Never Been Abroad

~Fairykissesbenignwishes~ · Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:24 am

Travelling abroad for the first time- shocking i know! And i'm not doing it by halves- i will going to Australia. Can anyone give me some good travelling advice as i don't travel well. Often suffer with travel sickness..:-3:yh_sad

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:28 am

I thought transportation to the colonies was just so over??????????

You nick something, FKBW, know what I mean??!!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:28 am

Hi I see this is your first post so welcome to FG! :-6

As to your question, I know when I was going on my first trip abroad that it was very worrying. My best advice is to do a lot of research before hand, especially as to what you allowed to take with you as hand luggage, and all the new rules that are now in place at airports as security measures.

There are plenty of Aus members here so I am sure that they can help you some more. Anyways I wish you all the best with your trip!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:35 am

Farewell to Old England forever

Farewell to my old pals as well

Farewell to the well known Old Bailee

Where I once used to be such a swell

Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty,

Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ay,

Singing too-rall, li-oo-rall, li-ad-di-ty

Oh we are bound for Botany Bay

---------

The beach is pretty good here right now. I spent most of the day in the sea at Manly, which isn't really that far from Botany Bay. Maybe we could spring you ..

Summer is coming.

:-6

You wanna come to Chris?

By air, these days, the trip only takes about 22 hours. I do it often. No biggie, really.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:40 am

Oh yeah sure Pam ONLY 22 hours!! :wah:

I hope to visit beautiful AUS soon, but only when I am in a comfortable position, which isn't just yet, kinda in a transistion phase at the moment hehehe. :-6

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:19 am

~Fairykissesbenignwishes~;707143 wrote: Travelling abroad for the first time- shocking i know! And i'm not doing it by halves- i will going to Australia. Can anyone give me some good travelling advice as i don't travel well. Often suffer with travel sickness..:-3:yh_sad
All my life I've sufferd with travel sickness as a passenger in a car, but I've never experienced it on an aircraft so hopefully you'll be ok. Enjoy the experience. At some point the plane may move around a bit when there's turbulence. It's nothing to worry about and is normal. When it happens I usually close my eyes and imagine being in a car on a rocky road and that wouldn't bother you would it?

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:58 am

Ok, done the long haul stuff a few times and not the best traveller myself.:yh_sick this is me on slightly bumpy seas!!

Get yourself prepared for a long flight, if you're in the mindset that you're in for a boring day you'll cope with it better. Take books, magazines, tasty snack treats, mp3 player whatever.

Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol as it dehydrates you. Get up and move around the plane regularly and remember to do the exercises to prevent deep vein thrombosis that are printed in the in-flight magazines.

Sea bands help me (the elasticated wrist thingies that work on acupressure points) or you may want a travel sickness pill just in case.

Split the flight into sections in your mind - between meals, movie schedules whatever, it helps to take it in stages so that you can work out how far you've gone and how much more you have yet to travel.

Above all, focus on the reason you are on the plane which is to get to a wonderful country where you will have a fantastic time. I loved it there and am definately going back some time.

Have fun.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:15 am

Imladris;707199 wrote: Get yourself prepared for a long flight, if you're in the mindset that you're in for a boring day you'll cope with it better. Take books, magazines, tasty snack treats, mp3 player whatever.

I can't emphasise this enough, especially with such a long trip to Australia, it can get very boring, and that goes double if you aren't good at sleeping in uncomfortable places!!

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:15 am

Scrat;707316 wrote: One more thing, if you're flying to Heathrow cancel the tickets immediatly and fly anywhere else. Crash landing in the channel is better than that. I flew through there twice and I'll never do it again.

But Heathrow is wonderful! All those marvellous shopping opportunities before you leave to buy the things you didn't know that you needed. The wonderful surly staff, the policemen with guns, the many chances to get lost in the huge, huge terminal buildings not to mention on the links between them. The potential for a strip search by customs officers with gloves on! The amazingly friendly taxi drivers who can't wait to take you on from the airport - some of them are even legal! What's not to love??

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:29 am

Imladris;707199 wrote: Ok, done the long haul stuff a few times and not the best traveller myself.:yh_sick this is me on slightly bumpy seas!!

Get yourself prepared for a long flight, if you're in the mindset that you're in for a boring day you'll cope with it better. Take books, magazines, tasty snack treats, mp3 player whatever.

Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol as it dehydrates you. Get up and move around the plane regularly and remember to do the exercises to prevent deep vein thrombosis that are printed in the in-flight magazines.

Sea bands help me (the elasticated wrist thingies that work on acupressure points) or you may want a travel sickness pill just in case.

Split the flight into sections in your mind - between meals, movie schedules whatever, it helps to take it in stages so that you can work out how far you've gone and how much more you have yet to travel.

Above all, focus on the reason you are on the plane which is to get to a wonderful country where you will have a fantastic time. I loved it there and am definately going back some time.

Have fun.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:33 am

sunny104;707331 wrote:

It's ok sunny - you can have loads when you get off the plane to make up for it!!!!!:D

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:35 am

Imladris;707335 wrote: It's ok sunny - you can have loads when you get off the plane to make up for it!!!!!:D

I always do!

you have to have something to look forward to.

