Longhaul virgin asks stupid questions...

[angelene]

We are going to Australia at the end of the month, we've never been longhaul at all, never been outside Europe.

We're dead excited but I'm also a bit apprehensive because I don't really know what to expect. Therefore I have a number of completely stupid questions that I wonder if you could help me with. Apologies in advance for dullardness...

1. Jetlag - how will this affect us and how long for? We arrive in Sydney at 7.30am. DD is 4 btw.

1. Will my hairdryer and GHDs (and other far less important electrical items) work over there? (PLEASE SAY YES!!)

1. There are three of us, looking at the airline website it looks like the planes are set up as 2-3-2 - should we go for the 3 in the middle if we can or try and split ourselves up so we can get a window seat?

1. Is it just me who needs flight socks or will DD and DH need them too? (See, I told you these were stoooopid questions

1. I've got a load of activity books and travel games for the flight, I'm hoping that with the TV thing and loading up my ipod with stuff, plus sleeping, this will keep DD occupied, but are there any other ideas?

1. Can I take teabags to Australia?

1. Can we drink the water?

Thanks in advance. I'll send you a postcard...

1. Jetlag is different for everyone - I never use to suffer from it but as I get older it seems to get a bit worse - I always find it harder coming back to UK but that may just be because I am leaving my family at home in Oz. If you arriving during the day try and stay up until night time instead of crashing straightway - I think you adjust quicker

2 You will need an adapter for your hairdryers etc easy enough to buy anywhere here or there

3 Personally, I would go for the 3 in the middle but if you are arriving in Sydney during the in the day you often get a great view of the harbour.

1. never bothered with socks I would just take a walk up and down every now and then

5 I think that should be enough - I always take way too much and end up carting it around the airport - this time it will be portable DVD player and some stickers. You might want to buy some kids headphones for you DD as the airline ones are a bit big - you can buy them off amazon for about 15 and they have a volume control so they wont blast their ears off

6 Teabags would be fine to take but would put in checked luggage - but we have nice tea in Oz too!

7 Water is fine to drink

Hope this helps I am off home in 6 weeks by myself with DS 2.6 and DD 7 months - I am dreading it!!

Thank you strig, that's brilliant.

Reason I asked about the hair dryer is that I heard that they were on a different voltage or something and could blow the electrics but we're not going anywhere remote at all (Sydney, Melbourne and Sale nr Melbourne) so I guess that's not a problem.

Buying the headphones now!

Enjoy your trip when it comes round, I'm sure you'll be fine

You must declare any food or drink you take into Australia so make sure you notify them on your Incoming Passenger Card that you have teabags, if you take them.

You can request that you sit all 3 together in the middle but they may reallocate you when you check in. You can often prebook your seats but they aren't guaranteed.

You don't need flight socks if you are generally fit and well and can mobilise around the aircraft. This page lists people at risk of DVT that can benefit from flight socks

Have a great trip - Australia is wonderful

Brilliant, thank you all. I have a plug adaptor so hopefully all will be fine on the GHD front (we're going for BIL's wedding, DH is best man so I have to look presentable, hence the GHD-panic )

Maybe I will forget the tea bags.

Got sticker books, and wipe clean activity books which DD is very keen on, she gets very studious-looking when she's working on them!

Good advice re the food, hadn't considered the possibility of her not liking it

Balloons sound like a great idea will add that to my list.

I wouldn't worry about the voltage difference I always use adaptors and haven't had it blow up anything yet! But of course there is always a first time!

Hope you have a lovely time Sydney is great but Melbourne is my home town so I am a bit biased thinking it is the best!