Down Under Travel

About five years ago, I decided to purchase a hard golf travel bag that allowed me to take my clubs wherever I wanted to without worrying about damaging them.  I used that case about three times before I decided I never wanted to carry my clubs with me again.

Why?  Well, first off, it’s an incredible hassle to carry clubs around an airport, hotel, and anywhere in between.  Most golf travel bags are big and bulky, not to mention really heavy.  I try to pack light on my trips and clubs don’t exactly fit into this scenario.  Secondly, airline bag fees have gotten extremely expensive and it’s usually cheaper to just rent clubs than bring your own along if you’ll only be playing once or twice during a trip.

Many people love to hit the links during vacation time, and I’m no different.  I enjoy hitting the white little ball around on vacation and have done so many times.  But most people also think that they need to bring their clubs along every time they might play a round.  This is not the case, folks.  Leave your clubs at home and rent a set from the club you’ll be playing at.

You might say that golfing is more difficult when trying to play with someone else’s clubs, and you’d be right.  It is much harder, but so what?  Vacation is meant to be a relaxing time, not a time when you should be working on your competitive golf game.  Instead, enjoy the weather and your surroundings and let golf be a secondary focus.  Your competitive game will be right where you left it when you return home.

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you leave your clubs home and follow my suggestion of renting a set instead.  It allows you to focus on the experience itself instead of the golf game.

If you knew exactly what was going to happen on your vacation, you’d have no problem packing light, would you? You’d only take the clothes you knew you needed. The reason we all pack too much stuff is because we include a whole lot of things we might need.

So, that’s the first secret to packing light: understand where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, as far as you possibly can. Don’t just look at the names of the places you’ll be visiting and admire the photos – find out if there’s a detailed itinerary and study it. Google the weather at your destination. Don’t assume that just because you’re going to Sydney, it will automatically be hot.

What activities will you be undertaking? Knowing your activities, and how often you’ll do them, should help you decide your priorities. For instance:

• If you’re doing lots of long walks, you absolutely must have proper walking shoes. But if you’re mainly touring by coach or car in summer, it doesn’t make sense to pack a pair of heavy shoes and bulky socks for the sake of one or two walks. A pair of good walking sandals is a sensible compromise, and much easier to pack.

• If you’re on a casual holiday, you may pack one or two smart outfits “just in case” you have a nice dinner out one night. But if you’re going to be in big cities and you’ll have time for shopping, it may make more sense to leave the glad rags at home, and go out and buy a nice dress if and when you need it. The bonus is that dress then becomes a lovely memento of your trip.

• For travel to Australia in summer, pack more than one swimsuit and more than one sarong – you’ll be using them frequently! In winter, one swimsuit is enough – people sometimes forget the weather gets cool here, too!

Thailand is a a nearby, cheap tropical island break for Australians, and for good reason. Its close (only about 6 or 8 hours flying time) and its usually good value – depending on the exchange fluctations. 

But if you are heading down under from Europe – it makes sense to consider Thailand as a stop over on the way. Flying all the way – is about 20 hours flying time (plus airport time) – and is just plain brutal. You will arrive in better shape if you stop off one way or both. 

You will also find that you can get some good airfare deals via Thailand. Check out offers that including either Phuket or Koh Samui as well as the more traditional Bangkok. 

Airlines that offer Thailand stop overs include Qantas, AirNZ,  and Thai Air. Also its worth checking out the cheaper point-to-point airlines such as Jetstar and Air Asia who both fly into Phuket. 

In high season (December – January) you may also pick up a European charter operator such as Air Berlin who seasonally fly to Phuket. You will need to combine this fare with another to get you all the way to Australia though. 

Thailand is on Western Australian time most of the year – so you will be minimise your jetlag with a stop over as well. 

Whether you choose the big city of Bangkok or a nice beach such as Koh Samui or Phuket – Thailand is a great stop-over on the way to Australia

Next year I will be turning forty and then I will be in a position to say that I traveled the whole world – literally. Well, to be more specific, I can claim that I was on all continents. At this point, there is only one missing in my itinerary and that’s Oceania or commonly referred to as Australia.

