Royal fascination continues May 8, 2012
Posted by janeefraser in Events, Travel, UK & Europe, Uncategorized.Tags: Britain, London, royals, tourism, Travel
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Aussies will be flocking to London for the key weekend of celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.
Leading online travel agent travel.com.au says its bookings for London are up more than 70 per cent on last year for the long weekend of June 2-5, when London will be alive with royal events.
Brits have been granted a four-day weekend to celebrate 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and events will include a pageant of up to 1000 boats on the Thames, a concert at Buckingham Palace (tickets no longer available), an arts festival in Battersea Park, a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a carriage procession of the royal family, with a Royal Air Force flypast.
The general manager of travel.com.au, Renee Welsh, says (more…)
Beautiful one day, in shade the next April 17, 2012
Posted by janeefraser in Australia, Cruising, Events, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: Cairns, eclipse, Port Douglas, Queensland, solar eclipse, tourism, Travel
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(Apologies for the break in communications, I have been away travelling. Here’s this week’s column…)
When dawn breaks across tropical north Queensland on November 14, about 40,000 visitors are expected to be there ready to witness a total solar eclipse. It is rare for a total eclipse to be visible from land and this one, which can only be fully appreciated from the region around Cairns, is attracting a lot of attention from travellers around the world.
The eclipse will last just a couple of minutes but the celebrations will run for days, with events including a solar eclipse marathon, a music festival and a street carnival. Berths on many cruise ships have already sold out and hotel rooms are filling fast as awareness of the event grows.
The chief executive of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Rob Giason, says the region has had a taskforce working for more than 12 months on arrangements for the expected 40,000 visitors. The visitor estimate is based on the region’s capacity and past events – more than 30,000 people travelled to Ceduna in South Australia for a similar event in 2002.
“We have been bombarded with requests from scientists, amateur astronomers and holidaymakers who want to be here to see the eclipse,” Giason says. ”Viewing an eclipse from [the land] is… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
So it themes February 10, 2012
Posted by janeefraser in Events, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: cruises, cruising, Travel
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When was it decided that every cruise must have a theme? Food and wine, wellness, photography, comedy, science … think up a theme and it probably exists.
Among those joining the ranks this year is Oceania Cruises, which is offering themed sailings for the first time. The “signature sailings” feature across 10 European voyages, themed around food, wine, music and health and wellbeing. There will be guest performers or presenters on each voyage and activities will include seminars, cooking classes, wine tastings and concerts.
Oceania says groups with shared interests have often cruised together in the past and the theme cruises will create a further opportunity for like-minded travellers to cruise together.
MSC Cruises is currently operating a “diet cruise” in the Mediterranean, presumably… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Bombing anniversary draws visitors to Darwin January 27, 2012
Posted by janeefraser in Australia, Events, Travel.add a comment
Darwin expects an influx of visitors next month when it marks the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin (frontlineaustralia.com.au).
February 19 marks 70 years since the first attack on Australian soil; the start of a 21-month-long raid on Australia’s north. The anniversary will be marked by a two-week program of events, including a re-enactment at the Darwin Cenotaph.
The Bombing of Darwin Heritage Tour guide, Garry Gallagher, says the event will be one of the last opportunities for people to hear firsthand accounts from those who defended Australia. ”Visitors will hear the stories of our servicemen brought to life … see important war sites and understand just how close we were to (more…)
Keeping your cool with Christmas travel December 13, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Australia, Events, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: Christmas, holiday travel, Travel
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There’s nothing like a long airport queue or crawling traffic to test your Christmas spirit, so here are some tips to surviving Australia’s busiest travel period.
If you’re flying
For domestic flights, the peak days are expected to be December 22 and 23, with January 19 the predicted busiest day on the other side of Christmas.
A spokeswoman for the airport, Tracy Ong, says passengers travelling during that period should plan to arrive early, check the latest information on what they can take through security and use internet check-in if possible.
