Thanks for the pointers. It does seem as if open jaw is the way to go –filling the gap with your suggestions. I would love to arrive via NZ biz class, although I have hearfd that those seats disappear almost instantaneously (whether reward or upgrade).

Of course, the tough part will be convincing the wife in the next year or two!

I mentioned in a different post that curiosity keeps me checking the fares to Oz and NZ. As of today’s special, May 6th, Qantas is $310 o/w to Sydney where I paid the $299 rate back in March.

For some reason, though, Auckland is $380 o/w where it used to be $299 along with Sydney.

For my trip I booked an “Open-Jaw” through the QF website using the “multi-trip” option. It was a bit cumbersome to use but it worked out so I could visit both countries on the same trip.

For the leg between Auckland and Sydney check with Orbitz or Travelocity. Lan(Chile) was offering only $72 per person. Trouble is the flight is at 5:30AM out of New Zealand!

I booked on the Emirates A380 instead, leaving at 6:15PM from Auckland to Sydney for only $88, still a hefty savings over Qantas or Air New Zealand for a LOT more airplane!!

The short story – Check with Qantas for an “open-jaw” that will include both countries, then book an “off-brand” airline between the two for the best possible fare. Then all you have to do is decide how much time to spend in both!

Congratulations!

In any case, marriage will soon force me to economize and I may have to see both on a trip or end up missing one of them alogether. From the posts I have seen here it does look like NZ wins in the long-haul carrier department handily!

I like Australia’s food, wildlife and wild people better. But NZ has scenery and hiking to absolutely short-circuit the brain.

Either way, you can’t lose.

I first traveled to New Zealand in 1994 and have been going back once every 2-3 years ever since. I chose New Zealand first out of fear that if I went to Australia first I would consider New Zealand simply to be more of the same.

To this day, having been to both, I prefer New Zealand by a factor of 10. In my personal experience I have found
a) The people are friendlier and more laid back
b) The scenery is spectacular at every turn
c) A country of 4 million matches greater Sydney in population, meaning far less crowds in even the largest cities.
d) Food is Commonwealth standard, fish & chips, lamb and seafood, all extremely reasonable in price
e) The US dollar goes a bit farther.

Think Napa Valley planted right next to the open sea. And at 12 hours it’s a shorter flight even if your backside is numb after the first nine!

Go to New Zealand first. Sydney is fine and will still be there as a draw.

I went to Phuket in 2006 and got a Best Western 1/2 block from the beach for $37/night in July, the alleged “low” and very rainy season. It was blistering hot and clear skies the entire time except for the last day in town which was my travel day anyway.

I booked via Travelocity where pics of the property matched what was actually there. No surprise “construction” or down-trodden facilities at this one. In fact, the pics to me barely did the place justice.

No hotels are right on the water. Like Hawaii the beach is public access so they’re all back off the main road. What made it better was I had the place almosst entirely to myself. It was not too long after the tsunami had gone thru as well as the SARS scare. That plus it being too hot and possibly rainy for most gave me an expanse of beach nearly uninhabited.

Food prices very reasonble. Unless you insist on Zagat or Michelin meals every day, two can eat for under $30 per day.

My hotel was at Karon Beach, 5 miles south of the main Patong strip. Patong is like Waikiki on steroids. Crowded and bustling. Karon much better for relaxing with the missus. And taxis run you up to the clubs when you need to get your groove on.

China Air has been offering Hong Kong and Thailand for $600 recently, so check and see if that deal is still out there. Unless either can take you directly to Phuket, check AirAsia, the LCC out of Bangkok for cheap domestic fares.

Once there, the Phuket Airport is an hour’s drive to either Patong or Karon so plan accordingly when it’s time to leave.

For the James Bond fans, the nearby bay offers the location where Man With the Golden Gun was filmed. Cruise tours offer trips to Scaramanga’s Island as well as some of the other bits of sand and surf. Sunsets on Phuket Island are the stuff of legend.

Have fun!