Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Huntingwhale]

We added on Croatia to our trip as well and it was amazing. Came at the perfect time; the weather was nice and pleasant and no hordes of tourists. Everyone told us if we would have come a even a few weeks later it would be a different experience.

I was surprised by the prices too. Based on what I read about the transition to the Euro, I was expecting much worse, but perhaps that's relative to the salaries of others in the region. Likely also the time of year we went. I thought pricing was more then good. Was great to be in so many tourist hotspots that were basically empty, when the images I saw were shoulder to shoulder. Croats are so darn friendly.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by vegasbound

Has anyone done Sydney and Melbourne recently and have any good tips? Spending a couple days in each city. (also doing Brisbane/Gold Coast but have that covered)

Sydney…just walk around and drink good coffee. Seriously my favourite city in the world…was lucky enough to go there every year for business.

Take a ferry to Manly, it’s like an almost free harbour cruise. Cross to the beach then walk out towards the heads. Stop for a meal or gelato on the way back. This was my every-trip-first-day-must-stay-awake-and-keep-moving ritual.

The aquarium is awesome but I’ve come to realize that most aquariums are awesome.

The Rocks, Botanical Gardens (the giant bats are insane), Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour, Queen Victoria Building for shopping.

Eat well, walk around, drink the coffee.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

1) Galapagos Islands: Just a whole other world, with so many cool animals to see, who weren't afraid of humans at all. Definitely do it as a cruise, versus staying on land because you can get to more islands that way. And if you're going there, spend a few days in mainland Ecuador as well.

2) Portugal: Beautiful, friendly, not super expensive. Fun things to see and do (port tasting in the Douro Valley, rose wine museum in Porto, day trip to Sintra.

3) Mongolia: Did a canoe trip and then a 4x4 van trip, stayed in gers, rode camels, stopped at these little stores in the middle of nowhere and bought whatever random things they were selling (always alcohol and then something else). Met a guy from Alberta on top of a sand dune in the Gobi Desert.

4) Poland: The saltworks museum in Wieliczka was very cool. They have all kinds of thing, including a church built underground in a salt mine. When I was there, people could have their weddings there.

5) Kenya and Tanzania: Did the safari thing and it was amazing. Also stayed on Lamu Island, a small island with a town built out of stone. There are no cars on the island, so everything is transported by donkey. Easy for visitors to get lost, so the locals often just walk you to where you're trying to go.

Honourable mention to Hungary and Finland, two countries I lived in many years ago.

Any recommendations on booking this?

I have been suggesting this type of trip for my dad/brothers for a couple years now, but never knew anyone that did it. Did you book through a tour operator?

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

We circumnavigated on a cruise and added 10 days in Tokyo. Next time I’d take the bullet train and visit a few other cities that we didn’t get to on our cruise stops.

The wife and I are heading to Japan in October, and have never been. We are starting in Tokyo, then go to Hakone, Kyoto, and end off in Osaka. Hopefully not loading to much into two weeks.

What is the best thing to do money wise? How much Yen should one take with them?

[Fuzz]

You don't want to bring too much Yen, or you'll miss the absolute pleasure of withdrawing cash from an ATM there. I wish I had a video, but the one I used had Zelda sounds, and instead of just lamely presenting bills from a slot, a door opened to the classic tune of the Zelda treasure chest, and the money was presented upright with flashing lights. So good.

[marsplasticeraser]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

The wife and I are heading to Japan in October, and have never been. We are starting in Tokyo, then go to Hakone, Kyoto, and end off in Osaka. Hopefully not loading to much into two weeks.

What is the best thing to do money wise? How much Yen should one take with them?

I have never taken Yen with me, as the rates in canada are terrible (like 10% fees to get physical yen).

when I landed I used my card for my train ticket, and then found a 7-11 and took money out (I've been told that 7-11 is the best way to get cash).

Honestly, most everything takes card in the big centres.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

The wife and I are heading to Japan in October, and have never been. We are starting in Tokyo, then go to Hakone, Kyoto, and end off in Osaka. Hopefully not loading to much into two weeks.

What is the best thing to do money wise? How much Yen should one take with them?

I would take zero and withdraw from an ATM there. While I'm not as into machine sounds as Fuzz it's way cheaper than buying foreign bills here. Get some at an ATM at the airport when you arrive worst case.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I would take zero and withdraw from an ATM there. While I'm not as into machine sounds as Fuzz it's way cheaper than buying foreign bills here. Get some at an ATM at the airport when you arrive worst case.

That’s what we did. Worked well.

[Ryan Coke]

I took 50000 yen ($500 cdn) with me, just got it sent from my bank (simplii, they mail you the cash, works great). While we were there I ended up withdrawing from a 7-11 bank machine (no Zelda sounds or graphics). Both exchange rates were virtually identical.

