liveaboard challenge

[Shasta_man]

Agreed with both Chinacat and Mossman. Also factor in possibly missing the boat and losing your money. I have a whole lot of things to use the transporter for...starting with my commute.

 

[Woodiver]

I agree with the feedback, you don't have enough time to consider a liveaboard and even if you found something that looked like you may make it, the jet lag would impact your trip. Fiji is good option for 7 days landbased and is a fairly easy night flight out of LAX. Landbased in the Philippines is an option but a longer flight. Fiji for wonderful soft corals and colors, Philippines for critters and world class macro.

Flickr: woodiver15's Photostream

 

[slingshot]

I know a land based trip is more practical, but I just love the experience of being aboard a boat and am hoping to find a way to make such a trip work. I misstated the objectives somewhat, I could do Sat to the following Sun, I just would have to be able to make it to work on Monday, without being a slobbering idiot from the jetlag.

 

[octopuppy]

Nai'a and Ambien.

 

[Doc]

Nai'a and Ambien.

Isn't this the rainy season in Ambien?

 

[octopuppy]

Not underwater...

 

[slingshot]

A month of internetting along and it seems like the options are sub week charters in places like Australia or Thailand, or living on dry land. Fiji is a good idea Mossman et al, I've looked into the Air Pacific options out of LAX overnight, maybe even getting out one day early. Checked into Cocos as hopes for the far western pacific faded, but 10 day trips seem the norm. Anybody do that Air Pacific flight before?

 

[DSR-3]

I did San Jose-LAX-NAN to the Nai'a in 2010. The outbound flight puts you in Fiji early AM, which would get you to a resort in good time. I had miles for bus-class one way, and paid for it for the other, so I didn't see much of coach but it looked typically cramped. For the return, a belly full of Indian food and booze would make it sleep-able, though, I'd bet...

Some memories of the return flight do remain intact-
*The boarding in NAN was an international free-for-all, the worst gate mess I've seen in a long time (this alone was worth the extra $$ to plow through to the front).
*The customs & migra in LAX was NAN x 10! Hours of waiting and a total cluster-fork!
*Southwest can be friendly, or not. They would not budge 1 LB on the limit going down. They didn't care coming back, and even "helped me miss my flight" so I could fly with a friend on the next flight without a fee.

The LAX part was the only downer, and the rest of the trip was so good I would probably do it again given another good chance. However, the Phil's was just so great on many fronts that I'm determined to go back there.
Have fun.

 

[greylion]

A month of internetting along and it seems like the options are sub week charters in places like Australia or Thailand, or living on dry land. Fiji is a good idea Mossman et al, I've looked into the Air Pacific options out of LAX overnight, maybe even getting out one day early. Checked into Cocos as hopes for the far western pacific faded, but 10 day trips seem the norm. Anybody do that Air Pacific flight before?

Just got back from Fiji, you leave LAX on Thursday around 10:30 P.M. and get to Fiji on Saturday about 5:00 A.M. We got a day room by the airport and the Naia bus will pick you up around 1:30 P.M., when you leave Fiji the next Saturday around 10:30 P.M. you'll get back to LAX on Saturday about Noon local time. Crossing the date line is a trip.

 

[slingshot]

Thanks DSR-3, greylion. I've been looking into that Thursday night flight. I'm afraid economy would be my lot. I pray my neighbors don't try the beer and Indian food method or I'll have to pry the oxygen mask out of the ceiling.