Wrapping up an enormous year at 6pm today.
The office will be closed from the 24th of December until the 14th of January to take some time out with my family.
I would like to send a big thank you to all of my loyal and new clients for your incredible support of your local Aussie owned and operated Travel Agency.
Wishing you all a fabulous Christmas and a very Happy New Year filled with making memories.
I will be on standby as always for emergencies for clients travelling over the festive season.
If you have enquiries for travel in 2025 and beyond, just drop me an email and I will get to it once the office reopens mid January.
Much Love to all, Donna x
AFRICA Escorted Trip 2026
Exciting news!!! The process has started for the Luxury Travel Style & Cruise escorted trip to Africa in 2026. At this stage I am looking at September 2026 and I’m working in collaboration with our suppliers to put an incredible African Experience together for a small group of maximum 14 people. We are taking expressions of interest now for this trip. Once the itinerary is complete, I’ll be holding an information evening so that any questions can be answered. We are looking to include: Cape Town, South Africa: 2 Safari lodge experiences & game drives, Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe, The Okavengo Delta in Botswana & and Gorilla trek in Rwanda.
Accomodation will be a mixed experience from 3.5 star, along with glampimg tents to an incredible 5 star all inclusive safari private game lodge. The trip will be escorted by myself & my husband.
Like us, I am sure that you will find Africa is a mind blowing and life changing experience and one that will stay in your heart forever. Places will be limited to 14. Taking expressions of interest now.
Japan!
Oh my gosh.. I have so much to share about this amazing luxurious trip! We are finishing it up with some ZEN in Japan at a beautiful Ryokan with a private onsen overlooking the mountains after having fun in Positano, Sorrento Paris and Dubai as well as London and Mykonos. Please excuse my whispering, it’s private dining and I didn’t want to disturb the other guests. My daughter is jet lagged and trying to morph back into our the zone & not too fussed on raw food, so she’s sleeping, which leaves me dining along tonight. Figured I’d share it with someone, I’ve already annoyed my husband!
Our epic mum/daughter adventure so far….we have arrived in Athens, spent the night in the Plaka ( my fave area) & will head to Mykonos later this afternoon.
If flying Emirates Business Class, depending on your status tier level, biz pax may receive an email offering the opportunity to upgrade to First Class for a nominal amount. This exclusive offer is only available by email. I advise my Business class clients to consider this offer if they receive it and on this occasion for our epic Mother/Daughter trip to Europe, I also took up the exclusive invite to upgrade from Business to First class. What an experience!! From Dom Perignon pre take off and free glowing throughout the flight to the top notch wine offerings, the made to order exquisite dining options, the individual opulent suites, that incredible lie flat bed with premium bedding, the moisturizing pyjamas, to the impeccable service.. was it worth it? Most definitely! To start our journey in the most memorable way possible with such a fabulous offer from the airline. #becauseyouareworthit #luxurytravel #luxetravel #emiratesfirstclass #motherdaughtertrip #girlstrip #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #liveyourbestlife #europeherewecome #boeing777300er
European shoulder season is so very hip right now!
I have had so many pax depart for Europe of the past few weeks, electing to avoid the peak season crowds & the Paris Olympic crowds this year, with a whole lot more set to take off on their much anticipated especially tailored journeys today and throughout the next couple of weeks - including myself. I will be leaving for Europe this weekend for the 2nd time this season. If Europe is on your radar for 2025, I’m a European specialist. With 9 European trips under my belt, having travelled extensively throughout the UK, The Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, Skiing in Switzerland and Austria along with Dalmatian Coast cruising through Croatia, Slovenia and Albania, Greek Island cruising & European River cruising, I have you covered. Don't leave it too late. If you prefer shoulder season travel to avoid the crazy crowds and searing heat, shoulder season starts from April - May next year. It's time to start thinking about dropping me an email to secure the best fares and to start the ball rolling.
I will return on the 23rd of October which is perfect timing to start moving on things for you.
In the meantime, keep an eye on my page for some inspo as I am set to explore the brand new addition - Deos which part of the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts in Greece. Deos only opened it's doors in May this year. Followed by the Amalfi Coast of Italy staying in the stunning towns of Sorrento and Positano, then showcasing to you one of London's most beautiful, iconic and quintessentially English hotels; The Goring where I am very excited to be staying as well as trying their 5 Michelin starred restaurant. Next stop is Amsterdam, then Paris with The Kimpton St Honore, before heading back to Dubai to the gorgeous Jumeirah Beach Hotel for a few nights and onto the very traditional side of Japan, exploring Kyoto and the Onsen town of Hakone.
On my return if any of these places look like they could be for you, just
Prague! What an extraordinary blend of Gothic, Renaissance & Baroque architecture. One of the most beautiful European cities I have ever visited. And the traditional dish- Svíčková ( beef swimming in gravy and cream served with dumplings and cranberry sauce on the side. & goulash.) charlesbridge #astronomicalclock #prague #praguecastle #gothic #gothicstyle #baroque #renaissance #europeanhistory #czechrepublic #luxurytravel #liveyourbestlife #donnajonesluxurytravelstylist #travelwithme
Update on AmaWaterways.
This was suppose to be a ‘quick’ update. For those who know me, you know I so love a chat ( even with myself apparently 😅), but if you can hang in there for the 9 minutes, I promise there’s some great information on AmaWaterways & beyond!
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
Specialising in Global Luxury Travel, Africa, The Greek Islands and Snow Ski Holidays. I am a wife to my wonderful hubby and mum to our four beautiful children.
