I think I have done about 16 countries, I expect if you lived in Europe it would be easy to top that... But for me it's 4hrs to NZ and a lot more than that to anywhere else.

I had flown what were some of the longest legs in the world, but they've all changed with the long range planes. You can fly London to Perth or Dubai to Auckland these days... Long ass flights.

Jun 19, 2020 12:17:34 GMT iNCY said:

I think I have done about 16 countries, I expect if you lived in Europe it would be easy to top that... But for me it's 4hrs to NZ and a lot more than that to anywhere else.

I had flown what were some of the longest legs in the world, but they've all changed with the long range planes. You can fly London to Perth or Dubai to Auckland these days... Long ass flights.

Especially for the long ass ones, do you at least get to go first class? Is that a business expense you just eat, or are you able to bill through to your clients? Or case by case?

I feel like whether one loves or hates travel depends almost entirely on HOW one travels.

Jun 19, 2020 12:34:19 GMT 🤯 said:

Jun 19, 2020 12:17:34 GMT iNCY said:

I think I have done about 16 countries, I expect if you lived in Europe it would be easy to top that... But for me it's 4hrs to NZ and a lot more than that to anywhere else.

I had flown what were some of the longest legs in the world, but they've all changed with the long range planes. You can fly London to Perth or Dubai to Auckland these days... Long ass flights.

Especially for the long ass ones, do you at least get to go first class? Is that a business expense you just eat, or are you able to bill through to your clients? Or case by case?

I feel like whether one loves or hates travel depends almost entirely on HOW one travels.

Sometimes I will pay for business, depending on what I have to do when I get where I am going, though the most common thing is for me to buy Premium Economy and try for my upgrade with frequent flyer points.

Best Business Class I have flown is Emirates, but Cathay is really nice too. I hear great things about etihad but have never flown them.

I've made those 21-24hr flights, in economy. Despite the cattle class, I absolutely love being on the move travelling.

I might try to revitalise this thread with a few stories. I've been to 13 countries, doubled up more than a few times.

I've never really traveled. Too paranoid about bed bugs and hotels to really take advantage of it, though I did have BIG PLANS(~!) to do a full-week of coaster hopping in July as I had 3 parks in the VA/NC area in mind for first-time visits. Was gonna make all sort of OCD precautions to survive hotel visits. And well, 2020 fucked me up the ass with no lube and there wasn't even a pillow to bite so those are not happening. Still gonna take a few days off anyway though.

I couldn't decide on which way I wanted to do this, post in glorious / mundane detail of the trips and tours I've been on over the last 7 years or whether I'd talk about some of my favourite cities. 

I started banging on and decided to keep it brief to retain people's attention.

In 2013 and 2014 my wife and I unashamedly jumped on 2 Topdeck tours of the UK and Europe. Topdeck's European Wonder and the creatively titled UK and Ireland tours. Then, because I enjoy getting up at 5am and spending hours on a bus, we did Topdeck's Grand Kiwi tour of New Zealand in 2016.

I had all but hung up my travelling boots when I decided I needed a much needed break from the real world in early 2018 and we flew to London, spending a week in Soho, eating, drinking, walking around, eating, drinking. Travelled up to York on the train for the weekend, and then finally a week in Edinburgh eating, drinking, walking around, eating, drinking. 3rd time in London, 2nd in York and Edinburgh. 

Edinburgh, I absolutely adore this place. How you couldn't love it, is beyond me. Similarly I love London. I've often described it as everything you love about Melbourne x 1000 with 5000 years of history and culture on top of it. 

I had literally got off the plane, when my father decided at 64 years old he wanted to visit the old country - The Netherlands, for the first time in 40 years.

How I managed to convince my boss to allow me another month off less than 6 months later, I don't know, but I did.

September 2018, my old man and me flew into Berlin, spent a few days seeing Germany's capital - such a cool place - then ICE training it to Paris for the weekend. This was my second time in La Ville Lumière and she delivered the goods yet again. A stunning city, we had some incredible experiences here both in '13 and '18.

