Travel Insurance Tips and Tales

Find Inner Peace On A Healthy Holiday

Posted on March 11, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Image Courtesy of FayeYoga.com

If you are looking to give your inner self some much needed TLC, and want to get away from it all, you should consider jetting off on a mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or detox retreat. We have picked out three of the best places to head this year.

Detox in Malta

Whether you are detoxing for weight loss, wellbeing or just want to kick-start a period of change in your life, doing it in the sun is much more fun! Amchara have a retreat in Malta, on the beautiful island of Gozo, as well as a place in the UK. Here you have the support of a specialist detox team, and you can enjoy yoga and meditation classes as well as go for walks, cycling, a dip in the pool, or swim in the sea. Visit AmcharaMalta.com for more info.

A week-long yoga retreat in Ibiza with Reclaim Your Self Healthy Holidays starts from £1250 per person.

Yoga in Ibiza

Unify your mind, body and soul with Vinyasa Flow Yoga in a sun-drenched Spanish finca in the heart of the north Iberian countryside. Reclaim Your Self specialise in healthy holidays in Ibiza, Iceland, Zanzibar, Italy, Mongolia & UK, and this year owner Jools Sampson will be welcoming Faye Riches, yoga teacher extraordinaire and Emma Fountain and Radha Kuhnert, holistic health nutrition experts, to deliver a superb yoga and health retreat in Ibiza from 24th September until 1st October 2016.

Vinyasa flow yoga
Restorative meditation classes
Lush green gardens
Private swimming pool
Island hikes
Sunset walks on the beach
Delicious meals designed to support your yoga practice

You can also hire bikes, go horse riding and book yourself a massage and facial treatment!

This idyllic, week-long retreat starts from £1250 per person and includes: accommodation, meals, drinks, snacks, 11 yoga classes, plus a health and cooking day. Flights, treatments, and other recreational activities are not included in the price. To book visit ReclaimYourself.co.uk

Image courtesy of FayeYoga.com

Mindfulness in Portugal

The simplest way to find inner peace is to practice mindfulness through meditation. It also has the added benefit of improving your health, and helping rid oneself of self-limiting beliefs that might be holding you back in life. Akanista Mindfulness Retreats in Portugal combine mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other therapies to ease physical and emotional stress. The result is that you’ll come back home blessed with the laid back energy of this sensationally sunny retreat. To find out when the next holistic holiday takes place visit MindfulnessRetreat.net.

Image courtesy of FayeYoga.com

DON’T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE! Call 01892 833338 if you’d like to know more, or get an online quote.

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How To Travel Long Term, And Excuses To Extend Your Stay

Posted on March 3, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Image by Jason Priem CC BY-SA 2.0

Backpacking your way around the world, or at the very least across a continent is on most people’s bucket list – but how do you turn the fantasy into a reality? We share three seemingly simple steps to help make your dreams come true!

1. Find Time

First, you need to find the time to take a long break. Most round the world trips never start because they will always supposedly happen “one day”. You need to choose which day that one day will be. It doesn’t have to be soon, but it should definitely be soon enough to get your pulse racing from excitement! Consider that you will need to save some money, hand your notice in at work, give up your rental, and maybe even sell off some of your belongings… all of which takes time!

2. Save Money

Having given yourself a departure date, you need to plan what you need to save by when to make sure you can fund your trip. It is at this stage you might find that your targets might be difficult to meet, so you might need to take drastic action to protect your finances:

Sell belongings
Take a second job
Move back home/get a roommate
Stop going out

3. Commit To A Plan

The first step may be the hardest, but without taking it you won’t get anywhere! So you need to book your first place to stay. Some people plan an entire trip before they leave, others just book a room ready for their arrival and take it from there. Either way, buy the ticket so you can’t back out.

Hooked on backpacking and don’t want to go home?

Once you are on the road less travelled, or a well-worn path of international interest, chances are you won’t want to hurry home. If you are coming to the end of your journey and want to stay longer, you can extend your travel insurance, even while you are still travelling. That just leaves telling family, friends and colleagues that you won’t be home as soon as you thought. Here are some almost plausible reasons you could give for extending your stay abroad…

I am still working on my tan.
My backpack broke so I can’t get my stuff on the plane.
I am only half way through my bucket list.
I still have some sunscreen left, and I don’t want to waste it.
A camel ate my map, and now I can’t find my way to the airport.

