Education Tours

23/08/2024

https://travelcentre.com.au/2024/08/23/accommodation-platforms-around-the-world-report-increases-with-scams-as-ai-platforms-and-fake-listings-deceive-travellers/

Accommodation platforms around the world report increases with scams as AI platforms and fake listings deceive travellers.

20/08/2024

https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/beijing-to-bangkok-train-just-a-few-links-from-reality/

BANGKOK – A Bangkok to Beijing train journey became one clickity-clack link closer with the completion by Thailand and Laos of a Mekong River railway

17/07/2024

Overtourism raises its head in Barcelona as the local authorities take sensible action to protect the local population.

Barcelona, a destination hotspot for overtourism, now have plans to close all holiday apartments in the city within the next four years.

21/06/2024

EFY increase - NOT a sale!

Australian Passport price increase

07/05/2024

Following on from the theme of re-enacted history from the last post. For yur next history tour to France.

Embark on a journey through time with the construction of a working replica of William The Conqueror's flagship in Normandy. Discover the fascinating world of historic maritime expeditions.

15/03/2024

https://www.educationtravel.com.au/2024/03/experience-early-european-australian-history-on-sailing-ship-duyfken/

Experience Early European Australian History on Sailing Ship Duyfken

05/01/2024

https://www.educationtravel.com.au/2024/01/venice-cracks-down-on-crowds-city-sets-new-25-pax-cap/

Venice limits group numbers

31/08/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/08/31/taking-a-mobile-phone-overseas/

How to maintain security for your mobile phone overseas.

14/08/2023

This articles topic is one often debated. This editor, like the articles author, also prefers a long-haul flight with a transit break. He also concurs with the choice of Singapore Airport as being one of the best transit airport around.

In an age where ultra-long non-stop flights are becoming increasingly common, are there any advantages to breaking your journey with a layover?

04/08/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/08/04/navigate-some-of-the-worlds-cultural-customs-and-etiquette/

World customs and etiquette guide

27/07/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/07/27/accc-issues-scam-warning-for-loyalty-programs-including-qantas/

Qantas SCAM Alert

20/07/2023

We have sponsored both students and local teachers at St Judes for many years. It has been wonderful to see the progress made by these young Tanzanians.

This is a country close to the hearts of our founders, they having worked there many years ago. African music was one of their interests then and continues today

Drumming forms a big part of many cultures in Tanzania. Different tribes use drumming as part of their traditional songs and dances to express their values, ...

13/07/2023

Wander, or should we say, cruise about the Greek islands with this new travel pass.

Island hopping throughout Greece has been popular for decades. There have been occasional periods where an ‘Island Ferry Pass’ did exist. But they came and went. The new Eurail Greek Islands Pass is now available as a mobile pass through Rail Europe’s website, granting access to four domestic ...

12/06/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/06/12/new-zealand-changes-arrival-documents-to-digital/

New Zealand digital arrivals process

17/05/2023

Vienna, one of our favourite European cities. This time lapse video has that twist of humour for Australia. This writer has seen kangaroo road signs sold in Vienna shops!

*In Search of the Elusive Austrian Kangaroo:* a Hyperlapse Adventure to Vienna.Subscribe https://instagram.com/neiezhmakov*All info which you want to know in...

12/05/2023

What would you pay for a bed to lie down in on a flight? Air New Zealand is the fist airline to launch this concept for anyone. yes, you in economy can pay to snooze!

Airline’s prototype ‘skynest’ bunk beds will be available from September 2024

21/04/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/04/21/anzac-day-flanders/

Flanders Fields Begium

17/04/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/04/17/barcelona-is-trying-to-cut-its-cruise-ship-visitor-numbers-in-half/

Barcelona reduecs cruise ship visits

31/03/2023

An update worth reading. Many still have these 'credits', the actual value of which buys less as the years progress:) They are, at least, doing the right thing and extending the 'due by date'.

Qantas is giving your customers an extra 12 months to use their travel credits

20/03/2023

https://travelcentre.com.au/2023/03/20/some-airports-pull-the-plug-on-travellers-liquid-restrictions/

Airline onboard liquid rules

04/01/2023

Cheap Airfare in the current environment.An extinct option? There are strategies to minimize costs.

Thanks to the post-pandemic travel boom, you might have noticed that airfare prices have skyrocketed over the last few months. While (most) travel restrictions are something we can leave behind in 2022, expensive air tickets are unfortunately here to stay – at least for a while. Luckily, knowing the right time to purchase them can help you save.It’s all about the timing.

