Help us spend 1,664,217 Alaska Airlines Miles, and Win a Free Flight!
Living in Seattle makes it easy to fly Alaska Airlines to dozens of destinations. Since they’re also the only US program to give miles based on distance (instead of revenue) it’s also easy to rack up a lot of miles, fast.
Over the past several years since we’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve moved our business over to Alaska Airlines (from American and Delta) and in turn have been accumulating hundreds of thousands of miles every year.
The problem that we’ve run into now is we have NO idea what to do with all of our miles. Between the two of us we now have 1,664,217 Alaska Airlines miles and we need your help in figuring out how to use them. In return for your help in deciding where we’re going, we’re going to be giving away a free flight on Alaska Airlines!
Ben and I travel a little bit for work but mostly we travel on business class and first class tickets with Alaska Airlines’ partners.
One first class flight on British Airways in Paid First class last month netted us over 70,000 miles for the round trip. Wow, just wow.
As an MVP 75k gold, the minimum that you’re going to earn each year is 237,500 miles. 75,000 miles flown, and a 125% bonus for being 75k, AND a 50,000 welcome bonus for reaching that level works out to almost a quarter million miles each year.
Flying partner airlines in premium class earns you even more, as British Airways pays a whopping 625% for paid first class flights. I’ve just requalified as a Gold this year (not yet 75k) and I’m already at 141,847 miles just from flying.
British Airways First Class
The Problem
So that leads to the question, what’s the problem? The problem is that we’re earning so many Alaska Airlines miles and we don’t know what to do with them. There are hundreds of possible redemptions for us, all presenting unique opportunities for amazing opportunities.
Just a few of note are:
- Japan Airlines First Class to Asia
- Emirates to Dubai and Beyond
- Cathay Pacific Business/First Class
- Alaska Domestic First Class (just kidding)
The Giveaway
We want you to help us decide where to go next. There’s no limitation on what we can do as there’s no redemption that is out of the question, so tell us where you’d go yourself or where you’d like US to go, so we can do a review!
So, here’s how to enter to win your own flight for free on Alaska Airlines:
- Leave a Comment on this post telling us where you’d like to go (1 entry)
- Follow us on Twitter and send a tweet with the hashtag #NoMasCoachGiveaway, telling us where you’d fly (another entry).
- Send us a self-addressed stamped envelope to (no don’t do this, seriously, don’t do this)
We’ll pull the winner on July 31st and get in touch with you via email or twitter to reward you with your flight. If we get over 500 entries we’ll upgrade the free flight up to a first class ticket guaranteed!
So, where are we off to next? Comment below!
July 25, 2018
I’d go first class somehow to Seoul korea. Plenty of good choices to fly that.
July 26, 2018
I would go see my grandbabies in Chicago
July 25, 2018
I would love to fly Japan airlines to Tokyo then connect to Hokkaido to go snowboarding.
July 25, 2018
I’m looking at using my Alaska miles for a Fiji Airways business class flight to either Aukland or Sydney with a stop over in Fiji. Seems to be a great redemption at only 55k miles each way. Though I guess that doesn’t burn your miles very fast haha. Good problem to have!!
July 25, 2018
I agree – but who says we have to go only once?
July 25, 2018
I would travel across Southern Africa from west to east including the islands off the coast. If I had that many miles I would fly business (first isn’t worth the extra cost in my experience) on Emirates into Angola and out of Mauritius making my way to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar and Reunion. And if I had the time and ambition, I’d pop down into S. Africa to visit Lesotho and Swaziland too 🙂
July 25, 2018
New Caledonia!
July 25, 2018
New Zealand via Australia on QF First. Let availability choose your travel dates!
