For those of us who love it, and for those of us who enjoy it: tourism is everything. Photo: iStock The guy on stage yells at the crowd with the zeal of an evangelist. “Tourism is everything! he urges, as the people around him nod and everyone listens. “Tourism. It’s. Everything.” The stage is a … Read more
Not much has changed in hostels over the past few years. Photo: Getty Images Prices for international flights from Australia are soaring, COVID test lines have been replaced by passport waiting lists and restrictions in most countries now extend to the occasional mask. Australians have descended on Europe and beyond, and for the first time … Read more
San Sebastian, Basque Country. Photo: iStock You make pintxos badly. You’ve probably heard of the Basque style of tapas served in the far north of Spain. You know those little bites, those yummy snacks you devour in a moving feast, as you stroll from bar to bar, washing down each pintxo with cheap drinks. Except … Read more
Young asian tourist rushing to board plane on departure area Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto Have you ever been on a delayed flight with a tight connection ahead and wondered if you’ll make it? It’s stress you don’t need. Right now, when flight delays are all too frequent, it creates more stress for more travellers. A sign … Read more
If you do not have an Australian motorcycle license you cannot get motorcycle cover. Photo: iStock I was looking for motorcycle medical travel insurance to cover my partner’s upcoming trip to Vietnam. She has dual Australian/Vietnamese citizenship. All Australian insurers require her to have an Australian motorcycle license. Since she only has a Vietnamese license, … Read more
Even traveling in the dead of winter or the middle of the rainy season in the tropics isn’t necessarily something to avoid. Photo: iStock When I last left Sydney International Airport the check-in hall was fairly quiet except for a large deployment of ADF personnel heading to the South Pacific and a few orderly lines … Read more
Tipping rules are uncomplicated and apply in most places, especially on the international tourist circuit. Photo: iStock Australians have traditionally avoided tipping and like to dramatize its supposed complications. Dwelling on the misguided quirks of alien behavior is a staple of the traveler’s repertoire. But is tipping confusing? You only need a few rules of … Read more
Kids can have a great time in the snow, but you need to know when to stop. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen “Bae Bear is not coming,” my husband said at the dinner table, the day before we took our two children to the snow for the first time. The luggage was already piled up outside the … Read more
Bondi Beach: Usually full of backpackers. Photo: iStock I don’t know if you’ve been checking social media lately, but everyone is in Europe. Maybe it’s just the algorithm that’s set up to feed me images of things that will make me madly jealous, but according to Instagram in particular, every single person I’ve ever been … Read more
On board the Air New Zealand A320. Air New Zealand and Qantas are among the highest rated airlines in the world. So who offers the best domestic service? We put both to the test on two mystery flights – we flew Adelaide to Sydney with Qantas and Christchurch to Auckland with Air New Zealand. Here’s … Read more