The Travel Thread

[mightyrooster]

In 2020 we had flights booked with Cathy Pacific, premium economy ,very good fare and it flew into Gatwick which was great for us heading to Brighton and it departed from Barcelona back to Sydney which was our last leg of the trip, of course that trip never happened. With this trip unless something dramatically changes we have Greece as or last leg of the trip so will have to return to Heathrow to come back to Sydney, as its only Qatar and Emarites that fly to Sydney from Athens. Flying with some unknown airway from Scotland to Milan in Italy, the Italian leg of the trip will be the most expensive as mainly going with an organised tour as i have never been to Italy before and my partner hasn't been since the 80's.
Cant help you with any ideas accommodation wise for London as we have never had to pay for accommodation there before because of friends living or staying there, in 2020 we had a small B&B booked near Soho which was really reasonable priced but the place has closed down since. We are intending of spending more time in Brighton than London so that should keep the costs down a bit. The one thing we do have to watch is seeing we are flying business class, the luggage weights we don't have to worry about but with some of the smaller airlines for the in between internal flights we will have to watch the baggage weight.

Not saying this will be our last trip O/S ever but unless we win the lottery it will be our last BIG trip so that is why we are hanging the expense this time.

It sounds like you’ve made some real progress with the planning Horrie. Italy should be great with so many things to see and do there and the food! JAL should be good too. I’m hoping to fly with them when my dream Japan trip happens some time in the future, hopefully! I get the problem with the baggage weights. Even with economy there’s different allowances between international and domestic flights. At one stage we were weighing up whether to take a domestic flight or the Caledonian sleeper between London and Inverness, then I changed the itinerary to get rid of that problem. But there were different baggage allowances and I wasn’t sure about some of the second tier UK airlines.

Which month are you going? We chose September to cut costs and avoid crowds but that’s right in the middle of footy finals - both NRL and AFL - so I hope we don’t regret it. Regret missing finals that is. We won’t regret the trip!

[horrie hastings]

I would love to go back to Tassie again Big Dog. I did the self drive tour with the hubby pre-kids 22 years ago and it was awesome. We took the car across on the Spirit of Tasmania. We started in Devonport and did a clockwise tour around. Hope you have a great time.

Think it was 2009 or maybe 2010 did a two week driving holiday around Tasmania and loved it, want to do another driving holiday like that again sometime in the future. Have been back to Tas twice since but only for short trips, in 2012 went to Launceston to see the Swans vs Hawthorn and have also been back to Hobart to see Mona more recently, think that was 2016 so probably not that recent but definitely want to spend more time there again.

[horrie hastings]

It sounds like you’ve made some real progress with the planning Horrie. Italy should be great with so many things to see and do there and the food! JAL should be good too. I’m hoping to fly with them when my dream Japan trip happens some time in the future, hopefully! I get the problem with the baggage weights. Even with economy there’s different allowances between international and domestic flights. At one stage we were weighing up whether to take a domestic flight or the Caledonian sleeper between London and Inverness, then I changed the itinerary to get rid of that problem. But there were different baggage allowances and I wasn’t sure about some of the second tier UK airlines.

Which month are you going? We chose September to cut costs and avoid crowds but that’s right in the middle of footy finals - both NRL and AFL - so I hope we don’t regret it. Regret missing finals that is. We won’t regret the trip!

Its funny MR, its just the last week that things have started falling into place for the trip. Yes going to have to look more closely into the weight restrictions with the shorter internal flights so we don't get caught out, if it doesn't work we can leave stuff with the friends in Brighton as we have to get back to the UK for the return trip home. We are going the second week in August and back late September so its about 7 weeks , still will be a bit of a cross over with the Paris Olympics at the start but should be fine being in the UK at that time. Still looking at maybe squeezing in Sitges in Spain if we can, love that spot and if it is logistical possible just before Greece or maybe on the way back from Greece then i may do it.

[mightyrooster]

Its funny MR, its just the last week that things have started falling into place for the trip. Yes going to have to look more closely into the weight restrictions with the shorter internal flights so we don't get caught out, if it doesn't work we can leave stuff with the friends in Brighton as we have to get back to the UK for the return trip home. We are going the second week in August and back late September so its about 7 weeks , still will be a bit of a cross over with the Paris Olympics at the start but should be fine being in the UK at that time. Still looking at maybe squeezing in Sitges in Spain if we can, love that spot and if it is logistical possible just before Greece or maybe on the way back from Greece then i may do it.

That was like me, I was struggling with it all for ages then suddenly one day I got an idea on how to make it work and all of a sudden the jigsaw pieces started to fall into place. I love your timing too. We will be in London the last week of September and taking the flight home on the 29th! Hopefully you can also work out a way to fit Spain in.

