GO WITH ANNUAL TRAVEL INSURANCE ARE you one of those people that rush around in the hectic hours before starting a holiday nailing down last-minute details that seem to evade attention until departure is imminent? Ringing the bank to let them know the credit card will be used in faraway lands, storming the chemist toContinue reading “INSIDER – INSURANCE”
Category Archives: Travel talk
HOTEL – BRISBANE MARRIOTT
It’s like Australia’s River City has a new place to stay, with a $20 million renovation modernising the Brisbane Marriott Hotel BRISBANE MARRIOTT MAKEOVER A $20 million spend has “reimagined” Brisbane Marriott Hotel with the just-completed renovation transforming all 267 guest rooms and suites as well as the executive-level lounge and the property’s signature restaurant.Continue reading “HOTEL – BRISBANE MARRIOTT”
CRUISE – NORWEGIAN JOY
A $70 million renovation transforms Norwegian Joy before she embarks on new adventures and new itineraries carrying passengers from Seattle to the scenic sightseeing spots around Alaska NORWEGIAN’S NEW JOY IT’S not rare for a cruise ship, particularly a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, to receive a $70 million renovation, boats that have been bobbing onContinue reading “CRUISE – NORWEGIAN JOY”
HOTEL – DOUBLETREE PERTH
Northbridge has emerged to be the entertainment and cultural hub of Perth, and Doubletree by Hilton Perth Northbridge is located at the heart of it all. Hilton Australasia’s oeprations boss Heidi Kunkel NEW HOTEL FOR NORTHBRIDGE THE West Australian hotel boom continues with the Double Tree by Hilton Perth Northbridge now welcoming guests seeking a placeContinue reading “HOTEL – DOUBLETREE PERTH”
GALLERY – CHASE RANGE
FLINDERS RANGES FLYING WHERE … The Chase Range, in the north of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges WHEN … Thursday, July 3, 2018, at 3.40pm WHAT … The Chase Range appears under the wing as my Air Adventure tour of the Flinders Ranges draws to a close with a quick two-hour flight back to Melbourne. SouthContinue reading “GALLERY – CHASE RANGE”
CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER
Customer demand prompts Pandaw to introduce a new three-night voyage sailing the mighty Mekong river between Saigon and Phnom Penh … PANDAW’S MEKONG ADVENTURE THERE’S now a new option for travellers looking to move between Saigon and Phnom Penh with Pandaw introducing a three-day voyage linking the two South-East Asian cities. The new itinerary willContinue reading “CRUISE – MEKONG RIVER”
GALLERY – BERLIN’S AMPLEMANN
MEET BERLIN’S AMPELMANN WHERE … Ampelmann Berlin at Unter den Linden 35 WHEN … Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 11.47pm WHAT … … meet ampelmann. This jaunty fellow was the character on East German traffic lights telling pedestrians when they could cross – or stop on the red – and has become so popular he now hasContinue reading “GALLERY – BERLIN’S AMPLEMANN”
INSIDER – TOP TRAINS
Rail Plus announces its top five train journeys for 2019 RIDE THE RAILS ON TOP TRAINS THE team at Rail Plus has come up with a list of the top train trips for travellers to do in 2019 and while there are a couple of old favourites on the list there’s also a fab newContinue reading “INSIDER – TOP TRAINS”
GALLERY – ZHUJIAJIAO
VISIT CHINA’S WATERTOWN WHERE … Zhujiajiao, the “watertown” a couple of hour’s drive from Shanghai in eastern China WHEN … Wednesday, April 18, 2018 WHAT … On my April visit to Shanghai with Wendy Wu Tours I make an afternoon stop in Zhujiajiao before dashing to the airport for an evening flight on to mountaintopContinue reading “GALLERY – ZHUJIAJIAO”
INSIDE – INSURANCE
INSURANCE FOR SENIORS THERE’S a cruel conundrum that strikes mature travellers. Though seniors have the time, inclination, freedom and funds to roam into their 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s, it can be a challenge securing travel insurance. Some companies flat-out refuse coverage and others inflict costs that climb even when the most common pre-existingContinue reading “INSIDE – INSURANCE”
GALLERY – BERLIN WALL
WALK BERLIN’S COLD WAR ROUTE WHERE … The Berlin Wall Memorial, Bernauer Strasse, Berlin WHEN … Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 1.12pm WHAT … The Berlin Wall. I’m fascinated by the Berlin Wall, and the idea of a divided Germany, so visit what’s left of the notorious 20th-century landmark every time I’m in the GermanContinue reading “GALLERY – BERLIN WALL”
INSIDER – TRAVEL HACKS
EXPERT TRAVELLERS SHARE TOP HACKS LET’S face it, travelling can be a challenge, but those who hit the road regularly have it down to a fine art. They know the websites to consult when organising places to stay, how to stay healthy, what currencies to carry, the apps to use, and who to ask toContinue reading “INSIDER – TRAVEL HACKS”
STAY – MOXY DC
Stay playful at The Moxy Washington, DC Downtown. Check out downtown DC bucket list attractions near our hotel like the White House, the Washington Monument or the countless exhibits at the Smithsonian. Moxy DC website DC FINDS ITS MOXY CONSERVATIVE Washington DC just got a big dose of cool with the opening of the brand-spankingContinue reading “STAY – MOXY DC”
GALLERY – BUCHENWALD
EXPLORING DARK GERMAN HISTORY WHERE … The Buchenwald Memorial 18km from the German town of Weimar. WHEN … Monday, December 3, 2018 at 10.13am WHAT … A break from the Christmas markets in Weimar this morning to explore a dark chapter of German history. This is the main entrance to Buchenwald, the concentration camp thatContinue reading “GALLERY – BUCHENWALD”
CRUISE – SEVEN SEAS MARINER
Regent Seven Seas Mariner is in Aussie waters for the 2018/19 cruise season following a recent bow-to-stern refresh SEVEN SEAS REVAMP REGENT Seven Seas Mariner is making her first visit to our part of the world since getting a freshen up earlier this year. The ship received a bow-to-stern revamp during a 20-day break inContinue reading “CRUISE – SEVEN SEAS MARINER”
