Tag Archive - travel

Tips and tactics to survive Christmas travel

December 24, 2010 in Family, Travel with 3 Comments

Happy Holidays!

As I sit pool side at home in Melbourne enjoying the sun my thoughts keep coming back to those travelling all over the world to see family and friends over Christmas and New Year’s period.  Particularly friends in the USA, UK and Europe where I have lived at various times who this year are enjoying a (very cold) white Christmas!  Anyone who has to travel this year has seen the stories of passengers sleeping on airport floors, lost luggage and endless delays as they try to reach their Christmas destinations.

I spent many years overseas going somewhere at Christmas and so the long lines, anxious passengers and inevitable

Waiting for a christmas train

Waiting for a Christmas Train

delays became a yearly ritual.  However since I’ve had kids my wife and I have started to make our own holiday memories at home and although we inevitably still travel sometimes during the holiday season we’ve had to become a bit more realistic about when we travel and what we can do.  So how to survive Christmas travel?

Stay at home, have friends/family come to you

Yes that might seem obvious but more relaxing it is.  Forget the long drive, train or flight to the other side of the world (or country) and stay close to home.  Cook some great food and the kids can enjoy opening presents at home. But returning home to parents, family is a must do so:

Go, but go early

Travel in the few days running up to Christmas is bound to be busy; delays and stress even with good weather are going to happen.  Why not plan to take a few extra days and spend a long weekend or week  extra away  – stopover somewhere, or like us drop the kids off with grandparents and escape to a nice B&B/hotel for a few days to relax before rejoining the Christmas frenzy.  But we have to work right up to Christmas you say – then:

Consider alternative forms of transport and travel when it’s least busy (during the busiest times)

You know it’s going to be busy, so if travelling by car make sure you leave early morning before many others or plan a route that includes a stop off to give a break .  Take the flight that’s first thing in the morning so that delays don’t have the chance to back up as much.  And consider some creative ways to travel – helicopter anyone, take the train, ride your bike – consider your options but if impractical:

Contingency – Have Plan B and C ready!

At the best of times things can go wrong but at Christmas you need to have some contingency.  Have travel insurance so if there are delays or you have to cancel that you’ll get money to cover the changes.   You might have discounted alternative routes and transport in your planning but have them in mind if your preferred route get shuts down and be ready to switch.  And finally recognise that delays can happen, plans can change and if you can’t make it to wherever you planned for some reason then make the most of where you are – meet up with friends, have a drink and great meal – let the stress of delays ebb away and you may find it’s the best Christmas you’ve had.

And at all times have a good book or some relaxing music with you to help see you through the delays.  Smile at the good and the bad that happens – there’s no point getting bitter about it.  Enjoy the Holidays!

Travel delays - airport camping

Travel delays - airport camping

Explore Seven Continents & Beyond – Best of August 2010

September 13, 2010 in Inspiration, Travel with 1 Comment

August has unfortunately been a bit busy for me, moving house and spending what seems like most of the last month with the flu/bronchitis hasn’t helped but in between unpacking boxes and recovering here is my wrap up of the most interesting, topical and/or useful travel stories I’ve spotted in August to help inspire you to explore seven continents and beyond.

Europe

The Lake District is one of the most beautiful areas in England so head north and explore it.  Tony Greenbank of Guardian Travel provides a short diary of his exploration of the area by bike.

North America

This post on the Frugal Traveler’s parents joining him in Nicaragua caught me eye, a great read and a travel trend for the future I think.

And just in case Nicaragua isn’t considered part of North America (where is the accepted line between the continents of North and South America) I loved this visual diary of a flight from New York City to Berlinfrom Christopher Niemann in the New York Times blogs.  The armrest battle starts on boarding!

South America

The Amazon evokes thoughts of adventure and this story from Keith Bellows of the National Geographic Traveler magazine explores the lost world of the Amazon highlighting where travellers rarely go on board the Aqua, one of only a handful of boats running regular trips down the Peruvian Amazon.

Asia

I’m heading to Hong Kong in a couple of days so when I saw this article from CNNGo last month on deserts in Hong Kong I had to make note so I could seek out some mango or thousand layered pudding – Yum

Africa

My first safari experience in Africa was in Botswana, an experience I’ll never forget and these memories were stirred for me by Inside the Travel Lab with The Safari Symphony- The Okavango Delta, Botswana.

Australia & Pacific

Its Australian football league (AFL) finals in September so an apt explanation of Aussie Rulesfrom the @traveldudes for anyone who flicks on late night TV somewhere in the rest of the world and happens upon a telecast of a game will know whats going on.  I also wrote in July about A Day at the Footy: Sport the local way to highlight when travelling that attending a local sports event is a great way to experience a city like a local.

Antarctica

The ice that covers the continent tells a story about what Earth’s climate used to be like.  This post from the Antarctica blog provides a TED Talk on the fascinating process.

Beyond

There is an entire (mostly) undiscovered world under the water to explore so this post from the prolific Patricia Vance on the World’s Most Incredible Underwater Adventures is great to wet your appetite!

Taking a holiday without your children

July 23, 2010 in Family, Travel with 0 Comments

A 26 segment × 3 exposure (78 frames in total)...

Hong Kong skyline - Image via Wikipedia

My wife and I booked flights to Hong Kong this week, our first holiday together (of more than a weekend) without our kids in tow (all still under 7 since the first was born).  We’ve been living in London since having kids with no family around and so by necessity (and their young age) we’ve taken our kids everywhere with us on holiday, RTW a couple of times, all over Europe, to the USA and a few places in Asia.  But now (in Melbourne Australia at least for the time being) we’re close to some family (a short 1 hour flight away); the possibility has opened up to travel a bit while leaving the kids with family.

As you can imagine my wife and I are a little bit apprehensive about leaving the kids but looking forward to some extended alone time in an exotic location. While we’ve been able to get away on individual trips the memories of our travels together before kids are a little bit distant and we’ve become accustomed to the new perspective (and planning needed) that travelling with children gives one instead. The positive is that it will be a bit like rediscovering a part of travel that’s been on hold for us, not forgotten but like a friend we haven’t seen for a while.

I’ve been to Hong Kong a few times but not since having kids and it will be great to show my wife around a bit, visit Macau and mainland China and enjoy the freedom to have a long dinner (many courses and desert) without having to rush back to babysitters or deal with children getting tired, find some entertainment out late and cover a lot of ground in a day (rather than break for a playground or café every few hours).

And while we’ll miss having the children with us, the oldest now nearly seven years old will also enjoy a slice of independence away from parents and all the kids will enjoy being spoiled with a bit more attention than normal.  To that end perhaps it is a win-win for all if only for a short time and perhaps the ones I should be most worried about is my family who have to chase children for a week. 

And so I’ll write about that soon, how do you prepare and what should you think about to make it easier for your carers (family or not) to look after the chldren while you’re off exploring the world.