Having a tough time narrowing down where to go
Jun 20th, 2022, 02:39 AM
#21
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Snakes are a big issue in Australia. If you have a phobia, scratch that form your list.
I don't think a month is too long for South Korea, we had three weeks there and wanted more. Although, do check the weather as I think it may be the monsoon season then meaning high temps , humidity and heavy rain.
Hostels may well have availability in Europe but I would check flights too. Planning my own trip in Europe and I am finding very high airfares and limited availability throughout europe . Probably caused by the chaos at understaffed airports, industrial action etc. etc...
In your situation I would definitely be looking at South America a great time to visit and way more "bang for your buck".
I don't think a month is too long for South Korea, we had three weeks there and wanted more. Although, do check the weather as I think it may be the monsoon season then meaning high temps , humidity and heavy rain.
Hostels may well have availability in Europe but I would check flights too. Planning my own trip in Europe and I am finding very high airfares and limited availability throughout europe . Probably caused by the chaos at understaffed airports, industrial action etc. etc...
In your situation I would definitely be looking at South America a great time to visit and way more "bang for your buck".
Jun 21st, 2022, 08:03 AM
#22
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Jun 21st, 2022, 08:06 AM
#23
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Snakes are a big issue in Australia. If you have a phobia, scratch that form your list.
I don't think a month is too long for South Korea, we had three weeks there and wanted more. Although, do check the weather as I think it may be the monsoon season then meaning high temps , humidity and heavy rain.
Hostels may well have availability in Europe but I would check flights too. Planning my own trip in Europe and I am finding very high airfares and limited availability throughout europe . Probably caused by the chaos at understaffed airports, industrial action etc. etc...
In your situation I would definitely be looking at South America a great time to visit and way more "bang for your buck".
I don't think a month is too long for South Korea, we had three weeks there and wanted more. Although, do check the weather as I think it may be the monsoon season then meaning high temps , humidity and heavy rain.
Hostels may well have availability in Europe but I would check flights too. Planning my own trip in Europe and I am finding very high airfares and limited availability throughout europe . Probably caused by the chaos at understaffed airports, industrial action etc. etc...
In your situation I would definitely be looking at South America a great time to visit and way more "bang for your buck".
Honestly I’m not gonna let a fear ruin seeing a beautiful country. Is Australia good to visit in July? Ditto for NZ
ill take a look at South America, maybe Inca trail!
I decided I’ve narrowed down my options to Europe, South America, Oceania, and maybe SK.
Jun 21st, 2022, 08:07 AM
#24
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I really don’t want to let a phobia not allow me to see the world. I might do some exposure therapy via YouTube videos and honestly from talking to Australians who work at my current company, they maybe see 1-2 a year.
Is NZ good in July? Isn’t it mainly just winter activities?
Is NZ good in July? Isn’t it mainly just winter activities?
Jun 21st, 2022, 09:36 AM
#26
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We always visit NZ in July /Aug/Sept far fewer crowds but you should expect rain, snow and sunshine, often in the same day. There is absolutely no way of knowing . Australia is so vast that there will always be somewhere where there is good weather.
Jun 21st, 2022, 10:53 AM
#27
Where would you be starting from?
What about flying around the world? Are you okay flying in economy? (At 24 I'd imagine you'd be okay with that.) You could buy a round-the-world (RTW) ticket good for up to 16 flights and do some serious traveling. Have a look at this thread I posted some time ago - Round-the-world and multi-continent airfares
As the thread mentions, the prices for these tickets are very different depending on where you begin and end. For example, a 4-continent Oneworld Explorer RTW ticket in which you begin and end in Norway costs around $2050 plus taxes and fees. The same ticket starting in the US is around $5400. A round trip ticket from most parts of the US (which is why I asked about your whereabouts) to Oslo next month, returning a month later, is around $1000, so together you're still over $1000 cheaper than starting in the US. (If you start in Canada, it's around $4050, so splitting the difference, but requiring a train, car, or bus ride (or flight) to some Canadian city to start.)
With a four continent ticket, you could fly a route something like this - https://tinyurl.com/jul22rtw1
Of course this route is imaginary - your preferences might be entirely different. It starts in Norway, then you'd travel to South Africa via Qatar. You'd visit Cape Town and Johannesburg (possibly then going on a quick safari someplace) then shoot across the Indian Ocean to Sydney. Visit Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns (for the Great Barrier Reef) then over to Auckland. In July I'd head to the north end of North Island - it's subtropical and drop-dead gorgeous.
Then across the Pacific, possibly with a stop at Honolulu, then up to Anchorage. (Alaska Airlines is now a Oneworld member.) Then down to the lower 48, check your mail, then finish the trip in Europe - New York to Barcelona, then up to Iceland, across to Finland, and back to Oslo, followed by the return portion of the ticket you bought to get there in the first place.
