- Joined
- Sep 21, 2011
- Posts
- 119
Castles, Clocks, Cruising & Chilling
1 Holiday, 8 taxi's, 9 flights, 10 countries, 30+ cities, 70 + Trains, Trams, Buses, Thousands of memories.
The holiday was to celebrate my wife retiring and ticked off quite a few bucket list items.
We live in Brisbane, but flew to Melbourne to start the holiday, so we could get a direct flight to Bangkok.
Overview - Countries visited in order Thailand, Jordan, England, Scotland, England, Netherlands
Then a River Cruise Amsterdam to Budapest (Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary)
Then to Norway, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia
This trip was in 2023, but I know most of the information is relevant
PART 1
We flew Economy Bris - Melb on QF621. Stayed overnight at the PARKROYAL. Next day, an easy walk to the International Terminal to Board JQ29 to Bangkok.
We booked business class to Bangkok, but I was aware, it was more like Premium Economy, and it was.
The flight was on time and the service and food were acceptable.
BANGKOK - This was our first time in Bangkok, and we stayed 3 nights at Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit.
The Pullman was exceptional. Easy check in, very clean, with large rooms. We upgraded to a deluxe room with Drinks & Canapes, and it was worth every cent.
We visited the Reclining Buddha, Rooftop with Glass floor at King Power Mahanakhon, Soi Cowboy (colourful Avenue)
Rooftop bar with craft beers at Raddison Blu Plaza & Chatuchak Markets. We enjoyed all of them.
What we did NOT enjoy in Bangkok, was the horrendous traffic. We hired a driver for the day, and half the time was spent in traffic.
We caught the MRT a few times, and it was much easier.
![1 First 4.jpg 1 First 4.jpg](https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/data/attachments/385/385078-f218c82b9747cc54a42cf2a2a651324d.jpg)
Photos above - Reclining Buddha, Traffic in Bangkok, Royal Mile, Train arriving at Falkirk.
We checked out of Pullman Bangkok Grande and off to the airport to board our midnight flight RJ 183 Bangkok to Amman - London (RJ 111) in Business Class. Without a doubt, Royal Jordanian is the best business class product I have experienced. The staff were exceptional, the food was superb, and the Dreamliner did not disappoint.
Overnight at London in the Sofitel (Expensive) at Heathrow Airport
Off to Edinburgh on British Airways BA 1438 in economy (very expensive). If you have the time, the train takes just over 4 hours, and is a quarter of the price.
We arrived in Edinburgh, but due to the Fringe Festival & Tattoo, we stayed at Falkirk. For half the price of a hotel room in Edinburgh, we got a fully self-contained 2 bed apartment in Falkirk, 25 minutes away.
EDINBURGH, FALKIRK, GLASGOW & SURROUNDS
Falkirk is on the main train line and gave us easy access in all directions. We bought a 3-day rover pass which gave us unlimited trips for locations up to about 75km radius. Edinburg is only 25 minutes by train from Falkirk.
We used the rover pass to visit Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh (3 times), North Berwick, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Queensferry, Bannockburn. The 3 day rover pass is fantastic value, but can't be used in peak hours. We were on holidays, so never moved before 9 am, and we always out sightseeing until after 6pm, so it did not cause an issue.
On the last day of our Rover Pass, we caught the train to Glasgow, spent the day there, and then picked up our hire car.
Due to the fringe festival, there was no car hire availability in Edinburgh. There is a great Mural trail in Glasgow. The Mural of Billy Connoly is on a wall of a huge building.
![2 Second 4.jpg 2 Second 4.jpg](https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/data/attachments/385/385079-c14303fb7a8633f4b6fc5d97c01b92be.jpg)
Photos above: - Murals in Glasgow and Ship Workers Sculpture. The Kelpies in Falkirk - Wife circled for size comparison
Our time in Scotland was spent at these locations: -
Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile Edinburgh, free walking tour of Edinburgh, Leith, North Berwick, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Glasgow Mural Trail, Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies, Stirling Castle, St Andrews town & Golf Course, Scenic drive from St Andrews back to Falkirk via Crail.
Photos above: - Lobsters cooked while you wait in Crail, Crail Harbour, Leith Harbour, Edinburgh Castle.
Scotland is stunning, and we only got a glimpse. I got to see St Andrews Golf Course, but I wish we had stayed there. It is a beautiful town.
Part 2 - Drive & Train from Edinburgh to London to follow soon.
