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I take trips I need to visit my parents in NSW (~ 5 times a year), and my extended family in the Lower Yangtse in China (NKG/PVG/HGH, 1-2 times a year). Occasionally I have interstate work trips, maybe 2 a year. There are too many trips I want to take and I would likely die of old age before I...

My parents are now in their late 70s and they are still purchasing insurance on their overseas trips. Is this generally still possible once they hit 80?

My golden rule: Trust no-one

I travel to learn about new places. I probably spend more time reading up on a destination than actually visiting them. For me a vacation is learning about history or culture or nature. It is not about lazing on a beach at a resort in Bournemouth.

I've never flown on Scoot (or Jetstar business for that matter), but is the hard product on ScootBiz as good as that on Jetstar? I need to get to Shanghai in late May next year, I could either spend 75k QF points to go BNE-TPE-PVG on CI or go to Singapore first and it would then be a further...

Jetstar have one way fares for some dates next year (eg May 2026) for $609 one way from Melbourne to Singapore in "business class" (in reality more like premium economy, but possibly tolerable for a daytime flight), is that considered a steal?

I did luggage storage at Penn Station for the day. You just have to have an Amtrak ticket. Buy one in advance for the shortest possible distance (eg Newark), and then store your luggage for the day for a nominal fee. Would be much cheaper than getting a day room at a hotel.

Rule 1: The bigger vehicle has the right of way. Rule 2: Pass the car in front of you.

Queueing is de rigeur in China. Some of the lower classes do push in, but there is no tolerance from legitimate people who stand in line. And anyone who actually attempts it will be quickly rerouted to the END. The only instance I've encountered involving Chinese people pushing in was at the...

@cove oh no! 1751526552 Sadly, yes. So would it be possible to "re-mortgage" my MEL residence and turn it into an investment property for tax purposes?

I was in Suzhou this Easter. I went to Tongli and Zhouzhuang, the two most famous "water country" towns in China. They were nice, but somewhat too commercialised, there was a bit too much of a "Sovereign Hill" feel about them. It was 30 degrees already. Vive la global warming! The Yangtse Delta...

Also note that I will probably not stay in Sydney forever unless I find Miss Right in Sydney although my parents will never move to Melbourne. Moving back home in middle age is also not an option. So should I just rent? Sydney property is impossibly expensive. My retirement plans consist of a...

I'm still a fair way off retirement, but I may be in the medium term running into the following situation: 50 years old, with my main residence (MEL) paid off and an investment property in Ballarat (rented, paid off). I need to relocate to Sydney to be closer to my elderly parents who are in...

Received my first tranche of points (300k). Now I need to get my ticket back from Europe to Australia in mid July 2026. I currently have 110k SQ, 27k VA, 81k QF points, none of which are expiring soon. Should I just fly to Istanbul or Dubai and then redeem a SQ flight back to Oz? Or go from...

A very warm welcome aboard AFF @AMLB from TouCams

Friday Dinner - Yes Saturday daytime - Yes, yum cha lunch Saturday dinner - yes Sunday daytime - maybe Sunday dinner - yes

I drive a Jeep Compass Trailhawk. It is named Bobbi (in full, Roberta Anne Matilda, because I can call her RAMBO), after a late friend of mine named Bob who loved offroading. In September 2023 I took Bobbi all the way to Cameron Corner and Oodnadatta before visiting Japan and the USA on a...

Gold as of right now. Love not having to pay an airfare.

It is not beyond me to imagine Qantas serving a single lettuce leaf, sans dressing, as a special meal, without compunction or shame. Excuse my cynicism and sarcasm.

Word of the day: Froward - used to describe a person difficult to deal with; contrary. The airlines' miles departments found Cam a froward customer, when he reacted to their latest devaluations with his unique admixture of arrogance, cynicism and sarcasm.