We provide longstay travel insurance for trips from 3 to 18 months, with option for extending travel insurance while you are still abroad. Call 01892 833338 if you’d like to know more, or get an online quote.

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HappyCow Review – Travel App of the Month Feb 2016

Posted on February 26, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Previously we shared some essential veggie survival tips just in case you were planning to go to one of the Top 5 Toughest Places to Be Vegetarian (which you may be interested to know were Argentina, Central Asia, Germany, Philippines, and Portugal). Well, blogs like that are a thing of the past thanks to HappyCow – a worldwide vegetarian and vegan restaurant guide available online and in App form!

What is HappyCow?

HappyCow is a company dedicated to making healthy, vegetarian, and vegan food easy to find – wherever you are! This includes finding suitable yummy delights at restaurants, bars and cafes as well as shops and delicatessens, all over the world. HappyCow also encourages likeminded people to get together in its own online community.

What does the HappyCow app do?

With the app you can search for a place to get your food using a variety of filters to suit, including an interactive map. You can even organise shops and restaurants with an upcoming trip in mind – what a way to plan a roadtrip… around the food you want to eat! You can also access directions, reviews and the websites of chosen eateries, plus share your own views and photos with other community members. In a nutshell the app offers this:

* Search filters by location, type of food or type of store

* Browse popular cafes or restaurants

* View an interactive map

* Store your favourite places to find your favourite foods

* Plan where to go for food on an upcoming trip

* Get directions, phone numbers, reviews, and website information

* Share your experiences and photos

* Add reviews and advice for your other HappyCow users to find

HappyCow also have a simple mobile version of their website (with fast loading pages) available for those who don’t want to use an app – visit happycow.net/m

What do the HappyCow reviews say?

Easy to use, easy to understand and jam-packed with excellent information provided by the whole HappyCow community – that is the general consensus of the very happy and very large majority of users. To be fair to HappyCow, any negative points that have been raised in app store reviews have been fairly answered and explained, and they are actively using feedback to improve user experience. We think this app is fabulous for all foodies – anyone who likes to embrace a healthy way of living and eating – and an absolute gem for free from meat foodies who like to travel the world!

Get it on iTunes

Get it on Google Play

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Top Tips For The Mature Solo Traveller

Posted on February 19, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Courtesy of friendshiptravel.com

If you are single, over 50, and want to travel the world, you will love these essential tips, guaranteed to ease the anxieties of travelling alone, and make your holiday more enjoyable!

Spend Wisely

Travel off-peak when it is cheaper, but also be mindful of seasonal and extreme weather conditions for your own comfort and safety – you don’t want to get a cheap deal because you’re travelling during the monsoon for example!

Solo travellers should be aware of single rooms supplements – consider booking through a dedicated solo travellers website to make sure you aren’t paying over the odds just because you aren’t sharing your room!

Travel Lightly

Only take a few items with a view to doing washing while you are away, that way you can take a smaller bag. Using a suitcase with wheels will make lugging your luggage around much easier. A top tip from seasoned travellers is to invest in a luggage set so your hand luggage attaches to your suitcase making it easier to manoeuvre.

Stay Safe

Leave essential travel details with someone back home – insurance details, passport number etc. in case your property gets lost or stolen. Another good precaution is to take a pre-paid money card to avoid carrying too much cash with you. You should also make a note of the local emergency numbers and key phrases in the local lingo. Final safety tip: Update friends or relatives with your itinerary so they know where you planned to go should they worry about your whereabouts.

Don’t Ignore Health Issues

If you need medication, be sure to pack enough for the whole holiday and keep them in original packets to go through customs. It is wise to make a note of your medication’s generic name in case you need more while you are away. Other things to consider could be: backup batteries for hearing aids, a spare set of glasses. If you have mobility issues, notify your airline, cruise or tour operator well ahead of your travel date.

Work On Your Wellness

Stay hydrated to boost your energy levels and take regular short walks to aid circulation.If you are flying to your destination wear compression flight socks to reduce risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Is Accessibility An Issue?

Assess the accessibility of your accommodation – would steps be a problem, is it at the top of a hill? You should also consider the accessibility of the location – if you are out of town are you close to public transport? Another point to consider would be to tell a car hire company your age before you arrive in case they have limits. You could also consider staying at a resort that has everything you need to hand.