From Paris, we travelled to Amsterdam. My first time in Amsterdam in 2013 was much different to 2018 - we went hard, and had all the fun you'd expect from Amsterdamage. 2018 I actually realised how cool this place really is. From Amsterdam, we spent a week with our family in Nijmegen attending a family reunion of sorts in whatever the town was my grandfather lived in during WW2 - we visited the site his family home sat ( which was bombed twice, once by the Germans and then by the Americans missing the German border ) We spent the next few days with my grandmother's side of the family - visiting the hotel my great grandmother owned during the War - she hid Jews and the family received some sort of thanks from the government years later for her efforts during the resistance. 

Years ago, I invited a mate on one of these trip. He didn't go ultimately. And then posted some rubbish on twitter a day later about the greatest adventures are in books.. whatever. You can choose to read about someone else's life, or live yours. I've been fortunate to do and see some cool things, if you're unsure about travelling or holidaying overseas - go, you can always come back. 

                       

I've been to Edinburgh once, just for a day. Beautifuly city. Loved the castle.

NATH45, tell me your impressions of York. Give me details. I have lived there for many years and it's my favourite city.

Loved Edinburgh.

In 2007 I flew across the pond to the UK and met Rogue face to face for the first time. We stayed in London for the week toured around there and did day tours to Bath, the Cottswolds, Windsor Castle, Warrick Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford and an overnight to Paris. All amazing. Some of my favourite things were meeting up with the other PWers and an evening tour entitled the Sinister Tour of London. Amazing!

From London we travelled to Durham to see monsoon and his lovely bride who took us to two of my favourite places: Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle/University. Then off to Newcastle to meet up with our favourite Geordie @gazza. From there we stayed in Edinburgh which was highly enjoyable. Are of the End of the World pub and toured Mary Kings Close which is an amazing walk through history and view of OLD Edinburgh of which new Edinburgh is built upon.

We then settled in Aberdeen for the last week and Rogue took me to Stonehaven where we had a wonderful meal and toured the ruins of Dunnottar Castle. We also toured Kildrummy Castle and gardens, Huntley Castle and many more as the Castle Mile boasts 13 castles. One of my favourite days we went to the ruins of Slains Castle and then to see my cousins who took us to my family homestead where my Gran grew up. It’s always surreal to make a connection to your history.

Still my most favourite vacation to date. I can’t wait to return.

EDIT: yes, I know I used the work Amazing over a dozen times but that’s the buzz word of the day

Jun 21, 2020 14:28:37 GMT Emperor said:

I've been to Edinburgh once, just for a day. Beautifuly city. Loved the castle.

NATH45, tell me your impressions of York. Give me details. I have lived there for many years and it's my favourite city.

York is fantastic for a chilled few days of site seeing. The obvious examples are the church and The Shambles and generally just wandering around. There's the wall to follow, Clifford's Hill for a look.

Both times we did a ghost tour, the same tour guide both times.

Does it compare to Edinburgh, probably not. It is notable a much smaller city from what I remember.

Yeah York is pretty small. I've done one of the Ghost Walks in York, it was fantastic.

It's not great as a tourist place, there's only a handful of attractions and you're done, but as a city to live in and spend your time in, it's beautiful. Has a really nice aesthetic and it's a pretty safe city.

Jun 22, 2020 16:11:45 GMT Emperor said:

Yeah York is pretty small. I've done one of the Ghost Walks in York, it was fantastic.

It's not great as a tourist place, there's only a handful of attractions and you're done, but as a city to live in and spend your time in, it's beautiful. Has a really nice aesthetic and it's a pretty sage city.

I could easily live there. After a full week in the chaos of Soho in London it was a welcomed chill out.

Upon Mt first time there, I developed a soft spot for York due to our UK tour making its first overnight stop there, and this is really where we came out of our shells after a few drinks.

That same day we stopped in at Oxford Uni and Stratford-upon-Avon.

I've always wanted to visit Oxford. One day. One day...

The weather is cold and miserable here, I would love to book a holiday to either:
Domestically: Port Douglas, Queensland Australia
or
Internationally: Kanapaali, Maui Hawaii

Two of my favourite places in the world.
I am so wrecked, I need a holiday.

I had a holiday last year.
Trump may be all sorts of a dick, but the Hotels that carry his name are incredible, we stayed in a 2 Bedroom suite in Waikiki.
In Maui we stayed at one of the Westin properties which was amazing, was a self contained 2 bedroom condo with ocean views.

