Solo travel abroad?

[Giugiaro]

No need to go to a restaurant, in Germany for example there are many food stores on the stations, bread cheese vegs yogurt, one can conjure up a meal easily and cheaply

I've found the food within Frankfurt Hbf overpriced for what was being offered. I ended up using the 24h ticket to also scout for places to eat, and that's when I've found both the Pizzeria dal Bianco and the Altin Sofrasi, near Frankfurt (Main) Süd.
Cheap, good and open until late. They also had a lot of nice people taking a snack there, including Erasmus students, and the staff was very friendly.

In Berlin I took a few visits to City Pizza, near Charlottenburg, suggested by a freelance English guitarist that was staying the month. But, overall, I've found Berlin to be cheaper and more lively than Frankfut.

A fellow kinsman from Entroncamento once said to me that the best place to eat local food at a cheap value is where there's a lot of elderly people lunching casually.
The suggestion worked flawlessly until I got to London.

 

[D6130]

(Should hard-to-imagine circumstances for some reason take me to Italy: I wouldn't rule out the possibility of unexpectedly and against the odds, falling in love with the place; but see very many

I think that you would, however, find the Italian railway system fascinating. Of all the continental systems, it's probably the most like the British one....in terms of traffic density, rules and signalling, left-hand running, etc. Although there isn't quite the variety of vintage and modern motive power that there was twenty years ago, there's still enough to be of interest and there are some incredibly steep and scenic mountain lines.

 

[Calthrop]

I think that you would, however, find the Italian railway system fascinating. Of all the continental systems, it's probably the most like the British one....in terms of traffic density, rules and signalling, left-hand running, etc. Although there isn't quite the variety of vintage and modern motive power that there was twenty years ago, there's still enough to be of interest and there are some incredibly steep and scenic mountain lines.

As with many things: this I "see with head"; but what "felt with gut", tends to send opposite message. Am -- in my early seventies -- of an age to have known regular everyday steam in Britain and on the Continent: Italian steam locos, from what I saw of them at second hand, appeared to me as seemingly boring and rather feeble and a bit British-looking ("if one most likes what one has at home; it makes best sense to stay at home"). Reading P. M. Kalla-Bishop's Railway Holiday in Italy (his journey re same in the mid-1960s, when the country still had abundant regular steam) didn't turn me on to Italian railways (though Kalla-Bishop was an odd sort of chap -- in whatever he came out with, seemingly more inclined to playing down / rubbishing, than to lauding).

I would like to visit Sardinia; which strikes me as a splendidly weird place, and differing a lot from mainland Italy.

 

[D6130]

I would like to visit Sardinia; which strikes me as a splendidly weird place, and differing a lot from mainland Italy.

Me too.....and particularly my wife! In fact it's on our priority 'to do' list for this year or next year. You're absolutely right about the majority of standard gauge Italian steam locos, none of which were built after the mid-1920s, when the decision to electrify virtually the whole national network was taken by the Fascist government. Conversely, however, there were/are some amazingly powerful and efficent narrow gauge (950mm) steam locos, a few of which are still hauling tourist and enthusiast specials in Calabria and Sardinia. I too sometimes find the late Mr Kalla-Bishop's writing rather patronising, but as an officer in the Royal Engineers, he was closely involved with the reactivation of Italian railways at the end of WW2 and had an in-depth knowledge of the subject. (Sorry.....going a wee bit OT here!).

 

[Calthrop]

Me too.....and particularly my wife! In fact it's on our priority 'to do' list for this year or next year. You're absolutely right about the majority of standard gauge Italian steam locos, none of which were built after the mid-1920s, when the decision to electrify virtually the whole national network was taken by the Fascist government. Conversely, however, there were/are some amazingly powerful and efficent narrow gauge (950mm) steam locos, a few of which are still hauling tourist and enthusiast specials in Calabria and Sardinia. I too sometimes find the late Mr Kalla-Bishop's writing rather patronising, but as an officer in the Royal Engineers, he was closely involved with the reactivation of Italian railways at the end of WW2 and had an in-depth knowledge of the subject. (Sorry.....going a wee bit OT here!).

