72 hour VirginBlue Sale: Sydney – Gold Coast $49

VirginBlue are running a seventy-two hour sale. A number of smaller domestic routes included (all for June travel) and east coast capitals to Christchurch and Nadi (somewhat more expansive dates).

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[Image by scherre]

World Listed

If you have a few moments or are in need of travel inspiration the TripAdvisor Destinations Awards are worth a quick once-over. They were apparently ‘determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s travelers’ favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor’.

New Zealand takes out a quinella, with Milford Sound and Queenstown the two highest ranked destinations. Sydney, Cairns, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Port Douglas, Noosa, Perth, Cape Tribulation, Fremantle, Alice Springs, the Margaret River, Airlie Beach and Hobart were the Aussie inclusions. With regard to the USA California dominated, with Lake Tahoe the hightest rated, and in Europe it was Rhodes. Thailand managed six mentions. One slightly bizarre inclusion was Nadi, which may be a gateway to heaps of Fijian goodness but which is a pretty ordinary destination in itself.

Can anybody tick all of them off?

[Image of Milford Sound via Anita Gould]

The Only News Fit To Print

The West Australian’ website this afternoon managed to fit the news around the AirAsia adverts, just about. Every advertising space on the front page – no less than six of various sizes – was occupied by AirAsia. They could have done with the pretence and directed users to AirAsia’s site, with a column of headlines running along one side. On the other hand, anything that distracts from the car-crash that is Troy Buswell can’t be all bad.

Click image for the full-size catastrophe.

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Air New Zealand Sale – One Way $219 From Australian East Coast

Air New Zealand has a 72 hour sale running until Wed 14th of May. Deals to New Zealand (Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch) include

• Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Gold Coast one way from $219
• Adelaide one way from $339
• Perth one way from $499

For travel July to September 08. Prices include taxes and surcharges.

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[Hat tip: OzBargains. Image via sea-bass]

Qantas Aussie Getaway Sale

Qantas domestic sale on now until midnight (AEST) Monday 5 May 2008. Price includes a minimum 1,000 Frequent Flyer points.

These great deals are available for travel between:

• 20 May and 26 June,
• 23 July and 17 September, and
• 15 October and 10 December 2008.

Sydney to	One-way from
Canberra	$85
Brisbane	$95
Gold Coast	$95
Melbourne	$99
Adelaide	$120
Hobart	$125
Cairns	$169
Alice Springs	$198
Ayers Rock (Uluru)	$198
Perth	$209

Canberra to	One-way from
Sydney	$85
Melbourne	$95
Adelaide	$105
Brisbane	$115

Melbourne to	One-way from
Adelaide	$75
Canberra	$95
Sydney	$99
Hobart	$99
Brisbane	$119
Alice Springs	$179
Ayers Rock (Uluru)	$185
Perth	$198

Brisbane to	One-way from
Sydney	$95
Canberra	$115
Melbourne	$119
Cairns	$129
Adelaide	$135
Alice Springs	$209
Perth	$299

Cairns to	One-way from
Brisbane	$129
Sydney	$169
Alice Springs	$229

Gold Coast to	One-way from
Sydney	$95

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Once, twice, three times the sale(s) – Virgin Blue respond with “Party at Our Place Specials”

Virgin Blue have responded to Jetstar and Tiger. Specials on domestic routes (too many to list) and:

New Zealand

• Brisbane → Wellington $229^ AUD
• Sydney → Christchurch $149 AUD
• Melbourne → Christchurch $149 AUD
• Brisbane → Christchurch $149 AUD

• Auckland → Gold Coast $179 NZD
• Auckland → Brisbane $185 NZD
• Wellington → Brisbane $185^ NZD
• Christchurch → Sydney $179^ NZD
• Christchurch → Melbourne $179^ NZD
• Christchurch → Brisbane $185^ NZD
• Auckland → Cairns $339 NZD
• Auckland → Mackay $279 NZD
• Auckland → Rockhampton $279 NZD
• Christchurch → Adelaide $299 NZD
• Christchurch → Cairns $329 NZD
• Christchurch → Canberra $259 NZD
• Wellington → Cairns

