Just a heads-up about a new Jetstar ‘sale’, although it’s a bit of damp squib compared to recent deals (perhaps we’ve been a bit spoilt…). I couldn’t see too startling so I didn’t bother copying the whole schebang. Let me know if you think otherwise.
Routes:
Sale runs until Wednesday 21 May 2008 for travel 24 May – 24 Jun 08.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged airfares, bangkok, brisbane, cairns, christchurch, Deals, gold coast, holiday, japan, jestar, melbourne, new zealand, sale, singapore, sydney, thailand, travel, vacation, vietnam
The Bangkok Post is seeking nomiations for the ‘nine best destinations in Thailand‘ – ‘Thais consider the number 9 to be particularly lucky. So, in February of 2009, only the 9 candidates which receive the highest number of votes will make it onto the list of places that every traveller must visit before they can truthfully claim to have seen the very best of Thailand’. While the list might be a long way from completion, in the meantime registered users can access a slew of free road maps for short tours from all across Thailand.
Some articles about Asia that are well worth a look. – MyThaiLife stares into the unforgiving eyes of death Bangkok street food and lives to tell the tale without the need for a change of trousers. Drew Leifheit, determined not to be out-done, takes to the motos of Phnom Penh where ‘most [drivers] come to a stop if it means avoiding an accident’. Reassuring.
Viator has a decent guide to Kuala Lumpur.
Finally, National Geographic has reprinted a fascinating article from 1955 about Tibet written by Heinrich Harrer (Via Boing Boing)
[Photo Vendor Girl by notashamed via Flickr reproduced under Creative Commons]
Posted in Misc
Tagged bangkok, cambodia, dalai lama, kuala lumpur, lhasa, malaysia, moto, phnom penh, street food, thailand, tibet, travel
Tony Robinson – Baldrick in Blackadder, host of Time Team, History’s Worst Jobs amongst many other great TV gigs – is a man in whom I live in awe. A train-nut, he shared his 10 favorite rail journeys in Britain with the Telegraph. A welcome reminder that Britain, despite it’s frequently disparaged rail services, has some of the most evocative (and most overlooked) rail journeys in the world. Is there anything this man cannot do?
‘Don’t hesitate, vaccinate’! Stress less about malaria and worry more about dehydration. Give those anti-malarials a run before you leave to roadtest side-effects. All this and more in MSNBC’s10 health pitfalls to avoid while travelling.
Forbes Traveller counts down its list of the world’s sexiest rooftop bars. Because alcohol and great heights really do mix.
Luxury trains – who needs em? The Man in Seat 61 explains how the journeys on five luxury trains can be replicated on regular services for a fraction of the price.
MSNBC’s 5 common ticket screw-ups travellers make’ could be summed up in one: ‘don’t be stupid’. Read these tips and be stupid in your own original ways.
Get all zen with Bravenewtraveler which reckons travelling solo can teach you ten things about yourself. One thing it can occaisionally teach is how much you miss home, but Vaggabonding has five tips for dealing with homesickness. When you do head home, whether out of choice or necessity, bravenewtraveler has some tips for reconnecting with friends when you get home.
Luxury biking tours? I remain unconvinced by MSNBC claims to have tracked down ten of the best.
Betta getta Vespa – Rome by Vespa is one of the Guardian’s five best quirky city tours.
Free stuff always catches my eye and The Broke Vacationer has no less than 100 ways to get free stuff while travelling.
I spy with my little eye five games to pass the time while travelling at Vagabondish.
Reading Body in Motion’s 10 Things You Should Know Before Coming to Africa will guarantee you suffer no culture shock when arriving at Lagos airport. Okay, it may help. A little bit.
Discover your inner Mickey – Fodor’s has 15 Tips for enjoying Disney at any age and Smartertravel will help you get around Disney World. The Telegraph has some budget (well sub £140 a night) hotel advice, while you’re there here are some New York recommendations from National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel.
Canada means Hockey and World Hum has some interesting and useful cultural background for neophytes (like me) interested in checking out a game.
