As we are approaching the end of the year, I figured it would be a good opportunity for me to discuss the highs and lows of 2024, at least from my perspective. Most of it will be travel-related, and I promise to keep the navel-gazing relatively light. That’s the nice thing about not writing for a corporate blog, as in not having to stick to a script 100% of the time.
To be honest, this year has been a bit of a mixed bag for me personally. That said, I am, and always will be, the optimist. The hoper of far-flung hopes, and the dreamer of improbable dreams (hat tip to Matt Smith’s eleventh doctor in “Doctor Who” series)
So, in no particular order, here are some things that stood out to me personally:
1) Not all travel puzzles can be solved with money and/or points
I was really hoping to see my dad this summer, but due to failing health, he couldn’t make it to Poland. I am a problem-solver by nature and really put forth an effort to come up with a solution to this particular puzzle. Since spending a few days crossing the border was a no-go, I’ve tried to convince my dad to fly to Poland via Turkey. I would pay for two expensive sets of tickets for him and mom, and even book a layover hotel in Istanbul airport. It was of no use. He got frustrated by the fact that I was downplaying his physical limitations. Otherwise, why would I keep forcing the issue?!
In the end, only mom, sister and one of my nephews were able to come to Poland. Just today I got a phone call that my dad lost consciousness due to low blood pressure and broke several bones as a result. He can no longer be left alone for an extended period of time. I’m not even sure my mom can leave the country as long as dad is alive. So who knows when we will be able to meet up again. As far as me going over there, well, there is no solution for that either. First of all, my passport is expired and Belarus has Level 4 travel warning, similar to North Korea. But it gets worse.
Before our reunion this summer, the firm where my sister works was under government investigation. She was interviewed as a witness and the police officer asked her how her sister in America is doing. Yup, they know about me. When she mentioned that we were planning to meet up in Poland (no reason, it’s a beautiful country), the officer said it’s best that I don’t step foot in Belarus for the foreseeable future. Message received, comrade. My sister said he was very polite about it, and was simply trying to be helpful. I doubt that I’ve been added to a secret black list, it’s likely the fact that I’m a US citizen that is the problem. But you can see why not even my dad’s fragile health can convince me to take the risk of crossing the border.
So, the moral of this rant is sometimes there are no good solutions to a problem. Like my parents getting older or me not being able to visit Belarus for awhile. There are things no amount of money or points can fix. Also: health is a super important piece of travel puzzle and something people often downplay. Don’t wait until old age to take that dream trip.
All I can do now is make a real effort to talk to my dad regularly on the phone. We have never been super close, but time is running out and I don’t want to have any regrets. So, if in doubt, my advice is to pick up the phone.
3) It’s ok to mix things up in travel (and life)
This year we walked on the beaches of Dunkirk, a place that witnessed one the most significant events of WWII. We also sailed on a Carnival ship to the Bahamas. And you know what? I enjoyed both experiences, though for different reasons. Not all travel needs to be educational, sometimes just spending quality time with your family is enough.
My advice is to travel the way you want to travel. If lounging around the pool at an all-inclusive resort is the only thing that gets you excited, so be it.
3) Life is more than just travel, so I plan to chase contentment instead
I find myself getting more and more aggravated with the county we live in, and Florida in general. I won’t go into details, as there are many different things that drive me nuts. That said, we can’t move for the foreseeable future. For one thing, my MIL is here and according to her, will die here. So, here we are.
Plus, I would like to wait until my son graduates high school. And switching jobs at my husband’s age is no piece of cake. There was a time when I was 90% sure this would be our forever home. Now I’m 90% sure it won’t be. But that’s life, and things change. Fortunately, my husband is in complete agreement with me, despite being born and raised in Florida. I’m so grateful that we think so much alike. What a blessing to have my wonderful husband by my side, literally and figuratively. Oh, and my kids are alright too.
In the meantime, I have my trips to look forward to. But we are talking only a few weeks each year. That’s why I’ve been making an earnest effort to focus on the positive things about being in Florida, like beautiful weather in the winter. Plus, we live next to wetlands area, and there are all kinds of species of birds I can watch and listen to from my own porch. I love just sitting there, having a cup of coffee, listening to R.E.M and enjoying the beauty around me. I can’t control what’s happening in the world, but I can carve out my own corner on this earth where I can feel sane on a daily basis. And sanity is highly underrated in 2024.
It’s no coincidence that when I recently went to the doctor, my blood pressure reading was elevated for the first time ever. I’m hoping this is one problem I can leave behind in 2024.
“This sugarcane, this lemonade
This hurricane, I’m not afraid
Come on, come on, no one can see me cry” (“Imitation of life” by R.E.M)
My happy place
My favorite award redemptions
1) Flights
The winner here is using Southwest and Virgin Atlantic points for flights to/from Detroit, with the goal of seeing the solar eclipse. What a special experience that was! Without miles and points, I’m not sure I would risk shelling out a bunch of money for a 50/50 chance of seeing the eclipse spectacle. The flights in economy were nothing special, it was all about the purpose of the trip.
An unforgettable sight
The runner up is our nonstop flight from London to Tampa, again, in economy. Not a dirt cheap redemption, but a solid experience, considering the fact that we flew in cattle class. I even liked the food.
2) Hotels
Without a doubt, my favorite hotel redemption of 2024 was burning Choice points on a Comfort Inn Victoria property in London. The reason? Not having to shell out $1,500 on AirBnB, plus free breakfast. Nothing fancy, but a perfectly adequate and well-located hotel that I recommend to budget-minded travelers.
The runner-up is probably Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle’s Southport It’s a category 3, and I paid 12k Hyatt points total. My cousin-in-law was kind enough to gift me a club access award, which gave us free breakfast in the lounge. Sadly, it looks like they closed the lounge a few months ago. My favorite part was the pool area where I got to relax for a few hours before our cruise to Alaska.