Or if we might carry on off-topic a little (our peers will put us back on track if appropriate) -- Kalla-Bishop was certainly knowledgeable: his "Railway Holiday" book contains a great deal of solid info; but he strikes me as a basically "negative" and rather misanthropic character. Something in RH in I which has always leapt out at me, is the couple of sentences in the book's introduction: "One thing the traveller will not see in Italy is the run-down branch line in all its squalor, with a decrepit steam locomotive shuffling along over wobbly track hauling a mixed bag of old coaches. Persons who moon about over such sights should keep out of Italy, for such a glorious railway as the FS has no truck with such things, nor do the private railways go in for this nonsense." You're entitled to your personal opinions, K-B; but, dear Lord ! -- "don't hold back -- tell us how you really feel" -- and this in a book in a series which was planned ideally, to offer "something for everyone, for all tastes": here he is, potentially strongly antagonising a-fifth-to-a-quarter-or-more, of the possible readership -- I suppose that if David & Charles had felt strongly enough on this thing, they'd have acted appropriately. I feel glad that I was never personally acquainted with Mr. Kalla-Bishop, the proudly-self-proclaimed "anti-Colonel Stephens".

 

[YorkshireBear]

I am incredibly fortunate that my wife is a big fan of rail travel, for very different reasons. She likes how its not a rush and you look out of the window at all the things you'd never see in a plane. For her the train journey is part of experiencing a country, so I even get to take the slow trains, having been together since kids I haven't had much chance to go solo although I do like the idea.

I always prefer to travel with others as I enjoy the social aspect to the food and drink. When I go with friends who have no interest in railways I will often split off on my own for day to explore the local rail network. I make sure I have battery on my phone, a battery pack if need be, a good map, and maybe a magazine/book. Very enjoyable just to sit in the peace and quiet to take it all in.

Drinking and eating alone is something that many people I speak to seem to have an issue with. Never bothered me, being away with work so much I am happy to just sit there. Again, phone, book, local beer, sit and people watch. All quite relaxing experiences and the staff are always happy to chat usually when dining alone.

 

[Lostin Transit]

A big thank you to everyone who posted a reply,as I suspected the basis is just go,keep it flexible and don’t worry too much about what other think.
I‘ll probably start off small and travel around France and possibly Italy or Switzerland but when that will be who knows?. Oh the irony,all the years when I couldn’t afford or had the opportunity to travel abroad when all you needed was the money and time and now I can finally devote time to doing what I would like to do obviously we can’t.You don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it I suppose.
Thanks once again.

 

[Techniquest]

Fascinating topic, and lots of interesting replies. I travel solo almost everywhere, save for a bit of time with fellow enthusiasts in the past, so I've plenty of experience to draw on here.

One particular trip came to mind in 2018. In the early portion of that year, I was on the build-up to my first solo trip across the Atlantic, to Toronto. A very different mission objective back then, and all my previous trips of such a distance had been with company. Short-haul around Europe, not an issue doing that solo. Anyway, for a while I had been considering cancelling the whole trip, as I didn't much like the idea of the long nights on my own.

Thankfully I eventually sorted that out, and I had a good time. I would cut out the beers if I did the same trip again, but it's part of what I did back then. Overall the trip was a success, and less than a year later I did my first ultra-long-haul trip to Sydney. I remember that trip had the concern of being a very long way away from home, and the long flights I was concerned about being without company for. Fortunately, again I got past that and the trip was a success, although the long flights were still incredibly boring after a while.

As for hostels, I'm done with those. My trip to Sydney was in hostels, and I honestly couldn't do that again. I like my comforts like a bed in my own room, a lockable door, my own space and all that. 15 years ago, yes I enjoyed hostels but that scene is long behind me. Apart from a select group here, I don't tend to socialise. I have very little in common with most people, and I've grown to love my own company.

Indeed, most of my trips are more active than anything else these days. Sitting around in one place for all that long, it takes a level of patience I don't often have now.

Someone else mentioned Santorini in this thread, and I too have desires to go there. Admittedly, this was first sparked by a good friend who intends to go there with her family when the world returns to a more normal state, and I eventually looked at the island more seriously a couple of months ago. It looks just like the sort of place I could enjoy, luscious scenery and not too big a place to do walks and cycle rides to explore the island. There's even direct flights with Jet2 from Birmingham, which is quite handy for me, although to be honest I'd probably go from Heathrow given my love of that place.

Which actually leads me onto an interesting point. I love exploring an airport and noting down plane registrations while I'm there, particularly if I've got a good coffee to enjoy leisurely at the same time. The regular moving around the terminal is good for keeping occupied, essential to keep boredom at bay, and for exercise too. I do also love the people watching bit, where I've set up camp on a seat with my Favourite Flying Tunes playlist on or similar playing through the earphones. It can be quite interesting just to sit and wonder where someone's flying to, why they're running through the airport, that kind of thing.

I've been determined, since last year, that my first destination when I can safely resume my World Frenzy series is New Zealand. There has been a bit of a fascination for a long time on that part of the world, and whenever I read about the activities available on the South Island, or whenever I look at photos of the scenery, I get the urge to go exploring. I can't do that trip with someone else, no thank you. As far as I'm concerned, this will be an adventure holiday, and I have no desire to have someone tag along.

Granted, it will involve some sightseeing too, I plan to spend a couple of days in the Auckland area when I first arrive after all, but by the time I get to the outdoor activity bits I won't want to wait for my companion to get up and ready. Or for them to dawdle over breakfast or whatever. Generally speaking I'm an early riser, so by the time the sun is up I'm wanting to make the most of daylight hours!

This time I'm not even concerned about company on the long flights, and one routing I got recently was Heathrow-Doha-Auckland on Qatar. Well over 18 hours on that flight to Auckland, which would be a challenge! I'm not sure how I'm going to handle such a flight, I will find a way by 2022 I am certain of that. Already chosen to fly with BA or Qatar, the former tend to use 777s or 787s to Sydney which suits me incredibly well Indeed, BA have flights with a stop in Singapore, and given I'm led to believe that is for refuelling it would also mean disembarking the plane for a short time, that option does sound ideal for a proper stretch of leg muscles.

What I'm getting at is that you 100% should NOT be afraid of solo travel. It is one of the most freeing experiences you can enjoy. I often get people telling me I'm brave to travel on my own or whatever, and perhaps it is the first time. I honestly can't imagine doing things any other way now, and until you've woke up on a trip with someone else, and you've got to be quiet while they sleep, while you're keen to dive into the shower and get a coffee made...Only once you've endured such an agonising wait for your companion to get ready will you understand the joy of solo travel!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd not totally rule hostels out - an en suite private room can give you the benefits of the social aspects while giving you a door to shut behind you at the end of the day.

 

[camflyer]

I'm a big fan of solo holidays - do what you want at your own pace without having to keep everyone else happy.

You also tend to meet more people when on your own. Couples and families keep to themselves rather than mixing. Some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had have been with a random person I got talking to on a train or in a bar

I've got a week off work in July. It's not going to be worth going abroad but I haven't had a holiday away from home in over a year so I'm planning on doing a random wander around the country.

 

[Techniquest]

I'd not totally rule hostels out - an en suite private room can give you the benefits of the social aspects while giving you a door to shut behind you at the end of the day.

True enough that, where they exist in hostels of course. The cost of such rooms can vary wildly too, and to be honest I've not stayed in such a room. However if the price is not far off a proper hotel, I can assure you I know which one I'd choose!

A genuine question has just popped into my head while typing this:

Do those posting here that class themselves as introverts (and I really need to check the definition of that) on home territory find they stay that way when on away grounds?

I find myself more sociable in certain circumstances when away, but not all. I might spark up a conversation with someone at the airport for example, but perhaps otherwise not.

 

[camflyer]

Do those posting here that class themselves as introverts (and I really need to check the definition of that) on home territory find they stay that way when on away grounds?

I find myself more sociable in certain circumstances when away, but not all. I might spark up a conversation with someone at the airport for example, but perhaps otherwise not.

I wouldn't class myself as an introvert though I am at ease with my own company. Most of my friends are married with families and if I'm not in a relationship myself then my should I miss out on travel and holidays? If anything I'm maybe a little more sociable when travelling. At least if you don't get on with someone you meet you know that you'll never see them again.

 

[Techniquest]

I wouldn't class myself as an introvert though I am at ease with my own company. Most of my friends are married with families and if I'm not in a relationship myself then my should I miss out on travel and holidays? If anything I'm maybe a little more sociable when travelling. At least if you don't get on with someone you meet you know that you'll never see them again.

That's very true. When I'm in my close-knit social group here in England, I am very sociable as we have things in common with each other. Two of my friends are in a long-term relationship, one's been married for several years, the other two aren't in relationships but one is looking. So we're a bit of an eclectic group, and apart from work we all have at least one thing in common with someone else.

I know I've moaned a bit about travelling with others, but I should be grateful as I've learnt a lot from all those trips, and I wouldn't have the guts to do long distance solo trips otherwise.

 

[gordonthemoron]

2012 I did eastern europe, Turkey, Cyprus and Scandinavia on my own. Staying in hostels and sleeping on sleepers some times (Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Sweden, Finland), only hotels were in Eastern Turkey, which were very cheap. Bought train tickets as I went. Catered for myself in hostels mainly, except Turkey and Cyprus. 6 months, until I ran out of money A great experience. I was 52, you're never too old

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I've been determined, since last year, that my first destination when I can safely resume my World Frenzy series is New Zealand. There has been a bit of a fascination for a long time on that part of the world, and whenever I read about the activities available on the South Island, or whenever I look at photos of the scenery, I get the urge to go exploring. I can't do that trip with someone else, no thank you. As far as I'm concerned, this will be an adventure holiday, and I have no desire to have someone tag along.

Whatever you do, don't go to all the way to New Zealand without visiting Fiordland (the far south-west of South Island).
On my first trip I was at the end of a business trip to Auckland/Wellington, and nearly returned home early instead of heading off to South Island for a few days.
I'm glad I did. NZ is a beautiful place anyway, but Fiordland has the very best scenery on the planet, for me.
Bases are Te Anau (quiet) or Queenstown (busy), and you need a car to get the most out of it (though there are many coach tours with mainly Asian tourists).
Just fabulous heavily glaciated lake/fiord scenery, "spellbinding" as they say, whether tramping, in a car, or the expensive way in a light plane.
Think of the Lake District but on 2x or 3x scale. The only similar landscape I know is Glacier/Waterton NP on the US/Canada border.
I've not been to the Norwegian fiords, but the NZ ones are different, less arctic, more rugged, bushy and topped with snow, and full of spectacular waterfalls.
I've been back a couple of times, and there's lots to explore if you have the time and are prepared to tramp a little.

What got me was when I told Aucklanders how much I had loved Fiordland, they looked sheepish (not hard in NZ) and said they'd never been (even to South Island!).
Sadly, no railways, although there is still (I think) a short heritage line at Kingston, and the 1912 ex-NZR TSS Earnslaw is still plying Lake Wakapitu (Queenstown).
But the Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound trips should be on anyone's bucket list.
It is, unfortunately, at the furthest end of the furthest destination on the earth from the UK.
It takes a day even to get back up to Auckland, before you start the 24-hour long long haul back.

