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Post by chech on Oct 26, 2014 0:59:20 GMT
I was talking with Tiffany earlier about the cost of the tour to New Zealand and I just sat here to look at TT and Globus' tours of Australia to work out a basic cost. To say the least...I'm on the floor typing this. LOL With single supplement, the longest tour available that covers and the essential points in the east and central parts (not Perth) would cost almost $10,000. Then I'd have to add the cost of flying to Australia. $2000 minimum plus $300 to spend a night in Vancouver en route and back. That's $12,300 Then I'd have to add the cost of the five inter-air flights which are not included in the cost. No idea on the cost but assume $500 per flight. Now I'm up to $14,800. Then the optionals. There are a lot listed on the Globus page but none listed yet on the TT page, but that could run $2000 if I wanted to do some of the ones listed on the Globus page (scenic flights etc). <cough><cough> $16,800 Prenight and post night. $17,400 Internet access if it's like in NZ...$250 and tips...$200....oh...insurance...$1000 likely because it's so long. So, for arguments sake...not including spending money....a tour to Australia will cough...I mean cost me about $18,000 - $19,000. Then if I decided to drop into Perth to do a day tour to the Pinnacles and to Wave Rock...$2000. (This would mean I would fly home via Europe, so it would tick off my "fly around the world" point on my Bucket List. So, all in all, touring Australia would cost the average solo Canadian between $19,000 and $21,000 plus spending money. Hmmm...I wonder if I could crowdsource this...  |
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Post by Tonnet on Oct 26, 2014 11:42:23 GMT
I will not quote you back, Chech, but Western Australia could be worked out very well for you. Remember I have a motorhome and at least a four or five day stay would be sufficient to take you around a few of the sights in comfort - and the price is right!
It wold be a pleasure to take you around and there is nothing like the convenience of independence!  |
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Post by chech on Oct 26, 2014 16:25:42 GMT
LOL! Well, I'm a creature of routine which is why I like the tours. I like how AAT Kings has the one day tours from Perth that covers everything I want to see. Though I imagine I can treat you to coffee and a Krispy Kreme! LOL When you fly to Europe, what stop en route would you recommend (I lean towards Singapore) and which airline should I consider (Star Alliance)?  |
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Post by Tonnet on Oct 26, 2014 22:47:10 GMT
LOL! Well, I'm a creature of routine which is why I like the tours. I like how AAT Kings has the one day tours from Perth that covers everything I want to see. Though I imagine I can treat you to coffee and a Krispy Kreme! LOL When you fly to Europe, what stop en route would you recommend (I lean towards Singapore) and which airline should I consider (Star Alliance)? Singapore Airlines are Star Alliance members and they have an impeccable reputation for service. Singapore is only a short hop from Perth but is well worth a visit. From Singapore you would be able access a lot more Star Alliance members (Lufthansa is a regular from there).
There is a lot to do in Singapore and a stopover would prepare you for the long hop to Europe!
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Post by chech on Oct 26, 2014 23:20:40 GMT
Yeah, if I'm going to splurge, I might as well spend a day in Singapore. |
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denise
Junior Member
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Post by denise on Oct 27, 2014 8:43:45 GMT
Singapore is a great stop over. We spent 2 nights here on the way back from Europe earlier this month. Metro is cheap and easy to use. Taxi to/from the airport to our hotel just off Orchard Rd (the main shopping area) was $17-$21 SGD. Air conditioning is really good in Singapore (compared to Europe). Humidity can be very draining.
We had great curry and naan in Little India from a hawkers stall. Plus there is Chinatown. We went to the National Museum - very interesting. Gardens by the Bay is fabulous. Lots to do and see, would definetely look at having another stopover here.
Dubai is also great for a stopover - with a desert safari trip, lots of shopping!
I hope you'll get to Australia - a lot of people talk about it and the usual comment is about how far away it is but those northerners Ive met who've made the trip have all enjoyed it. It is different to NZ. Not sure where Trafalgar travels to - do you go to Uluru and Cairns (for the reef)? What time of year are you looking at? I live in Brisbane and the temperatures this week are up around 35C, massive thunderstorm tonight, still humid.
It's a shame that Trafalgar doesn't include the domestic airfares, 1 good thing that they included in the South American trip.
