Who's got some Holiday/ Travel Plans Coming Up this Summer/Year?

[agsgroup]

I know some of you have been travelling recently to AAC for more business, but I wondered if anyone has any leisure / holidays coming up - and if so where are you going?

Living on small hot Island (Malta) I tend to look for trips that aren't so 'beach' holidays so am looking for some new ideas and inspirations... Route 66 or Machu Picchu would be cool!

Does anyone have anything fun planned?

[DanHorvat]

Consider sailing.

[Zara Brown]

I'm planning to visit Japan this summer. i'm planning to visit this island already for 2 years

[agsgroup]

I'm planning to visit Japan this summer. i'm planning to visit this island already for 2 years

Sounds great, never been there but definitely on the list - top 5.. have a great time

As for sailing, it'a an idea....

[Renee]

Last year I had to cancel every holiday I had booked because someone decided to get married, have their bachelorette, babies etc etc

So this year I decided once a month I will go away on a holiday, no excuses.

Upcoming trips so far include Melbourne (for a wedding), and Hawaii (for my birthday), both in August one after the other.
I'm looking at where to book my July holiday right now. I'm thinking to go somewhere I can do some small touristy things and lay in front of a wood fire at night and keep warm. I'm also trying to decide on my September holiday which looks like it might be Hamilton Island.
I don't mind if I go on these hoildays by myself. I had originally booked hawaii by myself but 2 of my friends decided to come with me after they heard I booked it.

In October I will be going to the Gold Coast (for the 5th time this year) to watch some of my friends compete again. Apart from that I'm not sure where else I'll go. I like that I'm going away each month though and I may even continue it next year.

[universal4]

I will be honest,

For quite some time I have had my eye on this really sweet looking pack of gum and I thoroughly enjoy taking a walk on the beach....(also Melbourne but pretty far away from Renee's)

....but the way things have been lately I think I will settle on that single packaged mint and will probably just go sit by the Lake to enjoy it instead....

Rick
Universal4

[agsgroup]

Last year I had to cancel every holiday I had booked because someone decided to get married, have their bachelorette, babies etc etc

So this year I decided once a month I will go away on a holiday, no excuses.

Upcoming trips so far include Melbourne (for a wedding), and Hawaii (for my birthday), both in August one after the other.
I'm looking at where to book my July holiday right now. I'm thinking to go somewhere I can do some small touristy things and lay in front of a wood fire at night and keep warm. I'm also trying to decide on my September holiday which looks like it might be Hamilton Island.
I don't mind if I go on these hoildays by myself. I had originally booked hawaii by myself but 2 of my friends decided to come with me after they heard I booked it.

In October I will be going to the Gold Coast (for the 5th time this year) to watch some of my friends compete again. Apart from that I'm not sure where else I'll go. I like that I'm going away each month though and I may even continue it next year.

All sounds really nice..Australia have not explored yet... love the fact you don't mind doing things by yourself. Respect that

[Renee]

I will be honest,

For quite some time I have had my eye on this really sweet looking pack of gum and I thoroughly enjoy taking a walk on the beach....(also Melbourne but pretty far away from Renee's)

....but the way things have been lately I think I will settle on that single packaged mint and will probably just go sit by the Lake to enjoy it instead....

Rick
Universal4

I am so confused by this. Must be having a moment.

All sounds really nice..Australia have not explored yet... love the fact you don't mind doing things by yourself. Respect that

TBH I've been let down so many times when it comes to holidaying or even just doing small insignificant things that I figured it's easier to just plan stuff on my own and if anyone wants to join me they can.

I was supposed to go to Hawaii for my birthday last year and the 2 friends who were going to come with me cancelled without even telling me. I read about it on facebook. At the time I wasn't in a place to go by myself so I never went. That's why this year I decided I will go on my own, although it worked out that people wanted to come anyway and I know they wont cancel.

If I waited for someone to come with me anywhere I wanted to go I would be sitting in my bedroom doing nothing forever. Traveling alone isn't for everyone, but you really find out who you are when you're alone. I went to Iceland by myself in January and it was amazing. I felt like I came back a different person. And I've been to Canada on my own before too. You'd think it would be scary but it's really not

[agsgroup]

I am so confused by this. Must be having a moment.



TBH I've been let down so many times when it comes to holidaying or even just doing small insignificant things that I figured it's easier to just plan stuff on my own and if anyone wants to join me they can.

