2022 travel plans

[mandja]

Oatek, I feel your pain. We have a booking in June 2022 for Eastern Europe starting in Cluj (northern Rumania) near the Ukraine border. We also have an Emerald cruise on the Danube booked out of Bucharest . Both are still "on" though i note that Viking have cancelled their 2022 cruises out of Bucharest !

 

[mandja]

So we intend to be in Rumania (Emerald Cruise plus 5 days touring Transylvania) , Hungary and Turkey in June/July this year and have also booked India in December - all on SQ J.
I may need to go to Shanghai in October for a conference if China is open by then

 

[albatross710]

So now started booking SYD-MAN, returning from LHR. No flights booked but some accomodation in Manchester and Norfolk has been sorted.

Wouldn't going into LHR and out MAN be kinder on the flight taxes?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Solidifying plans for next month

Have a finalised plan now.

Istanbul, Geneva, Lucerne (at least a couple day trips), St Gallen, Zurich, Oslo, Bergen (via Flam railway & Naeroyfjord), London, Dublin & Perth (family time).

Hotels and flights all sorted but hopefully I don't have cause to change anything. Many new destinations and airlines, so it should (again, hopefully) be fun. Leave on Wednesday.

 

[OATEK]

Wouldn't going into LHR and out MAN be kinder on the flight taxes?

Needs must. Mrsoatek has family in Manchester, and it is good to get that out of the way early.

 

[Flashback]

Wouldn't going into LHR and out MAN be kinder on the flight taxes?

Not really. INV and JER, yes but MAN no.

 

[mandja]

LHR is the worst for taxes

 

[JohnM]

OK, here I go; let's just see how much of this comes to pass.

First up - I've given up on any overseas travel in 2022 (and probably 2023).

I've rolled over a bunch of 2020 and 2021 deposits and cancellations, plus tossed in a few more new things. I always scope two years+ ahead, start hard planning 18 months ahead and start locking in just under 12 months ahead when airlines open inventory.

But I can't see much stability that favours that approach returning before 2024.

PJM still works as a hands-on educational consultant in a special needs area, so she does at least have school holidays off that I can work with. And she has some LSL she can draw on that gives added flexibility.

1. The nearest I'll get to overseas for a while: off to Rottnest Island with PJM 12-13 January to burn a few Li ions in our E-bikes.

2. Brushing Broome/dodging monsoonal lightning with PJM, bro and SIL for five days 17-21 January.

3. May: using up some Intrepid & Peregrine deposits for Europe trips from 2020: Qld coast and E Arnhem Land, and following immediately on The Ghan DRW-ADL. Plan is to drive to Qld, leave my vehicle with friends, do the tours N, continue on to DRW, do The Ghan, then fly ADL-BNE to reconnect with what's left of my wheels and drive home. Solo while PJM toils.

4. September: A full two-week Arnhem Land Nhulunby-DRW trip. Solo.

5. September-October: Canberra for about a week with PJM to stay with friends.

6. October: finally (hopefully) SYD-PER on the Indian Pacific. Solo. Third time fare rollover lucky?

7. November: Voyage for one week CNS-CNS to the N outer GBR. Sshhh- surprise for PJM for a milestone birthday in 2022.

Now, what could possibly go wrong given the lunatics in charge of the numerous asylums in our great unified nation...

Update and revision. This should stick.

The January BME trip is done and dusted. Went very well: A longer brush with Broome.

Have to stick around in WA for my elder son's wedding in mid-April, then it's on for young and old.

1. May: using up some Intrepid & Peregrine deposits for aborted Europe trips from 2020: Qld coast and E Arnhem Land (CNS-GOV), and following immediately GOV-DRW to go on The Ghan DRW-ADL. Plan now is to fly PER-BNE, do the tours N, continue on to DRW from GOV, do The Ghan, then fly ADL-PER. Solo while PJM toils.

2. June: I had a credit from 2020 on my Amex Ultimate sitting with Amex/QF. QF just announced status extension conditions and 3x points for flights to/from SYD. All my other flights were already booked, so no use for the status extension. OK - Vivid is on in SYD in early June, so I've used the Amex/QF credit to go to SYD for a couple of days to get the WP extension, triple points and take in Vivid. Solo.

3. July: School holidays. QF (Airnorth) flies direct Tue/Sat. Surprised by the reasonable fares available on the whY-only bird, given it's school holidays and the Kimberley takes off mid-year, so snapped up a couple of Red-Es using my Amex Ultimate 2021 $450 voucher plus a bit more. Taking PJM to Kununurra for three full days. Day 1: Locked in an almost full day Triple J Ord River tour: Ord River Discoverer with Sunset (J3) - Triple J Tours. I've done it before and highly recommended.

