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    • mariner4life
      mariner4life last edited by

      Ok Fern team

      I know we have one poster swanning around Italy

      How are people finding travel? Easy? Hard? Expensive? Welcoming?

      When is Japan opening up to people?

      B Nepia NTA 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • B
        bayimports @mariner4life last edited by

        @mariner4life I got back from Barcelona 2 weeks ago. A couple of things to note that were a bit different to enter because of covid (using an app for arrival), but once past immigration everything was back to normal. Busy, great fun, great atmosphere.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Nepia
          Nepia @mariner4life last edited by

          @mariner4life said in Travel:

          Ok Fern team

          I know we have one poster swanning around Italy

          How are people finding travel? Easy? Hard? Expensive? Welcoming?

          When is Japan opening up to people?

          I can only comment on NZ so far, which was easy but fucking expensive (in comparison to normal, and only flights really). So no help there.

          But, I have a mate who has travelled to UK, Sri Lanka, and Brazil and he said it was relatively easy but you just have to figure out Covid measures. The UK trip was a family (his parents and adult sister) one and all bar him got Covid, which added to their accom and meant they needed to adjust their itinerary.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • MajorRage
            MajorRage last edited by

            Vaccinated? Easy.

            Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

            Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

            If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

            voodoo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • NTA
              NTA @mariner4life last edited by NTA

              @mariner4life funny you should mention that; we're sitting around a table at the Ettamogah, right this minute, talking about our next family holiday.

              Cairns came up. Got any tips? 😎

              Thinking January ~5 nights.

              mariner4life 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • mariner4life
                mariner4life @NTA last edited by

                @NTA said in Travel:

                @mariner4life funny you should mention that; we're sitting around a table at the Ettamogah, right this minute, talking about our next family holiday.

                Cairns came up. Got any tips? 😎

                Thinking January ~5 nights.

                Hope you like it hot and wet

                NTA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Bones
                  Bones last edited by

                  Crete was easy as and cheap as shit, with a heatwave.

                  Weren't even required to show a covid pass.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • NTA
                    NTA @mariner4life last edited by

                    This post is deleted!
                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • A
                      African Monkey last edited by

                      Off to Brisbane and Townsville to follow Aston Villa around which will be my first bit of overseas travel since pre pandemic. Hopefully there's not too many issues.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • voodoo
                        voodoo @MajorRage last edited by

                        @MajorRage said in Travel:

                        Vaccinated? Easy.

                        Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

                        Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

                        If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

                        I'm in Europe now and haven't had any of this.

                        We've gone Oz through Abu Dhabi to Athens to the Greek Islands, then into Rome and across to Puglia.

                        Almost 3 weeks in and haven't had anyone ask vax status, haven't had to wear a mask anywhere except on the first flight out of Sydney.

                        Certainly haven't been required to test. Where are you getting that from???

                        MajorRage 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • MajorRage
                          MajorRage @voodoo last edited by

                          @voodoo said in Travel:

                          @MajorRage said in Travel:

                          Vaccinated? Easy.

                          Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

                          Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

                          If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

                          I'm in Europe now and haven't had any of this.

                          We've gone Oz through Abu Dhabi to Athens to the Greek Islands, then into Rome and across to Puglia.

                          Almost 3 weeks in and haven't had anyone ask vax status, haven't had to wear a mask anywhere except on the first flight out of Sydney.

                          Certainly haven't been required to test. Where are you getting that from???

                          Everybody leaving the UK on summer holiday exodus …. Spain, Portugal locally and Dubai, Thailand, NZ, Oz globally.

                          All done before you leave of course. No testing on arrival that im aware of ….

                          voodoo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • voodoo
                            voodoo @MajorRage last edited by

                            @MajorRage said in Travel:

                            @voodoo said in Travel:

                            @MajorRage said in Travel:

                            Vaccinated? Easy.

