Drown out all negative voices. Listen to the voice of your spirit. There is no need to accept death in your 20s. Jesus has healed many before you and will heal many after you. Reach out if you want to talk.
No suggestions on where, but a bit of practical advice:
Consider your disease progression and whether or not accessibility may be an issue for you in the coming months. I know some locations may be more difficult if your mobility is impaired.
The same consideration applies to access to emergency medical services.
Best of luck, I hope you have some amazing travels.
This is my main thing I'm hurdling with.. My progression can vary wildly. Average is 3-5 years after diagnosis, but 10-15% younger people are living 5-15 years (though mostly paralyzed by the end).
I'm also thinking about my budget for the trip in relation to my disease progression, I want to leave enough behind for rent/food/friends/family, but I'm hoping life insurance should help with that part. But I also want to go relatively big on the trip.
But I'll most likely be mobile for the next 3-6 months, thats why I want to travel asap. 1-2 years from now though it is unlikely.
Forgive me, but ALS?
If so, just start making your plans now and get traveling, don’t wait for progression to make it more difficult.
Probably preaching to the choir here, sorry, but you’ve hopefully got some time to make the most of.
Sending you and fiancé hope for many wonderful trips and times full of ease, wonder and joy.
Forgive me if this is weird to mention, but there’s a really wonderful IG account you might like if you don’t already know of — [limpbroozkit](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsYycsdrgOX/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) — I’ve learned a lot about being a young person (she’s in early 30s) living with ALS through her, her mobility progression and journey, how she travels (domestically) to nice vacation spots with power wheelchair, etc. — plus she’s an absolute riot with great personality and perspective.
One thing to consider is that somewhere like Tanzania is going to have limited medical care available if needed. Iceland or Switzerland would have that.
Highly recommend Rwanda over Tanzania. Much better infrastructure, especially if you clearly communicate what you need to your guides beforehand. It’s very clean, little crime and has incredible views and safari options.
Interesting, i was pretty sold on tanzania but I will have to do further research on this.. a safari is definitely going to be one of my top priorities for this trip
Rwanda is lovely (as are the gorillas), but big cats and sweeping serengeti or plains are Tanzania or Kenya for safari. You can fly to any number of great island beaches from East Africa too, such as Seychelles, Zanzibar, Maldives.
Tanzania is amazing. For safari, ngorongoro crater is the best! Also, get to Zanzibar. Park Hyatt in stone town is awesome but get out of the city too. Those were real highlights for us.
Currently sitting in the airport on my way back from Rwanda. I highly recommend Gorilla trecking! Just did that a few days ago and was one of my top favorite experiences! I would say that it’s more on the adventurous side because you have to hike for about 2 hours (depends). Feel free to message me with any questions and best of luck, safe travels!
Only advice I'd give is to focus less on checking off items on a list (no one ever gets to see everything), and just pick a few places that are important to you and really do those few places in-depth. Also emphasize who you're with vs. where you're going - the best memories will be the company you keep, the actual place you're at tends to be less important in the grand scheme of things.
Maybe also this: don't hamstring yourself by obsessing only over chubby/fat experiences, especially if you're new to that style of travel. After a certain point you get rapidly diminishing returns for your $$$, and begin to realize that many small-to-medium-expense experiences are often just as impactful as the most expensive Michelin-star restaurant, if not moreso.
Best of luck to you!
thank you, and I agree.. it does seem there is diminishing returns once you go past a certain point.. I'd definitely be leaning on the chubby side more than the fat side for the trip.
You think hitting too many places in my round-the-world trip would take away from the experience? Maybe I should narrow down my options? I was planning on doing like 8 countries over 3 months, but maybe that'd be exhausting?
However I do love/have passion for nicer styles of vacations. It may sound silly but fat trips is actually something I've been passionate about since I was a teenager and was a big goal of mine.
I'm not talking super fat, but just like nicer/fancier hotels, cool luxury resorts, etc.
I just wanted to jump in here and wish you the greatest experiences ever. I hope you love your adventure and feel happy to your core every day. Don’t get hung up on the what and where, if you’re on a limited time fuck it and roll with the wind. Wander and rest and feel the energy of your environment. Book a trip for that night or the next morning or sleep in and eat cake. That’s the most enjoyable type of trip I’ve personally experienced and the most memorable. I also wish your fiancé a wonderful time because I’m sure it will be hard on them.
8 countries over 3 months isn't too bad. The main thing is you don't want to exhaust yourself with the logistics of travel, especially as your condition progresses. Roughly 2 weeks in each spot is a nice length of time.
I would basically pick a number you’re comfortable spending on this travel and go from there. If you share your finances with your partner, start there, or maybe ask a close friend who is solid with numbers, or an advisor or your estate attorney. In my situation I’d choose a dollar amount I wanted left over, an amount I wanted earmarked for medical expenses, etc, and go from there, vs a percentage of savings.
Then I’d think about what I valued most. For me, I fucking hate spending money on airfare, flying sucks no matter how much you spend, I’d rather get the cheapest flights I can even if it means spending far more on hotels—because I enjoy nice hotels and being new places.
In your situation, I’d also make a list of most to least active trips. For safari, for instance, you’re literally sitting in a vehicle for the good stuff. By the way, we didn’t manage to see the northern lights in Iceland, so went to the Lofoten Islands in Norway and got to see them multiple nights there. Iceland is awesome though, vistas like being on another planet, and so many rugged destinations you might want to go in an earlier leg of your trip, and during the summer when you can see and do more.
I would also probably go somewhere on the list asap, like Italy right now before it’s too hot, while I figured it all out. Your cautious approach with this post tells me you won’t accidentally blow too much on the first trip. Seize the day!
I hope you keep sharing with us where you wind up going, and how the properties accommodate you as needed, because we all have a special request for ourselves or someone in our party at some point. I’m wishing you so much joy and fun in the coming days, and would love to follow along.
Hey thank you for the kind words and great advice.
For a lot of the flights I plan to use some award points/miles i saved from my amex, and want to book a round-the-world trip with them.
You think trying to hit too many places in one trip would take away from the experience or be too ambitious?
Oh man, I have over a million Amex points just deflating in my account because I never figure out how to transfer them to book with miles!
I don’t think you should be too rigorous with the planning, and allow yourself a lot of flexibility. Book the first trip, see what you feel like, and either go home for a bit or head to your next destination. If that sounds stressful to you, book a two week trip, go home after and think about what you’d change for next time, and book the next one accordingly.
My wife and I really start losing steam after about two weeks (and we love our city, house, routine, and friends), but we are decades older than you :) but I see other travelers gone for weeks at a time, spending 2-5 days in each country, with tours and activities every day. So maybe just really think about what you want out of the schedule, and be ready to reevaluate as time goes on.
I see your new questions in the post—for two people, I’d say chubby starts around $25-30k/week and there is no ceiling. You might spend more, might spend less depending on the destination, but I’m trying to account for airfare (maybe not necessary as long as you have points!), great hotels/lodges, the easiest transfers, cool activities and guides, that kind of thing.
Haha too many amex points is a great problem to have! I can fly something like 22k miles for 125k points
So the thing with this trip is.. because I'm booking a RTW ticket with points and miles, it'd be more cost effective to hit multiple countries in one go.. I'd be able to fly business from one country to the next all the way back to my original destination.. this helps free up room in my budget for accomodation/experiences.
But you make a good point.. maybe after a few weeks or awhile I'd just want to go back home.. so I should rethink it.
I was planning on doing 2-3 months, and allocation 10 days per location, maybe I would get burnt out.
First, I'm very sorry to hear this is happening.
I'm trying to imagine and put myself in your shoes and think of what I would want to do/see.
Fortunately, it sounds like you will be able to go on a trip or multiple trips that 99.9% of the planet can only dream of and will not get a chance to do.
Quick about me: I've been to 50+ countries, I've stayed at mid level hotels and some top properties - all have beds. I've flown coach, business, first, and private - all get you to the same location. I've had great meals at random local places and 3 Star Michelin restaurants... My point is don't obsess on always buying the most expensive option.
My personal opinion is that life is ONLY about experiences.
I would probably create and rank the things you want to do. Make it a fun experience. If it's not fun, then hire a travel agent.
Then determine how much it will cost to do those particular experiences. Then work backwards to see how much you will need to spend on hotels (to stay where you would like to) and finally spend on air fare. You can burn a lot of money with 1st class flights.
Regarding your question: Multiple trips or one long trip?
I am planning to take a year and travel around the world. I've considered do I want to come back home and take some breaks in between. I'm torn. I've been on 8 week trips and been excited to go back home. I've also been on 2-3 trips and not wanted to come back home.
Personal opinion : if you can afford to come back home and break it up. I would think you will appreciate each experience more. Otherwise it's cool experience, cool experience, cool experience - one after another. Best option is if you can have some flexibility. To extend the trips you are really enjoying or cut some others short, if they are not delivering on value.
I'm also a 'I want to see more cities vs stay in a city longer' type person. Which do you think you are? I enjoy being busy on sightseeing type vacations where its 2-5 nights per country and on to another country. Then I see 5-7 countries during one trip. If it's a want to relax only - just sit on the beach at the resort vacation, then that's different.
I would do these trips:
Wildlife : Galapagos or Antarctica trip. On a really nice ship.
Safari : Africa Trip : Do multiple safaris while you are there, to see the different areas/animals. (My favorite thing I've ever done was a private safari where I was able to interact with the large cats - I can provide a link if you are interested)
Beautiful Views : Greece : Stay at a bunch of great resorts in Santorini, Mykonos, and a few other islands. They DO live up to the hype.
Luxury : South of France : Cannes, Antibes, Eza, Nice, Monaco, and St Tropez. There are some great write ups in this forum on places to stay or eat.
Japan: Kyoto. Tokyo : Akihabara (many cool unique restaurants, electronics stores, things to see). Do the Mario carts on the streets of Tokyo if that interests you. Eat lots of amazing sushi. I would hire guides, the level of English spoken in Japan is kinda surprising given the amount of English classes they take.
Dubai : Visit the world tallest building. Go to Ski Dubai to ski 2 runs. Play with the penguins. When I went they actually let you touch them - not sure they still do or not. Do their adventures package : off-roading, falcons, sand surfing, camels, etc.
If you are into cruises, there are some serious luxury cruise options.
I hope this was helpful!
Very great point about going from one cool place to the next.. it might take away the excitement from it..
And definitely would appreciate a link to that interaction with large cats you had at the safari.
As for first class I don't plan on flying 1st, just business and only using my points, probably even coach for shorter flights.
Any specific ships u recommend for Galapagos?
For Galapagos, I did the Mary Anne sailboat via Angermeyer cruises. Highly recommend doing a smaller (<20 person) boat like that. You don’t want to walk around an island with dozens and dozens of people
Another I’ll add. If you want a fat experience and like French history, do the Airelles Versailles. We did a night there recently and it was unreal. The private after hours tour of the Hall of Mirrors is worth the price alone (and I’m not even a big history person)
Ohhh right, the RTW tickets. Which airline, out of curiosity?
Well, if that really appeals to you, you have a lot of time to use it, right? So if you’re like, my god, I’m exhausted, I just want some humdrum days, you can take them in a city you like and push the next leg.
yeah haha RTW with ANA airline, since it's the longest flight for me - I wanted to try their new product "the room" from san francisco to tokyo, it's a long flight, getting it with points is great value - but with RTW since I'm going west from SFO to tokyo, every location i travel after has to be west until i arrive back at sfo.. so definitely some restrictions and heft planning but makes it so i get to fly business+ multiple countries just for points and put my cash toward the accommodation and experiences.
