With $100k annual travel budget...

[jamesdeluxe]

That bridge/aqueduct is crazy -- built in 40-60 AD with no mortar! Lots of background in the Wikipedia entry including photos of key features. To think that I've always been impressed by a comparatively tiny aqueduct in my hometown that was built in 1838. The Pont du Gard was constructed approx. 1,800 years earlier!

To quote Spinal Tap:
"It really puts perspective on things, doesn't it?"
"Too much. Too much f**king perspective!"

 

[MarzNC]

Glad that you enjoyed the Shawangunks photos. The northeast U.S. and Quebec get a bum rap due to the more low-key beauty than out west but there are a lot of scenic places if you poke around.

Fall colors in the northeast is the best. More red maple. That's where I would want to be in Sep-Nov.

 

[MarzNC]

Now that I'm retired I'd have the time to really get out there, but do I have the energy for constantly living out of a suitcase and frequent hopping to different motels? My wife is even less inclined for that than me. I'm also not crazy about doing a lot of flying, but would consider a small amount of it if properly motivated.

I guess maybe something I'd consider is picking three good locations and visiting each for several consecutive months. For example, Jan-May in Utah, Jun-Aug in Hawaii, Sep-Dec in Florida? Then perhaps change it up the next year and mix in one or more new places? But where would I call home and what are the implications of not really having a home base?

I met a couple from DC having a good time as early retirees. Both worked for the Federal government. Older spouse retired and slightly younger one just quit. DC is still home, but they sold the house. They have been traveling around with a fully packed SUV from place to place. Usually staying at least a month in VRBO/AirBnB lodging. I remember they made it all the way to Alaska last summer. Spent a month in SLC in January and returned for late season.

They are adventurous intermediate skiers. Having connected on TheSkiDiva, I met up with them at Alta in April as they were using up the last couple days of their Ikon passes.

 

[ChrisC]

OK this is a fantasy thread, but if you had a fairly hefty annual travel budget, say $100k, where would you go and what would your schedule look like?

Skiing-focused:

January - British Columbia. Some combo of Whistler, Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Fernie, Red Mt., and Whitewater. Add a Snowcat Lodge for 3-4 days - some candidates include: Mustang, Selkirk, Island Lake, or possibly White Grizzly. Heli a day at Eagle Pass, Selkirk-Tangiers, and Stellar)
Bases: Whistler, Revelstoke, Nelson, Fernie.

February - Europe. France (Chamonix, Val d'Isere, Alpe d'Huez, La Grave, 2 Alpes) or Austria (Glacier Resorts (Pitztal, Stubai), Kappl, See, Arlberg, Solden), early February - wherever the snow is better. Switzerland and Italy in late February to avoid half terms: Valais/Aosta (Verbier/Andermatt/Zermatt/Zinal/Courmayeur/Monterosa) or Graubünden/Dolomites (St. Moritz/Davos/Lenzerheide/Laax/Disentis (Andermatt)/Cortina/Madonna di Campiglia/Val Gardena) - wherever the snow is better.

March - Telluride, CO. Side trips to Silverton, Aspen, Crested Butte, Taos, and SLC/Cottonwoods (Alta/Snowbird).

August: New Zealand. Queenstown and Marlborough: Hiking, Skiing, Bungee, Wineries, etc. Better backup activities than Chile or Bariloche, Argentina.


Frankly, I do not think skiers who travel to Colorado, Utah, or California (with iffy snow) get a good value for their ski dollar. Locals - yes, but visitors are better served elsewhere: BC, Alberta, the Northwest, and Europe. Really, you can visit any premium resort in Europe more affordably. For the Northwest, you might want to delete Big Sky and Sun Valley from a 'value' list.


Non-Skiing, but Sailing/Skiing:

Mid-April to Mid-May: Caribbean sailing/scuba: BVI and/or St. Vincent, Grenadines, Grenada.

July: SW Pacific sailing/scuba. Tahiti: Bora Bora, Huahine, and Tahaa.

September: Croatia. Sailing: Split, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet, etc.


Beach/Cruise/All-Inclusive Resorts:

Zero, not interested longer than 1-2 days.

No Golf - I can play, but dislike it. I have the patience for nine holes on an easy executive course. Multiple hours on 18 holes - groan.

Tennis - yes.