                            Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

                            Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

                            If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

                            I'm in Europe now and haven't had any of this.

                            We've gone Oz through Abu Dhabi to Athens to the Greek Islands, then into Rome and across to Puglia.

                            Almost 3 weeks in and haven't had anyone ask vax status, haven't had to wear a mask anywhere except on the first flight out of Sydney.

                            Certainly haven't been required to test. Where are you getting that from???

                            Everybody leaving the UK on summer holiday exodus …. Spain, Portugal locally and Dubai, Thailand, NZ, Oz globally.

                            All done before you leave of course. No testing on arrival that im aware of ….

                            Wait, what??? Are these UK Gov requirements to test upon departure???

                            Because Oz and NZ have dropped test requirements.

                            Has Spain and Portugal not? Italy and Greece have dropped them completely also, as has Abu Dhabi

                            MajorRage 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • MajorRage
                              MajorRage @voodoo last edited by

                              @voodoo said in Travel:

                              @MajorRage said in Travel:

                              @voodoo said in Travel:

                              @MajorRage said in Travel:

                              Vaccinated? Easy.

                              Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

                              Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

                              If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

                              I'm in Europe now and haven't had any of this.

                              We've gone Oz through Abu Dhabi to Athens to the Greek Islands, then into Rome and across to Puglia.

                              Almost 3 weeks in and haven't had anyone ask vax status, haven't had to wear a mask anywhere except on the first flight out of Sydney.

                              Certainly haven't been required to test. Where are you getting that from???

                              Everybody leaving the UK on summer holiday exodus …. Spain, Portugal locally and Dubai, Thailand, NZ, Oz globally.

                              All done before you leave of course. No testing on arrival that im aware of ….

                              Wait, what??? Are these UK Gov requirements to test upon departure???

                              Because Oz and NZ have dropped test requirements.

                              Has Spain and Portugal not? Italy and Greece have dropped them completely also, as has Abu Dhabi

                              Dude … what’s with all the ???

                              If your vax’d it doesn’t matter. If you aren’t what I wrote is correct apart from Oz which changed 4 days ago (people I know flew out a week ago).

                              If you want to travel be vax’d or choose places which have no restrictions. Of which there are many. But be prepared that things can change at short notice.

                              voodoo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • voodoo
                                voodoo @MajorRage last edited by

                                @MajorRage said in Travel:

                                @voodoo said in Travel:

                                @MajorRage said in Travel:

                                @voodoo said in Travel:

                                @MajorRage said in Travel:

                                Vaccinated? Easy.

                                Unvaccinated? Difficult, and will need to constantly test.

                                Expectations. Airports globally are a nightmare with under staff. Expect long check ins. They suggest 4 hours here snd Schipol in NL has been suggesting 6 hours.

                                If you are looking at a few places you must expect to get it as well. So if you are scared of Covid still, don’t travel.

                                I'm in Europe now and haven't had any of this.

                                We've gone Oz through Abu Dhabi to Athens to the Greek Islands, then into Rome and across to Puglia.

                                Almost 3 weeks in and haven't had anyone ask vax status, haven't had to wear a mask anywhere except on the first flight out of Sydney.

                                Certainly haven't been required to test. Where are you getting that from???

                                Everybody leaving the UK on summer holiday exodus …. Spain, Portugal locally and Dubai, Thailand, NZ, Oz globally.

                                All done before you leave of course. No testing on arrival that im aware of ….

                                Wait, what??? Are these UK Gov requirements to test upon departure???

                                Because Oz and NZ have dropped test requirements.

                                Has Spain and Portugal not? Italy and Greece have dropped them completely also, as has Abu Dhabi

                                Dude … what’s with all the ???

                                If your vax’d it doesn’t matter. If you aren’t what I wrote is correct apart from Oz which changed 4 days ago (people I know flew out a week ago).

                                If you want to travel be vax’d or choose places which have no restrictions. Of which there are many. But be prepared that things can change at short notice.