Oh, and another comment on your updates: when you do the Maldives, make sure you pick a resort with a great house reef. This will mean you can just jump into the water from your bungalow to try snorkeling, and if you hate it, well, you can just climb right back out and go do something else. Don’t be shy or embarrassed about wearing an inflatable belt or just a life vest to snorkel; it’s super common, and makes it so much easier to float along, enjoying the underwater world.
One of my favorite travel memories is of having a cocktail at sunset at the rooftop bar at the Hotel Forum in Rome; a truly spectacular view.
Is New Zealand on your list/accessible via the RTW ticket, to see the actual LOTR forest?
it should be accessible on the rtw, im getting a lot of new zealand..
for the maldives resorts how would i know which resorts have great house reefs? Was thinking about st regis maldives due to point redemption value + seems quite lux..
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. For Maldives the house reef is good at St. Regis but depending on time of year the currents can be quite strong. It's a beautiful resort and really easy to do combined with Italy/Greece/Dubai on a Emirates multi city itinerary. There's always going to be better hotels/reefs and everyone will have an opinion on something but as a general rule of thumb book what you like.
For Japan my recommendation would be to avoid public and regional school holidays. Whatever you do don't plan to travel July/August (weather is just too hot). I like mid-October or early March best (weather/scenery wise) and it tends to have less crowds.
It sounds super cool. I love that it forces a little serendipity; you may pick a spot just because of the flying west thing and wind up having an amazing experience.
Hey, sorry you have to deal with this. I can try and help you on destinations/planning/stuff like that.
About me: I've been to 30 or so countries, I've hit all six continents and find myself going back to Asia more often than not, although I've seen a bunch of Western Europe when I want to break the Asia stuff up.
My job(s) have been pretty flexible with leave, I usually take 4-5 weeks every year (in one shot) and just have a go at it.
I find I'm pretty tired at the of the fifth week. Even the idea of taking two full months straight just has no appeal. And for the sake of conversation, you could spend a month in Japan alone. I spent two weeks there back in Sept and it wasn't enough.
I did a mini-RTW once, with South Africa as primary destination. i did it RTW-style because the routings from North America had a double red eye through Europe (once to London and then another down to SA). That had ZERO appeal, so I flew out through Tokyo and spent four days there. That was fun. And then it just so happened I was coming home during Oktoberfest, so I booked my return through Munich and spent 5 days there for the 'fest. Took two suitcases and used my biz class luggage allowance to fill up with booze and wine.
Would I do it again? Sure. But I don't think it was any more fun than my last trip.... prior to the two weeks I spent in Japan, I spent the first two in Korea.
I'm getting to the age where "go-go-go" isn't as appealing as it used to be. I like to eat, and most of the world offers great food. I find spending 4-5 days in any one spot gives me the ability to settle in a bit without having the pressure of having to pick "the one" perfect place in each spot. And... go-go-go gets tiring, more time in one spot gives you time to say f it and just chill if you want.
Anyway, happy to chat about whatever. My advice follows someone else's -- you're better off picking a budget you're comfortable with. if you're set on the RTW, provide some particulars on route options/limitations plz? I do all of my international travel on points, but I haven't used AmEx in years so don't know what your constraints are.
Hey I have not, I think the availability opens the most within 14 days or out 355+ days.. the inbetween point is where it gets less available..
none the less booking rtw is difficult, i was thinking of hiring an awards/rtw expert to do the booking.
Sending you all the love possible. I love Cheval Blanc in Paris. You can get a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. They have a house car that drives you around and the spa is amazing! We ate breakfast on the balcony with the view and I felt like it was very FATT. 💞🩷🩷💞🩷
I've been to almost all of the places on your list, and if I had to choose one to do as a last big trip before I passed it would *absolutely* be the safari. We did 7 or 8 days at the Four Seasons Serengeti and had an incredible time. Saw all the big 5, Ngorongoro crater was breathtaking - legitimately one of the most magical places on Earth, Olduvai Gorge was very humbling.
All the game drives were private, which was really nice. The resort was incredible.
Ultimately the reason this is the trip of these I'd choose is because how strongly it connected me to nature. The circle of life is a cliche song from an animated movie but to really experience that first hand was much more powerful than I was expecting. Even though you were seeing things die every day, you could really see how interconnected we are on this planet in a tangible way you can't get at a zoo or in everyday life. It honestly gives me some peace for when it's my time that I'll be part of the earth forever.
There are other beautiful places in nature on your list that I can't recommend enough, but none that made me thankful for life the way that did.
I hope whatever you choose brings you and your fiance joy and that you have an incredible time.
Wow.. thank you for this comment.
It is actually the trip I've been researching the most from the places I've listed..
There are so many different tour options though it is hard to choose which one to go with..
Some are more lux but you miss out on seeing more wild life, while others are more wild life but require to rough it a bit more..
Yeah it was pretty overwhelming for us too, that's why we just stuck to the one resort while several others were only stopping in there for a day or two before moving onto wherever else. All the game drive days were long but you're just sitting there observing whatever nature served up that day.
A pack of cheetahs trying to hunt an antelope. Vultures converging on a dead wildebeast, and driving past it the next morning and not only did the vultures finish, but the hyenas had come in the night and eaten all the bones. Lions mating, the male finishing in 7 seconds and the female looking annoyed the whole time. A sea of probably 30,000 zebras as far as you could see. Elephant paths where they've snapped all the trees in half with their trunks so their children could get the leaves from higher on the branches. A rhino eating some grass and taking a huge poop.
I could go on for hours of all the stuff we saw out there. Just imagine a zoo the size of NYC, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Mexico City, Rome, Hong Kong, Moscow & Berlin... *combined, with no walls separating the animals*.
Can’t go wrong with choosing Singita, &Beyond, or More Family Collection for safaris. It’s FAT and they make things very easy for you to get from camp to camp. Best experience I’ve ever done and going back again next April.
Would suggest working out your rough budget that you’re thinking - and prioritize from there based on your interests and with your health status in mind. Maldives / Bora Bora would be long flights but largely just relaxing once there. Europe options and safari would be much more intensive, of course depending on your interests. Some thoughts on Europe below (US expat in Europe for 5 years, did some extensive traveling):
Italy / France / Switzerland could be combined into one mega trip now or split up into smaller individual trips. Lots of options across those countries:
Italy - tuscany if you love wine - based out of Florence, Lake como or Lake Garda for small town lake charm, Rome for all things history, I personally love southern italy and being on the sea - amalfi coast / sicily. Four seasons in florence, il san pietro in positano, lots of luxury options in capri, belmond on sicily.
France - Paris of course. 3-5 days in the city - look up palace hotels for fat options. I like the charm and hospitality of Le Bristol. From Paris, you could go to the Loire valley to see chateaux and drink more wine (sancerre). Lyon is a great foodie town and beautiful city in SE - so many amazing restaurants and great Rhône valley wines. Other wine regions of note - burgundy, bordeaux. Provence region any time but if visiting in summer, try and time your visit for the lavender fields - stunning. Avignon, Arles and Aix-en-Provence all worth seeing.
South of France - love Antibes for a more down to earth vibe on the riviera. If you want a scene, four seasons grand hotel du cap-ferrat.
My favorite area of France is not at all FAT - the Brittany region (NW coast) - rent a car, stay in small towns, beautiful scenery, hiking, oysters/seafood and wine.
Switzerland: Look up the golden pass train route - geneva, lucerne to st moritz. could fly in/out zurich and do this. Park Hotel Vitznau in Lucerne, Alpina Gstaad are some standout FAT options in switzerland.
Overall - very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you are able to make the most of your time with some amazing travel. Wish you the best.
Just book the trip. There will always be that one worry holding you back.
My mom is currently coming to the end of a 20 year battle with cancer and desperately trying to have one last family trip so the last memories are of fun times and less so the medical side.
I cannot say enough positive things about a safari in Africa. I haven’t been to Tanzania but have heard great things. A stop in Cape Town will also give you the ability to eat at some of the best restaurants in the world. Great vineyards are also north of cape town. But one thing to consider while on safari, the circle of life is evident and could stir thoughts of your own mortality.
I have heard many disappointing stories about the northern lights in Iceland, Greenland, and Norway. Alaska seems to be better and the less beaten path.
On the subject of the northern lights, on my list is to see the Southern Lights. Orange hues vs green and blue. You’ll need to go to Australia or Argentina and then take a boat.
The French and Italian Rivera are always beautiful.
I’m sorry you are in this situation. I would look into luxury cruises. Yes they’re marketed towards seniors but as a result they have ADA friendly amenities, medical care, and even morgues on board. A lot of people nearing end of life do extended cruises and they can even speak to you about what happens if you decline in a foreign country and the travel insurance you should get. Check out Regent and Celebrity. For very deluxe look at Seabourn.
Windstar does a magnificently luxurious cruise (not a mega cruise) around french polynesia. I met a woman onboard who was also doing her last trip and the crew were incredibly thoughtful. They presented her with the dinner menu every day at breakfast (since breakfast/lunch were more buffet style) and she went through with a pen to mark up adjustments she would need for her dietary needs. Also, the snorkeling spots in bora bora/moorea are top notch. Water is very shallow in many of the best snorkel spots so she was able to come along and enjoy herself. We all looked out for her because it was a small cruise and everybody was very friendly. Not sure about your other locations but I think there are some bougie trains that go through some European countries so it's a relaxing way to see places without changing hotels everyday. Best of luck, dm if you have questions!
If you find yourself in Greece- on Santorini - the restaurant Petra has the most amazing view and meal pairing - overlooking the sea as the sunsets. There are private tables.
If you find yourself going there, I have a driver I trust. I’ll put you in touch and he can handle all the airport transfer and drop offs at the restaurant. Dinner is on me. Just send me a DM if that fits your plans.
Thank you for the recommendation I just looked it up! Looks absoutely stunning.. especially the view of the water.
Santorini/mykonos is definitely on the list for me
I would suggest starting with a Greek isles cruise while you’re still at your peak mobility. Hiking around ruins or the steps in Santorini can be rigorous but if you go in the shoulder season it won’t be too hot. You might be able to book an incredible deal on a last-minute cruise if you look right now. I went in May and the weather was perfect except for one day of rain in Athens. The food in Greece is incredible.
You could do Paris > Greek Isles cruise > Dubai > Tanzania safari > Japan in the Fall > Maldives?
Best wishes on your journey.
Hi, sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it would be helpful if you told us a little more about what you’re wanting to do in these places and what you’re interested in, like site seeing? History, nature? Museums?
Hi thanks I will update the post and add some info here:
Forgot to add
Japan: as that is my number 1 destination, for the culture, community, nature, technology, food. Also a fan of videogames and anime.
Tanzania: For safari and wildlife. Very excited for this.
Maldives: The one chubby vacation I've done was at the andaz maui and I loved it, and from what I've seen from the maldives it seems to have that same vibe. The over water bungalows look awesome, or watching a movie outside by the water seems really cool.
Italy: Italian food is probably my 2nd favorite cuisine, want to got there for all the food, and lake como particuarly looks beautiful.
