As per the previous post we are looking at taking up the option of the cheaper flights. The actual figures for those flights are mind-boggling. It will mean THIRTEEN flights in total. The cost per person is $2859 for flights and $1315 for taxes. This means the airlines get less than three thousand dollars, that's about GBP 2,000, to fly us all the way around the world - about 30,000 miles. That is unbelievable!
I know that they say that if something seems too good to be true, then it is. But I have all these figures in writing from a trusted, established, travel agent locally. If I could pay for the flights today then I'd be there in a flash. A part of me is waiting for a message to say that he's got the prices wrong, or there's been a price increase. I live in hope.
We have also been fortunate enough to have a bit of Karma working in our favour this week when Taylor, our Californian Back-packer friend came good with her promise of free accommodation in Vegas. That will mean having a few dollars to throw back into the pot, but with it being Vegas we have already ear-marked the savings to let us see some good shows whilst there.
Monday 16 July 2012
Thursday 12 July 2012
How much cheaper???
I happened to pop into a travel agency in Whitfords a couple of days ago while Em & Eve checked out the hair products in the next door shop.
Scott, the manager, was very knowledgable and helpful, he took the itinerary from me and said he'd have a look at other options. I'm so glad he did 'cos he came back to me with three options.
Option 3 is:
Perth / Bangkok - Thai Airways
Bangkok / Athens via Zurich - Swiss Air
Athens / Manchester via London - British Airways
Manchester / New York via Zurich - Swiss Air
New York / Washington - United Airlines
Washington / Orlando - United Airlines
Orlando / San Diego - United Airlines
San Diego / San Francisco - US Air
San Francisco / Sydney - Qantas
Sydney / Perth - Qantas
Sure it misses out Tokyo & Cairo and the schlep to NYC is via Zurich but it is a massive $6,000 cheaper. His foot note said that we could do Tokyo on the outward leg rather than Bangkok. That is a very appealing option. He's going to do another itinerary for me today with final costings but if it's even slightly close to a SIX GRAND saving then I'm on it.
Missing out Cairo and Bangkok means that we would have another 5 days to throw back in the pot, more time in San Francisco and Southern California would be nice.
It's very exciting now 'cos it's almost at the point where we are able to get the tickets booked and paid for.
Scott, the manager, was very knowledgable and helpful, he took the itinerary from me and said he'd have a look at other options. I'm so glad he did 'cos he came back to me with three options.
Option 3 is:
Perth / Bangkok - Thai Airways
Bangkok / Athens via Zurich - Swiss Air
Athens / Manchester via London - British Airways
Manchester / New York via Zurich - Swiss Air
New York / Washington - United Airlines
Washington / Orlando - United Airlines
Orlando / San Diego - United Airlines
San Diego / San Francisco - US Air
San Francisco / Sydney - Qantas
Sydney / Perth - Qantas
Sure it misses out Tokyo & Cairo and the schlep to NYC is via Zurich but it is a massive $6,000 cheaper. His foot note said that we could do Tokyo on the outward leg rather than Bangkok. That is a very appealing option. He's going to do another itinerary for me today with final costings but if it's even slightly close to a SIX GRAND saving then I'm on it.
Missing out Cairo and Bangkok means that we would have another 5 days to throw back in the pot, more time in San Francisco and Southern California would be nice.
It's very exciting now 'cos it's almost at the point where we are able to get the tickets booked and paid for.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
The deranged ramblings of a mad man, who also happens to be a control freak.
I would dearly love to be a laid-back, laissez-faire kind of bloke. It would make my life so much simpler. But as I'm not I'm sat here with 11 months to go and fretting about exact dates, how long we have in each city and how much it will all cost.
It makes sense I suppose 'cos it's only a few weeks until we get to book and pay for the tickets. I'm excited but if anything is left to chance it tends to keep me awake at night. I am throwing caution to the wind in Greece though and leaving it to Em' who is happy to fly by the seat of her pants when we get off the ferry for accommodation. Which it appears is an entirely reasonable option according to trip advisor given the time of year that we will be there.
The main reason that I need to get my head around where we will be and for how long is for budgeting. Our last city that we visit is Tokyo, widely regarded as being one of the world's most expensive cities. If our budget is way off we can either be eating noodles on a park bench or actually be able to stay somewhere nice and have a few bob spare.