If I went again tomorrow, I’d do the same….. get some to bring, but wouldn’t hesitate to get more there as needed. I would use my card most places, but there were several spots and situations that needed cash as well.

The exchange on my card was almost the same as the 2 cash exchange rates as well. So I wouldn’t stress too much about it, it’s very close to 1 yen = 1 cent regardless of what you use.

Edit to add, just don’t get cash from the airport kiosks here. Those rates are usually terrible.

[8 Ball]

Awesome advice thanks all. This has put my mind at ease.

[Bigtime]

Yup, 7/11 ATM's for the win, and plus you can get some great Japan convenience store food while you are there.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Yup, 7/11 ATM's for the win, and plus you can get some great Japan convenience store food while you are there.

errrrrrrrrr

[spetch]

Originally Posted by edslunch

Sydney…just walk around and drink good coffee. Seriously my favourite city in the world…was lucky enough to go there every year for business.

Take a ferry to Manly, it’s like an almost free harbour cruise. Cross to the beach then walk out towards the heads. Stop for a meal or gelato on the way back. This was my every-trip-first-day-must-stay-awake-and-keep-moving ritual.

The aquarium is awesome but I’ve come to realize that most aquariums are awesome.

The Rocks, Botanical Gardens (the giant bats are insane), Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour, Queen Victoria Building for shopping.

Eat well, walk around, drink the coffee.

When I was in Melbourne and area this past September I was pleasantly surprised how good the coffee shops were. They definitely do coffee right down there compared to us.

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by spetch

When I was in Melbourne and area this past September I was pleasantly surprised how good the coffee shops were. They definitely do coffee right down there compared to us.

I didn't drink coffee before I lived in Sydney for 5 years. Now I'm a coffee snob.

Blessing and a curse...

[3thirty]

Doing a cruise out of LA in November.

Any suggestions for a few days in and around LA for a family with 2 kids under 5 including a 3 year old in a wheelchair?

Did Disney a few months ago so avoiding that.

[fundmark19]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

Doing a cruise out of LA in November.

Any suggestions for a few days in and around LA for a family with 2 kids under 5 including a 3 year old in a wheelchair?

Did Disney a few months ago so avoiding that.

California Science Centre was pretty cool and cheap. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractio...alifornia.html

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Any recommendations on booking this?

I have been suggesting this type of trip for my dad/brothers for a couple years now, but never knew anyone that did it. Did you book through a tour operator?

It was 2011, so things have probably changed a bit since then. It was basically two tours. The main one was from Ulanbaatar west, including the Gobi desert. Here's a couple that sound similar.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/ca/mo...ongolia-160799

https://www.gadventures.com/trips/no...mongolia/8376/

The canoe part was a separate tour. My travel mate was really into kayaking and found a short 3(?) day canoe trip that went east of UB on the Tuul River, so we could see a different area. It was an easy canoe and we had a guide with us the whole way. I don't know that company.

While I was in the Gobi desert, I did run into a guy from Fort Mac who had just flown over there without plans, bought a camel to travel across the country and planned to sell it when he was done. At that time, it was easy to get a place to stay. Outside of UB, people lived in small communities consisting of a few gers (yurts) and stores. Most famlies had a summer and winter ger and in the summer, they would rent out their winter gers to tourists.

We also spent a few days in Ulanbaatar at the start and end of the trip, exploring on our own. At the time, it was a city the size of Calgary with about 5 traffic lights in the entire city and random holes in the sidewalks, with no warning, so it was a bit tricky to explore, but fun.

If you have a chance to go, I highly recommend it. It's a unique adventure not many people have. Just be prepared for very basic conditions everywhere (or at least in 2011).

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

Doing a cruise out of LA in November.

Any suggestions for a few days in and around LA for a family with 2 kids under 5 including a 3 year old in a wheelchair?

Did Disney a few months ago so avoiding that.

If the cruise leaves from Long Beach, the aquarium there is pretty incredible especially for kids. My kids loved it.

[fotze2]

Flying for the first time in years, because I hate it and the whole “journey” part and lose my mind in airports but my wife is gonna divorce me if we don’t go on a vacation. I need to bring my laptop. Is there a good carry one luggage where I can put the computer and whatever minimal crap I’ll bring to wear? Hard case maybe? Cool silver ones that make look like a drug dealer a spoiled Asian girl.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

The wife and I are heading to Japan in October, and have never been. We are starting in Tokyo, then go to Hakone, Kyoto, and end off in Osaka. Hopefully not loading to much into two weeks.



What is the best thing to do money wise? How much Yen should one take with them?

When will you be in Osaka? Expo Osaka ends on 13 October and it is not to be missed. If you haven't scheduled your travels already and have a chance to get to Osaka before it finishes, you should do so.

The Expo site is huge, you could probably spend a week there and not see all of the pavilions, so plan your visit carefully. The Canada pavilion is actually one of the highlights this time (unlike Expo Dubai where it was pretty lame).