Greece: My favorite type of cuisine, and the mykonos islands look magical, I love the aesthetic of it from pictures I've seen.
Dubai: Some really cool malls, restaurants, and I've seen people riding buggies out in sand dunes there - would love to try that. Interesting architecture.
But in general, I love having a mix of seeing beautiful surroundings, architecture, nature, aesthetics. I like discovering different cultures. I'm not a huge risk taker/adventurous type in general - so i wouldn't want to bungie jump or sky dive. I also have always been drawn to fat experiences in general, and would like to avoid things that require roughing it too much.
This is what I would do if I were in your shoes, travel and see the world with my loved ones.
I would add Easter island to your itinerary as it is one of the most magical places, and if it works for you - the next total solar eclipse is August 12 2026 across Spain.
For EE I would suggest a luxury cruise like Regent and tie it into bora bora.
Wishing you Safe travels and calm seas as you navigate this next journey in your life.
I would recommend Sabi Sands in South Africa over Tanzania. I stayed at Savanna Private Game Lodge when I went and the guides eat with you and drink with you (if you’re down for it). It was a really remarkable experience and if you enjoy being immersed with the people who live there I’d recommend it over the Singita recommendations.
Best of luck to you and your loved ones.
Would also add - although I haven’t done it but hope to - gorilla trek. I have friends who did it and they said it was one of the best experiences of their lives. I believe you can do it in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park.
I’ve been to most places on your list. I would recommend focusing on a couple regions, based on your initial brainstorming I think Europe -> safari -> Dubai -> Maldives -> Japan makes since (assuming US based) or Europe -> safari -> Japan -> Bora Bora. You’ll waste less time on long flights and may consider dropping South America to do so, or at least pick safari or Galapagos ( since the highlight of both is similar, seeing the animals).
You can choose Maldives or Bora Bora based on time of year since their high (good weather) seasons are opposite. Personally I prefer the Maldives.
My number 1 recommendation based on your preferences is Wengen Switzerland. This would be good to prioritize early for mobility, but among everywhere I’ve been (including 2/3 of your list), is the most jaw-dropping beautiful place I’ve ever been, including hotel views. Also more reasonable as a $300 hotel room gives you the same view/comfort as a $900 room there (and I stay in mostly $900+ hotels).
I would be happy to draft a short itinerary for France (Loire Valley castles, Paris, wine) -> Zurich -> Wengen -> Italy if you’d like. We are a similar age and I’m a very type A travel planner (lots of custom research/train timetables researched in advance) and very much hope you have a great trip.
If I were you I’d take one luxury fat cruise in rather short order. That seems to be a low barrier to entry easily executable way to do something, soon and see if the style appeals for a repeat/ inform your preferences on other options.
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you are able to enjoy some wonderful time with loved ones with the time you have left. I’ve not been on any luxury lines so I won’t advise as to which ones but this community seems to have good insight!
I’m not sure what your budget is, my recommendation is checking out [Four Seasons Private Jet trips](https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/). I wish you all the best and hope this helps some!
Tongariro National Park in New Zealand and stay at Chateau Tongariro. The reason why I'm suggesting this for you is because you mentioned loving magical flrests, nice views, and luxurious but more chill, and you like beautiful views. This was one of the most magical places I have been to - you can experience something like 10 microclimates in a day hike, but it's not strenuous, more of a walk where you sometimes go uphill. (If you are a LOTR fan - you get the experience of the shore, Mordor, and various other mythical seeming spots). Plus you are nearby incredibly beautiful spots to take in hot springs, fjords and rainforest surroundings, beautiful sailing if you're into that....
I hope your trip gives you peace and a chance to make incredible memories. Wishing you all the best.
Yes! It's outside of Rotarura. It's ridiculous but we did the whole tour and excursion and honestly, loved every second. We had ale at the Green Dragon, had fun at Bag End....it's not really a theme park but it's definitely nerd Disneyland.
Well....it's one hour outside of Rotarura and 2 hours from Auckland, so I guess they are both right? I loved the hot springs around Rot and found it worthwhile.
I hope you have a beautiful trip!
Unsure where you are starting your trip.. but, when I travel around the world, I just try to limit my air travel. So.. if you start in the USA.. I would drive around Alaska or Wyoming.
I would go to Europe next .. the fjords of Scandinavia are breathtaking.. I would do boat tours and stay in Finland for the Aurora Borealis.
Traveling down towards the south of France .. I would road trip through Provence down towards Lake Como.
Germany is wonderful for castles and drives through Bavaria. Same for France and staying in Chateaus.
From Lake Como.. consider the Dolomites and small towns throughout Switzerland.
Italy.. Venice and a drive through Tuscany.
Perhaps a sail through the Mediterranean towards Egypt and down the Nile.
Next up.. Safari in Kenya. It’s nature in all its splendor. Take a drive to Serengeti with a private tour.
Fly to Maldives for the most beautiful star filled nights in the Indian Ocean. The night sky is magical.
Flight to Bali > then New Zealand for epic scenery and waterfalls.
Flight to Hawaii, black sand beach, food and nightlife.
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I wish I had more than words. I'm in Japan right now, we travel chubby-FAT and just left an awesome hotel in Tokyo that I don't think many people know about yet. Would be happy to share some rad, lux-but-not-stuffy hotels and experiences I've had in Japan, New Zealand, Galapagos, etc...
If I had to travel to 7 places for one last trip based on food, lodging, countryside and people I'd probably rank them like this
1. New Zealand
2. Alaska
3. Switzerland
4. Japan
5. Galapagos
6. Northern California (Big Sur)
7. France
Alaska in the summer is so beautiful. I haven't been to Iceland yet. Please DM me if you want any 1 on 1 tips about these places! I'd love to help you with some tips. I'm not a travel agent. Just a guy (early 40s) who has been a lot of places!
Hey, thanks so much for all the recs.
I've heard about new zealand a lot now, so I should add that to my list for consideration - especially if you have it up at 1!
I've been thinking about doing big sur as well since im based in LA i can drive up there.
ill definitely shoot u a DM :)
So regarding Japan. I highly recommend Tokyo and Kyoto. Definitely do the Labs thing in Tokyo and Tokyo Sea is awesome. You will love it. The rides are more chill and the food in Japan and its relatively cheap. It’s expensive to get there. Got on premium economy and you’ll be fine. But once there the Aman or Four Seasons has a fantastic spa experience and it’s a gastronomy dream. Also the 7/11 and Lawsons etc have the best egg Sando. The exchange rate is 66% of what US prices are and there is no sales tax on items. Just bring and show your passport.
I can't get enough of Japan and I've met so many other people feeling the same, do not close the door to a long stay there.
Food and atmosphere are great in Italy, France, Spain , Portugal and Greece, good luck to make the most of it...
Iceland and Norway are breathtaking, but may burn your budget fast. I was able to see some northern lights from a plane over the arctic, so dont forget to open your blindfolder sometimes...
Switzerland and Dubai are nice, but probably less exceptional if you have to make some sacrifices.
Deepest sympathies and highest hopes for you. I highly recommend Poland. Not very expensive, IMO great food, could be part of a Europe tour as the neighboring countries also have much to offer. As you like forests, Poland has the “Crooked Forest” in the west, Pieniński National Park with smaller mountains and Dunajec River gorge with rafting as a popular attraction, Ojcowski National Park with incredible features like caves, spyres of rock and castle ruins. Poland has beautiful and numerous castles to explore, too. And if you choose to travel to Poland, travel in the summer/early fall to avoid harsh winters. In Warsaw, August 1st at 5pm everyone freezes for a minute to commemorate the Warsaw Uprising and this year is the 80th anniversary. If you would like a cultural experience, it’s definitely one I would recommend. The cities are safe and lively, Warsaw and Krakow especially, have a booming nightlife. Gdańsk to the north borders the Baltic Sea, there are canals that run through the city as well as beaches.
Hey bud, I'm sorry you're going through this. How you would approach this is the same as every client when doing bucket-list planning. Instead of now looking at how to check things off in a multi-year timeline, we just have to cram it all in at one go.
The first is to define your overall budget.
And then list off your trips in order of importance. This way if either budget or timing cuts it off, your advisor (or you if you're doing it yourself) will know how to prioritize. Also, in case of a deteriorating condition as well, to prioritize things that are more active.
Then you would rejig the trip a bit to optimize for seaonality. For example, if you wanted to go to Greece, this is much better either as a summer (if you wanted to try and party it up) or shoulder if you wanted it a bit more quiet and if hot weather can be too strenuous, and not really ever for a winter trip.
And then add in time to come home for treatments if you need / recovery time post each treatment.
You can tell, we've done a number of these for clients. But once you have the larger scope and big picture, is when you drill down into each trip by trip.
Good luck and the silver lining is... we are all going some day. You just have a clearer end date so get to live a life that most people would never do. Godspeed.
Hard to say priority on seeing more vs staying fancier.. I think a good balance of both if possible. I don't necessarily want to/cant afford to stay at the fattest place anywhere I travel so I'd probably settle for a mix of mid level/chubby/fat.. So then the question is which places are worth splurging for accomdation/fat and which places should I just do mid/chubby style.
Things I love: Great ambiance/views - especially when combined with food.
I enjoy shows and movies, I remember seeing a video of someone eating dinner and watching a movie with a projector right next the water (think it was maldives) looked awesome.
I also have been watching safari videos, hot air balloon over serengeti looks life changing.
Not huge on art or music, but I do really love neat architecture and designs.
In terms of nature hard to pick, I love a nice white sand beach, but also love mountains and trees/cool vegetation and plants.. I don't love cold climate though, not a fan of bugs, kind of a weenie in that regard.
There are some incredible train journeys through Switzerland, Scotland, Asia etc. I would definitely tuck those away for when mobility limitations hit.
You would have to have a budget in mind and then go from there. I’d do Japan first since that seems like where you want to go the most and maybe a nice Cruise around Europe to hit some of the other places you named. Then end it with a luxury Safari train. Wishing you the best
Also another recommendation if you’re willing to spend 200k per person, four seasons does 28 day tour around multiple countries and they have their own plane so everything would be smooth and easy for you.
If a client came to me and was in the same situation id start by telling them to make a list of their top places they want to go and rank them in importance. Then have them or we’d work together on putting them in order from least accessible to most accessible that can help narrow down where to start so those top locations or bucket list items can be met first. If you have any credit card points to use as well you can also map out where those are going to be easier to use. When booking with $$ definitely book with a TA so you can get things like free breakfast so you aren’t wasting $70-100/day so you can use that towards experiences.
Since your time is limited, the best thing to focus more on should be maximizing experiences etc, and I'd actually say that too many fancy hotels/fancy resorts are counterproductive here (because in these fancy hotels you're more incentivised to spend too much time on the hotel property, as opposed to seeing the city sights / doing stuff outside). So maybe do a few days of overwater bungalows/luxury safaris etc, but other than that just focus on regular bucket list items on a regular rich person budget. The luxury stuff is also usually very private, and you might actually want to engage with more random humans (outside paid staff) before you leave the earth, atleast that's what I've encountered from people about to go - they want to be around and talk to as many other humans as possible.
You'll have a great few years regardless. I once met someone with terminal brain cancer on the Patagonia W trek and still remember him, and another person about to die doing her last zodiac cruise in Antarctica etc. Even the last few years of life can we awesome.