:wah:

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:24 am

excellent advise Scrat, well and everybody... yes get to where you are going early it reduces your stress by 100%.

Bring a good book you can always spend your time reading that is relaxing.

Heathrow Airoprt, OMG last time I was there I met this ecclectic collection of FG members, I have awesome memories of that airport hehehehehe I will bet ya Weeder can tell you the same thing.

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:29 am

minks;707396 wrote: excellent advise Scrat, well and everybody... yes get to where you are going early it reduces your stress by 100%.

Bring a good book you can always spend your time reading that is relaxing.

Heathrow Airoprt, OMG last time I was there I met this ecclectic collection of FG members, I have awesome memories of that airport hehehehehe I will bet ya Weeder can tell you the same thing.

Oh the memories all right, who can forget those!! :wah:

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:35 am

Imladris;707325 wrote: But Heathrow is wonderful! All those marvellous shopping opportunities before you leave to buy the things you didn't know that you needed. The wonderful surly staff, the policemen with guns, the many chances to get lost in the huge, huge terminal buildings not to mention on the links between them. The potential for a strip search by customs officers with gloves on! The amazingly friendly taxi drivers who can't wait to take you on from the airport - some of them are even legal! What's not to love??
I'm detecting a tone here. :-3

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:39 am

I love the pubs at Heathrow!

chrisb84uk · Post by **chrisb84uk** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:43 am

sunny104;707408 wrote: I love the pubs at Heathrow!

hahaha I get the feeling though that you love the pubs practically anywhere Sunny! :wah:

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:45 am

chrisb84uk;707413 wrote: hahaha I get the feeling though that you love the pubs practically anywhere Sunny! :wah:

:o

:wah:

there's nothing like being in a dark, cozy English or Irish pub though! :-4

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 8:57 am

Pick up some ginger from the market. Chewing on small bits of ginger can help prevent motion sickness.

SlipStream · Post by **SlipStream** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:03 am

never bin outa the uk myself.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:06 am

I have never been A broad either, I rather like being a dude myself.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:18 am

LA airport was the one that I didn't like much - kept being approached by scary beggers.

Small airports are more fun 'cos there's less chance of getting lost!!!

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 2:21 pm

Guys, we're all being chatty and friendly with a dude who came in, posted once, and shot through.

Maybe he/she's at 30,000 feet right now soaring over Kazakhstan, or cruising into Changi....

:driving:

minks · Post by **minks** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:02 pm

Lon;707449 wrote: Pick up some ginger from the market. Chewing on small bits of ginger can help prevent motion sickness.

oh I forgot about the ginger Lon, yes quite right, we used to buy Ginger tablets for Jr Minks when ever we travelled with her.

As well as those little wrist bands with the button that pressed onto the pressure point on the inside of your wrist she claimed both were helpful.

neffy · Post by **neffy** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:43 am

Scrat;707316 wrote: One more thing, if you're flying to Heathrow cancel the tickets immediatly and fly anywhere else. Crash landing in the channel is better than that. I flew through there twice and I'll never do it again.

well that is really going to help with this members worries:-3.

have a great time once you settle on the plane you will love it xxx

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:02 am

YZGI;707462 wrote: I have never been A broad either, I rather like being a dude myself.

I wondered how long it would be before you said that YZ :wah::wah:

~Fairykissesbenignwishes~ · Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:27 am

Thank you for all the responses, its very much appreciated. Didnt get a chance to write back yesterday as i was busy with work. I'll take on board all your comments. There were alot of mixed responses from you all. Interesting to hear others who havnt been abroad, i sometimes feel like i'm behind everyone as they all seem to holiday abroad every year. I'm visiting NSW Pam, because we won't be there as long as we'd like to be we'll only be visiting Sydney and the surrounding areas. I did want to travel up the North Coast to Queensland. However, the trip will be just as amazing in Sydney and places near by!:-6 Ginger? For travel sickness? Never heard that before?!?!?ha ha ha.

Imladris · Post by **Imladris** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:10 am

~Fairykissesbenignwishes~;707987 wrote: Thank you for all the responses, its very much appreciated. Didnt get a chance to write back yesterday as i was busy with work. I'll take on board all your comments. There were alot of mixed responses from you all. Interesting to hear others who havnt been abroad, i sometimes feel like i'm behind everyone as they all seem to holiday abroad every year. I'm visiting NSW Pam, because we won't be there as long as we'd like to be we'll only be visiting Sydney and the surrounding areas. I did want to travel up the North Coast to Queensland. However, the trip will be just as amazing in Sydney and places near by!:-6 Ginger? For travel sickness? Never heard that before?!?!?ha ha ha.

