not all those who wander are lost

Blog moving

2010-07-14T08:33:00.000-05:00

I've copied all the entries of this blog over to my new travel blog. Here's the link: http://cmbolton74.wordpress.com/ I'm not going to be using this one anymore. I just like Wordpress better. I'm not deleting this one, though.

53. Smart ways to bypass baggage fees

2010-07-01T13:24:00.001-05:00

7 smart ways to bypass baggage fees

Airlines rake in cash from charges, which means they're around to stay
by Caroline Costello

In the first quarter of 2010, the U.S. airline industry made more than $760 million in revenue from baggage fees, an increase of 33 percent over the same period last year. These numbers imply that legions of passengers are continuing to shell out hundreds of dollars for optional charges that can be avoided with modest effort.

Naturally, packing light is one of the best ways to avoid these extra fees. But traveling with the bare minimum isn't always an option — especially for passengers taking month-long cruises or families that need multiple pieces of luggage. Even those of us who've mastered the art of packing light are getting hit with full-size fees. Spirit Airlines recently added a downright obscene carry-on fee of up to $45 (starting August 1), and a single checked bag costs as much as $50 per roundtrip flight on most major airlines. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the industry's barrage of baggage fees — tricks that the airlines probably don't want you to know about.

Know your policy
Navigating the airlines' complicated baggage policies is no small undertaking. Baggage fees change constantly, and can vary by airline, destination, date of travel, number of bags, and bag weight and size. Even if you've secured an affordable plane ticket, you could end up paying a lot more than you bargained for when flying on a carrier that charges baggage fees.

We searched for nonstop weekend flights from New York to Las Vegas in August and found two fares for travel on the same dates: $471.40 roundtrip on American and $527.50 roundtrip on Southwest (including taxes and fees). The American Airlines flight is cheaper. But check two bags at a cost of $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second each way on American, and your total fare climbs to $591.40 — more than the cost of the Southwest flight, which includes free first and second checked bags.

Your best bet is to thoroughly read your airline's policy before you book your flight. You may also want to check out TripAdvisor's flight search tool,which has a fee estimator that lists fares in conjunction with airline baggage fees based on how many pieces of luggage you plan to travel with.

Join a frequent flier program
Travelers who fly often can save on baggage fees by joining their favorite airline's frequent flier program. Virtually all major airlines offer some kind of frequent flier program that includes baggage fee discounts or waivers for "elite" or "preferred" members. (Most airlines, including the big ones — Continental, American, United, US Airways, Delta — bestow elite or preferred status on frequent flier members who've flown at least 25,0000 miles with the airline.) Contact your airline to learn more about its frequent flier program benefits.

Fly on a discount airline
Kudos to the no-frills discount airlines that don't charge travelers the price of a steak dinner just to check a bag. Southwest Airlines allows two checked bags per passenger, while JetBlue lets passengers check one bag for free. Unfortunately, not all discount airlines have magnanimous baggage policies. As of August 1, 2010, Spirit Airlines will charge travelers $45 ($30 when reserved online) for carry-on bags that don't fit under the seat, in addition to its checked bag fees.

Take the train
While airlines are charging left and right for big bags, extra bags and even carry-on bags (we're looking at you, Spirit), train travel is a different story. Amtrak's baggage allowance policy says passengers may carry on up to two pieces of luggage (not including personal items like purses, strollers or computer bags) and check up to three pieces of luggage — for free! Additional bags cost a surprisingly low $10 per bag. Plus, for a small fee (usually $5 to $10, depending on your route), train travelers can bring big-ticket items like bicycles, surfboards or musical instruments onboard. The best part? You won't have to worry that your acoustic guitar will end up smashed to bits on the tarmac. For more information, read " top 10 reasons to travel by train."

Use a luggage scale
Overweight baggage fees can be exceedingly more expensive than checked bag fees. Although you may manage to heroically stuff two weeks' worth of clothes into a single checked bag, you could end up paying hundreds of dollars per swollen, overweight piece of luggage (Delta charges as much as $450 each way for each checked bag that weighs more than 71 pounds on some international flights).

Purchase a small luggage scale and pack it with you when you travel. If your bag is just under the weight limit on your outgoing flight, extras you pick up along your trip, from souvenirs to soggy rain coats, could add some serious heft on the way home. Avoid overweight baggage fees by weighing your luggage each time you fly, including before your return flight. Is your luggage too heavy for the flight back? Stuff some things into your travel partner's suitcase or ship them home.

Ship your bags
At first glance, shipping one's bags may sound like a prohibitively expensive prospect. But take another look at your airline's baggage policies (at least eight major airlines charge more than $40 roundtrip for first checked bags), and suddenly standard delivery services and even luggage shipping companies don't sound like such a bad idea.

How much does shipping luggage cost? Prices charged by standard delivery services like FedEx, UPS and USPS vary based on size and weight of bags (luggage shipping companies such as Luggage Forward and Luggage Concierge tend to be slightly more expensive). UPS charges $51.99 to send a 40-pound suitcase from New York to San Francisco in five days. And there's no need to wait in lines at the check-in desk and baggage carousel when sending luggage through the mail. For more information, read " should you check or ship your bags?"

Upgrade your luggage
Thanks to high-tech materials like ballistic nylon and polycarbonate, it's not difficult to find a 29-inch upright suitcase that weighs less than 10 pounds We discovered an ultra-light 7.1-lb. Salsa Air 29" Multiwheel Trolley Suitcase on Luggage.com for $495. A more affordable 21-inch upright roller that weighs just under 8 pounds is available on Magellans.com for $179. We'll admit these bags are pretty expensive. But so are overweight baggage fees, which range from $49 (for checked bags weighing 51 to 70 pounds on AirTran Airways) to Delta's aforementioned $450 fee for extra-heavy bags on international flights. These fees, which apply each way and per bag, can amount to thousands of dollars for passengers who don't travel light. Because most high-quality luggage brands are designed to be both lightweight and exceptionally long-lasting, they can help frequent travelers avoid overweight baggage fees over time.

52. Australia travel facts

2010-06-17T19:40:00.001-05:00

Arriving and departing
All visitors to Australia must have a valid passport and, with the exception of New Zealanders, a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). These must be obtained in advance from an Australian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate: visit their website for more information (http://www.immi.gov.au/).

Electricity
Current emerges at 220-240 volts AC from Australian sockets, these being of a three-pin type unlike those used in most countries. You will either need to bring an adaptor for your appliances, or you can simply fit them with an Australian plug on arrival. Most shaver points are of the universal type.

Money matters
The Australian currency was decimalized in 1966, when sterling (pounds, shillings and pence) was replaced by dollars and cents (100 cents = $1). Coins come in 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent, 50 cent, $1 and $2 denominations, and notes (bills) in amounts of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. These are made of durable polymer. You can take as much money as you want into and out of the country, although amounts over A$10,000 must be declared to Customs.
Changing money is rarely a problem, with plenty of exchange bureaux at places where tourists congregate, as well as at banks. Bank hours are usually 9.30-4 Monday to Thursday, and 9.30-5 on Friday. Traveller's cheques made out in Australian dollars are likely to be dealt with more speedily. Credit cards are widely in use, but may not be particularly welcome in remote areas or in small shops.
ATMs are plentiful.