Get The Right Insurance

Check that you have adequate travel insurance, as if you are over a certain age there may be limitations on standard policies, and age-related conditions may need specific cover. You should also make sure you understand what pre-existing conditions your insurer needs to be aware of. We actually specialise in offering holiday insurance for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, and for the more mature traveller!

Travel With Other Mature Solo Travellers

No matter how mature you are, travelling solo can be a daunting experience, but it is in fact dining alone that causes the greatest anxiety. If this sounds familiar, consider booking a holiday where you can choose to socialise with other solo travellers without the fear of ending up on a dating-style “singles holiday”. Friendship Travel provide group dining in the evening, offering holidaymakers the feeling of safety, security and company alongside the freedom to be as sociable (or not) as you choose. One package that would appeal to the older solo traveller this summer is in Tsilivi, north of Zante town:

Friendship Travel has virtually exclusive use of a small hotel just 100 metres from the beach. Facilities include a swimming pool, bar and restaurant and a stroll of around 10 minutes leads to the heart of the resort. A seven-night holiday costs from £595 to £735 per person inclusive of return Gatwick flights, transfers, accommodation with breakfast, five evening meals, sole occupancy of a twin room and services of a Friendship Travel host. To find out more call Friendship Travel Reservations on: 0871 200 2035.

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Heli Skiing – Exposing The Thrill For First-Timers

Posted on February 12, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Courtesy of powderhounds.com

If you like living life on the wilder side, chances are heli skiing is on your list of Awesome Travel Adventures, and if it’s not – it should be! We caught up with a couple of heli ski operators to find out more about the tantalising temptation of pure powder.

What the Heli ski?

Heli skiing is pretty self-explanatory, it involves a helicopter and skiing. Contrary to many people’s ideas, you do not take to the slopes by jumping out of a helicopter (a la 007), the helicopter takes you to some of the best untouched powder snow out there, and lands safely to let you out. Heli skiing isn’t an extreme sport, just for daredevils or stunt skiers – it’s suitable for strong intermediate to expert powder riders, and there are even some heli skiing operations that are well suited to first timers.

Harris Mountains Heli Skiing www.powderhounds.com

Harris Mountains Heli Skiing Courtesy of powderhounds.com

How good do you need to be to heli ski?

If you’ve never tried skiing, you’ll definitely need to get a bit of experience under your belt to take on heli skiing. At a minimum riders should be able to ride a red run in any condition at a ski resort, although some operators say that experience on an ungroomed black run at a ski resort and feeling comfortable on tree runs is the best place to be before trying it out. If you aren’t sure, you could always take a soft approach by booking a day heli skiing as part of your wider ski holiday. Day heli skiing is a convenient and a relatively low cost introduction. Be warned – this teaser is likely to leave you wanting more!

“Heli skiing is for those who love skiing or boarding powder but are tired of the tracked out slopes at the ski resorts.” Lyndell Keating, Powderhounds

Get fit to get the most out of it!

A pre-season fitness regime focusing on legs and lungs will add to your heli skiing enjoyment, because guess what – if you are a powder virgin, you are going to find taking on the deep stuff pretty tiring! When you get there, and the conditions are perfect, nothing will be more frustrating than your body preventing you from making the most of an adventure you have spent years dreaming about.

Southern Lakes Heliski Courtesy of powderhounds.com

When and where to go

The heli ski season varies significantly depending on where you want to go. For Canada and the lower 48 of the US, the peak heli ski season is February, with operations generally running from December to early April. The main Alaskan heli skiing season is March to April, when there are adequate daylight hours. The New Zealand and South American heli skiing season is from July to September, with the peak season being in August. In Europe, January & February is usually colder, with more fresh powder about, but inclement weather can stop play. March and April on the other hand tends to have more ‘bluebird’ days and the alpine terrain is generally more accessible.

An adventure worthy of a bucketlist?

We believe so! Heli skiing should be on every serious skiers bucket list – it is a realistic aspiration that is easy to fulfil. This is what operators Powderhounds and Scott Dunn had to say on the subject…

“Heli skiing or heli boarding should absolutely be on the bucket list of every avid powder hound or adventurous skier or snowboarder. The helicopter rides are amazing in themselves. The spectacular vistas up high in the remote mountains are intoxicating and then the trip down in the virgin powder is often sublime. Heli skiing is the ultimate skiing or boarding experience.” Lyndell Keating, Powderhounds

“There comes a time in every skier’s life when you feel the need to try something new and experience something quite unlike anything you have ever experienced before. The adrenaline starts pumping with the sound of the first thud of the rotor blades and you are whisked off on an exhilarating ride to places where vast fields of beautiful virgin powder lie in wait. Gliding through blankets of pristine powder away from the crowds in the heart of the mountains is something that every skier should experience, at least once.” Kirsty Edwards, Scott Dunn

Harris Mountains Heli Skiing Courtesy of powderhounds.com

What are you waiting for? Book it!