This imaginary trip meets all the criteria for the Oneworld Explorer ticket. There are thousands (millions?) of similar options, depending on where you want to go. You can stop over for as long as you want, or change the route for $125 in a flat change fee. The prime rule is you have to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the same direction, one time for each, so no doubling back across the oceans. But you can zigzag and backtrack within any continent, fly on your own dime on loops (e.g. Oneworld no longer has Latam as a member, thus intra-continental travel in South America is more complicated than before, so you might have to make some short flights "outside" of the RTW ticket.)
Maybe worth some thought - use the month to sort out places for more in-depth exploration later?
Happy to answer any questions.
What about flying around the world? Are you okay flying in economy? (At 24 I'd imagine you'd be okay with that.) You could buy a round-the-world (RTW) ticket good for up to 16 flights and do some serious traveling. Have a look at this thread I posted some time ago - Round-the-world and multi-continent airfares
As the thread mentions, the prices for these tickets are very different depending on where you begin and end. For example, a 4-continent Oneworld Explorer RTW ticket in which you begin and end in Norway costs around $2050 plus taxes and fees. The same ticket starting in the US is around $5400. A round trip ticket from most parts of the US (which is why I asked about your whereabouts) to Oslo next month, returning a month later, is around $1000, so together you're still over $1000 cheaper than starting in the US. (If you start in Canada, it's around $4050, so splitting the difference, but requiring a train, car, or bus ride (or flight) to some Canadian city to start.)
With a four continent ticket, you could fly a route something like this - https://tinyurl.com/jul22rtw1
Of course this route is imaginary - your preferences might be entirely different. It starts in Norway, then you'd travel to South Africa via Qatar. You'd visit Cape Town and Johannesburg (possibly then going on a quick safari someplace) then shoot across the Indian Ocean to Sydney. Visit Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns (for the Great Barrier Reef) then over to Auckland. In July I'd head to the north end of North Island - it's subtropical and drop-dead gorgeous.
Then across the Pacific, possibly with a stop at Honolulu, then up to Anchorage. (Alaska Airlines is now a Oneworld member.) Then down to the lower 48, check your mail, then finish the trip in Europe - New York to Barcelona, then up to Iceland, across to Finland, and back to Oslo, followed by the return portion of the ticket you bought to get there in the first place.
This imaginary trip meets all the criteria for the Oneworld Explorer ticket. There are thousands (millions?) of similar options, depending on where you want to go. You can stop over for as long as you want, or change the route for $125 in a flat change fee. The prime rule is you have to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the same direction, one time for each, so no doubling back across the oceans. But you can zigzag and backtrack within any continent, fly on your own dime on loops (e.g. Oneworld no longer has Latam as a member, thus intra-continental travel in South America is more complicated than before, so you might have to make some short flights "outside" of the RTW ticket.)
Maybe worth some thought - use the month to sort out places for more in-depth exploration later?
Happy to answer any questions.
Jun 23rd, 2022, 09:05 AM
#28
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If eating delicious food is one of your priorities I would recommend Georgia. Tbilisi has many, if not all, the things you are looking for. For a good nature hike you can take the cable car up (or walk, like we did) to the Mother of Georgia statue. Near there is the Narikala Fortress and a quite extensive National Botanical Garden. Good trails.
Jun 24th, 2022, 05:52 PM
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July is winter south of the equator and you would have to be ready to deal with more unfriendly weather. Melbourne is about the same latitude south as Washington DC is north. Would you do DC in January?
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
Jun 27th, 2022, 09:34 AM
#30
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July is winter south of the equator and you would have to be ready to deal with more unfriendly weather. Melbourne is about the same latitude south as Washington DC is north. Would you do DC in January?
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
This is actually sort of the idea I had! Except I had another idea which was to do 1 weeek in Iceland then start in Berlin and do the loop you mentioned. Although maybe that’s fitting too much in 4 weeks? If so I’ll just save Iceland for another trip!
My other idea was to do a 3 week trip in Turkey and add on Budapest or 1 destination in Europe.
Jun 27th, 2022, 09:35 AM
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If eating delicious food is one of your priorities I would recommend Georgia. Tbilisi has many, if not all, the things you are looking for. For a good nature hike you can take the cable car up (or walk, like we did) to the Mother of Georgia statue. Near there is the Narikala Fortress and a quite extensive National Botanical Garden. Good trails.
Jun 28th, 2022, 11:10 AM
#35
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July is winter south of the equator and you would have to be ready to deal with more unfriendly weather. Melbourne is about the same latitude south as Washington DC is north. Would you do DC in January?
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
You haven't mentioned a part of Europe I really like. Why don't you consider doing a big loop: Munich / Bavaria -- Swiss Alps -- Italian Lakes -- Dolomites -- Slovenia -- Croatia -- Budapest -- Vienna / Austria. You could flex this loop to exclude a place you've seen before and include a place like Berlin.
