Where to tour in the winter?

[lafleur]

I'm very curious to hear recommendations for warm-weather touring during the winter months.  Thanks.

[tempusfugit]

Hey it's me again. One word: Arizona. Love it. Are you road or off road?

Arizona Trail Route is great for mountain bike touring but road cyclists do a similar route going North/South across the state from Utah to Mexico.

Biking the Arizona Trail

[TheDaltonBoys]

Southern Tier Route to the Atlantic Coast Route to Key West, Florida. Once in Key West take "IT" in on a daily basis for two months, sprinkle liberally with seafood and libations and then report back to this page all results....Enjoy the Voyage......Mark of the Dalton Boys

[RussellSeaton]

I had this dilemma back in fall 2000.  I left one job and arranged to start the next about three weeks later.  So I had time to ride.  I looked at Australia, New Zealand.  But the plane ticket was something like $2500.  No.  Then I looked to Europe and decided Spain and Portugal were the most southern, warm.  Italy too but I'd been there years before.  So I looked at plane tickets to southern Spain.  $1500.  No.  Lisbon, Portugal.  $750.  Yes.  Spent two weeks riding around southern Portugal and into western Spain.  No tourists but me.  Warm enough weather.  50s to 80s probably.  Mostly 60s and 70s.  Shorts and jersey weather.  Few days of some rain.

[valygrl]

Air New Zealand round trip to OZ (Melbourne, for me) from LAX with a stopover as long as you want in Aukland, I just reserved for $1286.  

Not really worth it unless you have a long time, though.

[RussellSeaton]

As of today, Des Moines, Iowa to Melbourne, Australia is $1815 on United.  Des Moines, Iowa to Auckland, New Zealand is $1688 on United/Air New Zealand.  Des Moines, Iowa to Lisbon, Portugal is $678 on Northwest.  Des Moines, Iowa to Seville, Spain is $709 on Delta/Iberia.

So from fall 2000 to late 2005, the premium between Lisbon and Australia has gone from about $1700 down to $1100.  The premium on New Zealand has gone from about $1700 to $1000.  The premium between Lisbon and Seville has gone from about $750 to $25.  And the price of the Lisbon ticket has gone down about $75.

When you are traveling and where you are traveling from and to makes a difference.  If "forced" to make the choice today, I'd go to Seville.  Although I might try to work out that LA, New Zealand, Australia trip given enough time to be away.