The Don't Forget Travel Group

20/06/2024

When you see a "travel agent ripped off customer" story on A Current Affair do you then that the whole industry is bad? Im curious.

I had a chat with Sofia Geraghty at Travel Weekly about regulations in the travel industry. While some unscrupulous people might slip through the cracks, I believe asking if your travel agent has ATAS accreditation through Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is a good place to start.

In answer to Adam Glezer comment.....every good Travel Agent I know does run a separate "Trust" account for client's funds. And, I honestly don't believe what one criminal in the industry does reflect on what I do, or my peers.

The raid on the home of alleged travel agent scammer Zahra Rachid brings to light the bad behaviour happening in an unregulated industry.

16/06/2024

I was asked by The Weekend Astralian to comment on Qantas' first "sale" of Business & Premium class seats since the end of the pandemic. ✈️

The devil is always in the detail.🔍

Yes, prices are coming down, compared to the over inflated prices of last year, but if you want to fly in a high demand time, don't expect to see much of a saving. 💰💰

To be honest, Qantas sale price still tends to be higher than many other airlines' normal business class prices. It often pays to look beyond the frequent flyer points or status merry-go-round (spoken by someone who is on it 😆)

The other interesting thing in this article by Robyn Ironside is Qantas' Loyalty boss commenting about the "overwhelming" response to the launch of Classic Plus rewards. He is polishing a turd. The amount of points required for a return trip to Europe is over double the amount of points required for a "classic reward" seat......but they are like hen's teeth on a unicorn to find, so passengers are forced to pay "big points balances on flights" because they don't have a choice. The response isn't "overwhelming" it's "resignation and defeat" by customers. The upside is that there are plenty of opportunities to redeem your points on these seats.

Do you think the value of Qantas Frequent Flyer points has been devalued?

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10/06/2024

Please donate to the Fight MND campaign.
Your donations are making a difference.

"When all is said and done, more is said than done" Just. DO.

29/05/2024

With a culture dating back a couple thousand years, travelling to Morocco is about the history, the people, and the cuisine. 🇲🇦✈️

Last night, I got a taste of Morocco as a guest of Bunnik Tours Qatar Airways

I really want to revisit this amazing country.

It's been quite a few years since I was sitting in a bar in Marrakech with some friends and being told by a Berber that he could "fix" my birthmark by traditional berber methods and all I had to do was meet him at an undisclosed desert destination the next day! 😱

Obviously, I still have my birthmark because I didn't take him up on his offer... but I've always wondered...what if? 🤔

I swear they were doing TDFTG elephant henna tatts (are they called tatts or just henna??)

16/05/2024

I'm very proud to announce that The Don't Forget Travel Group has once again received our ATAS Accreditation.

This industry accreditation means that we have passed all the rigorous financial, professional, and ethical eligibility criteria to be recognized as an accredited Australian travel agency.

While it means a certificate to hang on the wall to me, for you it means that not only is The Don't Forget Travel Group a financially viable travel agency, but we have the proper professionalism, knowledge, systems, and processes in place so that you know that you are in safe hands.

We've got your back.

07/05/2024

A once decaying neo-classical building in the vibrant heart of Athens has been transformed into the beautifully refined The Dolli at Acropolis hotel.

The design style is elegance with a touch of whimsy (take note of the floor level indicators when stepping out of the elevator)

While the lobby and rooms may be welcoming and peaceful, the rooftop with its bar and restaurant, and is designed to blow away the cobwebs, pump up the heartbeat with views of the Acropolis so close you feel you could reach out and touch the Parthenon itself.

And don't forget the rooftop infinity pool....not that you could. It would be hard to drag you away to explore the streets of the Plaka below... but try, as the location of The Dolli is the true meaning of "central." Staying here literally gives you all the tourist "big ticket items" out the front door in all directions.

This hotel, The Dolli, is yet another winner in the revitalisation of Athens as a destination.

Thanks for showing me around

15/04/2024

The Lindt Museum tour is a fantastic informative and interactive museum about the history of chocolate and the development of the industry in Switzerland.

It was so much better than I was expecting...and did I mention free Lindt balls????

13/04/2024

While this section of my journey was meant to be on the Panorama Trains, due to a cancellation, I had to continue the journey on the "normal" train....the views were no less spectacular.

Seriously, the views are spectacular. Switzerland is such a beautiful country.

My tip from today: There is no wrong side of the tracks (haha see what I did there?)
Im discovering that it really doesn't matter if you are on the "fancy" trains or not....the trains are immaculate, and you get the same sublime views (I Keep being told that the trains run on the same tracks, so you're not missing out)

13/04/2024

Calling for the St Bernard to rescue me (with a barrel of brandy) for wearing inadequate and inappropriate footwear for Mt Titlus

Sneakers are not really appropriate for the snow!!! My souvenir for this trip will be a bruised bum...but I would have preferred a fridge magnet!

The upside is that the Swiss Travel Pass gives me 50% off on the ticket price for the gondola from Engelberg to the summit (one which spins 360 degrees on the way up). Some gondolas and cog trains are even free with the Pass.

