It’s going to be an exciting year for travel. After a couple years of hoarding points and miles, we’re cashing them in for several upcoming trips. This post is a little late and we’ve already taken our first trip to Batumi, Georgia, but we have a couple of others in the works. I’ll add to this as trips are planned, since things are still a bit fluid for the time being. So far:
January
Batumi, Georgia
February
This is where the fun begins. We are heading back to the U.S. for a couple weeks before taking the long way to Asia (our first time there!). We’ll depart from LAX and make our way from Hong Kong to Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Laos (by bus), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Paris, and then back to Cyprus. Below is a map of the journey as well as the flight mileage–almost 30,000 miles flown on this one trip! Pretty insane.
It’ll be an extensive 6-week trip mostly funded by airline miles and hotel points, and I’m super stoked for the places we’ll stay and see. I’ll be writing about it along the way, but some of the highlights we already have planned are:
- Flying LA to Hong Kong to Bangkok in Cathay Pacific Business Class booked with Alaska Airline miles
- 3-day jungle trek with tree houses, monkeys, and ziplines in Laos (Gibbon Experience)
- Two nights at the incredible Fairmont Singapore for free using certificates earned via the Fairmont credit card
- Flying Singapore Airlines Suite Class from Singapore to Paris booked with Singapore Airline miles (paid only taxes and fees for a $10,000 suite!)
And more….Stay tuned!
March
Continuation of February’s travel, which will land us back in Cyprus around the middle of the month. The following weekend, we’re driving to spend the weekend at Casale Panayiotis.
April
Still playing with some options, but the likely choice is spending a few days in Beirut, Lebanon. We’re so close and yet have never been, so what better time to try it out?
May
Slovenia! Very excited about this trip as we’ve wanted to check this place out for a couple of years now. Not much planned yet, but the idea is to spend the week of Memorial Day scoping it out.
June – October
Nothing planned and likely no extended trips due to work constraints.
November
Hawaii! Neither of us have ever been, but we’re thinking of spending Thanksgiving in Maui. We’ll have the flights covered with airline miles and the hotel mostly covered with points, so it should be a nice trip.
Sneak preview: We’re planning to spend 6 nights in a suite at the Fairmont Kea Lani for the price of two. I’ll outline the details of this deal later on.
December
Visitors! My brother and his girlfriend plan to visit us in Cyprus for a week around Christmas. Very excited to have them here!
This website is supported by affiliate links, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors at no additional cost to you. See my affiliate disclosure here.
Brandon Chase is a writer, endurance athlete, and guide based in Maine. He is a former Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State and spent nearly a decade overseas serving at embassies in Egypt, Cyprus, and Pakistan.
Along with a 98-day thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, he has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, hiked the West Highland Way, fastpacked in the Himalayas, and trekked around New Zealand and South Africa. He also regularly competes in ultramarathons at the 50k, 50-mile, and 100-mile distances. He is a Lead Guide for Andrew Skurka Adventures and the New England Outdoor Center.