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Post by poppy on Nov 30, 2015 1:11:14 GMT -5
18 months ago, TB turned 30 and a few friends gave him money in the form of a voucher at our local travel agent.
Have decided it has to be used within the next 6 months - they have already given me more time than usual.
Not sure I want to travel too far with him, as in Europe/UK - he has been getting air sick and besides if I'm travelling that far again I wish to relax and have the trip about me.
Went to the TA's today and we came up with two thoughts -
a) a trip to Honolulu, accommodation which has water slides/restaurants/entertainment along with a few different types of day trips
b) Queenstown NZ for a snow experience, with the choice of a couple of mild extreme sport things.
Any help or thoughts which could help with making a decision would be useful.
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Post by HalcyonDaze on Nov 30, 2015 1:27:44 GMT -5
You go to the Gold Coast a fair bit, don't you? Honestly I don't know if I'd use the voucher for a trip to Honolulu because a lot of it is just the same sort of stuff. Some of the other Hawaiian islands are gorgeous and well worth a visit and time spent there, but if TB likes the theme park stuff he might as well be on the Gold Coast.  I'd go to NZ. You could probably spend a bit longer there as well. |
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Post by lisamnz on Nov 30, 2015 14:54:02 GMT -5
NZ, of course :-)
No, really. Honolulu is still quite a long flight isn't it, even from Aus?
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Post by poppy on Nov 30, 2015 15:15:52 GMT -5
NZ, of course :-) No, really. Honolulu is still quite a long flight isn't it, even from Aus? about 10 hours I think, which is short compared to going to the UK |
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Post by lisamnz on Nov 30, 2015 16:03:09 GMT -5
But long, compared to going to NZ...
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Post by elora on Nov 30, 2015 18:08:36 GMT -5
I'd say New Zealand - I think you'd find more things to do - unless you did two islands in Hawaii. Maybe Honolulu/Oahu along with Maui maybe? Inter-island flights are pretty reasonable.
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Post by ozziegiraffe on Dec 1, 2015 6:55:59 GMT -5
I wasn't very impressed with Honolulu on my stopover last year. Crowded, steamy and commercial. Most of the day trips I could have done were to places that would have made me angry: Pearl Harbour (hate war museums), the pineapple farm (we do that in Australia, and don't need imported pineapple) or the cultural centre run by the Mormons.
The island dancing on the dinner cruise was not nearly as good as what my students did in Solomon Islands.
I would choose Queenstown for TB.
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Post by poppy on Dec 1, 2015 14:57:34 GMT -5
thanks all - I am leaning towards Queenstown but shopping in America is so good (yes I know that isn't for him).
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Post by Queen on Dec 2, 2015 12:52:26 GMT -5
Another vote for New Zealand, somewhat predictably.
Lots to do in the South Island and as for shopping... lots of products made from "kiwibear".
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Post by tzarine on Dec 3, 2015 19:26:19 GMT -5
nz is where i would go.
if you do go to honolulu, i would go to chinatown (cool old architecture, great pho places), manoa falls (a lovely city walk w falls), the north shore (where the pipeline is), kailua - quiet residential area, lovely beach, the art museum is lovely.
poppy,
if you want to go shopping, ala moana center is where hawaiians from other islands come. shirokiya is an excellent japanese style department store
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Post by sophie on Dec 3, 2015 23:26:17 GMT -5
Second voice for the art museum in Honolulu ..small but very well curated. The tour to shangra La (Doris Duke's estate) is worth doing through the art museum. But when I think..it probably isn't Trent..
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Post by Phar Lap on Jan 28, 2016 11:00:15 GMT -5
I know TB loves the Gold Coast and the theme parks and there's water and beach. Flying to Honolulu for 10 hours for beach and water...
For a different experience, I'd choose Queenstown. Lots of stuff to do there. It's only a 3 hour flight - quicker than flying to Darwin or Perth and only half an hour longer than to the GC.
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Post by poppy on Jan 28, 2016 16:26:53 GMT -5
I know TB loves the Gold Coast and the theme parks and there's water and beach. Flying to Honolulu for 10 hours for beach and water... For a different experience, I'd choose Queenstown. Lots of stuff to do there. It's only a 3 hour flight - quicker than flying to Darwin or Perth and only half an hour longer than to the GC. I'm back to the drawing board on this - he isn't interested in New Zealand - not even the thought of snow play is enticing him. All I am getting as an indication of where he wants to be is - Dinosaur noises, he wants to go back to Universal Studios to Jurrasic Park. Along with staying in a tall building with a shiny foyer. My thoughts now are - tough luck we are going to NZ - do the tranzapline train trip to Greymouth, maybe onto Queenstown then home via QLD or Hong Kong for Disneyland with a few day trips for a bit of history/culture. Cousin suggested Japan for Disneyland, which I was considering but concerned about the crowds they get there. Also not sure about his gluten free diet. |
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