To that end I have done a more detailed itinerary - this of course may always change. I would appreciate your comments about whether I have allowed long enough in certain places that I have never been to before.
Sun 21st April - Perth to Bangkok, arrive late evening
3 full days, 4 nights in Bangkok
Thurs 25th April - Bangkok to Cairo, overnight flight, arrive in Cairo early morning
1 full day, 2 nights in Cairo
Sat 27th April - Cairo to Athens, mid-day flight, overnight stay near the harbour.
Sun 28th April - Early morning ferry, island hopping for just over 2 weeks.
Mon 13th May - Return to Athens by ferry, a couple of days in Athens.
Weds 15th May - Athens to Manchester via Munich.
10 full days in York.
Sunday 26th May - Fly to Brittany for a week.
Sunday 2nd June - Back to York
Wednesday 5th June - Drive to Tilbury in afternoon.
Thurs 6th June - London.
3 full days in London, 4 nights.
Sun 9th June - Back to York late evening
Friday 14th June - Manchester to New York. Daytime flight
4 full days, 5 nights in NYC
Weds 19th June - NYC to Washington DC. Daytime flight.
3 full days, 4 nights in DC
Sun 23rd June - DC to Orlando. Daytime flight.
9 full days, 10 nights in Orlando.
Weds 3rd July - Orlando to San Diego. Daytime flight
9 full days, 10 nights in San Diego (including trips to Vegas & Grand Canyon)
Sat 13th July - San Diego to San Francisco. Daytime flight.
2 full days, 3 nights in San Francisco.
Tues 16th July - San Francisco to Tokyo. Overnight flight.
Weds 17th July - Tokyo.
3 full days, 4 nights in Tokyo
Sun 21st July - Return to Perth
So that's it, lets have your comments please.
It makes sense I suppose 'cos it's only a few weeks until we get to book and pay for the tickets. I'm excited but if anything is left to chance it tends to keep me awake at night. I am throwing caution to the wind in Greece though and leaving it to Em' who is happy to fly by the seat of her pants when we get off the ferry for accommodation. Which it appears is an entirely reasonable option according to trip advisor given the time of year that we will be there.
The main reason that I need to get my head around where we will be and for how long is for budgeting. Our last city that we visit is Tokyo, widely regarded as being one of the world's most expensive cities. If our budget is way off we can either be eating noodles on a park bench or actually be able to stay somewhere nice and have a few bob spare.
To that end I have done a more detailed itinerary - this of course may always change. I would appreciate your comments about whether I have allowed long enough in certain places that I have never been to before.
Sun 21st April - Perth to Bangkok, arrive late evening
3 full days, 4 nights in Bangkok
Thurs 25th April - Bangkok to Cairo, overnight flight, arrive in Cairo early morning
1 full day, 2 nights in Cairo
Sat 27th April - Cairo to Athens, mid-day flight, overnight stay near the harbour.
Sun 28th April - Early morning ferry, island hopping for just over 2 weeks.
Mon 13th May - Return to Athens by ferry, a couple of days in Athens.
Weds 15th May - Athens to Manchester via Munich.
10 full days in York.
Sunday 26th May - Fly to Brittany for a week.
Sunday 2nd June - Back to York
Wednesday 5th June - Drive to Tilbury in afternoon.
Thurs 6th June - London.
3 full days in London, 4 nights.
Sun 9th June - Back to York late evening
Friday 14th June - Manchester to New York. Daytime flight
4 full days, 5 nights in NYC
Weds 19th June - NYC to Washington DC. Daytime flight.
3 full days, 4 nights in DC
Sun 23rd June - DC to Orlando. Daytime flight.
9 full days, 10 nights in Orlando.
Weds 3rd July - Orlando to San Diego. Daytime flight
9 full days, 10 nights in San Diego (including trips to Vegas & Grand Canyon)
Sat 13th July - San Diego to San Francisco. Daytime flight.
2 full days, 3 nights in San Francisco.
Tues 16th July - San Francisco to Tokyo. Overnight flight.
Weds 17th July - Tokyo.
3 full days, 4 nights in Tokyo
Sun 21st July - Return to Perth
So that's it, lets have your comments please.
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