Jun 29th, 2022, 05:51 AM
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When I was in Prague, people told me that Krakow is like what Prague used to be like before the tourists. It is quite a bit different from Prague, far more Eastern Europe rather than Western, and a has an exotic and mysterious feel to it. When I first saw the market square, my jaw dropped. A highlight of Europe. It still gets left off many itineraries. Although it's not the capital of Poland, it is considered to be a cultural capital for its history and preservation.
One of the unique aspects of the market square compared to Prague is its size within the historic core. As where the central square of Prague is taken over by tourists, everyone who lives and works in the core of Krakow has to pass through the market square, so its importance as a place to meet is still very much for locals, despite the high touristic interest.
One of the unique aspects of the market square compared to Prague is its size within the historic core. As where the central square of Prague is taken over by tourists, everyone who lives and works in the core of Krakow has to pass through the market square, so its importance as a place to meet is still very much for locals, despite the high touristic interest.
Jun 29th, 2022, 12:17 PM
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When I was in Prague, people told me that Krakow is like what Prague used to be like before the tourists. It is quite a bit different from Prague, far more Eastern Europe rather than Western, and a has an exotic and mysterious feel to it. When I first saw the market square, my jaw dropped. A highlight of Europe. It still gets left off many itineraries. Although it's not the capital of Poland, it is considered to be a cultural capital for its history and preservation.
One of the unique aspects of the market square compared to Prague is its size within the historic core. As where the central square of Prague is taken over by tourists, everyone who lives and works in the core of Krakow has to pass through the market square, so its importance as a place to meet is still very much for locals, despite the high touristic interest.
One of the unique aspects of the market square compared to Prague is its size within the historic core. As where the central square of Prague is taken over by tourists, everyone who lives and works in the core of Krakow has to pass through the market square, so its importance as a place to meet is still very much for locals, despite the high touristic interest.
Jun 29th, 2022, 12:33 PM
#38
OK -- maybe we've been bit too credulous here. In the OP you say the trip would be July 5 (like next Tuesday) through the first week of August . . . here it is June 29 and you are no closer to making a decision, other than somewhere in Europe . . . and NOW you throw in England Scotland for the first time. Flights are running completely full and many are being cancelled, causing overbooking situations on other flights. Could all of this have been just day dreaming??
Airlines are in pretty much a total melt down -- Delta just issued a world wide travel waiver because they know lots of folks already booked won't be able to get to their destination in the next week. Time to get off the pot and make a decision and book something -- or continue trolling.
Airlines are in pretty much a total melt down -- Delta just issued a world wide travel waiver because they know lots of folks already booked won't be able to get to their destination in the next week. Time to get off the pot and make a decision and book something -- or continue trolling.
Jun 29th, 2022, 03:55 PM
#39
We were just in Amsterdam at the end of last month, beginning of this month and the LAST place you want to leave from is their airport. And I heard it's going to get a lot worse this summer.
Friends of mine who live around there and who have been traveling by train to Germany or Switzerland (live concert friends of mine who follow bands) have this month been complaining a LOT about train travel, especially those who haven't reserved seats. Been super busy and most people are not masking up.
It's been a pretty hot summer so far in Europe (it was 101 degrees the day we arrived in Paris mid-June), so do check on the temps. If you have a problem with heat. Whether you do or don't, remember most cities have public pools to cool off in, and they are generally unlike any public pool you find in the states. For example, in Salzburg, their public pool in the local park has 3 pools (one for kiddies), a beer garden and playground. It's more like a country club!
Friends of mine who live around there and who have been traveling by train to Germany or Switzerland (live concert friends of mine who follow bands) have this month been complaining a LOT about train travel, especially those who haven't reserved seats. Been super busy and most people are not masking up.
It's been a pretty hot summer so far in Europe (it was 101 degrees the day we arrived in Paris mid-June), so do check on the temps. If you have a problem with heat. Whether you do or don't, remember most cities have public pools to cool off in, and they are generally unlike any public pool you find in the states. For example, in Salzburg, their public pool in the local park has 3 pools (one for kiddies), a beer garden and playground. It's more like a country club!
Jun 29th, 2022, 04:15 PM
#40
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OK -- maybe we've been bit too credulous here. In the OP you say the trip would be July 5 (like next Tuesday) through the first week of August . . . here it is June 29 and you are no closer to making a decision, other than somewhere in Europe . . . and NOW you throw in England Scotland for the first time. Flights are running completely full and many are being cancelled, causing overbooking situations on other flights. Could all of this have been just day dreaming??
Airlines are in pretty much a total melt down -- Delta just issued a world wide travel waiver because they know lots of folks already booked won't be able to get to their destination in the next week. Time to get off the pot and make a decision and book something -- or continue trolling.
Airlines are in pretty much a total melt down -- Delta just issued a world wide travel waiver because they know lots of folks already booked won't be able to get to their destination in the next week. Time to get off the pot and make a decision and book something -- or continue trolling.
I am delaying my date to July 12th, however due to another reason, so the length is the same just starting later.
