Best Travel Deals of the Week

Metro Hotel on Pitt, in the heart of Sydney's CBD, is offering a very Merry Sydney Christmas package to visitors who find themselves in transit on Christmas Day.

The package costs $250 and includes one night's accommodation for two in a Superior Deluxe Queen room, Christmas lunch or dinner for two people at Paradiso Restaurant (2 course), breakfast for two and free internet.

The total saving is $116. Offer valid for December 24 and 25, 2012, and subject to availability.
Details: 1800 004 321 or www.metrohotels.com.au.

CAIRNS

The 4.5-star Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort is marking the start of summer with rates for locals from $139 per room per night.

It includes one night accommodation for two adults and two children, and a buffet breakfast.
An upgrade to a pool view room is also part of the rate, subject to availability, as well as late checkout at midday and a 10 per cent discount off all food and beverage purchased at the resort.
The offer is valid until March 31; terms and conditions apply.

Details: (07) 4080 1888 or www.novotelcairnsresort.com.au.

TASMANIA

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge in Tasmania is offering a Gourmet Escape package this summer.
It includes accommodation in a Pencil Pine Cabin, breakfast daily for two people, a three-course dinner for two, and a wine and cheese tasting session on one night.

Prices start from $392 per couple per night and is valid until March 31, 2013. Subject to availability, and block-out dates and minimum night stays apply.

Details: www.peppers.com.au.

EUROPE

Princess Cruises is offering a discounted fare when travelling onboard Dawn Princess's 37-day cruise from Rome to Sydney.

The voyage takes in the Western Mediterranean and Asia, including visits to a range of UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Petra and Malta, as well as the option of an overland shore excursion to the Taj Mahal in India.

Departing Rome on September 4, 2013, prices start from $5999 per person twin share.
Details: 13 24 88 or visit www.princess.com.

THAILAND

Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui has a three night Christmas package starting at $680 (conditions apply).
The package is for between December 22-26, 2012, and includes accommodation in a deluxe room, daily breakfast, return airport transfers, a 20 per cent discount on treatments at the hotel's Breeze Spa, and a 15 per cent discount voucher off any of the resort's restaurants.

Details: www.amari.com/palmreef.

Holiday Travel Tips to Keep You Safe and Saving

If you are heading home for Thanksgiving or ringing in the New Year somewhere special, the last thing you are probably thinking is, 'am I insured for that?'

Homeowners' Away from Home: Travel Insurance can cover any number of things, from flight cancellations to lost or stolen luggage, but you may be surprised to learn you could already be covered. Homeowner and renter's insurance do not necessarily stop at your doorstep, so call your agent to see if your belongings are covered away from home.

Keep Your Goods Good and Safe: Wherever you're headed these holidays, your trunk's likely loaded with gifts and pastime goods. Whether wrapped up or worn in, your golf clubs, gadgets and tablets are probably not protected by your auto insurance policy. If you tend to travel with high ticket items, ask your agent about adding a layer of protection. For example, Safeco Insurance offers personal property coverage through its Optimum Package.

Protection for the Unexpected: If you're driving home these holidays, remember, accidents spike over the holidays. To play it safe, look into Emergency Expense Coverage, which pays transportation, meals and lodging expenses if you crash away from home.

Avoid Overpaying and Under-Protecting: You may cringe at rental car fees, but the big dig is temporary insurance, which tacks 50%* onto your tab. Here's where you can save. Standard auto insurance often extends liability/collision protection to rentals, so you can cut costs and keep your coverage.

Partners, Promos and Perks: Last minute travel is a surefire way to overpay. Get free alerts from Airfarewatchdog.com and the jump on limited promotions from SmarterTravel.com, like flyer deals, rental car pre-pay discounts, and how to score free upgrades. Book through partners like credit cards and travel sites to save on flights and hotels. Always search for promo codes, and utilize loyalty programs.

They are easy to join and promise perks ranging from discounts to expedited processing.
World-wide Rental Car Coverage: While it's true your car insurance may offer protection for car rentals state-to-state, it is unlikely that your coverage will extend country-to-country. Some insurance companies, however, offer wider protection to their preferred customers.

In summary, save the surprises and the spending for the holiday, and get the best travel deals you can before you go. Take advantage of companies that compare deals for you, such as Answer Financial which staffs hundreds of licensed agents to give you an apples-to-apples understanding of the insurance choices, prices and coverages available to you. Finally, make sure you know which coverages you have and which you actually need, to make sure you're protected without overspending. If you are unsure, don't waste money, call your agent.

*Figures derived from identical quotes from three top rental car companies. Quotes assumed a one week compact car rental at the Los Angeles International Airport locations for each company, with payment due upon arrival.

Book Accommodation at www.Metrostar.com

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/4894568/holiday-travel-tips-to-keep-you.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/4894568/holiday-travel-tips-to-keep-you.html#storylink=cpy

Top Five Golden Rules for Female Travellers

Top five Golden rules for female travellers

With 45 percent of woman making up the corporate travel market, International SOS has identified five golden rules to help woman keep safe when travelling for business.

Rule number one: Know Yourself

Understanding your profile and how that profile may be perceived when you travel is vital. Key areas to consider include your physical appearance, travel experience, personality type and budget.

Rule number two: Do your research

Don’t assume, do your research before you travel and know the geography of the city you are visiting, plus be aware of any cultural differences.