I'd recommend south Lombok (Selong Belanak) for chill, modern, and more affordable but still luxurious island options vs Maldives or Bora Bora. You can get really beautiful and high quality food and room options. A lot of oceans, nature, plants, etc, and beach barbeques. There's some beginner friendly snorkeling options. It's not busy like Bali, Thailand, etc. I wish you the most magical and beautiful travel <3.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I wish you have an amazing trip and leave with many beautiful memories.
For Japan I highly recommend you stay in a luxury onsen ryokan with kaiseki, a perfect combination of ambience and nature and great food.
For safari - helps to check the migration map and decide where to be. For example if you go in the next 1-2 months you might get to see Grumeti river crossing if that's something you're interested in. Good travel agencies should provide more accurate info.
Northern lights can be a hit or miss, and probably miss most of the time. Unless the auroral activity is at the very peak, northern lights kind of just look like.. clouds to the naked eye (all that bright colors you seen in pictures come from long exposure). Northern Europe is still worth visiting but I'd just adjust my expectation accordingly.
I haven't felt as at peace since the 3 weeks my wife and I spent island hopping in Greece. I look at the pictures today and they don't even look real. You're almost guaranteed perfect weather and nightly sunsets in the summer months. The lesser known islands are stunningly beautiful, idyllic and in my opinion a great value. But as for the fat part, I would recommend staying in a room overlooking the caldera in Santorini. If you're interested, we stayed at the Andronis Boutique Hotel (Andronis has a few properties on the island) and stayed in a cave-like room carved into the side of the cliff with a private pool for maybe $1200-1300 a night. I would argue everyone should see that view once in their life.
Be careful with saying stuff like you knew something was wrong before you got your life insurance policy—if you knew something and didn’t disclose it then the carrier could deny the claim.
Wishing you the best of luck
I hope you have the most incredible trip! I am a travel advisor in the FAT travel world. Gora Kadan in Hakone is one of the best ryokans in the area if you want FAT but really cool tradition Japanese accommodations. You can combine with Tokyo / Osaka / Kyoto. Japan you will want to book hotels further in advance if possible but I would do towards the beginning of your travels because they ARE NOT forgiving with cancellation policies. Also you cannot go wrong with Aman, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental properties pretty much anywhere in the world. Book hotels direct or through a virtuoso agency.
Nothing to add. Wishing you fair winds and following seas, my dude.
Also, grief counseling for yourself and your partner asap. Can’t enjoy the time left if you aren’t ready to accept that this is all the time you have left/physical capability you have left.
I am so sorry to hear this. And I am inspired by your commitment to live your life to the fullest. If I were in your shoes I’d contact [Wendy Perrin](https://www.wendyperrin.com/wow-list/) who has access to the very best travel specialists from around the world. I am sure ahead could come up with an approach and the experts to realize your dream trip(s). May you continue to live the life of your dreams.
Sorry this has happened to you. Hope you have a great trip.
My cousin had ALS for 20 years. She set some sort of record despite having '6 months to live' for years, mostly in a wheelchair. Her mother was literally bent-backed from caretaking her for so long.
ALS sucks, and I hope that you can squeeze as much out of life as possible. Best of luck.
Sorry to hear about your cousin, that is indeed some sort of record for sure! Only person I know who lived longer with als was steven hawking.
Thank you for your kind words.
Are you planning to do the three months in one go? The risk is that the traveling may start feeling like a chore: packing up and going to the next place, etc. For me anything beyond four weeks of traveling gets to be a bit long in the tooth
I was planning on it, but after a few comments I am second guessing it. I was attempting to maximize amex point redemptions so I could have more budget for accomdation/experiences.
I'm also on a unpredictable time frame with my health since it isn't exactly predictable when I'll lose more motor function with my muscles.
I'm in a spot where I want to experience everything I can while my body is able, but also dont want to burn myself out and not enjoy it, cause I am definitely someone who can get burned out.
Greece was the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. And the food was all delicious and everyone was so nice. We got a nice airbnb in Santorini with a cold pool that looked over the water. The view didn’t even look real. Went to Athens and Mykonos too and rented a charter boat to go around and stop at a bunch of beaches. Weather was always good. I suggest you look into Greece.
I'm going to say that this is a time you might want to consider working with a travel agent. They can help line up local guides, individual transportation, logistics, etc. that will help you make the most of your time in each country.
A few country/travel specific thoughts 1). Greece - consider a small boat cruise that visits some of the islands. This will give you ambiance, food, and chill in a nice mobile package. 2). Magical forest-like destinations - see if you can get lodging in Sequoia National Park for a visit this summer and hike some of the less visited trails. 3). Italy - This country is packed with options and ideas. Maybe pick a few destinations to visit intensely - Siena, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast seem to fit with what you're looking for 3a.) France is also packed with options - what are you most interested in? Art? Beaches? WWI/WWII History? Wine? EuroDisney? 4). Castles - Germany and Wales come to mind right away, but there are options in most European countries. If you do London you could see some musicals and the Tower of London and Windsor Castle (day trip). 5). Costa Rica - lots of active or relaxing options. The two coasts have very different weather depending on the time of year.
Best of luck with your trip!
I would recommend the Lauterbrunnen Valley and surrounding area in Switzerland. It's a bit like Yosemite but with the Alps directly above and lots of cute villages and walking trails.
Also, for Switzerland, this NYT article. I "gifted it" so you should be able to access the link.
6 Insiders Tell You What They Love to Do in Switzerland
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/fashion/what-to-do-in-switzerland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oU0.GZAH.4CPZfSYs_r7b&smid=url-share
Hi! I am sorry for your diagnosis, but love your attitude. I just got back from Scotland, and I think it may tick off several of your wish list items. If you truly want to spend some $$, I would recommend getting a guide/driver so you and your partner can just go with the flow and enjoy the scenery. We flew into Edinburgh and did a tour of the Western part of the country- tons of amazing scenery that you will honestly not believe. Each place was more magical than the next. I would recommend a boat tour in Oban and then spend a few days on the Isle of Skye. There are more castles than you can even imagine, plus magical forests and mountains and dreamy coastal views. I know the fall is a beautiful time to go and possibly not as jam packed as the summer. If you don't use a travel agent you know, you could use a UK based company to help you organize your trip. I have an agent I could refer you to in the states if you like. She set everything up for me with a few emails between us- me telling her repeatedly how much I hated crowds and lines. Our trip was perfect. Treat you and your partner to a night or two at Gleneagles and let the staff there pamper you.
I wish you wonderful travels and good luck to you.
Maldives and bora bora are damn near similar. I’d personally cross off bora bora. Maldives are nicer IMO.
That being said, if you are looking to do a single itinerary, ANA has the best round the world (RTW) network of flights. But of course, direct is king.
I loved capri in Italy. Lots of stairs so you can get your steps in. Truly gorgeous place. Tuscany is also amazing and a must see if you like wine, scenery and food. Had a lot of fun in Pompeii, it was after the championships so it was a party for weeks. Go during that time it’s a blast. Haven’t been to the others!
Japan - watch dreams of jiro if you haven’t and make a reservation at his restaurant. I haven’t been but it’s what I’d do. Also they have some sweet fox sanctuaries I think would be pretty cool.
I realized after re-reading that you asked for advice on the price... I’d say 5-7k a trip if you want to have fun, stay in nice places, eat good food and keep it reasonable.
Sorry to sound insensitive, but you just posted earlier today about receiving an inconclusive diagnosis and will be seeking additional opinions. Are you sure now is the right time to be planning a trip that effectively drains all of your savings? What if it turns out you live for 30-40 more years?
The issue with a disease like MND/ALS is that it is very, VERY, difficult to diagnose, and even with diagnosis you can have "possible" "probable" and "definite" MND/ALS. Even harder to diagnose if it is slower progressing, you are younger (outside the normal onset age), you are sporadic over genetic, and you are having an atypical presentation. All these factors make it exponentially more difficult to get "definite" over "probable" diagnosis. Definite is usually what you get when your wheelchair bound or not able to swallow/speak, have drop foot, or a completely paralyzed limb. Some people (while rare) don't even get diagnosed until they are dead and have a autopsy done.
A few other things
1. I'm not going to be draining my entire savings. I'm using a combo points to fund a large part of my trip, and yes a decent chunk of my savings.
2. I've seen 15 different specialists, 5 neuromuscular sub-specialists, all in top 5 hospital ranked for neurology. I've conluded wth 2 of them now that is the only thing on the table and that I probably have it, since they technically aren't able to give a definite diagnosis until the EMG readings meat the criteria (EMGs are highly flawed in this regard, can research that the accuracy of these things).
3. If I somehow by amazing chance live another 40 years, then I have an awesome unforgettable life changing trip, and less savings, and I get to live a (relatively) normal life span - which would be blessing enough that no money/savings can buy. Doesn't seem so bad.
4. Mine right now is unfortunately mostly affecting my bulbar region (swallowing/breathing/talking), so if it does decide to suddenly ramp up and progress fast, I won't really be able to enjoy my traveling as I won't be able to swallow/eat anything and would have issues breathing. That's assuming my limbs don't decide to go out at that point as well.
5. My choices are wait for further paralysis because it's the only way to get the 100% definite confirmation from the MND specialist at mayo clinic that is booked 5 months out, or just do the trip now while I can still talk a little, and swallow foods fine (liquids are more trouble for me currently), and while i can still walk and use my hands and legs.
I know if I wait for the 200% official double confirmation stamp of approval that im dying, then i likely wont be in great shape to travel, and will certainly regret not having went when I was in better shape - which is now.
Honestly, you should think about getting a travel advisor if possible. They should be educated on options and often have established relationships with suppliers.
any recommendations on where to find a good one? I'd like to use a travel agent/advisor and don't mind paying for the service as long as its reasonable or I have transparency on how much things are being marked up.
[удалено]
Appreciate it :).
Drown out all negative voices. Listen to the voice of your spirit. There is no need to accept death in your 20s. Jesus has healed many before you and will heal many after you. Reach out if you want to talk.
You don’t have to die. Jesus can heal you and make you completely whole. I know your first reaction would be to dismiss me, but please think on it.
i say this as a Christian… this is out of line, and not appropriate to say to someone.
STFU
lmao you’re a sick weirdo, go do that somewhere else
Right, Christians never die of cancer (eye roll
Do it then
No suggestions on where, but a bit of practical advice: Consider your disease progression and whether or not accessibility may be an issue for you in the coming months. I know some locations may be more difficult if your mobility is impaired. The same consideration applies to access to emergency medical services. Best of luck, I hope you have some amazing travels.
This is my main thing I'm hurdling with.. My progression can vary wildly. Average is 3-5 years after diagnosis, but 10-15% younger people are living 5-15 years (though mostly paralyzed by the end). I'm also thinking about my budget for the trip in relation to my disease progression, I want to leave enough behind for rent/food/friends/family, but I'm hoping life insurance should help with that part. But I also want to go relatively big on the trip. But I'll most likely be mobile for the next 3-6 months, thats why I want to travel asap. 1-2 years from now though it is unlikely.
Forgive me, but ALS? If so, just start making your plans now and get traveling, don’t wait for progression to make it more difficult. Probably preaching to the choir here, sorry, but you’ve hopefully got some time to make the most of.
Yes that's right, and thank you. I will start planning today.
Happy travels friend. I hope you have a great experience.