Only flight I've ever taken was from Columbus to St. Louis. I'm terrified of heights, but it actually wasn't that bad considering all I saw was clouds, rather than a never-ending abyss. The ear-popping was honestly the worst experience. Only a 2-3 hour flight so it was nothing really, I can't imagine being stuck on a plane for 15+, fuuuuckkk.

Everything else was by vehicle, mostly trips to Alabama/Florida to see family, which is about a 12-14 hour drive that thankfully I never had to make myself, my poor parents. Sad to say that I've never left the states. Florida is overrated btw. It's trinket shop after trinket shop after trinket shop, all guarded by an army of card-carrying AARP members. There are better places to see beaches and palm trees I'm sure.

Jealous of 🤯 , Japan is easily #1 on the list of countries I want to visit.

Japan is fucking dope. Technically we only made it to Tokyo. But that alone offers enough to explore for a million years. Would love to go back, and would do it in a heartbeat. Would expat there in a heartbeat. The flight there isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be either. They fly over the North Pole (my dumb ass forgot the world is round after all)!

Jun 23, 2020 17:04:13 GMT 🤯 said:

Japan is fucking dope. Technically we only made it to Tokyo. But that alone offers enough to explore for a million years. Would love to go back, and would do it in a heartbeat. Would expat there in a heartbeat. The flight there isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be either. They fly over the North Pole (my dumb ass forgot the world is round after all)!

Move there right now and make Pi Jr. a citizen. It's win win for all involved.

Birth rate is in the toilet.

And he'd probably slay with the laydees since they love white guys.

Jun 23, 2020 17:04:13 GMT 🤯 said:

Japan is fucking dope. Technically we only made it to Tokyo. But that alone offers enough to explore for a million years. Would love to go back, and would do it in a heartbeat. Would expat there in a heartbeat. The flight there isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be either. They fly over the North Pole (my dumb ass forgot the world is round after all)!

Japan is one of the few places on my bucket list. Would love to visit Kyoto.

Jun 24, 2020 0:23:52 GMT iNCY said:

Jun 23, 2020 17:04:13 GMT 🤯 said:

Japan is fucking dope. Technically we only made it to Tokyo. But that alone offers enough to explore for a million years. Would love to go back, and would do it in a heartbeat. Would expat there in a heartbeat. The flight there isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be either. They fly over the North Pole (my dumb ass forgot the world is round after all)!

Japan is one of the few places on my bucket list. Would love to visit Kyoto.

Ditto. Or, rather, would love to explore the whole country. Man... So regretting being in America right now. Yinz got me. JAPAN DREAMIN'!

...PW Takes Japan meetup?

I've been overseas five times (once as an ankle biter that I don't really remember) and plenty of time to type so here goes:

I went to Europe in my gap year between high school and university said every millennial Aussie ever back in 2008. I worked in fast food for about eight months to save the money to do the trip which was generally terrible but all worth it in the end. I spent a lot of time with my family in England (my parents emigrated to Australia so all of my extended family is back in the old dart) as well as getting around to some typical tourist things in London like the Tate Modern, London Eye, Lord's, Abbey Road & Windsor Castle. Beyond those hotspots, one of the best places I went to was the War Museum at Duxford which has an incredible collection of historic aircraft. My grandpa was in the RAF during WW2 and I really wasn't aware of what he did, or much about the air battles in general so it was a great learning experience. One day I look forward to doing a really comprehensive trip going up and down the UK through football.

I also spent a week in Paris which was incredible and absolutely lived up to the hype of culture and architectural beauty. I'm pretty obsessed with the Impressionists so getting to see all that art in person was so rewarding. I think I've posted it on here before but if you go, don't bother queuing up at the Louvre and go to the Musee D'Orsay and L'Orangerie instead. Versailles is beautiful, I spent most of my time walking around the amazing gardens behind the palace that gradually fade into forest the further back you go, and Montmatre obviously has so much charm and character. Also had a few days in Belgium (visiting the amusing comic book museum and touring the sobering battlefields of the Western Front) and Amsterdam (buying hamburgers from microwave vending machines, and blunts from a coffee shop for underage girls) 

Might come back with my three trips to America later on.

I think I have probably posted this before, but I am not certain.
This only goes back 15 years or so, there are a fair few flights that I don't have, which is kind of sad.



Some of the data is a little garbled as it imports automatically, it doesn't always pick up stop overs or what class you flew in.