Author Topic: Dan, Welcome Home!!!  (Read 8637 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #20 on: January 20, 2011, 09:13:46 PM »
any chance you want to disclose how much you spent just so we can be more in awe of you?
Lol...
I would have to do some calculating.  Also how do you determine total cost?
Obviously airfare, hotel and car rentals, but what else?
Gas, or do you assume that you would use gas at home as well?
Food, or do you assume you would eat at home as well?
Activities?  Private and Public Transportation?  Wi-Fi/Internet Expenditures?  Kind've hard to draw the line...
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline ?

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2011, 09:17:17 PM »
anything that you actually spent cash on (for my curiosity) airline hotel dont count

Offline Dan

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2011, 09:22:30 PM »
anything that you actually spent cash on (for my curiosity) airline hotel dont count
Hotels don't count in the calculation?  Why not?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline ?

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #23 on: January 20, 2011, 09:33:42 PM »
I was under the impression that you used points for them if you used cash and points then yeah the cash would be incl in the calculations

Offline Dan

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #24 on: January 20, 2011, 09:39:28 PM »
I was under the impression that you used points for them.
Many yes.  But if you can find SPG or Hyatt in places like The Great Ocean Road, Tasmania or Hamilton Island/Great Barrier Reef then I'd be quite interested ;)
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Offline bosoxfan

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #25 on: January 20, 2011, 09:40:39 PM »
Dan you should get this epic trip report sponsored, "Dans amazing trip report: Brought to you by AMEX, AA, HYATT, SPG, AVIS, and THE US MINT" ;D

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #26 on: January 21, 2011, 02:55:10 AM »
Dan, how long u gonna keep us in suspense??? looking forward for an awesome aussie trip report!!! - u just have antarctica left to visit...

BTW Welcome back to America :)

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #27 on: January 21, 2011, 02:57:34 AM »
u just have antarctica left to visit...

Dan's never been to Africa...

...YET!
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Offline Yaalili

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #28 on: January 21, 2011, 03:03:38 AM »
Dan's never been to Africa...

...YET!
Really? from his trip planning thread http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3568.msg37814#msg37814, it was mashma that he was there, there is only 7 continents including antarctica, and he just did australia...

Offline Dan

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #29 on: January 21, 2011, 03:03:58 AM »
Dan's never been to Africa...

...YET!
Crossed over into Egypt, I think that ought to count :)
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #30 on: January 21, 2011, 03:05:47 AM »
Crossed over into Egypt, I think that ought to count :)
Oh that explains it! I was sure u went to SA, u gotta go!

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #31 on: January 21, 2011, 03:06:41 AM »
Crossed over into Egypt, I think that ought to count :)

I stand corrected. Nu, can you use miles to get to Antarctica? ;)
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Offline Deal Guy

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #32 on: January 21, 2011, 03:10:39 AM »
OMG, Dan is still up! I guess he's happy that Shabbos is just around the corner ;D

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #33 on: January 21, 2011, 03:11:19 AM »
OMG, Dan is still up! I guess he's happy that Shabbos is just around the corner ;D

He posts in his sleep :D
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Offline Yaalili

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #34 on: January 21, 2011, 03:14:49 AM »
I stand corrected. Nu, can you use miles to get to Antarctica? ;)
Don't think so :) - But i copied from wikitravel how to get there.

BY PLANE
Aircraft and pilots need to be capable of landing on ice, snow, or gravel runways, as there are no paved runways.There are 28 airport landing facilities in Antarctica and all 37 Antarctic stations have helipads. Landings are generally restricted to the daylight season (Summer months from October to March). Winter landings have been performed at Williams Field but low temperatures mean that aircraft cannot stay on the ice longer than an hour or so as their skis may freeze to the ice runway. Travel is normally by military aircraft, as part of the cargo. Passengers should anticipate carrying all their own luggage and may need to assist with freight as well.

Major landing fields include:
Williams Field - Serves McMurdo Station and Scott Base.
Pegasus Blue-Ice Runway - Serves McMurdo Station and Scott Base.
Annual Sea-Ice Runway - Serves McMurdo Station and Scott Base.

Commercial overflights to Antarctica are limited - a handful of operators offer flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Punta Arenas. These flights typically visit Antarctica and spend several hours flying over the ice. Passengers in most seating classes rotate their position in the row halfway into the flight, to give everyone a window or one-over-from-window seat for half of the time. Rates range from $5199 for first class, to $1399 for partially-obstructed-view economy class, or $899 for non-rotating center-section seats with window access depending on the courtesy of better-seated travelers.