Go to Katoomba and the Blue Mountains if you can, not far from Sydney but fabulous. Have a great time

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:11 am

I'm a Sydney girl, FKBW. Any specific info you require? And yes, on the ginger. I've heard that from a lot of different sources. I'm incapable of sleeping on planes (can sleep anywhere else!). Seriously, do what the airlines suggest. Start your journey well rested, don't drink too much alcohol on board (a brandy and ginger ale is a good starter), keep hydrated, take a good book and an iPod. Most airlines have pretty decent inflight entertainment systems now, and this helps. Move around the cabin a bit, and take the opportunity at the refuel point to do a good, energetic walk. Personally I find the longer Australia/Europe trip easier than the 14 hour Australia/US trip, because of the stop in Singapore/Bangkok.

If you've just got a couple of days in Sydney, a harbour ferry ride is great (you don't need a formal tourist cruise, the ordinary ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach is an awesome half hour ride, and the beach is GREAT- swimmable right now too). I echo Imladris on the Blue Mountains. You can get there by train - bushwalking possibilities, kangaroos etc.

Darling Harbour in Sydney has an Australian Aboriginal exhibition place, with I think, twice daily shows of didgeridoo playing etc. I've taken visitors there a few times, and they've all loved it.

Another ferry ride can take you to Taronga Park zoo, where you can see lots of Aussie animals, or at Darling Harbour there is the Australian Wildlife Park with more specifically aussie critters.

At naughty Kings Cross, at Harry's famous Cafe de Wheels, you can get arguably the best aussie pies.

Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from Milsons Pt railway station. You end up in the historic Rocks area, full of convict history. From the Rocks, it's a short stroll along Circular Quay to the Opera House, and from there into the Botanic Gardens - where there are sulphur crested cockatoos, a fruitbat colony and the enormous Moreton Bay fig trees.

If you like walking, there's amazing foreshore walks round the harbour. Great views.

Bondi Beach (a short bus ride) is well worth a visit too.

Have a great trip.

~Fairykissesbenignwishes~ · Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:49 am

AussiePam;708001 wrote: I'm a Sydney girl, FKBW. Any specific info you require? And yes, on the ginger. I've heard that from a lot of different sources. I'm incapable of sleeping on planes (can sleep anywhere else!). Seriously, do what the airlines suggest. Start your journey well rested, don't drink too much alcohol on board (a brandy and ginger ale is a good starter), keep hydrated, take a good book and an iPod. Most airlines have pretty decent inflight entertainment systems now, and this helps. Move around the cabin a bit, and take the opportunity at the refuel point to do a good, energetic walk. Personally I find the longer Australia/Europe trip easier than the 14 hour Australia/US trip, because of the stop in Singapore/Bangkok.

If you've just got a couple of days in Sydney, a harbour ferry ride is great (you don't need a formal tourist cruise, the ordinary ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach is an awesome half hour ride, and the beach is GREAT- swimmable right now too). I echo Imladris on the Blue Mountains. You can get there by train - bushwalking possibilities, kangaroos etc.

Darling Harbour in Sydney has an Australian Aboriginal exhibition place, with I think, twice daily shows of didgeridoo playing etc. I've taken visitors there a few times, and they've all loved it.

Another ferry ride can take you to Taronga Park zoo, where you can see lots of Aussie animals, or at Darling Harbour there is the Australian Wildlife Park with more specifically aussie critters.

At naughty Kings Cross, at Harry's famous Cafe de Wheels, you can get arguably the best aussie pies.

Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from Milsons Pt railway station. You end up in the historic Rocks area, full of convict history. From the Rocks, it's a short stroll along Circular Quay to the Opera House, and from there into the Botanic Gardens - where there are sulphur crested cockatoos, a fruitbat colony and the enormous Moreton Bay fig trees.

If you like walking, there's amazing foreshore walks round the harbour. Great views.

Bondi Beach (a short bus ride) is well worth a visit too.

Have a great trip.

Thank Pam! Just the info i was looking for, we'll have plenty of time in Sydney so i hope to do all that and more. So much stuff i think i will have to print it off! ha ha. You definetely know your stuff on Sydney, thank you for the help!:) Just cnt wait to actually get there now. . .

Also, Imladris you read my mind- two places i wont be missing out on are Katoomba and The Blue Mountains! My boyfriend is very keen on the mountain explorations we can do and it has everything us wee travellers are looking for. I probably wont wanna come home! he he.

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:38 pm

I wasn't sure of your age or fitness level, FKBW, but I'm guessing young and fit. Here's a medium level, spectacular walk from Spit Bridge (bus from CBD to start), along the cliffs through great and varied bushland, maybe lunch at Clontarf beach, right to Manly where you can surf or swim or just soak up sun. Ferry back to CBD.

http://www.openroad.com.au/travel_onfoo ... omanly.asp

The Bradley's Head walk is also a wonderful shortish walk with incredible views

http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/par ... 039&Type=I

Round the Spit Bridge area, there is also great kayaking in Middle Harbour. I grab a boat there sometimes and stay out most of the day, beaching in some sandy cove for a picnic lunch.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 2:06 pm

Ive never been a broad either and after the Oh My God thread I just posted Ill be saying a little thank you prayer tonight.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:48 pm

Nomad;708215 wrote: Ive never been a broad either and after the Oh My God thread I just posted Ill be saying a little thank you prayer tonight.

I got it!:wah: