Those midnight flights are a killer, Thai Airways 12.30a.m. to Bangkok 8 1/2 hrs, then 4 1/2hr layover and then the Thai budget line Smile up to Mandalay which was only 1 hr 45 mins, all worked like clockwork Insider Journeys rep there to meet us and 14 others. All on the bus and it took about an hour to get to the Mandalay Hills Resort which is the best hotel in town, quite a majestic place big and sprawling over a lot of land, huge pool area and lovely manicured gardens. Got into hotel about 11.30a.m. then time for a wander and a couple of beers before meeting our group leader at 7.00p.m. for briefing, drinks and snacks and then cultural show and outdoor dinner in the gardens with lots of yummy curries and local ... read more

Got up this morning to a very icy car and -4 degrees! Very cold and the altitude has played up a bit with us all, on the road again to Las Vegas. The time passes quickly as scenery is stunning. Arrived Vegas around lunchtime and booked into our accom at the Hilton Vacation Club on the strip, great two bedroom apartment and able to walk almost anywhere. First night here spent happy hour at The Stratosphere on the 40 something floor looking right down the strip, great views! Then onto Fremont Street which is always good for entertainment, people gazing and the zip line through the main street is great to watch too! Too many drinks and a very late night, cab back to Hilton around 2.00a.m. Boys went out to Hoover Dam for a few ... read more

On the road by 8.30a.m. 5 1/2 hrs to Denver. Went back through Custer and then headed south to the Wyoming border to Cheyenne before getting over the border into Colorado. We came down off the plateau into the Buffalo Gap National Parkland. Big Ranches out this way! Denver was basically an overnighter enroute to Moab - we took an hour or so walk around town...called into a brewery for a beer..then back to hotel for GM's reception drinks and eats 5.30 to 7.30p.m. ...good deal included in room rate...then out for a small Indian meal. We all kind of though Denver was in the Rockies, but a very flat normal city....with the Rockies quite a few miles away in the background. Enjoyed our short stay here and headed for Moab the next morning.5 1/2 hr ... read more

Having a wonderful time exploring some places we have not been before. Mark is with us and we are very privileged he is our driver for this trip!! Had a long flight from Melbourne, having to go to Sydney and then direct to San Francisco - got into San Fran around 9.30a.m. on the 5/10 and then caught the sky train around to the rental car area and picked up our 300C Chrysler which is a perfect car for long range driving - we then drove out to Reno in Nevada which was 220 miles around 3 1/12 hrs driving which got us out of San Fran and well on our way on our trip. Were last in Reno in 1992, not a lot has changed, but there are quite a few new places in outer ... read more

Have wanted to visit this area ever since I knew Italy existed, it is so beautiful! Decided to do the whole Cinque Terra thing by train, as just too hard to park car etc, so up early and on the train direct to Monterosso which was handy as that is where we wanted to do our hike from - Monterosso to Vernazza - the scenery was amazing along the trail and some cute Italians were out selling their fresh berries and lemon and orange juices freshly squeezed. Lots of steps and quite steep at times, there were spots where you had to find a spot to step aside to let people get past you but all in all it was a great hike, very hot and sweaty by the end though and went through our litre ... read more