2019 Travel Plans

[AisleSeat]

Hiking the Camino de Santiago, all 500 miles of it. Afterwards exploring the south of Spain and Morocco with a few days in London bookending the trip.

My colleague did this last year. Not the full length though. The scenery looked fantastic!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

My colleague did this last year. Not the full length though. The scenery looked fantastic!

I've been watching vlogs of people doing the whole hike and it does look so good.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You could use helicopters but you'd miss on the cafes along the route to sample the local wines for lunch, second lunch, afternoon tea, pre dinner drinks and dinner itself.

I need to scrutinise this. 500 miles of hiking, with wine/dine lunches, wine/dine afternoon teas and then wine/dine dinners! How long are you planning for this excursion? All year!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I need to scrutinise this. 500 miles of hiking, with wine/dine lunches, wine/dine afternoon teas and then wine/dine dinners! How long are you planning for this excursion? All year!

Maybe I might drop the afternoon teas. To be serious though we're planning 40 to 42 walking days averaging 20km a day. A few rest days along the route (known as 'taking a zero' in the hiking world) to enjoy places of note. Lots of planning has gone into this, 99% done by Mrs 340.

 

[VPS]

Maybe I might drop the afternoon teas. To be serious though we're planning 40 to 42 walking days averaging 20km a day. A few rest days along the route (known as 'taking a zero' in the hiking world) to enjoy places of note. Lots of planning has gone into this, 99% done by Mrs 340.

that is seriously impressive - good luck

 

[Flashback]

Booked some things yesterday with the Qantas double status thingy.

Canberra to Hong Kong in late May, returning late June. Don't intend staying there, using it as a jumping off point to Europe, hopefully. Probably Sardinia for the World Rally Championship round, but that may change. Vienna to see friends and possibly Bucharest.
If the European Historic Rally Championship goes back to Asturias in Spain, that is also a possibility.

To finish off this year, it's Coffs Harbour in the middle of November and Tassie for a week in late November, early December, both for rally related stuff!

Still haven't decided on what to do in Myanmar in late Feb, apart from flying in and out of Yangon, can't rush there things!

Also we have a week in Laos between our bookings in March at the Sofitel in Luang Prabung, trying to find a river trip, but dates don't fit.

Can provide suggested itineraries for both Laos and Myanmar although in the latter we started in Mandalay and then worked our way down toward Yangon.

Find a cool little place 3 hours from Luang Prabang that is rural, tourist free and had some nice hikes too.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Maybe I might drop the afternoon teas. To be serious though we're planning 40 to 42 walking days averaging 20km a day. A few rest days along the route (known as 'taking a zero' in the hiking world) to enjoy places of note. Lots of planning has gone into this, 99% done by Mrs 340.

Well I'm impressed. I know on flat ground I do 5km/h and easily do 10-20km in a hit. But I assume this is quite hilly and my pace in hills (Kokoda), drops to about 2km/h. I'd really like to hear how you go, as it's a hike I may consider (+1 wants to do it, I've been reluctant). Any chance of a trip report?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Well I'm impressed. I know on flat ground I do 5km/h and easily do 10-20km in a hit. But I assume this is quite hilly and my pace in hills (Kokoda), drops to about 2km/h. I'd really like to hear how you go, as it's a hike I may consider (+1 wants to do it, I've been reluctant). Any chance of a trip report?

Interesting you mention a trip report as I've been mulling that today. The hike isn't for the best part of a year but a TR is something I really want to do for it. I have great respect for people who compile trip reports as I've thought about doing some for my flying itineraries but the amount of effort is really unbelievably high, both for taking the pics at the time and compiling descriptive and humorous prose after the fact. If you read FlyerTalk then one of the prolific trip report contributors there was a seat mate on a SYD-ADL QF flight in 2017; it was good to chat with him and I certainly know how much work he puts into his creations.

 

[LadyC]

Interesting you mention a trip report as I've been mulling that today. The hike isn't for the best part of a year but a TR is something I really want to do for it. I have great respect for people who compile trip reports as I've thought about doing some for my flying itineraries but the amount of effort is really unbelievably high, both for taking the pics at the time and compiling descriptive and humorous prose after the fact. If you read FlyerTalk then one of the prolific trip report contributors there was a seat mate on a SYD-ADL QF flight in 2017; it was good to chat with him and I certainly know how much work he puts into his creations.

