Travel is not a magic bullet

The journey is long but it won’t necessarily make you a better person. Picture: Lonely Planet
Source: Lonely Planet

IT’S the all-important question: Why do you want to travel long-term?

It’s something travellers need to ask themselves or at least ponder before they pack it all in for a life on the road.

Travel is at times thought of as this almost mystical experience, like some sort of magical shortcut, a kind of spiritual “hack” that will solve all our problems. It’s a bit like travellers get a Porsche 911 while the rest of humanity are stuck driving your mum’s Daewoo Lanos.

When I chat to fellow travellers I hear quite similar stories about why they decided to leave their daily lives in the first place (long-term relationship just ended, hate their job, looking to “finding themselves” overseas) and while I love that fact that people are out there, seeing the world, I keep coming back to a single response.

Travel is not a magic bullet.

Leaving the normal world to travel is often seen as an answer to any number of lifestyle problems. There’s this misconception that long-term travel will instantly make you a better person or leave you changed in some remarkable way in much the same manner as we imagine a near-death experience might leave us forever grateful to be alive.

But there’s no such thing as a magic bullet. They don’t exist. Want to lose weight? Eat less, run more, it’s going to hurt and you’re going to have to work at it.

If you travel the world to seek easy answers in my experience they’re unlikely to come. If you travel to solve a personal problem, it’ll be there when you get home. If you travel to become more spiritual it’s probably not going to happen… I don’t care how much vegan food you eat or how many nose piercings you have.

Sorry to throw a giant spanner in the works, but you’re chasing imaginary wolves with magical bullets. 

I’ve found that travellers single-mindedly looking for something specific from their journeys often come home a little disappointed after not experiencing this overnight mind-altering event they were seeking.

It reminds me of something about a donkey chasing a carrot… or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

Those who travel long-term may experience many cool, interesting and humbling things but it’s not the blue pill Neo swallows to take him further down the rabbit hole. 

Expectations are unreliable guides to follow in almost anything, travel especially.

In my opinion:

The experience you’re seeking will not be the experience you have and the experience you have, will not be the experience you expected.

- This can be a really good thing.

Travel will not fix your problems, will not fix your relationship, will not make you happy with yourself, will not change you overnight for the better or make you a wi ened Dumbledore type fellow people named “Daisy” seek out for astrology advice.

The reality is more subtle and ultimately more interesting. You might answer questions you never knew you had.

You may grow but in an unexpected direction. Encountering new ideas and meeting new people may challenge your beliefs and opinions. Change is inevitable and rewarding but unpredictable.

There are no werewolves or magic bullets, just experiences (and that’s a good thing). 

How to quit a career and travel the world

Reasons not to do it

Peter Shaw is a full time travel blogger, photographer and Australia’s 2nd best chandelier cleaner, he’s currently wandering the globe and will be posting his updates each week, you can follow him here or via the below:

Blog: nomadicalsabbatical.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/NomadicalSabbatical
Twitter: @nomadsabbatical
 

Travel is not a magic bullet

Is Qantas changing its baggage system?

The Doc has got advice for a baseball-loving reader who’s keen to see a game at Yankee Stadium.
Source: AFP

Changes to baggage rules mean passengers need to be alert to what might apply to their flights.
Source: Supplied

DOC Holiday has the cure for your travel qualms. He’s got the goss on Qantas baggage changes, tips for catching a homer in Yankee Stadium and advice for a London stopover.

Q: I HAVE heard that Qantas is changing its checked baggage rules again. Is this true and, if so, could you please explain what we are allowed to take with us now?