I was supposed to go to Hawaii for my birthday last year and the 2 friends who were going to come with me cancelled without even telling me. I read about it on facebook. At the time I wasn't in a place to go by myself so I never went. That's why this year I decided I will go on my own, although it worked out that people wanted to come anyway and I know they wont cancel.

If I waited for someone to come with me anywhere I wanted to go I would be sitting in my bedroom doing nothing forever. Traveling alone isn't for everyone, but you really find out who you are when you're alone. I went to Iceland by myself in January and it was amazing. I felt like I came back a different person. And I've been to Canada on my own before too. You'd think it would be scary but it's really not

That's a great outlook and true words..It's like the saying "if you want something done, do it yourself''

I've never traveled alone (aside from actually taking a plane between places - not actually going away someone alone) even when back packing back in the days, I reckon I could do it if I had to now, I always thought of it as quite a scary prospect before... I suppose it would be quite liberating feeling after a while.


Have a great trip!

[DanHorvat]

you really find out who you are when you're alone

I just went to sailing school alone, and had a blast. If I brought company I'd be stuck with her/him and wouldn't be so open to meeting other people.

Being alone in an unfamiliar setting feels so good.

[Sherlock]

I'm planning to visit Japan this summer. i'm planning to visit this island already for 2 years

Japan is amazing. They are a closed country, nobody speaks proper English, but they like tourists with money and they can offer a lot.

I suggest to buy pass for bullet trains, they offer it only for tourists and it must be bought upfront. Now the bullet trains reached even Hokkaido, which is an amazing island with cooler climate, but in few hours you can be in completely different location with full convenience. It is an island, but there are many amazing mountains.

Another thing that you can find are the spas, called Onsens. It is a different reality truly.

The food is crazy and I can not eat a lot of that. Sometimes it is like chewing a branch of tree with a little bit of sand. But they can do really good European food. Excellent pasta and pizza for example. And the Kirin beer beats for me even European beers.

They also love animals. Kawaii "cute"culture is everywhere. There are pictures of animals even on Police cars. Many cafes with cats, rabbits, owls etc. But it is also hadcore capitalistic country, where it is about money (even the animals have to make money for themselves

Be it a city, town, village or pure nature, Japan is remarkable. I am on the top anime fan, so at least for me it is like visiting a dream world. The most problematic thing there are their traditions that we do not understand. So even when trying to the max, you will breach some rule of society and they look at you like to an idiot. They are racists, so everything that is non Japanese is inferior. My problem after visiting Japan is that I have to admit they are probably right with their racism.

Edit: I think that the best season for Japan is not summer, but any other time. Spring is famous, autumn there are festivals (both spring and autumn are pleasantly warm but not hot). Winter is great for the spas, that are everywhere and there are parts by Nagano, where is always a lot lot of snow (like 5 meters).

[FruityJelena]

I stopped making plans long time ago for most of the things in my life - they never turned as I expected. And I usually don't know where I'm going to be and what is going to happen in my head or real life in the next two weeks, so I don't put that pressure on myself by making big or long-termed plans. I avoid questions like - Where are you going to celebrate New Year or Labor Day etc. Maybe I'm too spontaneous

Not the big difference when it comes to holidays, I prefer feeling I don't need to plan it
This year I still don't know. I want to visit Malta again or/and maybe check Montenegro - haven't been on their seaside since '98.
I'd like to take my mom to a couple of days in Italy. That's all on my agenda let's say, I just don't know WHEN so I can't call it plans. I desperately need sea, that's for sure.
My biggest wish is to visit India..who knows when this is going to happen :sigh:

For the nice coast travel seekers I'd always recommend Croatia!

If you prefer Eastern Europe, hot summer spent on the nice floating places on the river, pretty girls, fabulous nightlife, awesome food and city living 00-24, I'd recommend my Belgrade

http://uramljivanjeslika.rs/digitaln...like-beograda/

[Renee]

I stopped making plans long time ago for most of the things in my life - they never turned as I expected. And I usually don't know where I'm going to be and what is going to happen in my head or real life in the next two weeks, so I don't put that pressure on myself by making big or long-termed plans. I avoid questions like - Where are you going to celebrate New Year or Labor Day etc. Maybe I'm too spontaneous

Not the big difference when it comes to holidays, I prefer feeling I don't need to plan it
This year I still don't know. I want to visit Malta again or/and maybe check Montenegro - haven't been on their seaside since '98.
I'd like to take my mom to a couple of days in Italy. That's all on my agenda let's say, I just don't know WHEN so I can't call it plans. I desperately need sea, that's for sure.
My biggest wish is to visit India..who knows when this is going to happen :sigh:

For the nice coast travel seekers I'd always recommend Croatia!

