Folks, we officially have a new contender to the Australian market for global river cruising.. the gorgeous AmaWaterways. I have just disembarked from the AmaMagna after 8 days onboard from Budapest, Hungary to Vilshofen, Germany. Loved it!!!From the stunning ships to the all inclusive port activities with a fabulous range on offer for all abilities…( I did a very strenuous hike yesterday in Passau up to the top of the mountain, while others opted for a walking tour of the city & even then there are standard & gentle options for that ). As AmaWaterways have joined our Virtuoso Luxe affiliation, which means I can offer you more than other guests would receive. I feel incredibly grateful to have been invited on this cruise to be able to showcase them to the Aussie market.
I loved it so much that I will be hosting a luxury cruise evening in November so please do keep an eye out as AmaWaterways will be coming along to Shell Cove to join us. I cannot recommend them enough!! I am now taking bookings from January 2025 onwards for AmaWaterways. More photos to come in the following post…. In the meantime, hope you have a giggle at our little rating. #amamagna #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #europeanrivercruise #virtuoso #danube #liveyourbestlife #luxurycruising #luxuryrivercruise
The beautiful AmaMagna, AmaWaterways flagship vessel in their fleet of 29. We are currently cruising on the Danube River. This ship is stunning! There is so much to love, but the instant standout points are: ALL shore excursions are included in your cruise and you can do as many as you like. I love the range on offer from gentle to very active, giving everyone a great workout if you prefer! The bike tours are fabulous! All meals including the 4 restaurant options onboard are included. Beer, wine is included in unlimited amounts during lunch and dinner. Champagne is included at breakfast times and every afternoon and an open bar is included for cocktail hour for one hour prior to dinner. The service is impeccable!! This ship is the widest on the river but only holds 190 passengers, so the space ratio is incredible! AmaWaterways, covers all European rivers, The Nile, The Mekong, The Chobe in Africa and soon will cover an international first: The Magdalena River in Colombia! We are now taking reservations for this unique & incredible cruise. #amawaterways #amamagna #europeanrivercruise #danube #luxuryrivercruise #luxurycruising #virtuoso #virtuosotravel #sovirtuoso #liveyourbestlife #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist
Hungary!! You may be small but you are beautiful!! Budapest, a beautifully preserved heritage ladies capital city #. A few days in Budapest well spent. Thermal baths, local Hungarian street food., hop on hop-off bus, Budapest Castle, Esztergom Basilica & walking tour, the sadness of the shoes in the Danube holocaust memorial, afternoon tea at The Worlds most beautiful cafe. #budapest #hungary #amawaterways #rivercruise #easterneurope #budacastle #gellertthermalbath #goulash #langosh #shoesonthedanube #luxurytravel #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #liveyourbestlife
Not all business class & premium economy cabins are created equal unlike economy which is pretty similar across all airlines give or take. It’s worth really looking into not only your airline but the aircraft type on your route to determine if the cabin class is right for you. I recently flew another business offering on Cathay Pacific and quite enjoyed it. The service was nice ( not brilliant but ok ), the food was quite reasonable ( I do love the cultural cuisine menu & you can pre book from an extended menu before you fly like many airlines now offer in biz ), the seat was excellent. Not a suite but a nice pod with relative privacy, a great lie flat, lovely bedding, lots of space & storage. I try to ensure that I am really familiar with most premium airline business cabins as they really vary greatly. When you book your package with me, this information will not be guess work for you but first hand experience to you from me. I make it my purpose to go so I know.
#donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #cathaypacific #businessclass #businessclassflyer #luxurytravel #liveyourbestlife #travelagentlife #alittleluxe #yourjourneystartshere #hongkong
Happy New Year Everyone!!
I hope you are all feeling refreshed after hopefully a break or at least a little time off and ready to get moving into 2024!
Now is the time to start thinking about your travel plans for the year, if you haven't already.
I know I have many plans for the year, travelling almost every month for the first half of the year for both work and pleasure, and with the number of quote requests and current bookings on my desk right now, it is certainly shaping up to be another very busy year.
With this in mind, I would like to ensure that everyone is aware of my deposit structure.
Although this has been in place for some time, this year I will be enforcing it in line with all other travel agencies.
For all new enquiries, please be advised that an upfront deposit of $200.00 per adult is applicable.
This is a deposit folks, not a fee. This amount will come off your booking once it is in place.
Why am I charging an upfront deposit?
It is important to understand and appreciate the amount of time and care that is put into your quote. Typically the trips that I arrange are very intricate and lengthy and require a lot of detail and time. This can take me anywhere from hours to days and sometimes weeks to put together. In reality $200.00 per person doesn't come close to covering me for my time, and I couldn't charge an upfront deposit high enough to cover the time and effort put in, so I think that this amount is very fair to begin work on your amazing trip.
It is also important to remember that by choosing to book with me, you receive:
* Specialist advice including visas
* Personally curated and tailored itineraries designed especially for you that we work on until it is perfect for you
* Our strong global connections and buying power - which ensure you have great pricing and endless options
* Our luxury affiliation benefits exclusive to select travel agents only ( we are one of the few to be able to offer this )
* Our amazing companion trip tra
Update & information on November’s events ✈️
Matetsi private game lodge is incredible!!! I’m struggling to@find the words to describe this place. Magical, raw, exclusive, luxurious are only some of the ways to describe it. Everything you can possibly imagine has been taken care of for you here, This is their luxury suite on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River! #matetsiprivategamereserve #africa #Zimbabwe #wildlife #wildafrica #luxuryafrica #luxurytravel #travelwithme #donnajoneslux
Absolutely stunning. amazing, raw, wild and beautiful!