                                The excess ?'s are showing my astonishment in spades! There are a lot of them, I'll admit...

                                I'm just surprised as we haven't been asked our vax status at all on this trip. Not departing Oz or in any country we have arrived in.

                                I had thought even NZ had dropped pre-departure testing too though?

                                And weird that Spain and Portugal are holding on but Greece and Italy don't ask anymore.

                                Odd times.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • voodoo
                                  voodoo last edited by

                                  I might add that the whole "get to the airport early" is a fucking bullshit process created by the airports smd airlines themselves, and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.

                                  We did what we were told and got to Sydney airport 4hrs before our flight. Just like everyone else.

                                  And then we all stood there for a fucking hour because of course the fucking check-in counters don't open any earlier.

                                  Just so stupid. But hey, the airlines get the benefit of us all being organised and on time.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • mariner4life
                                    mariner4life last edited by

                                    Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                    Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                    S Crucial MajorRage 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      stodders @mariner4life last edited by

                                      @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                      Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                      Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                      Koti  /  Jan 18, 2021

                                      Worst Paris Ghetto Areas & Dangerous Neighborhoods To Avoid 2021

                                      Worst Paris Ghetto Areas & Dangerous Neighborhoods To Avoid 2021

                                      Parts Ghetto Good Bad Rough Areas Worst Best Arrondissement To Stay In Map Most Safe Dangerous Neighborhoods Suburbs Unsafe Places Avoid Protest

                                      canefan 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • Crucial
                                        Crucial @mariner4life last edited by

                                        @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                        Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                        Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                        We used to stay right on the 5/6 arrondissement border area for weekends away. Brilliant spot with fast direct connection from Gare du Nord, awesome well priced 3 star boutique hotels, walking distance to see sights along the Seine, close metro stations to take you directly to the west of city.
                                        Best part for us was that you are right on the doorstep of an area of cafes, bars and restaurants. Really vibrant spot that you can wander into and grab a feed/drink. Really felt like you were right in amongst it.

                                        dogmeat 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                        • dogmeat
                                          dogmeat @Crucial last edited by

                                          @Crucial I always used to sleep on the footpath outside the Gare du Nord with the (other) deadbeats, but from the article @stodders posted it's no longer a very good option.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • canefan
                                            canefan @stodders last edited by

                                            @stodders said in Travel:

                                            @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                            Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                            Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                            Koti  /  Jan 18, 2021

                                            Worst Paris Ghetto Areas & Dangerous Neighborhoods To Avoid 2021

                                            Worst Paris Ghetto Areas & Dangerous Neighborhoods To Avoid 2021

                                            Parts Ghetto Good Bad Rough Areas Worst Best Arrondissement To Stay In Map Most Safe Dangerous Neighborhoods Suburbs Unsafe Places Avoid Protest

                                            I always liked staying in the Latin Quarter. Reasonable accommodation, lots of varied food options

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                            • MajorRage
                                              MajorRage @mariner4life last edited by

                                              @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                              Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                              Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                              It's not overplayed, but all the tourist area's are fine. Like all Euro cities you need to keep your wits about you, but if you are going through all the tourist traps / museums etc you'll be fine.

                                              Having just come back from a week in France, I strongly recommend though to do Paris quickly for what you want (Eiffell, Louvre etc) then get the fuck out of there. Rural France is awesome. Totally awesome. All the towns have the same as you get in Paris (French food, French arrogance, French charm) but in a much more relaxed, beautiful, quiet setting. Totally worth a look.

                                              We were around Bordeaux wine region and had lunch in Aubeterr-sue-Dronne & Sant Emillion. Both beautiful and stunning.

