I confess. I’m a travel bug. I’m a marathon bug. I want to travel everywhere. I want to run everywhere.
I’ve never been to Singapore, but it fits in the category of “I’ve never been there but would love to visit someday,” along with about a zillion other places. So, this morning I learned from a friend on a list-serve (hat tip to Michael Dunn) that there are flights on Delta from Newark (EWR) to Singapore (SIN) for around $700. The airfare to Singapore is generally much, much higher – at least $1,500!!
Back to the flight. As is often the case when I learn of a good airfare, I google and see if and when there’s a marathon at that destination. This explains how I ran the Panama City marathon in 2010, and the Barcelona marathon in 2011. I found a good fare, found the marathon, discovered the good fare was available for the marathon, and the rest is history. Such amazing experiences.
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| Yup, that’s me in Old Panama City |
The Singapore Marathon will take place on December 2, 2012. Unfortunately, I’m already committed to run another marathon that weekend (the St. Jude Memphis Marathon), but I decided to do a search on Kayak to see if the cheap airfares were available that weekend. Sure enough, there is a flight available for $717:
Tokyo, Japan – Narita (NRT)”>2 stops (MSP…)
Minneapolis, MN – Minneapolis St Paul (MSP)”>2 stops (NRT…)
Incidentally, there is another marathon in Singapore called the Sundown Marathon on May 26, 2012. Sundown event also includes a 10K and a Half Marathon. I have another commitment that weekend (Memorial Day weekend) as well, but, if you are interested in running in Singapore, this is another option to explore.
On Delta (and all other airlines as well) any reservation – even a non-refundable reservation, can be canceled without penalty if canceled by midnight of the following day. So, if you might be interested in visiting Singapore, book it and think about it, because this airfare may not be there tomorrow. Cancel it by midnight tomorrow night if you decide against it (the full amount will go right back on your charge card).
As I mentioned above, I am not going to run either of the 2012 Singapore marathons, but I still want to go to Singapore on this incredible airfare. There are plenty of dates available for travel throughout the year – go to a website where you can do “flexible” searches to find the sale fares. I booked a trip for mid-November. You do know what that means, don’t you? It means I’ll have a whole 8 months to obsess about planning the trip!
One more thing – for those interested in attaining elite medallion status, this trip will earn you over 20,000 miles. That’s almost enough for a free domestic trip, and, if you fly 25,000 miles in any year on Delta, you will attain Silver Medallion status. Its their lowest level, but there are still many benefits.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Ah, My goal is to run in every state and the world, but I’m stuck with two things.
1. Money – I travel hack as well, but it’s still not free.
2. Time – with doing a Phd, and this, just doesn’t give me anytime.
How do you it?
Saad, I just looked at your Blog. Its beautiful. I’m going to tell my friend Susanne about it.
Thanks, but I’m still wondering how you do it.
You make it sound so easy 🙁
I’ve been following your blog for a while now, and I always feel so envious. I can’t for the best of me figure out how you do it.
Sigh.
Do you follow The Points Guy? From some of his posts on credit card/airline offers, I managed to snag myself a trip to Singapore (first class) from JFK on Cathay Pacific for 600 bucks. Incredible. Just in time for the marathon, too! 🙂 Def. recommend a week to get used to the heat/humidity before running a marathon there: I’m from Singapore but live in Raleigh now and it takes me a while to acclimatize every time I go back
@le.petit.helico – I know the Points Guy very well. In fact I was his seatmate on the StarMegaDo3 trip last year. I agree – he’s fabulous and gives great advice.
That’s so awesome–So it was you who won that fabulous seatmate prize–I’m so pleased you’re a runner too! Another fun fact that Brian retweeted from me about Singapore is that if you fly from Singapore to Helsinki, the airport codes say from SIN to HEL. It’s…ominous.
In any case, look forward to more adventures in running from you! 🙂
His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly’s wings.Just like
Cheap Flights to Accra At one time he understood it no more than the butterfly did and he did not know when it was brushed or marred. Later he became conscious of his damaged wings and of their construction and he learned to think and could not fly any more because the love of flight was gone and he could only remember when it had been effortless.