The Crancky Flier gives the run-down on Heathrow’s new T5: would you be surprised if phrases such as ‘poor customer service’, ‘Someone tried to get way too clever’. ‘stupid’ and ‘Indifferent’ featured prominently? If not the conclusion ‘adequate but nothing more’ might even come as a pleasent surprise.
‘For a low-cost airline, AirBerlin’s service was very pleasant and efficient’ – Europestring.com enjoys a trip on German cheapie Air Berlin.
Even more free stuff to do in London from National Geographic and Europcheapo, while two contributors to The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget suggest Prague and Naples for Euro cheap eats and Belgrade for the best value nightlife in an interview with Budget Travel
Ian Walsh from the New York Times, recommends walking Rome by night. The article is accompanied with a map of a suggested route from Piazza Venezia to Lago Argentia with embedded audio commentry. HighCultureLowBudget’s regular ‘Ask A Local’ feature is off to Firenze this week with Florentine Katie who can make 10 euro go a long way.
The Guardian has posted an audio guide tracing the May 1968 Paris student protests, while the Flyaway Weblog suggests twenty ways to explore Paris like a local.
The Times has an extensive guide to Vilinus and The Chicago Tribune has some tips for Athens.
Let’s Go Phillipines lists some budget hotel options in Boracay.
Budget Travel will get you started if you’re planning a trip to China, and The Telegraph has a feature on Beijing; ‘it’s grim to look at and as grey as a Mao suit, its climate is generally awful, it’s built on the most inhuman scale imaginable…’. Arthur Frommer writes that Ctrip is the only place to purchase tickets to or in China.
Flaway has some brief recommendations for eating cheaply and well in Phuket and Khao Lak. Shopping in Bangkok? I didn’t know such a thing existed. Travelling Blogger set me right. Mike Smith meets mummified monk of Khao Samui.
VietnaminFocus tackles when to visit Vietnam. August to March comes a close second to anytime, while Vietnam Travel Focus suggests beating the heat in Hanoi at The Army Hotel where you can hang out at around a rather nice looking pool for USD$4 for the day.
Posted in Misc
Tagged accommodation, africa, airberlin, asia, athens, bangkok, bars, beijing, belgrade, biking, boracay, britain, canada, china, city tours, disney, disney world, europe, firenze, florence, free stuff, greece, hanoi, heathrow, hockey, homesickness, hotels, italy, khao lak, khao samui, lithuania, london, naples, new york, paris, phillipines, phuket, prague, rome, serbia, thailand, tony robinson, tours, train, travel, travel tips, travelling solo, vietnam, vilinus
Royal Brunei has some decent deals ex Sydney to many Asian destinations until 31st of May, its last day of service to Australa.
|
From |
To |
One-Way Fare Starting From |
Return Fare Starting From |
|
Sydney |
Brunei |
AUD 254 |
AUD 395 |
|
Kota Kinabalu |
AUD 276 |
AUD 452 |
|
|
Kuching |
AUD 276 |
AUD 462 |
|
|
Singapore |
AUD 350 |
AUD 550 |
|
|
Kuala Lumpur |
AUD 350 |
AUD 551 |
|
|
Bangkok |
AUD 362 |
AUD 569 |
|
|
Manila |
AUD 362 |
AUD 544 |
|
|
Jakarta |
AUD 362 |
AUD 544 |
|
|
Surabaya |
AUD 362 |
AUD 544 |
|
|
Denpasar |
AUD 362 |
AUD 544 |
|
|
Saigon |
AUD 395 |
AUD 637 |
Via OzBargain
Fodors
Ethics of visiting Karen in Thailand
Heated discussion as to whether it is ‘acceptable’ to share meals in Europe
Extensive trip report through Germany: From Mosel to Munich
Frommers
Getting off the beaten path in India
Thorn Tree
Thai immigration has apparently become stricter about requiring proof of onward travel
How much to pay for beer in Thailand and various attractions thoughout South East Asia.
Is Nancy Chandler’s map of Bangkok decorative, useful or both
Interesting thread on the practice of outdoor funerals especially in Vietnam and Singapore
Does giving candy to children encourage begging?
Europe by campervan
Oz Traveller 