You can check in online up to 24 or 48 hours before your flight, depending on the airline, then all you have to do is drop off your bags. Checking in online can also allow you to choose your own seat, which could save you the dreaded middle seat on what is sure to be a full flight.
If you’re planning to drive to the airport, reserve some parking now, as many options will be booked out ahead of Christmas.
The Sydney Airport website, sydneyairport.com.au, is a good resource for other options for getting to and from the airport, including taxis, shuttle buses, buses and trains.
Another tip if flying is… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Christmas, anywhere but here! November 14, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Adventure travel, Africa, Asia, Australia, Events, Hotels, South America, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: Christmas, Travel
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Thinking through the logistics of hosting and accommodating 11 people for Christmas this year, it’s easy to understand why many others are planning an escape.
Whether it’s the lure of a white Christmas, the desire to avoid family dramas or simply a convenient time to take a holiday, growing numbers of Australians are taking off for the festive season. Hotels all over the world are offering Christmas packages with feasts and other celebrations included and in many cases families are making multi-generational bookings for get-togethers away from home.
Holiday houses in favourite spots such as Palm Beach and Byron Bay are still popular but there is also plenty of demand for unusual Christmases, which can range from shopping in Tokyo to windsurfing in Morocco.
A spokeswoman for Intrepid Travel, Meg Koffel, says two key markets for Christmas travel are young professionals and multi-generational families. Hot spots for family Christmases are Borneo, Vietnam and other parts of Asia.
Young professionals, who are often taking advantage of a quiet time at work, are heading to places such as South America, Cuba, India and Vietnam. These travellers will often fly out just before Christmas and plan to be somewhere interesting, such as Rio de Janeiro, to celebrate New Year’s Eve, Koffel says.
A spokesman for STA Travel, Reuben Acciano, says young people often… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Rush to the battlefields October 25, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Events, Travel, Travel tips & trends, UK & Europe.Tags: ANZAC, Anzac Day, battlefields, Gallipoli, Travel, travel trends, Turkey
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From niche market to “bucket list” experience, Anzac Day has become big business for the Australian travel industry.
Dozens of new trips for Gallipoli and other battlefield locations have been released over recent weeks and many major tour companies are lining up for a slice of the action. Interest will only grow in the lead-up to the Anzac Day centenary in 2015, taking the sector further out of the realm of specialist operators and into the mass market.
“Many years ago, we were almost on our own [as a Gallipoli tour operator from Australia],” says the manager of battlefields tour specialist Boronia Travel Centre, Michelle Waller. ”I think there are a lot of people starting up and thinking ‘I can make some money here’, especially with 2015 coming up.”
Waller says the 2015 Anzac Day service at Gallipoli is likely to be attended by more than 15,000 people, limited only by space and safety precautions. Boronia Travel ‘s seven trips for 2015 are already fully booked and many Australians who want to go will miss out, Waller says.
For those looking for Anzac travel, the huge range of choices now available can mean plenty of research is required. Choices range from day trips and cheap backpacker packages to extensive war history trips, with plenty of compromises in between.
Some operators offer the dawn service at Gallipoli as part of a broader Turkey or Europe itinerary, while others offer… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
What’s hot for Schoolies October 18, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Asia, Australia, Events, Hotels, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: schoolies, schoolies week, schoolies.com, Student Flights, Travel, travel trends, Unleashed Travel
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Over two weeks next month, tens of thousands of high-school leavers will descend upon a handful of locations around the country to party hard in celebration of finishing year 12.
“Schoolies” is showing no signs of going out of fashion, with an estimated 60,000 students expected to head to recognised schoolies hot spots alone. This does not take into account those who organise their own trips or choose a destination away from the madding crowds. Nor does it take into account all of those who will be heading overseas, making the most of cheap flights and the buying power of the Australian dollar.