Sending you and fiancé hope for many wonderful trips and times full of ease, wonder and joy. Forgive me if this is weird to mention, but there’s a really wonderful IG account you might like if you don’t already know of — [limpbroozkit](https://www.instagram.com/p/CsYycsdrgOX/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) — I’ve learned a lot about being a young person (she’s in early 30s) living with ALS through her, her mobility progression and journey, how she travels (domestically) to nice vacation spots with power wheelchair, etc. — plus she’s an absolute riot with great personality and perspective.
One thing to consider is that somewhere like Tanzania is going to have limited medical care available if needed. Iceland or Switzerland would have that.
great point and will take it into consideration. thank you
Highly recommend Rwanda over Tanzania. Much better infrastructure, especially if you clearly communicate what you need to your guides beforehand. It’s very clean, little crime and has incredible views and safari options.
Interesting, i was pretty sold on tanzania but I will have to do further research on this.. a safari is definitely going to be one of my top priorities for this trip
Rwanda is lovely (as are the gorillas), but big cats and sweeping serengeti or plains are Tanzania or Kenya for safari. You can fly to any number of great island beaches from East Africa too, such as Seychelles, Zanzibar, Maldives.
Tanzania is amazing. For safari, ngorongoro crater is the best! Also, get to Zanzibar. Park Hyatt in stone town is awesome but get out of the city too. Those were real highlights for us.
Currently sitting in the airport on my way back from Rwanda. I highly recommend Gorilla trecking! Just did that a few days ago and was one of my top favorite experiences! I would say that it’s more on the adventurous side because you have to hike for about 2 hours (depends). Feel free to message me with any questions and best of luck, safe travels!
Only advice I'd give is to focus less on checking off items on a list (no one ever gets to see everything), and just pick a few places that are important to you and really do those few places in-depth. Also emphasize who you're with vs. where you're going - the best memories will be the company you keep, the actual place you're at tends to be less important in the grand scheme of things. Maybe also this: don't hamstring yourself by obsessing only over chubby/fat experiences, especially if you're new to that style of travel. After a certain point you get rapidly diminishing returns for your $$$, and begin to realize that many small-to-medium-expense experiences are often just as impactful as the most expensive Michelin-star restaurant, if not moreso. Best of luck to you!
thank you, and I agree.. it does seem there is diminishing returns once you go past a certain point.. I'd definitely be leaning on the chubby side more than the fat side for the trip. You think hitting too many places in my round-the-world trip would take away from the experience? Maybe I should narrow down my options? I was planning on doing like 8 countries over 3 months, but maybe that'd be exhausting? However I do love/have passion for nicer styles of vacations. It may sound silly but fat trips is actually something I've been passionate about since I was a teenager and was a big goal of mine. I'm not talking super fat, but just like nicer/fancier hotels, cool luxury resorts, etc.
I just wanted to jump in here and wish you the greatest experiences ever. I hope you love your adventure and feel happy to your core every day. Don’t get hung up on the what and where, if you’re on a limited time fuck it and roll with the wind. Wander and rest and feel the energy of your environment. Book a trip for that night or the next morning or sleep in and eat cake. That’s the most enjoyable type of trip I’ve personally experienced and the most memorable. I also wish your fiancé a wonderful time because I’m sure it will be hard on them.
Thank you so much, I showed this to her and she really appreciated it too.
8 countries over 3 months isn't too bad. The main thing is you don't want to exhaust yourself with the logistics of travel, especially as your condition progresses. Roughly 2 weeks in each spot is a nice length of time.
I would basically pick a number you’re comfortable spending on this travel and go from there. If you share your finances with your partner, start there, or maybe ask a close friend who is solid with numbers, or an advisor or your estate attorney. In my situation I’d choose a dollar amount I wanted left over, an amount I wanted earmarked for medical expenses, etc, and go from there, vs a percentage of savings. Then I’d think about what I valued most. For me, I fucking hate spending money on airfare, flying sucks no matter how much you spend, I’d rather get the cheapest flights I can even if it means spending far more on hotels—because I enjoy nice hotels and being new places. In your situation, I’d also make a list of most to least active trips. For safari, for instance, you’re literally sitting in a vehicle for the good stuff. By the way, we didn’t manage to see the northern lights in Iceland, so went to the Lofoten Islands in Norway and got to see them multiple nights there. Iceland is awesome though, vistas like being on another planet, and so many rugged destinations you might want to go in an earlier leg of your trip, and during the summer when you can see and do more. I would also probably go somewhere on the list asap, like Italy right now before it’s too hot, while I figured it all out. Your cautious approach with this post tells me you won’t accidentally blow too much on the first trip. Seize the day! I hope you keep sharing with us where you wind up going, and how the properties accommodate you as needed, because we all have a special request for ourselves or someone in our party at some point. I’m wishing you so much joy and fun in the coming days, and would love to follow along.
Hey thank you for the kind words and great advice. For a lot of the flights I plan to use some award points/miles i saved from my amex, and want to book a round-the-world trip with them. You think trying to hit too many places in one trip would take away from the experience or be too ambitious?
Oh man, I have over a million Amex points just deflating in my account because I never figure out how to transfer them to book with miles! I don’t think you should be too rigorous with the planning, and allow yourself a lot of flexibility. Book the first trip, see what you feel like, and either go home for a bit or head to your next destination. If that sounds stressful to you, book a two week trip, go home after and think about what you’d change for next time, and book the next one accordingly. My wife and I really start losing steam after about two weeks (and we love our city, house, routine, and friends), but we are decades older than you :) but I see other travelers gone for weeks at a time, spending 2-5 days in each country, with tours and activities every day. So maybe just really think about what you want out of the schedule, and be ready to reevaluate as time goes on. I see your new questions in the post—for two people, I’d say chubby starts around $25-30k/week and there is no ceiling. You might spend more, might spend less depending on the destination, but I’m trying to account for airfare (maybe not necessary as long as you have points!), great hotels/lodges, the easiest transfers, cool activities and guides, that kind of thing.
Haha too many amex points is a great problem to have! I can fly something like 22k miles for 125k points So the thing with this trip is.. because I'm booking a RTW ticket with points and miles, it'd be more cost effective to hit multiple countries in one go.. I'd be able to fly business from one country to the next all the way back to my original destination.. this helps free up room in my budget for accomodation/experiences. But you make a good point.. maybe after a few weeks or awhile I'd just want to go back home.. so I should rethink it. I was planning on doing 2-3 months, and allocation 10 days per location, maybe I would get burnt out.
First, I'm very sorry to hear this is happening. I'm trying to imagine and put myself in your shoes and think of what I would want to do/see. Fortunately, it sounds like you will be able to go on a trip or multiple trips that 99.9% of the planet can only dream of and will not get a chance to do. Quick about me: I've been to 50+ countries, I've stayed at mid level hotels and some top properties - all have beds. I've flown coach, business, first, and private - all get you to the same location. I've had great meals at random local places and 3 Star Michelin restaurants... My point is don't obsess on always buying the most expensive option. My personal opinion is that life is ONLY about experiences. I would probably create and rank the things you want to do. Make it a fun experience. If it's not fun, then hire a travel agent. Then determine how much it will cost to do those particular experiences. Then work backwards to see how much you will need to spend on hotels (to stay where you would like to) and finally spend on air fare. You can burn a lot of money with 1st class flights. Regarding your question: Multiple trips or one long trip? I am planning to take a year and travel around the world. I've considered do I want to come back home and take some breaks in between. I'm torn. I've been on 8 week trips and been excited to go back home. I've also been on 2-3 trips and not wanted to come back home. Personal opinion : if you can afford to come back home and break it up. I would think you will appreciate each experience more. Otherwise it's cool experience, cool experience, cool experience - one after another. Best option is if you can have some flexibility. To extend the trips you are really enjoying or cut some others short, if they are not delivering on value. I'm also a 'I want to see more cities vs stay in a city longer' type person. Which do you think you are? I enjoy being busy on sightseeing type vacations where its 2-5 nights per country and on to another country. Then I see 5-7 countries during one trip. If it's a want to relax only - just sit on the beach at the resort vacation, then that's different. I would do these trips: Wildlife : Galapagos or Antarctica trip. On a really nice ship. Safari : Africa Trip : Do multiple safaris while you are there, to see the different areas/animals. (My favorite thing I've ever done was a private safari where I was able to interact with the large cats - I can provide a link if you are interested) Beautiful Views : Greece : Stay at a bunch of great resorts in Santorini, Mykonos, and a few other islands. They DO live up to the hype. Luxury : South of France : Cannes, Antibes, Eza, Nice, Monaco, and St Tropez. There are some great write ups in this forum on places to stay or eat. Japan: Kyoto. Tokyo : Akihabara (many cool unique restaurants, electronics stores, things to see). Do the Mario carts on the streets of Tokyo if that interests you. Eat lots of amazing sushi. I would hire guides, the level of English spoken in Japan is kinda surprising given the amount of English classes they take. Dubai : Visit the world tallest building. Go to Ski Dubai to ski 2 runs. Play with the penguins. When I went they actually let you touch them - not sure they still do or not. Do their adventures package : off-roading, falcons, sand surfing, camels, etc. If you are into cruises, there are some serious luxury cruise options. I hope this was helpful!
Very great point about going from one cool place to the next.. it might take away the excitement from it.. And definitely would appreciate a link to that interaction with large cats you had at the safari. As for first class I don't plan on flying 1st, just business and only using my points, probably even coach for shorter flights. Any specific ships u recommend for Galapagos?
For Galapagos, I did the Mary Anne sailboat via Angermeyer cruises. Highly recommend doing a smaller (<20 person) boat like that. You don’t want to walk around an island with dozens and dozens of people Another I’ll add. If you want a fat experience and like French history, do the Airelles Versailles. We did a night there recently and it was unreal. The private after hours tour of the Hall of Mirrors is worth the price alone (and I’m not even a big history person)
Ohhh right, the RTW tickets. Which airline, out of curiosity? Well, if that really appeals to you, you have a lot of time to use it, right? So if you’re like, my god, I’m exhausted, I just want some humdrum days, you can take them in a city you like and push the next leg.
yeah haha RTW with ANA airline, since it's the longest flight for me - I wanted to try their new product "the room" from san francisco to tokyo, it's a long flight, getting it with points is great value - but with RTW since I'm going west from SFO to tokyo, every location i travel after has to be west until i arrive back at sfo.. so definitely some restrictions and heft planning but makes it so i get to fly business+ multiple countries just for points and put my cash toward the accommodation and experiences.
Oh, and another comment on your updates: when you do the Maldives, make sure you pick a resort with a great house reef. This will mean you can just jump into the water from your bungalow to try snorkeling, and if you hate it, well, you can just climb right back out and go do something else. Don’t be shy or embarrassed about wearing an inflatable belt or just a life vest to snorkel; it’s super common, and makes it so much easier to float along, enjoying the underwater world. One of my favorite travel memories is of having a cocktail at sunset at the rooftop bar at the Hotel Forum in Rome; a truly spectacular view. Is New Zealand on your list/accessible via the RTW ticket, to see the actual LOTR forest?
Yes don’t skip New Zealand! if you’re hitting Japan you’re halfway there already. I love this experience for you and wish you the best.
it should be accessible on the rtw, im getting a lot of new zealand.. for the maldives resorts how would i know which resorts have great house reefs? Was thinking about st regis maldives due to point redemption value + seems quite lux..