July 25, 2018
I’d use the miles to fly to Australia or New Zealand on Cathay Pacific first and go to Tasmania or Queenstown! I hope you document and post the trip you end up taking ! Can’t wait to see it
July 25, 2018
Can’t stress enough how great Japan Airlines First Class is in and out of Tokyo! The service was incredible and food was fantastic (the ramen was the best I’ve ever had on the ground or in the air!). Cathay and Qantas to their respective home bases are both solid alternatives with nice long routes to enjoy the experience but for my money JAL edges them both out. Whether in cash or in points, JAL to Tokyo is worth every penny or mile!
July 25, 2018
I would fly Cathay first to Hong Kong and stopover for a few days and then Onto South Africa for 70k miles one way
July 25, 2018
Thats what on our book. Shame that there is only Biz to SA currently.
July 25, 2018
I would go to Australia with a stopover in Fiji!
July 25, 2018
I have enough miles to fly to the Maldives but no points to use for hotels. I would love to see a review of a actually affordable resort there after an Emirates flight to get there.
July 25, 2018
Stay tuned!
July 25, 2018
LAX-KIX on Japan Airlines first class
July 25, 2018
Korean Air flies US –> Kathmandu via ICN for 150k RT in Business. The combination of Buddhist and Hindu sites + the proximity to base camp is unique.
July 25, 2018
New Zealand and Australia is my dream trip
July 25, 2018
Fly to Newark and drive up and down the New Jersey Coast, so amazing and so beautiful
July 25, 2018
Cathay Pacific First Class to Hong Kong and then Business Class to Cape Town. Visiting the Robben Island Museum will change your life.
July 25, 2018
Try Cathay First with stopover in HKG, then to Singapore + on the way back can do Japan Airlines Business/First with stop over in Tokyo (you can add flights from Tokyo to anywhere in Japan on JAL, although Bus/First may not be available on some).
July 25, 2018
I would fly cathay pacific first class to Hong Kong stopover and then to Tokyo. return to Taipei stopover and then onto HKG and back to the state.
July 25, 2018
JAL first class to Singapore via Tokyo!
July 25, 2018
TIBET 西藏
July 25, 2018
I would like to go first class for the first time in my life to the Maldives
July 25, 2018
sfo-dxb-syd all showering
July 25, 2018
The Enchanted River in the Philippines.
July 25, 2018
I would definitively fly to Tokio first class!! It’s my lifelong dream to visit Japan!! Thanks for the contest!
July 25, 2018
i was a peace corps volunteer for three years in vanuatu. i was a “teacher”. but, really, i was the learner. of course it was a beautiful place to live. but the real beauty was the people and the relationships i formed.
i miss them dearly.
however, a “volunteer”‘s salary is not conducive to saving money. i’ve been stateside for a few years now. i’d love to go back just to thank all the people that were always thanking me.
July 25, 2018
I’d love to go to Tokyo to visit Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea. Then to Kyoto since I’ve heard it’s an amazing place to experience.
I think you guys should go to New Zealand and tour all of the Lord of the Rings locations. But that’s because I’m a huge nerd!
July 25, 2018
Decisions… decisions… Either JAL to Tokyo in the front or Cathay to Australia/New Zealand (also in the front!).
July 25, 2018
Iceland, then to Faroe Islands!
July 25, 2018
I think I would fly 1st class to Alaska!
July 25, 2018
Cathay to South Africa
July 25, 2018
I would fly Japan Airlines first class to Japan for a stopover before heading to Vietnam.
July 25, 2018
I’ve used mine for flights in J on JAL and Qantas – if you can find the space I think the QF rates are some of the best values!
July 25, 2018
I would fly business on CX to HKG (when they begin A350 service to SEA) and into either PEK or PVG, and then return to Seattle on Hainan business class! Recently reviewed as one of the best Chinese carriers.
July 25, 2018
Easy Peary. Book a one way o Cathay first class to Hong Kong. Maybe spend a couple days there and then travel onto either Vietnam or New Zealand. Fly back on Japan airlines first class connect via Tokyo and take a mini break there before heading back to Seattle. Amazing!
July 25, 2018
Japan Airlines first class to Tokyo and on to Okinawa!