The brand leader of Student Flights, Darren Lloyd, says there has been a huge increase in demand for overseas schoolies trips over the past two years. ”Destinations like Fiji, Bali and Vanuatu top the list,” Lloyd says. ”The cost of a schoolies package overseas is comparable in price to a week at the Gold Coast, so more parents are encouraging their school leavers to join an organised overseas trip.”
Student Flights works with Unleashed Travel, a dedicated schoolies operator that has options including “schoolies only” trips where a whole island resort is chartered and only 17- and 18-year-olds are allowed.
Lloyd says while many school leavers book organised packages through operators such as Unleashed, the total size of the market is not known. ”Some schoolies are opting to ditch the schoolies week altogether and… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Kate + William = demand for London March 4, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Events, Travel, Travel tips & trends, UK & Europe.Tags: Britain, England, kate and william, Kate Middleton, London, Odyssey Travel, Prince William, Princess Diana, royal wedding, TravelManagers
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Australians have shown they are willing to pay nearly $3000 for a place on a week-long trip to London in April, when Prince William will wed Kate Middleton.
The tour, which doesn’t include flights, offers “the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple” on their April 29 wedding day, along with visits to other royal locations. “There will be nowhere that will capture such pomp, ceremony and unique atmosphere than in London as Kate proceeds to Westminster Abbey,” says TravelManagers Australia, which is selling the trip.
The company declines to reveal numbers but confirms it has received bookings for the seven-night tour, which will be operated by Odyssey Travel and led by ‘royal watcher’ Mark Goodwin. It includes a place along the royal procession route on the wedding day, along with visits to Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and the Palace of Kew.
Those on the trip will also “spend time in the footsteps of the Princess to be”, including a visit to (more…)
What’s hot in travel for 2011? January 17, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Adventure travel, Africa, Airlines, Asia, Australia, Events, Hotels, North America, NZ & Pacific Islands, South America, Travel, Travel tips & trends, UK & Europe.Tags: aviation, top 10, top ten, tourism, Travel, travel tips, travel trends
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Spare a thought for Australian tourism operators as you jump on a plane for that overseas holiday this year. The exodus to overseas destinations is almost certain to continue as the Aussie dollar remains high and airfares remain low, leaving domestic travel the poor cousin for another year. A resurgence in business travel is expected to put paid to some of the bargain basement pricing we have seen in 2010, but the balance of power remains with travellers for the foreseeable future.
A survey conducted by the World Travel Market late last year found the economic downturn will continue to impact the global travel industry for at least five years. A separate survey by the Tourism and Transport Forum and MasterCard pointed to a bleak outlook for domestic tourism, with 71 per cent of Australian tourism operators saying the strong Aussie dollar was affecting their business.
Currency specialist HiFX says the Australian dollar appreciated 20 per cent in the second half of 2010, peaking above parity with the US dollar. HiFX spokesman Brian Clarke says it is possible our dollar has already peaked, having fallen back from its early November high, but it has still been in the strong 0.95 – 0.97 cent range.
Flight Centre executive general manager Colin Bowman expects continued demand for overseas travel, after strong bookings in 2010. When favourable exchange rates combine with cheap airfares, travellers can stretch their budgets to new destinations, Bowman says.
Give us adventure
Adventurous destinations feature strongly in predictions for 2011 hotspots.
Flight Centre includes Reunion, Africa, in its top ten destinations for this year, saying it is an underrated stopover option for travellers to France. Active volcanoes and mountainous landscapes make it ideal for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, while luxury resorts provide for indulgence. Zambia also makes the list, with Flight Centre saying it is says is a good option for those interested in luxury tented camping, or a new option of tracking animals by micro-flight.
Lonely Planet puts Brazil in its top ten, saying its winning bids for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games have led to a flurry of spending on tourism infrastructure, while low cost carriers have made travel across the vast continent more affordable. Tanzania also makes Lonely Planet’s top ten, thanks to its wide range of wildlife experiences, from tree-climbing lions at Lake Manyara to chimpanzee sanctuaries in Gombe and Mahale. Also on the list is (more…)
