Its about $5 in a cab vs turning up to the airport hot and sweating. We usually book a half day so weve got the room or villa till 6pm. Have showers late, then have our driver pick us up just after 6 and out for dinner somewhere not too far from the airport. Then get to the airport in plenty of time to check in and a pre flight massage. Ideally get a day flight as the midnight flights are never good. Soooooo many over tired kids.
I booked a cheapie hotel on Jl Wana Segara. For $30 get a pool, aircon and a shower before flight. Itās 10 mins walk to the airport and easy access to malls, Waterbom or the beach.
How strict are countries on the 6 months expiry on passports. Want to go away September, passport expires February26 which falls into 5 months still left. Will probably get a new passport prior, but would have prefer to get one once expired
Absolutely strict. Most airlines wonāt even let you check in with even 1 day less than required
We were in the same boat- new passport took about 2 weeks.
Itās a massive scam and revenue raiser. The amount of people that have to renew with 6 months or more is insane
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Donāt take the risk. Renew late July / early August. Otherwise (as @Aceman said) you may not be allowed on your flight out of AUS.
Yepā¦I got a reminder a few days ago that mine now has less than six months left on it.
Pay for ten years (or whatever it is these days) and get to use it for 9.5
Is it really Ace? Passport costs $412 for ten years, which given the security around the document is not that expensive. The six months thing seems excessive but given how stupid many are with losing passports and forgetting them, probably reasonable.
And it costs lots to administer the whole process, so while income of $280 million is large not great profits if any.
Passport agent: I see you have 6 months left to go on your passport Mr swoodley. Would you like to roll that over and add it to your next ten years?
swoodley: Oh yes please
Passport Agent: lol fark you
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My last British passport cost about $150 for memory.
No problem with the $412 but there should be a way to roll over or merge any unused months
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I donāt like the tit for tat holiday visas. 
Canāt criticise other countries for charging us when you realise we started it.(not always Iām sure)
Any pub recommendations in Sydney? Preferably laid back rather than IVY LOUNGE style.
Staying in Darling Harbour, need to carve out a nice little Saturday arvo for myself away from colleagues.
Heading to Bali for the 1st time in November, friends birthday, looking at a villa with a private pool in Seminyak/Legian. Any recommendations? Going for 2 weeks happy to spend up to $2500.
How many people/families?
That will determine the size of the Villa or complex
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Just me and mrs. 
Yeah from Darling Harbour catch the ferry to Balmain East.
Walk up Darling st to East Village (couple of hundred metres up) and have a few beers at a dog friendly pub there.
If wanting to stay walking distance thereās some ok pubs in Pyrmont. Just look up google maps.
The ones near darling harbour are a bit rough(24 hour joints). But thereās some nicer ones a bit further back from them.
Both suburbs are a bit bougie cos well itās inner city.
Darling Harbour itself is touristy
Check out the larger hotel resorts on the beach in Seminyak. They often have specials for their Villa unit with Pool and being on the beach is nice. We stayed at the Seminyak Icon, which is a few streets back from the beach. It was nice enough and the prices were ok, but better closer to beach.
Also contact places direct and you can get a better deal.
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Where do you start.
Sydney has great pubs. Want walking distance?
I didnāt k is the rule. Then I was flying Darwin to Singapore. They let through check in and then customs and then as I boarded the plane they stopped me.
If I did get to fly I would have been turned back in Singapore so I got lucky.