How much does travel time affect where you go?

[toni]

Sounds like we all face the same things. I will say after flying jetblue that I like their wider seats and the "tv" console in the seats. Made the flight seem much more comfortable and fast. I see they've started NYC to St. Lucia direct flights so we're considering that perhaps. We've done Hawaii twice, but upgraded to first class with miles just to make it more comfortable. It's a 14 hr flight for us there (if I remember correctly), and ugh, that's a lot of plane time. It's about 7-8 hrs I think to St. Thomas airport, not counting drive time/security time etc. I think I'm driving my husband crazy with all the travel talk

We tried cruising again last year and the benefit there is I enjoy seeing so many different islands-preferable to kill time on a ship vs waiting in an airport I guess.

I do feel sympathy for those of you flying from the midwest/west coast to get to St. John! Bottom line is how much you love where you're going

[mindehankins]

It is a factor for us, but we'd travel longer to get to where we want to go. I tend to find a place and then that's my place. It used to be Lido Key, Florida, but now it's St. John. I expect we'll go back there again and again....hopefully it never starts to drift

[piscesgirl0314]

Travel time has a huge impact on where I go.

I do not want to fly more than 4 hours. Why- I hate, hate, hate to waste my precious (only 2 weeks) paid vacation time on a long travel day. And, I have flying anxieties too .

Also, I hate driving anywhere more than, like 2.5 to 3 hours. I get major antsy pants, major bored. I don't know how people, like sales people, drive 6 hours straight to a desitnation. I would go freakin nuts.

I totally agree with LysaC...my husband and I have looked at Fiji, Bora Bora, Belize...But being on the East Coast the travel time would be RIDICULOUS for us and just not worth it. The Caribbean is beautiful with SOOO many islands...maybe one day we'll decide to check out the part of the world...but right now, we're pretty content going to the Caribbean....

[pipanale]

I think at this point in my life (2 kids...one of travel-age), we try to keep everything to 2 flights or less. Coming from a smaller airport, unless we're going to FLA, that's everywhere. But, I don't want to go to Hawaii any time soon.

I haven't been since I was 12 and my parents mock us mercilessly about that "little island you go to"

I'm not at a point in my career where I can take 2 weeks off from work at a time. So, if I have only a week, I'm not doing 2 or 3 flights to Hawaii and dealing with the 6 hour time change. I'm sticking to RDU-ATL-???

However, we're pondering Ireland for 2011. That will be a long trip. I should have a 3rd week of vacation by then, so we'll likely stay for more than just a week.

Until then, and until both kids are a bit older, we're keeping any one flight under 4 hours.

[jmq]

No doubt there are plenty of folks who think St. John is too much of a pain to get to!

If its a really long trip, it better be worth it, time and expense wise. When both are high you hesitate. But if the expense is low, that can be a trade off (in my mind at least!) For example, I regret not going to Hawaii right after 9/11 when you couldve gone for next to nothing. The thought is - hey this is the bargain of lifetime - I'll put up with the LONG flight.

[PA Girl]

I would be much more willing to do a long-haul if we were going for more than 2 weeks. 10 days is about our max because of certain job responsibilities.

[Teddy Salad]

We are returning to the same place in Mexico we went to last winter. A big factor in our decision is that we can get a direct 3 1/2 hour flight from Denver to Cancun that leaves at 11 AM. No having to get up at dark thirty. Also, we got a great deal on airfare and lodging. We found a great little town in Mexico that we hope doesn't get ruined.

We love St. John and Kauai but either place is a daylong trip for us. We've decided we won't go back to either unless we go for at least two weeks.

[djmom]

As far as I am concerned the vacation starts when I set foot in the plane...and start off with a bloody mary and get out a good book. It is so much more relaxing than at home it is almost a treat.

So the Charlotte to St. John trip is nothing, granted it is much less than many of you go through.

We are going to Maui next summer so I might be singing a different tune....we have waited a while on this until the kids can go a long time without complaining.

I kind of like the travel part...assuming it is going smoothly.

[bubblybrenda]

St. John is 21 hours for me (minus the 3 hour time difference so really an 18-hour journey never mind having to leave home 3 hours before departure). No direct flights which usually means 2 connecting flights (just try to stay out of the cities that can be snowed in or fogged in).

Given the time it takes to fly to STJ (and to Australia), I will take the long flights (Aus is 18 hours non-stop from here) but I'm staying for 2-3 weeks to make up for the travel time and the cost of flying to the destination. I get 4-5 weeks vacation a year so I'm not hesitant to take a 3-week vacation once a year and staying somewhat closer to home for the other 2 weeks. Did Nashville for 6 days (which, if I recall correctly, was about a 12 hour travel day at least).

So in summary, travel time has no bearing on my desire to visit a destination.

[Maggy]

Well, I agree that the desire to visit a place overrules the traveling time.

Next week, I'll go to STJ and it will take me about 36 hours including one night in a hotel. Even if the trip is just eight nights, I still think it's worth it. And I don't even like to fly.

My husband and I once traveled around the world in three weeks. The main destinations were New Zealand and Fiji, but we ended up going the whole lap around.

I also have coworkers that go to New York for 24 hours. We are a bit crazy, the airline staff .

Maggy

[Joppa]

Oh it definetly matters to me. Thats how we found STJ. Hubby wanted to go to Hawaii. I started doing the research and couldn't get excited about it at all because of the flight. Then I found STJ and started getting excited. Hubby wasn't on board right away but the more I learned and shared with him he started liking the idea. On our second day on STJ my husband looked at me and said "I am so glad we came here instead of Hawaii". Score!!!
Can't wait to return in Jan.

[Ron in South Texas]

Hawaii is on the "bucket list". My dad was stationed at Pearl Harbor in WW2 and artifacts and photos from his sub are at the USS Bowfin museum next to the Arizona. Flight time is a major concern. We're flying into Honolulu and staying 3 nights to get our "sealegs" before going to our Starwood timeshare on Maui.

[Terry]

No bearing. After 17 hour flight and my ankles the size of my thighs, no worries. The flight is part of the journey. Don't limit yourself to destinations because of flying time. Silly.

[Pete (Mr. Marcia)]

Ron, don't you know that if you live in Texas you are supposed to go to Cozumel, Mexico. When we were there, everyone was from Texas. It was, let's say, a boisterous crowd.

[Ron in South Texas]

Ron, don't you know that if you live in Texas you are supposed to go to Cozumel, Mexico. When we were there, everyone was from Texas. It was, let's say, a boisterous crowd.

Been there, done that (several times), got lots of t-shirts

My wife doesn't like Cozumel very much...the coral "bit" her pretty bad last time she tried to snorkel the reef. We're Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, Dos Equis(not Corona)folks...nice, quiet and laid back.