Trip reports do require a lot of time and effort, so I wholeheartedly agree with you, hats off to those who make the effort. Which Flyertalk TR contributor were you sitting next to? I read a bit on there so you have piqued my interest.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Trip reports do require a lot of time and effort, so I wholeheartedly agree with you, hats off to those who make the effort. Which Flyertalk TR contributor were you sitting next to? I read a bit on there so you have piqued my interest.

It was Seat 2A

 

[LadyC]

It was Seat 2A

Ah yes. If I recall Seat 2A generally does around the world trips. I am a big fan of DanielW TRs.

Ahem, back to the topic - we are starting our 2019 in SIN. Hoping to head down to Launceston early 2019 as well as a quick return visit to Byron Bay maybe.

 

[Cossie]

Can provide suggested itineraries for both Laos and Myanmar although in the latter we started in Mandalay and then worked our way down toward Yangon.

Find a cool little place 3 hours from Luang Prabang that is rural, tourist free and had some nice hikes too.

I'm thinking of hiring a car in L.P. and driving up to the Muang La region, there are also some tours that will do a loop up north from L.P., which may fit the bill. Where did you go in Laos?
We only have about a week in Myanmar, still deciding!

 

[Flashback]

I'm thinking of hiring a car in L.P. and driving up to the Muang La region, there are also some tours that will do a loop up north from L.P., which may fit the bill. Where did you go in Laos?
We only have about a week in Myanmar, still deciding!

Definitely check out Nong Khiaw then! There's a great little property there too with a nice pool overlooking the river.

We did a whirlwind tour of Myanmar in a week so it is possible, be sure to rent an e-bike (It's really an electric scooter) in Bagan to cruise around town and check out the temples. Climb up one at sunset to enjoy an amazing view.

 

[JohnK]

Singapore on SQ j on Xmas day returning on 2 Jan. avoids all the Xmas arguements on where we are going for lunch/ dinner etc.

I'm also flying Christmas Day but in the main cabin.

 

[Cossie]

Definitely check out Nong Khiaw then! There's a great little property there too with a nice pool overlooking the river.

We did a whirlwind tour of Myanmar in a week so it is possible, be sure to rent an e-bike (It's really an electric scooter) in Bagan to cruise around town and check out the temples. Climb up one at sunset to enjoy an amazing view.

Thankyou! just booked 3 nights at the Mandala Ou, we mightn't get up to Muang La!

 

[Flashback]

Thankyou! just booked 3 nights at the Mandala Ou, we mightn't get up to Muang La!

That's the one Decent menu there too (and still really cheap) with generous portions. We enjoyed many Laos beers in/by the pool there. We also did 3 nights.

If you're interested in doing a hike to the waterfalls, I'll see if I can dig out the info.

 

[turtlemichael]

Big year for us. We head off to San Francisco (via SYD-AKL-SYD-SFO in true AFF fashion) late December. After 9 days in San Francisco we head off on a cruise from there to London the long way round. We'll be head to tail with Dr Ron in Whites Bay, Sydney for a day in early February. At the end of the cruise 132 days later in late May we'll have a week in Paris and 11 days in London. In August we are planning a few days in Singapore followed by month in Thailand and a week in Cairns. Such a year!

 

[Flashback]

Big year for us. We head off to San Francisco (via SYD-AKL-SYD-SFO in true AFF fashion) late December. After 9 days in San Francisco we head off on a cruise from there to London the long way round. We'll be head to tail with Dr Ron in Whites Bay, Sydney for a day in early February. At the end of the cruise 132 days later in late May we'll have a week in Paris and 11 days in London. In August we are planning a few days in Singapore followed by month in Thailand and a week in Cairns. Such a year!

132 days! Yowzer.

 

[tgh]

Oh I am envious tm !
I have failed dismally with recent travel ; we are off to sfo for a few days with my grandson in november and we have a cruise around Svalbard on the Cloud next year with a wander around Norway to top it off.
Annual expeditions (adventures) on my pat malone have stalled and require some serious homework…..

 

[maureeng]

Flying to Miami on Delta in J end of Jan. Spending a few days in Miami at Trump golf resort then off to Naples and then on to Palm beach. Bach to Miami then fly to Nassau in Bahamas, then Exhuma ( to see the swimming pigs!!) then Turks and Caicos, Montego Bay Jamaica then back to Miami and down to Key west.
The in October we are off to do a road trip with other ex pats from Beijing for our first reunion. Flying Qantas J. Starting in New Orleans then Memphis, Nashville, Alabama then back to New Orleans and on to either New York or LA for a bit of retail therapy.
Prior to this we are spending this xmas in Hakuba japan and in between times back and forward to Australia from China to see the grandkids.