                                              Side note - here is my medium Bavette.
                                              IMG_8729.jpg

                                              S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                              • canefan
                                                canefan last edited by canefan

                                                If you are basing yourself in Paris you can still use the rail and TGV networks to get places fast. I went on a champagne tour in Rheims, Normandy, and Amiens in two separate trips to France, each one was only 2 or 3 hours by fast train. But I'd say staying outside big cities is pretty cool, like MR. I drove around France years ago, stayed in a little village outside Nice. Food was so much better than the city

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                • S
                                                  stodders @MajorRage last edited by

                                                  @MajorRage said in Travel:

                                                  @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                                  Yo, trying to rebook our European super trip

                                                  Any parts of Paris to avoid or is all that shit way overplayed

                                                  It's not overplayed, but all the tourist area's are fine. Like all Euro cities you need to keep your wits about you, but if you are going through all the tourist traps / museums etc you'll be fine.

                                                  Having just come back from a week in France, I strongly recommend though to do Paris quickly for what you want (Eiffell, Louvre etc) then get the fuck out of there. Rural France is awesome. Totally awesome. All the towns have the same as you get in Paris (French food, French arrogance, French charm) but in a much more relaxed, beautiful, quiet setting. Totally worth a look.

                                                  We were around Bordeaux wine region and had lunch in Aubeterr-sue-Dronne & Sant Emillion. Both beautiful and stunning.

                                                  Side note - here is my medium Bavette.
                                                  IMG_8729.jpg

                                                  This! Paris, like many a metropolis, is a shithole. Rubbish on the streets, homeless/vagrancy has risen massively, beggars, lawlessness (though the tourist areas are generally well policed to provide a level of assurance to tourists).

                                                  Once you get out of Paris and find out what the rest of the country has to offer, you'll never go back; unless there is something specific in an art gallery/museum/historical building that you must see.

                                                  Much like London isn't a true reflection of England/UK, Paris is not a true reflection of France.

                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                  • Bones
                                                    Bones last edited by

                                                    Yeah Lille being so easy to get to is a bit of a favourite to hit for a relaxing weekend.

                                                    Crucial 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                    • mariner4life
                                                      mariner4life last edited by

                                                      It's just 3 days to show the kids Paris then on to Italy

                                                      canefan N 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • canefan
                                                        canefan @mariner4life last edited by canefan

                                                        @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                                        It's just 3 days to show the kids Paris then on to Italy

                                                        How old are the kids? If they are older and you are planning to see some museums or other monuments, I'd recommend buying museum passes

                                                        PARIS MUSEUM PASS | Official website

                                                        PARIS MUSEUM PASS | Official website

                                                        Free access to more than 50 museums and monuments in Paris and its region!

                                                        It gets you into heaps of places such as the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, and Versailles Palace is included so it is a good deal. And IIRC there is a special lane so you don't queue with those buying tickets

                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • N
                                                          Nevorian @mariner4life last edited by

                                                          @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                                          It's just 3 days to show the kids Paris then on to Italy

                                                          We did a hop on/off bus around Paris a couple of years ago with kids and they loved it. It is a quick way to drive past a lot of the landmarks and work out which ones you want to spend more time at. Also stayed in a 3 star hotel in Montmarte which is a good location for views of the city. If kids are old enough a day trip out to some of the WW1 war cemeteries is a worthwhile experience

                                                          canefan 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                          • M
                                                            muddyriver last edited by

                                                            Is it possible to travel to England or France unvaccinated? Very unclear/old info online.

                                                            canefan 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                            • canefan
                                                              canefan @Nevorian last edited by

                                                              @Nevorian said in Travel:

                                                              @mariner4life said in Travel:

                                                              It's just 3 days to show the kids Paris then on to Italy

                                                              We did a hop on/off bus around Paris a couple of years ago with kids and they loved it. It is a quick way to drive past a lot of the landmarks and work out which ones you want to spend more time at. Also stayed in a 3 star hotel in Montmarte which is a good location for views of the city. If kids are old enough a day trip out to some of the WW1 war cemeteries is a worthwhile experience

                                                              I went out to Normandy and Amiens. Took tours there, highly recommended

                                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                              • canefan
                                                                canefan @muddyriver last edited by

                                                                @muddyriver said in Travel:

                                                                Is it possible to travel to England or France unvaccinated? Very unclear/old info online.

