Travel/Holiday Destination/Info Thread

[schoona]

Hey fellas,

I suppose being on the younger end of the scale, I don't have the necessary experience when looking/researching in this type of field etc...

Basically the plan is to spend 2 weeks in Ibiza (Off the west coast of Spain) with another 2 mates and live it up as young pups. Am starting the research now, so as to budget paying for the trip. (I'd be happy with the flights and accomodation paid for before I go, and then wing it with however much else I can put away between now and then)

All 3 of us are apprentices, and quite easy going. We don't need 5 star hotels, 16 course meals and a foot massage at every corner, but a happy medium between that and slumming it in a backpackers (could be good for some cultural experience/out of the "comfort zone, but not every night!) would be good.

So if you guys have any tips to throw out, by all means it's welcome!!!


Cheers in advance,
Mal

[Wolfgang]

Have a look at the Lonley Planet website for info on what's around the area. There is also the Thorn Tree forum on there with shedloads of info.

Tripadvisor is good for accomodation reveiws.

Make your life easier and use a travel agent. They will sort out things like hotel transfers, accomodation, flights etc.

Backpackers are not always slumming it. They are a good place to meet people.


Most importantly, HAVE FUN!



(and don't get anyone pregnant)

[team_v]

I can vouch for trip advisor, virtual tourist, lonely planet and frommer's.

Agoda also has hotel accomodation available.

[maca]

CONTIKI!!!!!!!!

Had the time of my life in America. Would recommend highly.

[team_v]

CONTIKI!!!!!!!!

Had the time of my life in America. Would recommend highly.

Topdeck do group holiday sessions like contiki but aimed at an older target group.
Have only heard good things from them.

[Blitzen]

Biggest tips I can add...

- Get travel insurance... I go for ones with no excess... It's worth it for the little bit extra you pay.
- Register on the DFAT website.
- Don't trust anyone!!

[Buller_Scott]

Biggest tips I can add...

- Get travel insurance... I go for ones with no excess... It's worth it for the little bit extra you pay.
- Register on the DFAT website.
- Don't trust anyone!!

whilst schoona's going over there to have fun and thus this should be a ''positive & exciting" thread, i find myself agreeing very strongly with blitzen's post. travel insurance is crucial, and it could save your family A LOT of money if something goes awry. register on DFAT, as well as inform the local consulate once you are over there- give them your details and your base location.

and meeting new people (imo) is like, 50% of the reason for travelling in the first place- but it doesnt mean that you can let your guard down just because they've got a tasty rack.

if you're going to be using a travel agent, schoona, make sure that you have printed tickets for EVERYTHING that the agent is ''selling'' to you. much of what is bookable by travel agents, is booked by a system called GDS (global distribution system), and i've seen instances where the agent has sold the client something that wasnt available (eg fully booked) in GDS, telling the client "just tell them your name at the front desk when you get there", hoping that availability will open up, but it hasnt, and it's NEVER nice on the client.

ACCOMODATION- check out Expedia - lots of hotels / apartments / hostels, and a quick search found hotels down around the high $40 mark per night.

good luck! it's gonna be fun for sure.

[Water Boy]

Wear protection...

[Wolfgang]

Wear protection...

Yeah, it would be a bugger to get wet if it rains.

[Blitzen]

whilst schoona's going over there to have fun and thus this should be a ''positive & exciting" thread, i find myself agreeing very strongly with blitzen's post. travel insurance is crucial, and it could save your family A LOT of money if something goes awry. register on DFAT, as well as inform the local consulate once you are over there- give them your details and your base location.

and meeting new people (imo) is like, 50% of the reason for travelling in the first place- but it doesnt mean that you can let your guard down just because they've got a tasty rack.

if you're going to be using a travel agent, schoona, make sure that you have printed tickets for EVERYTHING that the agent is ''selling'' to you. much of what is bookable by travel agents, is booked by a system called GDS (global distribution system), and i've seen instances where the agent has sold the client something that wasnt available (eg fully booked) in GDS, telling the client "just tell them your name at the front desk when you get there", hoping that availability will open up, but it hasnt, and it's NEVER nice on the client.

ACCOMODATION- check out Expedia - lots of hotels / apartments / hostels, and a quick search found hotels down around the high $40 mark per night.

good luck! it's gonna be fun for sure.

Expedia is very good, as is lastminute.com.

I got screwed by a travel partner I met whilst backpacking in Canada. I lost $2400 in one hit. Like I said, don't trust anyone... Sometimes you have to learn the hard way... I have since found the guy thanks to Facebook!!

Another tip. Have at least 2 or 3 cards that you can use to get cash, and spread cash amongst them just in case you loose one. Also have a small stash of emergency cash just in case.

And tarp up...

[schoona]

Thanks for all the rpeplies fellas.
Will have Travel Insurance,
Will register with DFAT.
Have looked on Smart Traveller
Will have multiple money options
Will tarp up (can't trust most of them here! lol)

Can't wait, just looking to be a bit more advised on options before the travel agent tries to sell something ridiculous.


Thanks again!

[Wolfgang]

Something that might be useful is an ANZ Travel Card.

They are available in different currencies and work like a debitcard so it saves you carrying around big wads of cash.

Best thing is they are PIN protected and you get a spare.

From memory you don't need to be an ANZ customer either.


Also, have two photocopies of EVERY document including your passport.

Put the originals in a travel wallet (Kathmandu sell good ones) to keep on yourself or in a day pack. Keep one lot of copies along with family members contact details and country of residence in a plastic Zip lock bag (keeps it dry) somewhere secure your main bag. If your bag gets lost (been there done that) , then it can help it be identified. The other lot of copies keep at home or with a family member.

Lastly, a money belt (Kathmandu again) is a very handy and secure place too keep passport, sare cash, spare padlock key/s etc.

Seems like overkill but having documentation can make it easier to sort things out if the brown hits the fan.

[DeanB]

Another option is to scan a copy of all your travel doco and email it to an account you can access. In the case you lose bags or wallet, etc you can log into the email at an internet cafe/YHA/Hotel and get them printed out.

Make sure you have a list somewhere of contact numbers (not the local 13 numbers you use here, but the +61 ones for when you dial from overseas) that in a worst case scenario you would need - travel insurance, bank/credit card companies, etc

ANZ travel card is handy. Australia Post also have currency cards which a guy from work just went on holidays with to Europe (unsure of fees, charges, etc) but he supposedly looked into them before leaving.

[Blitzen]

Commonwealth bank does a very hand travel Master Card that you can put individual currencies on. I have used this, and it is very handy. It can be topped up using bpay.