[mightyrooster]

Think it was 2009 or maybe 2010 did a two week driving holiday around Tasmania and loved it, want to another driving holiday like that again sometime in the future. Have been back to Tas twice since but only for short trips, in 2012 went to Launceston to see the Swans vs Hawthorn and have also been back to Hobart to see Mona more recently, think that was 2016 so probably not that recent but definitely want to spend more time there again.

I would love to go back some time. The one place we did miss was Cradle Mountain. I would love to go back and fit that in next time.

[horrie hastings]

I would love to go back some time. The one place we did miss was Cradle Mountain. I would love to go back and fit that in next time.

Did stay over night in a very basic cabin at a caravan park at Cradle Mountain, it was basic but all that was needed for a night, heard this noise on the roof and went out to investigate, it was the fattest possum i had ever seen and was hanging just above the door when i came out of the cabin, lucky i saw it as it could have been messy had it dropped off onto me as i came out of the door, it was honestly the fattest possum i had ever seen. Did the walk around Dove Lake the next morning which was interesting before heading off to Stanley.

[Big Dog]

I would love to go back to Tassie again Big Dog. I did the self drive tour with the hubby pre-kids 22 years ago and it was awesome. We took the car across on the Spirit of Tasmania. We started in Devonport and did a clockwise tour around. Hope you have a great time.

We did a very short trip last year, a taster.
We'll be taking the car on the Spirit of Tassie again and doing something similar.

[Big Dog]

The one thread where there are no ugly disagreements or insults.

[mightyrooster]

The one thread where there are no ugly disagreements or insults.

Yep I enjoyed hanging in here and the dinner thread last night. I’m a bit timid about entering the political threads at the moment.

[horrie hastings]

We did a very short trip last year, a taster.
We'll be taking the car on the Spirit of Tassie again and doing something similar.

How long are you going for Big Dog. The first trip we did was just on two weeks and covered a lot of area but honestly could have spent a few more days driving, so much to see. If you got time give Bruny Island a visit.

[horrie hastings]

With Scotland and Italy we are actually going on organised tours, takes the stress out of trying to plan things and really don't want to go O/S to drive. London and Brighton and surrounds will be more do it our selves as will be the Greek Islands.Just paid the air fare today so one big chunk gone already, ouch, the first time i have had to pay for Business class but it will be worth it .

[Big Dog]

How long are you going for Big Dog. The first trip we did was just on two weeks and covered a lot of area but honestly could have spent a few more days driving, so much to see. If you got time give Bruny Island a visit.

22 days between ferry trips. Yes Bruny island is on the list, staying near Woodbridge for 3 nights and Southport also. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Australis from down there. Might wet a line or two and try to catch some dinner.

[Andrew Walker]

Yep I enjoyed hanging in here and the dinner thread last night. I’m a bit timid about entering the political threads at the moment.

Don’t be shy MR Paddo has started another confronting and thought provoking one today. Come join it’s been pretty respectful so far

To keep on theme I travelled to Maroubra today to visit my Sister

[mightyrooster]

Did stay over night in a very basic cabin at a caravan park at Cradle Mountain, it was basic but all that was needed for a night, heard this noise on the roof and went out to investigate, it was the fattest possum i had ever seen and was hanging just above the door when i came out of the cabin, lucky i saw it as it could have been messy had it dropped off onto me as i came out of the door, it was honestly the fattest possum i had ever seen. Did the walk around Dove Lake the next morning which was interesting before heading off to Stanley.

Lol at the possum. We have one that has taken up permanent residence in our yard for years now. It drives the fur baby mad. I don’t know how fat it is though lol. When we did Tassie, we started at Launceston, then Coles Bay, Freycinet National Park, Port Arthur and surrounds, Hobart and surrounds (we did the treetops walk at Tahune I think it was called), then Strahan, Stanley and finally Devonport before taking the Spirit of Tasmania back across. It was really rough on the return journey too. I think we missed Cradle Mountain because we were focusing more n going around the perimeter.

[mightyrooster]

With Scotland and Italy we are actually going on organised tours, takes the stress out of trying to plan things and really don't want to go O/S to drive. London and Brighton and surrounds will be more do it our selves as will be the Greek Islands.Just paid the air fare today so one big chunk gone already, ouch, the first time i have had to pay for Business class but it will be worth it .

Yes an organised tour would be less to worry about that’s for sure. We’re hiring a car in Scotland and the other half will drive as I can’t due to being legally blind. Hopefully we don’t encounter too many single, narrow roads. We like that it will give us a bit more freedom to do what we want when we want. We will return the car before reaching Edinburgh and then start catching trains from there and throughout the England leg. I hope the rail strikes that are happening there at present are well and truly over by September next year. Well done on booking the air fares. That’s when it really starts to get exciting! Not for the bank balance though.