I was a fan of the Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland via Los Angeles (in my day it called in at Tahiti or Honolulu too, at dead of night).
However, that route is now unattractive with heavy US customs/immigration checks at LAX.
Singapore Airlines works well now via Singapore, and they fly to/from Christchurch as well as Auckland, and start from Manchester (as I did).
Similar itineraries via Hong Kong on Cathay.
Mostly A350/B787 these days, but when services will return to "normal" is hard to predict at the moment.

There's plenty of railway interest in NZ, if you look for it.
KiwiRail still run the inter-island ferries, and two of the three ships have past history in the Irish/North Sea; the third is also a train ferry.
Interislander - Wikipedia


Kingston Flyer

Key Summit

 

[stuu]

This time I'm not even concerned about company on the long flights, and one routing I got recently was Heathrow-Doha-Auckland on Qatar. Well over 18 hours on that flight to Auckland, which would be a challenge! I'm not sure how I'm going to handle such a flight, I will find a way by 2022 I am certain of that. Already chosen to fly with BA or Qatar, the former tend to use 777s or 787s to Sydney which suits me incredibly well Indeed, BA have flights with a stop in Singapore, and given I'm led to believe that is for refuelling it would also mean disembarking the plane for a short time, that option does sound ideal for a proper stretch of leg muscles.

I would advise Singapore as a stopover if possible as a) the airport is lovely, there can't be many places with a poolside bar in an air terminal, or a waterfall and rainforest. And also you will have done a much bigger chunk of the journey already by the time you get there. Getting off a long flight knowing you have to get on an even longer one is a bit grim

 

[camflyer]

I would advise Singapore as a stopover if possible as a) the airport is lovely, there can't be many places with a poolside bar in an air terminal, or a waterfall and rainforest. And also you will have done a much bigger chunk of the journey already by the time you get there. Getting off a long flight knowing you have to get on an even longer one is a bit grim

Yes, Singapore is well worth a couple of days as a stopover on the way to New Zealand for the chance of some proper food, sleep in an actual bed and see the sights. It also has easily the best airport in the world which is worth several hours exploring.

 

[Techniquest]

Whatever you do, don't go to all the way to New Zealand without visiting Fiordland (the far south-west of South Island).
On my first trip I was at the end of a business trip to Auckland/Wellington, and nearly returned home early instead of heading off to South Island for a few days.
I'm glad I did. NZ is a beautiful place anyway, but Fiordland has the very best scenery on the planet, for me.
Bases are Te Anau (quiet) or Queenstown (busy), and you need a car to get the most out of it (though there are many coach tours with mainly Asian tourists).
Just fabulous heavily glaciated lake/fiord scenery, "spellbinding" as they say, whether tramping, in a car, or the expensive way in a light plane.
Think of the Lake District but on 2x or 3x scale. The only similar landscape I know is Glacier/Waterton NP on the US/Canada border.
I've not been to the Norwegian fiords, but the NZ ones are different, less arctic, more rugged, bushy and topped with snow, and full of spectacular waterfalls.
I've been back a couple of times, and there's lots to explore if you have the time and are prepared to tramp a little.

What got me was when I told Aucklanders how much I had loved Fiordland, they looked sheepish (not hard in NZ) and said they'd never been (even to South Island!).
Sadly, no railways, although there is still (I think) a short heritage line at Kingston, and the 1912 ex-NZR TSS Earnslaw is still plying Lake Wakapitu (Queenstown).
But the Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound trips should be on anyone's bucket list.
It is, unfortunately, at the furthest end of the furthest destination on the earth from the UK.
It takes a day even to get back up to Auckland, before you start the 24-hour long long haul back.