July 25, 2018
Round the World by 3 one ways
Seattle to NYC(stopover) to Tokyo on Alaska and Jal first
Tokyo to Hong Kong(stopover) to Beijing on Cathay first, when in HK, feel free to visit the southeast, on CX
Beijing to Dubai(stopover) to Seattle on Emirate first
July 25, 2018
Sounds good, but I’d do DXB-LAX and then LAX-SEA so that way you get the shower and bar!
July 25, 2018
Partner award Cathay First Class to Seoul (via Hong Kong)
July 25, 2018
Hey Jon – Fellow Seattleite here. I am actually reading through your Kruger series right now to help us plan our trip to SA. We’ll be staying at the Protea Kruger Gate as well. The misses and I spent six months traveling through Asia in 2013/2014. I have two recommendations for you. Myanmar and Laos. The current turmoil aside, Myanmar is a beautiful country with honest, gentle and wonderful people. I am sure you’ve heard of Bagan, land of a thousand temples. 3,000 to be exact if I recall correctly. The early morning hot air balloon ride is an experience you will cherish as lifelong memory.
Laos has figured out that their most precious resource is their untouched forests and ecology. Eco-tourism is huge and many outfits approach tourism with preservation and sustainability in mind. A kayak trip in the north via Luang Nam Tha paired with an overnight stay with a village stay and the temples and night market in Luang Prabang are experiences that we cherish and reminisce about still. God Save the Points just did a piece about this little known gem, give it a read.
http://www.godsavethepoints.com/2018/07/18/luang-prabang-laos-travel-guide-need-know/
Outside of that, I’d love to and would be happy to grab a pint here in Seattle to tell you more about it.
Cheers and happy travels.
-Raj
July 25, 2018
That sounds like a great idea :). Shoot us a line and let’s make it happen!
July 25, 2018
Cathay Pacific First Class to Maldives, stopover in HKG. 70k one way. Then on the return JAL First class, stopover in Tokyo. 75k one way. Total miles burned: 290k. Do that 5 times 🙂
July 25, 2018
It sounds a little less sexy than most of these other trips, but I would go to Albuquerque, NM for the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in October and then go up to Santa Fe to Meow Wolf. You could use the miles for first class tickets, a hotel and a rental car too. I would have never thought with all the cool places I’ve been that New Mexico would be my favorite, but there is something so magical and unique about that place. It’s a good reminder that you don’t have to travel super far to see something amazing.
July 25, 2018
I couldn’t agree more. Living in the Pacific Northwest affords so many gorgeous trips too 🙂
July 25, 2018
I would like to see you fly LATAM to Ecuador or Chile, then with them on to Auckland/Sydney, Then FIJI Air to Nadi follow on to Singapore, then JAL Singapore back to Seattle. This would be a full circle of the Pacific.
July 25, 2018
Ummmmm give to me and I’ll tell you where we can go together Jon! Just kidding! You have so damn much mind as we’ll burn it on emirates first class anywhere you want! Or fly to Japan or Hong Kong on either JAL or CATHY since they have the best redemptions for first and business class. Or go to Fiji on Fiji airlines first class. Or go to Australia too! Don’t do British airways into Europe the fuel surcharges are rediculous! Your only problem is you don’t have time to do that much travel ina year, luckily miles don’t expire but when you use miles you don’t earn miles on rewards flights so you two would need a balance!
Work lunch date soon and I’ll givw you even more ideas! Guess who this is! :p
July 25, 2018
Come visit me in Nashville!
July 25, 2018
JAL NYC to Tokyo first class would be amazing.
July 25, 2018
JAL to anywhere in Asia on First connecting in Tokyo.
July 26, 2018
Cathay Pacific will start the direct service from SEA to HKG soon. How about fly in their F class from SEA to HKG (stopover), then onto Tel Aviv for 70K Alaska miles? I heard Tel Aviv itself is an amazing city; and Tel Aviv Pride is super fun.
