2026 travel plans

[wanderer_au]

We are slowly broadening the horizons of our children (son 15, daughter 10) and they are not naturals for sitting still for long periods of time. Both are very sporty and active, and also pretty fidgety. Master Fifteen's rugby tour of the NZ South island was a challenge last year and that was only four hours. So, we are trying Japan and Singapore this year in the Term3/4 school holidays, to see if they have the capability for the US next year and UK in 2029.

 

[drcam]

Regrettably, Europe 2027 (Rhine River) is now off the table due to family estrangement and threat of disinheritance.
Why do Asian parents have to treat their middle-aged, professional children like immature 7-year-olds KNOWING it is not going benefit either?

 

[OATEK]

Our trip to visit our daughter and family in London in Aug/Sep has now expanded to included a week in Berlin together. Granddaughter is starting GCSEs in September that includes History and wants to explore WW1/WW2 related sites and museums.

 

[PERLHR]

Our trip to visit our daughter and family in London in Aug/Sep has now expanded to included a week in Berlin together. Granddaughter is starting GCSEs in September that includes History and wants to explore WW1/WW2 related sites and museums.

Excellent place to explore the history. So many museums and sights. Can I also suggest you consider this ..https://freewalkingtour.com/berlin/berlin-under-the-swastika-germany/

 

[Beer_budget]

I fear we will come to regret not booking the intra-European flights earlier. The direct TRD-MUC LH flight has tripled in price (J now cheaper than flex Y), fortunately DL to TRD still cheap and cheerful. Will have to decide what the $$ pain point is before I suck it up and deal with an AMS transit instead.

Will have to start wrangling rellies and firming up the itinerary before it gets any worse.

 

[Warks]

One of my Warklings booked a return to Bologna for next month for $1400 on Turkish Airlines about six months ago. Just this week they booked a return to Athens for July and it's $3300 on a Chinese airline I hadn't heard of to Athens and Scoot back! Scoot hits you for $300 per checked bag on top of (sale time) Singapore Airlines priced airfare.

 

[Blackadder]

Just booked a few days down in HBA in a few weeks, my first chance to check out the QFlink A223 product.

 

[Forg]

Just booked a few days down in HBA in a few weeks, my first chance to check out the QFlink A223 product.

What a cunning plan!
I might even be able to convince the better-half ... and HBA is perfect because it's one of few places on the QF network that has a lounge but I don't have a little cry to myself when traveling with her due to the fact she's no longer QF Platinum.

 

[Dmac59]

What a cunning plan!
I might even be able to convince the better-half ... and HBA is perfect because it's one of few places on the QF network that has a lounge but I don't have a little cry to myself when traveling with her due to the fact she's no longer QF Platinum.

You should lower your expectations @Forg
It’s not that much bigger than a broom cupboard, and the offerings aren’t that great either. No barista. I asked the ‘gatekeeper’ last week about expected opening of new lounge - she said October but don’t be surprised if that is pushed out further.

 

[Berlin]

Only about two weeks till we head to Europe and I am soooo glad we happened to snapped Cathay tickets mid last year already at 8k a pop SYD-FRA-SYD. Both prior years we went on Qatar so this was really luck

Big road trip on the Autobahn pretty much one big circle around Germany with a quick dash to Prague in between. Lots of good beer, white aspargus right in season and in the end some Riesling tasting followed by a day of childhood memories at Phantasialand before heading back to Australia. Cannot wait!

 

[Forg]

You should lower your expectations @Forg
It’s not that much bigger than a broom cupboard,

That’s what I mean … other places I miss the lounge, but HBA we always went in & left shortly after ‘cos the general terminal was a nicer place to be.

 

[OZDUCK]

Only about two weeks till we head to Europe and I am soooo glad we happened to snapped Cathay tickets mid last year already at 8k a pop SYD-FRA-SYD. Both prior years we went on Qatar so this was really luck

Big road trip on the Autobahn pretty much one big circle around Germany with a quick dash to Prague in between. Lots of good beer, white aspargus right in season and in the end some Riesling tasting followed by a day of childhood memories at Phantasialand before heading back to Australia. Cannot wait!

