This long-term family trip wasn’t planned years in advance. It all started with a simple realization: “Why not now, before it’s too late?”
Since this was a spontaneous decision, we didn’t have years to rack up credit card points or airline miles. We’re working with the resources we currently have, hustling over the next few months to save up, and building a route that makes every dollar (and point) count.
The Master Plan: Balancing Everyone’s Wishlist
To make a trip like this work, everyone needs a voice. Here is what our family travel wishlist looks like:
Kiddo’s Wishlist: LEGO House, dinosaurs, and meeting iconic wildlife like Komodo dragons, elephants, and whales.
Mom’s Wishlist: European bucket-list sights and a longer, relaxing stay in South Korea.
Dad’s Wishlist: Budget-friendly routes, value-packed stays, and educational stops that spark future talents and interests.
Key Logistics to Keep in Mind:
Timeline: About 7 months, spanning the spring semester and summer break. The goal is to return home by August so our kid can kick off 7th grade alongside classmates.
Departure: Leaving around Christmas Eve, because flight prices dip significantly on Christmas Eve, making it a budget-smart time to fly instead of staying home.
Strategy: Focus on low-cost airports and sweet-spot points redemptions. We are factoring in local weather patterns for wildlife spots (like Komodo Island) and skipping North America for now since we can explore it anytime.
Flight-Driven Itinerary & Award Breakdown
Dec 24 – Dec 31: Seattle Stopover
Flight Strategy: Award booking via United MileagePlus (IND–SEA: 26,700 miles).
Flights to Southeast Asia are drastically cheaper from the West Coast. Since we’re heading west anyway, stopping for a few days in a slightly warmer spot makes for an easy transition.
Dec 31: Seattle to Bangkok (Transit to Chiang Mai)
Flight Strategy: Korean Air cash fare (Revenue: $428).
Korean Air offers fantastic year-end deals to Southeast Asia with a smooth layover at Seoul Incheon (ICN). SEA (compared to LAX and SFO) offered the lowest fare, great departure times, and plenty of layover buffer at Incheon—much better value than using miles!
January: Chiang Mai, Thailand (1-Month Stay)
Dry season brings perfect weather during peak season. Accommodations are dirt cheap compared to the US. We’re planning slow-paced living, setting up a homeschool routine, visiting a nearby dinosaur excavation site, and spending time with elephants in Thailand.
February: South Korea
Flight Strategy: Direct cash flight (CNX–ICN: $287).
Visiting during Lunar New Year holidays to catch up with friends and introduce my kid to their cultural roots. Non-stop award space was tight, so cash made the most sense.
March: Japan
Flights between Korea and Japan are consistently cheap. Target stops: dinosaur museums, engineering hubs, and relaxing hot springs (onsen). Specific itinerary is still TBD.
April: South Korea
Heading back to Korea to enjoy the warmer spring weather.
Early May: Bali & Komodo Island, Indonesia
Flight Strategy: Virgin Atlantic award booking (ICN–DSP: 20,500 miles).
The rainy season wraps up, making it prime time for island hopping and spotting Komodo dragons.
Next Connection: After 7–10 days, we’ll route out from Bali or Kuala Lumpur to Copenhagen using Chase UR points.
Mid-May: Denmark
Visiting the original Lego House for interactive tours and experiences. Nordic weather turns pleasant in May as the high season kicks off.
June: European Tour
Flight Strategy: Long-haul positioning cash fare (LHR–SCL).
Starting in Germany for engineering centers, then taking trains to London for natural history museums. London serves as our primary gateway to South America. Focus is on Northern Europe weather-wise, though specific stops are still TBD to match everyone’s preferences.
Late-June – Mid-July: South America
Kicking off in Chile, crossing through Bolivia, and finishing up sightseeing in Argentina.
Mid–Late July: Return to the US
Flight Strategy: Virgin Atlantic award redemption (37,500 miles).
Booking Buenos Aires (EZE) to Florida (MIA/MCO) or New York (JFK). From there, we’ll grab a rental car for a 1–2 day road trip back home to prep for school!
Note: This is our master blueprint, but we haven’t purchased tickets for every single leg just yet. All fares and miles are per person.