Time
The enormous width of Australia has resulted in the creation of three time zones. Eastern Standard Time (EST) applies to New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland; Central Standard Time (CST) applies to South Australia and the Northern Territory; and Western Standard Time (WST) applies to Western Australia. CST is half an hour behind EST, while WST is two hours behind. Daylight saving (Summer Time) is practiced in all states except Queensland, the NT and Western Australia from late October to late March, when clocks are advanced by one hour. Eastern Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

*edited to add
A couple of days after I wrote this, Sarah wrote on my Facebook Wall: Did you know its cheaper for you to purchase a return ticket from Perth to LA & back again, than it is to get a one way from Perth to LA??? How stupid is that! I say we book you a return flight and then just cancel the return portion of it, reckon we could do that lol? seriously, its $1700 compared to $2000 (thats australian money too, US would be $1490 for return versus $1750 for one way flight)

51. Nobody else will understand this...

2010-06-12T11:09:00.002-05:00

...but looking back at my Twitter account, I saw some things that Lauren and Sarah and I had talked about doing when I came to visit. So I decided I better compile the list somewhere so I could find it easily later.

Things to do when I visit Australia:
1. Make s'mores with Lauren
2. Help Sarah take care of her obnoxious neighbor and annoying dog. (Note to self: start coming up with a plan!)

Edited to add Sarah's comments from Facebook:

hey hey hey! why don't I get to make s'mores too??
whats the bet the next door neighbours will start trying to be all friendly and shizz with "their fellow american".

PS please add annoying kid to that sentence, its winter & raining & the little snot is *still* outside bouncing the god-damn basketball right outside my door... seriously, will no season offer me any peace?

Although Ros & I did laugh at the lady dancing like a drunkard when we peeked over the fence last week... what, it was 9.30pm on a wednesday & we could hear the music over the tv!

50. We're crazy

2010-06-03T15:05:00.001-05:00

So I was on http://formspring.me/ and decided to ask some people some questions. Sarah asked me one back, and then we took it over to Twitter.
From formspring:

Q: whats the one australian animal that you absolutely must see when you come here & I will make it happen :D asked by monkeymayhem100

A: Only one? I want to see a koala (and hopefully get my picture made holding one) and a kangeroo. I would say that I'd like to pet a Tasmanian devil as well, but I'd probably lose a hand to the little bugger.

From Twitter:

MonkeyMayhem100 - @louisianefille pic with Koala and pics feeding kangaroo's we can do :D eerrr you're on your own with the Tassie Devil, viscious shits!
louisianefille - @MonkeyMayhem100 Like I said, I'm afraid I'd lose a hand, so the Tassy is out. Unless he's behind bars or something, then I could stand...

louisianefille - @MonkeyMayhem100 ...in front of his cage and get a picture with him anyway. Maybe the baby ones are less ornery?
MonkeyMayhem100 - @louisianefille you can see them at the Wildlife park we'll take you too, but no sticking your hand in!
louisianefille - @MonkeyMayhem100 I'd like to keep my hand, thanks. So I won't be one of those idiots who end up on tv in the lion cage or something.
MonkeyMayhem100 - @louisianefille the Wildlife park we'll take you to, you can hold a huge ass wombat too... 50+ pounds of cuddly wriggly wombat lol
louisianefille - @MonkeyMayhem100 Wombats!! rofl Oh man that's going to be funny, my trying to hold on to it long enough for a picture.

I'm going to end up getting mauled by a wild animal or arrested, or both, while I'm in Australia. I can see it now.

*edited to add Lauren's comments from Facebook: For the record, I actually have patted a Tassie Devil....their bodies are all soft, but their tails are all bristly...defence mechanism.
And despite numerous rumours, they aren't actually that vicious...

49. Figured it out

2010-05-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

I'm just going to fly from Raleigh/Durham to Dallas instead of changing my ticket. By the time I pay the fees to change my ticket, I could just buy a one-way ticket from Raleigh/Durham to Dallas! So it doesn't make sense to do anything else.

48. Not sure what to do

2010-05-13T19:12:00.000-05:00

Okay, so we found out yesterday that Darren is being promoted to Division Manager of the new operation that Sanderson is going to be building in North Carolina.

My dilemma is this: I bought my ticket to Australia awhile back, leaving out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. If I'm in North Carolina, do I just book a flight for earlier that day from Raleigh/Durham to Dallas? Or do I try to change my booking to leave from Raleigh/Durham? I'd probably end up flying to Dallas anyway.

I may just get a flight that morning to Dallas and just hang around the Dallas airport until my flight to Los Angeles. Not sure what to do about this just yet. I have other things to worry about right now, like how am I going to save enough money for this trip if I'm not working?

On the other hand, that money from Dad's share of the oil well going in on Mamaw's land will help pay for the plane ticket home from the Land Down Under.

Decisions, decisions...

47. Updated Things To Do

2010-05-03T12:06:00.002-05:00

~~Buy a small purse to hold money, passport, ID, traveler's cheques, camera.~~
Get an extra memory card for the camera.
Get earplugs & a sleep mask for the plane.
Buy a voltage converter and adapters.
Get a TSA-approved luggage lock.
Call AT&T and have international roaming added/activated.
Call Dawn in Customer Service and let her know I will be using my debit card in Australia.
Apply for travel visa.
Book flight from Perth to Dallas.
Get an international calling card so I don't have to use the cell phone.

*edited to add Sarah's reply from Facebook: or you can get a cheap pre-paid phone here to use while you're here :D (cheaper and easier than calling cards)

46. Germany

2010-04-30T20:05:00.002-05:00

So my friend Christine and her husband Dennis are transferring back to Germany (Dennis is Army), and Darren and I are going to visit next spring! I think it will be a lot of fun. Plus we still have to get up to Alaska at some point to visit Darren's cousin Misty and her family.

*Edited to add Christine's reply from Facebook: Can't wait to see you! We will be home this summer in August, if you are in town. Get your passport updated! :)

45. Purse

2010-04-28T09:20:00.002-05:00

Need to buy one of those small purses that will hold just the essentials, like money, passport, ID, and credit cards.

44. Camera

2010-04-22T10:53:00.001-05:00

Need to buy an extra memory card for my camera.

43. Passport

2010-04-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

So I got my new passport a couple of days ago. Yesterday, they sent my old one back to me, with a couple of holes punched in it and a cancellation stamp on the inside. Now I just need to apply for my visa from the Australian government, and once I have that, I'm all set!

42. Shopping link

2010-04-09T06:06:00.002-05:00

New website I just found: http://www.aussieproducts.com/default.asp

41. Strategies for dealing with lost bags

2010-03-31T10:53:00.001-05:00

Strategies for dealing with lost bags

Getting your compensation requires follow-up, persistence

By Ryan Mclendon

NEW YORK - If an airline loses your luggage, your first stop should be the baggage claim office to report it missing. Your next move might be to buy a change of clothes.

But while airlines are required to reimburse passengers for clothing and toiletries in the event of a lost or delayed bag, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, getting that cash back may require persistence.

Many airlines' contract of carriage — the contract between carriers and passengers — don't specify clothing reimbursement in detail, but standard DOT policy demands they provide some compensation.

"Some airlines were declining for necessities, like clothing, needed immediately," said Bill Mosely, spokesman for the DOT. "(Airlines) cannot limit them to only outbound flights or how soon they expect the bags to arrive."

Mosely said some airlines also try to deny compensation to passengers for purchases made within the first 24 hours following the reported loss. But he said that's a violation of DOT regulations. Passengers should be able to purchase necessities after they file a missing bag claim, rather than having to wait to see if the bag turns up.