BY CRUISE SHIP
The icebreaker M/V Polar Star (capacity 100 passengers) in the Grandidier ChannelBoat is the most common method of visiting the Antarctic. In the Antarctic summer, several companies offer excursions on ice strengthened vessels to Antarctica. Ice strengthened (not quite as tough as icebreakers) boats are preferred since icebreakers are round on the bottom -- a configuration that amplifies the already massive wave action in the Drake passage. The ships typically offer a couple of excursions to the continent (usually the Antarctic peninsula) or Antarctic islands (e.g., Deception Island, Aitcho Island) each day over the course of a week. The views are phenomenal, the penguins are friendly (well, some of them are), and the experience is one that is unparalleled!

When traveling by boat, be aware that smaller ships (typically carrying 50-100 passengers) can go where the big ships can't, getting you up closer to Antarctica's nature and wildlife. Larger vessels (carrying as many as 1200 people) are less prone to rough seas but have more limited landing options. Many vessels include naturalist guided hikes, zodiac excursions and sea kayaking right from the ship, perfect for active, casual travelers.

You'll need warm clothing: boots, hoods, glove, water repellent pants, parka and warm underwear. Most of these items can be bought or hired in Ushuaia, but sometimes - in the high season - it is not always easy to get the right sizes. So bring whatever you can from your own stock.

It must also be remembered that cruise operators typically only allow 100 people on land at any one time in order to comply with IAATO agreements. Consequently if you are in a boat with more than 200 people the chances are you will only spend a couple of hours at most per day off ship. Generally the smaller ships will try to ensure 2 different locations per day around Antarctica, although this is of course dependent on the weather and you may expect a 60% success rate on landing people for any given visit.

Companies offering cruises to Antarctica include:
Abercrombie & Kent, USA, [2]. Full member of International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) with 20 years of Antarctica operating experience, providing enrichment and educational programs.
Bark Europa, [3]. A square rigged sailing ship offering 22 day trips to Antarctica and other Sub Antarctic destinations like South Georgia and Tristan da Cunha.
Cheesemans Ecology Safaris, [4]. Offers a comprehensive trip nearly every year that includes three days in the Falklands, eight days on South Georgia, and a week on the Antarctic Peninsula. They are known for maximizing onshore time with a focus on wildlife and a large staff. They also offer an in-depth South Georgia Island only expedition.
Gap Adventures, [5]. Operates trips on their ship: the 'M/S Expedition' The maximum number of passengers is 120 and the there are by lectures by staff and naturalists on board.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, [6].Members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), their small expedition ships have the highest ice class ranking for cruise ships, and each vessel offers 4-5 cruises to Antarctica between December and March every year, including Antarctic peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Weddell Sea.
Heritage Expeditions, [7]. New Zealand's award winning expedition travel company. They specialise in worldwide natural history small group expeditions and their expertise and experience of the Subantarctic Islands, the Ross Sea and East Antarctica is unsurpassed. They operate their own ice-strengthened polar research vessel the 'Spirit of Enderby' with trips to the Ross Sea and Commonwealth Bay (famous for Sir Douglas Mawson's historic hut) several times a year.
Intrepid Travel, [8].Their ship is a tough icebreaker allowing for freedom of movement even in polar regions. Their ship’s small size (max. 100 persons) gives you the opportunity to go where many others can’t. To get you even closer, they have a fleet of 10 sturdy inflatable motorized boats (Zodiacs) to provide access to small or shallow areas and landings.
Lindblad Expeditions, [9]. Lindblad pioneered travel to Antarctica in 1966 and offers multiple trips to the Antarctic Peninsula, and longer trips which also include the Falklands and South Georgia aboard the new 148-guest National Geographic Explorer.
Orion Expedition Cruises,[10]. The 'Orion' is a purpose built vessel designed to access remote locations in 5-star luxury. Orion Expedition Cruises operate a number of summer-time cruises to Antarctica, departing from Australia and New Zealand.
Rockjumper Birding tours, [11] operates out of South Africa and is aimed at those interested in birding.
Most cruise ships depart from the following ports:

Ushuaia in Argentina.
Punta Arenas in Chile.
Bluff in New Zealand.
Hobart in Australia.

GO DAN GO!!!!!

Online AsherO

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #35 on: January 21, 2011, 03:19:14 AM »
Don't think so :) - But i copied from wikitravel how to get there.

Thanks.

Why not just post a link?
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Offline Deal Guy

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #36 on: January 21, 2011, 03:22:30 AM »
Thanks.

Why not just post a link?
and don't post the exact link, use HYPERLINK ;) :D

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #37 on: January 21, 2011, 03:56:55 AM »
dipping ones toes in doesnt really count

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #38 on: January 21, 2011, 04:06:47 AM »
Crossed over into Egypt, I think that ought to count :)
Sorry, if you didn't fly First Class into the country, doesn't count ;)

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Re: Dan, Welcome Home!!!
« Reply #39 on: January 21, 2011, 04:11:21 AM »
Sorry, if you didn't fly First Class into the country, doesn't count ;)

I don't think they have F to Antarctica...
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