1 Holiday, 8 taxi's, 9 flights, 10 countries, 30+ cities, 70 + Trains, Trams, Buses, Thousands of memories.
The holiday was to celebrate my wife retiring and ticked off quite a few bucket list items.
We live in Brisbane, but flew to Melbourne to start the holiday, so we could get a direct flight to Bangkok.
Overview - Countries visited in order Thailand, Jordan, England, Scotland, England, Netherlands
Then a River Cruise Amsterdam to Budapest (Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Hungary)
Then to Norway, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia
This trip was in 2023, but I know most of the information is relevant
PART 1
We flew Economy Bris - Melb on QF621. Stayed overnight at the PARKROYAL. Next day, an easy walk to the International Terminal to Board JQ29 to Bangkok.
We booked business class to Bangkok, but I was aware, it was more like Premium Economy, and it was.
The flight was on time and the service and food were acceptable.
BANGKOK - This was our first time in Bangkok, and we stayed 3 nights at Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit.
The Pullman was exceptional. Easy check in, very clean, with large rooms. We upgraded to a deluxe room with Drinks & Canapes, and it was worth every cent.
We visited the Reclining Buddha, Rooftop with Glass floor at King Power Mahanakhon, Soi Cowboy (colourful Avenue)
Rooftop bar with craft beers at Raddison Blu Plaza & Chatuchak Markets. We enjoyed all of them.
What we did NOT enjoy in Bangkok, was the horrendous traffic. We hired a driver for the day, and half the time was spent in traffic.
We caught the MRT a few times, and it was much easier.
![1 First 4.jpg 1 First 4.jpg](https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/data/attachments/385/385078-f218c82b9747cc54a42cf2a2a651324d.jpg)
Photos above - Reclining Buddha, Traffic in Bangkok, Royal Mile, Train arriving at Falkirk.
We checked out of Pullman Bangkok Grande and off to the airport to board our midnight flight RJ 183 Bangkok to Amman - London (RJ 111) in Business Class. Without a doubt, Royal Jordanian is the best business class product I have experienced. The staff were exceptional, the food was superb, and the Dreamliner did not disappoint.
Overnight at London in the Sofitel (Expensive) at Heathrow Airport
Off to Edinburgh on British Airways BA 1438 in economy (very expensive). If you have the time, the train takes just over 4 hours, and is a quarter of the price.
We arrived in Edinburgh, but due to the Fringe Festival & Tattoo, we stayed at Falkirk. For half the price of a hotel room in Edinburgh, we got a fully self-contained 2 bed apartment in Falkirk, 25 minutes away.
EDINBURGH, FALKIRK, GLASGOW & SURROUNDS
Falkirk is on the main train line and gave us easy access in all directions. We bought a 3-day rover pass which gave us unlimited trips for locations up to about 75km radius. Edinburg is only 25 minutes by train from Falkirk.
We used the rover pass to visit Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh (3 times), North Berwick, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Queensferry, Bannockburn. The 3 day rover pass is fantastic value, but can't be used in peak hours. We were on holidays, so never moved before 9 am, and we always out sightseeing until after 6pm, so it did not cause an issue.
On the last day of our Rover Pass, we caught the train to Glasgow, spent the day there, and then picked up our hire car.
Due to the fringe festival, there was no car hire availability in Edinburgh. There is a great Mural trail in Glasgow. The Mural of Billy Connoly is on a wall of a huge building.
![2 Second 4.jpg 2 Second 4.jpg](https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/data/attachments/385/385079-c14303fb7a8633f4b6fc5d97c01b92be.jpg)
Photos above: - Murals in Glasgow and Ship Workers Sculpture. The Kelpies in Falkirk - Wife circled for size comparison
Our time in Scotland was spent at these locations: -
Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile Edinburgh, free walking tour of Edinburgh, Leith, North Berwick, Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Glasgow Mural Trail, Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies, Stirling Castle, St Andrews town & Golf Course, Scenic drive from St Andrews back to Falkirk via Crail.
![2 Third 4.jpg 2 Third 4.jpg](https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/data/attachments/385/385080-9a42bd31862a23b621634787dc740b4f.jpg)
Photos above: - Lobsters cooked while you wait in Crail, Crail Harbour, Leith Harbour, Edinburgh Castle.
Scotland is stunning, and we only got a glimpse. I got to see St Andrews Golf Course, but I wish we had stayed there. It is a beautiful town.
Part 2 - Drive & Train from Edinburgh to London to follow soon.