"It's not a new rule or new policy," Mosely said. "We expect (airlines) to compensate the consumer for their loses."

While the majority of checked bags reach their destination without incident, a total of 2,193,711 bags were reported mishandled by all airlines last year in the United States, with 188,254 reports filed in January alone.

A maximum liability of $3,300 for domestic flights can be claimed by the passenger should checked luggage be lost in transit. International limits are lower, roughly $100 for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of luggage, for a maximum total of $640.

Passengers can buy excess valuation for luggage as secondary insurance. A dollar buys $100 worth of extra insurance on domestic flights, with a ceiling of $17 for $1,700 in coverage.

George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com, a consumer travel Web site, said the DOT has been much more aggressive with airlines over passengers' rights under Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. According to Hobica, the department has been actively advocating on passengers' behalf when demonstrating a need for necessities.

"You can't just offer a tube of toothpaste and a pair of clean underwear," he said. "You have to treat (passengers) more fairly."

Note, however, that airlines are not required to refund baggage fees when they lose your bags.

While airlines are required to reimburse for clothing, the amount is negotiable. Hobica advises passengers to keep receipts for all clothing and personal items that they ever expect to take on a trip, since airlines will ask you prove the value of your clothing. "They won't buy you a new wardrobe, but you are entitled to a change of clothes," he said.

Mosely said the DOT has a hands-off approach on reimbursement rates. "How they arrive at their figure, we do not stipulate," he said.

And even though passengers are entitled to recoup funds, don't expect the airlines to fork over cash easily, said Anna Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. Passenger confusion and frustration often work in the airlines' favor. When customers don't follow up claims, airlines benefit.

There's also no guarantee airlines will accept your claim.
On a recent flight from Los Angeles to New York City, my carry-on bag was checked at the gate last-minute and was then left at the connecting airport, Philadelphia.

By the time my luggage was delivered to me two nights later, I had bought a shirt to wear to work. I submitted a receipt but my carrier refused to compensate me for two reasons. One, I was an inbound flight passenger, and the airline said in a letter that passengers on the home leg of a round trip presumably have clothes at home; and two, my receipt for the shirt was time-stamped several hours after the airline logged in the delivery of my bags. I was not home to receive the bag on that first delivery attempt, however, so I am challenging the denial of the claim.

"Everything is extremely difficult for the consumer," Banas said. "It's up to the consumer to do all the legwork. They have to jump through a million hoops."

In the event an airline denies a claim, Mosely suggests filing a claim with the Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement Office.

"If there are a pattern of complaints that indicate an airline might be violating DOT consumer rules, the department would investigate," he said. "If we found there was a violation, they would take enforcement action."

You can avoid these hassles altogether by not checking luggage at all. "If you're traveling domestically, go to Kinko's and send it ahead of time," Hobica said. "It's usually cheaper and easier to track."

You can also reduce the likelihood of lost baggage by arriving early so there's ample time for your luggage to be screened and sent to the correct gate, according to Susan Foster, author of "Smart Packing for Today's Traveler."

"Allow two hours," Foster said. "Maybe have lunch in a real restaurant rather than taking some crappy food on a plane."

Foster always packs a survival kit in her carry-on, including phone charger, medication, clean shirt and underwear, everything she needs to "hit the ground and do what I need to do."

"I don't want to miss a day," she said.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36100847/ns/travel-tips/

40. State Department's Australia page

2010-03-31T08:25:00.000-05:00

Link to the U.S. State Department's Australia page: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_954.html

39. It's on now!

2010-03-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

Okay, so a couple of weeks ago I bought my plane ticket to Brisbane (still haven't bought my return ticket from Perth yet though...haha).

Anyway, yesterday I took my passport application and the necessary documentation to the Post Office and turned it in. I have officially applied for my new passport now. (They took my old one that was in my maiden name...I hope they give it back, but I didn't think to ask.)

Applying for a passport isn't cheap! I made a check out to the US Department of State for $75, then realized I didn't have another check to pay the Post Office their fee of $25, so I used my debit card to pay that. (And silly me, forgot to put a new checkbook in my checkbook/wallet thingie after I got home.)

But that's it, it's done. Now I just have to wait for the thing to come in the mail, which should only take, oh...6 weeks.

38. tips

2010-03-25T10:59:00.000-05:00

According to Rick Seaney of http://www.farecompare.com/, airlines are doing more short-lived sales, with three-day sales becoming the norm. These deals are typically put in the system on Monday nights, so you need to shop from Tuesday through Thursday to get the cheapest prices, he said.

For instance, Southwest Airlines began offering Tuesday what it described as "three days of breathtaking bargains." A purchase by end of day Thursday can get you a one-way fare as low as $59 for travel from Albuquerque, N.M., to Phoenix. But there are catches. You can't fly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Also, a 14-day advance purchase is required.

You don't have to book months in advance to get the best deals. Many airlines are recycling similar sales over and over again as they seek to fill planes amid a turnaround in demand for air travel.

But, FareCompare's Seaney warns that procrastinators may not find the same deals they did just six months ago. That's because since the end of the third quarter of 2009 seats have become more scarce and prices more firm so airlines have no incentive to release cheap seats to those who procrastinate, Seaney said.

Also, book your ticket sooner for the busier summer season than you would if you plan to fly in the fall or winter.

While some airlines offer last-minute deals to certain points on certain days, in general for leisure travel it is a good idea to give yourself a cushion of at least a month from the time you buy your ticket to the time you plan to travel.

Snagged from this article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36022648/ns/travel-tips/

37. Info

2010-03-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

Facts about Perth
Area code is 08.
American Express office is at 645 Hay St. Mall, open Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to noon.
The United States Consulate - General is at 16 St. Georges Terrace (08/9202 1224)

ATMs
http://www.mastercard.com/ (Cirrus)
http://www.visa.com/ (PLUS)

Currency exchange
www.travelex.com/au

Restricted/banned items
http://www.affa.gov.au/
http://www.customs.gov.au/
http://www.cbp.gov/

Embassies/Consulates
21 Moonah Place, Yarralumba, ACT 2600. Also in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.

Telephone
To make international calls from Australia, first dial 0011 and then the country code, followed by the area code and number.

Weather
http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/
http://www.bom.gov.au/

Web sites
http://www.australia.com/
http://www.destinationqueensland.com/
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/
http://www.westernaustralia.com/
http://www.experiencebrisbane.com/
http://www.sydneyvisitorcentre.com/
http://www.sydneyaustralia.com/
http://www.sydney.citysearch.com.au/

36. Shopping in Perth

2010-03-24T11:35:00.001-05:00

Two shops showcase contemporary ceramic, textile, glass, and jewelry products: FORM at 357 Murray St., just around the corner from King Street; and Aspects of Kings Park, behind the visitor center.

For Aboriginal arts and crafts, visit:
Creative Native at 32 King St., which stocks Perth's widest range of Aboriginal arts and crafts. Upstairs is a gallery selling original works by some renowned Aboriginal artists. There's another branch at 65 High St. in Fremantle.

Indigenart at 115 Hay St. in Subiaco and 82 High St. in Fremantle stocks works on canvas, paper, and bark, as well as artifacts, textiles, pottery, didgeridoos, boomerangs, and sculpture, by Aboriginal artists from all over Australia.