If you prefer Eastern Europe, hot summer spent on the nice floating places on the river, pretty girls, fabulous nightlife, awesome food and city living 00-24, I'd recommend my Belgrade

http://uramljivanjeslika.rs/digitaln...like-beograda/

The problem being in Australia is that if you want to go anywhere internationally, unless you are loaded you have to plan ahead. A flight to Europe for us will cost between 1500-2500AUD a pop. The aussie dollar isn't doing so well right now either, so unless you are really good at backpacking (or loaded) you'd need to save money for accommodation too.

I love being spontaneous, but here it's really only possible to do it within Australia.

The other downside to not planning is that you end up doing nothing. New Year's Eve this year I spent the night on my couch by myself because everyone had plans. A few years ago the same thing happened and I booked a last minute flight interstate by myself and ended up finding stuff to do, but I couldn't do that this year because, *drum roll*, I had my sister's wedding on the 3rd of Jan.

Otherwise I agree, spontaneity is the spice of life. I like having something to look forward to, but I also love booking a last minute adventure. It's always when the unexpected happens

[FruityJelena]

The problem being in Australia is that if you want to go anywhere internationally, unless you are loaded you have to plan ahead. A flight to Europe for us will cost between 1500-2500AUD a pop. The aussie dollar isn't doing so well right now either, so unless you are really good at backpacking (or loaded) you'd need to save money for accommodation too.

I love being spontaneous, but here it's really only possible to do it within Australia.

The other downside to not planning is that you end up doing nothing. New Year's Eve this year I spent the night on my couch by myself because everyone had plans. A few years ago the same thing happened and I booked a last minute flight interstate by myself and ended up finding stuff to do, but I couldn't do that this year because, *drum roll*, I had my sister's wedding on the 3rd of Jan.

Otherwise I agree, spontaneity is the spice of life. I like having something to look forward to, but I also love booking a last minute adventure. It's always when the unexpected happens

But you live in beautiful Australia! There is SO many places and beaches to visit. Some of them I saw in pictures look incredible, for example Whitehaven beach - is to really so unbelievable as it looks?
And New Zealand looks like not far away

It's great being in the rush! Last year spring time was one of the best times in my life! Went to US - almost a week in Vegas, then road trips to San Francisco and LA in convertible car eeeeeh! Few days in Serbia then AAC and directly from Amsterdam -> Malta for "Showers".
I wish to repeat such holiday and traveling rush!

[Renee]

There are, but I think most people don't realise how big our country is (we are only marginally smaller than the USA). You can't just go to Perth for a weekend because it's a 5.5 hour flight. To get to whitehaven beach from Sydney (which likely looks far better in person than the photos could ever portray it - its on my list of places to go) will cost about $600 return just to get there and about 4 hours flying with connections, if not more. Then accommodation there is hell expensive because it's a huge tourist attraction. You can expect to pay over $1000 for only a few days there just for a basic hotel room.
You can get cheap flights to new zealand sometimes. I've been waiting for cheap flights to wellington but they are around $400 return. Nothing cheaper has come up yet. The biggest problem going to new zealand is that it's still an international flight so you have to go to the airport 3 hours before your flight for a 2 hour flight. Such a waste of 6 hours to just go for a weekend. Do you guys have to do this inside Europe? I imagine inside the EU it would be like a domestic flight where you don't have to be at the airport so early? Or am I wrong?

You guys are lucky to be able to just get on a plane for 1 hour and be in another country. If I lived in Europe I'd be in a different country every weekend.

[FruityJelena]

Do you guys have to do this inside Europe? I imagine inside the EU it would be like a domestic flight where you don't have to be at the airport so early? Or am I wrong?
You guys are lucky to be able to just get on a plane for 1 hour and be in another country. If I lived in Europe I'd be in a different country every weekend.