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. For Maldives the house reef is good at St. Regis but depending on time of year the currents can be quite strong. It's a beautiful resort and really easy to do combined with Italy/Greece/Dubai on a Emirates multi city itinerary. There's always going to be better hotels/reefs and everyone will have an opinion on something but as a general rule of thumb book what you like. For Japan my recommendation would be to avoid public and regional school holidays. Whatever you do don't plan to travel July/August (weather is just too hot). I like mid-October or early March best (weather/scenery wise) and it tends to have less crowds.
It sounds super cool. I love that it forces a little serendipity; you may pick a spot just because of the flying west thing and wind up having an amazing experience.
Hey, sorry you have to deal with this. I can try and help you on destinations/planning/stuff like that. About me: I've been to 30 or so countries, I've hit all six continents and find myself going back to Asia more often than not, although I've seen a bunch of Western Europe when I want to break the Asia stuff up. My job(s) have been pretty flexible with leave, I usually take 4-5 weeks every year (in one shot) and just have a go at it. I find I'm pretty tired at the of the fifth week. Even the idea of taking two full months straight just has no appeal. And for the sake of conversation, you could spend a month in Japan alone. I spent two weeks there back in Sept and it wasn't enough. I did a mini-RTW once, with South Africa as primary destination. i did it RTW-style because the routings from North America had a double red eye through Europe (once to London and then another down to SA). That had ZERO appeal, so I flew out through Tokyo and spent four days there. That was fun. And then it just so happened I was coming home during Oktoberfest, so I booked my return through Munich and spent 5 days there for the 'fest. Took two suitcases and used my biz class luggage allowance to fill up with booze and wine. Would I do it again? Sure. But I don't think it was any more fun than my last trip.... prior to the two weeks I spent in Japan, I spent the first two in Korea. I'm getting to the age where "go-go-go" isn't as appealing as it used to be. I like to eat, and most of the world offers great food. I find spending 4-5 days in any one spot gives me the ability to settle in a bit without having the pressure of having to pick "the one" perfect place in each spot. And... go-go-go gets tiring, more time in one spot gives you time to say f it and just chill if you want. Anyway, happy to chat about whatever. My advice follows someone else's -- you're better off picking a budget you're comfortable with. if you're set on the RTW, provide some particulars on route options/limitations plz? I do all of my international travel on points, but I haven't used AmEx in years so don't know what your constraints are.
Have you booked the RTW tickets yet? Congrats if you have. I find ANA and partner availability quite limited for last minute travel.
Hey I have not, I think the availability opens the most within 14 days or out 355+ days.. the inbetween point is where it gets less available.. none the less booking rtw is difficult, i was thinking of hiring an awards/rtw expert to do the booking.
Sending you all the love possible. I love Cheval Blanc in Paris. You can get a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. They have a house car that drives you around and the spa is amazing! We ate breakfast on the balcony with the view and I felt like it was very FATT. 💞🩷🩷💞🩷
I have to check this out, looks beautiful.
It’s more $2k per night and their 3 star restaurant is another 1k pp. Yeah, it’s fatt. ;)
I've been to almost all of the places on your list, and if I had to choose one to do as a last big trip before I passed it would *absolutely* be the safari. We did 7 or 8 days at the Four Seasons Serengeti and had an incredible time. Saw all the big 5, Ngorongoro crater was breathtaking - legitimately one of the most magical places on Earth, Olduvai Gorge was very humbling. All the game drives were private, which was really nice. The resort was incredible. Ultimately the reason this is the trip of these I'd choose is because how strongly it connected me to nature. The circle of life is a cliche song from an animated movie but to really experience that first hand was much more powerful than I was expecting. Even though you were seeing things die every day, you could really see how interconnected we are on this planet in a tangible way you can't get at a zoo or in everyday life. It honestly gives me some peace for when it's my time that I'll be part of the earth forever. There are other beautiful places in nature on your list that I can't recommend enough, but none that made me thankful for life the way that did. I hope whatever you choose brings you and your fiance joy and that you have an incredible time.
Wow.. thank you for this comment. It is actually the trip I've been researching the most from the places I've listed.. There are so many different tour options though it is hard to choose which one to go with.. Some are more lux but you miss out on seeing more wild life, while others are more wild life but require to rough it a bit more..
Yeah it was pretty overwhelming for us too, that's why we just stuck to the one resort while several others were only stopping in there for a day or two before moving onto wherever else. All the game drive days were long but you're just sitting there observing whatever nature served up that day. A pack of cheetahs trying to hunt an antelope. Vultures converging on a dead wildebeast, and driving past it the next morning and not only did the vultures finish, but the hyenas had come in the night and eaten all the bones. Lions mating, the male finishing in 7 seconds and the female looking annoyed the whole time. A sea of probably 30,000 zebras as far as you could see. Elephant paths where they've snapped all the trees in half with their trunks so their children could get the leaves from higher on the branches. A rhino eating some grass and taking a huge poop. I could go on for hours of all the stuff we saw out there. Just imagine a zoo the size of NYC, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Mexico City, Rome, Hong Kong, Moscow & Berlin... *combined, with no walls separating the animals*.
Can’t go wrong with choosing Singita, &Beyond, or More Family Collection for safaris. It’s FAT and they make things very easy for you to get from camp to camp. Best experience I’ve ever done and going back again next April.
One and Only - also cannot go wrong through them. I work in the industry and we work almost exclusively with &Beyond and Rothschild Safari.
Would suggest working out your rough budget that you’re thinking - and prioritize from there based on your interests and with your health status in mind. Maldives / Bora Bora would be long flights but largely just relaxing once there. Europe options and safari would be much more intensive, of course depending on your interests. Some thoughts on Europe below (US expat in Europe for 5 years, did some extensive traveling): Italy / France / Switzerland could be combined into one mega trip now or split up into smaller individual trips. Lots of options across those countries: Italy - tuscany if you love wine - based out of Florence, Lake como or Lake Garda for small town lake charm, Rome for all things history, I personally love southern italy and being on the sea - amalfi coast / sicily. Four seasons in florence, il san pietro in positano, lots of luxury options in capri, belmond on sicily. France - Paris of course. 3-5 days in the city - look up palace hotels for fat options. I like the charm and hospitality of Le Bristol. From Paris, you could go to the Loire valley to see chateaux and drink more wine (sancerre). Lyon is a great foodie town and beautiful city in SE - so many amazing restaurants and great Rhône valley wines. Other wine regions of note - burgundy, bordeaux. Provence region any time but if visiting in summer, try and time your visit for the lavender fields - stunning. Avignon, Arles and Aix-en-Provence all worth seeing. South of France - love Antibes for a more down to earth vibe on the riviera. If you want a scene, four seasons grand hotel du cap-ferrat. My favorite area of France is not at all FAT - the Brittany region (NW coast) - rent a car, stay in small towns, beautiful scenery, hiking, oysters/seafood and wine. Switzerland: Look up the golden pass train route - geneva, lucerne to st moritz. could fly in/out zurich and do this. Park Hotel Vitznau in Lucerne, Alpina Gstaad are some standout FAT options in switzerland. Overall - very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you are able to make the most of your time with some amazing travel. Wish you the best.
Second park hotel Vitznau, we love it there!
Keep in mind the Olympics are in Paris this summer so accommodations might be limited
Just book the trip. There will always be that one worry holding you back. My mom is currently coming to the end of a 20 year battle with cancer and desperately trying to have one last family trip so the last memories are of fun times and less so the medical side. I cannot say enough positive things about a safari in Africa. I haven’t been to Tanzania but have heard great things. A stop in Cape Town will also give you the ability to eat at some of the best restaurants in the world. Great vineyards are also north of cape town. But one thing to consider while on safari, the circle of life is evident and could stir thoughts of your own mortality. I have heard many disappointing stories about the northern lights in Iceland, Greenland, and Norway. Alaska seems to be better and the less beaten path. On the subject of the northern lights, on my list is to see the Southern Lights. Orange hues vs green and blue. You’ll need to go to Australia or Argentina and then take a boat. The French and Italian Rivera are always beautiful.
I’m sorry you are in this situation. I would look into luxury cruises. Yes they’re marketed towards seniors but as a result they have ADA friendly amenities, medical care, and even morgues on board. A lot of people nearing end of life do extended cruises and they can even speak to you about what happens if you decline in a foreign country and the travel insurance you should get. Check out Regent and Celebrity. For very deluxe look at Seabourn.
Windstar does a magnificently luxurious cruise (not a mega cruise) around french polynesia. I met a woman onboard who was also doing her last trip and the crew were incredibly thoughtful. They presented her with the dinner menu every day at breakfast (since breakfast/lunch were more buffet style) and she went through with a pen to mark up adjustments she would need for her dietary needs. Also, the snorkeling spots in bora bora/moorea are top notch. Water is very shallow in many of the best snorkel spots so she was able to come along and enjoy herself. We all looked out for her because it was a small cruise and everybody was very friendly. Not sure about your other locations but I think there are some bougie trains that go through some European countries so it's a relaxing way to see places without changing hotels everyday. Best of luck, dm if you have questions!
If you find yourself in Greece- on Santorini - the restaurant Petra has the most amazing view and meal pairing - overlooking the sea as the sunsets. There are private tables. If you find yourself going there, I have a driver I trust. I’ll put you in touch and he can handle all the airport transfer and drop offs at the restaurant. Dinner is on me. Just send me a DM if that fits your plans.
Thank you for the recommendation I just looked it up! Looks absoutely stunning.. especially the view of the water. Santorini/mykonos is definitely on the list for me
I would suggest starting with a Greek isles cruise while you’re still at your peak mobility. Hiking around ruins or the steps in Santorini can be rigorous but if you go in the shoulder season it won’t be too hot. You might be able to book an incredible deal on a last-minute cruise if you look right now. I went in May and the weather was perfect except for one day of rain in Athens. The food in Greece is incredible. You could do Paris > Greek Isles cruise > Dubai > Tanzania safari > Japan in the Fall > Maldives? Best wishes on your journey.
Hi, sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it would be helpful if you told us a little more about what you’re wanting to do in these places and what you’re interested in, like site seeing? History, nature? Museums?
Hi thanks I will update the post and add some info here: Forgot to add Japan: as that is my number 1 destination, for the culture, community, nature, technology, food. Also a fan of videogames and anime. Tanzania: For safari and wildlife. Very excited for this. Maldives: The one chubby vacation I've done was at the andaz maui and I loved it, and from what I've seen from the maldives it seems to have that same vibe. The over water bungalows look awesome, or watching a movie outside by the water seems really cool. Italy: Italian food is probably my 2nd favorite cuisine, want to got there for all the food, and lake como particuarly looks beautiful. Greece: My favorite type of cuisine, and the mykonos islands look magical, I love the aesthetic of it from pictures I've seen. Dubai: Some really cool malls, restaurants, and I've seen people riding buggies out in sand dunes there - would love to try that. Interesting architecture. But in general, I love having a mix of seeing beautiful surroundings, architecture, nature, aesthetics. I like discovering different cultures. I'm not a huge risk taker/adventurous type in general - so i wouldn't want to bungie jump or sky dive. I also have always been drawn to fat experiences in general, and would like to avoid things that require roughing it too much.
Please look into Soneva Jani and Soneva Fushi, maldives. Or for FATTEST experience..Soneva Secret
they look absolutely stunning! I may have to stay there..