Western Australia is renowned for farming the world's best South Sea pearls off Broome, for Argyle diamonds mined in the Kimberley, and for being one of the world's biggest gold producers.

For jewelry, visit:
Artisans of the Sea, on the corner of Marine Terrace and Collie Street in Fremantle, sells elegant South Sea pearls and gold jewelry.

Some of Perth's other leading jewelers, where you can buy opals, Argyle diamonds, and Broome pearls, are Costello's, Shop 5-6, London Court, and Linneys, 37 Rokeby Rd. in Subiaco.

For opals to suit all budgets, head to the Perth outlet of Quilpie Opals, Shop 6, Piccadilly Arcade off Hay Street Mall.

Where to buy an Argyle diamond:
Kailis, 29 King St. http://www.kailisaustralianpearls.com.au/
Linneys, 37 Rokeby Rd. http://www.linneys.com.au/
Perth Mint, 310 Hay St. http://www.perthmint.com.au/
Solid Gold, Level 1, Gledden Building, 731 Hay St. http://www.solidgold.com.au/

35. Things to see and do in Perth and Fremantle

2010-03-24T11:14:00.004-05:00

Top Perth attractions
AQWA (Aquarium of Western Australia) in City Center http://www.aqwa.com.au/
Kings Park & Botanic Garden in Kings Park http://www.bgpa.wa.gov.au/
Perth Mint http://www.perthmint.com.au/
Perth Zoo in South Perth http://www.perthzoo.wa.gov.au/ (Check into Close Encounters Tour. Has to be booked in advance.)
Western Australian Museum in Northbridge

Perth has great beaches right in the city - in an almost continuous line from Cottesloe in the south to Quinns Rocks (where my girl Sarah lives!) in the north, including a section called the Sunset Coast. Mornings are usually best for the beach, because the sea breeze can make the afternoons unpleasant in summer.

Some of the best beaches around town are:
Cottesloe, Perth's most fashionable beach
Scarborough
Trigg

Shopping
Most major shops are downtown on the Hay Street and Murray Street malls, and in the network of arcades running off them, such as the Plaza, City, Carillon, and Tudor style London Court arcades. Off Murray Street Mall on Forrest Place is the Forrest Chase shopping complex, housing the Myer department store and boutiques on two levels.
The other major department store, David Jones, opens onto both malls. Add to your collection of designer brands on King Street, in the west end. Harbourtown, at the western edge of the city, is a large complex housing "factory outlets" of numerous retail chains.
If you want to avoid the chains, spend half a day in Subiaco, where Hay Street and Rokeby Road are lined with boutiques, galleries, cafes, antiques shops, and markets.

Perth after dark
Northbridge houses most of the city's lively pubs and dance clubs. The Brass Monkey, 209 William St. at James Street in Northbridge, has several downstairs bars, including a wine bar serving gourmet pizzas, and a beer garden. Wednesday through Saturday, head upstairs to the Glasshouse for live entertainment.
The Subiaco Hotel, or "Subi", 465 Hay St. at Rokeby Road in Subiaco, is a popular historic pub with a stylish cafe, great cocktails, and live jazz on Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Metro City, 146 Roe St. in Northbridge (http://www.metrocity.com.au/), is the biggest and swingiest place on the night club scene, with ten bars over three levels.

The sights in Fremantle
http://www.fremantlewa.com.au/
http://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/
Fremantle Arts Center/Fremantle History Museum located at 1 Finnerty St. at Ord Street.
Fremantle Prison http://www.fremantleprison.com/ located at 1 The Terrace.
The Roundhouse located at 10 Arthur Head.
Shipwreck Galleries located at Cliff Street at Marine Terrace.
Western Australian Maritime Museum located at Victoria Quay.

edited to add Sarah's comments from Facebook:
ppfffft to their comment about the afternoons being unpleasant with the seabreeze! That seabreeze is what saves us during summer....
So we have planned to take you to the following:

Perth Mint
Perth Museum...
Kings Park
Perth Zoo
Swan Valley (chocolate factories & vineyards!)
AQWA
Caversham wildlife park
Penguin & Seal Island

And in fremantle we can hit the maritime museum, freo markets, fremantle jail, coffee strip etc all in one day...
Perth is gonna be go go go! You'll need a holiday to recover from your holiday!

I'll find you any weblinks that you want when i get home...

34. Day trip to Sydney

2010-03-24T09:46:00.002-05:00

I'm really excited about the fact that we're going to take a day trip to Sydney. I didn't think I'd get to see anything there, so the fact that I'll get to hit some of the major tourist highlights is pretty damn cool, in my book.

The Sydney Visitor Centre at The Rocks, First floor, The Rocks Centre, on the corner of Argyle and Playfair streets. http://www.sydneyvisitorcentre.com/ A good place to get maps, brochures, and tourist info.

Exploring Sydney
Sydney Harbour
Royal Botanic Gardens, next to Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Opera House http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/
Sydney Aquarium http://www.sydneyaquarium.com.au/

Edited to add Vanessa H.'s comment on Facebook: You should try and do a climb up the Harbour Bridge or a visit up Centrepoint Tower

33. website

2010-03-17T11:01:00.001-05:00

Found an Australian travel site I hadn't seen before today. http://www.justaustralia.org/

Also, was checking Amazon for TSA-approved luggage locks and stumbled across this link. http://travelregistration.state.gov/

32. Perth information (part two)

2010-03-15T09:49:00.005-05:00

Perth Airport is 12 km (7 1/2 miles) northeast of the city. At the international terminal, look out for volunteer Customer Service Officers called "Gold Coats", mostly in departures, and "WOWs" (West Oz Welcomers) wearing ocher jackets and Akubra hats in arrivals. The domestic and international terminals are a bit of a distance from each other, so if you're transferring from one to the other, you'll need to take a shuttle or taxi.

Getting around Perth
Perth is a good walking city, so bring comfortable shoes.

Transperth runs Perth's buses, trains, and ferries. (http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/) For information, call 13 62 13 in Western Australia, or drop into the Transperth Info Centers at the Plaza Arcade off Hay Street Mall, the Perth Train Station, the Wellington Street Bus Station, or the Perth Esplanade Busport on Mounts Bay Road.

The Perth Tram Co. (08/9322 2006; http://www.perthtram.com.au/) makes a daily loop of the city, the casino (there goes all my money!), and Kings Park in replica 1899 wooden trams. The tram starts at 565 Hay St. at 8:30 am and makes nine 90-minute narrated loops per day, every day.

Dining in Perth
The Capri in Fremantle (Italian)
   21 South Terrace

Cicirello's in Fremantle (Seafood)
   44 Mews Rd. (Fisherman's Wharf)

The Essex in Fremantle (Modern Australian)
   20 Essex St.

44 King Street in City Center (Bistro)
   44 King St.

Fraser's in Kings Park (Modern Australian)
   Fraser Avenue near the Information kiosk

Jackson's in Highgate (Modern Australian/International)
   483 Beaufort St.

Lamont's East Perth in East Perth (Modern Australian)
   11 Brown St.

Must Wine Bar in Highgate (Bistro)
   519 Beaufort St.

Miss Maud Swedish Restaurant in City Center (International)
   97 Murray St at Pier St.

Star Anise in Subiaco (Asian-influenced Australian)
   225 Onslow Road, Shenton Park

Witch's Cauldron in Subiaco (Modern Australian)
   89 Rokeby Rd. near Hay St.

