CATHAY PACIFIC STRETCHES ITS WINGS

YOUR WEEKLY “TRAVELLERS GOOD BUYS”

Week beginning 10 September 2007

travel tips: with david ellis

CATHAY PACIFIC STRETCHES ITS WINGS

CATHAY Pacific that just a month ago announced it was adding an extra
daily flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong from October 1 to make it
three a day, increasing flights from Adelaide to a daily service, and
Perth to five a week, has now said it will add a further four flights
a week from Sydney from February 3 next year. This will give the
airline 71-flights a week from mainland capitals and Cairns to Hong
Kong, with connecting services from there through Asia, and to North
America, Europe, the UK and South Africa. Details from travel agents.

IF you’re still looking for a tropical Christmas getaway that won’t
break the bank, Flight Centre Hotels has accommodation at the 3-star
Whitsunday Wanderers Resort at Queensland’s Airlie Beach from just
$117 per room per night for minimum 3-night stays. The Resort has good
access to the many beach, rainforest and Barrier Reef activities in
the Whitsundays area; for this and other value-priced options phone
1800 005 125 or visit www.flightcentrehotels.com.au

CROATIA’s fast gaining a new popularity with holidaymakers captivated
by its beaches and medieval towns, and Russia & Beyond Holidays has a
novel way of exploring these – by motorised 30-passenger sailboats
known as ‘Old Timers.’ Seven nights return from Dubrovnik in a
twin-share cabin, home-made Croatian-style breakfasts and lunches, and
services of a captain and crew cost from just $534pp; there’s ample
time for exploring towns like Hvar, Mlijet and Sipan, dozens of
islands, and go swimming, snorkelling or diving. Book by September 28
for holidays up to October 6 this year, or get details about next
year’s sailing program on 1300 363 544 or www.russiabeyond.com.au

FLY high over cattle stations, kangaroos, scrubland and spinifex
country and the timeless beauty of the Aussie Outback on dawn hot air
balloon rides from Alice Springs. A 5-hour excursion that includes
transfers from Alice Springs hotels, 30-minute balloon flight, gourmet
bush breakfast and a flight certificate costs from $230 per adult and
$184 per child; a $25 insurance fee pp is payable at time of flight.
Details on 1800 872 835 or www.travelpoint.com.au

FIJI’s newest luxury resort, Likuliku Lagoon Resort has an opening
special that includes 4-nights in a beachfront buré, all meals,
helicopter transfers and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champers on
arrival, a night pre and post at the Sofitel Fiji Resort in Denarau
with breakfasts, and return air from Australia. Prices start from
$3349pp ex-Brisbane, $3379 Sydney and from $3489pp twin-share from
Melbourne; book before October 31 for travel until March 31 2008.
Phone 1800 044 066 or check-out www.travel-associates.com.au

TRUE: When Robert Louis Stevenson visited Noumea in 1890 he described
it in a later travel article for an American newspaper as “an
unimpressive place built by the French from Vermouth cases.”