DOC: You are correct, for all tickets issued after February 26 to all destinations other than North and South America, (where the piece system still applies), Qantas is returning to a weight-only system to calculate luggage allowances. Passengers will face limits on the number of bags they can check in – based on their destination, travel class and status in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. Extra weight allowances will be offered to Qantas frequent flyers when travelling across the joint Qantas-Emirates network. Qantas says the changes are due to the new do-it-yourself baggage drop system, which launched in Sydney late last year and will be in place in all capital city airports by the middle of this year. The new system will benefit some in economy class, with the standard one bag at 23kg increasing to a total of 30kg, however business class passengers will see their allowances more than halved. In addition, a heavy charge will apply at the airport if your bag is over its allowance. Just to confuse everyone a little more, different baggage allowances may apply to each sector of your journey when your itinerary contains different airlines. You will need to double check each individual airline’s baggage policy and decide whose will apply to your trip. Qantas offers “manage your booking” on its site, which will specify this for you.

Things also are changing domestically, whereby Qantas now limits most passengers to one checked bag with maximum weights depending on your travel class and Frequent Flyer status.

There are, thankfully, options internationally and domestically to pay for extra bags.

Travelling these days means so many variables with baggage allowances it really is up to the individual to be vigilant and keep up to date. It is important to confirm with your travel agent or airline what applies to each trip you make. You can check out the entire Qantas baggage spectrum at qantas.com/baggage.

Q: MY HUSBAND and I will be returning to Australia in late April and have an eight-hour stopover at Heathrow Airport. We would like to get the tube into London but are unsure whether we will be allowed to leave the airport. Can you please advise?

DOC: There are many factors to take into account when deciding whether you have enough time to leave the airport during a layover. Firstly, before you leave, you will need to check with your airline to see if your ticket permits you to leave the transit area, and if it is possible to check your baggage through to your final destination. Some tickets may not permit you to leave the airport. If you can leave the transit area in between flights, you will need to go through customs and immigration on the way out and you’ll have to pass through security again on your way back into the airport. This can be a lengthy process, so allow at least two hours.

Another thing to be aware of is your luggage. If you have to pick up and re-check your luggage, you will need to allow time for this, as well as finding the airport lockers. Left luggage facilities are available at all terminals in Heathrow and charges are about $6 an item for 24 hours. Also when determining your time frame, always plan for delays. If travelling by taxi, keep in mind traffic and rush hour and, if you need to transfer money, allow time to do so. Heathrow airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is roughly 24km from London’s city centre, making it quite accessible. Taxis are available outside the airport for quick transport. While taking the London Underground is the cheapest way to get into town, it can take up to an hour each way, so if you’re strapped for time, try the London-Heathrow Express train, which will get you into London in as little as 15 minutes. For sightseeing, my suggestion would be to board the hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus. This gives a commentary of the sights as you pass them, and tickets can be purchased right on the bus. You can “hop on” at Paddington station, and “hop off” wherever you choose.

Q: THREE YEARS ago you gave me great advice about going to a baseball game in San Francisco. Now I am heading to New York in August. How can I get Yankees tickets and when and where should I book?

DOC: I’m glad you enjoyed your game. Ryan from Premium Sport Tours (sporttours.com.au) says usually tickets can only be bought for these games by US residents, but his company can provide you with a package inclusive of tickets and accommodation.

Is Qantas changing its baggage system?

Eek! I put my passport through the wash!

After lots of travel, your passport may look a bit dirty. Still, it’s probably best left unwashed.
Source: Supplied

MY DAUGHTER came from the laundry holding up my jeans and sarcastically asked: “Did you mean to wash your passport?”

“F—. F—. F—,” I replied. I treasure my passport.

In my job it is one of the most pri ed assets I have. To put it simply there’s not a lot of fun in being a travel editor without a passport.

It was Tuesday morning and I’d just flown in from London. My routine after any trip is to empty my bag in the laundry and crank up the washing machine. My passport was in my back pocket and ended up being destroyed by the 90-minute colour wash cycle.

Normally this wouldn’t be an issue. I tend not to do back-to-back trips. But my problem this time – and it was a big problem – was that we were leaving on an inter-generational family cruise to the South Pacific in four days. I needed a new passport in a hurry.