Lauren commented on Facebook to add this: Or you could just take advantage of Sarah's and my ability to drive pretty much anywhere....unless you wanna go on a ferry or train for fun or something :)...

And we should DEFINITELY go to Cicerello's!!! Best fish & chips in Freo!!

31. It's really happening!

2010-03-15T09:27:00.000-05:00

I bought my ticket to Brisbane last night! I paid a bit more (quite a bit more, actually) than I wanted to, but it's flying from Dallas to L.A., then L.A. to Brisbane. The flight I was looking at flew from Dallas to L.A., then L.A. to Fiji, then Fiji to Brisbane. The flight I'm on is 4 hours shorter than the cheaper flight. I like the idea of only having to change planes once, even if it did cost me more (like $900 more).

On another note, my mom told me last week that an opportunity like this may not come along again, so I should go while I have the chance. Which was a total reversal from Christmas, when Darren let it slip that I was planning to fly all that way by myself. I think her change in attitude may have something to do with the fact that my grannie (her mom) is dying and it's gotten her thinking about not wasting an opportunity. Anyway, I'm going with her blessing, if you will.

30. another reminder

2010-03-11T10:20:00.000-06:00

Call Dawn in Customer Service before I leave for Australia and let her know that I will be using the card in Brisbane, the Gold Coast area, and Perth.

29. reminders

2010-03-06T15:39:00.002-06:00

Get some ear plugs and a sleep mask for the plane so I can (hopefully) sleep.

28. Perth information (part one)

2010-03-06T15:38:00.004-06:00

Perth is the most outdoorsy of all Aussie cities. Its climate is pleasant throughout the year. Most visitors focus on the summer months of December through March, with lots of sun, sea, and sand, though the sea breeze can get (annoyingly) strong.

Fremantle, or "Freo" as it's known, is a working port and Perth's second city heart. A favorite weekend spot to eat, drink, shop, and sail, Fremantle is 12 miles downriver at the mouth of the Swan.

Perth Neighbourhoods
The City Center: The central business district is home to offices, shops, and department stores. It has a modest collection of 19th century heritage buildings, especially convict-built Government House and Town Hall. Four long avenues run east-west between riverside parkland and the railway reserve. St. Georges Terrace (which becomes Adelaide Terrace at Victoria Avenue) is the main thoroughfare and commercial and banking address, while Hay Street and Murray Street are the major retail avenues with pedestrian malls in the central blocks. Arcades link all three, plus Wellington Street, which has Perth's suburban railway station.

Northbridge: Most of Perth's nightclubs, and a good many of its cool restaurants, bars, and cafes, are in this 5 block precinct north of the railway line. It's within easy walking distance of the city center. Its boundaries are William, James, Aberdeen, and Parker streets. The Cultural Center is here, with the Western Australian Museum, Art Gallery of Western Australia, State Library, and Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Subiaco: This well-heeled inner suburb is on the other side of Kings Park. Take a stroll through "Subi's" villagelike concoction of restaurants, cafes, markets, boutiques, antiques shops, pubs, and galleries. Most of the action is near the intersection of Hay Street and Rokeby (pronounced rock-er-bee) Raod, with the Subiaco Hotel and Art Deco Regal Theatre on opposing corners.

Burswood/East Perth: These two areas are on opposite sides of the Swan River upstream of Perth city. Both are on land reclaimed from earlier industrial use, and show enlightened development with parkland, pathways, and artworks. Burswood has major entertainment complexes, a public golf course, and superb gardens. East Perth is mostly modern housing, parks, galleries, and restaurants, based around a river inlet with walkways.

Lauren posted this one Facebook: Yaaaaaaaaay!!! Love, love, LOVE Freo (I went to uni there for 5 yrs and only live 15 mins away) and Subi - I think it's the laid back, easy going cafe/shopping/entertainment aspects that I love most. Love the city too...good shopping :)

We could park near the Perth Wheel one day, do that, then catch a ferry across the Swan to South Perth, which is kind of good too, but mainly cuz the zoo is there :D

27. When Security Takes Longer Than the Flight

2010-02-26T13:06:00.001-06:00

The Middle Seat: When Security Takes Longer Than the Flight

New rules and tighter screening have been put into effect for U.S.-bound travelers since the attempted bombing on Dec. 25, making for lengthy delays before travelers even get on the plane. And with the busy spring and summer travel seasons coming, hassles and wait times are likely to increase.

By Scott McCartney, The Wall Street Journal

To get through airport security in Toronto for a flight to the United States, you now have to go through eight different screening lines or ID checks. Most passengers either get a pat-down or have their carry-on bags unpacked on tables, with every toiletry kit and pajama pair carefully checked.

And tight restrictions on carry-on luggage force most road warriors to check their roll-a-board bags. "Ever since the underwear bomber thing, it's been ridiculous," said Kevin Koski, who was headed home to Miami from a job interview in Toronto.

Indeed, since the Dec. 25 bombing attempt, travelers headed to the U.S. have faced much tighter security. New rules issued by the federal government dictate that a majority of inbound travelers have to undergo individual searches, once a dreaded rarity for passengers. The searches can include pat-downs, emptying out carry-on luggage and even leafing through wallets and personal papers.

Those rules are likely to stay in force for a long time, officials say. It could be months or even years before high-tech devices such as body scanners replace frisking, for example. So, as we enter the busy spring and summer travel season, hassles and delays are likely to increase.

"If you're coming inbound to the U.S., it's going to be a tough summer unless we get some creative change in the security rules," said Steve Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, a Geneva-based group that represents airlines around the world.

So far, the delays of three hours and more that became common at international airports in the weeks after the bombing attempt have subsided. Airports, airlines and government agencies around the world have hired more screeners to perform the "enhanced" security that the U.S. now requires for any flight headed to or flying over the 50 states. Passengers are told to show up early for flights to the U.S.— often three hours or more, even for 90-minute flights from Canada and Mexico. And the light passenger loads have made it easier on security screeners.

Airline officials said that government agencies and airports in North America, Europe and Asia have promised that they will staff up enough to prevent long lines and delays as travel picks up this spring and summer. "All we've got at this point is their word and we hope their word is good," said an official at a U.S. airline. "It's a concern."

Greg Soule, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration, says the agency will "continue to review the measures based on the latest intelligence and insure the highest level of security on flights bound for the U.S."

"Until further notice"

Transport Canada, which sets aviation security policy in that country, says the U.S. measures and the even-tougher requirements imposed in Canada will remain "until further notice."

The immediate reaction after the Christmas Day bombing attempt was to frisk all U.S.-bound travelers and examine all carry-on luggage. In addition, authorities imposed restrictions on passenger behavior aboard planes, such as forcing them to remain seated for the final hour of flights and keep their laps free of blankets, books or magazines. Some of the more onerous security measures were eased last month.

At home, TSA says that in U.S. airports it has increased use of explosive trace detection — when a swab is run over hands or belongings and then tested for dangerous chemicals. Over the next few weeks, a TSA spokesman said, TSA agents will begin swabbing passengers' hands to check for explosives as fliers stand in line for security screening or wait at gates. Random tests on carry-on bags will also increase using detection machines loaded on carts, the agency says, and 800 smaller, portable machines have been requested in the president's fiscal 2011 budget. The increase in trace detection by agents roaming airport terminals was first reported by USA Today and CNN.

