Going Places: Travel tips and deals

TOUR

NEW ZEALAND

Save up to $1350 a couple on an AAT Kings' 18-day Best of New Zealand First Choice Guided Holiday, when booked and paid by April 26. Travel by coach along the Hibiscus Coast to the Bay of Islands, see Waitomo Caves, Franz Josef Glacier and Milford Sound plus more. Includes many meals and transfers.

Priced from $5625 a person, twin share, on select departures. Phone 1300 228 546. See aatkings.com.

TASMANIA

Book a five-day walk in Tasmania's Tarkine Wilderness with Park Trek before February 29, to receive 20 per cent off. This trip includes all transport, meals and stays in Corinna and Tullah Lakeside Lodge It also includes a cruise to the mouth of the Pieman River.

Six departures before the end of November, including one women-only. $1480 a person twin share.

See parktrek.com.au.

ISLAND

FIJI

A three-night honeymoon on Castaway Island Fiji is now included in low season bookings of Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort's Tropical Summer Wedding Package.

The package already includes four nights' accommodation for two, a wedding ceremony and a reception for 50 guests.

$7500 based on a 50-guest party. Offer valid for weddings November 1-March 31, 2017.  Phone  +679 650 0044. See outriggerfijiweddings.com.

HAMILTON ISLAND

Stay on Hamilton Island at Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel and get five nights for the price of four in a garden view room, daily breakfast, Wi-Fi and transfers. Kids eat and stay for free.

Priced from $740 a person twin share. On sale until April 4 for selected travel periods until August 31.

Phone 1300 883 887. See travelonline.com.

FAMILY

INDIA

This 17-day private tour for families through Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore National park, and Jaipur in India includes two children under 12 travelling free, a saving of $3500. Includes luxury camping, safaris, private vehicle and more.

$8999 an adult if booked by February 28 for travel October 1-March 31. Blackout periods apply. Phone 1300 036 782 and quote Family Deal. See mantrawild.com.au.

UNITED STATES

Save up to $260 a person on Trafalgar's nine-day Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos Guided Family Experience when booked and paid in full by February 25.

It includes the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, Grand Teton​ National Park, and a stay at 320 Guest Ranch in Montana for activities such as whitewater rafting and horse wrangling. See Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore and more.

Priced from $3395 a person twin share with a young traveller discount available.  

Phone 1800 002 006. See trafalgar.com.

CRUISE

EUROPE

Get free return flights from Australia to Europe on bookings of Amadeus river cruises departing May to October. Flights are either economy or premium economy, depending on the cabin type. There are also $1000 stopover vouchers available for some departures.

Offer valid for sale until February 29. Phone 1300 363 554. See beyondtravel.com.au.

SOUTH AMERICA

Save $1100 a person off the October 25 departure of a South America cruise package. It includes flights from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne to Chile and back from Argentina, a 14-night cruise aboard Holland America Zaandam​ from Santiago to Buenos Aires, nine nights' accommodation and meals.

$5999 a person twin share if booked by February 21. Phone 1300 813 391. See ditravel.com.au.

HOTEL

HUNTER VALLEY

Golden Door is offering 25 per cent off its five- or seven-night  programs. 

The Health Enhancement seven-night program is priced from $3235 (single rate) and the Optimal Wellness five-night program from $2495 (single rate).

Available for travel year round with minimal blackout dates. Book by February 26. Phone 1800 212 011. See goldendoor.com.au.

MAURITIUS

Save 20 per cent on a five-day stay at Beachcombers' Dinarobin Hotel in Mauritius. The hotel has great restaurants, an 18-hole championship Paradis Golf Course and a high end spa. The price is $1275 a person twin share for travel from May 23 to July 22. Phone 1300 237 422 and quote "Dinarobin Hotel Early Booking Offer". See benchinternational.com.au.

EXPERT OPINION

Matt Young,  Vice President Operations Queensland and Northern Territory, AccorHotels

Q. Has Australia's Valentine's Day tastes changed in the hotel realm?

A.  From fine dining and Champagne to red roses and musicians serenading, Australians have always appreciated the traditional when checking into a hotel to celebrate Valentine's Day. We find our Sofitel and MGallery properties very popular for classic Valentine's Day experiences.

However, we've noticed Valentine's guests' tastes have evolved and they are now looking for more personalised service to add unexpected elements. Surprises such as diamond ring desserts and private, candlelit dinners are hugely popular,  while Sofitel Brisbane Central's indulgent picnic baskets for two, which include a bottle of Veuve Brut Rosé, never fail to impress.

These days, rather than sticking to formality and formula, hotel staff are empowered to respond to guests' requests creatively – and they love it. 

One of our most common last-minute Valentine's Day requests is for roses. It's fair to say a few people forget the special day. Pericles​ Yiannakis​, chief concierge at Sofitel Brisbane, knows the process too well, which is why he spends a good amount of time befriending local florists throughout the year to call on favours during the Valentine's Day rush.

See AccorHotels.com.au.

THE BIG ISSUE

FIVE REASONS WHY TRAVELLING TO THE US IS GOOD VALUE

If it's all doom and gloom for the Aussie dollar against the US, then Aussies travelling to the US don't seem to care. Record numbers of us continue to pour into the United States, and statistics suggest we intend to keep doing so. Figures gathered by Brand USA show the country continues to be the No. 1 preferred outbound destination for Australian travellers and they're not just retrospective figures. Measuring traveller intent, indications are, record numbers are planning a visit.

More money than sense, you say? Not so. In fact, Ollie Philpot​, director of Brand USA, gives five reasons why now's a great time to plan to travel to America.

1. More airlines are flying the Australia-US route, which equals competition. "Some heavy discounting has already occurred among the major airlines," says Philpot.  "We're seeing prices in this market across the Pacific that we've never seen before."

2. The cost of living in the US remains cheaper. Eating out in the US is far more affordable than Australia. "Even with tipping, it's up to 20 per cent cheaper, depending where you eat," says Philpot. And even with less AU for the US, the cost of shopping is better. "Particularly in larger stores and malls, great savings are to be had there," says Philpot.

3. The way Australians are travelling to the US is different. "Because the flights are more affordable, more Australians are going for more short breaks and more event-based activity. Once, going to the US was a three-week holiday-of-a-lifetime for Australians."

4. Accommodation may be more affordable – even for Hawaii, which is so hot right now with Aussies. "The likes of Flight Centre, HelloWorld and Expedia are starting to package more three- and four-star properties to offset the exchange rate, rather than focusing on four- and five-star experiences," says Philpot.

5. Package holiday prices are locked in. "This is really important: a lot of tour operators to the US have published brochures that basically lock in the cost of the package well in advance. So you're purchasing what was costed six or eight months ago."

GEBICKI TIP

Flying budget? Check which airport your carrier uses, it might cost you time and money. Paris-Beauvais, used by Ryanair and several other budget carriers, is 85 kilometres north of Paris and public transport is limited.