Ok, saving over $500 dollars was not a mistake, but when your flight time is over 30 hours it definitely feels like it.
Soooo, I booked my flight from Terrace to Melbourne on points, I have literally been saving since 1996 (no joke), and this seemed like the perfect time to utilize this! Really, it was. Although my flight path was..*ahem* a bit sporadic, I did save lots of money in airport taxes and didn't have to pay for the plane ticket. What was my flight path you may ask? Terrace-->Vancouver (makes sense) Vancouver-->Brisbane (also makes sense) Brisbane-->Auckland, NZ (does not make sense) Auckland-->Melbourne (finally!) Estimated travel time: 33 hours (ha) Stretch, hydrate, and get an aisle seat These three things made a huge difference for me during the flight(s). When I could, I got up and stretched, as to reduce the size of my cankles (lack of circulation my friends); always say yes when they come by with water (hydration is key on long flights, seriously); and for me I hate waking people up and also like to get up and move around so I always get an aisle seat. If I didn't do this, and wanted to sleep, window all the way! Just pay the extra money for the taxi, trust me. If there is one thing I have learned during my time travelling, is if you don't know where you are going, its late and you don't know the public transportation system really well, PAY FOR THE TAXI!!!! Going on the subway the wrong way, falling asleep on public transport, catching the wrong bus, can all lead you to a place not ideal for young travellers in the middle of the night. If you feel comfortable with taking public transportation because you know exactly where you're going, definitely do that, but if you don't, pay for the taxi. Did my taxi cost $100 dollars, yes it did, but I (and my parents and boyfriend) had peace of mind knowing I would safely be taken to my Air BnB on the opposite side of town. Heck - I had so much luggage, even if I knew the public transportation system well in the day light, I would have still taken a taxi. Anticipate and save the extra money for the taxi, its worth it. Always have the number of the contact person for the residence, apartment or hostel you are staying at prior to arriving at your destination. Arrive at the Air BnB, safetly get inside, can't find the apartment number. Shit. Turns out there was an unmarked door that led to a second floor, thank goodness I had the contact phone number of the Air BnB girl. In case you get lost, or can't get into your accommodation always have a phone number you can use in an emergency. I actually made my taxi driver wait for me until I knew I was in the building. In the event I couldn't get in, I knew he could transport me to another set of accommodation (hotel) if I needed it. Plan B is always a good idea. Once inside, I feel asleep for a solid 10 hours. Thank goodness for a comfortable bed in a clean apartment. Cheers, Kathryn
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AuthorHi everyone! I'm Kathryn, a Master's student at Monash University in Melbourne. This blog outlines the experiences and transition of my life in small town Terrace, BC to the sites and sounds of Melbourne, Australia! Archives
July 2017
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