The Milepost has been invaluable in planning our trip.We've also defaced a few maps in the process and this is the final one..jpg)
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Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
18th March 2012
OOPS! Made a slight error on last blog..The trip cost for the 2 of us will be around $12000 not $19000..
We should be getting all our documents in the next week and the excitement is building.We've been reading about the solar flares, and fingers crossed,we are very likely to be able to see the Aurora Borealis when in Fairbanks or even Anchorage.
Also the weather in Fairbanks today is -4c with predicted snow showers!Will be buying my big jacket when we get over there as we've been told that the prices are lower and the quality is the best..
We fly out of Sydney on 21st April so just a little over 4 weeks to go!!
Have changed my mind about the case I will take as it was a good training run going to NZ for 6 days and only just having enough room and that was without buying any souveniers etc.So it will be the big black one going which will leave plenty of room for the anticipated shopping...
We should be getting all our documents in the next week and the excitement is building.We've been reading about the solar flares, and fingers crossed,we are very likely to be able to see the Aurora Borealis when in Fairbanks or even Anchorage.
Also the weather in Fairbanks today is -4c with predicted snow showers!Will be buying my big jacket when we get over there as we've been told that the prices are lower and the quality is the best..
We fly out of Sydney on 21st April so just a little over 4 weeks to go!!
Have changed my mind about the case I will take as it was a good training run going to NZ for 6 days and only just having enough room and that was without buying any souveniers etc.So it will be the big black one going which will leave plenty of room for the anticipated shopping...
Monday, January 30, 2012
31st January 2012
We finally have our itinerary!!!A little bit different from our original ideas but fills nearly all our criteria,
Sean,our wonderful travel agent, has had a great time finding the best prices for accommodation/car hire/flights/glacier tour /Rocky Mountaineer/and Inside Passage Ferry..
All up the cost for the 4 weeks for the two of us came to $19,700..Still have to pay for petrol and food but not worrying too much as we will be sharing those costs with Andrew & Leanne.
Had great fun choosing travel bags and other accessories..I wasn't going to take my computer but because I want to be able to write this blog while travelling it is coming along in it's nice new purple carry bag!!
We've had lots of advice about being aware of bears and have watched a couple of videos that will make sure we keep on our toes.One of the strongest piece of advice was not to pee in the bush!!!!
Andrew's biggest wish is to get a photo of Terry being chased by a bear!!Like that's going to happen!!He may be 70 but with a bear behind him you wouldn't see him for dust!!!!
Getting very excited now all is organised.Only 12 weeks to go!
Sean,our wonderful travel agent, has had a great time finding the best prices for accommodation/car hire/flights/glacier tour /Rocky Mountaineer/and Inside Passage Ferry..
All up the cost for the 4 weeks for the two of us came to $19,700..Still have to pay for petrol and food but not worrying too much as we will be sharing those costs with Andrew & Leanne.
Had great fun choosing travel bags and other accessories..I wasn't going to take my computer but because I want to be able to write this blog while travelling it is coming along in it's nice new purple carry bag!!
We've had lots of advice about being aware of bears and have watched a couple of videos that will make sure we keep on our toes.One of the strongest piece of advice was not to pee in the bush!!!!
Andrew's biggest wish is to get a photo of Terry being chased by a bear!!Like that's going to happen!!He may be 70 but with a bear behind him you wouldn't see him for dust!!!!
Getting very excited now all is organised.Only 12 weeks to go!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
21st November
Only 5 months till the beginning of our Alaska Canada adventure!!!
I've been getting a lot of feedback on the Fodor's forum site which is full of info not found in travel books etc.Some comes from residents who know the areas well that we are going to & others are travellers with some of their own experiences.It's all helpful..
One tip was to get a very early start in the morning from Tok so we will be in Kluane NP in full daylight to get the very best photo opportunities and because there should be very little traffic on the Alaska H/way at that part of the season we should take every chance we get to stop & take in the scenery/wildlife that abounds there(fingers crossed).
The last thing we need to do to finally have everything in order is to do our ESTA applications.These are needed for entry into USA and as we will be crossing the border a couple of times we need to have everything in order.
I think we did the right thing in buying our US dollars when we did as it's struggling to reach parity again.
I've been getting a lot of feedback on the Fodor's forum site which is full of info not found in travel books etc.Some comes from residents who know the areas well that we are going to & others are travellers with some of their own experiences.It's all helpful..