Travelers report wide variation around the world with security screening for U.S.-bound flights. Some countries like Canada continue to restrict carry-on baggage, for example, while others do not. AMR Corp.'s American Airlines says on its Web site that most customers, unless they have elite-status or a business-class or first-class ticket, are limited to only one carry-on bag when flying from Europe to the U.S., instead of the usual one bag plus a personal item. Those tighter limits aren't in force for flights arriving from Asia, Mexico, South America or the Caribbean.

Canada has proven to be a particular trouble spot. The high volume of passengers who travel across the northern U.S. border has led to long delays at Canadian airports and screening gauntlets that leave travelers frustrated.

To lessen the volume of clothes, papers, gadgets and pill bottles that screeners must go through by hand, Canadian authorities have unilaterally tightened carry-on luggage limits. Normal-sized roll-aboard bags aren't allowed. Many airlines have waived baggage fees for carry-on bags that have to be checked.

Mike Hudson of Dallas never checked a bag on his business trips — until he was trying to leave Toronto last week. "I think the whole thing is kind of ridiculous," he said.

In Toronto, travelers line up to have their boarding passes checked and carry-on bags sized and tagged before reaching U.S. Customs and Immigration inspectors. Once past the baggage policing and customs, travelers get another document check, regular security screening and a check of boarding passes again. Then it's on to the secondary screening station for yet another document check and the screening itself.

Get in line … again

Authorities have rows of tables up and down a corridor just past the main security checkpoints. One screener selects travelers for secondary screening; about four of every five passengers were selected on one recent afternoon. Some passengers were frisked, but not all. Women were directed to one line; men to the other. Screeners had each traveler empty pockets onto tables. Electronics were tested for explosive traces. Suitcases, purses and all other bags were completely emptied out, with authorities checking every compartment and unfolding clothes to make sure nothing was hidden.

After that, there's a final boarding pass check. In all, you have to line up eight times.

"This isn't crowded and still it was an extra hour," said John Finley, a steel-company salesman heading to Minneapolis. "There were so many checks and balances, the fourth time is a bit unnecessary."

"Why don't they just get two dogs and sniff everything if they are worried about bombs?" asked Sam Goldstein, a Salt Lake City psychologist, as he stood in Line No. 6 awaiting secondary screening.

Dr. Goldstein, who travels about 150,000 miles a year, said that as a psychologist he marvels at how quickly people adjust. "You become indoctrinated to this," he said.

But as a scientist, he also wonders why governments don't give travelers more data to justify the effectiveness of enhanced screening.

"They want to give the appearance that they are doing something. What would be nice to know is the success rate of various procedures. I think the public has a right to know," he said.

26. Seating tips

2010-02-19T08:33:00.002-06:00

How to Get the Best Seat in Coach

With airlines beginning to charge for seat selection, here's how you can get the one you want without paying the price.

By Mark Orwoll, Travel+Leisure

The days of reserving an airline ticket and then selecting a seat for free are numbered. Increasingly, carriers are charging passengers a fee to reserve in certain rows in coach. It’s the latest move in what the airlines call “à la carte pricing.”

Last October, British Airways began charging as much as $30 per preselected coach seat ($75 for one in an exit row). And they’re not alone. US Airways tacks on an extra $5 to $30 each way for a spot on an aisle or window at the front of the plane. United, AirTran, JetBlue and others add on $9 to $109 for reserving exit-row or other premium seats, such as those by the bulkhead. The majority of coach seats on most airlines are still preselected at no additional fee, but on two domestic carriers, AirTran and Spirit, a preassigned seat — even the much-dreaded one in the middle — costs more.

If you’re paying for a preassigned seat, you should know what you’re getting for your money. Obviously, aisle and window seats near the front, where the ride is smoother and you can disembark faster, or exit-row and bulkhead seats with extra legroom, are preferable to ones near lavatories and galleys. But it’s a mistake to choose a seat based on its location alone. Although exit-row and bulkhead seats almost always provide greater legroom, they can have drawbacks. Bulkhead seats don’t have floor storage, are sometimes narrower to accommodate tray-table storage in the armrests, and are given to passengers with infants, so your extra legroom may come with a braying baby nearby. And some exit-row seats don’t recline fully or at all.

My go-to site to learn the nuances and measurements of individual airplane seats — especially now that I’m paying extra to reserve them — is SeatGuru (seatguru.com), which has the most detailed descriptions, including power port locations and comparison charts of coach cabins across various airlines. Other good sites include SeatExpert (seatexpert.com) and SkyTrax (airlinequality.com). At all of these, you will find advice on the most (and least) desirable seats for all plane models.

My vote for the worst seat ever? The limited-recline middle seat in the very last row, next to the lavatory, on a 757-200. (Seat 36E, I’m talking to you!) At least no one is charging a fee to preselect that one. For now.

Book off-peak flights. That’s when the likelihood of getting a good seat, or at least being able to switch seats, is greater.

Use frequent-flier perks. If you have elite frequent-flier status, you may be able to score a premium coach seat at no charge when booking.

Head to the back. For a better chance of having an empty seat next to you, select one on an aisle or window near the back of the plane next to an unreserved middle seat.

Check-in online. Take advantage of online check-in; most airlines release exit-row and premium seats that were on hold for frequent fliers exactly 24 hours before the flight.

Book your flight early. Most airlines will let you select a seat roughly 11 months ahead of schedule.

Know the seat configuration. Beware of planes, like the Boeing 757, with six seats in a row and only one center aisle; they have more middle seats than planes with 2-3-2 arrangements.

Ask for a better seat. If you have no seat assignment or a poor seat selection on the day of departure, arrive at the airport early and request a better seat when you check in at the ticket counter. Failing that, wait at the gate counter until an attendant arrives and try again. If they have nothing better, ask how soon before departure they "release" seats—that is, reassign seats originally given to passengers who have not checked in on time—and make your request again at that time.

Scope out empty seats. Once on the plane, if you want to move to another seat, wait until the door is closed—and not before—then move to the seat you've had your eye on.

Confirm your seat assignment. Do this 5–7 days before departure. If there has been a change of aircraft type, you may have to select a new seat.

Start with a bad seat. Booking a less desirable seat is better than arriving at the airport without any seat assignment. Without one, you’re more likely to be involuntarily bumped.

25. new travel site

2010-02-11T11:33:00.002-06:00

Found a new site to check for flights ... http://www.kayak.com/

24. finally!

2010-02-09T13:08:00.002-06:00

I finally finished the chapter on the Red Centre in Australia for Dummies. Took me long enough!

23. time zones

2010-02-08T18:58:00.003-06:00

Brisbane
Time zone is Greenwich Mean time plus ten hours. Brisbane doesn't observe daylight savings time, so it's on the same time as Sydney and Melbourne in winter and one hour behind October through March.

Perth
Time zone is Western Australian time, or Greenwich Mean time plus eight hours and is on a three year trial of daylight saving, so Greenwich Mean time plus nine hours October through March. Two hours behind Sydney and Melbourne.

**note** Sarah replied to this post via Facebook to tell me "we don't have daylight savings anymore... Trial ended last year, and then the stupid state voted no during referendum... So we're constantly +8hrs on GMT"

22. savings goals

2010-01-29T10:57:00.002-06:00

As of today's payday, I've saved almost enough to pay for my ticket to Brisbane! Now I just need to keep saving so I can pay for my return ticket from Perth.

