Which option would you go with?

[Arimeh]

Ok, we're travelling up to Queensland over xmas to spend the holiday season with our families (can't wait!)

However - we're not sure the best way to get up to Queensland, given my "issues" with severe panic attacks on planes

So here are the options. Please tell me which you would lean towards with my "issues" and the fact that we will have a nearly 4 year old, a nearly 2.5 year old and a just turned 1 year old.

Option 1. Take the day boat from Devonport to Melbourne and spend a few days driving up to Queensland.

Option 2. Fly directly to Brisbane.

Option 3. Fly to Melbourne - stay a night - fly to Sydney - stay a night - fly to Brisbane.

I'm leaning for option 3 mainly because they will be short panic attacks instead of a long drawn out 2.5 hour one. DH would prefer to go in the one hit, which would be ok, but it will be me and him alone with 3 young children - so if I space out - he's got to keep them occupied by himself for the whole 2.5 hours - not an easy task.

Also - if we go option 3, I can meet up with BB members (totally not my reason for wanting this one )

Soooo.. what would you do?

(at first we dissed the plane and renting a car cos it was going to be too expensive to rent a big car up in brisbane with the 3 car seats. But I figured out last night that I could take 2 seats on the plane, only have to hire one, and switch cars with my mum, borrow HER big car, she rents the smallest cheapest one possible and we'll pay for it to be in her name - problem of the $1600 car rental fixed).

[feeb]

3rd option so you can see me!!!!!!!

LOL

I would firstly look at costs of the individal flights and then decide as may be costly way to go!

[Arimeh]

Haha I'd love to see you feeb

I was thinking of just getting a travel agent to do it all for me, never used one before, but I'm sure a good one would be able to help?

[fionas]

I tend to agree with your DH. I think Option 3 is too much mucking around particularly when you factor in the amount of time you'll spend waiting at the airport before your flights especially if a flight is delayed/cancelled. If he's the one who will have to take care of the little ones and he's not fazed by the Brisbane flight then go for that, I reckon.

[Willow]

Ok, from someone who does not enjoy flying and who has also had a panic attack or two in her time...I'd still go option 2 babe. I think I'd rather the single experience, although possibly drawn out, than 3 seperate experiences iykwim? Get it over and done with in a few hours and then relax and enjoy your holiday without all the extra d*cking around.

Can you talk to your GP etc about ways to help calm you for the flight?

[Arimeh]

Can you talk to your GP/naturopath/whoever about ways to help calm you for the flight?

I dunno. I have some diazepam here that the doc gave me for my panic attacks, and I took that when we had to fly down here, and I was just out of it the whole entire time, I had an attack as soon as I got on the plane, and then just sorta conked out, and drifted in and out of sleep and - yeah - just a total friggin mess. Thank god my mum was there to help with the kids - and that was only 2 of them then, not 3!!

So stupid I know the reason why I get panic attacks - from when I had IBS - but I don't even have that problem anymore, so there shouldn't be any fear there of what I used to fear, but the panic attacks still remain!

Arghhh

I dunno, just to me, a short hour trip sounds better than a 2.5 hour trip.. I don't even mind paying an extra couple of hundred or whatever, or having to spend the night in melb and syd (as long as I don't run into my exhusband!! haha)

[sneakysparkle]

meet up with Mel

I rekon getting it over with would be the way to go - even though it would be hard for you - at least you only have two flights to panic about, instead of six

Or how about flying to Sydney - staying overnight - then flying to Brisbane? Sort of a compromise?

[~Hestia~]

I'd go option 1 because I hate flying
But a road trip could still be fun - you could get those little DVD players for the kids, play car games, see the sights along the way. Be abit of a family holiday before the big get together with the rellies?

[Arimeh]

meet up with Mel

Ha! I thought you would have gotten sick of seeing me when I lived up there

You might have a point.. fly to sydney...

How long is the flight from tassie to syd? Anyone know? *toddles off to check jetstar site*

Cheezel - yeah its still an option - one that I favour most of course out of all of them! But DH doesn't want to take that much time off work, it'll add another 6 days to our trip basically cos it won't really be a holiday all that driving - at least we can sight see and stuff if we fly to the other capitals.

[Erin_25]

I also hate flying & am always looking for ways around it, so if you have the support and are up for a road trip I would go option one. Then you don't face the attacks at all. If your kids travel well it should be fine & you could see things on the way.

Otherwise I would say option 2. Just get it over & done with. For me the moment we land is such a relief that I don't think I could do it over & over iykwim.

[thepixie]

not sure I should answer this one.... I might have a vested interest
Option 3 Option 3 Option 3

[Arimeh]

No vested interest there at all..

Just came up with another suggestion - fly to sydney (only 1.5 hours) and then rent a car, drive to brisbane - compromise what we both want.. LOL

Plus I could see some of sydney's famous sights... (pixie chick... )

[LimeSlice]

We used to drive to and from Queensland when I was a kid a few times a year to see family...LOVED it! lol
We weren't as little as yours though...
Personally I would rather drive than fly and you can see the things along the way.

Oh, and FYI - Dubbo Maccas is the best place to stop for breakfast - best McDs breakkie going - and they also happen to have the BEST chocolate thickshakes in the country lol true story!!

[Traveller]

I would go with option 2, as long as your husband understands you will be out of it and he will be in charge of all the kids. I recently flew from Scotland to Australia with 4 kids and the hardest bit was the transfer between planes. Granted, I do not get panic attacks, but if I did I could not have coped with frequent plane hopping, not to mention the night before panicking about the next flight.

[CrazyLady]

I think go with option 2. You only get one night of stress regarding staying a night flying next day and no worries about kids on a long drive. If DH understands and can look after the kids should be okay. the air hostesses are pretty good with anxiety and such.

[Arimeh]

Thanks for your input guys - I should have done my sums before I wrote this thread, I worked it out late last night and its about $600 cheaper to drive than it is to fly and rent a car (even a cheapy)

So yeah - we're driving!

Who's for a meet up on the way through?

[thepixie]

Me Me Me Me Me Me Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Arimeh]

hehe. you're so cute pixie chick *mwah*