I must have read hundreds of books about this amazing country, so I can’t wait until December 24. Yes, it’s Christmas eve, so timing-wise probably not ideal, but on the other hand that’s when I got a really cheap flight. I will be staying for 21 days, which sounds like a lot but considering all the things you can do in Down-Under, I guess time will fly by quickly. I’m booked for a safari, scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef inclusive of shark feeding and a 3 day hike on the West Coast. Oh, and of course the typical touristy stuff such as sightseeing and museums.

I’m pretty much all set and good to go, I just need a few more things for the beach and evening attire. So I guess the last thing on the list before I’m ready for take-off is a shopping spree at the Tory Burch Outlet.

I travel every month to Australia and it’s starting to get a little grueling.  I fly from LAX (Los Angeles) to Sydney which takes around 14 hours, depending on the wind direction.  The good news is that it’s a direct flight. The bad news is that it’s so hard to sleep in an upright position when you’re crammed in an Economy class seat at the back of the plane.  

My goal in this article is to share with you my top tips for increasing your travel comfort.  I learned these the hard way.  Each time I travel I now am a little more prepared and a little more comfortable.  Hopefully some of these ideas will resonate with you:

1. My number one tip is to get a good quality travel pillow.  Have a look at these ones that have been reviewed by Awiderview.com for starters.  I know you will probably get a pillow from the airline, but it really isn’t enough.  My personal favorite is the travel rest pillow that’s worn across the chest.  I like to sleep with my head in a sideways position so it suits me fine.
2. Say no to alcohol.  I know it’s tempting but I feel so much better if I just stick to water when I’m on a flight.  One glass of beer probably won’t do much harm but stop at one serving.
3. Take your shoes and socks off and put on a pair of thick travel socks.  This makes the world of difference to my comfort levels.  It also means I can walk around the plane and into the toilets without worrying that I am getting my actual socks dirty.  
4. Invest in a pair of noise-cancelling earphones.  These are now my constant travel companion.  

And then there is the jet lag.  Which for me is far worse when heading back to LAX than the other way around.  Not much you can do about that I’m afraid.  Except lobby to change the position of the international dateline I suppose.

Have you ever visited Western Australia?  So often when people are planning their dream Australian vacation, they overlook the west coast in favour of the more famous tourist attractions of eastern Australia such as Sydney, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef.  But Western Australia has thousands of kilometres of silver beaches and has some great beach resorts for you to visit.

Most visitors to Western Australia arrive in Perth, which is the state capital, and because of the great distances involved most tourists then fly on to their destinations.  However, if you have plenty of time to travel you could drive or hire a camper van or catch the Greyhound coach.  There are also plenty of tours that start in Perth that you could join, and these range from basic backpacker tours through to escorted luxury tours.

As you head north out of Perth, the first place that you will probably want to stop is Cervantes.  You may have never heard of Cervantes, which is a small cray fishing town, but it is famous because of its proximity to the Pinnacles Desert.  The Pinnacles Desert is an amazing place to visit as it is a large area full of natural limestone pillars that have been weathered by the wind and water into fantastical shapes that look especially stunning at sunrise and sunset.  Cervantes also has a pristine silver sand beach and you can see one of the oldest forms of life on the planet, stromatolites, in Lake Thetis.

The next stop up the coast is beautiful Kalbarri.  Kalbarri sits at the head of the Murchison River and is bordered by the Kalbarri National Park, which contains wonderful natural rock formations like Nature’s Window.  Kalbarri has good, safe swimming beaches in the river estuary and with wilder surf and rocks further along the coast.  If you love wildlife you can visit the huge parrot collection at the Rainbow Jungle or marvel at the seahorses at the Seahorse Sanctuary.