The irony of this situation was that I had hassled my daughters months earlier about getting their passports. They had taken forever to get new ones for the trip and I kept nagging them to hurry because “no passport means no Christmas cruise”.

Clasping my soggy passport it now looked as if I was going to be spending Christmas alone. My daughters delighted in having the last laugh.

After I stopped swearing my first call was to the passport office.

I told the woman on the phone my predicament and she said the situation could be remedied, if I acted quickly.

My passport, although wet, was still valid for five years. Could I simply get a new copy issued?, I asked. No. I needed to apply for a completely new passport.

She arranged an emergency appointment at the passport office for 8.30 the next morning but I had to arrive with a birth certificate, my ruined passport, and room on my credit card to accommodate about $600 in charges.

Birth certificate. Bugger. I didn’t have one.

“Surely my old passport shows you who I am?” No. I needed proof that I was born in Kiama some 50-odd years ago. I was advised to duck into the Births, Deaths and Marriages office and pick up a copy. Problem was I was born in NSW and now live more than 1000km from the nearest B, D M office. For $110 they could, however, fax a copy to the Passport Office. Thank you.

My next step was to race out and get some passport photos, find a witness to verify I was who I said I was, and fill in the passport form.

Armed with everything I needed, I headed to the city, battled the traffic, and arrived at the office 10 minutes early. The interview process went smoothly. I handed over the still dripping passport and was told my new one would be ready to collect in 48 hours. I had to pay an additional fee for the speedy processing but that was better than missing Christmas.

I was given a number so I could track the application process online.

By the time I had arrived home, I learnt my passport was already 20 per cent complete.

And then the phone rang. I had not filled in a statutory declaration explaining what had happened to my passport. I downloaded the form and filled in the bit saying that I had foolishly “Omo-ed” the life out of it, emailed it back to the woman, and we were back in business.

Forty per cent complete. Sixty per cent complete. Eighty per cent complete. Done by Thursday afternoon. I quickly jumped in the car and drove the 50 minutes into the city, parked and paid the $20 parking fee, and raced up to the Passport office at 4.30pm only to find a note on the door saying that the office closed at 4 pm.

The next day, I did it all over again and eventually had my new passport in hand.

I have to say the Passport Office was tremendous. They made the process as easy as possible and I will forever be grateful they helped get me on board the Carnival Spirit for my Christmas cruise.

The cruise was sensational. I doubt there is a better way for three generations to travel. The ship kept my 17 and 20-year-olds entertained as well as my 75-year-old in-laws. And there are no words to describe how good Christmas Day is when someone else cooks the ham and turkey and then does the cleaning up afterwards.

And as far as lessons learnt, I won’t ever put my passport in my back pocket again. Promise.

Brian Crisp is News Limited’s national travel editor.

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Eek! I put my passport through the wash!

Doc"s tips for hassle-free trips

The River Kent at Kendal in England’s Lake District.
Source: Supplied

Captain Cook Cruises offers a range of boutique trips around the many islands of Fiji.
Source: Supplied

DOC Holiday offers advice on England’s Lake District, the best Fiji Cruises and an easy way to shuttle the kids from the airport.

Q: I AM visiting the UK in July with my wife, we are both in our 50s. We have four spare days after holidaying in London and I was thinking of visiting the Lake District. Is this a good idea and how and where should we go? We are happy to do some cycling, walking and driving.

DOC: The Lake District is in the northwest corner of England, and is an easy five-hour drive from London. Its location, coupled with its mountainous geography however, also make it the dampest part of the country. October to January are the wettest, while March to June tend to be the driest months. The area’s 3000km of Rights of Way are used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and are very well marked. Head to Brockhole first, halfway between Windermere and Ambleside. Here you will find the Visitor Centre where you can shop, eat, stroll round the gardens and gather all the information you need for the rest of your stay.

