Travel Deb

16/12/2022

New page name - it may change in the future but I like this one :)

14/12/2022

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Please note, my association with TravelManagers finishes on December 22, 2022. For any future travel inquiries, please contact me at [email protected]

20/12/2020

This is the latest news from Norfolk Island. As it says in the post, they are monitoring the situation and will remove the quarantine requirement as soon as they are able.

02/12/2020

Stuck for a Christmas gift this year? Give the gift of experiences, rather than 'things', and support a small business as well! To arrange your gift, please call me on 0415 119 655, or email me at [email protected]

If your loved ones are anything like mine, open borders are at the top of their list for Santa this year. Surely, we’re all on the good list… we’ve been well behaved, we’ve looked after one another, and we’ve been ever so patient!

22/10/2020

(3:10 p.m. EDT) -- Cruise lines in Europe are continuing to bar passengers who violate their health and safety regulations when it comes to shore excursions and staying within the ship-sponsored "bubble" in port. Tuesday, a guest on AIDAblu left his travel group during a ship-sponsored shore excu

18/10/2020

Cruise Critic cruise news
This is for future cruisers only! If you don't want to cruise, please scroll on by!
https://www.cruisecritic.com.au/news/5206/?source=99360&fbclid=IwAR1XxJxr7nkqIYwXMtfJsf6Oxu73xqBNSZisgptYJhxC4y7pBIx0oTLdFYA

(Updated 12:42 p.m. EDT) -- With ocean and river cruise lines temporarily suspending service around the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping track of the seemingly minute-by-minute changes to the cruise industry can be challenging. Most cruise lines [voluntarily paused sailings fo

16/10/2020

Disney also announced a change to the debut of Disney Wish. 

09/09/2020

That's not good news, but not unexpected 😔

Virgin Australia is withdrawing from seven domestic destinations covering nine regional routes, while also exiting Tonga.

03/08/2020

Fingers crossed for November 2021. Registrations will open soon for this cruise, so I'm accepting expressions of interest now. Message me if you'd like to keep up-to-date on this cruise.

28/07/2020

We know many of you are trying to a get a refund for trips planned and paid for before .

The ACCC Consumer Rights has some helpful advice on your rights about holiday or trip cancellations and changes caused by .

https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/consumer-rights-guarantees/covid-19-coronavirus-information-for-consumers -cancellations-and-changes

Please remember, many businesses are struggling to process the high number of cancellations at this time. Rather than call, it’s best to contact them by email or on their website.

If you need further advice, speak to your local consumer body.

• Access Canberra www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au ☎️ 02 6207 3000
• Northern Territory Consumer Affairs www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au ☎️1800 019 319
• New South Wales Fair Trading www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au ☎️13 32 20
• Qld Office of Fair Trading https://www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading ☎️13 74 68
• South Australia Consumer and Business Services www.cbs.sa.gov.au ☎️ 13 18 82
• Tasmania Consumer, Building, Occupational Services https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/home ☎️1300 654 499
• Consumer Affairs Victoria www.consumer.vic.gov.au ☎️ 1300 558 181
• WA Consumer Protection https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection ☎️ 1300 304 054

05/07/2020

02/07/2020

For my Port Macquarie clients, currently, and at least until early August, Virgin Australia is not operating flights to/from here. Coffs Harbour or Newcastle are your options for onward destinations.

26/06/2020

I would be very grateful if you would complete this anonymous customer travel survey from TravelManagers Australia. Survey closes 3rd July.
Thank you.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q35XFWC

Take this survey to help us understand more about you and your future travel plans.

21/06/2020

Here in the land down under, it's our Winter Solstice. This astronomical phenomenon occurs each year in June. It is the shortest day and the longest night of the year and the earth starts her long, slow turn towards the light.
Maybe this is the perfect time for us to reflect on the year we have had so far, bush fires, drought, Covid-19 - all of which has had a major impact on our travel industry and our travel consultants Australia wide. So let's celebrate the winter solstice, and just like mother earth turn towards the light.

17/06/2020

Qantas is being very conservative with their forward estimates, which is understandable.
Sad to see the end of the 747s though. We wait with bated breath for the next instalment!

The mighty superjumbo is likely to stay grounded for some time to come, Qantas admits.

13/06/2020

I miss Melbourne!

What word comes to mind when you think of Victoria?

Here's some suggestions from our personal travel managers. Make sure to share your own in the comments below 👇

05/06/2020

One day, we'll all be able to visit this amazing place. For now, our lucky West Australians get to enjoy it!

🎉 KALBARRI SKYWALK TO OPEN NEXT FRIDAY 🎉

The wait is almost over! From midday next Friday 12 June, the Kalbarri Skywalk will be open for the people of Western Australia to enjoy.

We look forward to welcoming you to this universally accessible site, which features two cantilevered viewing platforms that offer soaring views of the Murchison Gorge and surrounds. The site also features toilets, shade shelters, parking, interpretive artwork, improved road infrastructure and a soon to open kiosk.

