to go to Australia for the weekend?!

[HufflepuffHarpy]

My best friend (male if relevant) is getting married in the autumn. I'm in the UK (where we both grew up) he now lives in Australia.

I desperately want to go to the wedding.

It will cost £1000 for the flight plus accomodation etc over there which is in no way small money.

I have 4DC so would be asking my parents (very hands on babysitters, have had them for me and DH to go on holiday etc) to have the DC (all under 10) while DH is at work.

I would leave on a thursday AM flight and get back tuesday pm. SO literally fly in for the wedding, the day after and then back home.

Am I being totally crazy to consider this?! (Haven't actually asked DH yet!!)

No, no, no, no. This is bonkers.

Yes it was aimed at you @wobblylondoner. Personally I think you sound rather hypocritical but no need to get het up about it.

It sounds a brilliant, crazy thing to do - go! You'll regret it if you don't but I doubt you'll ever find yourself regretting making the trip.

And with four kids, travelling alone will be a doddle. Only yourself to worry about, good book, catch up on some movies, take some Nytol with you so that you can sleep on the plane... it'll be fine.

On a practical note - and it's a long time since I've been there so I'm not sure - is it possible to have a shorter first leg and make a stopover somewhere like Dubai, rather than have to kill six hours in Bangkok airport when you're already a bit weary?

Also, if you don't have an American Express card, think about taking one out because mine gives me passes for posher airport lounges.

I did a short week in NZ a few years ago ... with DS who was 4 at the time - it was a push but do-able! A bit of a crazy scheme and I probably wouldn't choose to do it again.

@bingbongnoise - breaking the journey between Aus (or NZ come to that) doesn't have to be an overnight stay - I book flights for people in my company (NZ based) to fly all around the world, including UK, on a very frequent basis - the quickest layover could be as short as 3 hours. Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, LA are the most frequent routes we use but there are other locations too. Singapore is my preferred layover location as it's roughly half way - with Dubai or Hong Kong the legs are much less even. Airlines we use frequently to do these routes are Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Air, Air NZ. For some reason we rarely use Cathay - but they are a great airline in my personal experience.

I would do it if the 1000 was no big deal. Not if it was using up savings needed elsewhere. That would be my only issue I would do it otherwise and enjoy a loooonng childfree sleep on the plane!!!

bingbongnoise BA from LBR through Singapore literally only stops in Singapore for about an hour and then on to Sydney. I’ve taken it a few times. No need for an overnight stopover. Lots of people choose an overnight stopover but you don’t have to.

LHR not LBR

My friend who moved to Australia 10 years ago has come back for long weekends for wedding in the UK. The exact opposite of what you’re doing OP. She had a fantastic time and is a mum of 3.

Go, have a great time.

You sound like an amazing friend! It does sound mad but hopefully he'll only get married once so you don't want to miss it! Hope you go and have an amazing time

if you can put up with spending most of that time on a plane and in an airport do it....you will be knackered though!

I've done the flight (to NZ and back) several times and it's an absolute killer. I think you should pay a bit more for a really short layover. My first ever flight out was 2 x 11hr flights and a 12 hour layover in HK. It was AWFUL. After that I paid extra to get the Qatar airways flight with a one hour layover in Doha. Much better to just get straight into the next plane IMO.

I think you have to live a little crazy sometimes. Sounds like this wedding is important to and you have the makings of a good plan, so go for it. Although is it worth seeing if you could extend the stay a bit?

@bingbongnoise I do NZ UK around three times a year and often do not have an overnight en route. In March I travelled via Qatar with only a two hour stop. Last week I had a three hour stop in Dubai and in October I have another flight with Qatar with a two hour stop.

I try to pick the flights with a short stop to get it all over with quickly, but it is absolutely not necessary to overnight anyway when doing the trip.

Tbh if you could I'd go. Jet lag will go but you'll have those memories forever! Cheesy but true!

Late to this but I'm so glad you're going OP! Memories last forever.

Bring your swimsuit and a towel in your hand luggage for the swimming pool in Singapore airport. That will freshen you up after a long flight.

Do it! Ignore the naysayers, you only live once and this is clearly a very special friend. I can’t sleep on planes so it would kill me, but you’re not me! Go!

thanks for the info about flights straight through folks..

Just never known anyone personally who went straight through without a stopover.

Still batshit to think anyone can do it in a weekend though IMO

@bingbongnoise you're clearly the one who has no idea!

We've just been to Australia - BA flight to Sydney. It's a touchdown at Singapore for no more than 90 minutes while they re-fuel and the crew changes (and the plane is cleaned). Then you get back on the same plane to continue on to Sydney.

So many fun sponges and special snowflakes on this thread! @HufflepuffHarpy I'm so glad your DH is supportive and looking to make the trip even better for you.

I've done it - its ok - more knackered when i got back to be honest - the adrenaline/caffeine/alcohol buzzed me through whilst there..

Go have a great time - being older i would probably sleep/drink more water and possibly less alcohol a week would def be better (did that too)
DH best mate did it for our wedding (other way round from iz ) and it meant so much to him

YOLO. Do it.

Just don't drink alcohol on the flight out and don't take sleeping tablets either.

I once fell asleep while waiting a few hours in Singapore and nearly missed the onward flight. Try not to do that.

I've done the trip just like that it was well worth it. was in Australia 3 nights only.

Just get yourself in the time zone as best as possible on the flight.
Arriving in Australia on a PM landing flight really really helps with this.

I would go for it - done similar when I went to Vegas (we went round the houses to get there) for a weekend and just stayed awake and took everything in before crashing on the plane on the way back. Have a fantastic time, I think the travelling bit is all part of the adventure

something I did (nitty-gritty practical) is to take extra t shirt/top &fresh undies & wash bag in hand luggage & do a strip wash in loos at Singapore to freshen up (you probably will have thought of this!) I also talked to my gp about using asprin against dvt (ie personal individual medical advice) which I might have used a mild sleeping tablet (again discussion gp & yes I know they don't advocate this normally but I am insomniac at best of times)

My DH's best friend flew in from Melbourne to London for my FILs funeral. He was here 3 full days then travelling time. It was exhausitng, but much appreciated.

I did it a few years back for a friends’s wedding. Think I did 5 days, key for me was to exercise... I got tired on the first afternoon and do just took myself out for a long walk along the coast, got back, had a cuppa and then went out for dinner and slept as normal, got no jet lag either way. So glad I did it!