Canada, Alaska, US, New Zealand, South America and Japan heli skiing packages from PowderHounds.com

Heli for First Timers (Canada) from PurePowder.com

European heli skiing trips from ScottDunn.com

Scott Dunn offers a 7 night stay at Chalet Chinchilla in Val d’Isere, France from ￡1,985 per person based on six sharing and including return British Airways flights, luxury coach transfers, private chef and chalet host. 1 day heliski packages departing from Scott Dunn’s chalets in Val d’Isere start from £360 (€429) per person (based on a private group of four).

DON’T FORGET YOUR HELI SKI INSURANCE! Extend your worldwideinsure.com wintersports insurance to include heli skiing, and you can go play in the powder knowing that we’ve got you covered should your holiday not go to plan. Call 01892 833338 if you’d like to know more, or visit our homepage to get an online quote.

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How To Have The Perfect Romantic Break

Posted on February 5, 2016 by worldwideinsure

Love by zelah_w CC BY-ND 2.0

Go Somewhere New

That means don’t book a break to a place that either of you went with an ex. A really romantic break is about making new memories that belong to only the two of you!

Keep It Short

The secret to getting on fabulously is to keep your romantic trip short. Any more than a long weekend, and you are upping your chances of spending too much time together and having a disagreement about something.

Book Somewhere That Is Beautiful ToYOU

Do you like the idea of a penthouse suite overlooking a city skyline? Or prefer the idea of a boutique shack for two on an empty beach? Or maybe a cosy B&B on the Pennines is a more appealing proposition! A picture of perfection is different for every couple, so before you book, make sure you are planning to stay somewhere that suits you.

Try New Things

Whether it is a new type of food, sport, art, craft, pastime or indulgence, the excitement and exhilaration of a new experience, shared with your loved one, will add to the overall romance of your break.

Splash Out On Something Special

Even if you like to “keep it simple”, plan at a least one fabulous indulgence as part of your break. One of the most luxurious and romantic ideas we could think of was to hire a private jet! Not only will this remove the stress and strain of airport travel from your break (thereby maximising fluffy feelings of love) it can be a totally romantic indulgence in itself. Private jet hire companies offer bespoke in-flight services where you get to choose your favourite music, wine, and fine dining menu en-route to your destination. If you opt for a long-haul private flight on a large jet there will be a private bedroom and bathroom, so it will be just like staying in a luxury hotel!

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Trover Review – Travel App Of The Month January 2016

Posted on January 29, 2016 by worldwideinsure

As the start of the year is all about inspiration, we chose Trover as our Travel App of the Month – it is “…powered by a joyful community of wanderers and photographers who seek share-worthy things to see and do all over the world.” Which just about sums up all that is joyful about discovering this wonderful blue planet for us too.

What is Trover?

Trover is a website which is just perfect for planning a trip. You search for a place, or explore the many types of adventures there are tagged, and you have an amazing album of photos which are hugely inspirational. Those with itchy feet – be warned! It is a visual wish-list of everything you have ever dreamed of seeing and doing, checking out Extreme Adventures was definitely one of our favourites!

What does the Trover App Do?

Quite simply it lets you share your experiences with others and explore the experiences of other travellers while you are on the move. Perfect if you are on a gap year trip, longstay holiday, round the world tour, or just making your way around the world upon a whim.

Post photos from your travels
Discover things to see and do near to (or far from) you
Meet like-minded travellers
Share travel tips
Save inspirational places and activities to your very own bucket list

What Do The Trover Reviews Say?

Everybody loves it! Well, not quite, but most think it is great – what’s not to love about beautiful pictures, tips and adventures posted by travellers tainted by wanderlust?

The Trover App is available on iTunes and Google Play.

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The Zen of Packing

Posted on January 22, 2016 by worldwideinsure

If your New Year’s resolutions included a vow to detox, do more yoga and rid ones life of excess in general, you might be keen to know how to pack as if you need nothing when going on holiday. After all, turning up to a detox mini-break or yoga retreat with half your belongings in tow is not the way to get off to a “mindful” start!

