I can't believe it!!! We are just a little more than a week away from the start of our world trip. I spent all winter and spring planning and then enjoyed a break this summer for the most part while we were traveling around the US and in NH. But, I have been back on the case the past couple weeks.
I knew it would be a lot to get ready for, but wow!!! Finally have all our visas we need- India was a nightmare! My advice, if you are getting a visa for India, get one for 5 years. It is more money but you don't have to go through the hassle again in case you want to go another time. It took months to get and so many hoops to jump through.
Things I have learned and done:
Get a 5 year visa to India.
Get visas as early as you can- they are the biggest pain of traveling. I used CIBT to help me, thank heavens. There were so many hoops and they were my advocate.
I used AirTreks for my flights. There was no way I could do all of them and it was nice having someone that is used to booking complex flights, that is what they specialize in and that is all they do. Travel Agents are so busy with so many other things it is hard to get them to take the time to do all these flights- we have around 40 flights!!
Love Booking.com. Sometimes it doesn't represent well, like in Kyoto at the traditional Inn, but it has been great to be able to control canceling and booking hotels with no penalties and knowing it is taken care of. I have also had some good luck with them, especially last summer in Italy that is how we got around and got rooms at the last minute.
Homeschool: I thought I knew what I was doing and I am a great planner, but I realized I needed to bring in a pro so my friend let me use her amazing homeschool teacher and she Webex's into Sam each day for an hour and they go over writing, composition and math. I can fake it, but I want Sam to make it- so go for the accredited teacher if you can. It has let me focus on looking after all the details - including his attendance and is doing the program without being in charge of the program. I also feel that Sam is growing exponentially with the one on one attention and so fun to focus his learning on what we are doing and so his newly gained knowledge will make sense and have a context. He just finished the Nelson Mandela autobiography and then we will go in less than a week and a half and see Nelson's prison cell, the home and the schools that Sam read about.
Discovered, hard to get in touch with people in Africa- "what's app" seems to be the only way.
Flights change, especially when it is Philippine Airlines and what a nightmare!!!
Don't look at the news too much- you may not want to go. i.e.. eboli breakout and unrest,...
Call your insurance company so that they can give you permission to get a few months worth of your prescriptions without having to pay the full amount for the second month. Before I figured that out, I got my malarone pills a few months ago, and would go each month so that insurance would cover them and then I would have them all before we left.
Just got my will all done, just a peace of mind when we are gone.
Been collecting clothes and stuff I need for the trip for months now so that I have a place in my closet I have been collecting and going to do a mock pack so I can see if I have everything rather than waiting till the night before. Excited to use the "drawers" the compression bags that allow me to fit in what I will need to fit into my one carryon I am taking for months.
Well, got to go. Falling asleep at the computer. Next time I post I think we will be ready for takeoff!!South Africa here we come!!
I knew it would be a lot to get ready for, but wow!!! Finally have all our visas we need- India was a nightmare! My advice, if you are getting a visa for India, get one for 5 years. It is more money but you don't have to go through the hassle again in case you want to go another time. It took months to get and so many hoops to jump through.
Things I have learned and done:
Get a 5 year visa to India.
Get visas as early as you can- they are the biggest pain of traveling. I used CIBT to help me, thank heavens. There were so many hoops and they were my advocate.
I used AirTreks for my flights. There was no way I could do all of them and it was nice having someone that is used to booking complex flights, that is what they specialize in and that is all they do. Travel Agents are so busy with so many other things it is hard to get them to take the time to do all these flights- we have around 40 flights!!
Love Booking.com. Sometimes it doesn't represent well, like in Kyoto at the traditional Inn, but it has been great to be able to control canceling and booking hotels with no penalties and knowing it is taken care of. I have also had some good luck with them, especially last summer in Italy that is how we got around and got rooms at the last minute.
Homeschool: I thought I knew what I was doing and I am a great planner, but I realized I needed to bring in a pro so my friend let me use her amazing homeschool teacher and she Webex's into Sam each day for an hour and they go over writing, composition and math. I can fake it, but I want Sam to make it- so go for the accredited teacher if you can. It has let me focus on looking after all the details - including his attendance and is doing the program without being in charge of the program. I also feel that Sam is growing exponentially with the one on one attention and so fun to focus his learning on what we are doing and so his newly gained knowledge will make sense and have a context. He just finished the Nelson Mandela autobiography and then we will go in less than a week and a half and see Nelson's prison cell, the home and the schools that Sam read about.
Discovered, hard to get in touch with people in Africa- "what's app" seems to be the only way.
Flights change, especially when it is Philippine Airlines and what a nightmare!!!
Don't look at the news too much- you may not want to go. i.e.. eboli breakout and unrest,...
Call your insurance company so that they can give you permission to get a few months worth of your prescriptions without having to pay the full amount for the second month. Before I figured that out, I got my malarone pills a few months ago, and would go each month so that insurance would cover them and then I would have them all before we left.
Just got my will all done, just a peace of mind when we are gone.
Been collecting clothes and stuff I need for the trip for months now so that I have a place in my closet I have been collecting and going to do a mock pack so I can see if I have everything rather than waiting till the night before. Excited to use the "drawers" the compression bags that allow me to fit in what I will need to fit into my one carryon I am taking for months.
Well, got to go. Falling asleep at the computer. Next time I post I think we will be ready for takeoff!!South Africa here we come!!
Awesome and an amazing trip adventure! Wished you guys can pass through Ghana but guess the trip is all set! I love the part about getting the India visa...my wife went to Mumbai last two years ago and had a nightmare getting her visa. I will be following you guys here so don't disappoint! Can't believe Sam will get to see Robben island! Tell him to also check the cell of Subukwe there. He will know him from the autobiography....lol. Continue to keep me posted here. Enjoy your trip!
ReplyDeleteThanks AK. We are sorry we couldn't fit in Ghana this trip but have to go with Nathan when we go. We head to Robben Island on Wed. Can't wait and will look for Subukwe's cell there. Hug to you and your wife, look forward to meeting her one day soon.
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