Four Random Travel Questions

[WanderlustNZ]

In the process of lying here in bed trying to will myself to get up and start my chores for the day, I have been thinking up random fantasy travel scenarios.

Because I love to discuss travel, and I love finding out more information about my friends here on the DIS, I thought I would turn these scenarios into questions and put them to you. Just for the fun of it.

P.S. These are fantasies. Getting time of work, finding someone to watch the pets, concerns about the season, weather, and length of the flight etc are all not issues.


QUESTION ONE

You are approached to write articles for a well-known travel magazine, and in return you and your immediate family will get one months all expenses travel every year.
What is the name of the magazine?
a) Coach Quarterly (a magazine all about organised group coach and train trips)
b) Road Trip Warrior (a magazine all about hiring a car, hitting the road, and seeing as much as you can)
c) Cruise Commander (a magazine all about cruise ships and their destinations)
d) Resort Reflections (a magazine all about resort-style stays, where hotels, attractions and meals can all be packaged together). A WDW holiday would fit this criteria.
e) Off the Beaten Path (a magazine for people who enjoy backpacking, bush treks, and/or living with remote indigenous tribes).

QUESTION TWO

Your Grand Old Aunt leaves you $100,000 in her will. However there are conditions. You must spend the whole lot on travel and by the end of a month there must be nothing left to show for it. How do you spend it?

QUESTION THREE

You have the opportunity to relive one week of your travel life. That is, you get to take your family back to a place you loved where you will visit the same attractions and locations and stay in same (or similar) hotels. Where do you go back to and why?

QUESTION FOUR

You win a timeshare competition that gives you one week per year in a location of your choice within your own country (flights and car rental included). What location do you pick and why?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Here's my answers.

1. Cruise Commander. I just find this style of travel so relaxing and carefree, and there are so many ships I want to try.

2. I've thought about a similar scenario to this quite a few times while wondering what I would do if I won the lottery. I think I would do a similar holiday to the one I just did at WDW and on the Disney Fantasy, only this time I would take a small group of friends and/or family. That holiday was near-perfect, but I think it would be even better surrounded by the people I love.

3. Probably my road-trip around Southern Germany. I love the charming, fairy-tale atmosphere of all the little villages. A total escape from reality and something I would repeat in a heartbeat. In saying that, repeating my Fantasy cruise is also high on my wishlist.

4. Wanaka. I love it there, and it's within driving distance of many of my favourite NZ locations such as Arrowtown and Aoraki.

 

[Caroline NZ]

Question 1
Road Trip Warrior (a magazine all about hiring a car, hitting the road, and seeing as much as you can)

Question 2
Luxury Trip to Great Britain

Question 3
Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Loved this week, the Wigwam at Phoenix was lovely as was the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon.

Question 4
Wanaka without a doubt

 

[AustralianJetsetter]

You sure were daydreaming weren't you

Here's my replies:
1. Resort Reflections......I love checking out new resorts and the area surrounding them. This is something my family and I thoroughly enjoy.

2. Definitely a luxury trip through Europe with my family & both sets of grandparents. First class flights & 5 star resorts

3. Thailand with my little family & my parents.....been that many times it wouldn't matter which week of which years trip. My parents have retired and no longer want to spend their money onntravel (my dad is getting on now too) so we can never make new Thailand memories with them

4. Melbourne. My DS12 loves the Melbourne Storm & we enjoy the Australian open tennis......not to mention the shopping and the food

This was fun! Now to make one of them a reality

 

[PrincessInOz]

1. I can't decide between Off the Beaten Track and Road Trip Warrior.

2. I'd spend half the money on a luxury trip to Europe. The other half I would buy timeshare; including DVC. That way, I would have the option to travel again knowing I had accommodation options.

3. I would go back to Sedona, Monument Valley and Pagosa Springs.

• Sedona - for the amazing outdoor beauty and new age feel and food.
• Monument Valley - for The View hotel.
• Pagosa Springs - for the mountain air, hot springs and nature walks and visiting with DH's family.

4. Port Stephens. Dolphins, whale watching, surf, sand, and more sand; and proximity to the Hunter Valley.

 

[Snickals]

1. Resort Reflections

2. Would do a round the world trip, first class, with close family to see all the disneylands/world staying at all the high end hotels...as well as a disney cruise or two.

3. Whitsundays. So many wonderful childhood memories of going there on family vacation and sailing around island hopping Haven't been there in years but remember it's beauty.

