Your travelling experiences

[Wainy316]

Traveling on your own is fine and can be just a fun.  Staying in dorms you will meet a whole host of people, a lot of which may end up being on a similar route to you, so you often find your self doing a portion of the traveling with different people.  You have a revolving door of short term friends.  A select few may become long distance friends for life.  Always good, when they're from different countries as you get somewhere cool to visit.

[tonyh29]

Must admit usually the words "group travel" send me running a million miles in the other direction but my North Korea trip I was blessed with an amazing bunch of people ... I suspect mainly as we all had a similar curiosity and were on a once in a life time trip but it really was a real eye opener as to the people you can meet on your travels .. Even the American was quiet by American standards though his jumping behind the machine gun on the USA Pueblo pretending to shoot the North Korean minders could possibly have gone badly wrong as could my 2am hotel roof top photo op with one of my travel companions and a giant portrait of Kim Jong-il

They were just an interesting and fun bunch and whilst I'm in no hurry to sign up for group travel at present my preconceived ideas shamed me a little and like Wainy above with stuff like Facebook they sorta become long distance friends , indeed I'm catching up with one of them in Indonesia is August all being well

I've done trips on my own as well I'm quite happy with the solitude every now and then , the peace and quiet of being away from an inquisitive 8 year old boy and a loud 5 year old girl can't be under estimated

Edited February 21, 2013 by tonyh29

[Tayls]

Got America booked now through STA.

Starting in LA for two days, heading over to San Diego for a day/night, then over to Scottsdale near Phoenix, stopping off at Palm Springs en route. Next day we will travel on to Sedona, before arriving at the Grand Canyon. I will then be rolling onto a couple of lakes and other canyons before arriving in Vegas! San Francisco is next up then back to LA for flight back.

Sweeeeeet. Shame I couldn't squeeze Texas in though but will go back to see it separately I'm sure.

Edited March 23, 2013 by Tayls

[usvilla]

Loved San Diego !! - Old Town is a great area to visit if only there for a day

history & plenty of bars !

[Tayls]

Awesome. Any must see sites or places to eat that you can recommend?

Edited March 23, 2013 by Tayls

[usvilla]

the whole thing is a museum/state park and then full of bars and restaurants

the train station is right there as well - its $5 for a day pass to anywhere

the ocean during the day - old town at night would be my advice 

where are you staying ? 

[usvilla]

http://www.oldtownsandiego.org/

 

uss midway is a huge ship that is interesting (if you like that kind of stuff)

lots of beaches too

[Ghost]

Anyone done Contiki? Thoughts/opinions?

[Shillzz]

Just back from the Maldives, easily the most amazing place I've ever been to, unimaginable beauty.

 

Spent Sunday afternoon with the missus on our own paradise island with nothing but the odd fruit bat for company.

 

I will be very surprised if I can ever find somewhere to top last week, though that doesn't mean I won't try.

[tonyh29]

 but the odd fruit bat for company.

that's no way to talk about your missus

 

not made it there yet , glad it's still a paradise though , thought the recent political upheaval may have had some effect on the place

[Tayls]

Maldives and Bora Bora for most beautiful places on earth? Not been to either so can't really say.

My current top place in terms of beach, sea etc has to be Isla Majures - an island on the east coast of Mexico. (Near Cancun).

[Shillzz]

 but the odd fruit bat for company.

that's no way to talk about your missus

 

not made it there yet , glad it's still a paradise though , thought the recent political upheaval may have had some effect on the place

 

In my defense, she is quite odd.

 

As a discerning culture seeker, I can understand why The Maldives wouldn't be at the top of your list. The resorts own the islands that they are situated on, so you're visiting a resort, not a country. You would have to go out of your way to get a taste of the local way of life, and it's not really worth it when you're staying in one of the world's most beautiful locations.