Don’t forget your socks! By Craig Sunter CC BY-ND 2.0

So – what is Zen, and how can it be applied to packing?

Zen is a state of mindfulness, often expressed in meditation. The point of meditation and being mindful is so that we can live in the “here and now” rather than focus on the past, which can result in depression, or on the future, which in turn can cause anxiety. That second fact may ring bells with frequent travellers – packing everything for every eventuality can be very stressful indeed, especially when you end up paying to check in an extra suitcase because you’ve packed far too much!

So, the aim here is to offer some mindful packing tips…

Go backpack not suitcase, preferably something that you can take as hand luggage – that way you can’t pack more than you really need, and you’ll be one of the ones that packed lighter rather than one of the ones that wished they did.

For every item you plan to take ask yourself if you will use it enough to justify taking it -Not just use it, but use it lots, maybe it is something you can pick up over there, then leave behind again, like a snorkel set.

Don’t pack stuff that “might come in handy” – you should pack as if everything is going to go to plan, and if it doesn’t, have enough spare cash to buy it if you really need it. Taking a big winter coat to the south of France in summer is an example of what sort of “might come in handy thing” not to take.

Don’t bother with 90% of your toiletries – “WHAT?” I hear you say, “no soap, shampoo, toothpaste or deodorant?” Yep, that’s right – believe it or not, they sell that kind of thing EVERYWHERE. If you are staying in a hotel, you probably get it for free.

Your mantra is: Fold and Roll – This packing technique is a saviour for when you just can’t seem to decide between five tops and just want to take them all. Note: this does not work with shoes.

Remember you can wash stuff on holiday – So just take a select few items, that can be mixed and matched, and ask your hotel or pop to the local shop for detergent when you get there. They say that three of each is enough: wear one, wash one, dry one… repeat.

Wear your most bulky items for travelling – That way you don’t have to try and squeeze them into the back pack.

Pack a sarong – We found out – so blogged about – the fact that there are at least 30 Ways to Use A Sarong On Holiday. Read it.

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The Dakar Rally – A Tour For The Uninitiated

Posted on January 15, 2016 by worldwideinsure

With the 2016 Dakar Rally drawing to a close, we thought we’d take a virtual trip round the circuit (to avoid getting sand in our shoes) to bring you the most heavenly of highlights that Argentina and Bolivia have to offer. On your marks, get set, and…

By Dakar organization [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsGo to Buenos Aires!

Go to Buenos Aires! – A megacity and epic epicentre of everything in Argentina. Not only is it one of the busiest cities in South America, it also boasts sun, sea, and spectacular countryside. In Buenos Aires traditional lifestyles stand side by side with ultra-modern and elegant existences. Glitzy nightlife is matched by tranquil retreats. It is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, with something for everyone who comes to visit.

Uyuni – Welcome to the home of the highest and largest salt flats in the whole world! Uyuni has been dubbed the Capital of the Dakar, but it is the salt flats that draw most tourists to the area. It is a seemingly endless desert, and by all accounts achingly beautiful, earning it a place in a Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in the World list. One of the best times to experience the beauty is actually during the Dakar Rally, as during the rainy season, which runs from December to February, the flats reflect the skies above producing almost miraculous illusions. The rally organisers describe it beautifully… “giving the impression that the sky melts into the earth and grants an inexplicable feeling impossible to describe unless you have witnessed it.” Now who wouldn’t want to experience that!

Salta– Welcome to the wild! Salta mixes it up with mountains, ravines, thermal pools, volcanoes, snow, jungle and rivers – just the sort of terrain you might be looking for when racing! The extreme terrain also attracts people seeking extreme sports, so if you aren’t on the circuit enjoying the high-octane activities of rally driving, you can give your adrenaline a boost with bungee jumping, zip lining and mountaineering.

La Rioja – The most popular road in Argentina, Route 40, passes through this spectacular location, which is alive with colour, and home to delicious homemade wines and produce from walnut and olive groves. No wonder they say you should take a couple of days to drive through – no chance of a tipple unless you plan to stop for the night! La Rioja is also home to Talampaya National Park, a world heritage site abundant with natural wonders that are volcanic, mountainous, and on occasion hot and wet.