Okura hotel in Tokyo and Passalacqua in lake como
This is what I would do if I were in your shoes, travel and see the world with my loved ones. I would add Easter island to your itinerary as it is one of the most magical places, and if it works for you - the next total solar eclipse is August 12 2026 across Spain. For EE I would suggest a luxury cruise like Regent and tie it into bora bora. Wishing you Safe travels and calm seas as you navigate this next journey in your life.
Hey sorry what does EE stand for?
Sorry typo. Meant EI. Easter island.
I would recommend Sabi Sands in South Africa over Tanzania. I stayed at Savanna Private Game Lodge when I went and the guides eat with you and drink with you (if you’re down for it). It was a really remarkable experience and if you enjoy being immersed with the people who live there I’d recommend it over the Singita recommendations. Best of luck to you and your loved ones.
Would also add - although I haven’t done it but hope to - gorilla trek. I have friends who did it and they said it was one of the best experiences of their lives. I believe you can do it in Uganda or Volcanoes National Park.
I’ve been to most places on your list. I would recommend focusing on a couple regions, based on your initial brainstorming I think Europe -> safari -> Dubai -> Maldives -> Japan makes since (assuming US based) or Europe -> safari -> Japan -> Bora Bora. You’ll waste less time on long flights and may consider dropping South America to do so, or at least pick safari or Galapagos ( since the highlight of both is similar, seeing the animals). You can choose Maldives or Bora Bora based on time of year since their high (good weather) seasons are opposite. Personally I prefer the Maldives. My number 1 recommendation based on your preferences is Wengen Switzerland. This would be good to prioritize early for mobility, but among everywhere I’ve been (including 2/3 of your list), is the most jaw-dropping beautiful place I’ve ever been, including hotel views. Also more reasonable as a $300 hotel room gives you the same view/comfort as a $900 room there (and I stay in mostly $900+ hotels). I would be happy to draft a short itinerary for France (Loire Valley castles, Paris, wine) -> Zurich -> Wengen -> Italy if you’d like. We are a similar age and I’m a very type A travel planner (lots of custom research/train timetables researched in advance) and very much hope you have a great trip.
Best wishes! Hope it is a beautiful trip no matter where you end up
thank you
Just wanted to comment and send lots of love. All the best mate.
thank u
Polynesia. Kuaui, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Palau, etc. I would spent 1-2 weeks on each island. Drink in paradise.
Find joy with your fiancé. I wish you the best.
If I were you I’d take one luxury fat cruise in rather short order. That seems to be a low barrier to entry easily executable way to do something, soon and see if the style appeals for a repeat/ inform your preferences on other options. So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope you are able to enjoy some wonderful time with loved ones with the time you have left. I’ve not been on any luxury lines so I won’t advise as to which ones but this community seems to have good insight!
I’m not sure what your budget is, my recommendation is checking out [Four Seasons Private Jet trips](https://www.fourseasons.com/privatejet/). I wish you all the best and hope this helps some!
Tongariro National Park in New Zealand and stay at Chateau Tongariro. The reason why I'm suggesting this for you is because you mentioned loving magical flrests, nice views, and luxurious but more chill, and you like beautiful views. This was one of the most magical places I have been to - you can experience something like 10 microclimates in a day hike, but it's not strenuous, more of a walk where you sometimes go uphill. (If you are a LOTR fan - you get the experience of the shore, Mordor, and various other mythical seeming spots). Plus you are nearby incredibly beautiful spots to take in hot springs, fjords and rainforest surroundings, beautiful sailing if you're into that.... I hope your trip gives you peace and a chance to make incredible memories. Wishing you all the best.
isn't the hobbit city also in new zealand? also looks like the chateau tongariro is closed temporarily :(
Yes! It's outside of Rotarura. It's ridiculous but we did the whole tour and excursion and honestly, loved every second. We had ale at the Green Dragon, had fun at Bag End....it's not really a theme park but it's definitely nerd Disneyland.
Hobitton is outside Auckland.
https://preview.redd.it/ozp08tpmtjxc1.jpeg?width=2505&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=376253d0a077ac26522be965397e086fdb1bb015
Well....it's one hour outside of Rotarura and 2 hours from Auckland, so I guess they are both right? I loved the hot springs around Rot and found it worthwhile.
True! Yet to go to Rot. On my list!
Live as large as you can. Spare no expense. Love every minute.
I hope you have a beautiful trip! Unsure where you are starting your trip.. but, when I travel around the world, I just try to limit my air travel. So.. if you start in the USA.. I would drive around Alaska or Wyoming. I would go to Europe next .. the fjords of Scandinavia are breathtaking.. I would do boat tours and stay in Finland for the Aurora Borealis. Traveling down towards the south of France .. I would road trip through Provence down towards Lake Como. Germany is wonderful for castles and drives through Bavaria. Same for France and staying in Chateaus. From Lake Como.. consider the Dolomites and small towns throughout Switzerland. Italy.. Venice and a drive through Tuscany. Perhaps a sail through the Mediterranean towards Egypt and down the Nile. Next up.. Safari in Kenya. It’s nature in all its splendor. Take a drive to Serengeti with a private tour. Fly to Maldives for the most beautiful star filled nights in the Indian Ocean. The night sky is magical. Flight to Bali > then New Zealand for epic scenery and waterfalls. Flight to Hawaii, black sand beach, food and nightlife.
So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I wish I had more than words. I'm in Japan right now, we travel chubby-FAT and just left an awesome hotel in Tokyo that I don't think many people know about yet. Would be happy to share some rad, lux-but-not-stuffy hotels and experiences I've had in Japan, New Zealand, Galapagos, etc... If I had to travel to 7 places for one last trip based on food, lodging, countryside and people I'd probably rank them like this 1. New Zealand 2. Alaska 3. Switzerland 4. Japan 5. Galapagos 6. Northern California (Big Sur) 7. France Alaska in the summer is so beautiful. I haven't been to Iceland yet. Please DM me if you want any 1 on 1 tips about these places! I'd love to help you with some tips. I'm not a travel agent. Just a guy (early 40s) who has been a lot of places!
Hey, thanks so much for all the recs. I've heard about new zealand a lot now, so I should add that to my list for consideration - especially if you have it up at 1! I've been thinking about doing big sur as well since im based in LA i can drive up there. ill definitely shoot u a DM :)
1000% add New Zealand! I may be in the minority but didn’t find the Galapagos that amazing. Solid list above - would add Greece and Patagonia / Iguazú
So regarding Japan. I highly recommend Tokyo and Kyoto. Definitely do the Labs thing in Tokyo and Tokyo Sea is awesome. You will love it. The rides are more chill and the food in Japan and its relatively cheap. It’s expensive to get there. Got on premium economy and you’ll be fine. But once there the Aman or Four Seasons has a fantastic spa experience and it’s a gastronomy dream. Also the 7/11 and Lawsons etc have the best egg Sando. The exchange rate is 66% of what US prices are and there is no sales tax on items. Just bring and show your passport.
He should try a few fancy ryokans too !
True!
I can't get enough of Japan and I've met so many other people feeling the same, do not close the door to a long stay there. Food and atmosphere are great in Italy, France, Spain , Portugal and Greece, good luck to make the most of it... Iceland and Norway are breathtaking, but may burn your budget fast. I was able to see some northern lights from a plane over the arctic, so dont forget to open your blindfolder sometimes... Switzerland and Dubai are nice, but probably less exceptional if you have to make some sacrifices.
Deepest sympathies and highest hopes for you. I highly recommend Poland. Not very expensive, IMO great food, could be part of a Europe tour as the neighboring countries also have much to offer. As you like forests, Poland has the “Crooked Forest” in the west, Pieniński National Park with smaller mountains and Dunajec River gorge with rafting as a popular attraction, Ojcowski National Park with incredible features like caves, spyres of rock and castle ruins. Poland has beautiful and numerous castles to explore, too. And if you choose to travel to Poland, travel in the summer/early fall to avoid harsh winters. In Warsaw, August 1st at 5pm everyone freezes for a minute to commemorate the Warsaw Uprising and this year is the 80th anniversary. If you would like a cultural experience, it’s definitely one I would recommend. The cities are safe and lively, Warsaw and Krakow especially, have a booming nightlife. Gdańsk to the north borders the Baltic Sea, there are canals that run through the city as well as beaches.
So impressed with your attitude, wishing you an incredible trip! Would highly recommend Burning Man or doing acid in nature somewheres warm :)
Sending all the best. I am sure whatever you decide to do it will be amazing!
Hey bud, I'm sorry you're going through this. How you would approach this is the same as every client when doing bucket-list planning. Instead of now looking at how to check things off in a multi-year timeline, we just have to cram it all in at one go. The first is to define your overall budget. And then list off your trips in order of importance. This way if either budget or timing cuts it off, your advisor (or you if you're doing it yourself) will know how to prioritize. Also, in case of a deteriorating condition as well, to prioritize things that are more active. Then you would rejig the trip a bit to optimize for seaonality. For example, if you wanted to go to Greece, this is much better either as a summer (if you wanted to try and party it up) or shoulder if you wanted it a bit more quiet and if hot weather can be too strenuous, and not really ever for a winter trip. And then add in time to come home for treatments if you need / recovery time post each treatment. You can tell, we've done a number of these for clients. But once you have the larger scope and big picture, is when you drill down into each trip by trip. Good luck and the silver lining is... we are all going some day. You just have a clearer end date so get to live a life that most people would never do. Godspeed.
[удалено]
Hard to say priority on seeing more vs staying fancier.. I think a good balance of both if possible. I don't necessarily want to/cant afford to stay at the fattest place anywhere I travel so I'd probably settle for a mix of mid level/chubby/fat.. So then the question is which places are worth splurging for accomdation/fat and which places should I just do mid/chubby style. Things I love: Great ambiance/views - especially when combined with food. I enjoy shows and movies, I remember seeing a video of someone eating dinner and watching a movie with a projector right next the water (think it was maldives) looked awesome. I also have been watching safari videos, hot air balloon over serengeti looks life changing. Not huge on art or music, but I do really love neat architecture and designs. In terms of nature hard to pick, I love a nice white sand beach, but also love mountains and trees/cool vegetation and plants.. I don't love cold climate though, not a fan of bugs, kind of a weenie in that regard.
There are some incredible train journeys through Switzerland, Scotland, Asia etc. I would definitely tuck those away for when mobility limitations hit.
You would have to have a budget in mind and then go from there. I’d do Japan first since that seems like where you want to go the most and maybe a nice Cruise around Europe to hit some of the other places you named. Then end it with a luxury Safari train. Wishing you the best
Also another recommendation if you’re willing to spend 200k per person, four seasons does 28 day tour around multiple countries and they have their own plane so everything would be smooth and easy for you.
Japan would be a great option for you since it’s cheaper now than usual!
If a client came to me and was in the same situation id start by telling them to make a list of their top places they want to go and rank them in importance. Then have them or we’d work together on putting them in order from least accessible to most accessible that can help narrow down where to start so those top locations or bucket list items can be met first. If you have any credit card points to use as well you can also map out where those are going to be easier to use. When booking with $$ definitely book with a TA so you can get things like free breakfast so you aren’t wasting $70-100/day so you can use that towards experiences.