 

[Tony Crocker]

The above skiing list makes a lot of sense, but:
1) I'd put a January week or two in Japan
2) I'd do B.C. during the Euro school holiday period in February. It's probably the most crowd proof major ski region, plus it's the obvious time to do cat/heli for the same reason. All of my cat skiing since 2013 has been in this time frame.
3) With a high budget there's no reason not to got to the Alps both just before and just after the school holidays.
4) Quality ski season is not over at the end of March. Mammoth and Bachelor in April belong on ski bucket lists.

All Southern Hemisphere skiing has sketchy reliability. Make that August call as last minute as possible. With a high budget you don't care about the airfares much. ChrisC has in fact done this in both 2023 (Portillo) and 2024 (Las Lenas). We are still awaiting (eagerly in my case, to see some lines beyond my pay grade) the Las Lenas TR.

July: SW Pacific sailing/scuba. Tahiti: Bora Bora, Huahine, and Tahaa.

Fiji has a healthier scuba ecosystem and is less expensive than Tahiti for the same quality of amenities. I don't know about sailing charters, but there are lots of islands and it's hard to believe they are not available. For pure scuba quality I rate Palau #1 and Indonesia #2.

Cruises? I found them a very attractive form of travel with kids. In retirement most "cruises" have been charters for eclipses or scuba liveaboards. I've been advised that at some age the travel will get mellower and then include lots of cruising (I have friends in that stage) but we're not there yet.

Golf? I last touched a golf club at a Pacific States Actuarial Club meeting in 1978 at ... Pebble Beach! I'm not motivated to resume.

 

[EMSC]

I'd put a January week or two in Japan

+1

4) Quality ski season is not over at the end of March. Mammoth and Bachelor in April belong on ski bucket lists.

Colorado in front range April is very often filled with cold powder days and way fewer crowds. I'd take that over any spring skiing, at Mammoth for example, in a heartbeat.

Beach/Cruise/All-Inclusive Resorts:

Zero, not interested longer than 1-2 days.

No Golf - I can play, but dislike it.

As they say different strokes for different folks. But I'd rather rent a beach house in NC for a week and do my own thing than any cruise or all inclusive in general (lots of great beach memories in NC for me over the years).

I'm not a good golfer and don't do it a lot, but I enjoy getting out maybe 10 times per year. Executive or full size course.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Cruises? I found them a very attractive form of travel with kids. In retirement most "cruises" have been charters for eclipses or scuba liveaboards. I've been advised that at some age the travel will get mellower and then include lots of cruising (I have friends in that stage) but we're not there yet.

Heads up: there's a new documentary on Netflix called "Poop Cruise" -- about the cursed 2013 cruise between Galveston and Cozumel where a fire in the engine room caused the ship to stall and then lose its electricity. Stuck in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico for several days, things quickly devolved for the 4,000+ guests and sizable crew into Lord Of The Flies; however, the real fun began when the tug boats finally arrived.

You'll laugh; you'll gag; you may not want to take another cruise.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'd take that over any spring skiing, at Mammoth for example, in a heartbeat.

You need to visit in prime spring conditions at Mammoth or Bachelor before drawing that conclusion. Nonetheless I agree that April is prime season for the Front Range due to full operation with reduced crowds and snowfall at the same frequency as during the winter months.

 

[jimk]

April is really nice at Snowbird too.

I have a lot of fond NC beach memories too, but my brother sold his long-time vacation home there in 2021. It was the scene (Emerald Isle, NC) of many family gatherings for three decades. One of my kids bought a nice STR house in Panama City Beach, FL in 2022. I really like visiting there in the fall when the weather is fine and no crowds. I'll usually do some maintenance and fix-up stuff when I go. Part of my retirement travel pattern is visiting and mooching off my adult children. Only one of four lives near my primary residence in VA.

The only thing better than owning a beach or ski house is having a friend or relative that owns a beach or ski house

 

[Sbooker]

From my home base in Brisbane.
January - skiing in Japan.
February - skiing in US/Canada.
March - skiing in Euro Alps
April - road trip skiing and other tourist stuff Western US/National Parks.
May/June/July - the best time of year here. Local offshore fishing/golfing/hiking.
August - NZ skiing. Barrier reef snorkeling/diving. Western Australia gorges.
September - hiking Euro Alps.
October - Local fishing/golfing.
November - hiking South West US National Parks and fishing/hiking/golf South West Western Australia.
December - golfing/hiking Victoria/NSW.