Bumping this to mention that the Australia in 2010 website has been updated - and now looks a bit more like they mean business ;)

Mmkay, added their lj community to my list.

I fully intend on attending if I am able. Never attended a con in my life and that needs to be addressed!

Hmm, wonder if October is semester break time.

There isn't a whole lot TO Balticon other than a few signings, and some displays that takes about an hour of walking around to see.

They have Connie Willis, Naomi Novik, and John Jude Palencar this year, which sucks because I'd love to meet all three of them (no, I've never managed to meet Connie despite three WorldCons), but I'll be in Portland OR that weekend instead, so I think I'll live.

*dredges up the topic*


What is the possibility of the North American contingent converging on LAX and getting on the same plane to Australia?  18 hours in cattle class would be a lot more tolerable with other smarchers for entertainment.


It's way too early to seriously research fares at this point, esp with the economy going bouncybouncybouncy, but right now it's about $1850 to do a Los Angeles - Melbourne - Wellington multidestination, plus about $300 to get to and from Los Angeles.  Oof.  I may have to go visit a travel agent and see if they can find a better deal...

With a bit of further searching, it seems to be about $2000 total from Raleigh, $2350 from Wilmington, and $2200 from Myrtle Beach.

If I skip New Zealand, it drops to $1300, $2100, and $1600.  $1300 would be worth trying to get to Raleigh - could I get a flight from Melbourne to New Zealand for less than $700?  Yep, Qantas has it starting about $220USD.

*plotting noises*

Last edited by Jaime (2008-10-11 12:00:58)

I made some edits while you were posting.  Ahh, travel, so expensive.  I don't think I'm going to get a membership til I'm REALLY sure I'm going, like next Christmas.

Wow.

Just to say.... I'm thinking about it. I'll have to see how well I survive World Fantasy, and if I could handle adding round-the-world travel to all that excitement. (And money!)

But then, if this country keeps going downhill, I may just be an expatriate in New Zealand by that time, anyway. (Always nice to have a back-up plan, don't ya' think?)

Aan`allein wrote:

That's a really hefty markup for New Zealand. I'd indeed look into getting that separate. Virginblue or JetStar (ick!) usually have rates just under $200 (AUD) for at least one of the Melbourne/Sydney - Auckland/Christchurch return flight combos, and paying more than $300 (AUD) is totally unheard of.

Edit: Research wise, I'd also look into just a LAX-SYD or even LAX-AKL return flight, and then tack on the flight to MEL separately (or from Sydney you could even take the train or bus). Most flights from the USA don't fly direct to Melbourne, so that could make quite a difference.

Huh, you're right, everything stops in Sydney first.  Auckland is considerably more expensive, even direct from LAX.

*more plotting noises*  About $1300 to fly to Sydney from Raleigh, $130 from Sydney to Melbourne, aaaand I just realized my $220 quote for Melbourne to AKL was one way; from AKL back to Sydney is another $160.  So under current flight fares it would run me about $1800+.  Not very different.  (This is all via Qantas, for the record.)

If I'm going to bounce between three cities like that, I think I may definitely look into getting a travel agent to make sure I don't screw up layover times and suchlike.  And if I'm going to fly out of Sydney, I'll probably give myself a day or two from there too.  So maybe a week in Melbourne, three or four days in New Zealand, two days in Sydney... I can sleep on the plane home!

Aan`allein wrote:

I always forget how few vacation days you Americans have. Four days in New Zealand... *winces* That's just so painfully short. Definitely fly to Christchurch then, not Auckland - if you have only four days, you must spend them on the South Island. Christchurch - Lake Tekapo - Queenstown is doable (and then fly out from Queenstown) and shows you a significant bit of the best of the South Island. Plus that time of year the mountains will be gorgeously snow covered.

I actually have a fair amount of vacation time, myself; I accrue vacation far faster than I can use it, and by the time of WorldCon I will have passed the 10 year anniversary mark with my company, which means I'll get even MORE vacation time.  Not up to the standards of Europeans, I'm sure, but I could easily take three weeks paid vacation.  The larger problem is having enough money while on vacation.  I would prefer the whole thing to be done with cash/debit card if possible, although I always carry a credit card overseas with me for emergency purposes.

Main reason I picked the north island is because that seems to be where all the Smarchers are, and they'd probably all kill me if I didn't stop by for a cup of tea.  *g*  I'm sure I could find my way across to the south island, though...

Jaime wrote:

I actually have a fair amount of vacation time, myself; I accrue vacation far faster than I can use it, and by the time of WorldCon I will have passed the 10 year anniversary mark with my company, which means I'll get even MORE vacation time.  Not up to the standards of Europeans, I'm sure, but I could easily take three weeks paid vacation.

ack, three weeks after accruing faster than you can use it and with long service leave?
We get four weeks every single year, and long service leave is usually at least six weeks....

But in any case, good to see some movement here - otherwise someone might have had to go break some bones ;)

There, my membership application form is on its way. Yay for them having a Dutch address to send European membership forms to.
I love now having a reason to buy extra many books in 2009 (and to make certain I'll read them all). This is going to be my first time voting for a Hugo. Yay!

Sahi: Melbourne, and Australia at large, is of course totally excellent to visit. I know for a fact that Ivo would quite like hiking in the Grampians or Wilson's Promontory, both a short drive out from Melbourne. (Caveat: "short drive" uses Australian measurements here, which means it takes three hours, but Ivo doesn't need to know that in advance.) And you will both love hiking in Tasmania. Cradle Mountain National Park will blow away the best you've seen in Norway or California. (And do I even need to get started on New Zealand??!) :D

Plus, you have the better part of two years to convince him of these things. ^_^

Last edited by Aan`allein (2008-10-26 08:19:52)

Bf want to go to Australia.  This is looking for likely.