Some might say it’s best to book way in advance when demand for a certain flight might not have built up yet. Others might tell you to book closer to the date (as late as possible, even), so that airlines might drop their prices to increase their load factor.

But what does the data say?
According to online (known accurate sites) airline bookings surveys, Sundays are the best days to score cheaper tickets. Fridays are the worst – costing you 5% more on domestic flights and 15% more on international routes, compared to Sundays. While there’s not a sure-fire day to get cheaper tickets, it’s always good to keep this in mind when booking flights. Results from research also found that Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week for flight departures. Departing at the start of the week could cost you 15% more on domestic flights and around 10% more on international flights. This is because travelers tend to prefer departing on Sundays and Mondays, so the demand for flights on these days is higher. Flight status data from 2022 shows that flights after 3 p.m. are 50% more likely to be cancelled – so try to schedule your flights earlier in the day.

Distance matters
The best time to book your flights depends on whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally. Domestic or short-haul flights tend to have more predictable pricing, while international or long-haul flights could fluctuate and end up costing more if you don’t book at the right time.

Domestic or short-haul Booking too far ahead could end up costing you 10% more, if it’s a domestic or short-haul flight. For such routes, it’s best to book one to four months out from departure. Domestic fares often rise around three to six months from the flight, so booking too early might cost you more. Popular tourist spots often see price-matching between airlines, especially among low-cost carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, and AirAsia, that need more passengers to cover their costs. With these, you might want to keep an eye out for sudden price drops. If budget airlines aren’t your thing, full-service carriers like British Airways have short-haul sales a few times in the year – typically in February/March and after the northern hemisphere summer. International or long-haul Normally, you can save up to 10% if you book international flights as least six months ahead.

Traveling across borders require much more planning than taking a local holiday, so it’s good to plan ahead when it comes to international or long-haul flights. Deals often appear one to two seasons before departure, so you might want to book your summer trip during winter and spring.

BUT, this is not a guaranteed thing. Currently, with such turmoil in the aviation world you can’t rely 100% on this trend. As things improve we may see aspects of this trend return.Lastly, avoid peak season travel and be aware of blackout dates, such as Christmas Eve, when many discounted fares don’t apply.Whilst there are online booking sites – beware.

The recent covid implications showed how problematic some online sites were. The best option is to either deal directly on an airlines website, or with a travel agent. Dealing directly on an airlines site does have one major disadvantage, which a travel agent does not have – they only promote their airline. Travel agents, via the international airline booking system can look at a large range of options and also look at combinations airfares (more than one airline), which in the end may be a much better option for your overall flight plans. You are also dealing with a contactable human so that if a problem happens you have someone working on your behalf.

24/11/2022

Sky-high airfares: Soaring travel costs cause many to reconsider holiday plans.

The steep rise in international and domestic airfares has priced seven million Australians out of travel as one in three Aussies still plan to travel over the busy Christmas and summer holiday period.New research by comparison site Finder found around a third of Australians (36% – equivalent to 7.2 million people) was deterred from travelling due to soaring airfares and rising travel costs.

Discount economy airfares were up 56 per cent between April to August 2022 compared to the same period last year, according to the ACCC.Pent-up travel demand, limited airline capacity and high fuel prices are some of the factors contributing to the spike in airfare costs.

Here are current examples of some of the overpriced airfares currently doing the rounds on Facebook recently.They include domestic airfares ranging from $1,900 for an Adelaide–Kununurra return economy flight to a Sydney-Perth round trip in Qantas Business at $6,880.International airfares to popular destinations in Asia Pacific include Qantas return flights to Japan at $7,000, Brisbane–Tokyo return flights for $11,000 and Sydney-Auckland return economy flights for $3,000.For Aussies travelling to the Americas, be prepared to fork out for flights.

Current business class tickets sold include Sydney–Minneapolis return flights at $31,000, Melbourne–Orlando return flights for $27,000, Melbourne–Colorado return flights for $23,000, Brisbane–Chicago return flights for $25,000 and Brisbane–Chile flights for a whopping $39,000.Even economy return flights to North America are pricey right now, like Brisbane–Ottawa for $4,625 and Sydney–LAX–Detroit for $8,500.

It’s no wonder the Finder survey of more than 1,000 people noted that 31 per cent had found travel to be too expensive, with five per cent of respondents cancelling their holiday plans due to prohibitive prices.However, despite the price hike, 35 per cent of Aussies still plan to travel over the Christmas period –whether that’s interstate (14%), intrastate (14%) or overseas (8%).

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 1,040,550 departures in September 2022 – a monthly increase of 98,340 trips.

21/11/2022

A new survey shows that while Australians are keen to travel after the pandemic, many have wildly unrealistic expectations of what the Australian government could do to help them in a crisis.