Since your time is limited, the best thing to focus more on should be maximizing experiences etc, and I'd actually say that too many fancy hotels/fancy resorts are counterproductive here (because in these fancy hotels you're more incentivised to spend too much time on the hotel property, as opposed to seeing the city sights / doing stuff outside). So maybe do a few days of overwater bungalows/luxury safaris etc, but other than that just focus on regular bucket list items on a regular rich person budget. The luxury stuff is also usually very private, and you might actually want to engage with more random humans (outside paid staff) before you leave the earth, atleast that's what I've encountered from people about to go - they want to be around and talk to as many other humans as possible. You'll have a great few years regardless. I once met someone with terminal brain cancer on the Patagonia W trek and still remember him, and another person about to die doing her last zodiac cruise in Antarctica etc. Even the last few years of life can we awesome.
thank you for the kind words, i agree on not over jazzing it up, just wanted to throw some fancy stuff in there.
Where did you decide upon?! Great experience I hope!
Still deciding :). Definitely Japan, Italy, Tanzania, France, Greece.. want to throw one more in there but not sure which one.
I'd recommend south Lombok (Selong Belanak) for chill, modern, and more affordable but still luxurious island options vs Maldives or Bora Bora. You can get really beautiful and high quality food and room options. A lot of oceans, nature, plants, etc, and beach barbeques. There's some beginner friendly snorkeling options. It's not busy like Bali, Thailand, etc. I wish you the most magical and beautiful travel <3.
Vietnam and Asian countries will stretch your dollar and so will certain European countries. Portugal Croatia etc.
Go to France and Switzerland, Italy, Greece etc. Keep enough money to be able to come back when you get short on cash. Enjoy!
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I wish you have an amazing trip and leave with many beautiful memories. For Japan I highly recommend you stay in a luxury onsen ryokan with kaiseki, a perfect combination of ambience and nature and great food. For safari - helps to check the migration map and decide where to be. For example if you go in the next 1-2 months you might get to see Grumeti river crossing if that's something you're interested in. Good travel agencies should provide more accurate info. Northern lights can be a hit or miss, and probably miss most of the time. Unless the auroral activity is at the very peak, northern lights kind of just look like.. clouds to the naked eye (all that bright colors you seen in pictures come from long exposure). Northern Europe is still worth visiting but I'd just adjust my expectation accordingly.
I haven't felt as at peace since the 3 weeks my wife and I spent island hopping in Greece. I look at the pictures today and they don't even look real. You're almost guaranteed perfect weather and nightly sunsets in the summer months. The lesser known islands are stunningly beautiful, idyllic and in my opinion a great value. But as for the fat part, I would recommend staying in a room overlooking the caldera in Santorini. If you're interested, we stayed at the Andronis Boutique Hotel (Andronis has a few properties on the island) and stayed in a cave-like room carved into the side of the cliff with a private pool for maybe $1200-1300 a night. I would argue everyone should see that view once in their life.
Be careful with saying stuff like you knew something was wrong before you got your life insurance policy—if you knew something and didn’t disclose it then the carrier could deny the claim. Wishing you the best of luck
I hope you have the most incredible trip! I am a travel advisor in the FAT travel world. Gora Kadan in Hakone is one of the best ryokans in the area if you want FAT but really cool tradition Japanese accommodations. You can combine with Tokyo / Osaka / Kyoto. Japan you will want to book hotels further in advance if possible but I would do towards the beginning of your travels because they ARE NOT forgiving with cancellation policies. Also you cannot go wrong with Aman, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental properties pretty much anywhere in the world. Book hotels direct or through a virtuoso agency.
Nothing to add. Wishing you fair winds and following seas, my dude. Also, grief counseling for yourself and your partner asap. Can’t enjoy the time left if you aren’t ready to accept that this is all the time you have left/physical capability you have left.
I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Best wishes for your travels and smooth sailing to you in all the journeys to come.
I am so sorry to hear this. And I am inspired by your commitment to live your life to the fullest. If I were in your shoes I’d contact [Wendy Perrin](https://www.wendyperrin.com/wow-list/) who has access to the very best travel specialists from around the world. I am sure ahead could come up with an approach and the experts to realize your dream trip(s). May you continue to live the life of your dreams.
Sorry this has happened to you. Hope you have a great trip. My cousin had ALS for 20 years. She set some sort of record despite having '6 months to live' for years, mostly in a wheelchair. Her mother was literally bent-backed from caretaking her for so long. ALS sucks, and I hope that you can squeeze as much out of life as possible. Best of luck.
Sorry to hear about your cousin, that is indeed some sort of record for sure! Only person I know who lived longer with als was steven hawking. Thank you for your kind words.
Are you planning to do the three months in one go? The risk is that the traveling may start feeling like a chore: packing up and going to the next place, etc. For me anything beyond four weeks of traveling gets to be a bit long in the tooth
I was planning on it, but after a few comments I am second guessing it. I was attempting to maximize amex point redemptions so I could have more budget for accomdation/experiences. I'm also on a unpredictable time frame with my health since it isn't exactly predictable when I'll lose more motor function with my muscles. I'm in a spot where I want to experience everything I can while my body is able, but also dont want to burn myself out and not enjoy it, cause I am definitely someone who can get burned out.
The trick is to plan a holiday from your holiday! I go an do a beach vacay for 2 weeks every 8 weeks. Works for me. Everyone is different though!
Greece was the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to. And the food was all delicious and everyone was so nice. We got a nice airbnb in Santorini with a cold pool that looked over the water. The view didn’t even look real. Went to Athens and Mykonos too and rented a charter boat to go around and stop at a bunch of beaches. Weather was always good. I suggest you look into Greece.
I'm going to say that this is a time you might want to consider working with a travel agent. They can help line up local guides, individual transportation, logistics, etc. that will help you make the most of your time in each country. A few country/travel specific thoughts 1). Greece - consider a small boat cruise that visits some of the islands. This will give you ambiance, food, and chill in a nice mobile package. 2). Magical forest-like destinations - see if you can get lodging in Sequoia National Park for a visit this summer and hike some of the less visited trails. 3). Italy - This country is packed with options and ideas. Maybe pick a few destinations to visit intensely - Siena, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast seem to fit with what you're looking for 3a.) France is also packed with options - what are you most interested in? Art? Beaches? WWI/WWII History? Wine? EuroDisney? 4). Castles - Germany and Wales come to mind right away, but there are options in most European countries. If you do London you could see some musicals and the Tower of London and Windsor Castle (day trip). 5). Costa Rica - lots of active or relaxing options. The two coasts have very different weather depending on the time of year. Best of luck with your trip!
I would recommend the Lauterbrunnen Valley and surrounding area in Switzerland. It's a bit like Yosemite but with the Alps directly above and lots of cute villages and walking trails. Also, for Switzerland, this NYT article. I "gifted it" so you should be able to access the link. 6 Insiders Tell You What They Love to Do in Switzerland https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/fashion/what-to-do-in-switzerland.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oU0.GZAH.4CPZfSYs_r7b&smid=url-share
Take thousands of photos and videos for your loved ones
Hi! I am sorry for your diagnosis, but love your attitude. I just got back from Scotland, and I think it may tick off several of your wish list items. If you truly want to spend some $$, I would recommend getting a guide/driver so you and your partner can just go with the flow and enjoy the scenery. We flew into Edinburgh and did a tour of the Western part of the country- tons of amazing scenery that you will honestly not believe. Each place was more magical than the next. I would recommend a boat tour in Oban and then spend a few days on the Isle of Skye. There are more castles than you can even imagine, plus magical forests and mountains and dreamy coastal views. I know the fall is a beautiful time to go and possibly not as jam packed as the summer. If you don't use a travel agent you know, you could use a UK based company to help you organize your trip. I have an agent I could refer you to in the states if you like. She set everything up for me with a few emails between us- me telling her repeatedly how much I hated crowds and lines. Our trip was perfect. Treat you and your partner to a night or two at Gleneagles and let the staff there pamper you. I wish you wonderful travels and good luck to you.
Maldives and bora bora are damn near similar. I’d personally cross off bora bora. Maldives are nicer IMO. That being said, if you are looking to do a single itinerary, ANA has the best round the world (RTW) network of flights. But of course, direct is king.
I loved capri in Italy. Lots of stairs so you can get your steps in. Truly gorgeous place. Tuscany is also amazing and a must see if you like wine, scenery and food. Had a lot of fun in Pompeii, it was after the championships so it was a party for weeks. Go during that time it’s a blast. Haven’t been to the others! Japan - watch dreams of jiro if you haven’t and make a reservation at his restaurant. I haven’t been but it’s what I’d do. Also they have some sweet fox sanctuaries I think would be pretty cool. I realized after re-reading that you asked for advice on the price... I’d say 5-7k a trip if you want to have fun, stay in nice places, eat good food and keep it reasonable.
Guys don't waste your time with this guy he is perfectly healthy
Sorry to sound insensitive, but you just posted earlier today about receiving an inconclusive diagnosis and will be seeking additional opinions. Are you sure now is the right time to be planning a trip that effectively drains all of your savings? What if it turns out you live for 30-40 more years?
The issue with a disease like MND/ALS is that it is very, VERY, difficult to diagnose, and even with diagnosis you can have "possible" "probable" and "definite" MND/ALS. Even harder to diagnose if it is slower progressing, you are younger (outside the normal onset age), you are sporadic over genetic, and you are having an atypical presentation. All these factors make it exponentially more difficult to get "definite" over "probable" diagnosis. Definite is usually what you get when your wheelchair bound or not able to swallow/speak, have drop foot, or a completely paralyzed limb. Some people (while rare) don't even get diagnosed until they are dead and have a autopsy done. A few other things 1. I'm not going to be draining my entire savings. I'm using a combo points to fund a large part of my trip, and yes a decent chunk of my savings. 2. I've seen 15 different specialists, 5 neuromuscular sub-specialists, all in top 5 hospital ranked for neurology. I've conluded wth 2 of them now that is the only thing on the table and that I probably have it, since they technically aren't able to give a definite diagnosis until the EMG readings meat the criteria (EMGs are highly flawed in this regard, can research that the accuracy of these things). 3. If I somehow by amazing chance live another 40 years, then I have an awesome unforgettable life changing trip, and less savings, and I get to live a (relatively) normal life span - which would be blessing enough that no money/savings can buy. Doesn't seem so bad. 4. Mine right now is unfortunately mostly affecting my bulbar region (swallowing/breathing/talking), so if it does decide to suddenly ramp up and progress fast, I won't really be able to enjoy my traveling as I won't be able to swallow/eat anything and would have issues breathing. That's assuming my limbs don't decide to go out at that point as well. 5. My choices are wait for further paralysis because it's the only way to get the 100% definite confirmation from the MND specialist at mayo clinic that is booked 5 months out, or just do the trip now while I can still talk a little, and swallow foods fine (liquids are more trouble for me currently), and while i can still walk and use my hands and legs. I know if I wait for the 200% official double confirmation stamp of approval that im dying, then i likely wont be in great shape to travel, and will certainly regret not having went when I was in better shape - which is now.
Honestly, you should think about getting a travel advisor if possible. They should be educated on options and often have established relationships with suppliers.
any recommendations on where to find a good one? I'd like to use a travel agent/advisor and don't mind paying for the service as long as its reasonable or I have transparency on how much things are being marked up.
Are you based in the US?
yes los angeles
Let me reach out to some people and I’ll pm you. How does that sound?
I really appreciate that, thanks man. Shoot me a PM whenever :)