*edited to add Sarah's comments from Facebook*
Woooot! Am still waiting for the fares to come down to book our flights... I'm the same, I have enough to get to Brisbane... not enough to get home LOL

Am looking into accomodation this week too... will probably be able to get a place for about $220 each (total for the 7 days), highest I will go will be about $280 each depending on where its located... but it will be a 2 bedroom apartment facility, so we'll have our own laundry facilities, and also a full kitchen which would make meals and stuff cheaper too... will keep you updated

I'm getting soooooooo excited!

21. Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast

2010-01-20T17:10:00.001-06:00

Sunshine Coast
   Best breakfast in town: Bistro C

Top attractions
   Australia Zoo - Beerwah http://www.australiazoo.com.au/
   Underwater World - Mooloolaba http://www.underwaterworld.com.au/
   Eumundi Markets - Eumundi

Gold Coast
   Gold Coast Tourism http://www.verygc.com/

Top attractions
    Australian Outback Spectacular - Oxenford http://www.outbackspectacular.com.au/
    Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - Currumbin http://www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au/
    David Fleay Wildlife Park - West Burleigh
    Dreamworld - Coomera http://www.dreamworld.com.au/
    Q1 Observation Deck - Surfers Paradise http://www.q1observationdeck.com.au/
    Sea World - Main Beach http://www.seaworld.com.au/
    Wet'N'Wild Water World - Oxenford http://www.wetnwild.com.au/
    Whitewater World by Dreamworld - Coomera http://www.whitewaterworld.com.au/

Gold Coast Booking Centre http://www.gcbc.com.au/

Gold Coast Dining
    Elephant Rock Cafe - Currumbin (contemporary food)
    Ristorante Fellini - Main Beach (italian food)

Beaches
    Main Beach
    Surfers North
    Elkhorn Avenue
    Coolangatta
    Surfers Paradise
    Mermaid Beach
    Burleigh Heads
    Greenmount

20. notes & whatnot

2010-01-19T17:03:00.004-06:00

This is going to be in no particular order. I was reading Australia for Dummies this weekend and started writing stuff down as it occurred to me or if I saw something interesting in the book.

What town are we staying in?
Re-read The Thornbirds.
~~Buy a swimsuit (one-piece or tankini)~~; will I need more than one?
Rent The Man From Snowy River.
Look up other movies filmed in Australia.
~~Look up places to have passport photos done~~.
Make appointment (if necessary) to have passport photos taken.
~~Gather necessary forms and information; apply for passport.~~
Need to buy a voltage converter and adapters.
Will our accommodations have any way to wash our clothes? Or will I be doing them at Sarah's house in Perth?

Links:
Australian Butterfly Sanctuary http://www.australianbutterflies.com/
http://www.affa.gov.au/ Check for restricted or banned foods, animal and plant products, and other items.
http://www.customs.gov.au/ Customs information
http://www.cbp.gov/ Summarizes what you can and can't bring back to the U.S. from Australia.
http://www.destinationqueensland.com/
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/
http://www.westernaustralia.com/
http://www.experiencebrisbane.com/
www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/

*edited to add Sarah's Facebook comments*
A) We're staying on the Gold Coast, one of the random suburbs up there, like Surfers Paradise, Mermaid Beach, Main Beach... its all one massive strip....

And then Perth when you come back to WA.

Swimsuit, prob won't need more than one suit...

And yes the accomodation in Qld will have laundry facilities... and of course when you're at my house, you can wash too

19. reminder

2010-01-13T14:38:00.000-06:00

Buy a TSA-approved luggage lock.

18. Facts about Brisbane

2010-01-08T16:27:00.001-06:00

Although Brisbane looks like it would be pronounced briz-bane, it's actually pronounced briz-bun.

About 20 international airlines serve Brisbane. From the U.S., you can fly direct from Los Angeles to Brisbane on Qantas. From other places, you might have to fly to Sydney and connect on Qantas or fly direct from Auckland, New Zealand.

Brisbane International Airport is 10 miles from the city itself. The domestic terminal is 1 1/4 miles farther away. The arrivals floor is on Level 2. There's also an information desk there as well.

Neighborhoods: City Center, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Paddington, Milton & Rosalie, West End and Bulimba.

The Brisbane Visitor Information Centre is located in Queen Street Mall, between Edward and Albert streets. Phone number: 07/3006 6290. Hours: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or later, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The official website is http://www.ourbrisbane.com/.

Another good source of tourist information is the Brisbane Transit Centre. Phone number: 07/3236 2020.

Top attractions in Brisbane:

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Queensland Art Gallery
South Bank Parklands
Story Bridge Adventure Climb

Shopping:

Queen Street Mall
Wintergarden shopping complex http://www.wgarden.com.au/
Myer Centre
Brisbane Arcade
Broadway on the Mall http://www.broadwayonthemall.com.au/
MacArthur Central http://www.macarthurcentral.com/
Valley Markets
South Bank Lifestyle Markets
Fire-Works Gallery http://www.fireworksgallery.com.au/

You can find out about festivals, concerts, and events, and book tickets through Ticketek. http://www.ticketek.com/
Or try Ticketmaster. http://www.ticketmaster7.com/

Clubs and pubs:

The best known is the Breakfast Creek Hotel, phone number 07/3262 5988. Another landmark is the Regatta Hotel (http://www.regattahotel.com.au/). On the outskirts of the city is the Normanby Hotel (http://www.thenormanby.com.au/).

Other hotspots include the nightclub complexes of Friday's, phone number 07/3832 2122; Zenbar, phone number 07/3211 2333; and Treasury Casino, phone number 07/3306 8888.

For jazz and blues lovers, there's the Brisbane Jazz Club (http://www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au/) or The Bowery, phone number 07/3252 0202.

Fast facts:

Area code is 07.
The American Express office is at 131 Elizabeth St.
You can exchange currency at Travelex, located in the Myer Centre, Queen Street Mall. http://www.travelex.com.au/

17. vacation days

2010-01-06T10:51:00.000-06:00

Well, I've got my days down for my trip. I've only got 9 days of vacation, so I'll have to take a couple of days as unpaid time off, but who cares? I'm Australia-bound, baby!

The plan:
Fly out of Dallas on Thursday, October 28th.
Land in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday, October 30th.
Fly from Brisbane to Perth sometime around Saturday, November 6th/Sunday, November 7th.
Fly out of Perth on Thursday, November 11th.
Land in Dallas on Saturday, November 13th.
Go back to work on Monday, November 15th.

16. link and a brief update

2009-12-28T10:06:00.000-06:00

Link to remember: http://www.weatherchannel.com.au/

Well, Darren let the cat out of the bag this weekend and told my mom and dad about my trip. He's such a blabbermouth. I wasn't going to tell them until it got a lot closer. I know my mom...she'll try to talk me out of going. And Darren had to chime in and say he wasn't crazy about me flying all that way by myself. I think I can manage to fly to Los Angeles, change planes, fly to my next stop, change planes again, then fly on to Brisbane. I'm 35 years old, I think I can manage it just fine by myself!

15. reading material

2009-12-22T11:04:00.000-06:00

I'm still reading Australia for Dummies (hey, it's a long book!) and I'm currently reading the section about New South Wales. Not that I'm going to New South Wales on my trip, but I still want to read it anyway.

The next chapter is about Melbourne. Again, another place I won't get to see this time around, but maybe one of these days! I still have to work throught the chapters about Victoria and Canberra/ACT before I get to the section about Brisbane, Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef. That section is a MUST READ, since I'll be flying into Brisbane and staying in Queensland for a week!