One tip was to get a very early start in the morning from Tok so we will be in Kluane NP in full daylight to get the very best photo opportunities and because there should be very little traffic on the Alaska H/way at that part of the season we should take every chance we get to stop & take in the scenery/wildlife that abounds there(fingers crossed).
The last thing we need to do to finally have everything in order is to do our ESTA applications.These are needed for entry into USA and as we will be crossing the border a couple of times we need to have everything in order.
I think we did the right thing in buying our US dollars when we did as it's struggling to reach parity again.
Monday, October 31, 2011
1st November 2011
After attending the Travel Show at Darling Harbour we were so lucky to happen upon Sean from Flight Centre..He was enthusiastic with our plans and we were able to book our flights with Canda Air at a good discount and arrange our travel insurance while there.
We gave him our itinerary to look over and arranged to have a meeting with him at the Agency to look over his ideas.
He was just brilliant!!He was able to fine tune our trip and booked Rocky Mountaineer,car hires,internal flights,ferry trips and accommodations...We are also booked for a flight over the Arctic Circle where we will land at an isolated Innuit village.
With the exchange rate at $1.03,Leanne and I bought $1000 US for $965.05.Very happy with that..
Now we have to wait for the months to skip by..
We gave him our itinerary to look over and arranged to have a meeting with him at the Agency to look over his ideas.
He was just brilliant!!He was able to fine tune our trip and booked Rocky Mountaineer,car hires,internal flights,ferry trips and accommodations...We are also booked for a flight over the Arctic Circle where we will land at an isolated Innuit village.
With the exchange rate at $1.03,Leanne and I bought $1000 US for $965.05.Very happy with that..
Now we have to wait for the months to skip by..
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday16th July
This was a good day!!!
We met up with Andrew & Leanne and hit the Travel Agent with a suggested itinerary..I think it was a lot for her to take in but said she will go through it all and send an e-mail with her suggestions during the week..We also picked up a great brochure on independent tours to do in Alaska which created a bit of excitement between us as most of what we wanted to do & see was laid out in it..
Also found what sounds like the wilderness cabin/lodge off Vancouver Island that is only accessible by float plane,something we all wanted to do.Promises lots of bear sightings and other wildlife..
We hope to go to an expo being held at the Travel Agents on 30th July where we may be able to get good discounts on our airfares..
This is such fun planning this trip...
We met up with Andrew & Leanne and hit the Travel Agent with a suggested itinerary..I think it was a lot for her to take in but said she will go through it all and send an e-mail with her suggestions during the week..We also picked up a great brochure on independent tours to do in Alaska which created a bit of excitement between us as most of what we wanted to do & see was laid out in it..
Also found what sounds like the wilderness cabin/lodge off Vancouver Island that is only accessible by float plane,something we all wanted to do.Promises lots of bear sightings and other wildlife..
We hope to go to an expo being held at the Travel Agents on 30th July where we may be able to get good discounts on our airfares..
This is such fun planning this trip...
Thursday, July 14, 2011
July 15th 2011
Time is flying by and have spent the last couple of months researching as much as possible to get the most out of this holiday.
Just read the earlier blog where I was excited about the exchange rate being 93cents..Today it's $1.07!! Hope this trend continues until we're ready to buy some US?CAD.....
I think we've all agreed to travel with Canadian Airline with a direct flight to Vancouver..None of us want to be in the air any longer than we have to..The fare is a lot dearer but worth it..
Terry and I have started buying weather gear.Raincoats,boots etc..Have taken advice from other travellers re wearing layers of clothing to be ready for any temerature changes through the day.We could be in for some left over Winter snow & rainy weather so "be prepared" is our mantra!!
This Saturday we are meeting up with Andew & Leanne(The Mayers)and are going to sit down with a travel agent and run through some of our plans and get her thoughts on whether we are biting off more than we can chew or if it's doable....
Just read the earlier blog where I was excited about the exchange rate being 93cents..Today it's $1.07!! Hope this trend continues until we're ready to buy some US?CAD.....
I think we've all agreed to travel with Canadian Airline with a direct flight to Vancouver..None of us want to be in the air any longer than we have to..The fare is a lot dearer but worth it..
Terry and I have started buying weather gear.Raincoats,boots etc..Have taken advice from other travellers re wearing layers of clothing to be ready for any temerature changes through the day.We could be in for some left over Winter snow & rainy weather so "be prepared" is our mantra!!
This Saturday we are meeting up with Andew & Leanne(The Mayers)and are going to sit down with a travel agent and run through some of our plans and get her thoughts on whether we are biting off more than we can chew or if it's doable....
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