July 26, 2018
I love Alaska, so just take trip after trip to every town Alaska Airlines flies to up there!
July 26, 2018
I would suggest a flight to Hong Kong in Cathay first class for a stop-over to enjoy some great food and a little nightlife, and then onto Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city in Cathay business. Vietnam is really booming these days but there are also many parts of the country that haven’t been fully exploited by mass tourism. Either way…enjoy your upcoming trips! I’m so jealous 😉
July 26, 2018
I would like to take CX first class from Hong Kong to New York to take a cruise to Canada. Return by Japan airline first class stopover in Tokyo and then to Taipei.
July 26, 2018
Fly to Nice via Frankfurt and then onward to Bordeaux for a quick getaway in September, and then go to the Maldives in November.
July 26, 2018
Fly with Fiji Airways to Auckland with stop in Fiji of course! When you are in Auckland, visit Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, their lagoon is as amazing as Bora Bora and incredible sandbars, cheaper and better food choices! Check my blog for photos!
July 26, 2018
I am dying to fly JAL first class to (or through) Tokyo…on to Bangkok (where our daughter-in-laws father works/lives) or Singapore (where I’ve made good friends with a Dnata contract employee who works at Changi) or amazing Hong Kong!
July 26, 2018
I would go to South Africa on the miles and spend the saved cash on an awesome experience.
July 26, 2018
I recently spent every Alaska & SPG point I had, and also bought 50,000 or so Alaska points while they were on sale. Booked JAL first class from LAX to Tokyo, biz to Vietnam. Coming back on Cathay Pacific biz from Bangkok to Hong Kong, first from Hong Kong to LAX.
Total cost, 145,000 points.
I’ve never flown international first before. Really looking forward to it!
July 26, 2018
Flying China’s 5 Star Airline – Hainan to China. The new FA uniform is nice!
July 26, 2018
Fly China’s only 5 Star Airline – Hainan to China.
July 26, 2018
I don’t have all my notes on this right now but I did some research on an around the world trip using Alaska miles awhile back. It was East to West in my quest to turn back time 🙂 but included JAL first to Tokyo (avoiding the domestic like San Diego route) then some random flights around Asia and a then to Europe on Cathay or Finnair in first of course. Then eventually back to the USA on Icelandair or AA and on way less miles than you have. You could add on South Pacific, Africa and or South America stops.
July 26, 2018
I’d love to go and see the Great Wall of China. Soak up the history of such a vast country. Experience a totally different culture…and I might finally be taller than most of the people around me. 😉
July 26, 2018
I know it has probably been said above, but I think the 70k for Cathay Pacific First to South Africa with a stop over in Hong Kong is one of the best deals. I’ve been eyeing it myself for some time
July 26, 2018
UGH – I just wish they’d start doing first class to JNB
July 26, 2018
If I had that many points, I would fly emirates first class to the Maldives, or Qantas first class to Australia!
July 26, 2018
Stay tuned for the trip report 🙂
July 26, 2018
You should totally go to Fiji since Alaska has a partner airline that flies there! I would choose Fiji as well, if I were lucky enough to win. 😉
July 26, 2018
Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific!
July 26, 2018
Madagascar! Is that a thing? Can you visit Madagascar? Lol
July 26, 2018
You sure can!
July 26, 2018
I think you would do very well to circle the South China Sea – Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia (Bali) and the Philippines – 1/c naturally from the States
July 26, 2018
vietnam hong kong and japan first class thanks
July 26, 2018
Whitsunday Islands and you all should go there too. Cheers!
July 26, 2018
I would love to go to New Zealand via Cathay Pacific with stopover in Hong Kong!
July 26, 2018
I advise you to take a long term outlook on life.
a. what is your typical annual earning rate (if you took 20 years to earn 1M miles, it’s different from earning it in 2 years, which you do)
b. expected lifespan. Alaska Airlines has no policy to transfer miles from a Decedent but unofficial does. This could change.
c. what are your travel goals (any must see places).
