With some aspects of Melbourne’s lockdowns easing, some of the city’s hotels are bracing for the inevitable influx of staycationers who really need to get away from their homes for a few years. The relatively new Element Melbourne Richmond is one such property, launching what they are calling the “Ultimate Sleepover Experience” by turning the…
Read More**UPDATE 23 OCTOBER 2020** New flight options between USA and Australia have been confirmed, with a recommendation to book at least 8 weeks out to secure a seat. Demand is expected to be high and the situation is changing by the day. The best approach is always to get in touch with an airline directly…
Read MoreSuper convenient activities and experiences booking service Klook has now made it much easier, and cheaper, to plan the most quintessential Hunter Valley itinerary by opening the platform to 25 instantly bookable wine tastings. What’s more is that over 10 of those tastings have been made available for just $1 (with promo code “WINETIME”), with…
Read MoreLet’s face it, as much as you need a staycation, your desire to get out and about once more has nothing on what your best fur friend has been going through this year. Dogs need pampering too, which is why QT Hotels & Resorts across Australia and New Zealand have introduced a new concept called…
Read MoreOver the past few years, the idea of wellness and mental health has become increasingly entwined with classic conceptions of hospitality, focused on providing truly restorative stays and getting to the heart of why people take vacations to begin with. From the jungle-entrenched eco-resorts in Bali, to high-end hotels in major cities like London, New…
Read MoreIn response to news that South Australia has opened borders with NSW and ACT, Virgin Australia has rushed to ramp up its domestic network between the states. Given that residents of NSW and the ACT are now able to travel to South Australia for leisure or work, the airline has acted swiftly and immediately scheduled…
Read MoreIndia, Poland, Mexico – all off the cards for Aussie travellers anytime soon. But that isn’t to say we can’t at least take some of our senses to these far-flung destinations. With Virtual Travel the trend of 2020, Intrepid’s fiercely local, day-tour-oriented Urban Adventures brand has launched numerous ticketed digital tours along that very idea,…
Read MoreUnder a new customer policy announced recently, Virgin Australia will now be offering unlimited booking changes without any change fees for reservations with travel between now and 31st January 2021. The announcement comes as the airline refines their “Passenger Promise” concept, remaining hopeful for the uptick in domestic travel as we near the end of…
Read MoreSydney’s lavish, perfectly located Pier One Sydney Harbour has now started taking private bookings for one of the luxury hotel’s most coveted corners, for groups of up to 10. With hotels still finding their place in the ongoing pandemic, the “Harbour Bridge Balcony Party” is an attractive option for groups that feel like something special…
Read MoreTo celebrate International Dog Day (which is today, you’re welcome), various IHG hotels across Australia are opening up various ways to pamper the many good boys and girls that have been mostly stuck inside right along with us. Your dog needs a staycation too, so take note of all the hotels introducing ways to pamper…
Read MoreAirlinesRatings.com has long been a reliable and comprehensive guide to the best and worst of aviation. Now, in an industry first, the website has introduced a very relevant dimension to its safety rating system, considering a score for airlines based on their COVID-19 protocols. When the time comes to chose between multiple airlines, passengers are…
Read MoreFancy a little cocktail bottle hunt? Both QT Sydney and QT Bondi, two hotels cut from the same highly eccentric cloth, have teamed up with cocktail delivery service Cocktail Porter to stock their rooms with premium handcrafted bottled concoctions. But that’s not the most exciting part – although it’s pretty damn enticing enough. To celebrate…
Read MoreAs demand for domestic flights continue to rise, Qantas has announced several important changes to its frequent flyer program to make it easier for customers to use points on domestic and, potentially, Trans-Tasman flights. For the remainder of this year, Qantas Frequent Flyer will be boosting the availability of Classic Flight Reward seats by up…
Read MoreThis month, the legendary “Queen of the Skies” will be officially retired from Qantas’ fleet, with the airline bidding a final farewell to its last remaining Boeing 747. Though the iconic aircraft won’t be leaving without considerable fanfare, as Qantas responds to demand with announcement of several “farewell jumbo joy flights” for Australians. Qantas will…
Read MoreAcclaimed Australian-born brand QT Hotels & Resorts has finally lifted the lid on QT Auckland, their first New Zealand property after a successful trans-Tasman debut with QT Queenstown and QT Wellington. Located in the city’s Viaduct Harbour, and set for a grand opening on 1st November 2020, the property is now accepting bookings and, from…
