1

LAX has a lot of non-stop direct connections to places such as Fiji( 9hours) Costa Rica 6 hours), Asia, Latin America
and Europe. How ,much time do you have for your sidetrip and how long can you handle flying to
get there?

2

Why would you think Hawaii would not be overly expensive?

Depending on the season, it can be quite a bit more expensive than many other US destinations and quite a bit more expensive than Mexico.

3

Hawaii is very expensive.

What about Guatemala, Nicaragua or Costa Rica? $50 day for private room, food and transport....

4

by less expensive I meant flight wise, sorry should of been more clear. I have 2-3 weeks for any trip. I have flown 17 hrs non stop before so i can handle any flight length! My short list as of right now is visiting one of the following: Thailand, China, Costa Rica or Hawaii.

By the way i was thinking of going mid january, so not sure if weather is a factor in any of those places. Open to others!

5

Costa Rica. (We just got back from 3 weeks in China, though, and loved it, but the logistics of getting around, etc. are tiring. I wouldn't tag it onto another trip.)

Costa Rica has a great volcano, wonderful coast, rivers, pottery villages, jungles with cute monkeys.

6

January is great for both Thailand and Costa Rica. I've been to both and they're beautiful countries. Thailand
is very inexpensive- probably one of the least expensive in Asia. I found a 3-week trip to be just right to
hit the southern beaches, National Parks and also see Chaing Mai in the north. Internal flights are really
a bargain. Only you can determine how often it is you'll have 3-4 weeks for a tropical trip in the future.
If it's something rare, I'd definitely use the opportunity to go somewhere that really appeals to you. You
know how life is- if we have the time we don't have the money, and if we have the money we don't have the
time!

7

Well SE Asia is going to be 18-21 hours of flying and a connection somewhere between Tokyo to Hongkong to get to Bangkok. Thailand will also be far more crowded than Costa Rica, as they get about 14 million visitors a year to Costa Rica's 2 million. Weatherwise both times are great. Of course Thailand is more exotic on the cultural and cuisine levels, as Costa Rica is has not anything special culturally to speak of other than the afro caribe indigenous peoples on the atlantic side and some indian tribes living near or around the Panama border in areas with mere foot trails and no roads, few foreigners take the time to visit.

Costa Rica is a 3 hour flight, and the coast would easily be 50% less than going to SE Asia, which is rarely less than $1100, and Costa Rica/Central America is usually around $500 in January. Taca can be the cheapest from LAX flying weekdays.

Bangkok is about $1100 same dates.

If you want a more cultural trip, then I suggest Guatemala, as Costa Rica is all about nature, wildlife, outdoors, adventure like river rafting, waterfalls and national parks to hike, and surfing and beaches with two coast, Guatemala is about mayan ruins, mayan ethnic villages and traditions, UNESCO WHS areas like Antigua, and a lot of volcanoes to trek/hike even overnight, and some nice nature like Lake Atitlan area, Semuc/Coban, and the Rio Dulce/Livingston areas. Beaches overall are black sand and huge surf you can't even swim in.

Both Thailand and Costa Rica blow Hawaii away on most levels, unless you hike a lot, or are a good surfer, then Hawaii is great, or on a honeymoon. Not easy getting around most islands without a car. Hawaii is is also a tad cold and windy on some areas, they even get snow on the main Volcanoes.

8

Ecuador, Galapagos.

9

Samoa or Fiji.

10

Copa Air has cheap flights out of LAX via Panama City to Quito, Ecuador. Then fly to the Galapagos -- fantastic. You can find cheap accommodations and take a water taxi from Santa Cruz to Isla Isabela or day cruises if you don't wish to splurge on a week-long cruise.

11

"Do not want to go to Baja Mexico. " How about other places on the Mexican mainland? Have you been there? It's different than Baja such as to Guanajuato, San Miguel Allende, Mexico City, Chiapas, Oaxaca, etc. See the Mexico branch. Central America (as suggested in the above) is always good and cheaper to stay in than Mexico. Or you can combine w/ San Diego and fly further south of the border to Mexico City (or elsewhere) out of Tijuana. 5-6hr direct flight to Central America.

12

I second Fiji.