The French are polite – so take that you English pig-dogs!

According to a Reader’s Digest survey New York, Zurich and Toronto are the world’s most polite cities and Kuala Lumpur, Bucharest and Mumbai the world’s rudest. Paris, unfortunately, did the stereotype of the rude Frenchmen no favours by managing no more than a mid-table finish of joint fifteenth with London. Even Sydney managed to do better, matching the Milanese as the 24th rudest city.

Three measures were used to test each cities rudeness quotient:

1) Walking into public buildings 20 times behind people to see if they would hold the door open for us.
2) Buying small items from 20 stores and recorded whether the sales assistants said thank you.
3) Dropping a folder full of papers in 20 busy locations to see if anyone would help pick them up.

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[Via Expedia]

Free! Travel Information Delivered To Your Door!

The internet is an incredible free source of destination information, but it can’t quite match the thrill of receiving a whole envelope full of free glossy brochures of beautiful people streched out before vistas of azure oceans. Here are two great sources of free travel information delivered to your door; one defintely useful, the perhaps somewhat other less so.

Let’s start with the best. Tourism authorities are a fantastic and often-overlooked source of travel information – particularly for decent free maps and basic info with lots of glossy pictures. ANTOR’s* represents 48 official tourism authorities (including the Australian State authorities) and the destination info page provides (along side some basic travel info) the URL, email address and contact details for all of them. If you’re interested in any major destination for Australian travellers it will be listed. Simply email the relevant authority with your address, rough dates of travel and as far as possible the specific regions or cities you’re interested in and wait for the postie everyday for a week or so! No substitute for a good guidebook or your own research but generally there will be at least a couple of genuinely useful items in the material sent.

TravelBrochures.com.au and TravelBrochures.SMH.com.au are another clearing house for free travel information, although arguably of a must less useful nature. These sites allow to order free tour company brochures, some of which are available in digital (tree-saving) format. All the majors are available as well as a few smaller operators – useful if you wish to compare tours from a number of companies or can’t get to a travel agent. Of course some major operators now send out (often unintenionally comical) DVDs as as a bonus! Be warned, however, apart from ending up on a tour (which may or may not be a bad thing in itself…), you are likely to end up on a mailing list of the tour companies from which it may be difficult to extract yourself!

*(Association of National Tourist Office Representatives in Australasia)

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[Image by Classroom III]

AirAsia to Fly to Perth – Flights from $99

According to TravelWeekly AirAsia’s next Australian destination will be Perth, with weekly flights commencing November 2 and daily flights from March 2009. Intial fares from $99.

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AirAsia to Commence Flights to London in March – KL to London for A$400

According to a report in Malaysian newspaper The Star AirAsia X will commence flights from Kuala Lumpur to London from March next year. According to the article AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes ‘estimated that the average cost of a return fare to London would be about RM1,200 [around A$400] while the higher-class flatbed seats would cost about RM8,000 [around $2,5000] return’. Presuming these figures are accurate (which is a big presumption) a return fare from the Gold Coast to London would be in the ball park of A$1,100. Very tasty.

The flights are likely to operate out of Stanstead with AirAsia X starting with five flights a week using a leased Airbus A340 (with Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 aircraft in the future) but “we will build it up to eventually two flights on a daily basis.”

On-board amenities sound better than one would expect “Our on-board entertainment system will be a state-of-the-art touch screen unit. You can watch movies, listen to music and even order your food from the unit.” Ordering food from the on-board entertainment system does, however, suggest that even what little cabin service one can otherwise expect from an LCC may be stripped away.

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[Image credit Dimitry B]

AirAsia Gold Coast – KL $199

Stupidly overlooked this AirAsia sale the other day because I assumed it was inter-Asia only (!). I’m especially annoyed because it looks to be an excellent deal, especially as fares include taxes, surcharges and fees. Don’t know if there are any seats left (presuming there were many to begin with…). Runs until 7 of May. Let us know in comments if you snag a deal!

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Another Jetstar Sale – Companion fare for $4

Jetstar have launched a take a friend sale!

In our exciting 4th Birthday Sale you can book 2 JetSaver Light^ fares, with carry on baggage only, and total price will be one JetSaver Light fare plus just $4!

On flights to Japan and Honolulu, the total price for 2 is just one JetSaver fare, which includes checked baggage, plus just $4.

Or if you and your friend want to travel to another destination with checked baggage allowance, book a JetSaver fare for just $10 more per person for domestic or $20 more per person for international flights. It’s your choice!