Rule number three: Don’t be an easy target

Plan your flights so you arrive in the daytime especially if you are planning to catch a taxi and always use official taxis.

Rule number four: Be assertive

Be confident as appearing unfamiliar can make you a potential target.  Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.

Rule number five: Stay calm in a crisis

Statistics have proven that woman are more prone to harassment, assault and hand bag theft therefore it important to know how to respond in a crisis.  Being prepared is key to reducing risk while on business travel

Travel Makes You More Attractive

A recent survey of Aussie singles reveals that travel makes you more attractive, while 96 percent of respondents say they are looking for someone who likes to travel.

The Intrepid travel poll of over 880 singles on RSVP found that 55 percent of respondents believed having ‘travel’ on a potential mate’s profile makes them more desirable.

Intrepid Travel spokesperson Jo Stewart said the survey shows that travel increases your sex appeal.

“Travellers are generally considered curious about the world, open minded and adventurous, all of which are attractive qualities,” Ms Stewart said.

Daring travellers appear to be the more sort after, with 23 percent nominating ‘adventure seekers’ as the most attractive, followed by the ‘off the beaten track’ traveller at 22 percent and then the ‘cultured connoisseur’ at 16 percent.

RSVP spokesperson Melanie Dudgeon said the results show that shared interests and lifestyle goals are very important when looking for a mate.

“Many singles hope to travel and explore the world with a partner and this is why a common interest in travel is important to such a large majority,” Ms Dudgeon said.

Furthermore the survey found that 49 percent of respondents said they have had a holiday romance and 72 percent said they think of meeting a mate whilst on holidays.

Snake Horror As Passenger Stuffs 247 Animals In Suitcase

Shocked airport police in Argentina pave seized a Czech man trying to board a transatlantic flight with a bulging suitcase stuffed with 247 live poisonous snakes, endangered reptiles and other animals.

 Karel Abelovsky, 51, was reportedly caught at Ezeiza Airport in  Buenos Aires while trying to board an Iberia flight for Madrid. Baggage scanner technicians were astounded when they X-rayed the bag and saw it was filled with squirming “organic substances”. Inside they found more than 200 reptiles and molluscs.

Abelovsky had taken the trouble of using clear plastic containers to package nine species of poisonous snakes, including South American venomous vipers and juvenile boa constrictors. The packaging wouldn’t have saved the reptiles from dying if placed in the place’s cargo hold, which is where they were headed.

Abelovsky has been charged with attempted smuggling and faces the prospect of up to 10 years in an Argentine prison.

The case has been compared to “Snakes on a Plane” a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film starring Samuel L. Jackson. The movie plot, perhaps just a little far-fetched, involves mobsters releasing hundreds of snakes on a passenger plane in an attempt to kill a trial witness. More than 450 snakes were used during the filming, with one scene showing a crate opening halfway through the flight to release venomous serpents that slither into one of the plane’s toilets and kill a couple having sex.

Trains, Buses, Automobiles But Not Planes This Season: Survey

Two out of five air travelers would rather take another form of transport over this holiday season, the U.S. Travel Association has said, and according to Airlines for America, U.S. air travel will drop by an average of 20,000 people a day between 15 December 2011 and 4 January 2012 compared to the same period last year.

The U.S. Travel Association cites the frustrations of air travel in a period when over half of surveyed air travelers are flying with gifts.

The association has thus again called for airlines to “remedy the carry-on chaos...clogging U.S. airports” by changing luggage policies “to include in the price of a ticket the costs associated with checking one piece of luggage”.

The TSA is also being called upon to expand its PreCheck trusted traveler program to more travelers.

"Our research shows that reducing hassle without compromising security will encourage more Americans to fly — as many as two to three additional trips a year — leading to an additional $85 billion in spending that would support 900,000 American jobs," U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow said.

43.3 million air travelers are expected to fly on U.S. carriers over the 21day period, Airlines for America has said, a one percent drop over last year.

However, flights will still be full, particularly between 21-23 December, 26-30 December 26-30 and 2-3 January. 

So, I guess the question is, if Santa Claus had to pay for excess baggage would he avoid flying too?

Mobile Phones, Just Plane Annoying

A recent survey has revealed that 86 percent of people are against their fellow passengers being permitted to use their mobile phones whilst in flight.

The survey, conducted by Skyscanner has found that the majority of people felt it was ‘annoying to have to listen to other people’s conversations’.

This finding comes just as Virgin Atlantic announced it will permit mobile phone calls on its New York to London route, becoming one of the first international airlines to allow the usage of mobiles in-flight.

Despite the majority of people welcoming advancements in internet connectivity it appears that the majority of people would prefer to not have the constant chatter of other people’s conversations when in confined spaces.

The  survey also revealed that if the service was available 48 percent of people would send texts, 35 percent said they would surf the net, ten percent said they would send e-mails and only six percent said they would actually make and take a call.

Additionally only one percent of those interviewed said they would pay more to fly with a carrier that offered mobile calls.

Skyscanner marketing development manager for Australia Dave Boyte said flying was the only time we were allowed to truly switch off.

“Now with Virgin’s move into on-board mobile and the introduction of Wi-Fi on flights in Australia it is only a matter of time before we are always on call,” Mr Boyte said.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)