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Post by chech on Oct 27, 2014 12:38:02 GMT
Hi Denise, If I go, it will be in the shoulder season - spring or fall....or fall or spring. Most say October is best...some say April is just as good. I look for the time of the year with the greatest chance of clear skies (for photos). I can handle any cold and heat to a point. This is the map for the TT tour:  The Globus tour is very similar except it goes to Tasmania for 2 nights and sacrifices a night each in Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Globus also takes the Ghan to Alice Springs. I'm thinking (being someone who loves the night sky) that the extra time in AS/Ayers Rock are preferable. TT also runs the tour as a chain of day tours. I wouldn't travel with a group and a TD the whole time (Globus does). This has the potential advantage that I'd be by myself for most of it and I don't mind that. The downside is that if an annoying solo is on the same dates as me through the whole thing, it could be miserable! LOL Now that I've worked out the possible cost, I can start putting it aside and not dig into savings. And the first stop is Melbourne....where I can leave the cats with the world's best cat sitter. |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 29, 2014 1:34:28 GMT
Hi Denise, If I go, it will be in the shoulder season - spring or fall....or fall or spring. Most say October is best...some say April is just as good. I look for the time of the year with the greatest chance of clear skies (for photos). I can handle any cold and heat to a point. This is the map for the TT tour: The Globus tour is very similar except it goes to Tasmania for 2 nights and sacrifices a night each in Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Globus also takes the Ghan to Alice Springs. I'm thinking (being someone who loves the night sky) that the extra time in AS/Ayers Rock are preferable. TT also runs the tour as a chain of day tours. I wouldn't travel with a group and a TD the whole time (Globus does). This has the potential advantage that I'd be by myself for most of it and I don't mind that. The downside is that if an annoying solo is on the same dates as me through the whole thing, it could be miserable! LOL Now that I've worked out the possible cost, I can start putting it aside and not dig into savings. And the first stop is Melbourne....where I can leave the cats with the world's best cat sitter. Forget an extra night in Ayers Rock and Alice Springs. One's just a rock, seen one rock you've seen them all, and the other is just a dusty old town in the middle of nowhere! You couldn't travel all that way and not visit what is judged as the number 4 place in the world to visit, according to Lonely Planet. Tasmania is way better than those places! www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/regions/04-tasmaniaJust saying. |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 29, 2014 1:41:55 GMT
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Post by Tonnet on Oct 29, 2014 10:59:08 GMT
I have to wholeheartedly agree with you, Tas
P.S. The mascot attached to my motorbike is a Tassie Devil, complete with dark glasses!
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Post by chech on Oct 29, 2014 18:43:21 GMT
LOLOL...love the 29 reasons taz! Question is....how much can I really see in a day? AAT Kings doesn't have a short tour of Tasmania...it's 13 days and quite expensive. Ahh...decisions...decisions. |
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Post by chech on Oct 29, 2014 18:47:23 GMT
This is the map for the Globus tour. It also sacrifices a day in Adelaide over the TT tour but has the night on the Ghan.  It also flies from Alice Springs to Uluru. TT drives.  |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 29, 2014 21:50:40 GMT
This is what you missed by not being here on Tuesday Chech!  |
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Post by chech on Oct 29, 2014 22:15:00 GMT
But..but...but...I'm trying to escape the snow, not go towards it! |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 29, 2014 23:19:02 GMT
Best not to come in October then! Admittedly it is only up on the mountain rather than in the city, July 1986 was the last time snow settled in Hobart. We did reach 8°C on Tuesday so not super cold, even warmer on the sunnyside of Hobart!
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Post by chech on Oct 29, 2014 23:40:54 GMT
Ahh..not so bad. Three degrees here now. Going up to a blistering 15 tomorrow! My target would be for September October most likely - I don't mind the cold in the south. I just want to avoid the oppressive heat in the north. Woah...okay. I had to think that one through...LOL Most say it's the best time of the year to visit overall. |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 30, 2014 22:03:05 GMT
One thing I did forget to mention, and I'm sure a lot picked it up already, that picture number one isn't as nice as it seems. It is the sun shining through smoke from one of our many bush fires rather than a cloud like it says. |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 30, 2014 22:21:59 GMT
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Post by chech on Oct 30, 2014 22:28:48 GMT
Ohh..Maria Island looks interesting. I love unusual rocks! What is the best time of year to visit Australia to avoid the bulk of the brushfire season?  |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 31, 2014 0:43:29 GMT
Winter?! |
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Post by chech on Oct 31, 2014 1:31:48 GMT
Mine or yours? LOL Okay...so July to October? |
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 31, 2014 2:01:07 GMT
Here it is usually November to March (January-February the worst) you have to worry about fires, but not unheard of in October or April. I remember one year (maybe 8 or so years ago) in the middle of October after school sports were cancelled due to 38°C and the hills around Hobart were alight. Exactly one week later the same hills were white.
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Post by tassiedevil on Oct 31, 2014 5:39:39 GMT
Currently there are bush fires north of Adelaide and we had fires on the northeast coast 18-20 October.
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Post by chech on Oct 31, 2014 12:27:51 GMT
Hmmm...well, the timing would definitely mean the Globus tour is out....they don't have one available until late next year. TT starts tours every day (since they're a string of day tours), so that it has an immense amount of flexibility. |
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Post by auselle on Nov 15, 2014 6:17:11 GMT
I would definitely sacrifice a day at The Rock and Alice Springs to go to Tasmania.
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Post by auselle on Nov 15, 2014 6:27:13 GMT
Chech, Singapore is definitely the place for the stopover on the way to Europe, best airport I have ever been to. I am just back from 8 nights in Singapore with my son and daughter-in-law and 1 1/2 year old granddaughter. We stayed at a really good centrally located hotel Grand Park Orchard. The hotel supplies a smartphone per room and you can make unlimited free international calls as well as local calls. You can save money on your transfer in Melbourne, I'll be happy to pick you up at the airport and transport you and the cats to Oz-T's place |
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Post by chech on Nov 15, 2014 12:15:09 GMT
LOL. You'll need a moving van to transport the cats! The tour that goes to Tasmania looks much harder to get. Next departure is next fall and I can't plan trips that far in advance. That's the advantage to the TT/AAT Kings one - I could sign up a week prior no problem. Looks like I'll get a day in Singapore in January with the Vietnam tour. I'm doing the Cambodia extension and the flights from Cambodia are not as good as the ones from Singapore, so it's worth the stopover. It's a two night extension so I get a city tour and free time there. Now, all I have to do is recover from this tour. LOL |
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