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| Australian Desert, photo by Andrew Ingersoll |
by Andrew Ingersoll
First of all, I hope everyone had a good New Year’s. Unfortunately, it’s now back to the grind for many.
This year I’m vowing to be healthier and I've decided to run/jog my first marathon. In the spirit of true frugal travel fun, I've decided on a destination race.
This year I’m vowing to be healthier and I've decided to run/jog my first marathon. In the spirit of true frugal travel fun, I've decided on a destination race.
When I look at the map of Australia, I’ve traveled to Broome in the Northwest, Perth and Fremantle on the West Coast, Adelaide and the Barossa Valley in the South, and Melbourne in the Southeast, so I naturally think: Why not head to the Red Center?
Alice Springs town is the gateway to Uluru, or Ayers Rock, a large sandstone rock plopped in the middle of the Australian outback. Uluru is a highly sacred place to the local Aboriginal people. The World Heritage listed area teams with wildlife, cool waterholes, caves, and ancient Aboriginal rock paintings. Temperatures soar well above 100 degrees in the summer and dip close to freezing on a winter’s night. Seems like a good place as any to run my first marathon. Thankfully, the Australian Outback Marathon organizers and QantasAirlines can make it happen for me.
I used my prized American Airlines AAdvantage partner award redemption scheme, called up American, and snagged a seat into Alice Springs with the return to Sydney from the small Ayers Rock Airport. I love the open jaw option as I’ll be able to make the few-hundred-mile drive from Alice Springs to Uluru through the Australian Outback. Total cost of the ticket: $90 + 20,000 AAdvantage miles. Had I purchased the seats on Qantas, the ticket price would be above $900USD! I love using American Miles on Qantas.
I like the idea of a destination running race. This will provide me with the opportunity to do something good for my health while I'm also able to see one of the world’s most unique landscapes.
I’m sure I’m not the only one of us who has made a resolution to get back into shape or lose some holiday pounds. So my challenge to those of you looking for a healthier self in 2012: Combine your New Year’s resolution with a bit of travel adventure. Let us know what sort of resolution/adventure combinations you’ve got planned for this year.
I’m sure I’m not the only one of us who has made a resolution to get back into shape or lose some holiday pounds. So my challenge to those of you looking for a healthier self in 2012: Combine your New Year’s resolution with a bit of travel adventure. Let us know what sort of resolution/adventure combinations you’ve got planned for this year.
Happy Travels!
First Year Fee Waived: 50,000 Points Transferable to Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Continental and British Airways
5 comments:
Andrew, I just wanted to wish you luck! A destination race (though not a marathon) is on my bucket list as well. Sounds like the Outback will be fun for you...just prepare for the weather. Have fun training and planning!
Andrew-
Keep the Aussie travel posts coming! Your tips have helped me figure out the system a lot better than I would have on my own.
I just moved to Perth with my family of 6 (4 kids under 8 years old) from Pittsburgh, PA. I used some American Aadvantage miles that I had built up to book a trip from Perth to Sydney for my wife and me on Qantas (20,000 miles + $146 roundtrip each...fees are a bit steep at $60 per each one way in fees plus $12.99 in taxes, but beats the alternative with Qantas)...Have you found any way around the fees?
Also, just booked a trip from Perth to Bali, Indonesia on Jetstar for my family of 6 for under $1,500 all-in for the airfare plus checked baggage. Thanks for the heads up on numerous discount airlines here in Australia.
Used 2x 150,000 Delta Skymiles ($647.10 each in taxes/fees) to fly my parents from Salt Lake City thru LA to Sydney in business class on Delta partner V Australia for a visit (took advantage of the Delta transfer promo in November effectively buying 150,000 miles for $1,650), then used 40,000 Aadvantage miles + fees to get them SYD-PER and back to SYD.
Any luck or successful bookings from Oz using Star Alliance (Continental, United, or US Airways miles)?
Good luck, Andrew! That is actually one of the marathons I have put on my list to do someday. I have heard great things about it.
How do You get a tix to Australia on only 20k ff points? And....to do that for $900? I am surely calling the wrong people :-)
Says me, the Aussie living in the Midwest, who calls Perth home when I am back in oz and was born right near Uluru .....
I read your blog but obviously need it all to sink in more to get these kinda deals
Martine
am planning the same for the vancouver marathon. never been to the west coast....using IHG points for the stay and continental miles to fly out there---on the saver award
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