Thanks to abundant sky miles and credit card reward points, we can finally go on a nice vacation somewhere! My family is thinking somewhere around November and they want my 2c input. Mum and dad are talking about Costa Rica or Hawaii, and that does sound really nice. But there are some other places I have in mind… Although, some of them are really quite expensive. Europe is almost out of the question, unless we can get a really good deal. I'd like some help from you guys. This is really off-topic, I know, but I'm excited and haven't had the chance to travel out of the country as much as some of you folks here.

What I'm looking for is something affordable, diverse, and unique, that has lots of things to do. Preferably not too touristy. I am much, much more impressed with natural splendor and historical structures than I am with hotels and cheesy touristy luxury. If I could spend as much money as I wanted to, I'd head straight to Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand. I'd also love to see Berlin and Greece. Something outside of the run-of-the-mill American vacation spot. Hawaii sounds like a lot of fun to me, though, because I've always wanted to check out the volcanos.

Post away! Personal experiences appreciated

I liked Singapore. It is easy to hop and visit other countries like Malaysia, and although their national language is Chinese, their business language is English. I had a blast when I was there. Go during the chinese new year for a real treat..... If you run into someone in Singapore that does not speak english they are probably a tourist....

If your mom wants to go to Hawaii, how can ya go wrong with that? Maybe you could finagle some kiteboarding lessons in paradise!

Aruba is cool and has great wind! :Ange09:

Australia November is good just comming into summer.

You can get lost any where here.

Great beaches no crowds

If you have the reward points to get as far as Aus. DO IT !

Not unlike North America once there a person can travel and stay as cheap or expensive as they choose. Virgin has crazy good deals within and reasonable hotel rates can be found with a little research. Same with food. Eating at Clubs can be cheap etc..

I have always wanted to visit Australia I'll definitely ask about it. And of course, I'll include kiting opportunities in my criteria for a great vacation spot :D

EDIT: Just out of curiosity, am I the only one who has been dying to go to Norway? Lol

Norway would be cool, and I could look up relitives as we have no more here in the US. My grand parents had two kids one had no kids and our dad had us. So we are all thats left on that side.
As for Hawaii North shore Awahu (spelling) Go down North shore drive and ask for the Parequellis family. They know every one on the shore. Great hiking there too. And no city, forests and farms.