I'm so looking forward to this trip.

14. Good news!

2009-12-19T10:51:00.003-06:00

I found out yesterday evening that I can order Australian dollars through the bank I work at, so I won't need to worry about converting cash once I get there.

Now the big question is, how much money will I need?

13. more links

2009-12-16T10:13:00.001-06:00

To find cybercafes in Australia, check http://www.cybercaptive.com/ or http://www.cybercafe.com/.
To find public wi-fi hotspots, go to http://www.jiwire.com/.

Australia's electricity supply is 240 volts, 50 Hz. Buy a converter before you leave home.

To check average wait times at your airport, go to the Transportation Security Administration Security Checkpoint Wait Times site http://waittime/tsa.dhs.gov.
For the latest updates on items you're prohibited from bringing in carry-on luggage, go to www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel.

To purchase a TSA-approved lock for your luggage, check luggage or travel shops, as well as online at http://www.brookstone.com/.

12. cell phone

2009-12-15T11:37:00.000-06:00

Check that cell phone is world-capable multiband.
Call AT&T and have international roaming activated before leaving for Australia.

11. State Department Australia specific information

2009-12-15T10:14:00.000-06:00

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_954.html

10. Coping with jet lag

2009-12-14T14:04:00.001-06:00

Jet lag is the worst thing about traveling long distances across different time zones. If you're flying north-south and you feel sluggish when you touch down, your symptoms will be the result of dehydration and the general stress of air travel. But when you travel east-west or vice-versa, your body becomes hopelessly muddled about what time it is, and everything -- from your digestive system to your brain -- can become severely out of whack. Traveling east is more difficult on your internal clock than traveling west because most peoples' bodies are more inclined to stay up late than fall asleep early.

To fight off the worst effects of jet lag try these suggestions:

   Reset your watch to your destination time before you board the plane.

   Drink lots of water before, during, and after your flight. Avoid alcohol.

   Exercise and sleep well for a few days before your trip.

   If you have trouble sleeping on planes, fly eastward on morning flights.

   Daylight is the key to resetting your body clock. At the web site for Outside In (http://www.bodyclock.com/), you can get a customized plan of when to seek and avoid light in order to cope with jet lag.

-- from Chapter 6, page 64 of Australia for Dummies

9. Ask Sarah

2009-12-14T12:59:00.001-06:00

Do I need to buy a rail or bus pass?
Will we be doing any travelling via bus or rail?
If I do need a pass, can I buy it when I get there, or do I need to buy it before I leave the U.S.?
Where do I buy a pass?

8. money tips

2009-12-12T18:32:00.002-06:00

Link to universal currency converter: www.xe.com/ucc

Exchange some currency before you leave home.

You can exchange money at local American Express or Thomas Cook offices or most major banks.

American Express - order traveler's checks and foreign currency (http://www.americanexpress.com/) or 800.807.6233

Check ATM locations at http://www.visa.com/.

Traveler's checks are not as widely accepted in Australia as in other countries. If you get traveler's checks, get them in Australian dollars.

ANZ and Westpac (Australia's two largest banks) cash Australian dollar checks free of charge. Other banks charge a fee.

Emergency numbers: American Express 1300.132.639 (Australia) or 800.221.7282
Visa 1800.450.346 (Australia) or 800.847.2911

7. flights

2009-12-11T16:44:00.000-06:00

In order to arrive on Saturday, October 30, 2010, I need to fly out on Thursday, October 28, 2010 to arrive on the same day as Sarah, Lauren and Jessica.

In the few days since I looked last, prices have gone down a lot on flights. I actually found a flight for less than $1000!

6. Not much to report

2009-12-11T12:42:00.001-06:00

I've begun reading one of the books about Australia I picked up at Barnes & Noble the other day, titled Australia for Dummies. I also set up an alert on TripAdvisor to watch the airfares to Brisbane from Dallas and from Perth to Dallas.

I opened a savings account to start saving for the trip. Somehow, that makes it even more real.

I'm really looking forward to this trip!

5. Tickets

2009-12-08T11:57:00.000-06:00

Boy, the tickets are going to cost an arm and a leg! Flying from Dallas to Brisbane will cost about $2000, and flying back from Perth to Dallas will cost about the same. So we're talking $4000-4500 just for plane tickets! Good thing I'm putting my savings plan into motion with my next pay check (15th).

4. Goals

2009-12-08T07:55:00.000-06:00

Well, last night I got on Facebook and used the go4it program to add my savings goals for my trip.

I also started one for the planning phase of my trip, but it doesn't have very much on it yet.

I need to save up a lot, because I was checking flight prices from Dallas to Brisbane yesterday and a one way ticket is going to cost me like $2000! I didn't even check the return trip, but I figure it'll be about the same. I figure I need to save about $7000 in order to pay for my flights and the trip itself.

3. Things to do/get/reminders

2009-12-07T17:11:00.000-06:00

1. Renew/get passport
2. Apply for travel visa
3. Travel insurance?
4. Buy traveler's cheques
5. Buy electrical adapters
6. Check weather in Perth & Queensland for late October/early November
7. Book flight to Queensland for 7 nights, one way
8. Book flight to Texas from Perth, one way
9. Sarah will take care of booking flight from Queensland to Perth.
10. Buy voltage converter
11. The hotel is taken care of. No need to book a room anywhere.

Arriving in Queensland on October 30, 2010 and departing on November 6, 2010.

Brisbane Airport* code is BNE
Cooloongatta Airport (Gold Coast Airport) code is OOL
Perth Airport* code is PER
Dallas/Forth Worth Airport* code is DFW

If making an international call, dial +, the country code (the UK's is 44, Australia's is 61), then the number.

2. Links

2009-12-07T16:55:00.006-06:00

General information

http://www.australia.com/
www.bom.gov.au/ (Weather)
http://www.australianairportguide.com/
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/

Travel Requirements

http://www.immi.gov.au/ (Department of Immigration & Citizenship)
http://travel.state.gov/passport (State Department Passport Requirements)

Supplies

http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/ (Sells electrical adapters for overseas travel)

Booking

http://www.travelocity.com/
http://www.hotwire.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/
http://www.priceline.com/
http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.downunderdirect.com/
http://www.goway.com/
http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.smartertravel.com/

Airlines

http://www.united.com/
http://www.continental.com/
http://www.southwest.com/
http://www.nwa.com/
http://www.aa.com/
http://www.delta.com/
http://www.frontierairlines.com/
http://www.qantas.com.au/

1. Trip to Australia

2009-12-07T16:42:00.001-06:00

I deleted all the old entries in this blog. I decided I'm going to use this one to post all the stuff pertaining to my trip to Australia next year.

You're probably wondering, Why Australia? Well, for one thing, I've always wanted to go. Even more so since I became friends with Sarah (@MonkeyMayhem100), the urge to visit the land Down Under has gotten stronger. Now, thanks to Sarah and Lauren (@laurenbowen), I'm finally going to do it.

So in late October 2010, I'm jetting off to the city of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia for a week with my girls Sarah and Lauren, along with another friend of theirs named Jessica. The plan is to spend 7 nights in Queensland before we head back to Perth, which is in Western Australia. I plan to stay a few more days in Perth with Sarah, before I jet back home to Texas. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be using this mainly to post links and other information concerning the trip, although I may write an occasional entry as well. That's all for now, I think.