Read MoreVirgin Australia put 125,000 fares on sale for 12 hours yesterday, with prices dipping to as low as $69 between select destinations “because everyone loved a comeback”. Though the flights were picked up quickly, the airline is promising more Happy Hour sales every week as domestic tourism ramps up. The sale included business class fares…
Read MoreFor the first time in 15 years, Qantas will introduce daily services between Sydney and Byron Bay (Ballina) airport, opening up what should be an enormously popular route as interstate travel ramps up. The popular coastal town isn’t the only destination to see a new route open up though, with Qantas also adding its first…
Read MoreAs of 1st July, Qantas will begin reopening a number of its domestic and regional lounges across Australia, following restrictions on travel and venues being loosened and demand for domestic flights increasing. Importantly, this will be a phased opening that will only include a limited number of lounges in first wave, specifically eleven including Qantas…
Read MoreAlthough historically an airline exclusively serving regional Australia, Rex is now enacting plans which could see the carrier compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia with the creation of a new domestic operation. Capital cities could now be on this the radar for Rex’s planned expansion, pending successful fundraising of at least $30 million, which is…
Read MoreMillett Group, the team behind Lord Byron, have officially opened doors to The Surf House – Byron Bay’s newest accommodation with its own distinctive rooftop bar. Seeing as the Millett Group are also behind the award-winning Wake Up! Byron Bay hostel, this boutique, design-forward property should be an attractive option for the the inevitable influx…
Read MoreIn a nod to the return of national travel, Webjet has now launched a 72-hour sale for Aussie travellers with prices for domestic packages slashed by 20%. It follows a massive flight sale over the weekend by Qantas Group, which saw tens of thousands of flights sold for as little as $19. Now, people have…
Read MoreNow that domestic flights are being heavily discounted, Australian who have all this pent-up wanderlust brimming about need to make a decision on which parts of the country they want to explore in the coming months. The Northern Territory should benefit greatly from this, especially now that it has been confirmed that the state will…
Read MoreIt looks like those long-rumoured $19 domestic fares are now a reality, as Jetstar and Qantas announce a number of sales and ground-breaking initiatives to “launch tourism”. This includes Jetstar putting 10,000 fares on sale for that sweet aforementioned price, encompassing 35 routes across 15 destinations. Although the budget carrier has seen unprecedented demand since…
Read MoreLuxury hotel The Langham, Sydney has set an official re-opening date for their ritzy CBD property. As travel restrictions begin to ease, and more people are looking for that essential post-lockdown staycation. The Langham will begin greeting guests from 1st July, and they’ve put together a few packages to up the temptation. The “Staycation Packages”…
Read MoreWith more travel restrictions being lifted over the weekend, Parks Australia has now announced that as of Friday 19th June, the iconic National Parks of Kakadu and Uluru-Kata Tjuta will reopen to visitors. Although some areas will remain closed for the time being, the staged reopening of both parks will provide plenty of access to…
Read MoreAccor has announced a heap of “Time to Drive” deals to align with the forthcoming burst of travel expected once more restrictions ease up. The group’s extensive network of hotels at all ranges will see significant price drops and attractive deals at more than 340 properties across both Australia and New Zealand, so hopefully that…
Read MoreSurry Hills luxe boutique Little Albion is offering up their entire property for one lucky winner and their friends. With lockdown restrictions easing and hotels gradually reopening for guests, the trendy Crystalbrook Collection property is throwing the “ultimate anti-isolation celebration” with a little competition for one night of exclusive use. The competition is now running…
Read MoreWith the positive outlook of domestic travel in Australia, Virgin Australia has announced expanded capital city connections and frequencies on some key routes. This includes more services between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, as well as the resumption of routes between Brisbane-Adelaide, Brisbane-Canberra, Brisbane-Perth, and Sydney-Perth. The additional services will see Virgin Australia double current…
Read MoreThe travel podcast Jetlag has today returned for a second season, its first episodes in more than two years, to bring to light different stories from an industry at a standstill due to a global pandemic. For the first episode, which is co-hosted by the AU’s founding editor Larry Heath, and digital marketer (and former…
Read MoreEtihad Airways has announced a new travel voucher system that may save big on future flights when international travel (hopefully) ramps up later this year. The UAE carrier has introduced the new concept to encourage travellers to start planning their next trip, where prospective passengers who purchase an “Etihad Travel Voucher” between 10th and 24th…
Read More