4. Gold Coast. Get my theme park kick as well as closer access to Australia Zoo (annual member).

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Question 1 Road Trip Warrior (a magazine all about hiring a car, hitting the road, and seeing as much as you can) Question 2 Luxury Trip to Great Britain Question 3 Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Loved this week, the Wigwam at Phoenix was lovely as was the El Tovar at the Grand Canyon. Question 4 Wanaka without a doubt

It's interesting that you and PIO have similar answers for question 3. That area of the world is certainly climbing up my bucket list.

Yay, 2 votes for Wanaka. Not long now until I go back

 

[WanderlustNZ]

You sure were daydreaming weren't you

Sure was. I must admit I often daydream about been one of those lucky few who get paid to write travel articles, or having enough money to take friends and family on trips with me. It would just be so nice to show the people I care about why I love traveling so much. Most of them don't seem to understand.

As for the last two questions, I thought them up while I was writing the first 2. I thought it would be nice to hear about travel experiences people have loved as well as the places people love that are closer to home. I love that you love Melbourne. I will be visiting there for the first time in December. Just for one day, but I'm excited none-the-less.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

1. I can't decide between Off the Beaten Track and Road Trip Warrior. 2. I'd spend half the money on a luxury trip to Europe. The other half I would buy timeshare; including DVC. That way, I would have the option to travel again knowing I had accommodation options. 3. I would go back to Sedona, Monument Valley and Pagosa Springs. [*]Sedona - for the amazing outdoor beauty and new age feel and food. [*]Monument Valley - for The View hotel. [*]Pagosa Springs - for the mountain air, hot springs and nature walks and visiting with DH's family. 4. Port Stephens. Dolphins, whale watching, surf, sand, and more sand; and proximity to the Hunter Valley.

I love that you would consider Off the Beaten Track. I threw it any there, not sure if anyone would pick it, but it's the carefree kind of traveller I sometimes wish I was. Unfortunately I'm just too much of a home comfort (electricity and private plumbing) girl.

Those pics you took from The View Hotel have sailed Monument Valley very high up my bucket list. I must say, from the whole road trip section of your TR, that was the part I was most envious of. There is something quite priceless about waking up in the morning, opening the curtains, and seeing a stunning view like that.

P.S. Do I dare say that you cheated in Question 2 by picking DVC and having something to show for the money. Nah, it's a fantasy. You're allowed to change the rules.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

1. Resort Reflections 2. Would do a round the world trip, first class, with close family to see all the disneylands/world staying at all the high end hotels...as well as a disney cruise or two. 3. Whitsundays. So many wonderful childhood memories of going there on family vacation and sailing around island hopping Haven't been there in years but remember it's beauty. 4. Gold Coast. Get my theme park kick as well as closer access to Australia Zoo (annual member).

I love that two of yours are in your own country. Us ANZACs have so many wonderful holiday destinations close to home. It's easy to forget that sometimes.

The Gold Coast is great. One of my favourite Aussie memories is doing a drive out to Tamborine Mountain and visiting the Bearded Dragon Tavern. We sat outside in the sun enjoying lunch, live music, a reptile show, and Cane Toad Racing. It was such a fun day.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

That was such fun reading people's answers. Thanks for sharing everyone.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I love that you would consider Off the Beaten Track. I threw it any there, not sure if anyone would pick it, but it's the carefree kind of traveller I sometimes wish I was. Unfortunately I'm just too much of a home comfort (electricity and private plumbing) girl.

Those pics you took from The View Hotel have sailed Monument Valley very high up my bucket list. I must say, from the whole road trip section of your TR, that was the part I was most envious of. There is something quite priceless about waking up in the morning, opening the curtains, and seeing a stunning view like that.

P.S. Do I dare say that you cheated in Question 2 by picking DVC and having something to show for the money. Nah, it's a fantasy. You're allowed to change the rules.

The only rule was "spend the whole lot on travel and must have nothing to show for it by the end of the month".

I have problems containing my travel plans to just a month. And if I did have $100K, I could make that last 6 - 12 months.

So, the only way to prolong the travel was to prepay accommodation, airfares etc. What's better than timeshare for prepaying for accommodation? And I wasn't just talking about only DVC.



Q.E.D.

 

[zanzibar138]

I LOVE this! I'm always thinking about these sorts of things for fun, so this was really easy for me


QUESTION ONE
b) Road Trip Warrior (a magazine all about hiring a car, hitting the road, and seeing as much as you can)

QUESTION TWO
I would definitely go around the world first class, staying in the amazing resorts I never thought we'd be able to afford. Off the top of my head, stops on our itinerary would include:
* Jordan
* South Africa
* Canada
* US (Arizona)
* Peru
* Galapagos Islands
* Australia (Lord Howe Island and Uluru)
I'm sure I would also find some great places to stay in Europe and Asia, and would probably have to include a few nights in one of those amazing over water bungalows where you can snorkel in a crystal clear lagoon right from your balcony

QUESTION THREE
Oh that's a really tough one, because I really want to experience something different each time we go away. I'd probably have to go with Africa, and give ourselves another chance to see some lions!

