Essential Travel Tips travel blog

Travel Tips

I would like to share with you some valuable travel tips that I have learned over the past 30 years of world travel. From how to pack light, to travel hacking flight booking sites or knowing where to go and when to go, here are some of my favourite travel tips which I hope you will find useful.

There will be things that will go right and things that will go wrong. Trust me I’ve been through some awkward situations myself may time. 

Transport and Travel Tips

Everyone loves cheap flights, and everyone wants to know how and where to find them. 

Having worked for three decades with 5 different airlines, there isn’t a golden rule a can share because it doesn’t exist. When I had to purchase a full airfare, I personally I think meta search engines are the best places for booking cheap flights online, as they provide the best flight comparison.

The best flight comparison sites

Skyscanner, will give you the best value flight comparison that you can actually customise according to your needs. These will include pros and cons and lots of detail about penalties for changes, refunds etc. 

1. Skyscanner

The good: This really is my favourite site when looking for cheap flights. I think it is good for most types of travellers, but is especially good for people looking to go on backpacking trips, mid-week breaks or are just flexible with dates in general.

The best part about Skyscanner is that it will tell you the cheapest month of the year to fly and then the cheapest days within that month. I found return flights from Sydney to London return for just over AU$1,100.00, with Emirates and with short connecting times in Dubai. Only catch? You must be totally flexible with dates.

The bad: There are a lot of price quotes from third parties. If you don’t book a long haul flight direct with an airline, and book through a third-party instead, be prepared to pay big fees to change flight dates or times or even cancel your flight. Also, sometimes Skyscanner quotes you one price and when you go through to book you are quoted with a much higher price.

Other OTA’s to consider are:

1. Expedia www.expedia.com

2. Flight Centre www.flightcentre.com.au 

3. Travelocity www.travelocity.com

4. Momodo www.momodo.com.au

5. Orbitz www.orbitz.com

6. Webjet www.webjet.com.au 

Considering A Cruise Holiday

Now that I am retired from my airline job, I am giving the option of cruising more thoughts as it has been one of my curiosity for quite some time, beside I think cruise holidays are one of the best choices for disabled. Cruising is a fast-growing holiday segment and it is indeed a new way to travel and see the world without ever leaving your floating 5-star resort.

Are you thinking doing a cruise holiday? Travellers are looking for a holiday that provides something more: more fun, more entertainment, amazing food and more than one destination to explore during their holiday! You'll find all that and more when you choose a cruise.

Why are cruises a good and value for money option? There's really no better time than now to take a cruise one of the best holiday values for your dollar. You'll be pampered the entire time you're on board plus a cruise holiday can be relaxing, revitalising or exhilarating, the choice is yours to make as you can do as much or as little as you want. 

· Stress-Free Planning Means I Want to Take a Cruise

· Enjoy Multiple Destinations While Only Unpacking Once

· Health Benefits of Taking a Holiday

· Great Value Cruises

· Cruise Fun for Everyone with Plenty of Onboard Options

· So Many Choices Leads to Choosing Cruising

Below are some Cruise tour operators in Australia that offer a wide range of cruises at a very competitive price. A cruise holiday is one of the best holidays for disabled.

1. Cruise1st https://www.cruise1st.com.au/ 

2. Cruise Megastore https://cruisemegastore.com.au/

3. Cruiseaway https://www.cruiseaway.com.au/

4. Marella Cruises  https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise/  

Weekend Trips

It is difficult not to fall in love with Melbourne, I was fortunate enough to work and live there for 1 year in 2002. It has always been one of my favourite and popular destinations in the whole of Australia for a weekend getaway!

Although, it is challenging to cover Melbourne and surrounding in two days, with a well-planned itinerary, you can cover the most important attractions the city has to offer. 

Melbourne is a disabled friendly city and very accessible, from public transport to attractions and cultural sites. My favourite hotel in Melbourne which offers accessible rooms for disabled are:

1. Holiday Inn Melbourne on Flinders

2. InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto 

Both these hotels are located in the CBD and are disabled access friendly with rooms that that offer:  

• Lowered sink
• Raised toilet
• Toilet with grab rails
• Wheelchair accessible
• Upper floors accessible by elevator

Day 1

Explore the City

Melbourne is a city that is widely renowned for its gardens, history, culture, character and European-style charm, and a city tour is the best way to see all of the essentials of the capital with maximum efficiency to ensure no time is wasted.

Choose a tour that included the highlights of St. Paul's Cathedral, Federation Square, Chinatown, Parliament House etc. you're sure to get a true taste of the diversity that Melbourne is all about.

Shop on Bourke Street Mall

If you're looking to do a little retail therapy during your visit to the Victorian capital, head to Bourke Street Mall in the CBD. Home to a variety of renowned retail shops and boutiques, you'll find everything from high-end and current fashion to beauty and more.

The best part about the mall is that the shopping doesn't stop on the strip. There are a number of malls and arcades splitting off from the main mall area, which offer the chance to do some more shopping and dining in the comfort of an undercover centre.

The mall and its off-shooting arcades and centres can be reached easily on foot from a number of different accommodation options in the city and its surrounding regions, or with a ride on the free tram (within the city zone).

Day 2

Take a trip to the Great Ocean Road

One of the world's most scenic and dramatic drives, the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is an amazing stretch of coastline that is a must-see while in the region.

A tour will take you to see the highlights of this spectacular track that offers some great geographic and wildlife photo opportunities.

As the destination is located a fair distance from the Melbourne CBD, be prepared for a long day on the road in the coach. The day tours tend to depart the city relatively early in the morning to allow for enough time in the region before having to turn back and begin the journey back to Melbourne. However, if you're not eager to rush your visit you can spend the night with a two-day tour or drive yourself and book a nights' accommodation at one of the surrounding towns, the choice is yours.

Depending on which tour you book yourself on to will depend on what's included, however, the majority of tours include lunch for the day as you're travelling with the group for the entirety of the day.

The Importance Of Travel Insurance 

Personally, I have always placed a lot of importance to travel and health insurance due to same personal experiences whilst traveling in US that ended up costing me a lot of money. 

Therefore, from that time onward I was buying a travel insurance policy that was valid the whole year, without having to panic a the last moment, as cliched as it sounds…better safe than sorry!

For disabled traveller, a travel insurance policy is a must and if you are traveling with a wheelchair, please do mention that when you purchase the policy so that the wheelchair can also be covered.