Quarterly "Travel" Adventures
Last year at some point I decided I really
Quarter 1 January-March: Mini road trip and overnight to Southern Minnesota for a few local wine bars and breweries. That was it, planned after I had a lot of FOMO, Fear of Missing Out, as I was transport for others to and from the airport.
Quarter 2 April-June: Five day trip to Memphis which came about as a companion for my sister (with another sister) as she works "fly in fly out" (another new term I learned) for her job in early June. I had points from previously booking my November ticket so air cost $11 and subbing two and 1/2 days provided the spending money.
Quarter 3 July -September: My sister invited us for a sister's weekend July 26-27 at her husbands family cabin in northern Wisconsin. Both her in-laws have since passed away and he shares ownership with his younger sister. I was there once before but it's been a lot of years.
Quarter 4 October -December: Of course my UK trip in November will fit here. There's also an October trip to Florida as a possibility with my mom friends. One friend has a condo near the water and tries to get there multiple times a year with and without her husband ( he does too) to have a semi- regular presence, though she may need to work remotely part of the time. This is still a planning in progress.
Now on a retirement income and two months of withdrawal, I'm reviewing my budget. My aim is figuring out where to round up travel funds to do a more intentional 2026 plan. I'm ok with late spring to early fall being time at cabins, camping, or other simple accomodations closer to home, but would like more of a break from routine and see some new to me places than just a night or two away. At the risk of sounding unbearable, I don't want to be sidelined in Quarter 1 2026. Winter gets long and by mid February, cabin fever is a thing.
I've been invited to join a big group on another Caribbean cruise in February, but it's just not going to fit my budget after the splurges of November. I'm also not sure that the large group is what I'm looking for as all but me would be couples, though two are my sister's that are closest to my age and their husbands. I'm looking for more humble options in the sun. If you have suggestions, what you might do if you traveled to warmth in the winter months of the US, please share them. Ideally, somewhere that once checked in, I don't need a car and can explore on foot.
Edit: I worked on these thoughts over a few days. Last night, well early this morning, I had major insomnia. I resumed looking at past trip schematics, itineraries, flights, hotels, and found a big price drop on a few packages. It may not be for everyone, and I'm definitely going out on a limb, but I booked a 9-10 day, depending on what counts as part of the trip, to Athens in mid March. It's 1/2 what that cruise mentioned above would cost, even more after air, one night hotel, and off ship spending happens. I know it's not the Greece sun, but it will be museums and sites, markets and restaurants and most of all calm as not the busy tourist season yet. Be bold, my inner voice said, so I listened.
I'm excited for your March travel!!! A side benefit and motivation? Kicking your post-knee recovery walking up a few notches. You'll easily be able to do 6-8 miles daily on-foot by March. I have a friend whose parents immigrated from Greece in the early 50s. She and her husband went a few years ago to celebrate turning 60. The photos are incredulous and I'm sure, don't do it justice.
ReplyDeleteExactly. The hotel I'm staying at had wonderful reviews with the warning that it literally sits on a hill so be prepared. I'll of course have more expenses for meals and side day trips, but this will be yet another gift for my 60th birthday for myself.
DeleteThat’s awesome! I can’t wait to see all the pictures from Greece. I would probably pick there over a cruise as well, especially if the price is right! JoAnn
ReplyDeleteAfter thinking my about options again, pricing even domestic trips, this trip, slightly off season, it's below what I was pricing.
DeleteI'm excited to hear about your UK trip to my country. It's always interesting to get a visitor's point of view. I've never been to Greece, that sounds fabulous too.. I've heard in summer the heat in Athens unbearable so choosing another season is a brilliant idea, even if it is cold.
ReplyDeleteI'll have a wonderful companion in the UK, but yes, my eyes will take in everything. While I brought Athens would be a bit warmer than 60s for highs, I'm not at all regretting the time frame.
DeleteI love the idea of planning quarterly adventures even if they are staycations. Greece sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think I might be crazy, but I kept coming back to this package again and again so must have been right.
DeleteI think you will have a wonderful time on a tour (a tour, right?) in Greece - Greece is Amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteOn every tour we've ever taken - some ten or so - there is usually an ice breaker event at start, and the single attendees are simply swept up by the other couples, if they put out even a little effort to be friendly. I think you will have a great time as a single, on a tour.
Actually, no tour I'm self travelling, self planning, though where I'm staying has an onsite coordinator to schedule day trip outings. No, this is what I was looking for- well an extreme of what I was looking for either a safe, sun filled trip with friends and family, it really start checking off my travel list.
DeleteYour inner voice is inspiring mine, & I also did travel planning last night & reached out to the tour company about our New Zealand hiking trip (likely 50th birthday + 20th anniversary combo). We are thinking an 8 day hiking trip, followed by a few days of winery tours & then head back. Given the time/distance, it's a 2 week trip regardless.
ReplyDeleteMy travel group (BFF + sister) tries to get together at least 2x/year for girls trips. Sometimes we've done more elaborate things, and other times it's pretty straightforward. They are flying in on Thursday to my house. Friday we will all WFH, although we've kept our meeting schedules light. We will probably hike together in the morning, potentially have lunch together by the pool, and then all aim to be done by 3 pm, which works well given I skew my hours very early for London. Then, we have all day Saturday together, and Sunday morning. They fly back Sunday around noon, so they can prep for their work weeks ahead. Other than the cost of their flights (both purchased with miles), it will be a pretty inexpensive trip. - Hawaii Planner
Your travel girls sound like the perfect group for a weekend like that. As Ellen's rightly and wisely said, it's kicking my motivation for pushing my post knee surgery benefits up a notch. I'm gonna ng to train for both trips like my girls are training for their marathon.
DeleteForgot to add - are you comfortable with credit card "hacking" to try & offset some of your travel? - Hawaii Planner
ReplyDeleteI'm not a wizard at this. I used the card that will get me additional travel mileage, only because I'm trying to group travel together for expenses, but I might have been just as well I'd my the regular card and getting unlimited rewards. The app I used gives me credit for future travel bookings, likely enough for a weekend hotel room. I'd like to learn to do more, but I did so much comparison of flights and hotel combinations that I think I did pretty well. A huge breakfast buffet is included daily and that alone as it will help the costs the rest of the day if I start fueled.
DeleteWOW, that sounds like a fantastic plan. I am scheduling a fun thing to do at least once month, in lieu of a vacation, as I cannot work up the enthusiasm to travel anywhere right now. I have considered going to port Aransas for a couple of days, just to sit in the sun and sand and contemplate life. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteI have too much enthusiasm to travel, but more to have the planning as part of my homebody time. Just thinking of this trip in January and February will get me through the winter hopefully hump. I love tough that your planning monthly fun...I really like the idea of a beach, but everything is so expensive domestically and airfare from Minneapolis to somewhere warm in the states didn't seem that much less than to Greece.
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