My 2009 Eurovision planning has started. My first ever trip to Eurovision!

In a massive act of boredom at work today, I started calling travel agents for quotes to Moscow next May. Travel.com.au tried to fob me off (thats a first) with a $2865 flight on Virgin Atlantic and Swiss Air. Over the course of the day I got another 2 agents quote me around $2585 for Finnair and Qantas (Harvey World and Russia & Beyond), then I got an online quote from Student Flights in Melbourne for $2410 on Finnair and Cathay Pacific (I'll have to stop overnight in Helsinki but I'm not complaining). I took the quote to Flight Centre in Bondi this afternoon and despite it being a related agency to them, they couln't/wouldn't match it (so much for their advertising!). I took it to STA Travel in Bondi and they said to leave the $2410 online quote with them and they will match it, if not better it. I should have an answer tomorrow.

I think getting an airfare down by $455 in one day is pretty good work. And if I can achieve an airfare under $2400, I'm booking and paying for it all next week. I honestly did not expect to find anything for under $2500 and I figure that I shall take the risk securing it despite not having Eurovision tix yet - airfares are only rising, not declining and its hard enough getting a flight to Moscow now let alone in 3 months when non-fanclub members start buying tix to Eurovision. Also, by paying for it all next payday with most of my salary after rent means that I've taken care of 1/4 of my total holiday spend a month earlier than scheduled. It will curb my current spend and not waste it on more dvds. And once I have the flight, I think it will spur me on to in fact save more because the dream is becoming a reality.

Of course, there's always the added bonus of proving my parents wrong. I *can* save money.