That said, my assumption is that 1M miles took only a few short years to earn and could likely be repeated again, with significant effort but not super human effort. Further assume middle to young/middle age. Further assume you have time to travel (if one’s job only allows weekend travel and travel maybe once a year, then redemptions must be greater). I also assume miles are periodically “enhanced” meaning that you enhance the number of miles needed to redeem an award (high cost in miles to redeem). In other words, don’t save miles for years like a bank account or stocks.
I presume that your earning power in miles is great but not unlimited. Therefore, I recommend business class travel, not first class, to save miles. Travel in economy on domestic with the exception of true transcons.
Laundry and luggage is a hassle so no long, round the world trips.
1. Sparing use First Class only to experience it, if you enjoy the flying experience and are an av-geek. Do Singapore A380 First Class and Emirates A380 First Class. Suggest a JFK to Dubai on Emirates connecting to Muscat Oman, then return on a FRA-JFK SQ flight. See the Sinsheim Aviation museum in Germany on the way back. This will cost you maybe 500,000 miles
2. Think of relatives who you like. Send them off to HNL, SFO, JFK, MCO, or similar. Domestic trips are a good start for those with limited travel experience. This will cost maybe 150,000 miles.
3. Conserve miles by flying transatlantic economy (don’t kill me!!!!) IF you can do a daytime flight TO London (AC YYZ, AA ORD, UA IAD, BA BOS, JFK or EWR on AA, UA, BA). My recommendation are 5 short trips over the course of a year. Destination: Paris, Gothenburg-Oslo, Rome/Milan, Gibraltar/Malaga/London, Munich/Stuttgart/Austria, in addition to that SQ FRA as noted in #1. Because you have AS miles, you’ll be flying on AA ORD or JFK to LHR daytime because BA fuel surcharges are robbery and the other routes are not AS partners. These flights, if two people, will set you back 500,000 miles.
4. I like Singapore and Taipei for some reason. Some people like Tokyo. Fit in a SIN SQ J class round trip (CX connection or JL connection, if unavailable). Sorry, avoid Hainan because they are a fraction less safe and you have lots of assets in miles and human life.
That should drain your account. You would be flying every two months, the above being 7 trips. That would be a better experience, I believe, rather than blowing it on 2 F class trips. Don’t redeem AS miles on hotels,
July 26, 2018
Try to get award space on the new Emirates F plane!
July 26, 2018
Yo could go on Fiji Airways to New Zealand, do a layover in Nadi and some days in Auckland and other amazing places of New Zealand like queenstown. And to return, you could use Emirates, spend some time in Dubai, and finally return home. This way you could spend miles in two great airlines, fly in one of the longest flights in the world, with great service and be in 3 amazing countries.
July 26, 2018
I was in Fiji 10 years ago and it is everything Hawaii is not. The Snorkeling and SCUBA diving is some of the best in the world. Whitewater rafting on the Upper Navua River shouldn’t be missed. You should go! I’d love to return to Fiji as well.
July 26, 2018
Antarctica excursion!!!
July 26, 2018
New Zealand!!
July 26, 2018
Iceland or Ireland! Those are my dream destinations.
July 26, 2018
Try to find some availability in Qantas First class to Australia! 70k miles one way
July 26, 2018
I would chase the Northern Lights across the continents. Alaska, Iceland, Norway, Finland, etc. Send photos! xx
July 26, 2018
I would travel to see the northern and southern lights….so Tasmania, Australia for the southern lights in September (best chance is usually around the equinox) and then to Kiruna, Sweden for the northern lights (best time to view runs mid-September to late March – so the timing could potentially line up beautifully). I think it would need to be Quantas to Australia and then whatever works on Emirates, British Airways, or Singapore to get to Sweden…I think the time in air would totally be worth seeing the lights!
July 26, 2018
With your accumulating so many miles, consider a rapid burn. Frequent flyer programs are “enhanced” way too often. Miles required for a trip might suddenly be enhanced in that the revenue that an airline gets goes up and more miles needed for a trip.
