20 Feb 2025 Day 1 Adelaide to Sydney to San Francisco
Adelaide to Sydney
Packed ready to go
Car packed
Janine and Chris in the QANTAS lounge
Janine in QANTAS Lounge
Business Class to Sydney
The day has arrived. This adventure started about 8 month ago ago with an idea we might go on a Caribbean Cruise with Royal Caribbean and developed into a full American holiday. After a couple of minor hiccups with US visas we are on the start of an adventure.
The last week has been packing and deciding what needs to be carry-on or check-in luggage. Organising dog sitting for our 3 children, Chloe, Oscar and Lia, they seem happy to be staying with Brian and Maggie.
Thanks to Hannah for picking us up this morning as we wanted to get to the airport a little early, we’re flying Business Class and wanted to use the QANTAS club for at least a couple of hours to make sure we get the full experience.
After a few drinks and food in the QANTAS Club time to board our flight to Sydney. The seats are pretty good and the food was OK, better than economy but not much.
An hour and fifty five minutes to Sydney.
Sydney to San Francisco
Chris Sydney Business Lounge
Janine Sydney Business Lounge
Sydney Business Lounge
Qantas International Business Class
Champagne
Business Class dinner
Arrived in Sydney after a uneventful flight and made our way to the International Terminal. After buying the necessaries from the Duty Free shop (Scotch and Cognac for men, and perfume for Janine) we head off to the QANTAS International Business Class Lounge.
We have almost a four hour wait for our next flight. If you’ve got to wait it’s got to be the lounge
Seats are comfy and spacious, there’s complimentry food and drink available. Free hi-speed wifi to keep you entertained. After several red wines, coffees and cakes it time to board the plane for the next leg. 15 hours to San Francisco.
Janine had her shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste confiscated by border security. Why did we have them in carryon? “I might not be able to get them in America.”
Large pod in business class to make one comfortable. The food was pretty good and champagne to start the flight. Breakfast is ordered before the flight starts.
Dinner arrived about an hour into our flight. I chose the fillet stake and Janine chose the soup. Steak was really good with real cutlery and china plates. Janine’s soup was too spicy for her and after eating too much in the lounge wasn’t as hungry as she thought.
Watch a couple of movies and listen to some of my audiobook and it was time to try and sleep. The seat does flatten to a bed and you are supplied with a seatcover, blanket and pillow. Not as comfortable as our bed but better than trying to sleep in economy sitting up.
About 90mins before landing breakfast is served. We both went with muesli and yoghurt, orange juice and coffee.
Landed at 3:45pm on Thursday, we’d left Sydney at 9:25pm on Thursday, we’d got here before we had left.
San Francisco
SF Freeway
Argonaut Hotel
Argonaut Hotel – Room
Argonaut Seal
Lobster Ravioli
Seared Scallops
Landed in San Francisco International Airport and went through the usual stuff, immigration, collect luggage and customs.
Text from our transfer with all the information we needed to find the car.
45 min drive on a San Francisco freeway at we’re at our hotel, The Argonaut, right next to Fishermans Wharf.
Checked in, went to our room, very nice, down to the restuarant for dinner. I had lobster ravioli and Janine had the seared scollops.
Back to our room, unpacked the essentials and crashed.