There are many cycling options for you, for example the Claiffe Heights, Windermere route. The 18km trip is fairly easy and the route passes some beautiful historic places such as Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter, and visits the popular village of Hawshead (a good place for an ice cream).

If you wish to hire a boat or kayak, Coniston Boating Centre is a good spot and and if you fancy fishing ask at the Information Centres where they are biting. You could stay in Windermere but Keswick is more popular and has everything from cosy holiday cottages, quirky boutique hotels, friendly bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels. Pay a visit to the Cars of the Stars Museum whose collection includes vehicles from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the James Bond movies. Keswick also has a superb choice of eateries.

The National Park has a website (www.lakedistrict.gov.uk), and if you book through them the commission goes back into the upkeep of the park.

Q: MY HUSBAND and I would like to do a cruise around Fiji. What is the best time of year to do it for good weather as we have not been on one and worry about being sea sick? Can you recommend any remedies?

DOC: As far as anti sea-sickness medication goes, see your travel doctor or local doctor. There is a great product used by fishing show host Andrew Ettingshausen and his television crew, called Bova Compound. It is a specially formulated compound designed by pharmacists in Sydney. It’s available in capsule form and is recommended for those aged over 12 years.

This product is achieving results where others aren’t and doesn’t make you drowsy. Nick and the other pharmacists from Bova will speak directly to you and ask some questions to ensure the seasick capsules are suitable for you. They are inexpensive and usually shipped out the same day (Ph 1300 732 425). For most of the year, Fiji enjoys a mild and stable climate with average maximum temperatures rarely moving outside the 21C to 31C temperature range. Wet season in Fiji normally extends from December to April, and this is when tropical cyclones can develop. The months of April/May and October are the pick of the months for Fiji. The water temperature is pleasant without the winter chill. The same applies to the air temperatures, pleasant, quite warm but with cooler nights. Fiji has more than 350 islands, only 100 of which are inhabited. Cruising is a great way to see this nation, and there are a couple of options. You can jump aboard PO, (pocruises.com.au) who has several Fijian cruises from Sydney and Brisbane, starting at $1819 a person, twin share for 14 nights, or Carnival (carnival.com.au) which also offers cruising to Fiji. For something a little more intimate, try Captain Cook Cruises (captaincook.com.fj). It offers a more personal experience onboard its 130-passenger MV Reef Endeavour and you can choose from day trips up to the more extensive Yasawa Island or Northern Fiji trips. As a local company, it works closely with the local people, allowing you to be welcomed into schools and villages and able to experience the real Fijian culture.

Q: LATER this year, a group of 11 of us will be flying to Brisbane from Perth, arriving late at night. What is the best way for us to get to the hotel, as the children will need child seats?

DOC: As an alternative to trying to find a couple of maxi taxis late at night, Darren from Gold Coast Transport (goldcoasttransport.com.au) will organise to meet your flight and transport you directly to your hotel. His company has several luxury Mercedes vehicles ranging from seven to 48 seats. He will tailor a quote for you depending on where your hotel is and what si e vehicle you will need. Gold Coast Transport can also personalise sightseeing and day trips for large groups to the major attractions in the area according to your requirements. The vehicles are equipped with seat belts and child seats can be included.
 

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Doc"s tips for hassle-free trips

Tips on travelling with a disability

Maureen Conwell and her husband at the Acropolis in Greece. Picture: Supplied
Source: National Features

With proper planning and research, holidaying in a wheelchair can be relatively hassle-free. Picture: Supplied
Source: National Features

WHEN I first travelled as a person with a disability five years ago I was terrified.

My husband and I have always loved to travel and have made road trips throughout Europe and the US.

I am lucky that my husband has no fear about driving in foreign countries, as I find organised tours too hectic.

So, we travel the world by car and love to go off the beaten track.

At first there were so many “what ifs?”. But having been there, done that, I can say there is nothing to fear except fear itself.

Travel insurance When I first travelled with a disability I found that travel insurance was a minefield.