I was a fan of the Air New Zealand flight from London to Auckland via Los Angeles (in my day it called in at Tahiti or Honolulu too, at dead of night).
However, that route is now unattractive with heavy US customs/immigration checks at LAX.
Singapore Airlines works well now via Singapore, and they fly to/from Christchurch as well as Auckland, and start from Manchester (as I did).
Similar itineraries via Hong Kong on Cathay.
Mostly A350/B787 these days, but when services will return to "normal" is hard to predict at the moment.

There's plenty of railway interest in NZ, if you look for it.
KiwiRail still run the inter-island ferries, and two of the three ships have past history in the Irish/North Sea; the third is also a train ferry.
Interislander - Wikipedia

View attachment 96966
Kingston Flyer
View attachment 96965
Key Summit

Wow that is a lot of useful information! The South Island is absolutely where I plan to spend most of my trip, the North Island looks amazing for sure. The plan is only exceptionally vague right now, but the first handful of days lies something like this:

Day 1, arrive in Auckland from the UK and adjust to the new timezone as much as possible, get a bearing on what's around and so on.

Days 2 and 3, explore Auckland and the surrounding area, utilising ferries to the places on the little islands etc.

Day 4, venture south on the train to the Interislander ferry, ending probably in Picton for the night but maybe Wellington (times not yet examined), and I will say the ferry journey looks amazing

Day 5, explore the area, if in Wellington spend time there.

After that, it's all focused on things like the South Island train, then coaches to the scenic bits I want to do. Milford Sound is definitely a place I want to go, and those fjords sound amazing! Heading back to the UK, I would probably choose to fly from one of the South's airports, although I'd also be open to sampling an Air New Zealand flight back to Auckland first.

I would advise Singapore as a stopover if possible as a) the airport is lovely, there can't be many places with a poolside bar in an air terminal, or a waterfall and rainforest. And also you will have done a much bigger chunk of the journey already by the time you get there. Getting off a long flight knowing you have to get on an even longer one is a bit grim

Changi Airport does look amazing, there is no question of it. I understand the connecting into a longer flight thing, when I did Sydney in March 2019 I did Manchester to Abu Dhabi then Abu Dhabi to Brisbane not that long afterwards. I was extremely glad to arrive in Brisbane, that's for sure, despite it being my longest ever single flight on a 787.

I'm still not sure whether I'd rather get the flights done and out of the way first, then enjoy the trip, or whether I'd prefer a nice little overnight break in, say, Singapore so I'd be more refreshed when I get to the second long flight. They both have pros and cons after all.

Yes, Singapore is well worth a couple of days as a stopover on the way to New Zealand for the chance of some proper food, sleep in an actual bed and see the sights. It also has easily the best airport in the world which is worth several hours exploring.

There's a good point with the food. I was always a fussy eater when I was last in the air, and I've now gone from meat-eater to vegetarian to almost-100% vegan. Even worse, I'm a fussy vegan!

Singapore itself, I'm not really that bothered about. The airport, I would explore that! So I guess it'll come down to what's affordable at the time. With Iceland already lined up for March 2022, pushed back two years for obvious reasons, it's going to be an expensive year!

 

[re320]

I have solo travelled Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia and hawaii in 2019/2020.yes I do feel I'm being punished for being away so much that now I can't at all haha.
I'd never even been to the cinema alone so it was a shock to the system and tough at times, like really bloody tough. I did aus made some bad choices and stayed too long in some and others too short. Then to new Zealand on a tour with a group which was infinitly easier and more pleasurable.
And so on.
You get the hang of it, staying in hostels is easier to make friends but not garunteed and means you have to put yourself out there if you want to speak to another human that day lol.
For me the hardest but was having no one else to plan with, no one else to keep track of things. I panned it all when was there so sometimes spending ages researching and booking etc is a bore and always a concern missing stuff.

