Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas


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About | Countries | Tours | Trips | Bucket List – Done | Bucket List – To Do | Airport Lounges | Flight History

Travel Categories:
Flight Reviews | Lounge Reviews | Destinations | Short Breaks | World Trip 1986 | World Trip 1998 | World Trip 1999-2000 | World Trip 2006 | World Trip 2009 | World Trip 2009-10 | World Trip 2010 | World Trip 2011 | World Trip 2012-13 | World Trip 2015 | World Trip 2016 | World Trip 2017 | World Trip 2017-18 | World Trip 2018 | World Trip 2019 | Australia 2022 | World Trip 2023 | World Trip 2024 | World Trip 2024-25 | World Trip 2026-27

  • 2024 USA & Ecuador – First Flight Booked

    The next big step in my trip with Erin to the USA and Ecuador late November 2024 has been successful with the first flights booked from Melbourne to Los Angeles.

    As this trip is a graduation and 18th birthday gift to my niece I want to make it as special as possible so I used Qantas Frequent flyer points to book business class seats for us both 🙂

    Attempting to use points to fly to the USA for anything other than economy especially for 2 people is almost impossible. But 30 seconds after flights opened for booking for Friday 29 November 2024 I quickly grabbed two seats on Fiji Airways FJ934 Melbourne to Nadi (Fiji) which is a 4 hour 40 minute flight, then after a 2 hour 25 minute transit we switch to FJ810 Nadi (Fiji) to Los Angeles which a 10 hour 10 minute flight.

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  • Travel Experience and Knowledge

    Travelling can be a hassle sometimes

    With two big international trips coming up in 2024 with my nieces in April 2024 (Europe with Darby) and December 2024 (Ecuador and USA with Erin) my mind has focused on how I can help them prepare.

    So I started considering what I had learned over my many trips.

    What were the mistakes that easily could have been avoided?

    How could I keep my costs under control by being prepared?

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  • World Trip 2024: Eastern Europe & the Balkans

    Budapest, Hungary

    After working out my plans for a sole Balkans trip in March 2024 one of my nieces (Darby) reached out an asked if she could join me on a trip to this region. As I’m already planning on taking another niece (Erin) for a trip to Ecuador in December 2024 so in fairness I had to say yes.

    Plus always a major bonus travelling with a young and excited traveller who can really bring a lot of energy and different insights

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  • Balkans Adventure 2024

    Now replaced see Eastern Europe and Balkans post.

    Nothing gets you more focused on your next trip after returning from an overseas trip then experiencing a freezing cold winter.

    While I have a trip planned to Ecuador with my neice Erin in December 2024 after she finishes High School that seemed too long and I still have some leave saved up from the multiple pandemic lockdowns in Melbourne.

    The last time I visited a new country in Europe was Iceland back in October 2012 (technically Türkiye is both Asia and Europe) made this the obvious area to return and explore.

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  • A Trip Retrospective – Türkiye and Central Asia

    The sands of time – Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan

    Now that I’ve been back for one month I have enough distance to from the trip to look back and recall the good and the bad (basically only getting sick as I left Turkmenistan).

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  • The Next Adventure – Ecuador 2024

    Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

    The worst thing about coming home is missing the excitment that comes from having something new to experience and learn each day while travelling.

    One sure cure is to start looking at the next adventure. I’d known for some time that 2024 I would be travelling with my niece Erin after she completes Year 12 and turns eighteen.

    While it will be to new places this trip will mirror the type of adventure I experienced to Erin’s older brother when he finished High School in 2009 and we visited USA, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, New Zealand (see here). A chance to see and experience a new culture and region as an adult.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 42 – Kuala Lumper to Melbourne, Australia

    Friday 09 June 2023
    Highlights: Business Class Flight Home, Reuniting with my pets

    The final stage of this trip was my last flight home from Kuala Lumper to Melbourne on Malaysian Airlines in Business Class. This was my first long haul flight on Malaysian Airlines and I was very happy with the experience, a good use of award points (see review here).

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  • Flight Review – MH149 Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne

    Malaysian Airlines
    Date: 08-09 June 2023
    Gate: 14
    Seat: 2A (Business Class Seat)
    Plane: Airbus A330-300
    Boarded: 21:52
    Pushback: 22:16 (Scheduled 22:10)
    Arrived: 08:00 (Scheduled 07:55)
    Duration: 7 hour 46 minutes
    Distance: 6,306 kms

    This flight was from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) International Airport to Tullamarine (Melbourne) International Airport.

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  • World Trip 2023: Day 41 Singapore to Kuala Lumper, Malaysia

    Changi Airport, Singapore

    Thursday 08 June 2023
    Highlights: Business Class flight on Singapore Airlines, Lounge Access, Exploring Singapore (Changi) Airport

    Today started on the longest flight of my journey home a 10.5 hour flight in Business Class on the excellent Singapore Airlines from Istanbul (see review here). Using points for long haul business class is always worth it especially when you have a long way to go.

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  • Lounge Review: International Golden Lounge Satellite Terminal, Kuala Lumper

    When visited: 08 June 2023
    Time of day: Night
    Operator: Malaysian Airlines (Linked to Oneworld Alliance)

    Rating: 4 / 5

    SUMMARY

    A massive and modern Business Class Lounge that provides everything you could need and more before Malaysian Airlines Long Haul flights from Kuala Lumper.

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