We have worked hard with our contractors, in consultation with Nanda Traditional Owners and the Mid West Development Commission, to bring you this striking attraction.

See you there!

Photo credit: Parks and Wildlife Service

03/06/2020

Gradually, Australian States are opening up for tourism. Here's a very useful guide from Tourism Australia to help with your travel plans.

Get information and stay informed about coronavirus. Find up-to-date travel information for Australia here.

03/06/2020

Wonderful wines in NSW.

Discover the NSW Wine Regions. Relax, unwind and enjoy food and wine events and wine tasting in NSW. Check out all the things to do in the Hunter Valley, Mudgee & other wine regions in NSW!

01/06/2020

Yay to NSW! 🎊👍

26/05/2020

Great video by Dennis, talking about credits and refunds for travel, due to Covid-19.
https://youtu.be/ec_DNdnqMG8

There has been a lot of debate recently on why travel credits are being issued rather than refunds and when refunds are being issued why they are taking so l...

20/05/2020

From 1 June 2020, you will be able to travel around New South Wales. Please come and visit our wonderful regional towns! Don't forget to bring your camera. 👍😄

17/05/2020

Mother Nature in and around my new favourite beach in Port Macquarie. This beach is next to our gorgeous little lighthouse (more pics of that coming), and is part of the Sea Acres National Park. We've lived in Port for almost 18 years, and today is my first foray down there.
It's been made much more accessible with a new track down from the road and wooden steps down from the lighthouse.

21/04/2020

Bella!

We asked our 600 personal travel managers to describe Italy using just one word. Here's what they said. What word would you use?

09/04/2020

Happy Easter to all my clients and friends. May you be virus-free and healthy over this holiday and in the future 👍

08/04/2020

Look at all the ships leaving Australia! I can't wait until they come back.
In the meantime, have a look at the Cruisemapper app to find your favourite vessel.🛳

07/04/2020

From 10 April 2020 and will fly between Hong Kong, Brisbane and Melbourne under the new International Aviation Network.

International travel is already extremely difficult and will only get more challenging in coming weeks. All Australians wanting to return to Australia should do so as soon as possible.

Australians in Hong Kong wanting to return should book directly with the relevant airline.

If you’re not in Hong Kong, you should NOT make arrangements to transit though as restrictions still apply. Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australia in Hong Kong & Macau are working hard to make suitable arrangements for travellers affected by the transit restrictions. Please continue to follow us so we can keep you informed of any changes.

Flights schedule below ⬇️

Weekly schedule from – 9 April – 4 May

✈️ Qantas (QF30) ➡️ Melbourne (Monday @ 19.30)
✈️ Virgin (VA16) ➡️ Brisbane (Tuesday @ 09.00)
✈️ Qantas (QF98) ➡️ Brisbane (Wednesday@ 19.30)
✈️ Qantas (QF98) ➡️ Brisbane (Friday @ 19.30)
✈️ Virgin (VA16) ➡️ Brisbane (Saturday @ 09.00)
✈️ Qantas (QF30) ➡️ Melbourne (Saturday @ 19.30)

For bookings go to qantas.com and virginaustralia.com

Other flight option are being offered by Cathy Pacific.

✈️ Cathy Pacific (CX101) ➡️ Sydney (Thursday @ 23.55)
✈️ Cathy Pacific (CX101) ➡️ Sunday (Thursday @ 23.55)

For more information see the Cathy Pacific website.

Any queries should be directed to Qantas, Virgin or Cathy Pacific.

All travellers arriving in Australia will need to undertake mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (e.g hotels), in their port of arrival.

Australia in Hong Kong & Macau

05/04/2020

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION NETWORK ESTABLISHED TO GET AUSTRALIANS HOME

We know many Australian travellers are facing difficulty getting home. The Australian Government has now established a network of flights with and .
These flights will leave from the key hubs , , and for the next four weeks. We encourage Australians still overseas to take up this opportunity.

We understand that in some cases this will not be possible where you are. The Government will consider supporting, on a case-by-case basis, non-scheduled services to other less accessible overseas destinations including and the .

For more information go to the country travel advice at: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Follow your nearest Australian Embassy on social media for local updates. https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/Pages/our-embassies-and-consulates-overseas

26/03/2020

Another useful site for you if you need to make a travel insurance claim.

Travel plans impacted by travel restrictions?

To help inform you before making an insurance claim, we've put together a summary of the dates travel advice ratings increased as a result of the pandemic. See: smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/covid-19-travel-advice-level-changes

26/03/2020

We are so proud of how our 600 Australia-wide personal travel managers have looked after their clients over the last few weeks. They’ve brought clients home, spent hours on hold on their behalf, and processed countless changes and cancellations. They’re doing it tough, but with your encouragement and support are keeping their heads high. Like us, they know that this too shall pass, and together we are looking forward to the day when we can all travel again. In the meantime, we will continue to dream – and inspire. We hope that you will join us.