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!!)

Found some flight options for £800 which is a good start, more googling to do when I get home. My friend will collect and drop me at the airport. He is going to either squeeze me in on his sofa or find a cheap air bnb near his place. Will be keeping costs down as much as I can.

How can you pay back the 1k if you're a sahm?

If you’d read the thread properly you’d see that that question has already been asked and answered.

Yes OP, you’re utterly batshit crazy (as I suspect you know).

But, from someone who used to fly 900 miles for Friday drinks, it will be a magnificent story to tell in years to come.

Have an absolute blast!

The free transit tour of Singapore is quite nice, although you need a transit of at least 5.5 hours - so may be a bit tight.

www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/free-singapore-tour.html

Otherwise plenty to do at the airport itself, including spectacular newly opened shopping centre across the road, which has an amazing light show, water feature & loads of good shops.

Also agree with PippiDeLena's suggestion re rooftop swimming pool at Singapore airport - I've used it a few times & it's perfect for a 6-hour stopover.

If it’s doable I think you should do it! You only live once and with 4 kids I know how busy life is and to do something nice for yourself and for your friend is priceless.

My mum moved to Austria when my first baby was 11 days old, she was in the air on 9/11 although flying the opposite direction. I was lucky enough to visit in the January - flew at new year with a 4 month old baby on my own and no jet lag at all baby was a dream slept and fed enjoyed a 4/5 hour Stop at Singapore then slept the rest of the flight. We were there 3 weeks though but it was with the journey to see my mum and I’d do it for a week too - not everyone suffers jet lag I work nights a lot so perhaps that’s why.

Your Dh sounds fab, go for it and have a great time, come let us know how you got on

I went to Toronto once for dinner...

So I'd say go for it lass

@Esspee

I've travelled that route many times. Unless it is a scenario such as seeing someone before they died then you are being completely unreasonable. It takes time to adjust. You will probably not even remember the wedding even if you managed to stay awake. I have known people start to hallucinate after a west-east journey. Don't underestimate how unpleasant it is sitting in a plane for over a day. Once you get home you will be useless as a mum for a day or two (perhaps even longer).

All of this. ^ Some of the replies on this thread are batshit. Many people (including the OP) are breathtakingly naive.

Anyway, it seems the OP is going for a WEEK now;

@BIWI

bingbongnoise YOU are the one who has no idea.

ODFOD. I have travelled to Oz AND NZ several times, and I stopped overnight every time.. so has everyone else I know who does that route ... If you could be arsed to read my posts properly, I just said I didn't know anyone PERSONALLY who had travelled straight through from the UK to OZ without a stopover. I never said it wasn't a thing, so quit making stuff up to suit your agenda.

As for the posters @cookingonwine and @BadLad saying no-one would be banging on about jetlag if it was a trip from 'Scotland to Plymouth.' I can't believe ANYONE would compare that trip to going to Australia from the UK (and back!) in one weekend - which is what the OP originally said. And you CLEARLY have no clue what jetlag is!

This board sometimes.... JEEEEEEEZ!

This board sometimes.... JEEEEEEEZ!

I'm definitely thinking the same about your posts tbh.

@bingbongnoise I'm not making anything up! You were the one who was hugely patronising (as well as plain wrong):

Do you know how long the journey actually is? confused Are you confusing it with Austria? wink It takes so long to get there that you have to stop overnight halfway, and stay in another country (on the way!)

Nothing here about you not knowing personally - just a bald statement.

People saying 'yeah go for i!' have obviously never been to Australia (or NZ) before

... and this was quite plain wrong given the number of people who have indeed been to Australia or NZ before - including the OP!

Its doable, I haven't done that trip with that short amount, however my boss has. He literally went for a meeting that lasted a couple of hours then flew straight back. Obviously just make sure you get straight into their time, sleep and eat when you're meant to.

Get it booked OP & then come back here & tell us all about it 😎

I did this last summer for a wedding. Yes jet lag is hard but you'll be sad if you miss it. Drink lots of water and get plenty of fresh air. Try and sleep on plane, ear plugs and eye mask. I got over jet lag in a few days.

That was useful information about the BA flight to Sydney. I will look into that one when I am flying out there next time.

Enjoy you trip, OP!

Definitely do it - and as a pp said try and arrive in Aus pm. I did LHR-SYD via Dubai a few years ago, took off 2pm ish Monday, arrived Sydney 2300ish Tuesday, 3 12 hour days in the office, 0630 flight Saturday morning, landed 2030 ish Saturday evening. Was tired at the end but was worth it.

I went t California with a 5 month old infant for a weekend so that I could atend a wedding. Ok its not as far as Australia, but it was pretty bonkers. in fact I managed the jet lag fine, had a fabulous weekend and was away Thursday to Monday morning... :-) Go for it ..

and I flew non stop to Sydney (from London) this February. 50 mins on the ground in Singapore whilst the aircraft refuelled. Not that awful ...

I think people who are describing some of the horrors of jet lag are not stating typical scenarios. I’ve never had a problem...tired yes and it’s disturbed my sleep patterns for a few days but dehydration and hallucinations?! However, that’s just my experience...everyone reacts differently. I think you should go for it OP. Life is for living etc

I get very dehydrated, even if I drink lots of water on the plane. But it isn’t a big deal. I just am unusually thirsty the day after I arrive.

Going for a week makes more sense if you are traveling a long way

Look at Emirates change at Dubai

Look at Quatar change at Doha

I've flown these routes with no overnight stop

If it's a quick change to the next flight, there is no time for shopping. Get through security & get to the next gate quickly. Some of the gates take a while to get to

Some airports have showers, so you could take a micro towel

It will be an amazing memory

The earlier you book the flight, the cheaper it will be

Good for you OP. My BF is out in Oz and I’d seriously think about doing the same. Have a wonderful adventure!

My brothers friend flew from west coast USA to India for his marriage for three days . She was his best friend from primary school. My brother flew for a weekend to India from UK for her sons christening.
Do it you can afford it and is practical..

I've done Scotland to Aukland (and back) many many times, always without a break (apart from connection times). I reckon I had it down to a fine art regarding minimising body clock disruption but it is not easy. I use a combination of changing to destination time before departure and using prescribed medication to force a change of sleep patterns. It is not easy. Sitting for over 24 hours is hellish.
I did a Scotland Cambodia trip recently where I was treated to business class so could sleep lying flat - what a difference!!

The OP is deluded. She will suffer jet lag just when she imagines she will be enjoying the wedding. She needs at least 2-3days to adjust possibly both ways but certainly west to east.
Nobody should encourage her unless they have made the trip themselves and can give advice based on experience.

Yes we stopped in Dubai. 1½ hours to get through customs, security and back on the plane. I much preferred it to the idea of having to find my hotel then make sure i was back at the airport in time for the next flight

This is amazing. Good for you and lucky you :) Enjoy!