Narrowing Down My International Trip Wish List

See our Advertiser Disclosure here.

A few months ago, I got the Chase United MileagePlus Visa. I now have about 75,000 United miles that I’d love to burn on an international trip!

The problem is that I have five people in my family, and we need about 5X that many miles for the flights on my international trip wish list. But, both my husband and I will be out from under the dreaded 5/24 rule later this year, and we plan to accumulate more miles and points to help us get to our next big international destination. I’ve narrowed it down to two trips.

Paris and the Swiss Alps

A few years ago, my family had a big debate about whether to go to Paris or New Zealand. In the end, we decided to visit Australia and New Zealand. But, Paris is still on my mind. My husband and I honeymooned in France, but it’s been 17 years!

My ideal itinerary would include 4 to 5 days in Paris.  Of course, we would visit Disneyland Paris. Then, we would take the train to Switzerland and stay another 4 to 5 days. We would stay in Interlaken or another small mountain town and rent an Airbnb. The mountain trains and gondolas would take us to breathtaking lookouts and to the Top of Europe. Yes!

To do what we’d like to do in Switzerland, this would need to be a summer trip.

Japan

I visited Japan in my 20s, but I feel like I have some unfinished business there. Since I was there on business trips, I didn’t get to visit as many places that I wanted to. Also, I left Japan the day before Tokyo DisneySea opened.

My kids have been asking to visit Japan, and it’s partly because it’s the first place where Universal is going to open its new Super Nintendo World. I’m not even a big video game fan, but this place looks awesome!

I would love to visit Miyajima Island. It looks beautiful! (Leana is visiting Japan this year!)

This trip doesn’t necessarily have to be over the summer. Thanksgiving week or spring break would probably work, so we have more flexibility.

If Money (or Points) Were No Object…

If money (and miles and points) were no object, I’d be booking both of these trips ASAP. I’d love to do one trip next year and the other one the year after. But, the reality is that even if flights are covered with award travel, our other expenses on these trips will be high. So, I’ll have to prioritize one of these destinations over the other.

Our travel schedule is full for this year, and next year we’re considering sending our kids to summer camp in lieu of a big summer trip. However, I want to go on more big international trips while I’m still relatively young. I will figure out a way to make these trips happen soon.

Where are you dreaming and scheming to go with your miles and points?

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.