The Travel Thread

[kia ora storm]

Karon is much better than Patong but Kata the next beach around is even better, much more protected, very much like a bay. Either way you will have a great time. I go to Thailand every year for a couple of weeks of chilling. Just booked to go back in June with the family. But we generally go to Samui as we prefer it there. Phi Phi is great, stayed there for a few nights 2 years ago. Wished I was a little younger, had a great backpacker scene. You are definitely going to Phuket at the best time of year.

Off to Karon in April Garts...can't wait.

 

[thorson1987]

Thinking about going on a cruise late 2014 early 2015.

Probably going to do one around Melanesia.

Will be the first time I leave Australia.

What are the cruises like?

Wouldn't mind doing the Gallipoli cruise. Dad and his wife are doing it. $36000 it is costing them.

 

[Pugzley]

Going to the Philippines in 2 weeks time to visit family and visit my parent's condo near a harbour and megamall.

Least they have a 24hr Anime channel.

Also cheep fast food. Which will probably make me gain weight.

Also $1 is P42.83

Shopping for books and model kits which cost 70 here will set me back 30 over there. :lol:

 

[Mateo Moi Moi]

Thinking about going on a cruise late 2014 early 2015.

Probably going to do one around Melanesia.

Will be the first time I leave Australia.

What are the cruises like?

Wouldn't mind doing the Gallipoli cruise. Dad and his wife are doing it. $36000 it is costing them.

My wife and I went on a cruise in May 2012. Left Rome and went around Greek Islands, Italy, Turkey. It was unbelievable. The cruise ship itself was a holiday. The full days at sea were just as fun as the others. 6 star luxury with everything you could want. Definitely recommend them. It was our first cruise but chatted to a few Aussies on board who had been on P & O before and they enjoyed them but struggled with sea sickness.

 

[Garts]

Off to Karon in April Garts...can't wait.

Nice, you taking the kids? I am going in June.

 

[kia ora storm]

Nice, you taking the kids? I am going in June.

No...boys trip. Three Kiwi boys...look out.

 

[Misanthrope]

No...boys trip. Three Kiwi boys...look out.

Herdsmen of Thailand are on notice!

Looking forward to Karon. Looks like it'll be a good base of operations.

 

[soc123_au]

My wife and I went on a cruise in May 2012. Left Rome and went around Greek Islands, Italy, Turkey. It was unbelievable. The cruise ship itself was a holiday. The full days at sea were just as fun as the others. 6 star luxury with everything you could want. Definitely recommend them. It was our first cruise but chatted to a few Aussies on board who had been on P & O before and they enjoyed them but struggled with sea sickness.

I have been talking to the Mrs about doing one of these. Would you consider them kid friendly? 11 year old Boy & a 5 year old Girl. Both are sensible & well behaved for their ages.

 

[thorson1987]

I have been talking to the Mrs about doing one of these. Would you consider them kid friendly? 11 year old Boy & a 5 year old Girl. Both are sensible & well behaved for their ages.

We will be taking the kids too. That's why we are only looking at going for a week.

By the time we are looking at going our kids will be 6, 4 and 2

 

[Dragon2010]

My cousins just got back from a cruise. They have young kids and they had a blast. Pools, movies, games and everything. The boat has zero tolerance though. A family on board same time as them got kicked due to one the kids trashing the pool area.

They kids were more upset to return then the parents! They wanted to live on the boat.

 

[soc123_au]

Sounds good. I am lucky with my pair the Boy rarely puts a foot wrong & the little one gets a bit whingey if she is bored. Apart from that you can take them anywhere. By the sound if it boredom shouldn't be a problem. Wouldn't mind doing a few days in Rome and then get on the boat. Looking at brochures there seems to be a mile of options for different ports in the Mediterranean. The biggest trick might be picking which cruise.

 

[bellyache]

OZ is a huge and exciting place, Doubt I'll see it all in my life time..I see a bit more of OZ every year! f**k overseas.......... If you wan't to see Europe go to Melbourne... Middle Easts or Asia go to western Sydney..

 

[BDR]

You're a f**kwit

 

[Misanthrope]

OZ is a huge and exciting place, Doubt I'll see it all in my life time..I see a bit more of OZ every year! f**k overseas.......... If you wan't to see Europe go to Melbourne... Middle Easts or Asia go to western Sydney..

Idiot. Don't waste half your day going to western Sydney to see Asia. The Chinese are in Haymarket and the Koreans are in Chatswood. Lots of Vietnamese in the inner west too.

Newb.