The fares shown below are the price per passenger. These fares will be booked as 2 equal fares, and must be booked in pairs. When you search, sale fares will be identified by our special birthday sale fare banner!

On sale now until midnight (23.59 AEST) Monday 5 May 2008, unless sold out prior. For travel on selected days and flights only. Limited availability on Fridays and Sundays.

International Routes	Travel period		JetSaver fares in $AUD	JetSaver Light fares in $AUD
	23 Jul – 17 Sep 08	15 Oct – 10 Dec 08
Brisbane Christchurch			$126.50	$106.50
Brisbane Osaka			$246.50
Cairns Nagoya			$216.50
Cairns Osaka			$216.50
Gold Coast Christchurch			$126.50	$106.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Bangkok			$246.50	$226.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Christchurch			$126.50	$106.50
Sydney Christchurch			$126.50	$106.50
Sydney Ho Chi Minh City			$246.50	$226.50
Sydney Honolulu			$281.50
Sydney Kuala Lumpur			$221.50	$201.50
Sydney Osaka			$246.50

Australian Domestic Routes	Travel period		JetSaver fares in $AUD	JetSaver Light fares in $AUD
	23 Jul – 17 Sep 08	15 Oct – 10 Dec 08
Adelaide Cairns			$96.50	$86.50
Adelaide Darwin			$91.50	$81.50
Adelaide Gold Coast			$61.50	$51.50
Adelaide Sunshine Coast			$66.50	$56.50
Brisbane Adelaide			$61.50	$51.50
Brisbane Cairns			$71.50	$61.50
Brisbane Darwin			$91.50	$81.50
Brisbane Hamilton Island			$56.50	$46.50
Brisbane Launceston			$76.50	$66.50
Brisbane Mackay			$46.50	$36.50
Brisbane Newcastle			$36.50	$26.50
Brisbane Rockhampton			$41.50	$31.50
Brisbane Townsville			$64.00	$54.00
Brisbane Whitsunday Coast			$51.50	$41.50
Cairns Darwin			$91.50	$81.50
Gold Coast Newcastle			$41.50	$31.50
Melbourne (Avalon) Adelaide			$36.50	$26.50
Melbourne (Avalon) Brisbane			$61.50	$51.50
Melbourne (Avalon) Perth			$101.50	$91.50
Melbourne (Avalon) Sydney			$46.50	$36.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Ballina Byron Bay			$61.50	$51.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Cairns			$91.50	$81.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Darwin (only available on flights JQ677/JQ678 )			$71.50	$61.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Gold Coast			$56.50	$46.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Hamilton Island			$91.50	$81.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Hobart			$46.50	$36.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Launceston			$36.50	$26.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Newcastle			$36.50	$26.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Sunshine Coast			$61.50	$51.50
Melbourne (Tullamarine) Townsville			$106.50	$96.50
Sydney Adelaide			$66.50	$56.50
Sydney Ballina Byron Bay			$46.50	$36.50
Sydney Brisbane (not available on flight JQ18 )			$46.50	$36.50
Sydney Cairns			$76.50	$66.50
Sydney Fraser Coast			$46.50	$36.50
Sydney Gold Coast			$46.50	$36.50
Sydney Hamilton Island			$86.50	$76.50
Sydney Launceston			$51.50	$41.50
Sydney Hobart			$56.50	$46.50
Sydney Sunshine Coast			$51.50	$41.50
Sydney Townsville			$71.50	$61.50
Sydney Whitsunday Coast			$61.50	$51.50

Why-o-why am I always out when airlines launch their best sales? If your actually manage to get onto the site AND complete the booking process let us know.

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Loose Change – A round-up of recent travel tips from around the web (26th of April)

Travel Tips of the Week

Gadling: Big in Japan: 5 mistakes made by first-timers in Japan

In a country where using the word “no” displays ‘as much social grace as a bovine’ and “toilet slippers” should be kept out of the kitchen some cultural tips come in handy.

General

National Geographic has a list of the world’s top guided tours. Continki gets nary a mention.

Patronising quote of the week goes to Flight Centre’s marketing manager in The Age’s tips for using budget airlines to get around the place:

“We have people who have spent time on the internet to put their own itineraries together, and then come in to talk to our agents,” Bowman says. “That’s when the agent might say, ‘Are you aware that flight to London goes in to Luton and not Heathrow?’ The response is usually, ‘So what does that mean?’

