Bilikiki in 2006 - hooray!!

[vetdiver]

Brace yourself...it's not only worth curtailing the shoe budget...it's even worth curtailing the boot budget! (Sigh...I'd even give up my new pair of nutmeg knee-length pointy toes for an extra day on board the 'Spirit').

Just make sure you bring enough cash to pick up a spirit carving or two! They really get the lithe shark-shapes perfect.

It is too bad you live so far away...clearly, we are destined to be best friends!!! Fortunately, I already purchased my (pointy-toe, high-heeled, knee high stretch leather) Stuart Weitzman's for the season back in November, and I have worn them several times...and cannot return them. Guess I will stay away from that store this fall/winter, though...

I will be sure to keep cash on hand for the carvings - I've heard the really nice ones can be a few hundred?

 

[peterjmaerz]

It is too bad you live so far away...clearly, we are destined to be best friends!!! Fortunately, I already purchased my (pointy-toe, high-heeled, knee high stretch leather) Stuart Weitzman's for the season back in November, and I have worn them several times...and cannot return them. Guess I will stay away from that store this fall/winter, though...


I think we've got the makings of a new forum here, "SHOEbaBoard"! Well, as you folks can see by the counter below, I've taken the plunge...I guess I'll have to superglue the soles on my old Florsheim Comfortechs!...and forego that meal at Pacific Time in South Beach!

It'll be worth it, I'm sure, for 14 days of drenching in those 85-degree waters. The tip on the carvings is well-taken; I've read a lot about them from other travelers to the Solomons.

Here's to exotic dive travel: the carrot before my horse that keeps my cart moving forward!


Best Regards,

 

[vetdiver]

Hooray!! I raise my glass of generic diet cola (purchased at the dollar store) or tap water to the 2006 Solomons crowd...

Can't wait to hear about your trip, as you will get back a few months before we leave!

 

[BacardiSpice]

Lol! As long as you got the boot purchase for the season in! My last buy in that direction set the new dive computer back a month or so...(sacrilege, I know).

I tend to nominate the Solomons as the best dive trip I've ever done (although I might suggest other individual sites elsewhere as right up there as well). Exploratory dives...great choice as well in how they accomodate you. There was usually a choice of where you wanted to be dropped off, so you could go for a ripping current and a chance of pelagics on the point of the reef, or further along in a sheltered lea where the macro photographers could be undisturbed. And the locals were sensational - don't know if they still do, but when I was on 'Spirit' they'd often come up to the dive platform at night in the canoes and kayaks, and I'd stop and chat for a while on my way off to bed.

 

[reubencahn]

Gfac - FYI - from Boston, we were told that the closest we can get is Auckland via LA with United miles, as they don't do the codeshare to Brisbane (Virgin Blue does) - not sure why we can't do Sydney, but that's what we were told. So we're waiting for that 11-month-prior date to book 1 miles-upgradeable flight and 1 all-miles business class flight to Auckland, then buy the tickets on Virgin Blue. Will let you know if it changes. We're using 150K miles, and the upgradeable ticket was estimated at around $2200. Ouch - but actually probably around what 2 economy class tix would cost anyways, so that's OK with us.

You can get to Sydney. Last year, we flew United from FLL to SYD all on United using USAir miles. The problem is finding someone in awards booking who will look for the flights you want. It also usually means booking very early (if possible 350 days in advance) and being flexible on dates--especially for business class. Check all the possible flight combinations in advance and have printouts with specific flight numbers available. Also, consider connecting through SFO instead of LAX. This seems to make a big difference in availability. By going throuh San Francisco, I managed to use miles this coming summer to fly FLL to DPS (Bali) and then to move the departure to San Diego since we're moving there. Absolutely nothing was available through LAX.

I'm also hoping to do Solomons in '06. I've got the miles for the three of us to Brisbane or Nadi, but with the move and expenses and everything else, I just can't pull the trigger this early.

 

[pgdive]

We have a group that is on the Bilikiki for 12 days right now. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures when they get back (I had hoped to go with them but somthing came up) We are going to book another group trip in 2006, I just want to get some feedback from the group leader on the optimum trip length.

Paul

 

[vetdiver]

You can get to Sydney. Last year, we flew United from FLL to SYD all on United using USAir miles. The problem is finding someone in awards booking who will look for the flights you want. It also usually means booking very early (if possible 350 days in advance) and being flexible on dates--especially for business class. Check all the possible flight combinations in advance and have printouts with specific flight numbers available. Also, consider connecting through SFO instead of LAX. This seems to make a big difference in availability. By going throuh San Francisco, I managed to use miles this coming summer to fly FLL to DPS (Bali) and then to move the departure to San Diego since we're moving there. Absolutely nothing was available through LAX.

I'm also hoping to do Solomons in '06. I've got the miles for the three of us to Brisbane or Nadi, but with the move and expenses and everything else, I just can't pull the trigger this early.

Yeah, I am quite limited by dates - I simply cannot take any additional time off of work - I think the 16-day trip is pretty much not taken often by Americans anyways, certainly not someone 30 + years from retirement...I think I push my boss to the very edge at times....am I the only person who uses every single vacation day I'm allotted??? Rant...rave...

Anyways - good to know - we booked for next June to be sure that we COULD book the air 350 days out. Funny - they told us that we couldn't go through SFO (our preference), either. Argh. I guess it doesn't matter - going through Auckland doesn't add that much time to the overall trip, anyways. But I will take your advice and print out the EXACT itinerary we want. Will let you know.

Good luck with your move! hope to see you on the boat next June.

 

[vetdiver]

Lol! As long as you got the boot purchase for the season in! My last buy in that direction set the new dive computer back a month or so...(sacrilege, I know).

I tend to nominate the Solomons as the best dive trip I've ever done (although I might suggest other individual sites elsewhere as right up there as well). Exploratory dives...great choice as well in how they accomodate you. There was usually a choice of where you wanted to be dropped off, so you could go for a ripping current and a chance of pelagics on the point of the reef, or further along in a sheltered lea where the macro photographers could be undisturbed. And the locals were sensational - don't know if they still do, but when I was on 'Spirit' they'd often come up to the dive platform at night in the canoes and kayaks, and I'd stop and chat for a while on my way off to bed.

You are a riot! We finally split the purchases - I buy clothing for the hubby and myself and pay for home repairs. He buys the dive gear. I think I got the better part of the deal so far, despit the shoe obsession.

Now I just have to wait until June. Of 2006.