How NOT to buy a souvenir: 8 tips on avoiding that piece of useless junk.

It was the first day of our travels in Mexico. It was hot, we were jet-lagged and we were awed by the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula - one of the new seven wonders of the world. There was a long line of eager souvenir sellers, all with wide grins, and near-identical trinkets. I was on a quest for something to remember our trip by. David was on a quest to do anything to make me happy. I had recently been ill, very ill, and he was being even more caring and generous than usual. All this amounted to a  perfect recipe to get taken advantage of, mercilessly, - and the Mexican souvenir sellers were happy to oblige.

35J and 35K on a Qantas A380: The Best Economy Seats in the Sky!

Source: Qantas

 NOTE:  The new configuration of the A380 QANTAS planes have removed these seats. 

What if I told you it is possible to book an airline seat with unlimited leg room, in a row of two seats (no middle seat), in a cabin of just 30 seats with its own toilet and great service, all for the cost of an economy fare plus an exit row surcharge. Would you believe me? Stuck in the 7th level of Dante's Hell downstairs on a long haul flight passengers can only dream of such luxury but for a lucky few life in the stratosphere between continents can be almost bearable. I am talking about the best economy seats in the sky - 35J and 35K in the upstairs cabin on a Qantas A380.

Have electric bikes ruined cycling in Europe?

The long slow drone of a pack of electric bicycles (e-bikes) approaches us from behind. They sound like a swarm of bees gathering into formation - ready to strike - or is the sound nothing more than my imagination. Do electric bikes make any sound? As they get closer the volume increases and my nerves jangle with anticipation of their attack.

Struggling slowly uphill in the midday sun I glance around, desperately searching for an escape route. The bike path is narrow. To my left a tight, winding road is hostile with traffic. It runs through yet another wonderfully picturesque town, but I have no time out

How to pay a parking fine in Germany: The frustrating tale of a 15 euro ticket.

I admit it - we did the wrong thing! I am the third most law-abiding person on the planet. Only the Dalai Lama and the Pope are ahead of me in the queue. If a sign says don't do something I absolutely do not do it. I don't swim outside the flags (you have to live in Australia to understand that particular piece of lunacy), I don't litter, I don't speed and I don't park where I am not supposed to. Nor does David, while I am around at least. Except on a recent trip to Germany we did and with all the hassle and grief it caused us we are never, ever doing it again.

The 7 most annoying things in hotel rooms and how to fix them!

I have had a tough week - I admit it. It has left me tired, grumpy and irritable. For a long time I have had a list swirling around in my brain of all the advice I would like to give to all the hotel managers of all the hotels we have, or will in the future, ever stay in. Over three decades of travel, David and I have stayed in hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand, hotels, B&Bs and self-catering cottages. They have ranged from 1-star, budget accommodation to 5-star luxury retreats. Some could only be described as rat-infested, flea pits. Others were so lovely I had to be pried out the door when it came time to leave.

Is QANTAS Premium Economy Worth the Extra Cost?

Note: - I gather that QANTAS Premium Economy seats have improved considerably since I wrote this post. We haven't tried them. A few years ago we switched to Singapore Airlines Premium Economy. Singapore Airlines is usually much less expensive, and allows us to stay the night in Singapore on our way to Europe, avoiding flying through the night.

During the many, many years David and I wandered the globe with our two sons, we would sit in the back of aeroplanes fantasising about the years ahead when, no longer needing to buy four airline tickets for every trip, we might be able to afford to travel in comfort in the pointy end of the aeroplane. Naively, we imagined the cost of four tickets in economy class would be about equal to two in business class - premium economy had not yet been invented.

13 tips to make flying easier - or how to survive a long haul flight without going nuts!

David and I live in Australia and David loves to travel.  Australia is that big island at the bottom of the globe which is literally thousands of miles from everywhere. As a result we spend a lot of time on aeroplanes. Even on domestic trips we can easily spend five hours on a plane - and don't get me started about how long it takes to get to Europe, America or Asia. If time sitting in a tin can in the sky can make you an expert, then we are world experts on flying.

Sydney, Australia - The top 5 things tourists do which locals avoid.

Have you ever wondered whether Egyptians visit the pyramids, Parisians climb the Eiffel Tower or New Yorkers wander around the Statute of Liberty? David and I have done all these things as well as countless other iconic activities around the world, but I have often wondered whether locals living their lives every day in the shadow of such massive tourist drawcards ever bother to visit them.

Mention Sydney and 'Things to do' to any tourist and I can almost guarantee which activity will be the top of their list.  It has become so popular it is almost synonymous with the city. Yet I haven't done it, nor has David, our adult children, or most of our friends. I am sure you can guess what I am talking about: if you have been a tourist in Sydney you have probably done it yourself.

Seven things you need to know before you visit Alaska.

Last year David and I drove to south-east Alaska. Yes, I know - there are very few roads and you can't actually drive there. We drove anyway. Most visitors see this part of the world from the deck of a cruise ship and if this is what you are planning, don't worry, we called in at the same towns and ports as the cruise ships so my advice applies equally to you.