Day 2: A full day Bungle Bungle day trip by air with helo flight over the Bungles: Bungle Bungle Wanderer + Helicopter

Day 3: Some time to drive around the area and probably up to Wyndham before the finale: sunset on Lake Argyle by floatplane from Lake Kununurra: Seaplane Sunset Drinks on Lake Argyle.



4. September: A full two-week Arnhem Land Nhulunby-DRW trip. Flights PER-xDRW-GOV; DRW-PER. Solo while PJM toils.

5. September-October: School holidays. Canberra for about a week with PJM to stay with friends. PER-xMEL-CBR-xSYD-PER.

6. October: Fly PER-SYD, then next day SYD-PER on the Indian Pacific. Solo. Third time fare rollover. Finally going to happen.

7. November: Voyage for one week CNS-CNS to the N outer GBR. Surprise for PJM revealed for a milestone birthday yesterday. PER-SYD J, overnight near Circular Quay, SYD-CNS and overnight CNS before boarding the Coral Expeditions vessel, then after disembarking a week later CNS-MEL-PER in J. PJM thrilled.

I don't think I can fit in much more.

Plus new-model fourby on order due for arrival in Q3 or Q4.

Hmmm - better get cracking on sorting 2023 and beyond.

 

[mrsterryn]

Oohhhh I can update
Two small trips
A week in Hawaii in June
A week in LA in Nov. Xmas at Disney with a friend
So so nice to have plans again
Now to have Japan open for a quick trip to Tokyo

 

[drron]

We have replaced our 2 month March trip with a 2 week sojourn in Singapore in May. if possible a week will be spent in Bangkok.

 

[MARTINE]

Oohhhh I can update
Two small trips
A week in Hawaii in June
A week in LA in Nov. Xmas at Disney with a friend
So so nice to have plans again
Now to have Japan open for a quick trip to Tokyo

Yes
When is Japan opening?
Like to go to Tokyo for a friends get together Oct

 

[lahlee]

Yes
When is Japan opening?
Like to go to Tokyo for a friends get together Oct

I'm hanging out for Japan to reopen too - I've got 3 weeks booked from mid-May! They definitely lean to the conservative as far as opening up

 

[MARTINE]

I'm hanging out for Japan to reopen too - I've got 3 weeks booked from mid-May! They definitely lean to the conservative as far as opening up

Look forward to hearing how it progresses!

 

[mrsterryn]

Yes
When is Japan opening?
Like to go to Tokyo for a friends get together Oct

Really hoping it is opening soon. Was planning on a week later this year with a friend and her daughter but we decided just to difficult to wait.
However I will happily goniber for a few days just to ...enjoy again , once tourism is allowed from outside Japan .
So on topic
Two definite trips
One hopefully to Japan at some stage

 

[drron]

Japan is only opening very slowly. At present only 5000 people per day are able to enter and quarantine. but no tourist.
On March 14th the number will increase to 7000 per day with more students being encouraged.

The feeling is the limit will be increased each 2 weeks through April so an earliest possible opening in May. some are saying 1/6/22.
A lot of businesses are starting to complain. The CEO of Uniqlo is one who wants to hire foreign staff.

 

[MARTINE]

Japan is only opening very slowly. At present only 5000 people per day are able to enter and quarantine. but no tourist.
On March 14th the number will increase to 7000 per day with more students being encouraged.

The feeling is the limit will be increased each 2 weeks through April so an earliest possible opening in May. some are saying 1/6/22.
A lot of businesses are starting to complain. The CEO of Uniqlo is one who wants to hire foreign staff.

Yes
That incredible uniqloskyscraper in Tokyo must be very empty

 

[ketsuzei]

ANA HOLDINGS Unveils AirJapan, a New International Airline Brand Taking off in the Second Half of Fiscal 2023 | Press Release | ANA Group Corp.'s Information

【ANA Group Corp.'s Information】he ANA Group's CSR activities that help to maintain the trust of society.

www.anahd.co.jp

Looking for business to bounce back from around October 2023.

 

[vetrade]

Wouldn't going into LHR and out MAN be kinder on the flight taxes?

My understanding is that the departure taxes apply to all airports in the UK, not just LHR, for all classes of travel.
So, any saving from departing from MAN in preference to LHR would be negligible.

 

[Flashback]

My understanding is that the departure taxes apply to all airports in the UK, not just LHR, for all classes of travel.
So, any saving from departing from MAN in preference to LHR would be negligible.

Excluding places like INV, JER etc. of course where the APD doesn't apply.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Excluding places like INV, JER etc. of course where the APD doesn't apply.

And my preferred UK longhaul departure airports of CDG, AMS, CPH and FRA

Avoiding the APD pays for the extra country.