Whats New?
October 2009 Update
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We are nearly at the end of another highly eventful year – a very appropriate time to let all our customers know what we have been doing and tell you about some exciting new ideas to whet your appetites for travel in 2010.
Moving office: We are settled into our new office at 409 City Road, just around the corner from 182 Ferrars Street. This is in fact not a new office, but where SMT started out 10 years ago in 1999. We retain our customer parking in the rear of the building, accessed from York St.
Earlybird Airfares have been released so if you want to take advantage of some great savings - call us soon to make sure you get your dates and seats secured.
South Melbourne Travel Christmas closing date is from 3pm on Tuesday the 22nd December 2009. We will reopen on Wednesday the 6th January 2010 refreshed and ready for your phone calls and visits. |
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Staff Travels and Recommendations
In 2009 Nicole Diamond (Nicole@smtravel.com.au) travelled to the Middle East, experiencing the UAE and Oman. Approximately 15 minutes from Muscat, the Shangri-la’s Barr Al Jissar Resort made an ideal base from which to explore the capital of the Sultanate of Oman. |
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The resort is set in a dramatic desert landscape between rugged mountains and the clear blue waters of the bay of Al Jissah.
The resort comprises three hotels, Al Waha (ideal for families),
Al Bandar (deluxe) and Al Husn offering (six star) accommodation.
Amongst the many things to do and see in Muscat, highlights were the Muttrah Souq and the Grand Mosque with its 14 metres in length, 8 tonne chandelier made of Swarovski crystal.
Oman has so much to offer visitors with its culture, history, fortresses, palaces, fresh water wadis, diving and more.
Only a 1 hour flight from Muscat and we found ourselves back in Dubai, staying in one of the city's newest locations, the Downtown Burj Dubai area. Two stand-out hotels, the modern
63 storey “The Address” and “The Palace Old Town” a beautiful middle eastern themed hotel are situated on the Burj Lake. These two hotels face the world’s tallest man-made tower, the Burj Dubai and the world’s largest fountain, Dubai Fountain, which every evening puts on a spectacular light and music display shooting water 150 metres into the air.
Only a few minutes walk is the world’s largest shopping and entertainment centre, the recently opened Dubai Mall with its 1,200 retail outlets! Dubai has now established itself as the stopover of choice enroute to Europe with the ease of the brand new terminal 3 at Dubai airport and it’s easy proximity to so many wonderful hotels - needless to say Dubai is a shopping paradise.” |
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Sarah Low sarah@smtravel.com.au has recently been in Fiji with her young family. “We stayed at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island. This hotel was closed last year for a major renovation where all the rooms were remodelled – including new bathrooms, and completely new pools.
I also inspected neighbouring hotels including the Sofitel, Sheraton Villas, the Westin, the Radisson and the new Fiji Resort by Hilton. New on the Coral Coast is the magnificent InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa on Natadola Beach, which is currently perhaps Fiji’s most desirable hotel.
Fiji is only a 4.5 hour direct flight from Melbourne to Nadi making a fabulously easy to reach totally family friendly destination.
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Skiing is a great love of mine, and for those clients considering heading north in early 2010 for the Northern Hemisphere winter I would love to talk to you about ski holidays in the USA, in Canada, Japan, France, Switzerland, Austria or Italy.
Families should consider one of Club Med’s 22 ski resorts worldwide - including Japan – where there is a current special for 5 nights at Sahoro for A$1360 per adult.
Speak to Sarah for more details including early-bird discounts. sarah@smtravel.com.au |
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Marian Stanley marian@smtravel.com.au fullfilled a lifelong dream, travelling to Kerala on the South East coast of India.
“I visited the "Venice of the East" and travelled along the backwater (canals) in a very comfortable converted teak rice boat with coconut thatched roof featuring all the amenities such as air-conditioning and ensuite bathroom.
Fascinating views of daily life along the waterways passed before me as I sampled the local cuisine cooked by my private chef.
Some of the hotels I visited belonged to the http://www.cghearth.com/ CGH Earth group who demonstrate a strong interest in their local communities and the environment.
An in-house naturalist to explain the fascinating plant life is part of the package together with a tour of the organic veggie garden. Ayurveda also called "Science of Life" is practiced widely in Kerala.
It is a form of medicine, healing and wellness, which incorporates massage, diet and yoga to treat everything from stress and improving your complexion to more serious ailments.
I spent a week at an Ayurvedic Resort trying the treatments and came back feeling amazingly healthy and relaxed. |
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On the way home, as part of my Singapore stopover I had breakfast with the Orang Utans at Singapore Zoo - something I really recommend for all ages.
In Singapore I stayed at the Fullerton Hotel (www.fullertonhotel.com)
Great rooms, terrific swimming pool and right near all the best shopping. An historic building and a perfect 5 star hotel for your next visit to Singapore”.
Call us on (03) 9690 2133 for all enquiries
and bookings. |
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RECOMMENDATIONS - Our tried and tested recommendations for the year ahead!
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American Safari Cruises: The best in the business – according to ‘x’ who recently returned ‘American Safari Cruises’ www.amsafari.com - Small vessels permit an ‘up-close and personal’ experience.
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Peregrine Adventures www.peregrineadventures.com Peregrine Adventures operate a fabulous walking tour of the Cinque Terre and the Ligurian coast.
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Invitation to Tuscany www.invitationtotuscany.com “ Milling around in Tuscany” Take a dip in the indoor heated pool at Il Tasso, the stunning conversion of an ancient olive mill in Tuscany www.invitationtotuscany.com Set on the edge of a tiny hill village, the house has a huge, superbly-equipped kitchen/living room with high vaulted ceiling and marble floor, but the real highlight is the fabulous indoor pool with its underwater lighting and wave machine. Sleeping six, it has beautiful gardens with wonderful views of the surrounding hills. There is a small shop/bar, pizzeria, Romanesque church and 12th-century castle in the village, and marked walking trails nearby. Historic Volterra is 40 minutes away and Siena is one hour.
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CIT (www.citholidays.com) What a great tip - Prebook your tickets to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence before you go and avoid the queues. Also, when in Rome… why not book your very own guide for a private tour of the Vatican. Kate Parkinson is an Australian scholar who has lived for many years in Rome and will illuminate your understanding of the ‘eternal city’.
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Biosphere Expeditions – help save the flatback turtles in WA www.biosphere-expeditions.org/ have just released details of their first ever Australian expedition. For a truly different experience where you can ‘make a difference’ this is conservation tourism at its best.
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Elysian villas in Bali www.theelysian.com An oasis amidst the best restaurants in Seminyak, Bali. Your own private home in this island paradise.
- Podere Barbarino – a magnificent villa in a rural setting on the outskirts of Barbarino Val D’Elsa. A unique setting for your next family celebration. www.smtravel.com.au/podere_barberino.htm
Contact South Melbourne Travel on (03) 9690 2133 for all enquiries and bookings.
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