SWISS TRAVEL PASS

12/04/2024

A big day of travelling from Basel to Montreux with a stop in Geneva to see the Broken Chair installation outside the United Nations as well as the symbol of Geneva; the Jet d eau. Then, onto Lausanne specifically to visit the Olympic Museum (excellent, and Oz well represented), then finally the last stop was in Montreux for the night. What a beautiful town Montreux is.

Despite my overnight train being delayed into Basel causing me to miss my connecting direct train, it was really easy because my Swiss Travel Pass meant I could just hop onto any trains to get where I needed to.

12/04/2024

Reposted from It would take nerves of steel to park in Amsterdam.

#

11/04/2024

THE GREAT EUROPEAN RAIL JOURNEY- THE SLEEPER EDITION

Despite a couple of hiccups with a delay and lack of WiFi, the overnight Sleeper was pretty comfortable on the 10+ hours from Amsterdam to Basel.

My hot tip for this type of trip....don't rely on there being WiFi available, so download movies to your device so that you have something to watch (or bring cards) .

Bring snacks (and a good pillow) if you want to be really comfortable.....but don't bring too much luggage as there isn't a lot of storage area in the Sleeper cabin.
EURAIL

11/04/2024

It's tulip season in Amsterdam, and it's an impressive sight seeing rows and rows of colours patchworking across the countryside.

If the timing is right, you should go see them, and the benefit of the Global Eurail Pass is that the local trains are included to get out to see The Tulip Barn.

The Great European Rail Journey with The Don't Forget Travel Group

The Tulip Barn

11/04/2024

The Great European Rail Journey has begun. On day 1, I caught the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam.

My 3 takeaways:
1) Check in early. I was at the station at the designated 60 minutes prior to departure, but the line was already massively long.
2) While the Eurostar can be booked through your Eurail Global Pass, you've still have to do your seat reservations. Book them as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
3) Book the premium class if you can...it makes the journey so much easier and nicer.

11/04/2024

I can't believe how busy Amsterdam is, and it's only early April. So if you are coming to Amsterdam this summer, book your tickets to attractions now - especially Anne Frank's House and the Van Gogh Museum.

10/04/2024

Mention you are going to Amsterdam, and everyone only thinks of one thing .......the Rembrandt's at the Rijksmuseum 😆

Well worth the visit if you are into your art. While the Night Watch is being restored, it is still on show and just as impressive. It's one hell of a big painting... Unlike Van Gogh's famous self-portrait with grey felt hat is a lot smaller than I imagined.

09/04/2024

The Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece.

I never realised how much of the Parthenon frieze was "bought/plundered" by Lord Elgin....there was so much that it feels that there is more in London than there is in Athens.

Even if the Britsh Museum did legally buy them from Lord Elgin, who apparently bought them from the Ottomans, the Ottomans didn't have a right to sell them in the first place.

Send them home.

08/04/2024

Qatar Airway's First Class product on the A380. We dont get the A380 in Adelaide, but we are lucky because we get the A350 with the award winning QSuites. While you get a lot of space in First Class, the business class QSuites offers you a lot more privacy.

But the bathroom on offer for the First Class passengers is more like a changing room it's that big.

And if they wave to mix with the Business Class riff-raff there is always the lounge.

The service on this Doha to Heathrow flight QR03 has been fantastic, and the crew have been so friendly and lots of fun.

28/02/2024

What do you prefer.....clouds, clouds and more clouds OR a "movie" about beautiful scenery, cute villages, and vast vistas running past your eyes in real time.

Rail is a great way to see Europe.

By the time you get to the airport generally on the outskirts of the city, get through the stress of security, wait around, fly, then go through everything in reverse, you could have jumped on a train and ended up in the centre of your next destination.

Make rail part of the journey with the many options that a pass gives you. With our friends at we can make travelling Europe by rail easy.

I am also striving to be Rail Europe and Eurail Travel Advisor Reporter, so please help me by hitting the like button 👍and/or making a comment below so I can make more compelling first-hand rail content than this!!!😁


🎥 copyright of the videos belong to the creators. Creators unknown. DM for credits

22/02/2024

Woof woof, doof doof 🐶

19/02/2024

Are you still on your "new year, new me" phase, or have you moved into the second chapter...the "February F*ckit" phase?

09/02/2024

Some people are getting their passports renewed within a week whereas other are taking 6 weeks+...its a lottery.

Just dont leave it to the last minute...if you are planning on travelling this year......check your passport's expiration date today.

Avoid last minute travel stress. Plan ahead and make sure you have your passport before you book your travel.

Passport processing times can fluctuate, especially ahead of peak travel times like European summer. You should allow a minimum of 6 weeks to get or renew your passport.

Don’t leave it to the last minute! Apply or renew now: www.passports.gov.au/apply-or-renew

Did you know the Australian Passport Office is now live on Facebook? Like and follow them!

06/02/2024

When I die, I want to go like my uncle did: in his sleep. Not screaming, like the passengers in the car he was driving at the time.

01/02/2024

They are not laugh lines they are joke creases!

30/01/2024

It turns out it was a pretty rough deal.

24/01/2024

And I thought she was going for a drink at the Monkey Bar

22/01/2024

Or the overly sure of himself knight ... Sir Tainly

17/01/2024

Those farmers know how to 🥦broc "n" roll!