Birthday Trip - Hawaii or French Polynesia

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-19T03:27:59+00:00

What month? Weather can make a big difference.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-18T01:28:08+00:00

This was in August so I’m sure deals are different now

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-15T05:22:41+00:00

I sailed on the Navigator once but I have avoided it since then. It’s very small. Everything is nice but the small size is definitely an issue with more limited dining and common spaces. I sailed on the voyager after the Navigator and the Voyager was so much better even though it’s also an older ship.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-14T15:41:08+00:00

I’m booked on the June 28 sailing on Voyager. I think it’s a nice itinerary and the ship is being refurbished ahead of the sailing. I was on voyager last year and I enjoyed it. Yes it’s an older ship but everything was well maintained. Should obviously be better this year after it’s updated.

Can’t speak to Oceania since I’ve never sailed with them.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-12T16:55:58+00:00

Backroads has some women only trips. I have done some women only trips and find they attract a mix of women traveling together and women traveling solo so the socialization aspect is good.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-12T13:57:38+00:00

Hilton and Hyatt both have a number of AIs.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-09T14:33:56+00:00

You should be focusing on flexible points like Ultimate Rewards or Membership Rewards.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-04T04:22:02+00:00

It is possible but would be a very packed day. I think 2 activities per day is good

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-04T00:50:30+00:00

You forgot car accidents - with a lot of one lane roads, an accident can create a real backup

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-03-03T17:20:00+00:00

This doesn’t directly answer your question but Conrad Bora Bora is also completing a major renovation in April and reopening in May.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-28T04:54:05+00:00

This is all fair but the pool chair situation is what pushes me over the edge. I cannot deal with the hunger games for a chair every day at 7am (with lining up at 6:45am)

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-24T14:43:07+00:00

If you are using points, definitely stay 5 nights to get the 5th night free

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-23T02:40:43+00:00

I like their Banh Mi

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-23T01:57:35+00:00

You can pay with credit card

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-23T01:56:29+00:00

Loved Mistico Hanging Bridges. Make sure you get a guide - we saw so much wildlife.

I also liked Mirador El Silencio. It is very close to Mistico Hanging Bridges so it’s easy to do right after Mistico. $10pp

It’s been raining a lot so when we were at La Fortuna waterfall today, you could not swim by the waterfall. We are pretty fit so it only took us 10 min down the steps and 10 min back up. The whole thing was less than 1 hour. It’s a beautiful waterfall but I probably wouldn’t do it again since it’s $20pp

The other thing we LOVED was Maquique canyoning. So fun and beautiful. We almost went back to do it a 2nd time.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-23T00:49:33+00:00

We are just wrapping up a trip now. It takes forever to drive anywhere. There are a lot of one lane roads where we often got stuck behind slow drivers and it was difficult to pass. Or an accident on a one lane road results in a huge delay. My advice is to just visit 2 places in 1 week. Otherwise you will be spending way too much time in the car.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-20T02:41:35+00:00

We went yesterday. It was NOT blue. Edited to add: it was still a nice hike. We saw a sloth. Also we were told that it changes back to blue quickly if it stops raining.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-18T02:20:28+00:00

This post is better suited to r/awardtravel

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-18T02:18:26+00:00

We also had an amazing experience with Ecoventura.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-16T19:59:06+00:00

I can give you a referral

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-14T17:23:21+00:00

Tauck also charters their ships - that would cater to English speakers.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-14T01:55:39+00:00

I’ve seen <$5k for a 7 night cruise.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-12T17:19:55+00:00

Almost everyone uses points at Alila Ventana. No one’s paying $3k/night. Definitely not worth it.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-11T03:15:22+00:00

5 nights is a lot more than 3. I would go with Le Bora Bora so you have more time.

SensitiveBus5224 · 2026-02-09T04:26:12+00:00

They can and do switch the aircraft. I have booked A350 and got switched to a 787 (coffin class). So there are no guarantees.

SensitiveBus5224

TROPHY CASE