Tonga

• Auckland → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $149 NZD
• Auckland → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $169 NZD

• Sydney → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $279 AUD
• Melbourne → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $349* AUD
• Brisbane → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $349* AUD
• Adelaide → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $349* AUD
• Canberra → Nuku Alofa (Tonga) $349* AUD

Samoa

• Auckland → Apia (Samoa) $239 NZD
• Christchurch → Apia (Samoa) $299* NZD
• Wellington → Apia (Samoa) $299* NZD
• Auckland → Apia (Samoa) $259 NZD
• Christchurch → Apia (Samoa) $299* NZD
• Wellington → Apia (Samoa) $299* NZD

• Sydney → Apia (Samoa) $349 AUD
• Melbourne → Apia (Samoa) $399* AUD
• Brisbane → Apia (Samoa) $399* AUD
• Adelaide → Apia (Samoa) $399* AUD
• Canberra → Apia (Samoa) $399* AUD
• Gold Coast → Apia (Samoa) $399* AUD

Cook Islands

• Auckland → Rarotonga $249 NZD
• Christchurch → Rarotonga $299* NZD
• Wellington → Rarotonga $299* NZD

Travel between dates vary, fares are one-way include most taxes. Seats are limited and may not be available at peak times or on all flights.

Hope it’s of interest.

Better late than never – Tiger Airways Sale

Tiger Airways are also running a sale and the discounts, although they don’t look to be as deep, may be easier to book. Thought it deserved a mention – most of the fares are for travel in May.

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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You may have missed…

Tiger alleges it has suffered from anti-competitive behaviour. Ahh well, at least the airline plans on adding capacity to two of its most popular routes, Singapore-Perth and Singapore-Ho Chi Minh City.

Australia is to seek an open skies agreement with the EU ‘Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific, believes an EU-Australian open skies could be a boon for Qantas’ Jetstar in opening up new low-fare routes‘ (Via Serious Sam).

A day after the Premier labled Perth aiport an ‘embarrassment’ Westralia Airports Corporation announced a $500m upgrade. The good people of Launceston will have to make-do with $20m.

Strong winds delayed flights out of Sydney.

Australia will ratify the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (the Montreal Convention 1999).

The excellent EuroCheapo accomodation site has branched out into European airfares with Cheaposearch Flights.

The Independent has an excellent article about what actually happens to baggage after check-in and some hints about what to do if your luggage is lost. Even if you can’t be there to experience the thrills and spills of lost luggage now you can play the game! (Via TravelWeekly). A guide to Airport Transfers at Heathrow Airport may just be timely.

Speaking of luggage Gatwick has ‘finally overturned the one carry-on bag rule‘.

Financial Times has an interesting article on Jetstar in Japan and ‘ the difficulty of applying the no-frills model in Japan, a country in which fuller-than-full service is the norm’.

Beggars are to banned from Florence – if they do not remain standing.

Lonely Planet has released a new series of national park guides.

Visiting Stonehenge may soon become a good deal cheaper and well… more plastic… for Australians.

Youtoob footage of one of the world’s most dangerous airports.

You can never read too many packing tips, particularly if they happen to be good.

“We have saved Luang Prabang’s buildings, but we have lost its soul.” CNN on the effect of mass tourism in Laos.

New tourism rules at the Vatican Museums.

Independent Traveller surveys the best and worst toilets – the best I’ve experienced were at Raffles in Singapore – the Singapore Sling STILL wasn’t worth it – and suggests Budget Alternatives to Classic Destinations.

Bali is surely ripe for re-discovery by Australian travellers.

Finally, Frommers have released updates to their guidebooks for

• LA
• Hawaii
• Vancouver and Victoria
• California
• Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard
• Seattle
• Germany
• Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu
• Montreal & Quebec City
• Vietnam

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