One trouble with lottery winners is they suddenly have so much money, they end up unhappy, bankrupt, or even dead. Don’t let miles get into your head. Provide some trips for relatives that you like. Don’t live beyond your means.
By not living beyond your means, I mean minimize first class travel (except when you want a specific experience, such as a Singapore Airlines A380 trip). Kill me for the suggestion, but fly economy class in order to be able to make many more trips with your 1M+ balance. I qualify that by saying that any red eye where there is no equivalent non-red eye justifies business class, but not first class.
I highlight that there are non-red eyes to London. ORD-LHR and JFK-LHR on AA, as well as AC and UA not through AS miles and BA, which is a waste because of the fuel surcharge.
With all that disclaimer, I propose the following:
1. Gift 5 relatives an economy class trip to HNL, SFO or DCA (or other city). Spend = approx. 150,000 miles
2. consider gifting 2 relatives business class to Europe, Spend = 230,000 miles
3. Be economical and head to London after October 15 on AA in economy – 2 people. Fly SEA-ORD / overnight airport hotel / ORD-LHR daylight flight. Spend = 90,000 miles
4. Take advantage of the new CX SEA-HKG non stop as well as go beyond to Singapore. Try to get a half day stopover in Hong Kong and order some tasty lunch. 2 people J class spend = 200,000 miles
Not only would this be a great trip report but also useful information for the readers.
Total spend = about 670,000 miles. Try to do the same July 2019-June 2020 assuming that you are adding about 300k to 500k per year. By 2019-2020, AS should be offering Singapore, Finnair, and Aer Lingus awards. In other words, try to whittle down the balance but not act like a lottery winner and blow it all.
Bon voyage!!!
July 26, 2018
Fly emirates to dubai and go skydiving over the palm island; it’s beautiful, thrilling and one of my bucket list items 😉
July 26, 2018
You simply have to try JL first class. They have the best service, the most comfortable bedding, the best cuisine, the most expensive ( and, yes, the best champagne– Cristal) as well as Japanese toilets on their aircraft. You also need to try Emirates first class with perhaps 2 opportunities to take a shower and experience the bling of their A380’s. Therefore, book JL first class from the US to Narita for 70K miles, take some time to experience Tokyo– maybe also Kyoto and Kanazawa– and then continue on with a first class award from Narita to LAX on Emirates for 180K miles with a stopover in Dubai. Both awards are reasonably easy to find.
July 26, 2018
If I wasn’t traveling to Seattle to see my cool cousin Jon (wink wink) my current state of round the clock baby/toddler/tween girl drama has me dreaming of a Caribbean vaycay with great food, swim up bars, and naps on the beach. Do you guys go to the Caribbean much? I don’t remember any posts about going there.
July 26, 2018
I’d leave Seattle and go to all of the non-Antarctica continents before ending up in Australia for a week before heading home.
July 26, 2018
I would love to go with my family to Tokyo.
July 26, 2018
Turks and Caicos.
July 27, 2018
A summer weekend in Helsinki is lovely. Get off your Finnair business class flight and go directly to kulttuurisauna for some relaxing before a nice refreshing plunge into the harbour!
July 27, 2018
JAL first to Tokyo.
July 27, 2018
Alaska miles are so versatile and can get you to so many far flung interesting places that the possibilities are endless. However one really underrated country I’ve read about is Sri Lanka – the food, hospitality, history, monuments and temples (both Hindu and Buddhist, the contrast is a very interesting if not sad part of history but thankfully the country has put the violence behind it), beaches look amazing, and not to mention you could do a safari in Yala National Park (who knew there’re safaris outside of Africa right?). You could do CX out of Seattle!
July 27, 2018
We have just started accumulating Alaska miles to put together an around the world trip. The best use of Alaska miles would be in Cathay first to New Zealand, include a couple day stop over in Hong Kong to get the most out of that ticket.