If you are a dolphin lover, you will be in heaven when you visit Monkey Mia.  The only accommodation is the Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, but there are various grades of accommodation on offer ranging from backpacker dorms to four star rooms.  But the main attraction is the dolphins that come to the beach every morning to be fed.  If you are lucky, you could be chosen to give one of the dolphins a fish and you are bound to get some great photos.  Monkey Mia is located on Shark Bay and there is a lot of other wildlife to see such as dugongs and pelicans.

Exmouth is a truly remote little town, bit what draws the tourists is the famous Ningaloo Reef.  Ningaloo reef is one few places on Earth where you can snorkel with whale sharks, and you can also snorkel directly off the gorgeous soft sand of the beaches.  You can also explore the natural beauty of the Cape Range National Park and take a boat trip down Yardie Creek.  You may also meet a lot of emus, as they wander freely around the Exmouth streets.

Broome sits at the top of North West Australia, and has a fascinating history based on the pearl farming industry. Broome is surrounded by clear, turquoise seas and is home to Cable Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Australia.  Broome is also the gateway to the Kimberley, a vast, ancient wilderness.  In Broome, you can learn about the history of pearling, visit the crocodile farm, eat in one of the many restaurants or just chill out on the beach.

The coast of Western Australia is a fabulous place to swim, snorkel, fish, go whale watching, hike, go kayaking or cycling.  The best time to visit the northern coast is between April and October, which is the dry season, and you will find a wide range of accommodation and places to eat to choose from.

The town of Cap d’Agde in southern France is a haven for those who enjoy water. It is a modern beach resort town on the border of the Mediterranean Sea. The large river Hérault winds through the town and meets the sea. It is also famous for the Canal du Midi.

This canal connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This fantastic intersection of transportation and beauty leads to the continued prosperity and development of the city of Agde. It is no wonder that the present day resort focuses on this water-based heritage.

Visitors will  love exploring both the canals and river. It is a lovely way to learn more about Agde. Most visitors relax and enjoy seaside fun on the Cap d’Agde beaches, but taking a stroll along the banks of the River Hérault is well worth it. This tour takes you past key historical buildings such as the cathedral of Agde which is especially beautiful. And the route takes you through to Grau d’Agde, which is a fishing village at the end of the river. These paths give visitor an idea of the vitality and importance of the waterways in this city.

Bicycles are available for rent to ride along the Canal. These paths are full of trees and vegetation. Tourists can also rent barges and boats for tours. These usually last two or more hours and allows for scenic relaxing. On the canal, visitors will discover the Round Lock. This is a magnificent piece of engineering. It allows canal boats to turn around completely and enables them to reach three different exits of the canal.

The town of Agde is well-known for its seafood, and visitors will find plenty of fish and delicacies. Wonderful restaurants around Cap d’Agde specialize in fish cuisine and seafood dishes. French cooking involves fresh ingredients and bold, rich tastes, plus local fine wine adds finesse to the dining experience. Surely this is the perfect ending to a perfect day of exploring Cap d’Agde’s river and canal.

Have you ever gotten sick while traveling?  I have a couple of times and let me tell you that traveling will sick is certainly no fun at all.  In fact it can pretty well wreck your trip,  a few years ago I ended up with the stomach flu while on vacation and spent the whole time in my hotel room while everyone else was golfing, fishing, boating and hiking I was puking my guts out back in the hotel room.

Luckily since then I’ve had some pretty good trips without any problems with illness, but as you may have guessed I just woke up this morning with a sore throat.  This time I’m determined that it wont’ wreck my vacation.  So the first thing that I did was to get on the internet and start searching for sore throat relief and one on the first articles that I found was this one on home remedies to soothe a sore throat.  And I have to say that this article is excellent and I would recommend it to anyone suffering from a cold or sore throat.

Right away I gargled with the salt water which really helped with the sore throat pain and my girlfriend went out and picked up the stuff  to make me a cup of hot tea, she also picked up some cayenne pepper like the author of the article suggested and I have to admit that it worked great the pain from my sore throat is gone and I actually feel pretty good right now.