Australia - for a week from UK?

[chocoLit]

I'm swithering about booking a week to visit my BF after she has her baby. We've looked into us all going next year but that merits a longer trip for the DC to be part of.

Am I being ridiclious? I could take a wk off work and head over but would I be any use or just completely knackered? And how wrecked would I be when I got back?

She's in Perth if that makes any massive difference?!

Thanks!

OK. But I fear an exhausted jet lagged wet rag isn't what it is about either. Sorry.

Ah ha ha ha ha thanks.

Just go.

Cabin crew do it all the time.

Make sure you don't look at your watch on the plane (put it in your bag) that way you won't know the time 😉

You'll be more jet lagged on the way home anyway, can be a zombie back home.

I have done it - was actually in Aus for 5 nights!!! We stayed in 3 different places and jet lag was only really getting sorted as we left. We went for a wedding so there was (lots!) of alcohol involved which may not have helped.

We survived but it wasn't easy. I still say do it though. With a newborn day and night won't mean much anyway

DH spent 36 hours in bed each way, when he did that trip (business class).

I went to Australia last year to visit my parents, as my father is unwell.

I was there a week, but travel time was on top of that, so I was probably out of the UK for 10 days.

I managed to help A LOT. Cooking, cleaning (including windows), gardening, decorating the living room...

And there was an event that DD2 really wanted to go to on the day I got back, and I managed to take her to that despite pouring rain and gale force winds (in the middle of summer - Melbourne's winter was better, FFS!).

If she's a good friend, then go!

I think the jet lag is going to be less of an issue when there is a newborn baby in the house. Hours won't be so regularly kept anyway. You can do the night shift!

My jet lag doesn't seem to kick in for a few days anyway and you will practically ready to come back then.

I've done Melbourne for 8 nights several times for work, and been fine. Arrive sat eve, go for a walk, spend Sunday outside, fine for work on Monday!

I was about to post the same as patricia - I've done oz and back in a week for work. It was tiring, but fine.

I hadn't thought of the newborn aspect. You might find them operating on uk time

Even if you're useless for the first day, 5 days of help would be appreciated I'm sure!

We did UK to Perth a few years for 5 days (3 days actually there) for a funeral.

Going there is a pain, no real jet lag on the way back.

I guess it's individual.

On the holiday criminal threads I've been howled at (felt like), told that jetlag is completely imaginary, never existed, folk just make it up, anyone, even toddlers, can travel anywhere to the world & back in any amount of gap time & never have even the slightest whiff of jetlag. Anyone who ever says they are affected by jetlag is a big fat liar (or crybaby... or both).

I am travelling 8 tzs soon. I will be a total zombie for first 36 hours & wouldn't be safe to drive a car. Would be nice if I was someone else.. but I'm not. Great if you aren't a crybaby.

The other problem is cost for such small time. I'm guessing return flight = £1600? £200/day is a shedload of money.

My DH has done it, for a week in Sydney. It was fine, tbh. Obviously it's knackering and you'll be wiped out when you get home but it's not totally horrific.

Return flight coming in at £638

Crack on with the booking! You can sleep on the plane when you are by yourself. And you take good nytol...

Have you ever travelled that kind of distance before? It's hard to predict how you'll be. I've done the flight twice, first time I was a mess, the first 3 days are a complete blur. Second time I didn't get any jet lag (probably helped by a massively delayed journey tbh).

It's a lot of money to spend if you end up spending half the time getting over jet lag and you'd probably end up quite disappointed. If you've never done long distance before I wouldn't do it personally. If you have and you manage jet lag well it's more doable (though still not something I'd want to do). To make it more bearable book flights that arrive in the evening and if possible take 10 days off (so you'd have 7 days in Aus plus travel time).

I did Melbourne for a week via London and Singapore from Edinburgh years ago before flights went from Scotland. Going was ok. Coming back I felt dreadful for 3/4 days. Perth is a doddle though.

We go on Friday. It's only about 20 hours.

Furthest I've been is Vegas hence my asking for others experience.

I can't afford to be away from business or want to be away from my DC for 10days so it's not an option am afraid.

Hi Kirriemuir, am very jealous. If you happen across a heavily pregnant grumpy woman give her a gentle squeeze. She's my best friend and I miss her terribly

My DH did it for a week for a wedding!