                                                                I would have thought so. Covid19 is barely a thing there now

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                • Crucial
                                                                  Crucial @Bones last edited by

                                                                  @Bones said in Travel:

                                                                  Yeah Lille being so easy to get to is a bit of a favourite to hit for a relaxing weekend.

                                                                  Ypres is a nice weekend town if you like heading that way. Especially if you want to have a gander at the WWI sites with NZ connections and haven't done that before.

                                                                  Can recommend this place to stay. Very nice. Free beer in the mini bar.

                                                                  Main Street Boutique Hotel Ieper/Ypres
                                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                  • nzzp
                                                                    nzzp last edited by

                                                                    had a week in Paris with Mrs NZZP a few years ago and absolutely loved it. It's one of my favourite cities to wander around in; so pedestrian friendly, so many things to see and do.

                                                                    Broke the week up with a trip out to vaux-le-vicomte. Just an incredible castle in an incredible setting.

                                                                    But agree, rural France is something else. One of the many things I love about the French is how seriously they take eating and drinking... if I lived there, I'd be a 300 pound monster, but full of happy cheese.

                                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                                                    • Smudge
                                                                      Smudge last edited by

                                                                      I have a week in Cairns and 5 days on the Gold Coast next month. I've been told to stay well clear of the locals in Cairns but one guy has invited me for a BBQ and a nice chianti, and I do like to live dangerously.

                                                                      mariner4life Smudge 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 9
                                                                      • mariner4life
                                                                        mariner4life @Smudge last edited by

                                                                        @Smudge fava beans are on special

                                                                        Paekakboyz 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                                                        • Paekakboyz
                                                                          Paekakboyz @mariner4life last edited by

                                                                          @mariner4life did we ever find out if @Snowy had family in Oz? Harder to dig basements in sandy conditions I'd imagine!

                                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                          • canefan
                                                                            canefan last edited by

                                                                            I see Air Asia is advertising transtasman flights from November. Hopefully other players will reenter the market soon and help push the cost down

                                                                            MajorRage Nepia 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                            • MajorRage
                                                                              MajorRage @canefan last edited by

                                                                              @canefan said in Travel:

                                                                              I see Air Asia is advertising transtasman flights from November. Hopefully other players will reenter the market soon and help push the cost down

                                                                              Upvote the shit out of that. Trying to get back for an event in Late November ... Prem Econ is like 3k. If I go to Sydney instead it's like 1.2 - 1.5k.

                                                                              taniwharugby 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                              • Nepia
                                                                                Nepia @canefan last edited by

                                                                                @canefan said in Travel:

                                                                                I see Air Asia is advertising transtasman flights from November. Hopefully other players will reenter the market soon and help push the cost down

                                                                                That’s awesome - I have two lots of Covid flight credits for Air Asia which I could use to travel home.

                                                                                canefan 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                                • canefan
                                                                                  canefan @Nepia last edited by

                                                                                  @Nepia said in Travel:

                                                                                  @canefan said in Travel:

                                                                                  I see Air Asia is advertising transtasman flights from November. Hopefully other players will reenter the market soon and help push the cost down

                                                                                  That’s awesome - I have two lots of Covid flight credits for Air Asia which I could use to travel home.

                                                                                  Get in there mate

                                                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                                  • taniwharugby
                                                                                    taniwharugby @MajorRage last edited by taniwharugby

                                                                                    @MajorRage yeah the Mother-in-law has booked to fly over here in Jan, think she is flying business, cant recall how much, maybe 5k squids, includes connecting flights from whatever airport she uses in Scotland - Manchester and Auckland - Whangarei.

                                                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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