The Six Essential Rules of Holiday Cycling.

As travellers who cycle or cyclists who travel, I am really not sure which, I have drawn up the following guide to help anyone contemplating a cycling holiday. First, I need to explain that David and I are in our autumn years. We are not especially athletic or fit. We cycle for pleasure and because cycling is a great way to appreciate any travel destination. The fact that we often return from travel fitter and trimmer than when we depart is an added benefit. We don't cycle on busy roads, nor do we cycle long distances, or up and down hills if we can possibly avoid it, and we always have a car with us as well as our bikes. If cycling is the new golf, we are definitely at the amateur end of the spectrum.

Skiing in NSW, Australia - Thredbo, Perisher, Charlotte Pass and Mt Selwyn.

UPDATED: July 2016 

'Winter is here!'  Australia may not be the first place people think of when it comes to snow but the last two years' ski seasons were fantastic. This year only needs to be half as good to be stunning.

Lots of Australians head overseas each year to ski in America and Europe giving up a chunk of summer in search of snow, ice and wintery weather. Hey guys, I've got news for you - it snows in Australia too.

Australia - travel tips and advice from a local.

There are seven major Designated International Airports in Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide and Darwin. You are going to arrive at one of these, probably Sydney or Melbourne.

Medieval and Rennaissance Fairs in Australia

Last year D and I went to the inaugural St Ives Medieval Faire. We had a ball. There were knight's in armour, jousting, Viking combat, Dark Ages encampments and lots more.  For anyone who loves a chance to dress up (or see others dress up) in Ye Olde finery, I drew up a list of medieval and renaissance fairs around Australia. With the fair season starting in earnest, I thought it might be useful to publish it again. My apologies to Rowany Festival and Geelong Highland Gathering goers, it's a bit late for them but there is always next year- oooppps!

Tips and tricks to get the best hotel room at the best rate!

Don't be a victim of dynamic pricing:

This first hint applies more to booking an airline ticket than a hotel room but, to be honest, I originally forgot to put it in my post on 'Booking an airline ticket' so it is going in here.  

Dynamic pricing is a fancy term for pricing according to demand. Lets face it, peak season will always cost more than low season - fair enough. The problem is that some businesses have, with the aid of cookies, taken dynamic pricing to new levels. Have you ever checked the price of an airline ticket or hotel room on-line a couple of times and then found it is more expensive when you go to book? If so, you have probably been the victim of dynamic pricing.

Escaping the Czech Republic: Holiday disasters and how to avoid them - Pt. 2

Escaping the Czech Republic: -

I am a stickler for following the rules. I don't do things I'm not supposed to - even little things like jay-walking. This is especially so when I am in a foreign country. David on the other hand has a more casual approach to life which is how we found ourselves in the Czech Republic without entry stamps in our passports.

We drove across the border from Austria, in a rental car with Austrian number plates, following a long line of other Austrian cars.  No-one else stopped at the border, no-one else even slowed down. D was driving.

Holiday disasters and how to avoid them - 'Our Great Cairo Catastrophe'.

Travelling the world, seeing the sights and visiting foreign countries, sounds like a lot of fun - and it is. But it is not all plain sailing. Sometimes things go wrong and when they do it can be downright frightening. There is nothing like being thousands of miles from home to make any problem seem a lot worse than it is.

Fortunately we have never had an irrecoverable holiday catastrophe but that doesn't mean we haven't had our share of  mishaps.  Next time you are away from home and things go wrong just remember you aren't alone - chances are someone, probably lots of someones, have been in the same situation before you and got out alive.

Booking an airline ticket yourself: how to avoid some common mistakes.

Today's blog post started life as a compilation of stories re-telling our worst holiday catastrophes. Horrible experiences which we look back on now with amusement; if not quite fondness. Somewhere about the first paragraph I realised that after almost four decades of independent travelling David and I have probably learnt a thing or two about how to avoid holiday disasters.  I don't pretend to be an expert. The following advice all comes from personal experience

How to read a blog - for beginners!

As a blog author I know my way around a blog fairly well. Until last week I thought everyone else did too, then some friends asked me a few pretty basic questions. Questions the answer to which I took for granted. It prompted me to put together a guide for them - and because I'm a blogger and can't help myself I thought I would share it with the world.

Five - 'you have got to be kidding' - tourist attractions

Let me preface this post by saying that the tourist sites on this list may be a little wacky but that doesn't make them boring. You won't find them on the 'highly recommended' lists in the main stream guidebooks, but on the upside, none of them will be crowded when you get there. The fact that they made the list means we thought them worth a visit. 

11 tips for Australian travellers to the US

1. Don't forget to apply for your visa waiver, you won't be allowed to board the plane without it.   https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

2. Fix your exchange rate before you go. Our experience is that the Aussie dollar only ever goes one way after you have left the country.  If you travel frequently to the US consider opening a US bank account, and move your holiday money across when the exchange rate is favourable. Make sure the account doesn't pay interest though unless you want to start worrying about how to navigate the US tax system. With a US bank account those horrible ATM fees are a thing of the past, just stick to ATMs for the bank you have the account with.