Not trusting the unrivalled punctuality of DB these days I see. I hope you don't run into many Stau and say hello to the Frankfurter Kreuz for me if you pass through it.

 

[Forg]

Only about two weeks till we head to Europe and I am soooo glad we happened to snapped Cathay tickets mid last year already at 8k a pop SYD-FRA-SYD. Both prior years we went on Qatar so this was really luck

Big road trip on the Autobahn pretty much one big circle around Germany with a quick dash to Prague in between. Lots of good beer, white aspargus right in season and in the end some Riesling tasting followed by a day of childhood memories at Phantasialand before heading back to Australia. Cannot wait!

Ooh, ooooh!
7 weeks wait for us, CX as well, into Zurich and out of Heathrow … trains this time for us, week-ish in Switzerland then a few days in Lyon & Strasbourg & Brussels & London before leaving.
Still not betting the house on fuel availability & not getting canceled, mind you.

 

[Berlin]

Not trusting the unrivalled punctuality of DB these days I see.

Never did to be honest but especially not in recent years. Petrol will be truly through the roof though, much worse than what we have here!

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

In early March I remember thinking if this was all still going on 6 weeks later that I might start finding myself in trouble given my inclination towards remote islands. Well, here we are...

Fortunately, Rarotonga next week looks safe, including the day trip to Aitutaki.

Vanuatu in July (less remote) though I suspect Niue in September could become an issue if this drags on. Though I stand by the practical reality that if this is all still happening in September, we'll have far bigger problems.

Fortunately we made it to Europe earlier this month and trips to Japan x2, North America x2, and South Africa are already booked over the next 12 months, as is as much domestic travel as I can lock in, in large part thanks to the sales QF and VA have dumped this week that's ironically likely to result in lower average spend on most domestic city pairs compared to 2025.

I've hedged as best I can. We'll see what happens.

 

[luxury-lizard]

OK we're off on May 27 - 6 weeks. Starting in Malta onto Sicily then the Dolomites (via Munich) and a final week in Austria. Flying over on China Southern via CAN and IST to MLA, home from MUC on SQ.

China Southern was a paid ($3000) one-way in J alternative to VA/QR via DOH award. SQ J award home.

 

[OATEK]

...
Big road trip on the Autobahn pretty much one big circle around Germany with a quick dash to Prague in between. Lots of good beer, white aspargus right in season and in the end some Riesling tasting followed by a day of childhood memories at Phantasialand before heading back to Australia. Cannot wait!

I love how when Spargelzeit happens, the restaurants put out their Spargel karte! Not say Schnitzel with spargel, but Spargel mit...

 

[Berlin]

I love how when Spargelzeit happens, the restaurants put out their Spargel karte! Not say Schnitzel with spargel, but Spargel mit...

Yes- that’s exactly what I am waiting for, The Spargelkarte! I also like “Pfifferlingkarte” later in the year for chanterelle season. Another hard to find delicatessen here in Australia.

“Lambs lettuce” and salsify also make this sad list of healthy veggies that are near impossible to find here. And I’m sure you could grow the former at least!

 

[Beer_budget]

I love how when Spargelzeit happens, the restaurants put out their Spargel karte! Not say Schnitzel with spargel, but Spargel mit...

Der Spargel kommt...

 

[Flyfrequently]

Only about two weeks till we head to Europe and I am soooo glad we happened to snapped Cathay tickets mid last year already at 8k a pop SYD-FRA-SYD. Both prior years we went on Qatar so this was really luck

Big road trip on the Autobahn pretty much one big circle around Germany with a quick dash to Prague in between. Lots of good beer, white aspargus right in season and in the end some Riesling tasting followed by a day of childhood memories at Phantasialand before heading back to Australia. Cannot wait!

You have planted the seed - Trip Report please @Berlin