But overall I loved it and the awful times become hilarious stories. I was looking at interrail Europe when we can travel again and just think I would plan it out fully before going so the planning isn't needed when there taking up time.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Singapore has an air-side hotel, which you can rent by the hour I think.
Always good to get your head down for a few hours between flights.
Starting from Manchester, on either SQ or CX, you have all day in Sin/HK before the second flight in the evening.
I found it useful and interesting to use the local metros to get into the cities and explore a bit, to pass the time.
MRT (Singapore) and MTR (HK) certainly know how to run metro services, and the networks are fascinating in themselves.

Coming back it's usually a short gap between flights in the middle of the night - not so good.
Just don't get a flight that calls in at Mumbai on the way...

 

[camflyer]

Singapore has an air-side hotel, which you can rent by the hour I think.
Always good to get your head down for a few hours between flights.
Starting from Manchester, on either SQ or CX, you have all day in Sin/HK before the second flight in the evening.
I found it useful and interesting to use the local metros to get into the cities and explore a bit, to pass the time.
MRT (Singapore) and MTR (HK) certainly know how to run metro services, and the networks are fascinating in themselves.

Coming back it's usually a short gap between flights in the middle of the night - not so good.
Just don't get a flight that calls in at Mumbai on the way...

The worst travel experience of my life was a 6 hour layover in Mumbai about 15 years ago. There is a new international terminal open now which I'm told is modern but back then it was like landing on a different planet. India can be a fascinating country but it's not always good at first impressions.

Both Hong Kong and Singapore are great layover cities. Not places you would want (or could afford to) spend a long time but ideal for a couple of days. It would be a tough call between the two which had the better public transport system.

For solo travel I've spent the most time in SE Asia. It's a region which is perfectly setup for exploring at your own pace. Hotels, food and transport are very cheap, English spoken everywhere and there are always loads of other people doing exactly the same. Just need to be flexible as nothing ever runs on time (except in Singapore)

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I'm not really a frequent enough traveller to know all the ins and outs, but it used to be the case that when long-haul flights stopped for a couple of hours to reload/refuel, you were usually able to deplane, leaving a "reserved" card in your seat, and your cabin bags, and could wander about airside for an hour or so, buying a snack or postcard or duty free it you felt like it before re-boarding, just showing your boarding card to regain your seat.
Very civilised. You could also stay asleep if you preferred.
Bombay was like that when I first dropped in en route to Australia, and I found the place fascinating and friendly.

But now, since 9/11 I guess, once the plane door is open, it is declared "insecure" and everybody is forced to deplane, with all their cabin baggage, and go through a stringent security check, just like on departure.
Doing that in the dead of night, in a long and disorderly queue with a gun visibly pointing at me, was my last experience of Mumbai.
Against that, the idea of a non-stop flight from the UK to Australia is quite appealing, but you pay for the privilege of 19 hours in the air.

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the input there, something to consider. Still a long way off ready to book anything, got to get time off work authorised and that is easier said than done sometimes. Especially for two full weeks together, let alone anything more!

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

@Techniquest
New Zealand? I read a report, apparently it is not much different from the UK but a few decades behind, imperial leather soap and mars bars were scarce, hardly seems worth going so far for.
..
I fancy La France Profonde, stay a week in a small town with day trips on trains going in different directions, a bit stranger than NZ perhaps.

 

[camflyer]

Thanks for the input there, something to consider. Still a long way off ready to book anything, got to get time off work authorised and that is easier said than done sometimes. Especially for two full weeks together, let alone anything more!

Is New Zealand really worth doing if you only have 2 weeks? Not only is there the time to adjust to the timezone when you arrive but also when you come back and return to work.

I can only take 2 weeks off at time and find that Thailand/Vietnam is just about doable in a fortnight but Oz/NZ would just be to far.

 

[Techniquest]

Is New Zealand really worth doing if you only have 2 weeks? Not only is there the time to adjust to the timezone when you arrive but also when you come back and return to work.

I can only take 2 weeks off at time and find that Thailand/Vietnam is just about doable in a fortnight but Oz/NZ would just be to far.