Africa!! #africa #outofafrica #botswana #namibia #safari #wildlife #choberiver #beauty #nature #luxurytravel #travelwithme 💜#donnajonesluxurytravelstylist
Quick update for today ❤️
Speaking of the Fleming’s Mayfair, London ....
This week I talk skiing in Switzerland & Austria.
Marketing this beautiful hotel in London is an absolute breeze as it speaks completely for itself. The Fleming’s, Mayfair is a a stunning small luxury hotel and is part of World in Style’s collection. The hotel and rooms are beautifully designed and finished with quintessentially English styling, upholding a luxurious feel. The location is second to none in the center of Mayfair, just a stroll across St James Park to Buckingham Palace and a 15 minute walk to Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and the West End theatre district of Covent Garden. But it isn't just the location that makes this gorgeous boutique hotel so special, it's the little things like fresh flower arrangements in each room, beautiful bed linens & exquisite bathroom products.
Please enjoy a walk through of my allocated room which was a junior suite. When booking you into this hotel, I can contact the manager who will ensure that you as my clients are taken care of perfectly. 💜
Walk though of my hotel room at the Hotel Kristiana in Lech, Austria. Another World in Style hotel and again a completely different character to the others. Hotel Kristina is more like a large home than a hotel. This is deliberate by the owner. Her personal touches are all around the hotel... artworks, artifacts collected in her travels, world renowned Baobab candles lighting the hallways every evening along with fabrics and tapestries sourced from around the globe. Each room is uniquely decorated in a different theme or character. My room was the French room, which I loved! The Kristina’s is just a 10 minute walk into the village Centre.,4 restaurants in house gives plenty of fine dining options without having to leave the premises if the snow is too much outside.
Gertrude ( the owner ) joined us on our walk up to the top of Ober Lech this afternoon. A gracious host who ensures that every whim of her guests are met.
Walk through of my room at the Post Lech Hotel in Austria. This hotel is a great blend of Austrian tradition and understated luxury.
I loved the Austrian feel of the hotel which you are reminded of everywhere with statues, murals, timber and the staff all wear traditional Tyrollean outfits. The owner of the hotel ( like many hotels in Lech ) is third generation family ownership. He is also a third generation sommelier. His brother owns a winery near Vienna & the wines are on the extensive list every meal.. including the champagne breakfast. He commented that he doesn’t stock them because his brother owns the winery, he stocks them because they are the best. He would certainly know. Thix traditionally styled and absolutely charming hotel in a perfect location right in the center of the village opposite the slopes.
Walk through of my room in Andermatt, Swiss Alps. Here we stayed at the Chedi. The Chedi hotels are a very uniquely luxury level, organic style of hotel. There are only a handful of Chedi properties around the world. The hotels are five star, very luxurious and cater to the most discerning traveler without being pretentious.
Incredibly though the rooms start at the Andermatt from AUD approx $800 per night which if you consider the cost to stay at our own Alpine lodges, which offer no comparison this is incredibly reasonable.
Enjoy the walk though. It was truly a special room consisting of an enormous 53 squares, private fireplace, automated blinds and lighting, separate bathtub, twin vanity with every amenity you could require, Stocked mini bar with complimentary non al oholic beverages and a stunning view over the mountain. Facilities were include a world class spa, indoor and outdoor pool and purpose built Winter village with a chalet style restaurant, timber hot tub and sauna.
Travel Talk Tuesday ( on a Wednesday again )..
I hope there is some helpful information once again x
Travel Talk Tuesday on a Wednesday. A little late this week, but better late than never. Please be sure to watch for some handy info on this one. X
Welcome to our new Travel Talk Tuesday where each week, I will give a rundown on the hottest destinations, travel tips, exclusive deals & inspiration!! #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #traveltalk #luxurytravel #travelstyling #yourlocaltravelagent #shellcove #travelwithme #travelexpert #aussieowned #exclusiveoffers #traveltheworld #uniquetravel #travelexperiences #varietycruises
We are cruising to Alaska currently onboard Norwegian Jewel. For anyone interested in the layout of the Club Balcony Suite onboard, I’ve taken a quick clip. The club balcony suite is slightly larger than the standard balcony stateroom &
Little extras include: daily canapés delivered to the stateroom, 1 x load of laundry, early access to shore excursion & restaurant bookings.
The Jewel will hopefully be returning to Australia for the 2023-2024 season. Until then, she has one more sailing to Alaska next week and then repositions to Los Angeles for the Cabo’s San Lucas route. I have received lots of interest & bookings for Norwegian’s Mediterranean salings next year. Norwegian will be launching the operation of their 2 newest and most incredible ships ever, the Prima & The Viva - they hold 5000 pax, so definitely not for the faint hearted ). If you are interested in any more information on either of these 2 unbelievable new vessels, just drop me an email and I will respond on my return.