I had to obtain a letter from my doctor authorising me to travel and then send it to many travel insurers only to be rejected every time, which was very distressing.

Luckily, a friend with a disability who had just returned from an overseas holiday advised me to contact a company called One Cover.

They were happy to insure my pre-existing condition as long as they were happy with my answers to their questions, I wasn’t in hospital in the past few years and didn’t take immunosuppressant drugs.

It wasn’t cheap but the company did cover me for a year and didn’t even need a letter from my GP.

It’s also an idea to check your credit card travel insurance.

The Commonwealth Bank has a relationship with Zurich and, after I supplied them with a letter from my doctor, they also agreed to cover me for three months for $50.

But keep in mind that 90 per cent of your flights and hotels have to be paid by credit card to be eligible for their cover.

Flying with a disability Make sure you book an aisle seat near a toilet and make staff aware of your needs when boarding. Check-in staff will ask if you need assistance at your destination and whether you require a hoist if there is no air tunnel and you can’t manage the stairs.

You can opt to have your walker and/or wheelchair placed in baggage and then be wheeled by staff to the gate or do as I do and walk with my walker to the terminal.

My walker is taken away and returned at our destination.

You will be first on when boarding and last off when leaving.

But you will be whisked past the long lines at immigration and customs.

Taking a wheelchair overseas You can often rent a wheelchair overseas but I would not recommend it. It is best to take your own wheelchair and walker as airline staff will take care of them and don’t charge excess baggage.

When I tried to hire a wheelchair in Europe, I found they wanted way too much information and I feared that I could be a victim of identity theft.

But I found most historic sites, museums and art galleries offered wheelchairs and sometimes motorised scooters, either free or for a small fee.

Make sure you carry your passport as it is necessary to rent.

Hotel rooms Many hotels in Australia and overseas are sadly lacking accessible rooms.

The best thing to do is to check sites such as Hotels.com or Expedia.com.au

I have found Hotels.com to be the friendliest website when researching accessible rooms.

If they don’t have accessible rooms, you may be able to make do as I do with just the bare necessities – ramps, elevators and a room with a semi-accessible shower.

Organised tours In my opinion, coach tours, which can be very fast-paced, are not suitable for people with a disability.

Some companies do not allow travellers with disabilities or require an able-bodied person to accompany you and assist you.

The hotels they use may not have accessible rooms.

River cruising is an option but there are limited accessible rooms, so you need to book early.

Discounts for people with disabilities In most of Europe, admission to attractions is free for people with disabilities while the carer pays a reduced price, or vice versa.

If you have a mobility parking badge, take it with you – the sign for people with disabilities is universal.

Some attractions need to be booked and paid for in advance online.

Popular attractions such as the Vatican in Rome and Alcatraz in San Francisco can be booked out months in advance, so do your research.

If you are faced with a queue, go to the front of the line with your pension/mobility parking badge and you will more than likely be waved through.

City tours Most cities offer hop-on, hop-off tour buses that are accessible and are the best and cheapest way to get around.

Or, use taxis, which are cheap in most countries and you can sometimes organise a set price.

 

You can also book tours through websites such as viator.com, which usually has a note on every tour informing you if they accept people with disabilities.

Most friendly countries Great Britain and most of Europe are friendly to people with disabilities.

We found Greece surprisingly good. We took a taxi to the Acropolis, which deposited us at the gates. There we were led to a stair lift and then taken up by a small lift, scaling the edge of the Acropolis.

We visited the island of Crete, which is mostly flat and even has a resort for people with disabilities called Erina Resort. Unfortunately it was booked out when we were there but we found a lovely place called the Minoa Palace to be suitable for my needs, as well as very luxurious.

In contrast, some parts of the US were rather unfriendly to people with disabilities. I had booked an accessible hotel room in LA but the shower was over the bath – totally inaccessible for me.

I later learnt there are different degrees of accessibility at American hotels, but I wasn’t informed of this when I made the bookings.