 

But in terms of natural beauty it's easily the most amazing place that I've been fortunate enough to go to. The Islands themselves are approaching perfect, like a heavily airbrushed model. And if you're a keen diver, like myself, then the underwater landscape is just the icing on the cake.

 

I may have to get married in order to justify going back out there again.

[colhint]

Its been a while but I did travel a lot some 10 years ago, probably closer to 15 if I think about it. Lots of it was on Business, but that was cool too. I had just come back from a SF, Vegas, LA holiday with my wife. Got back to work on the Monday and the Boss told me we had a contract in LA for 18 months, would I do it. Talked it over with the missus and we agreed. I worked like this I would work 3 weeks and then come home for a week on Gardening leave (administration) God it was good times. 2 really good things happened on the second trip, 1st I met a seasoned traveller, who taught me how to travel. 1st thing he said was to drop BA and go to Virgin. Based on my previous 5 flights a year I was mister nobody with BA but I would probably be a good second tier passenger with Virgin. I phoned Virgin for the next flight, passed on my BA silver card details and booked. Boy, they rolled out the red carpet for me, 1st class first trip. In all I must have made about 25 flights with them and was bumped up from terrorist class on at least 2 thirds of them. The second thing he told me was to listen to what was being ordered from duty free, find out what they have run out of, then order it. So I tried, next trip they were out of Jack Daniels, when they told me they were out, I sighed, not a rant but "oh no, thats 3 times in the last month, but not to worry its not your fault" At the end of the flight they brought me a plastic bag half full with JD miniatures and 2 bottles of champagne. Did that plenty of times. One the occasions where I wasn't bumped up at check in, as I would enter the plane, I would volunteer my services to the steward/ stewardess in case of a rowdy passenger (apparently they are not allowed to ask for help) more often than not, that would get me the exit row seat with the extra leg room. Obviously you couldn't pull these stunts if you had the same cabin crew each trip. 

 

But the best bit was I signed up for the frequent flyer programmes of all their partner airlines. On returning, I would write to these (it was 6 at  the time) with a photocopy of the boarding card, saying I had forgotten to collect my airmiles. God I had so many. I had 75% of total required for the top prize, 2 weeks on Necker Island. Rather than waste them on one trip, me and the missus had some great hols, even had enough to take 6 buddies to Cape town on a golfing trip, hotels as well.

 

The other good thing on the second trip, the Avis hire car was broken into, no problem, couple of holdalls with documents nicked thats all. I phoned them Avis no problem, take the car back and they'll replace it. I was working about 40 minutes from the airport, so I asked if there was anywhere nearer. Well there was it was about 5 minutes around the corner. Took it in and did all the paper work. I started chatting to the girl, It was only a small place with about a dozen cars. When I told her I needed a car for about 40 weeks of the year, her eyes lit up. We struck a deal, where I would take  the car I picked up  from the airport on the Sunday (again mr nobody out of 10'000 cars) to her place after work on Monday, and she would swap it for the best car she had. I turned up for work in Pontiac firebirds, Corvettes even had a dodge viper the one time. I had to explain to their accountant they were still being charged for a ford escort type thingy. One trip I told the girl I fancied going up country soon. She emailed me not to change the car on the Monday, but wait till the Wednesday because she had a Grand Cherokee coming it. It was bigger than my house. It was on this trip, found a lakeside hotel  well it was a series of lodges around the lake, really picturesque. all peace and quiet, until about 3 in the morning when someone shot someone in one of the lodges.  I shit myself, Cops were there in 10 minutes though.

 

So I would work Monday to Friday, but the weekends were my own, I would be off to Vegas or palm springs or the Like.

 

Oh the other good thing was they paid me $35 a day per diem. I don't think I touched my Salary, apart from standing orders, during that time, whatever I needed I bought over there.

 

Happy days

 

The trips to South Africa were amazing to, I'll think about them and post them later

[colhint]

Oh another one. The guy who owned the business wanted me and a pal upstate New York ASAP that meant that night. He said it doesn't matter If its Concorde just be there. Had a look around for flights and we agreed with the local boss that Concorde was the best option We left him to organise the tickets while we rushed home to pack some things. We got a message at the airport, and found the bastard had found a cheaper flight and booked us on that.

