Anonymous
03/05/2025 12:05
Subject: Australia for a week?
Anonymous wrote: Not if the seven days includes travel time.
I once went to South Africa for 3 days (for work). That was pretty brutal .
Your first day, remember, is sacrificed to jet lag. The time difference is ~12 hours!
Agreed. If you can be on the ground for 7 days and that's the only option, then yes!
Jet lag can be completely manageable if you get one of the apps that tells you what to do starting 5-6 days before and you REALLY do it (it's all focused on when you can see light and when you have to be in the dark - so required sleep masks for the first 6-7 hours of our flight, for example). Our family of five flew to Tokyo two years ago and we followed the app's advice. Arrived in Tokyo around 4 pm, went to bed around 9 pm, and felt completely fine the next day.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 22:56
Subject: Re:Australia for a week?
Anonymous wrote:I'll dissent here. There are a lot of factors that would make a difference to me with Australia. What are the flights? How old are you? How much PTO do you normally get? What kind of a flyer are you? What is it about Australia that draws you?
I went for 8 days when I was between children -- sort of a leave Friday night come back Sunday situation. I did it that way because that was what I could do, given work and timing and costs. I have always wanted to go to Australia and this felt like the moment so I just grabbed it. The flights were straightforward; my city to LA, LA to Sydney. Nothing horrific. Was it exhausting, especially that first day in Sydney, given that you land in the morning? Yes! But we trudged through, collapsed at around 7pm, and the rest of the trip was fine. Even that first day, even though I was tired, seeing the opera house and the beach and drinking a flat white can perk you up real quick.
Americans get so little time off, and we're so busy, not everyone can wait until that "perfect" 2 month period (or even 2 week period). Nothing in life is certain, so if you have the means, the desire, and the energy to do so, I think you could do it.
This makes me sad.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 22:17
Subject: Re:Australia for a week?
We went to Australia last year for 2 weeks. Flight is so long. No way would I do it for 1 week. You already lost 2 days traveling.
Anonymous
03/03/2025 13:52
Subject: Re:Australia for a week?
I'll dissent here. There are a lot of factors that would make a difference to me with Australia. What are the flights? How old are you? How much PTO do you normally get? What kind of a flyer are you? What is it about Australia that draws you?
I went for 8 days when I was between children -- sort of a leave Friday night come back Sunday situation. I did it that way because that was what I could do, given work and timing and costs. I have always wanted to go to Australia and this felt like the moment so I just grabbed it. The flights were straightforward; my city to LA, LA to Sydney. Nothing horrific. Was it exhausting, especially that first day in Sydney, given that you land in the morning? Yes! But we trudged through, collapsed at around 7pm, and the rest of the trip was fine. Even that first day, even though I was tired, seeing the opera house and the beach and drinking a flat white can perk you up real quick.
Americans get so little time off, and we're so busy, not everyone can wait until that "perfect" 2 month period (or even 2 week period). Nothing in life is certain, so if you have the means, the desire, and the energy to do so, I think you could do it.
I went for 8 days when I was between children -- sort of a leave Friday night come back Sunday situation. I did it that way because that was what I could do, given work and timing and costs. I have always wanted to go to Australia and this felt like the moment so I just grabbed it. The flights were straightforward; my city to LA, LA to Sydney. Nothing horrific. Was it exhausting, especially that first day in Sydney, given that you land in the morning? Yes! But we trudged through, collapsed at around 7pm, and the rest of the trip was fine. Even that first day, even though I was tired, seeing the opera house and the beach and drinking a flat white can perk you up real quick.
Americans get so little time off, and we're so busy, not everyone can wait until that "perfect" 2 month period (or even 2 week period). Nothing in life is certain, so if you have the means, the desire, and the energy to do so, I think you could do it.
Anonymous
02/26/2025 21:57
Subject: Australia for a week?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:What's nice about Sydney, Blue Mountains, Port Douglas? Use Google or AI.
OP must have some reason for interest in OZ.
I think PP was referring to Auckland Singapore and HK …
Yeah there is no reason to visit these cities repeatedly.
Anonymous
02/26/2025 20:01
Subject: Re:Australia for a week?
I used to fly to Australia rather regularly before the pandemic.
I agree with the majority that one week is too short - especially if that includes the travel time.
I have done it for an important event but really regretted having so little time for such a long trip.
Couple of unsolicited tips for when you go though - try and stay up until the evening on day 1 - drink more coffee than usual if you have to. If you can stay up to the evening and sleep through the night it is much easier to get used to the 13-16 hour time difference.
Return to US is the worst for jet lag. So try not to plan anything important for at least a week after you get back. We take melatonin to help sleep.
There is homeopathic anti jet leg medicine that you can take every two hours on the flight over and it helps a little as does drinking lots of water.
I have heard that flight prices from Oz to Aus have dropped dramatically over past few weeks but not sure if that is true leaving from here..
Also there is so much to see and do - even if you go for 2-3 weeks you will need to research and figure out what is most appealing to you
Good luck!
I agree with the majority that one week is too short - especially if that includes the travel time.
I have done it for an important event but really regretted having so little time for such a long trip.
Couple of unsolicited tips for when you go though - try and stay up until the evening on day 1 - drink more coffee than usual if you have to. If you can stay up to the evening and sleep through the night it is much easier to get used to the 13-16 hour time difference.
Return to US is the worst for jet lag. So try not to plan anything important for at least a week after you get back. We take melatonin to help sleep.
There is homeopathic anti jet leg medicine that you can take every two hours on the flight over and it helps a little as does drinking lots of water.
I have heard that flight prices from Oz to Aus have dropped dramatically over past few weeks but not sure if that is true leaving from here..
Also there is so much to see and do - even if you go for 2-3 weeks you will need to research and figure out what is most appealing to you
Good luck!
Anonymous
02/26/2025 19:59
Subject: Australia for a week?
I’d be more likely to do it if I lived in California and had just the nonstop. The flights are brutal.
Anonymous
02/26/2025 19:50
Subject: Australia for a week?
Anonymous wrote:What's nice about Sydney, Blue Mountains, Port Douglas? Use Google or AI.
OP must have some reason for interest in OZ.
I think PP was referring to Auckland Singapore and HK …
Anonymous
02/26/2025 18:38
Subject: Australia for a week?
You are nuts OP. I bow down to you if you can do it! You are aware of how far it is and how long the flight is yes??!!!
Anonymous
02/26/2025 15:01
Subject: Australia for a week?
What's nice about Sydney, Blue Mountains, Port Douglas? Use Google or AI.
OP must have some reason for interest in OZ.
OP must have some reason for interest in OZ.