Honeymoon to Oz
Discussion
The Dibble nuptials are fast approaching - just over 8 weeks to go.
We then have five weeks of Honeymoon, over December and January, in Australia.
The only "fixed point" so far is that we'll probably be spending 8 or 9 days over the actual Christmas/New Year with friends who live about 3/4 hour outside Sydney.
How to get there (which airline, layover destination), where to go (hotels), what to see?
We're on a reasonably tight budget, but a nice hotel to treat Mrs Dibble at the start and finish would be nice.
[small]...and how much will business class cost, and is it worth it?
We then have five weeks of Honeymoon, over December and January, in Australia.
The only "fixed point" so far is that we'll probably be spending 8 or 9 days over the actual Christmas/New Year with friends who live about 3/4 hour outside Sydney.
How to get there (which airline, layover destination), where to go (hotels), what to see?
We're on a reasonably tight budget, but a nice hotel to treat Mrs Dibble at the start and finish would be nice.
[small]...and how much will business class cost, and is it worth it?
Singapore airlines have about the best reputation "on the street" as it were. We used to fly Malasian when we lived there as it was the cheapest. Great service, remarkably nice food and OK airplanes.
If you're tall - try BA's World Traveller Plus. SO worth the extra IMHO.
JAL has the smallest leg room so I am told (as you can probably tell, it's a pet-peve of mine!).
We used to stop in Kuala Lumpa - nice enough but we were very much get there and get back so didn't really see the places. Again, Singapore is meant to be a lovely place to visit - so another tick for Singapore airlines (and BA!)
Just a thought - you are going at probably the most popular time so book early!!
Business Class will make you sick when you see how much it is!
But you may be rich in which case it'll be a piffling amount. Is it worth it? On a 24 hour flight - f
k yeah! But do consider World Traveller Plus. Qantas is shite by the way IMO/E.
Where to stay? Are you talking about whilst in Sydney or all over Oz?!
If you like, PM me with your likes/dislikes, locations etc. and I'll tell you all I can. For instance, would you be interested in hiring a car and doing a bit of driving? Scuba diving? etc.
Cheers,
Phil.
If you're tall - try BA's World Traveller Plus. SO worth the extra IMHO.
JAL has the smallest leg room so I am told (as you can probably tell, it's a pet-peve of mine!).
We used to stop in Kuala Lumpa - nice enough but we were very much get there and get back so didn't really see the places. Again, Singapore is meant to be a lovely place to visit - so another tick for Singapore airlines (and BA!)
Just a thought - you are going at probably the most popular time so book early!!
Business Class will make you sick when you see how much it is!
But you may be rich in which case it'll be a piffling amount. Is it worth it? On a 24 hour flight - fk yeah! But do consider World Traveller Plus. Qantas is shite by the way IMO/E. Where to stay? Are you talking about whilst in Sydney or all over Oz?!
If you like, PM me with your likes/dislikes, locations etc. and I'll tell you all I can. For instance, would you be interested in hiring a car and doing a bit of driving? Scuba diving? etc.
Cheers,
Phil.
Several years ago (just a few days after Saddam invaded Kuwait!) I flew Malaysian to KL, stopped for a couple of days on Business and then on to Melbourne. Business class and it was excellent. Flew back on BA which was OK though we changed crews part way and the second lot were less 'involved' to my way of thinking.
A couple of years later I went to Hong Kong on Cathay - economy class - which was OK, then got diverted to KL again and flew Malaysian economy, which was OK especially if you like really hot curry for breakfast!
In either class the Malaysian cabin crew service was very very good.
Back to UK on BA again as I recall. Average crew on that one.
I have to say I would be tempted save a stack of dosh and and book economy and then let it be known that you are on honeymoon. If you do that on the day, get there early. If you can, pick a flight time that may not be too attractive to business travellers and megastars and you might well get upgraded at least one grade. Particularly if you turn up reasonably smartly (though comfortably) dressed.
Worth a try.
A couple of years later I went to Hong Kong on Cathay - economy class - which was OK, then got diverted to KL again and flew Malaysian economy, which was OK especially if you like really hot curry for breakfast!
In either class the Malaysian cabin crew service was very very good.
Back to UK on BA again as I recall. Average crew on that one.
I have to say I would be tempted save a stack of dosh and and book economy and then let it be known that you are on honeymoon. If you do that on the day, get there early. If you can, pick a flight time that may not be too attractive to business travellers and megastars and you might well get upgraded at least one grade. Particularly if you turn up reasonably smartly (though comfortably) dressed.
Worth a try.
If you fly business class, you usually get some free internal flights thrown in, and shedloads of airline points. Austravel do some cheap biz class deals, and if you've got an Amex card you can get a free upgrade on Emirates (voted best airline in the world apparently) if you pay full fare economy. Which is about 3 grand I think, probably about the same as biz class on BA/Quantas via Austravel. Virgin Blue do cheap internal flights I believe.
When you're there, visit Fraser Island and/or the Whitsundays. Near Sydney there's the blue mountains, and up in Queensland there's some rainforest and some barrier reef malarkey. Over on the west, Broome was voted the favourite town in Australia by readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine.
When you're there, visit Fraser Island and/or the Whitsundays. Near Sydney there's the blue mountains, and up in Queensland there's some rainforest and some barrier reef malarkey. Over on the west, Broome was voted the favourite town in Australia by readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine.
been three times, jal seats are dwarf size, ba and quantas have been good flights for me in cattle class,
if you like cities go to sydney and melbourne, if like me you like things a bit more relaxed adelaide and the vinyards of the barrosa and maclaren vale are a great trip and you will taste wines that will put you off french vinegar for life!
if you like cities go to sydney and melbourne, if like me you like things a bit more relaxed adelaide and the vinyards of the barrosa and maclaren vale are a great trip and you will taste wines that will put you off french vinegar for life!
Look for "Backpackers" accomodation once you get settled its cheap and OK,if you get down to Adelaide head for Glenelg,there is a tram from the park in the centre of Adelaide that will take you down that way,you will find the Backpackers place a couple of streets in from the beach.
In Perth i stayed at Scarborough Beach in another backpackers,again its in easy striking distance of the beach and on the bus routes to all the other beach's and City Centre.
In Perth i stayed at Scarborough Beach in another backpackers,again its in easy striking distance of the beach and on the bus routes to all the other beach's and City Centre.
The best bet airline-wise is probably Malaysian - significantly more legroom than on the SIA planes. Buy from www.leestravel.com (wait for special offers or give them a call) for the cheapest rates going.
Both KL and Singapore are stop-off worthy, so consider spending some time in your stopover destination depending on which airline you use. Singapore is more developed, cleaner and generally more clinical. KL is a bit dirtier, chaotic and less refined. Singapore for shopping, KL for the "Far East" experience, though to be fair you don't get much of the real thing in the city itself.
Both KL and Singapore are stop-off worthy, so consider spending some time in your stopover destination depending on which airline you use. Singapore is more developed, cleaner and generally more clinical. KL is a bit dirtier, chaotic and less refined. Singapore for shopping, KL for the "Far East" experience, though to be fair you don't get much of the real thing in the city itself.
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff