TR Oct/Nov 2012- Cowboys, casinos and pixie dust OH MY!

[zanzibar138]

We're definitely looking for a helicopter trip that lands in the canyon, not just alight over it I'll take a good look at some tomorrow & see how that goes.

When we first saw the canyon from the top we thought we could see the bottom and were amazed at how far down it was. However, when we were riding our mules down the next day we realised that it was only half way

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Just got the link from my friend! They highly recommend it and it looks like others do too!

http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_package.aspx?package_id=125&lang=en-US

 

[frangipanisam]

Thanks Minnie Sue that's the company Melbourne5 recommended too so I'll take a good look tomorrow at work & compare these tours with other companies.

If they are all on par price & experience wise we'll go with them considering people have had good experiences with them

 

[Melbourne5]

Make sure no matter who you go with you google their name and coupons to get a bit if a discount . With the mob we used I booked direct , found a coupon and saved 15% on top, and still booked direct. The coupon was in some Vegas guide book on the net that we never saw once we got to Vegas.....! But the coupon code worked!!!

 

[frangipanisam]

Thanks Melbourne5 I'll keep that in mind

Now I had a good look in Strandbags in at DFO and I think I have decided to buy my luggage in store only costs a little bit more, has a 7 year warrenty and I know its decent.

I'm looking at the following:
a) Dimensions = 151cm, weights 4.95kg http://www.strandbags.com.au/luggage/lanza-wm-iii-29in-suitcase/3065403
b) Dimensions = 144cm, weights 4.4kg http://www.strandbags.com.au/luggage/lanza-thor-28in-suitcase/3095435
c) Dimensions = 137cm, weights 4.4kg http://www.strandbags.com.au/luggage/lanza-wm-iii-26in-suitcase/3065414
d) Dimensions = 126cm, weights 3.6kg http://www.strandbags.com.au/luggage/lanza-thor-24in-suitcase/3095434

Now all four are cheaper in store then online and I have now got to pick between three different combinations to make the most of the size and weights considering I'm packing the smaller one into the larger one for the trip over.

#1 buy suitcases A and C, matching set combined weight of 9.35kg and largest measurements totalling 288cm. Cost $168 online, can't remember instore prices possibly $150 mark?

#2 buy suitcases A and D, not matching but should nest based on measurements, combined weight of 8.55kg & measurements total 277cm. Cost $144.50 (1 online & 1 instore price)

#3 buy suitcases B and D, matching set combined weight of 8kg and measurements total 270cm. Cost $121 instore prices

Help would be much appreciated in figuring out which ones to buy!

I've already ruled out a third set because it was $220 for two for the same size as option #3 but it was pretty demask style print in black. I figured I'd rather spend money in DL

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Good Morning Sam!!!

Just wanted to let you know that we actually bought 3 sets of A and C for our month long trip in 2010. They are are extremely durable and we managed to get DD's in hot pink!!!!

They have certainly had some flying time since then and we will be using them again next month! We also got them on a special and thought they were good value for the money

We still managed to go over the weight limit with 2 of our bags on the way back It cost $70.00 US for the excess baggage charge for the 2 bags combined. But, we were theer for a month and we did bring back some heavy/bulky stuff so we really didn't mind!!!! I had considered posting some stuff home, but by the time we mucked about trying to find a post office and then pacakaging up all the stuff, it really worked out cheaper and so much more convenient to pay at the airport.

One tip, grab yourslf a set of luggage scales! It is only a little thing that you can throw in your suitcase and that way you will be able to shuffle weight and keep an eye out if you are going to go over. Then it won't be a shock when you get to the airport

 

[frangipanisam]

Thanks Minnie Sue, definatly still weighing up which option to go mainly regarding weight. Bec is borrowing her mums travel scales so we're set on that front and three of us have already planned on buying a third (cheap) suitcase over there and paying the $100US charge for a third bag rather then any over-weight charges who doesn't want an extra 23kgs

Now we had a great day today, America booking followed by a bridal expo! We booked our Las Vegas to San Francisco flights with SouthWest, our San Francisco to Los Angeles flights with SouthWest and did early bird check in for both, Alcatraz tickets night tour and San Francisco city and Winchester house tour for all four of us.

Then Universal passes and Disneyland 14 day passes for Bec and me and Southern California City Passes for Sam #2 and #3. It worked out $50 cheaper for Sam #2 & #3 to do that and give us the Sea World passes so we could just pay for transport and save $20. I love my friends, they just nod and agree with what I plan

Now we have issues with our TA I didn't know but he put the wrong name on 90% of our forms when the girls went to pick them up a fortnight ago and is now saying he cannot change the Vegas accomdation to have the right names he has become so slack now that he got our booking and payment, going through the paperwork Sam #3 had today we've realised that Sam #2 & 3 are missing their NYC flight tickets I know its a month out but we paid in full in MAY so there is no reason why we should not have all of our paperwork now. I don't think I'll waste my time with a TA next time, I basically did his job for him anyway

Btw has anyone else found the amazing program that is Microsoft OneNote? I updated my laptop this morning and had a play around, I'm in love I'm going through systematically putting in all of our trip details and will scan in all of our tickets, recipts ect to keep track and print off in one pdf document for each of our parents at the end. Genius

39 sleeps

 

[Mum from oz]

Hi Sam, we had the luggage option A. After two trips to the USA we had rips on both suitcases and I didn't keep the receipts. They ripped at the edges not so stuff fell out but still I expected more.

Also my TA was crap. Also couldn't give a stuff in the month leading up to departure. The tickets she issued me weren't even updated and when I arrived at Sydney airport we weren't even on the flight list. Lucky V Australia have awesome customer service and fixed everything.

 

[zanzibar138]

Yep, I agree there's really no need to get a TA for trips to the US. We booked our flights through a TA because DH got me a voucher as a present. We considered booking more stuff through him, but quickly realised it wouldn't be worth it. When we gave him our dates he didn't even consider flights on the previous day, which were a couple of hundred $$ cheaper. We found them ourselves in the end and just got him to book them. I also nearly fell off my chair when he told us that we would need to pay extra to get into DLR at night And apparently he'd been, obviously hadn't been paying much attention!

We did use one for our honeymoon only because we were going to Africa and wanted to make sure we wouldn't get into trouble over there. That TA was a bit better and found us some nice hotel rooms for transit points, but we mainly found the flights and hotels ourselves and just had her book them. If we go again we'll just book the Africa part through a tour company and book the rest ourselves.

I'm afraid I'm not much help with luggage. I already had luggage for our trip, so I didn't put much thought into it. I can almost guarantee that if you're there for a month you'll go over your weight limit even with the lightest suitcases around, and since you already have plans to buy a third suitcase and pay the extra for that, you may as well just get the ones you like and not worry too much about how much they weigh.

I will have to check out this OneNote thing... sounds awesome!

 

[frangipanisam]

Still deciding on luggage, its so hard to pick! Hopefully will be buying tomorrow & I'll probably make a snap decision while in Strandbags lol I just want it already to do a mock pack of all the things on my list so I can start to cull, I know my list is too long

Never again with a TA for the US! We only did it because its our first overseas trip & we were a bit hesitant to do it all ourselves. We're still waiting on the NYC tickets to be ready for pick up, for three forms to have the names fixed up and for him to send through an email with all of the confirmations so we can each have a copy on file if something was to happen how hard is it to email through forms really?

On a positive note, finally organised my travel insurance through OneCover and they have already impressed me. I put in all my details and paid, when I opened the file it had Mr instead of Miss. Quick call to the office, gave my policy number "sure I can fix it right now and email it to you". Sure enough had a new file sent through within one minute of hanging up good work OneCover, at least someone can do their job efficiently

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Well at least you got "One" lot of people to be efficient..................bad pun I know!!!!

I was a little alarmed at mum from oz's post as we have those same suitcases and I sure hope they last us this trip. I too would have no idea if I had the receipt and I am thinking they would be out of warranty any way as we purchased them 2 years ago. They have done a fair few flights already though, so fingers crossed for this one!!!

And I am jumping on the band wagon too.................never,ever again will I use a travel agent. I only used one this time as I wanted to get a super deal that they had earlier in the year for the flights. Turns out if I had done it myself, I would have saved around a thousand dollars. Now there's a whole lot of spending money right there. But, you live and learn The rest of the trip I did all by myself and I am very prompt at sending myself emails

Hoping you get your luggage soon. DD only mentioned to me this morning that we will have to get the suitcases out soon! Soon! Wow..........38 sleeps for us so even less for you!!!!

 

[frangipanisam]

Love a good pun the girls said that our TA should ring up to get some pointers on good customer service

Well on the Strandbags website those suitcases have a 7 year warrenty, I'll keep my receipts just in case

I want to go see Nemo 3D tomorrow because I may be working this week and I'm pretty sure it will end on Wednesday and our cinema only has a 10am showing now so I'll do my luggage after that, even if I end up going on my lonesome

Got my Belle costume and its not exactly what I expected but a pin here or there and a petticoat and it should be right just ordered the Disney Duffy graduation bear on eBay to be sent here so he doesn't take up precious space in a suitcase and I'm tossing up what to do about Ursula.

Bec got this mad hatter and purple petticoat: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/83855-Le...835005?pt=US_Costumes&var&hash=item7dbf610322

Sam #3 got her cowdly lion and it was too big so she's not sure what she's doing and Sam #2 won't make up her mind so I'm off to harass her incase it needs to come here from the US

33 sleeps today, so much to do thank goodness for school holidays in a week!

 

[frangipanisam]

Bit of an update.

Went and bought my luggage last Sunday after watching Finding Nemo 3D (which was spectacular to watch!) and suitcases A and C were no longer on sale so that crossed off options 1 and 2. I also found another set with four spinner wheels but I was concerned about the wheels getting damaged because they are not build in like a two wheel suitcase

So in the end went with suitcases B and D from my original list for $148, little more then I priced in store in early September but that was at DFO compared to a normal Strandbags at the Plaza so meh lol I also got a new handbag because my straps are starting to tear & its not zippered so for piece of mind I went and got a new one with a zip for the trip, love a new bag every now & then

My passport is showing as 100% completed on the website so now its just waiting for it to show up, the date showing on the website is today so fingers are crossed

My big concern at the moment is which travel money card to organise. I was planning to go with CBA because I remember them being Visa but now they are Mastercard...the only Visa version I can find is ANZ and the only different between them is the reload fee 1% with CBA and 1.1% with ANZ but I don't intend to reload so its not a big deal.

I'm just worried if I go with CBA that I'll get caught out somewhere in the US that doesn't have Mastercard HELP!!!

29 sleeps

 

[Melbourne5]

Bit of an update.

Went and bought my luggage last Sunday after watching Finding Nemo 3D (which was spectacular to watch!) and suitcases A and C were no longer on sale so that crossed off options 1 and 2. I also found another set with four spinner wheels but I was concerned about the wheels getting damaged because they are not build in like a two wheel suitcase

So in the end went with suitcases B and D from my original list for $148, little more then I priced in store in early September but that was at DFO compared to a normal Strandbags at the Plaza so meh lol I also got a new handbag because my straps are starting to tear & its not zippered so for piece of mind I went and got a new one with a zip for the trip, love a new bag every now & then

My passport is showing as 100% completed on the website so now its just waiting for it to show up, the date showing on the website is today so fingers are crossed

My big concern at the moment is which travel money card to organise. I was planning to go with CBA because I remember them being Visa but now they are Mastercard...the only Visa version I can find is ANZ and the only different between them is the reload fee 1% with CBA and 1.1% with ANZ but I don't intend to reload so its not a big deal.

I'm just worried if I go with CBA that I'll get caught out somewhere in the US that doesn't have Mastercard HELP!!!

29 sleeps

I think you will be well covered. Just make sure you have some cash too to save embarrassment !

 

[alicia1506]

Bit of an update.

Went and bought my luggage last Sunday after watching Finding Nemo 3D (which was spectacular to watch!) and suitcases A and C were no longer on sale so that crossed off options 1 and 2. I also found another set with four spinner wheels but I was concerned about the wheels getting damaged because they are not build in like a two wheel suitcase

So in the end went with suitcases B and D from my original list for $148, little more then I priced in store in early September but that was at DFO compared to a normal Strandbags at the Plaza so meh lol I also got a new handbag because my straps are starting to tear & its not zippered so for piece of mind I went and got a new one with a zip for the trip, love a new bag every now & then

My passport is showing as 100% completed on the website so now its just waiting for it to show up, the date showing on the website is today so fingers are crossed

My big concern at the moment is which travel money card to organise. I was planning to go with CBA because I remember them being Visa but now they are Mastercard...the only Visa version I can find is ANZ and the only different between them is the reload fee 1% with CBA and 1.1% with ANZ but I don't intend to reload so its not a big deal.

I'm just worried if I go with CBA that I'll get caught out somewhere in the US that doesn't have Mastercard HELP!!!

29 sleeps

we used 2 x cba travel money mastercards - one for hotels and one for expenses/souvenirs/dining etc. we had no problems with either one, and had no issues using them at any location. we used the hotel one to make all our pre-bookings, and none had a problem taking or using the card at check in/out. we also used the second card at various atms to draw out cash, and had no problems there either

we also had a GE 28degrees mastercard (regular credit card) and no issues with it, or with our CBA savings/debit cards when we tapped into them either

i think you'll be fine in the usa. having some cash on hand is always recommended, and occasionally they may ask you for ID when using a credit card, but in our experience, mastercard was accepted at every location that VISA was...

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Since you don't plan to reload why wouldn't you go with the ANZ Travel Visa??? We've used it on 2 trips and have it all ready and loaded for our upcoming trip. Everything was perfect with the card.

 

[frangipanisam]

Thanks for help guys I'm leaning towards the ANZ visa simply for my own piece of mind & I'll always have cash handy just in case. I just freak myself out I don't think there would be any problems & the other two Sam's are both getting the CBA MasterCard.

Went & got most of my travel toiletry items today, containers, dry shampoo ect so my list is slowly getting smaller each day. Should also have my passport tomorrow as I had a parcel slip in the mail today

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Ooooooh it's getting so close now!!!

I have been checking the hours of the parks on the Disneyland website every day. I will be making some adjustments to our itinerary as a result!!!

Glad to hear your passport has been finalised............wait til you have it in your hot little hands, it will all seem so so real!!!!

As for a travel card, I too am shopping about as we used the Cash Passports last time. I have found they have the best exchange rate at the moment so still deciding between them and the ANZ card.

And as for Mastercard versus Visa, take it from someone who works with credit cards every day ( I work for a major financial institution as the head trainer! ), you will be able to use Mastercard everywhere you can use Visa. If you were going to Japan however........now thats a different story!!!!

 

[frangipanisam]

Phew! I guess I'll just compare exchange rates the day I do it & go from there

I checked the calendar today & we just need to plan when to do WOC considering Sam 2 & 3 only have three day passes & one of those is our last day when we leave around 5. Everyone says WOC is a must see so I think two of us will have to go over to DCA on our DL day to grab fast passes for that night because the other night is earmarked to see fantasmic & the fireworks. Finger crossed that works out

Minnie Sue, you & your daughter will beat us to DLR so your closer to setting foot in there even though our flight is closer lol we might be seeing Nightmare before Christmas at El Captain on its last day, just waiting to check what the next movie will be & we'll pick from them. The girls just nod and ask how much it's going to cost rather then arguing have you seem the new Nightmare merchandise on the Disney store?

 

[Minnie Sue Oz]

Oh I just love Jack ( nearly as much as Minnie!!! )

I have just heard my credit card sigh..........I am going to be good though now and wait until we arrive before I spend any more hard earned dollars! I will however be shopping madly when we arrive!

Oh I do hope you girls get to see a movie at the El Captain too. Just to be in the theatre to see a movie I something I have wanted to do......that's the Disney nerd comimg out in me!!!


Oh, just thought I would tell you, the Snow White costume arrived........let me tell you, I had a little tear in my eye! AND my shirt has arrived too!!! I will be posting pics in the PTR and updating soon!

Really. Can. Not. Wait

We are so lucky to have all this to look forward to