Make sure you check the fine print or email or call the hotel beforehand.

While attractions in the US generally didn’t offer a reduction in fees for travellers with disabilities or their carers, Disneyland and Universal Studios allowed us to skip the long queues by entering via the exit door.

Time and research Give yourself plenty of time in a big city and do lots of research.

We wanted to visit St Mark’s Square in Venice but the boats to get there were inaccessible.

Had I researched beforehand I would have known that if I was first on the boat in a wheelchair it would have been level with the pier and it would have been accessible.

Don’t be disappointed if you can’t see everything.

I would often sit in a cafe in Paris, Rome or London while my husband was off seeing something that I couldn’t access, but I enjoyed myself immensely watching the world go by.

Just be happy that you are able to be there and soak up the atmosphere.

Helpful people I am happy to say that I have had people go out of their way to help me all over the world, even though I have had my husband by my side.

In Venice, two big, burly men offered to lift me on to the boat by clasping their hands together to make a seat but I politely declined as I didn’t know if I would get the same treatment on the return journey.

In Germany, I fell over and people came running over to help me and a lovely man working on a nearby cable car bought over a big bag and ordered me to sit down while he patched up my knee and fixed the brakes on my walker, which led to the fall.

 

 

Tips on travelling with a disability

Sit tight: The least comfy plane seats

Which airlines are the worst offenders when it comes to uncomfortable seats? Picture: Thinkstock

A COMFY seat is the Holy Grail of air travel. It could turn what may have been a nightmare trip into a great experience in the skies.

But how do you know which airlines have tried to cram too many seats into their planes?

Seat pitch – the distance from the back of your seat to the back of the seat in front of you – and seat width are the keys to a comfortable ride.

However take note, seat pitch is only a guide – the quality of the seat itself also comes into play, including how much padding it has, and whether there’s an in-flight entertainment box placed underneath the seat limiting the space for your legs.

We’ve done some of the leg work for you, and here are the worst offenders when it comes to economy seat space.

LEGROOM

How do Australian airlines size up?

If you like stretching out during your flight, be warned that some Jetstar planes have just 71 centimetres of seat pitch, and Tiger Airways planes offer 72.5cm. Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737s and their Embraer E-jets have a bit more room to move with seat pitches of about 76cm, and their Boeing 777s and Airbus 330s boast the most legroom of the Australian airlines, with a pitch of up to 84cm on the A330, and 81cm on the Boeing 777.

Most of Qantas’s fleet have a seat pitch of 79cm, with the A330, A380 and Boeing 747 giving you a few extra centimetres.

International airlines

It could be worse. Finnair’s Boeing 757s are not for the tall – or even average-height – flyer. With just 71cm seat pitch, the airline has crammed more economy seats into these planes than most other airlines in the world.

WIDTH

Australian airlines

If you’re after wriggle room in your seat, stay away from Qantas. Most of their fleet plane seats measure in at between 43cm and 45cm wide: The Boeing 737 and 767 are 43cm, the Airbus 330 is 44cm and the Boeing 747 is 45cm. Surprisingly, Jetstar’s A330-200 planes are 45cm wide, and Tiger’s seats are a comparatively roomy 46cm. Virgin Australia’s Boeing 777 is the widest at 47cm, and their Embraers make up for the lack of leg room with a seat width of 46cm.

International airlines

Ouch! European carriers Flythomascook and Thomson Airlines rival some of Qantas’s planes for narrowest seats – the Flythomascook Boeing 767 squeezes eights seats a row in, leaving passengers with 43cm.

OVERALL

Australian airlines

Overall, Qantas’s Boeing 737 and 767 models are going to be the least comfortable for economy flyers – with the narrowest seats and close to the shortest seat pitch of Australia’s major airlines.

International

Just avoid Flythomascook and Thomson Airlines. Their narrow, 43cm seats and 76cm pitch leaves you with barely room to move.

Sit tight: The least comfy plane seats