Thinking through my year’s travel plans. What are you up to? First up, some fun and crazy runs!! Marathon du Medoc is an unusual French even where ninety percent of runners run in fancy dress through Vineyards with drink stops that include wine, oysters or cheese. For non Marathoners, there is a 10km walk. I thought I had done my last marathon (I prefer half marathons) but this event is very tempting. Anyone done it? As a walker and a runner, I have experienced some very fun routes in my life and will also complete…
Six times Round the World- My 2019 Travel Highlights.
Last year’s travel adventures took me to 26 countries- including two new ones: Estonia and Russia. I have now lived in or visited 78 countries- most of which still exist. My travel distance by bus, train, ferry and plane was the equivalent of traveling around the globe six times. Where did you get to in 2019? I had some amazing Highlights: Meandering around marvelous Malacca/Melaka- thoroughly enjoyed this historic Malaysian city, the food, atmosphere and people. Stunning couple of weeks in Austria including a hike in the lower alps. Rambling around Ljubljana, the charming capital…
Two stunning Qatar 350 Flights- my best trips Ever
Qatar Airways has been my favourite airline for five years now in both economy and business class. I have not yet had the privilege of flying Qatar first class. Today’s two stunning flights were from Bangkok to Doha and then Doha to Vienna. They were so good that I didn’t want to get off the plane at the end! Qatar Airways continues to edge out Emirates for my number one favourite carrier. At third place sits Cathay Pacific. Booking I find that Qatar Airways offers one of the most user-friendly online booking systems of any airline. They…
Happy New 2020
Here’s to a safe and special year for you. Travel well and take care of yourself, others and our planet. Wherever the year takes you… Related Posts Eighty Times around the World Romantic Hoi An Living with the Tourists And Russia makes 77 Alice Springs Surrounds- a Central Australia Journey
The most important question about American shutting frequent flyer accounts.
There has been alot of news and discussion about American Airlines contacting some AAdvantage frequent flyer customers to advise them they are closing their account and cancelling any unused award tickets. The words is that American have been closing the accounts where the holder has: Bought, sold or bartered frequent flier miles that they have got from “unofficial” channels online Applied for a very large number of multiple Credit Cards in a very short period of time for the sole purpose of gaining frequent flier cards Created frequent flier accounts for non existent people…
TAP-ing for the first time
I have been making a concerted effort to fly more Star Alliance partners having now flown all of the One World carriers. This has meant flights with ANA, LOT, EVA Airways and Air China for the first time this year. Now it’s time to try TAP Portugal on their brand new Airbus 330neo, taking advantage of their generous free Lisbon stopover program. Have you tried TAP?
Eighty Times around the World
Jules Verne’s character Phileas Fogg traveled by steamer, train, elephant and horse around the world to demonstrate it was possible to do so. It took eighty days. Today, I completed my 80th navigation of the globe. This is a touch over two million miles (3.2 million kilometres), a feat which has taken me just over half a century of flying. This is what it looks like: I have flown to 62 of the 80 countries, I have visited. The rest I have reached by bus, train, car and in one case foot. Importantly, my travels…
2019 End of Year RTW Trip- lets go!
This is my Christmas-New Year Round the World trip. Flying out this week for an intensive few weeks. Five European Cities, five Asian cities, four in the Americas with an Australian start and finish. I would love some suggestions for Tallin (never been) and Berlin which I have not been to for five years. Christmas markets, two weddings and lots of catch ups with friends will be all part of the experience. I go from 37 degrees Celsius (99F) to minus four (25F) so packing all in one carry on bag is always a challenge.…
HK airlines exits US market- cuts more capacity
Hong Kong airlines initially operated a nice collection of routes around Asia. Then, the airline embarked on a massive expansion, ordering a very large number of new planes and using them to new long distance destinations in the Australian, New Zealand and North American. In June 2017, Skytrax announced that Hong Kong Airlines was the second-best airline in the Asia region and 24th best internationally. Having flown them a few times, they are definitely a great airline. The trouble is they have been losing money and things really came unstuck over the last year with resignations…
Romantic Hoi An
Just spent a lovely weekend in what I believe to be Asia’s most romantic city. The name translates as “peaceful meeting place”. Hội An started as a trading port in about 1595. The city became the most important trade port on the East Vietnam Sea during the 16th and 17th centuries. It declined in the 18th century and was almost untouched for almost 200 years. In 1999 the old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has become more and more popular. Last year, six million people visited the city which has…
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