CRUISE – FIJI FOR SOLOS
Two’s A Crowd has made plans for those travelling sans a partner to see Fiji in 2019 FIJI CRUISE FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS ATTENTION solo travellers, Two’s A Crowd has just announced arrangements that will have you seeing Fiji in style. The Melbourne-based agency has reserved an entire ship to host a solo-only cruise around theContinue reading “CRUISE – FIJI FOR SOLOS”
VISIT – BUENOS AIRES
WHERE Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina and one of South America’s most vibrant cities. WHEN I visited for three days in December 2016, breaking the journey from Australia to Ushuaia to interrupt the long trip either side of my voyage to Antarctica. WHAT It is my second call on Buenos Aires but, because I’mContinue reading “VISIT – BUENOS AIRES”
Brissy’s hotel boom …
QUEENSLAND’S River City is booming with more hot new accommodation offerings than you can count on all fingers. From glamping tents and riverside wharf residences, to moody five-star digs and a 1920s-era bank turned 220-room hotel, each new gem is embellishing the Brisbane skyline with their own quirk and character. Here are the latest BrisbaneContinue reading “Brissy’s hotel boom …”
HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT
NEW RESORT FOR SIEM REAP SIEM Reap and serene places to stay go together like Angkor Wat and Apsaras, and now there’s another peaceful property to add to the list. Treeline Urban Resort, which sits on the bank of the modest river that runs through the heart of the Cambodian tourist settlement, officially opened onContinue reading “HOTELS – TREELINE URBAN RESORT”
Island time for InterCon …
PHU Quoc is emerging as Vietnam’s next holiday hotspot with the island’s newest place to stay, the InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort, welcoming its first guests on June 28. The resort is a 15-minute drive from Phu Quoc’s international airport, and only 20 minutes from the “cultural attractions” of Duong Dong town, and guests enjoyContinue reading “Island time for InterCon …”
New look for Caravelle …
→ The Caravelle Saigon is already one of Vietnam’s great historic hotels with a room renovation set to start a new chapter … TODAY marks the start of a new chapter for the Caravelle Saigon with the historic hotel launching a renovation program that will see guest rooms receive an elegant upgrade. “For those ofContinue reading “New look for Caravelle …”
Saigon afternoon storm …
Where … Room 101, Villa Song Saigon When … Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 3.09pm What … I love the afternoon thunderstorms that sometimes sweep across Saigon at this time of the year. Puffy white clouds begin to bloom and bellow after lunch, reaching high into the sky, and while most harmlessly collapse some turnContinue reading “Saigon afternoon storm …”
Tan Son Nhat …
Where … On the runway at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport When … Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 1.16pm What … The “departure” runway at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport – with one typically for arriving and the other for leaving – which is the city’s international and domestic hub about 15km from District 1.Continue reading “Tan Son Nhat …”
Milford Sound cruising …
→ Experience luxury cruise operator Fiordland Discovery’s new Milford Sound overnight winter cruise … FIORDLAND Discovery’s new Milford Sound overnight cruise is offering travellers a reason to get out on the water this winter. The boutique cruise operator – which offers unrivalled access to Milford Sound and Fiordland on the vessel Fiordland Jewel – launchedContinue reading “Milford Sound cruising …”
INSIDER – FLYING
SECRETS TO KIDS FLYING SOLO CHILDREN have been flying solo long before a cheeky 12-year-old boy pinched his passport and used his mother’s credit card to secure a seat on a flight to Bali. Boarding an aircraft alone is part of the school-holiday routine for youngsters with a parent or grandparent living in another state, butContinue reading “INSIDER – FLYING”
South African sunset …
THE view from a window in my comfy picture-perfect cottage at Bushmans Kloof reveals that after a red-sky at night it was a red sky this morning. The days start early here with guests waking up at dawn to join a drive into the heart of the Cederberg Mountains, surrounding the isolated lodge, to enjoyContinue reading “South African sunset …”
Sabi Sabi lions …
Where … Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, South Africa When … Friday, June 20, 2018 at 6.52pm What … … a pride of young lions on the prowl. Night falls on Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and our tracker Heavyness and field guide IP find a pride of lions wandering along a track in searchContinue reading “Sabi Sabi lions …”
Hotel Vic on HK harbour …
An elegant new hotel in Hong Kong is making the most of its location by the harbour in trendy North Point HONG Kong Island’s fashionable North Point district is home to the new Hotel VIC with the 671-room property opening for business on July 16. The twin-tower complex boasts views of the harbour and cityContinue reading “Hotel Vic on HK harbour …”
British Embassy Villa …
Where … The British Embassy Villa on the edge of Lake Chuzenji in Japan’s Okunikko When … Thursday, July 12, 2018 and 9.33am What … This is the British Embassy Villa which was built in 1892 – and recently renovated – by the UK’s chief diplomat at the time. Lake Chuzenji served as Tokyo’s hillContinue reading “British Embassy Villa …”
Kita-In Temple …
Where … Kawagoe’s Kita-In Temple When … Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 11.43am What … Japanese garden love at Kawagoe’s Kita -In Temple. A few centuries ago, after another one of Kawagoe’s big fires, half the city was turned to ashes and the emperor at the time decided to cheer the locals up by givingContinue reading “Kita-In Temple …”
Far Near Or Here 