QUESTION FOUR
That's easy. Anywhere in Tasmania would be fine

 

[bswift]

Q1: Road Trip Warrior!

Q2: Travel all over the US, visiting the states I haven't been to yet. Fly first class and probably buy a car to travel around (and then sell it at the end). Then I'd use whatever money is left to bring all my American friends over to Australia, because it's probably the only way I'd ever get to show them all our wonderful country.

Q3: Thanksgiving week 2012, spent in Phoenix, AZ with some of my dearest friends.

Q4: Hmm! Probably Daylesford or the Dandenong Ranges.

 

[LisaAJ]

Great idea! I love fantasising about travel!

QUESTION ONE
d) Resort Reflections (a magazine all about resort-style stays, where hotels, attractions and meals can all be packaged together). A WDW holiday would fit this criteria.

I love an all inclusive holiday
QUESTION TWO

Your Grand Old Aunt leaves you $100,000 in her will. However there are conditions. You must spend the whole lot on travel and by the end of a month there must be nothing left to show for it. How do you spend it?

Europe for sure, in luxury. Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Finland. Tick a few places off my bucket list

QUESTION THREE

You have the opportunity to relive one week of your travel life. That is, you get to take your family back to a place you loved where you will visit the same attractions and locations and stay in same (or similar) hotels. Where do you go back to and why?

This is exactly what I am doing 13 years ago I did a NYC/Florida (among other places) trip and vowed to bring my kids back one day. This Christmas, I will be able to show them two of the places I have loved most on my travels. This time though, I am determined to stay on property and hire a car as the most vivid memory I have of my last trip is all the time wasted on travelling by bus to and from the parks!

QUESTION FOUR

You win a timeshare competition that gives you one week per year in a location of your choice within your own country (flights and car rental included). What location do you pick and why?

Hmmmm, this is a tough one! I would probably say somewhere in Queensland. Even though I have never been there, I have no desire to spend a week every year in any of the other states!! I have done them all to death!!
What about Bali? Bali is a part of Australia isn't it?? Lol

 

[FireflyFi]

Love this idea

QUESTION ONE

What is the name of the magazine?

b) Road Trip Warrior (a magazine all about hiring a car, hitting the road, and seeing as much as you can)

Although in my case it should be called Train Trip Warrior - I wear myself out pretty quickly when touring around and prefer to get around on public transport where I can.

QUESTION TWO

Your Grand Old Aunt leaves you $100,000 in her will. However there are conditions. You must spend the whole lot on travel and by the end of a month there must be nothing left to show for it. How do you spend it?

Aww thanks rich aunt! Considering I'd likely be traveling alone, $100k would go a long way. I like the pp's bending of the rules and investing in dvc if that was not allowed...ooh maybe a Europe tour with accommodation booked in all sorts of lush castles. And stops at day spas. Many, many day spas lol

QUESTION THREE

You have the opportunity to relive one week of your travel life. Where do you go back to and why?

Either the week in New York with friends or the week in Osaka by myself. If I could cut and paste, I'd take out the days traveling to Kyoto while in Osaka and replace it with Disney days in Tokyo hehe the thing that strikes me is that both these examples are the first week of a holiday. The week of pure excitement, with the rest of the holiday stretching out in front of you, with all the possibilities (and usually not many of the hassles so far).

QUESTION FOUR

You win a timeshare competition that gives you one week per year in a location of your choice within your own country (flights and car rental included). What location do you pick and why?

Probably the Sunshine Coast so I would have quick, regular access to Montville with its great fudge shop and year round Christmas store

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I am loving reading people's answers. It's a wonderful world and it's so lovely to hear about the places that make people happy.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I'm always thinking about these sorts of things for fun, so this was really easy for me

Lol Zanzibar. Something tells me that we have similar personalities

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Q4: Hmm! Probably Daylesford or the Dandenong Ranges.

I'm going to google these places tonight. I'm always keen to hear about fun Aussie destinations and these two place names are new to me

 

[WanderlustNZ]

What about Bali? Bali is a part of Australia isn't it?? Lol

Lol, it's a fantasy. Bali can be wherever you want it to be