That would have been my second choice vote. But it’s a good one. My first choice would have been Sydney and New Zealand. And did you know if you fly Air Tahiti, you can do a layover in Tahiti for as long as you like at no extra charge. Both my DD and brother in law and family have done this.
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I kind of agree. With 9 days at one destination you could enjoy your time more.
Australia is so huge but you could spend time in Sydney for city life and then maybe head north to Cairns and stay in a rain forrest and maybe hit the reef.
Japan could be Tokyo for city hustle then take a Shinkansen to Kyoto for more traditional Japan.
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Thanks all. You guys are making a lot of compelling cases for me to just book either Japan or Australia. I will not book anything yet and sleep on it a few days but the more I look into it the more I want to stick with the plan of Australia and Japan 
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I personally would skip Sydney. I had a good time, but I was not overly I pressed. I went there because I had a lot of Australian friends. If you are going to do Asia, I would do Japan, Taiwan and HKG. They all have great hotels, food, sights, history, cultural.
If you are an Amex platinum card holder you could get 2 for 1 business class tickets at full fare, and it appears you are willing to pay 11k/ticket.
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You are young. What there is to see in Japan and Australia is not just around Tokyo and Sidney. I’d focus on one so that you can have a second adventure at the other.
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Thanks oldfort. Yes Amex Plantium holder and that is the plan. Another friend recommended what you just said. She said drop Sydney and do HK and Tokyo. Less travel time and more time for sightseeing. I will look into that as well.
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HK and Tokyo seems much more doable. We spent three months in Hong Kong and loved it. If you like to hike it’s well worth exploring some of the trails (they are very well maintained and marked), there are gorgeous little fishing villages, and the food is great. The art museum was closed for renovations when we were there, but it’s open now.
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Another place I’ve been checking for a cruise around New Zealand and Australia - to me that would be facinating.
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Hi again. Breaking News. I will scratch the Asia plan and look into South American cruises. I used my kids and found out that my wife wants to do a South American cruise later in life. So why not do it instead of Asia. But want to get your opinion if you have done the cruise before.
We never went on a cruise as both my wife and I are not sea or beach people. But South America cruise seems like a good option.
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I wouldn’t do an average cruise, but opt for cruises like Silverseas. Most cruise cabins are small, whereas more luxurious cruises have larger cabins with nicer bathrooms. They are also less crowded and dock at nicer ports closer to towns. The only thing about South America is safety/security. I have traveled well in South America with full security, but I never had a carefree feeling. I was always on guard.
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Maybe she mentioned “later in life” because a cruise CAN be a lower activity trip. Might she want something more active since you’re younger AND since you are not sea or beach people???
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Very good point. Let me get her best friend involved for some intel.
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If you are going some where you have never been before and you want a more luxurious trip, I would suggest for you to find good private local guides. I did that when we went to Rome for the first time, and also in Taiwan even though it was our native country. We were able to see a lot more sights efficiently and didn’t have to worry about itinerary.
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Great idea oldfort. Will definitely do that. Thank you.
I’m trying to convince my husband to go to Australia/New Zealand (or just New Zealand) when we start drawing our RMD next year. This is one of the many tempting possibilities we’re exploring:
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Also, many cruises get booked a year or more in advance. So a November 2024 trip might have fewer cruising options.
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UPDATE:
Listened to my kids and South America cruise plans are scratched. Also listened to you guys and limited our trip to only JAPAN. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Here we come.
Trip starts on November 1st and arrival to Newark,NJ is on November 10th Sunday.
Australia, South Africa and South America cruises will be our next 3 trips in the next 10 years.
Thanks again to everyone who commented on this thread. Appreciate it. Couldn’t do it without you guys.
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Sounds like a fabulous plan. What a wonderful surprise it will be!
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She is the meaning of my life. I hope I can create a memory of a lifetime for her. She deserves it.
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I think you both will have a great time.
You should look for an earlier thread on travel to Japan. Many good tips in that thread.
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