Hehe, well Europe is not that small either
We also need to go to the flights earlier, mostly cause of the crowd and all the things you need to do before showing up on your gate. And some airports are big, so you better be there earlier... okay maybe not 3 hours earlier, but still.
Some flights are 3 hours long - for example for me that's how long is a flight to London or Oslo. Amsterdam is 2 and a half hour long flight, same as Barcelona.
Another problem is that sometimes there are no direct flights, so you change two planes and waste so much time waiting for another one.
Example: Serbia to Malta has direct flight long 1 hour 40 minutes only during the summer season (mid-June till mid-September). The other parts of the year there are mostly flights through Istanbul. Last time I was traveling to Malta for SiGma (and back) I spent 7-8 hours one way (14-16 in total) in the plane and on the airports. On Istanbul's airport there even wasn't free wi-fi! I died, didn't know what to do with myself for hours. So that's a waste of time
I don't know how it is in other countries, probably countries which are part of the EU have easier flights and better flight connections to each other. One thing is for sure - they have faster queues and checks at least

[Renee]

Another problem is that sometimes there are no direct flights, so you change two planes and waste so much time waiting for another one.
Example: Serbia to Malta has direct flight long 1 hour 40 minutes only during the summer season (mid-June till mid-September). The other parts of the year there are mostly flights through Istanbul. Last time I was traveling to Malta for SiGma (and back) I spent 7-8 hours one way (14-16 in total) in the plane and on the airports. On Istanbul's airport there even wasn't free wi-fi! I died, didn't know what to do with myself for hours. So that's a waste of time
I don't know how it is in other countries, probably countries which are part of the EU have easier flights and better flight connections to each other. One thing is for sure - they have faster queues and checks at least

THAT is ****. No direct flights. I can't imagine having to be traveling 7-8 hours for something that could just be over 1 hour.

Europe size compared to Oz.


Flight times for us (direct flights):
Sydney to Melbourne - 1.5hr
Sydney to Brisbane - 1.5hr
Sydney to Cairns - 3h
Sydney to Adelaide - 2-2.5h
Sydney to Ayers Rock (middle of the country) - 3-3.5h
Sydney to Perth - 5.5h
Sydney to Canberra - 45m (I think)

I'm not sure on the flight time from Sydney to Darwin.

I'm waiting for hypersonic travel to get us to London in 2 hours (ref).

One day.

[Casinorep]

I originally planned to see the Olympics in Brazil, but decided to go to the Maldives instead, and lay on some powder white sand and clear blue water and not do sh*t.

And though sometimes it's fun to go with a companion or with friends, I happen to be a thrill seeker who likes to venture on my own in new places.. Reminds me of the time I went to Egypt by myself and had a blast.

[agsgroup]

Jelena is right about living in Malta as some destinations there's usually a transfers, but when I want to visit my family (London) then its direct so i'm very lucky about that.

Generally, for me at least we can visit most countries for the weekend with say Ryanair or Easyjet relatively cheaply...they are 'no frills' airlines but the budget airlines fly most places and ridiculously cheap.

When I want to go father afield, like to the states, there's always a stop over... last year we went to Mexico so had to fly Malta> London> Miami> Cancun so that was a rather long journey...

Rene, I did not know that about Australia - the size of it is immense, I mean I knew it was huge, but now when you put it like that. It seems rather expensive to even fly domestically in Oz! I have never been to Australia, I passed up the opportunity (stupidly) when I was in NZ for 6 months but I do recall it be a loooong flight over there

Can you get to Bali, Fiji / Singapore relatively easy?

[Renee]

When I want to go father afield, like to the states, there's always a stop over... last year we went to Mexico so had to fly Malta> London> Miami> Cancun so that was a rather long journey...

Rene, I did not know that about Australia - the size of it is immense, I mean I knew it was huge, but now when you put it like that. It seems rather expensive to even fly domestically in Oz! I have never been to Australia, I passed up the opportunity (stupidly) when I was in NZ for 6 months but I do recall it be a loooong flight over there

Can you get to Bali, Fiji / Singapore relatively easy?

If it makes you feel better, to get to cancun our flight would be similar. Sydney > Dallas > Cancun. On the way home it's Cancun > Mexico > Dallas > Sydney - A total of 40 hours. The shortest time to get there is 23 hours. Unbelievable.

Noone really understands how big Australia is until we put it like that. It is the 4th or 5th largest country in the world. And yep, it is expensive to travel domestically here unless you get cheap flights when they release deals on the airlines. Although they usually have it cheap in one direction of the flight and double to return home.

Bali, Fiji and Singapore are all direct flights, but can be expensive. Sometimes Jetstar has return flights to Bali for $400 return. Fiji is rarely on sale, although I think it's only a 4 hour flight. And singapore too. From memory they are both over the 500 return mark. Singapore would be closer to 800 I'd say. Singapore is 9h there and 8h home.