[Jo_P]

Becca, With the luggage locks I use a permanent marker and mark the locks and corresponding keys with the same letter, so A lock goes with A keys and B lock with B keys etc, much easier if you need to open them in a hurry for the customs inspectors!
I like to have the day before we travel at home just in case any last minute things pop up and also I can go over the suitcases once more to make sure I have everything organised, I forgot to take my pjs last trip, I have no idea how I managed that, I remembered everyone else's of course!!!

This post has been edited by Jo_P: 26/02/2012, 06:44 PM

[~Kee~In~Hawaii~]

Jo: Forgot my pj's once too and thought I'd just buy some at Ala Moana Mall. Of course I got to the mall and was sidetracked by so many other, shiny, pretty things that I got back to the hotel that night and still didn't have any pj's. ETA: Your ticker says 1 month now! Woo-hoo!

Becca: Because of DH starting a new job, he is going to go in to work the Monday of the week we leave and tie up loose ends and fill in his boss on where he is at with projects - a sort of "handover" I guess. We then leave the next day on the Tuesday. I will be staying home on the Monday and I have asked DH that he at least get his packing ready, even if he doesn't actually pack it (I pack the suitcase better than he does anyway) but at least have out what he wants to take. Then I'll give the house a scrub, make sure there's nothing in the pantry that can go off and switch the fridge to holiday mode. I'll probably have a last minute check that all the paperwork is correct and check balances of travel cards and bank accounts/cash etc.

SleepyJean: That's how much I paid to fly with Jetstar last year and how much I just paid to fly to Hawaii with Air Australia ... which hasn't turned out how I'd hoped I'm waiting around for Jetstar to do some specials for September/October again too in the hopes of re-booking the flights I lost. I'm glad you like my blog. I know of the Trump Waikiki as I was wandering around one trip and was dragged inside by a salesman who wanted to get me to buy a condo in the premises. Although DH is a huge Trump fan, the hotel isn't beachfront and that's specifically what he wanted to splurge on one day. I'm sure you'll love Hawaii, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask


Brownie: Welcome, it's always good to have more Hawaii travelers to talk to Turtle Bay is BEAUTIFUL as is everything on that side of Oahu. It's not far to drive so you can easily hire a car and come over to Waikiki while you are there if you like. There is plenty to see on that side, like the Byodo Inn Temple and of course Pipeline and Sunset Beach. There's a reason so many movies (Forgetting Sarah Marshall for example) are filmed at Turtle Bay, it's paradise! Maui is also beautiful but there's less to do with kids there. Oh, and it will be twice the price.

vegiemumma: 4 sleeps!

sims11: 2 sleeps for you now that you leave early ... I hope you pop in before you go but if not, have a wonderful time! I look forward to hearing all about your trip when you get back!


I'm stuck at home with a very ill DH so I've done a lot of research and checking up on things in the last 24 hours while he's been sleeping and I'm bored. With my question about Delta airlines, I've found out that we fly in to terminal 5 at LAX from Honolulu and then we fly out of the same terminal to get to Las Vegas. All it is, is a plane change and they will change our bags for us. We don't leave the terminal and don't have to check in to the second flight as it's all ticketed on one ticket. We just get off the plane, walk to the other gate and take a seat until boarding. The thing that's got me a little freaked out is that the flight from LAX to Las Vegas is with Skywest Airlines (operating code share for Delta) and it's a CRJ900 plane. That's a small jet that seats only 70 passengers. I like my planes big - like A380 big. I feel safe in big planes. I have always said to DH that he'll never get me on a holiday with his parents to places like Pt Lincoln in SA because I won't fly in a small plane. Now I've gone and booked one without realising! I am freaking out! Hopefully I'll love it and it will be like having some private jet but right now I am so worried. And we come back from LV on one too. Having kittens!

