Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i
Best main meal of the trip ... little restaurant in Vienna
Goose ... seems small in the pic, but oh dear was it large in real life.
What surprised us was somehow we managed to create carnage and devour poor the goose. By the end of it we needed to walk.
Best strudel ... we made it a mission to have strudel wherever possible and considering we were passing through Austria, how could one not sample Strudel
The favorite became the usual cheese and cherry along with a savory number containing cabbage.
In conclusion ... we give the tour an A-Plus.
Entry level planning before leaving Sydney and then the bulk of the day-to-day when on ground the evening before.
We used Dr Google to give us the top-20 for each location and then a bit of quick reading resulted in what we wanted to do.
Long haul trains were booked about 2 to 3 months out.
HLO was absolutely the way to go.
It meant some compromises especially around number of outfits and toiletries.
Fortunately, staying at a major hotel chain meant we were never without either and could always ring housekeeping and ask for more hair conditioner, a fresh razor, more toothpaste etc.
The large camera was left at home and only our mobile phones were used as we made a change in the way we saw photos ... they were for jogging the memory vs trying to create a postcard shot. This then meant we fired off the phone quicker and didn't agonize over framing the shot etc. It meant we lived in the moment and were more 'present'.
Learnings ...
* re-evaluate some clothing and replace to better use HLO - take the essentials only. You can always buy things if needed
* Keep a digital and printed copy of everything (then discard the paper as you go)
* double check train platforms as they can change + make sure you are in the right carriage
* take fruit from breakfast buffet as a snack during touring (fresh fruit is filling and hydrating)
* don't carry plastic water bottles (think, your typical Mt Franklin bottle) to be refilled ... but rather invest a few dollars in a collapsible bladder style bottle that can be rolled up when empty
* smile and ask questions ... most people will try and speak English (especially younger people)
* eat and drink too much ... this is part of the joy to always be sampling something ... and often we would try and pick random things from the menu
* not a lot of cash is needed ... CC seemed to be accepted at most places
* keep having fun ... this is what it is all about
QF SCs earned for those that collect them (Points are as a QF WP)
| Date | Description | Qantas
Points | Status
bonus | Total
points | Status
credits |
| xx_xx | xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_xx_x | - | - | - | - |
| JAN 16 | QF 024 BUSINESS JAN16 BANGKOK/SYDNEY | 7,800 | 13,000 | 120
|
| JAN 16 | AY 095 BUSINESS JAN16 HELSINKI/BANGKOK | 6,125 | 6,125 | 120 |
| JAN 16 | AY 822 BUSINESS JAN16 FRANKFURT/HELSINKI | 1,375 | 1,375 | 60 |
| DEC 15 | AY 753 BUSINESS DEC15 HELSINKI/BUDAPEST | 1,375 | - | 1,375 | 60 |
| DEC 15 | AY 090 BUSINESS DEC15 BANGKOK/HELSINKI | 6,125 | - | 6,125 | 120 |
| DEC 15 | QF 8419 BUSINESS DEC15 SYDNEY/BANGKOK | 7,800 | 5,200 | 13,000 | 120 |
That about does it. Safe travels to you.
Hopefully some of you were entertained and others found some of the pics helpful for your own planning / assessing the products along the way.
And a final thanks to the great AFF community forum from whom we continue to learn then ply the trade in practice.
If you liked it or found some value, clicking the like button never goes astray.
May Peace & happiness be with you.
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