I will have to make some seriously tough decisions on that, but I would say so, yes. Bear in mind I did Sydney when I was still a primarily urban tourist, and that trip was done over 5 days. I forget exactly how that went, I would need to dig out my trip report. Which says I did it over 7 days including travel time. I'm about to go read that trip report again, it's been a while so it'll be interesting to see what I did.

If I do with just 14 days off work, it would have to be fairly action-packed to fit everything in. Or it could be that I focus on the South Island, and anything I don't get to do on the North Island can either wait or will not be deemed important enough to do. This will be my first trip without focus on exploring the cities and ignoring much of the countryside (Hungary, for example, I have only done Budapest. Poland, I've only done Kraków but I am determined to go back and visit Gdansk, Poznan and the country in general), so it'll be interesting to see what I plan.

It might work out that I do the trip then have to go back one day for the rest. Similar applies to Poland, as detailed above, and no doubt the same will apply to Iceland. I can only go for a very short time, so having to prioritise!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

New Zealand? I read a report, apparently it is not much different from the UK but a few decades behind, imperial leather soap and mars bars were scarce, hardly seems worth going so far for.

Those jokes are as old as those about BR's curly sandwiches.
It has a veneer of British values (often more Scots and Irish than English), royal family, TV content, drive on the left etc, much like Australia.
It has far more scenery in a smaller space than Australia, it's semi-tropical in the north, the ecology is quite different to here and the Pacific "ring of fire" runs through the country, so you get earthquakes, volcanoes and hot springs, unlike in, say Basingstoke.
Geographically it would fit in northern Spain and Portugal if the coordinates were reversed, so the sun is that much higher and brighter than here.
The weather is indeed almost as variable as the UK, but it's generally warmer and the air (from the southern ocean) has a purity and clarity you can't imagine here.
There's also a significant population of Maori and Pacific islanders with their own distinctive culture, and it's a very integrated, family-oriented place.
I find it a friendly, endearing and progressive place, and well worth travelling half-way round the globe to see - when they decide to let us in again.
You can also annoy Australians by telling them you prefer NZ - it sends them wild...
And I like Australia too, but it's just TOO BIG!

 

[camflyer]

I will have to make some seriously tough decisions on that, but I would say so, yes. Bear in mind I did Sydney when I was still a primarily urban tourist, and that trip was done over 5 days. I forget exactly how that went, I would need to dig out my trip report. Which says I did it over 7 days including travel time. I'm about to go read that trip report again, it's been a while so it'll be interesting to see what I did.

If I do with just 14 days off work, it would have to be fairly action-packed to fit everything in. Or it could be that I focus on the South Island, and anything I don't get to do on the North Island can either wait or will not be deemed important enough to do. This will be my first trip without focus on exploring the cities and ignoring much of the countryside (Hungary, for example, I have only done Budapest. Poland, I've only done Kraków but I am determined to go back and visit Gdansk, Poznan and the country in general), so it'll be interesting to see what I plan.

It might work out that I do the trip then have to go back one day for the rest. Similar applies to Poland, as detailed above, and no doubt the same will apply to Iceland. I can only go for a very short time, so having to prioritise!

Now, 2 weeks travelling around Poland sounds like great fun. I've been to Warsaw and Krakow but Gdansk and Poznan have been on my to do list for years. Really friendly country, great food and drink and reasonable prices too.

 

[StuBob]

Something over always fancied doing tbh likewise spending a period of travelling by jumping on the cheapest flight to wherever, without planning, and seeing where it takes me for a few days before doing the same again from that place and so on. Doing that solo or with others, I don't think you'd really miss out either way, all about attitude and doing what you want.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

What about jet lag? I thought that would cost at least a day or arrival and another on return home, from a week down under there would not be much left. Better maybe to save up and go for several weeks, or wait till retirement and go for a few months. Or if one is young enough get a work and travel visa.