I was about to join the likes of Phileas Fogg and Michael Palin but rather than going around the world in 80 Days the Gold Medal Globe Trotters were attempting it in just 13.
First stop LA for a taste of Hollywood Darling!
Air New Zealand
Jetting between continents we flew with Air New Zealand, from London Heathrow to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Auckland, and then Auckland to Sydney, and every step of the way Air New Zealand offered an unrivaled service that was a pleasure to experience. You are met on board by an attentive, happy, and down to earth cabin crew, and there is even a safety video performed by no other than Bear Grylls (unfortunately not delivered in person…)
The in-flight entertainment offered a vast array of possibilities, enabling you to decide your own play lists and TV schedules, meaning you could watch an entire series of your favourite television show if the mood struck you! A nice touch was the music they played at the end of each film, so that if you nod off you aren’t woken by the noise around you. Perfect. The food was delicious and unquestionably a far cry from your usual airline fodder, and a good seat pitch in economy made the long journeys an absolute joy.
Hot Tip: If you are looking to treat yourself further you can upgrade to a sky couch (3 economy seats that become your own personal sofa) or the most amazing Premium Economy Seats I have ever seen, giving you your own little pod of loveliness.
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach & Surfing USA
Once we arrived in LA our first stop was the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. This hotel is a fantastic place to explore LA while still getting the full California “Beach Bum” experience.
Hot Tip: Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach are the only hotel on that stretch to have a bridge running over the highway to the amazing golden beach, and all guests receive $25 resort credit that includes bottled water and a shuttle to Disney.
When in California, Surf. It’s the law. We headed over to the Surf Shop “Toes on the Nose”, a surfing term that means you walk to the front of the board while dangling your toes over the end in an attempt to stay upright, and I eagerly anticipated my first surfing lesson.
Now, I can by no means give up my day job but I managed to stay stood up for all of 10 seconds before I got my first taste of Pacific Ocean, a credit to the teachers (self-proclaimed Beach Bums) who make you feel at ease and keep everything fun. To complete the experience we headed to Sandy’s Beach Grill for a mojito and Tuna Steak while watching a distinctly Californian cocktail of volley ball, tight rope walkers, bikini clad skaters, muscle men, joggers, skaters and surfers. My California induction was complete!
Keep an eye out for more of Gemma’s diaries from her round the world trip!