“That’s when we need to explain all the details that the customer has not found on the internet.”

In our experience workaday wage slaves simply LOVE receiving bulk emails from you gloating about the simply wonderful time you’re having in exotic climes. If that hasn’t been you’re experience Traveler’s Notebook has some tips for writing emails the folks at home will actually want to read.

Intelligent Traveler has a guide to guides; five tips on how to pick a guidebook. Vagabondish goes one better with four alternatives to let you dispense with the darned things for good.

MSNBC makes taking children on a plane trip sound a marginally less complex operation than Dunkirk, while the Perrin Post has the Top Ten Toyless Ways to Occupy Kids on Planes without alcohol OR Prozac.

‘To have tasty and nutritious food on board, and be the envy of your fellow passengers, you need to bring your own. With advance planning, you can eat like a King or Queen on the plane.’ How to eat well at 30,000 feet via Beat of Hawaii featuring lots of Tupperware.

James Wysong has some tips for navigating customs: no fruit, no jokes, no phones and no porn are apparently the secret to avoiding being patted by down by your friendly neighbourhood customs officer. Hardly seems worth it.

Vagabondish has 12 clever and creative uses for a digital camera on the road.

The Americas

The Times recommends six destinations in the United States, while Intelligent Travel has an excellent guide to taking teens to NYC. 10 free things to do in LA from Frommer’s.

Toronto is oft-overlooked even by travellers to Canada. Peter Greenfield has an introduction to its lesser known attractions.

Get closer to nature with five gems for the eco-tourist in Costa Rica.

Europe

The New York Times spends 36 hours in Naples where incredible history, garbage and toxic mozzarella meet.

About.com has a list of the five worst wookie rookie France travel mistakes. You’ll feel like Captain Cook with PeterGreenberg’s secret spots in Paris and The Times Undiscovered France: Poitiers. Alexander Lobrano reckons it’s possible to eat well in Paris. We remain unconvinced.

The Guardian’s Blog by Blog section has some really interesting and unusual tips for things to do in London

The Telegraph has published a Madrid city guide, and claims to have a list of Madrid’s best budget hotels (£44+). To get there the Independent has some tips on tourist trains in Spain.

Eurocheapo has five free things to do in Krakow.

Whether or not to get a Eurorail pass can be a difficult business, here are some tips as to when it is likely to represent a decent deal.

Asia

Business Week (of all places) has a list of India’s top five yoga centres.

Seth Mydans has some tips for Singapore hawker fare, street food heaven.

Viator has some tips for Kuala Lumpur.

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[Contiki image via Glenn Ross on Flickr, Toronto image via Photofusion on Flickr, Krakow image via astilly on Flickr, yoga image via premasagar on Flickr]

Lamas, motos, markets and ‘some weird looking red curry’

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)

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[Photo Vendor Girl by notashamed via Flickr reproduced under Creative Commons]

Royal Brunei Deals from Sydney to Asia unti 31st of May

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

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You may have missed… (14th of April)

Pacific Airlines, Vietnam’s second-largest carrier will be renamed Jetstar Pacific as part of a joint venture with the QANTAS subsidiary that will also lead to a fleet of 30 leased Airbus A320 aircraft being based in the country by 2014.

A woman has died in Brisbane this morning after falling from a stationary plane at Brisbane International Airport.

‘It feels as if someone has taken a huge sack of invaluable works of art and dumped them into the building, letting them fall as they may’. Can anybody match the Italians for their cheerful indifference to gorgeous ancient works of art? If in Rome check out ‘a treasure trove of breathtaking paintings, frescos, mosaics and sculptures from the heyday of Roman Empire — most borrowed from museums in Naples and Pompeii” currently being exhibited within spitting distance of Termini.

Jet Airways has delayed the planned launch of a Bombay – Shanghai – San Francisco service until June ‘to finalize the regulatory process’. Meanwhile AirAsia XXX is wearing a look of studied indifference to the collapse of Oasis – declaring it remains confident it will start flights to London – just not this year.

The chatter leaking out from under the Australian Government’s cone of silence insist that the “security incident” which delayed a plane in Melbourne for half an hour on Saturday night was a ‘misunderstanding‘ which is NOT bureaucrat speak for ‘stuff up’. But we’ve already said too much.

Does anything say ‘peaceful’, ‘tranquil’ and no longer the source of extreme tension between two quarrelling nuclear armed nations like golf courses? Kashmir can’t think of anything so it’s going with parks for ‘flog and chase’.

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