 

[bellyache]

Idiot. Don't waste half your day going to western Sydney to see Asia. The Chinese are in Haymarket and the Koreans are in Chatswood. Lots of Vietnamese in the inner west too.

Newb.

Nice and I can drive to all of those in the same day.

 

[Misanthrope]

Exactly. Get a little Portugal in Marrickville and check out the big Peruvian population in Lindfield while you're at it.

 

[bellyache]

You're a f**kwit

Cowboys 2013? Yes you are!

 

[Houdini]

Thinking about going on a cruise late 2014 early 2015.

Probably going to do one around Melanesia.

Will be the first time I leave Australia.

What are the cruises like?

Wouldn't mind doing the Gallipoli cruise. Dad and his wife are doing it. $36000 it is costing them.

Depends on what you want type of holiday you want. Most cruise ships have everything you need on board - nightclubs, shops, gyms, rock climbing walls, live shows etc

I did a cruise of the Caribbean years ago. I had fun, but will probably never do another cruise holiday again. Just not my thing. I much prefer to spend time in a destination and explore the region, meet the people, get off the beaten track. A few hours in port just doesn't cut it for me.

But for a first trip overseas, then it's probably a good option. You don't have to worry about anything, and each morning can wake up to a new destination.

The only big downfall is if one person gets sick, EVERYONE gets sick. Google the words virus and cruise for a heads up. And norovirus, that's the one you catch when you have ingested faecal matter, nice :shock:
Now google norovirus and cruise ships :lol:

 

[Mateo Moi Moi]

Sounds good. I am lucky with my pair the Boy rarely puts a foot wrong & the little one gets a bit whingey if she is bored. Apart from that you can take them anywhere. By the sound if it boredom shouldn't be a problem. Wouldn't mind doing a few days in Rome and then get on the boat. Looking at brochures there seems to be a mile of options for different ports in the Mediterranean. The biggest trick might be picking which cruise.

A few days in Rome is what we did. Stayed somewhere central and walked everywhere. I think it is the only way to see Rome. You get yourself "lost" walking the streets and seeing all the beauty of the place. Something down every street. Colosseum is something to see.

I can definitely recommend the cruise we went on too. Left Rome and stopped at Santorini, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens, Napoli, etc. Best part of the cruise, you can unpack and get settled in. No worried about getting to the next place. Wake up and you are there. Everything is provided. You can organise day tours for every port which takes the hassles out of getting around, seeing the sights, and not missing the boat.

I don't see kids being a problem. I can't remember seeing kids on our cruise and I am sure there were plenty. There is just way too many options for them to do. I guess that isn't a bad thing.

If all that sounds alright, check out Celebrity Cruises. The ship we went on was the Equinox.

 

[soc123_au]

A few days in Rome is what we did. Stayed somewhere central and walked everywhere. I think it is the only way to see Rome. You get yourself "lost" walking the streets and seeing all the beauty of the place. Something down every street. Colosseum is something to see.

I can definitely recommend the cruise we went on too. Left Rome and stopped at Santorini, Istanbul, Mykonos, Athens, Napoli, etc. Best part of the cruise, you can unpack and get settled in. No worried about getting to the next place. Wake up and you are there. Everything is provided. You can organise day tours for every port which takes the hassles out of getting around, seeing the sights, and not missing the boat.

I don't see kids being a problem. I can't remember seeing kids on our cruise and I am sure there were plenty. There is just way too many options for them to do. I guess that isn't a bad thing.

If all that sounds alright, check out Celebrity Cruises. The ship we went on was the Equinox.

Thanks, I will have a look into it. Just have to decide on the preferred ports. Very keen on starting in Rome I guess for the same reasons you did. Would really like to spend a bit of time there. My son is keen on Egypt & the Mrs is happy to just go on a holiday.

Bellyache I know you are trolling but dude seriously. I am a long way from a seasoned traveller but the only way you get a true indicator of another part of the world is to go there. I have been to China 6 times & it is a tad different to China Town. A simple thing that surprised me was the food. I figured before the first trip oh yeah Chinese is good, I like Mongolian Lamb, Beef & Black Bean etc. Well after 6 trips I am yet to see anything that even resembles anything you would find in an Aussie Chinese Restaurant (Hong Kong aside) You can go Western over there, but f**k that, if I am in another country I want to go native. I cant eat Chinese over here now, because it is so underwhelming compared to the real deal. Food is just the tip of the iceberg, the whole joint is like going to another planet. I am hoping for Europe/Mediterranean to be a similar experience in diversity.