The survey commissioned by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), found that more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents considered “that if an Australian person has a medical emergency overseas, an Australian embassy representative will ensure they get the medical treatment they need”.About half also assumed the Australian government would pay for that person to get home (50%), and/or for their medical expenses (43%).

They could be in for a big shock!Other findings:Australian overseas travellers are acting on pent-up demand. Of those intending to travel in the next 12 months, almost three quarters (70%) agree they are planning to travel more often in future in response to being unable to during 2020/21. Perhaps feeling they’ll otherwise miss a window of opportunity, younger travellers are particularly likely to agree with this sentiment (78% of those under 30s).There is an atmosphere of caution among those intending to travel. Two-thirds (68%) agree that the pandemic has made them less confident about travelling overseas. This is affecting intended behaviours: for example, the majority agree they’ll be more cautious about travelling to places where it could prove more complicated to get back to Australia in a crisis (86% agree).

In a disturbing finding for the cruise industry, 71% agreed that they would be less likely to go on a cruise.The vast majority now seek Covid-19 coverage as a component of their travel insurance policy. Almost all (95%) agree that cancellation coverage for claims relating to Covid-19 will be an essential consideration when buying travel insurance. Likewise, 94% agree that medical coverage for claims relating to Covid-19 will be necessary.One in twenty (5%) of those who’ve booked a trip intend to travel without insurance.Younger travellers are most at risk of travelling uninsured.

Sightly more than one in 10 (12%) of those under 30s are active rejectors, saying on consideration that they plan to travel without insurance. There is a clear need for education: Being unsure whether insurance is needed (28%) is the most common reason for intending to travel uninsured. Other reasons include “can’t afford it” (21%) and “don’t think it’s worth the money” (21%).Of those who intend to travel with insurance, a widespread lack of primary considerations may still lead them to be unknowingly underinsured. More than half (57%) with insurance are at risk of travelling underinsured as they have not personally read their PDS in detail. Just under half (43%) did not indicate that ‘activities covered’ will be a consideration for them when evaluating insurance options, potentially leading to them participating in activities they don’t know they’re not insured for.For more findings from the survey, see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Smartraveller site.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-10/ICA-DFAT-survey-results-2022.pdf

07/11/2022

Virgin Australia returns to NZ, launches $409 sale faresAfter nearly 1,000 days away, Virgin Australia is back in New Zealand. Flights from Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane relaunched Virgin Australia’s New Zealand operations.

We hope extra competition will help even out the current high prices across the Tasman. This editor has travelled to New Zealand three times recently and has had to pay up to $1400 return, unheard of levels. Yes, it all depends on when you book, what day and the time of the flight, but as a past regular traveller to NZ I know this year has been running at a much higher price point.

The Sydney and Brisbane services will operate daily, while Melbourne will operate four times per week (increasing to daily between 12 December 2022 – 29 January 2023).The resumed services come in time for the summer holiday period and are marked with the ‘Return to Queenstown’ sale, with 15,000 fares from $409 economy return available for the next five days (until midnight 6 November 2022).

“Today is a significant day for Virgin Australia with our first New Zealand flight in over two years,” Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said. Virgin Australia Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the airline was experiencing “strong demand across our international network over the Christmas school holiday period”. “Our flights to Queenstown will increase to 21 per week between 12 December and 29 January, with a daily service operating from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, to help meet the demand,” he added.

30/08/2022

https://travelcentre.com.au/free-side-trip-flight-within-malaysia/

Best to book this via a travel agent to get the CORRECT fare levels! Valid on Malaysia Airlines...

25/08/2022

https://travelcentre.com.au/how-the-pandemic-has-changed-packing/

This is an interesting personal record from a writer from TravelTalk – no name was printed, so can’t...

15/08/2022

European drought threatens river cruises.

THIS WOULD MEAN THAT RIVER CRUISE LINES COULD FACE SEVERE DISRUPTIONS OVER THE COMING WEEKS. The river has...

09/08/2022

This editor had to make an overseas flight recently. this article sums up many peoples view about flying at present. Things will get better, but a bit more time is required. Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand currently enforce mask wearing on their international services.

I didn't catch COVID-19. But friends flying from Stockholm to Paris next to an unmasked person who was coughing and sneezing certainly did.

25/07/2022

As countries and indeed a city now charge for entry is this the solution to over tourism?

One country has a solution to limiting tourist numbers - charging them $500 a day to visit.

13/07/2022

Its been Nadaam Festival time in Mongolia again. Time for familes to dress in their finest traditional formal clothes. And then there are the kids!