Don’t you hate it when a “too good to be true” airfare catches your eye and, when you set off in pursuit of the bargain, it turns out to be exactly that - too good to be true.
The actual fare was fine but then came the bane of every traveller's life - taxes and other charges!
Now, in their rush to stay aloft, airlines are trimming a bit here and there, reducing many of the nice things we had for so long taken for granted (especially up the front-end of the bus). There is also evidence they are on an endless quest for other ways to get us in the pocket.
At London's Luton Airport (let's hope the bank which runs Sydney International is not awake) they now charge you about $2 just to pull in at the kerb to drop off someone who is leaving on a jet plane!
The American version of the ABC's extras list is even more of a worry.
I can't see how this would work but the network reports a discount flyer is considering charging passengers a fee to use onboard toilets! (Maybe the best advice here is to resist that one more ale or cuppa before flying.)
There is also a domestic carrier over there which has dropped handing out pillows and blankets to reduce payload and, therefore, fuel use. So you either freeze at 38,000 feet or pay about $10 for a pillow/blanket kit “of high quality”.
Such a move here would reduce air travellers to BYO pillows etc just as long-distance coach travellers have been doing for years.
Staying in touch means staying safe
New Oz tech could be a lifesaver
The sorry state of affairs in Thailand and, to a very much lesser extent, Fiji, or before that, the mayhem in Mumbai, all serve to illustrate a need for overseas travellers to be on top of things, information-wise if they choose (as many will continue to do) to ignore often overstated government travel advisories.
I have long been an advocate of more skilfully-prepared travel warnings rather than the scatter-gun approach so often taken.
Keeping up with unfolding events in faraway places, especially when English language bulletins on local radio or television are off the air and newspapers are not easily obtained, is now possible through a hi-tech Travel Messenger system. This relays up-to-the-minute security updates via SMS messages to your mobile phone.
In Thailand and in Mumbai subscribers were appraised of the local situations every 15 minutes.
Mark McCormack, CEO of Loop9, the Melbourne company which developed the system, says Travel Messenger SMS Concierge Service now covers 3000 cities in 200 countries.
In addition to potentially life-threatening situations, you will be advised of every occurence from rail strikes in India to religious holidays in Butan or bank holidays in Costa Rica.
There is even a multilingual translation service which can assist you with asking directions or directing a wayward cabbie going the long way round to squeeze you for an extra buck.
Travel Messenger is available from travel agencies from $20 - a small outlay for peace of mind.
For more information visit www.TravelMessenger.com.au
Top End at the Top End
New deal for families staying home for the hols
Remaining in Oz for the holidays, as an increasing number of families seems to be doing, does not mean foregoing new cultures, environments or luxury for mum and dad, according to the people at Eco-Training Australia.
In conjunction with Bamurru Plains, they have packaged a family holiday which has the kids learning all about the Top End's incredible wildlife and bush culture while the parents sample wild bush luxury.
The five-night July school holiday deal puts the children in camp at EcoTraining Australia on Swim Creek station, just west of Kakadu.
At the parents’ “camp” at nearby Bamurru Plains Creek station, tents and hammocks give way to king-bedded safari suites with views over the Mary River floodplains and fine dining - and some precious time without the brood.
Much-awarded Bamurru directs guests' attention and experience to the local environment and enjoying casual visits by wild wallabies, buffalo and other creatures of the area.
EcoTraining Australia is a hands-on guide training program, designed for wilderness guides and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of the Australian bush. Kids are taught bush skills, learn about Aboriginal culture and get to see wildlife up close with expert guides.
There is also plenty of together-time on croc-spotting tours, guided bush walks, safari drives and barramundi fishing, air-boating on the floodplains and a scenic flight over the Kakadu escarpment.
And if you can stand the shock to the system, there is no TV, no mobile phone coverage and no computers!
The five-nights in heaven-on-earth begins on either July 4 or July 11 this year and cost $13,020 for two adults and one child, or $14,020 with two children. The price includes all meals, beverages, accommodation, guide services and excursions.
Look it all up for yourself at www.bamurruplains.com or call 1300 790 561.
STOP PRESS: Downward dollar much needed boost for Fiji tourism
Devaluation of the Fiji dollar by 20 per cent last week is viewed by the island nation's tourism chief as a “timely windfall”. Beset by continuing political unrest, threatened with being kicked out of the world's most exclusive club - the Commonwealth - and renewed presence of uniforms and roadblocks all over the main island, Tourism Fiji's most genial chief executive officer Joe Tuamoto was over the moon at the Fiji Reserve Bank's devaluation decision.
Joe, who made many friends here during his stint as the then Fiji Visitors Bureau director, said devaluation was a major boost.
“In a nutshell there has never been a better time to holiday in Fiji,'' he said from his Nadi headquarters.
Fiji has felt the effects of the global economic downturn since the beginning of this year. January floods virtually negated one of their strongest months.
Joe is confident the devaluation would have “immediate and very positive ramifications” for the local tourism industry and its overseas partners.
“While Fiji has always represented fantastic value to our visitors, there were some pockets within the international travel industry where it was felt we were becoming over-priced.
“Devaluation will bring the Fiji dollar in line with the currencies in our major source markets - especially Australia and New Zealand,'' he said. | 
