Reply to: Australia

[Gonzo]

I would certainly recommend a stopover in Singapore or Hong Kong on the way to Australia.

The climate is very different to both where you are from and where you would be going to. The culture is different. They are well-organised and efficient.

Those cities are two of my favourites. I am not a huge fan of Dubai but I am glad I went once.

As for Australia; Sydney Harbour is magnificent and the Barossa Valley is a wine producing region that is well worth a tour around. I think it is worth a look.

[KentPhilip]

This thread is giving me itchy feet and wanderlust

Thailand - Bangkok is chaotic, seedy and dirty but lovely

That city is on my list

[Bunk]

They've got drive thru bottle shops.

FTFY

[mudskipper]

They've got drive thru offies.

[xoggoth]

get you somewhere where the culture isn't that different to here

It's hugely different. All the bars look like tiled public toilets, there is broken glass everywhere and there are very few women although those there are all have enormous knockers to make up for it. That's my recollection anyway although it was 40 years ago.

PS Oh yes, Kings Cross in Sydney has lots of trannies.

PPS Kuala Lumpur. Gawd, that place was hot and humid!

[Wanderer]

So I guess the way to do it is break up the journey and take a few stopovers. Maybe even a RTW ticket or something.

Anyone ever done this before?

Oh yes, lots of times and I always do stopovers. Your route and stop over depend on how much time/money you have but some popular options are:

Thailand - Bangkok is chaotic, seedy and dirty but lovely people and worth a visit if you don't mind a culture shock. The Thai beach resorts are nice for relaxing, pretty cheap but will probably mean getting a domestic flight from BKK to get there. Fantastic food if you like Thai and plentiful fresh seafood at the beach resorts.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Great place, cheap, really interesting history but food is not fantastic, it's more chaotic even than BKK and it's a huge culture shock.

Hong Kong/Singapore - Both great cities, highly organised, great transport systems, civilised and safe. Not too much of a culture shock, as they are ex colonies, innit but a great melting pot of West meets East. Great food if you like all sorts of Asian, not cheap but everything works as you would expect it.

Kuala Lumpur - Interesting place, a little bit edgy and a kind of a halfway house between BKK and SIN. Some really great value on accommodation, food is great.

Jakarta - tuliphole with no redeeming features. I think Garuda are banned from flying to Europe now anyway. Bali is nice but it's pretty close to Australia so too far away from the UK to make it a half way stopover.

In America, it's pretty much down to two places that are far enough from London to make it a half way point.

San Francisco - the place is really cool, and I quite like it. Has a bit of a history and a vibe to it. Not especially hot in the summer or cold in the winter.

Los Angeles - a bit of a concrete jungle. Hollywood is a dump full of messed up people. Worth a look if you are into the movie stuff so you can see how superficial the whole charade is. Some nice beaches.

Los Vegas - possible but it will probably mean a connecting flight from LAX or SFO and that's a PITA when you are just getting off a 12 hour flight.

For America, you are probably going to want a car if you are there for more than a 2 days, for Asia don't bother because the transport is either really good or the Taxis are really cheap and you wouldn't want to drive there anyway.

Dubai, China, Japan and the Philippines are also possible though I've not seen enough of those countries to comment on them.

I've flown Premium Economy and Business Class before, never paid extra for it though. It's definitely nice but for the cost of ~£2,000 per seat extra I don't think it's worth it. It's a long flight and you are going to feel messed up at the end of it anyway so I just go economy and blow the money I saved on some awesome hotels and activities during the trip.

Also, consider a visit to New Zealand. This little country punches well above it's weight and has some great stuff to see and do. I meet a lot of people who have seen Australia and New Zealand and NZ is the one they prefer as it's easier to get around and there is a huge variety in a small area. I'd pick NZ over Aus anyday...

Have fun!

[wurzel]

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

Looks like it'll be back to Amalfi then

[CoolCat]

Singapore is OK for a couple of days.

I can understand people choosing to go work out there, but I can't understand people wanting to take a week or two holiday.

yep, unless you are meeting friends or family.

but we are talking about somewhere to stop for a few days half way to australia, and Singapore is ok for that, after all you are mainly going to sleep/eat/sit in the pool if youre anything like me...

[Ticktock]

Singapore is OK for a couple of days.

I can understand people choosing to go work out there, but I can't understand people wanting to take a week or two holiday.

[Mich the Tester]

Yea forgot about that. Singapore is nice. Good to visit the famous raffles bar. Some nice outdoor pools in the hotels etc.

Raffles; nice hotel,Long Bar is a tuliphole.

Pan Pacific's a good hotel with a nice rooftop pool and restaurant.

[CoolCat]

Singapore Airlines with a stop off in Singapore is a nice option. It's roughly half way to Oz and Changi airport is one of the best in the world if you have a short stop. If you want a longer break, there's plenty to see in the city and some very nice hotels to stay in.

The planes are comfortable, especially if you can grab an exit seat.

Yea forgot about that. Singapore is nice. Good to visit the famous raffles bar. Some nice outdoor pools in the hotels etc.

[Mich the Tester]

If only. It's more like Islington on Sea now, what with all the PC 'elf and safety and the Gucci boutiques. Oh, and then there's the paranoid schizoid customs officials on the way in. Sod it, Aus isn't worth the trip any more. It's a shame because it used to be worthwhile.

[original PM]

[Mich the Tester]

If youre going to change the destination I would go to New Zealand rather than Australia.

Maybe; I'd like to go to NZ some day. Been to Aus twice and to be frank I can't be arsed with it again.

[CoolCat]

About 13 hours flying gets you to Windhoek in Namibia and then you could tour around Namibia and Botswana in light aircraft. If you fly with Namibian Airways in business class it'll cost you about the same as economy in the posher airlines and yet it's comfortable and AFAIK safe as the planes are second hand Lufthansa planes maintained in South Africa. It'll cost a lot less and it's a lot friendlier, more laid back and more interesting than Australia. Good hotels are also cheaper than Aus.

Uganda's probably even more fun, cheaper and closer, but be careful if you happen to enjoy bedtime with the same gender as yourself.

If youre going to change the destination I would go to New Zealand rather than Australia.