The second best option is to use miles for British Airways first to go to some smaller cities in Spain. This is our favorite county to visit and any chance we have to go there always results in happy times. This is not as grand as option one, but it would still make a good trip.
The third option is domestic but it’s cool! We actually had this booked last year but American changed their schedule for the connecting flights and we had to cancel. It is still something I want to do so we will see if we can piece it together again next year. We call this the Rock’n me trip. We would go Phoenix, Arizona all the way to Tacoma, Philadelphia, Atlanta, LA. Northern California…. One day we will fly this route just to be able to say-yeah, we did that. I wanted to post clues on Facebook from each airport along the way to see who would guess first what we were doing. We were able to put this together with just one night in a hotel but no other reason to leave the airports along the way.
July 28, 2018
I’d suggest trying Cathay Pacific’s new seasonal service to Cape Town when it launches in November. You could even do a stopover in Hong Kong on the way.
July 29, 2018
What a delightful problem! Two of the top destinations on my list are Madagascar and Petra. Your choice. I’ll be flexible:)
July 30, 2018
I’d suggest trying Cathay Pacific’s new seasonal service to Cape Town from HKG which launches in November. You could even do a stopover in Hong Kong.
July 31, 2018
I would fly to South Africa in Cathay Pacific first class with free stopover in HKG.
July 31, 2018
I would fly to China on Cathay Pacific first class. Free stopover in HKG.
July 31, 2018
I would love to fly Emirates Frist en-route to places like Cairo.
July 31, 2018
Definitely interested in a Japan Airlines First Class flight to Asia … Tokyo or maybe Seoul
July 31, 2018
1. SEA to ANC milkrun. Or,
2. SEA to BRW. Or,
3. SEA ADK.
All great flights for an AV Geek. All only possible on AS.
July 31, 2018
I’d like to take my wife to Seattle area to visit our best friends .
July 31, 2018
I would recommend a relaxing getaway to the Maldives with a stay in one of their famous, luxurious over-water bungalows.
August 1, 2018
Stay tuned – that report is coming sooner than you think 🙂
July 31, 2018
Humm, so many choices, perhaps I will try to convince you to go to the top of the Mayan World -the pyramids of Tikal in Guatemala, taking all the Peten Jungle’s glory in from above!! and ending the weekend at the Blue Hole in Belize and maybe look for Neverland while at it!!!
July 31, 2018
Jon, I would do a 1st Class or Business class with an Asian/South Pacific Ring of Fire tour.
Start from PDX with car trips to St. Helens and Mt. Hood then hop PDX to SEA for Mt. Rainer then upto Alaska for Volcanos of the Aleutian Arc (Crazy living in the Pacific NW after moving here from Atlanta before the 96′ Olympics and planned on multiple trips to Alaska if its not been one thing its been another LOL).
From Alaska it would be Aloha off to the Main Island for Mauna Loa and perhaps Kilauea then a Hop over to Japan for Mt Fuji and Sakurajima volcano.
A short flight to the Philippines for Mt Mayon, Taal and Pintatubo.
We would play Indonesia by ear with all the recent eruptions but otherwise Mt. Krakatoa would be a must see.
Next the volcano’s of PNG then from PNG down to NZ for the LOTR Volcano Mt Ngauruhoe (aka Mt Doom) as well as a visit to Mount Taranaki and a few others but I would skip Mt. Erebus in Antarctican NZ.
Then a hop over to Easter Islands volcanoes: Rano Kau, Rano Raraku, Terevaka volcano, and Poike. Then perhaps knock Tahiti of the Bucket list with the Tahitian volcanos Tahiti-Nui and Tahiti-Iti.
But would save the southeastern ring of Fire of South and Central America for a separate trip as it much more time intensive for travel and many great but lesser known volcanoes.
Would likely hop from Easter Island to Mexico City and visit Mt. Popocatépetl then Alaska Airlines back to PDX. This is how I would use all those Alaska miles.
Cheers!