This was more of a treat, since I value 12k Hyatt points at $150. But I’m OK with paying a bit more for higher quality, especially if it’s just one night. Plus, I’m a sucker for indoor pools and spas.
Well, it’s a wrap. Readers, what were your favorite redemptions in 2024?
Author: Leana
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
@Nick Thanks for good wishes! All the best to your family as well. My dad is doing better. Who knows, maybe we will se each other again. Crazier things have happened.
I’ve been listening to R.E.M a lot lately. They don’t make music like they used to. Of course, every generation says that, haha!
So sorry to hear about your parents. It’s hard enough to deal with the aging and health issues when you can actually visit them. All the best to you and the family.
“Imitation of Life” has me feeling nostalgic… that song was getting airplay right about the time I left for my 16-day backpacking trip in Italy a few decades ago and I bought the album the week before I left.
What a smart redemption! 💡 Saving $1,500 and getting free breakfast sounds like a win-win. 🏨🍳 Comfort Inn Victoria is a solid choice for budget-conscious travelers looking for a great location in London. 👏
@ Vivi Kenstone
Thanks for your kind words! I hope 2025 will be a good year for you as well. Everyone has challenges of one sort or another, that’s life.
It’s neat how your last minute booking on Air France has worked out so well, allowing you to spend time with relatives. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!
In general, I feel that layovers are underrated. Some of my fondest memories come from spending less than 24 hours at a destination due to a layover. You can actually do a lot in that space of time.
Really sorry to hear about the health challenges and, on top of that, about the situation from your home country. Let’s hope 2025 will bring at least some improvements, no matter how small.
About the redemptions:
1) AirFrance UAE to USA – 90k business class
Booked just three days before flying, due to an unexpected flight cancellation, made by a different carrier (who provided no rebooking, just a refund!). I was really happy to find this flight, even though it wasn’t cheap. Bonus: I had a lengthy stopover in Paris and my close relatives there came to the airport, to hang out with me.
2) Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi – 35k, IIRC
Exceptional beach resort. Booked at the last minute, for the same reason as above.
3) Andaz Abu Dhabi – 15k, IIRC
The executive suite was the most amazing hotel room I’ve ever stayed in.
4) TAP Portugal USA – Spain – 60k
Booked using Aeroplan miles. The reason this booking is on my list: I was awarded those miles after wining a lawsuit against AC (refused compensation).
@Aleks Thanks for sharing! I’ve seen photos of that new Conrad in Orlando and it looks amazing. They have done a great job on the pool area, that’s for sure.
On importance of health: my MIL told me about a couple she personally knew who put off travel with the idea of saving 1 million dollars first. Well, they got there and started planning a big celebration trip… and then the husband got a cancer diagnosis and died a few months later. It’s obviously an extreme case, but still. The lady was broken up about it since she had all these dreams to see Africa, Australia and other places with her husband. She was now alone, and having a million dollars didn’t really mean a whole lot to her. There was no reason to wait to travel, but they did it for some arbitrary financial goal.
I do wish we showed my dad more of the United States back when he was able to fly here. We did what we could (took him on a cruise, to Niagara Falls and vacationed at many beachfront Florida resorts). But I still wish I could have done more.
@Russ Thanks for describing your happy place! It sounds amazing. The older I get, the more I appreciate nature and just simple things around me.
I agree that the world around us is a mixed bag. That’s not just the issue in the United States. In general, people around the world are angrier and less tolerant of others. But I can’t control what others do, so it’s pointless to obsess over it. I try to be a good person and raise my kids to care about others. That’s the extent of my responsibility. Wow, a heavy topic for a small miles and points blog.
The post comes off a bit depressing, which wasn’t my intention. I am an optimist by nature and consider myself very lucky in life. Especially when it comes to travel!
@Projectx Thanks for your kind words!
It is what it is, and I’m sure many of our readers are dealing with the issue of aging parents. One of the “fun” parts of reaching middle age. My situation is just more complicated.
As far as moving goes, it’s something I hope we do eventually. I would prefer to live in Europe, maybe Albania or Montenegro. But I’m not sure how feasible it is. Plus, my MIL will likely live to 90 ( and I hope she does!). I can’t spend a decade of my life being miserable, that’s just silly. Every place has pros and cons, and Florida has many advantages.
Agree that health and well-being are the most important things for any person. Without them it’s hard to do anything else.
Upon checking my best redemptions in 2024 I found that for hotel stays it splits between:
– Caribe Hilton at 70K HH points/nt.+5th night free (cash price for 5 nights was $2,500+), and
– (New) Conrad Orlando with Hilton’s Free Nt. Certs (~90K points or $700 cash).
Both are very nice but expensive properties, and I wouldn’t be staying there otherwise. We had a lot of relaxing quiet time there and used Aspire credits/benefits to cover breakfast and more.
Happy holidays and safe travels to all in 2025!!
Today’s world is a mixed bag, at best. And I have a feeling a lot of people are suffering from angst generated by the highly charged political climate today. My happy place is an elementary school nature area about one easy mile walk from our home. Complete with a small, but vocal stream and waterfall, it serves as my “elevator” to the metaphysical. I’ve enjoyed your blog for years and I hope to continue enjoying it. All the best in the coming holidays and 2025!
I’m incredibly sorry to hear about your family challenges. That is heartbreaking.
“I find myself getting more and more aggravated with the county we live in, and Florida in general.”
Oh, how can I relate to this. And in relation for FL, there’s a part of me that has a hard time even visiting the state. If it wasn’t for Disney/Universal, I would probably avoid it.