San Juan – Silence is golden in the countryside surrounding San Juan, and the clear starry nights are spectacular too. The vast and open space has remained untouched by the hands of humans, which allows visitors to really soak up the Jurassic (or more accurately, Triassic) atmosphere, as this is where the oldest known fossils in Argentina can be found. San Juan the City on the other hand is an oasis, quite literally – the streets of this modern city are lined with avenues of trees irrigated by water from the surrounding mountains.

The Dakar Rally Route
Day 1: Buenos Aires – Villa Carlos Paz
Day 2: Villa Carlos Paz – Termas de Río Hondo
Day 3: Termas de Río Hondo – Jujuy
Day 4: Jujuy – Jujuy
Day 5: Jujuy – Uyuni
Day 6: Uyuni – Uyuni
Day 7: Uyuni – Salta
Day 8: Rest day in Salta
Day 9: Salta – Belén
Day 10: Belén – Belén
Day 11: Belén – La Rioja
Day 12: La Rioja – San Juan
Day 13: San Juan – Villa Carlos Paz
Day 14: Villa Carlos Paz – Rosario

If living life on the extreme side is your idea of having fun on holiday, get in touch with us here at WorldwideInsure.com – we provide cover for a wide range of adrenaline-fuelled activities whether you are doing them for fun or as part of a competition!

Source

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See The Sun Rise Around The World from Samoa To Erm… Samoa!

Posted on January 8, 2016 by worldwideinsure

As you may know the international date line is as crooked as the contents of a badly packed suitcase, and Samoa, once known as the last place to see the sun set, is now the first place on the planet you can see the sun rise. This makes it’s neighbour American Samoa the last. So where to go in between? Well, with 40 different local times around the world, which actually take 26 hours for the New Year to arrive in, an intrepid (and very quick) traveller could do the following itinerary…

Manase Beach Sunrise by Jorge Price CC BY 2.0

Manase Beach Sunrise, Samoa by Jorge Price CC BY 2.0

Midnight strikes in Apia, Samoa! You then have 15 mins to get to…

Chatham Islands, 45 mins to get to…
Aukland, New Zealand, 1 hour to get to…
Anadyr Russia, another hour to get to…
Sydney, Australia, with half an hour to get to…
Adelaide, Australia, another half hour to get to…
Brisbane, Australia, and because Oz is sooo big, another half hour to get to Alice Springs!

You’ve so far seen in 7 New Years in 4.5 hours! As you hit the 5 hour mark you need to be in…

Okutama Sunrise by Kirt Cathey CC BY 2.0

Okutama Sunrise, Japan by Kirt Cathey CC BY 2.0

Tokyo, Japan, but 15 minutes later…

Back in Australia in a place called Eucla. 15 mins later again you arrive in…
Pyongyang, North Korea, with a whole hour before you need to be in…
Hong Kong, and another hour to get to…
Bangkok. Half an hour again and you’ll be in Myanmar, with another half hour to get to…
Bangladesh, fifteen mins to reach Kathmandu in Nepal, and another 15 to get to Mumbai in India.

It’s been 8 and a half hours of cheering in 16 New Years, so you are well and truly over the limit unless you’re on the shandies. And on we go…

Sunrise over Mumbai by Alex Dixon CC BY-SA 2.0

You have half an hour to get from Mumbai to Lahore, Pakistan, and again from there to Afghanistan, and again to Azerbaijan, then Iran then Moscow.

Next up you have hourly slots for each of the following:
Athens, Greece
Paris, France
London, England
Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Buenos Ares, Argentina

That is 17 hours of travelling so far and 24 Auld Lang Synes! Half an hour later you should arrive at Mary’s Harbour in Canada, with half an hour to get to Halifax in Canada, and another 30 mins to get to Caracas in Venezuela. We are nearly on the home run! One hour later…

New York City Sunrise by Anthony Quintano CC BY 2.0

New York USA, another hour Chicago USA, another hour to get to Denver, USA, one more hour to reach Los Angeles then another full hour to get to Alaska!

It’s been 23 hours, 25 celebrations and there are still 3 hours and 4 destinations left:

Sandy Beach Park, Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu by Robert Linsdell CC BY 2.0

Half an hour to get to…Taiohae, French Polynesia, another half an hour to get to Honolulu, USA, and an hour to reach Pago Pago, American Samoa!

If you are determined to do the official list, not just follow the sun, you can spend your last hour of travel heading to Baker Island, where the sun actually rises at the same time as it does on Chatham Islands, the second stop on your itinerary!