 

I'm not bitter but I do hope his ears turn into arseholes and he shits all over his shoulders.

[Shillzz]

Quick update on this (from earlier in the thread) if anyone's interested.

 

Loving this thread. Very inspirational.

Anyway, I'm planning 'The big one' for this time next year. Will have to sell the house to do it, which is a particularly frightening thought, but I figure you only live once.

So this is the plan:

Nepal
Pokhora region and Trekking the Annapurnas for a few days, staying in the tea huts.
Raft down the Seti River to Chitwan National Park for a bit of a Jungle Safari

Thailand
Not Yet planned, but the general idea will be to fly into Bangkok, perhaps head north for a few days, then using public transport make my way down to the Malaysian peninsular, stopping at various places along the way.

Borneo (Malaysian)
Stay at Lankayan Island Dive Resort
Dannum Valley
Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary
Hiking the Headhunters trail

Australia
Port Lincoln to go swimming with the big white fish
Kangaroo Island
Obligatory Sydney to Cairns camper van route

New Zealand South Island
Queenstown
Milford Sound
Franz Josef Glacier
Kaikura
Kahuringi National Park

Obviously it is a little more detailed than this, have some pretty solid Itineraries lined up for Nepal and Borneo, but any feedback by those who have been to the areas mentioned would be great.

 

 

Have my flights booked, with the itinerary revised to the following:

 

Fly to Bangkok, 

Tour of Bangkok and Northern Thailand with Intrepid travel.

Independently travel down the coast via Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Railay, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Muk, Langkawi, then fly into Kuala Lumpur.

 

Fly onwards to Kuching in Borneo

Tour of Sarawak with Intrepid travel.

 

Fly to Singapore for 2 nights

 

Fly to Sydney for 3 nights

 

Fly to Christchurch

Tour the South Island of New Zealand for 3 weeks.

 

Fly to Brisbane

Make our way up the coast using the Greyhound service for 3 weeks, then finally make our way back home.

 

Really excited about it now that it's all booked.

Edited April 19, 2013 by Shillzz

[Xela]

You lucky git  

Edited April 19, 2013 by Xela

[villa4europe]

not sure if I asked this before - anyone ever used travelbag to book a holiday?

 

the prices on their website seem a bit too good to be true, but then they do have the "from" attached to the price and you have to ring them to book it, they have a store in Solihull, im half tempted to go sit in there for an hour and ask them to play about with the prices / destinations / hotels and arrange a multi centre holiday in asia next year (for example they are currently advertising 3 nights kuala lumpur, 3 nights Cambodia, 8 nights penang from £899)

[Xela]

not sure if I asked this before - anyone ever used travelbag to book a holiday?

 

the prices on their website seem a bit too good to be true, but then they do have the "from" attached to the price and you have to ring them to book it, they have a store in Solihull, im half tempted to go sit in there for an hour and ask them to play about with the prices / destinations / hotels and arrange a multi centre holiday in asia next year (for example they are currently advertising 3 nights kuala lumpur, 3 nights Cambodia, 8 nights penang from £899)

 

Never used them but mates have and no issues,. They are a reputable company. I used Trailfinders for my first SE Asia trip and they were fine... everything went like clockwork. However, been back to Asia multiple times since and never used an agent since... just booked the flights and hotels myself. 

[Peever]

Anyone done Contiki? Thoughts/opinions?

 

 

Have not gone myself with Contiki but have had several friends use them and they all praise it.  Though its what you make of it...if you want a good trip that is designed by someone else then its for you.  Me personally I prefer the freedom of planning my own trip and just going with the flow sometimes!  

[robby b]

This street name in Bolivia caught my eye, it's nearly great, missing just one letter. Ooh close!