I booked a Diamond Oceanfront room in the Moana Surfrider and with taxes, it came in at $470usd for the night. I then went on youtube and saw a bad review of the rooms. The guy filmed his way through a Diamond room and the decor was dated and the balcony was a juliette balcony so there's room to just stand on it and look at the view but no table or chairs. The bathroom was also TINY so I was getting a bit disappointed that for that much money, I wasn't going to be in a room that blew your socks off. In the end, I've cancelled that and booked an oceanfront suite at the Pacific Beach Hotel where we stayed on our honeymoon. I checked that out on youtube as well and the suites have a huge bathroom as well as a second vanity/dressing table with the hollywood lights around it in the bedroom area. There is a sitting area and the balcony is a lot bigger and has an outdoor setting on it so we can sit out there and enjoy the view. It's also further up the beach in an area we love swimming in and hanging out in so at least we are where the action is. I have booked us in that night for an all you can eat seafood buffet in their specialty restaurant and paid for it with the room so DH will have a nice surprise. He liked when we stayed there and I think I'm getting more for my money. It seems the Moana Surfrider plays on it's history but doesn't give you much when you actually book. The rooms didn't look all that when I was checking out the pictures, certainly not $470 per night's worth. I'm much happier with this booking and am now going to contact the hotel to see if they can get the diver to go in the huge aquarium in the restaurant with a Happy Anniversary sign to embarrass DH It will be a late "Happy Anniversary" but it still counts.

This post has been edited by Sicily/Kee: 26/02/2012, 08:06 PM

[snugglybug]

Kee - That sounds awesome! I agree you are getting much more bang for your buck with the second place.

Not long now til some departures! it's all getting very exciting!!

I have booked our accomodation at the start and end of our trip as I wanted to make sure we got a suite witha bit more room and didnt want to risk them selling out. But all the inbetween accomodation, should I wait for better prices? it's still a while away. I have to book Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix.

I jsut noticed that Tenaya lodge still has vacancy 2mths out and they are cheaper than prices for Oct. We are staying there two night and then 1 at the lodge at the falls so we dont have as far to drive the next day on the way out....given the the Tioga road is open!

[sims11]

snugglybug - I would book Grand Canyon and Yosemite early to make sure you get what you want. I still checked them out after booking to see if there was anything better or cheaper but knew I had the booking regardless.

One sleep to go . Have spent the morning packing the suitcases and cleaning up. Have dd's doctors appointment and swimming lesson, and a trip to the vet for the cat this afternoon. In good news my refund from AA (or the bank?) has come through so now I have some more spending money.

I am soooooo excited.

[Brownie22]

SleepyJean you got a great deal. Hope something like that comes up again.

Jo P. We are going early December so will keep an eye out for deals. Have signed up for newsletters from Jetstar and Virgin in the hopes that a great deal makes it to my inbox.

Kee. Funny you mentioned Forgetting Sarah Marshall because that's what made me think of Turtle Bay. I googled where it was set and found Turtle Bay. I'm leaning towards 8 nights in Waikiki (Outrigger Reef on the beach probably) and 2 nights at Turtle Bay.

Thanks

[*Lena*]

Snugglebug- How are you getting from Yosemite to Las vegas? I have only been researching for a little while and we are not going for a long time yet but from what I have seen I would book Yosemite now to make sure you get what you want.

Sims- Yay have an unreal time. Can't want to hear all about your trip.

I am still dreaming away.

This post has been edited by *Lena*: 09/03/2012, 02:20 PM

[Becca81]

Sims.. How exciting to be jetting off so soon...

We went into our GP today for our injections, only to be told that they don't give yellow fever and we can only get it from the travel doctor.

Now over all this time all we hear from everyone is that it will be expensive.

I called the travel dr and they were very helpful, $70 each for the consult and we can get some money back from Medicare, and then $60 for the yellow fever.

There is a list of recommended injections that seem to be the same for the states, has anyone else ever had the recommended injections for travel?

[snugglybug]

Lena- we are driving to Vegas, will stop overnight in Death Valley somewhere (or there a bouts)

Good point on booking it now and then waiting to see if something cheaper comes up!

Becca - I've only ever had travel injections when we were posted overseas when I was a child, we went to PNG and Malaysia. I didn't even know they recommended any for the states!?

I got rejected on my travel insurance for my pre existing condition, have emailed them back as I didn't think they had enough information to make an informed decision and not a blanket one! Worse comes to worse I won't be covered for it, but since I've been fine for over 5 years I'm sure it'll be ok. What else can I do!? I will try another one though, their form at least asks more Q's and has a part for the Dr to fill out.

This post has been edited by snugglybug: 27/02/2012, 05:15 PM

[blackcat20]

There is a list of recommended injections that seem to be the same for the states, has anyone else ever had the recommended injections for travel?

There are no officially recommended vaccinations for the states. I updated my tetanus before I went (and got the whooping cough at the same time as my BFF had a baby), but other than that, nothing required.

[snugglybug]

Just deleted my long winded post! made up my mind on my own...well a little help form DH

Need to write things out, it helps make a decision.


This post has been edited by snugglybug: 27/02/2012, 08:27 PM