looking for (girlfriend is a teacher so these are the only times we can travel):

February (anytime)
April (anytime)
Summer (July - August)
December (last week)

1. I know of the 60k business to Europe from the US on USAir in February, so that's one option for Feb. Recommendations on a good place in the EU in Feb? Would like nicer weather than I get in CT during that time, although I know it'll be cold anywhere in Europe.

2. Also, 40k coach on AA to Europe from Oct 15 - May 15, so that should include the last week of December. Any recommendations for location during the last week in December? I hear the Canary Islands would be a good option. Any others?

Looking for any other options for any of the date ranges listed above. Would like to find some ideas under 100k miles round trip. Also, the warmer the better, although no locations are out of the question.

Delta also has the occasional 60k European flight. See about Istanbul-Turkey, Rome-Milan, Barcelona-Andorra and Tel Aviv-Amman. You are going to need to scan the fare charts for pockets of cheap fares.

Canary Islands or Madiera are good ideas or Casa Blanca. But will add flight cost after your entry in Europe.

Get your time windows and budget narrowed. Rome and Istanbul are good as you train in and need no car. Barcelona is funky and you can get to Andorra by bus and walk around. Tel Aviv you train to Jerusalem, get a cab and cab back to Tel Aviv. Then you hit Jordan (Petra, Jerash).

I have the same requirements since my wife is also a teacher. We're planning on AA RDU->CDG for March (kids tracked out). The last week of December will not work. Even though it's technically off-peak, the tix seem to be typical award costs. I checked costs at PointHub.

It will be interesting to see the suggestions. We haven't made our plans firm yet, so maybe we'll take one of the suggestions posted here. There will be four of us travelling. Me+spouse+2 kids.

David
Flyalog

If Europe is a consideration, I would suggest looking at building in a trip to Hawaii for just 17.5k additional per person. Trip could go something like this:

February: One way award JFK - HNL/LIH/etc. (17.5k pp)
February: One way award HNL - EU with stopover in JFK (20k pp)
April: Complete travel from JFK to EU
April: Return EU - JFK (20k pp)

Total: (57.5k pp)

Note that it would be 5k more pp to do the Hawaii portion during Dec and 10k more pp to do the EU portion during the summer.

The product on Hawaii flights will vary, so look for a International configurated aircraft over domestic 737s etc

Availability generally should not be a problem (except maybe on DL, but even then)