AirAsia X to fly to Australia starting November

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X, Malaysia's first long-haul budget carrier, will launch operations by flying to Australia's Gold Coast in November, the company said Friday.
The airline will commence four direct return flights per week between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast Airport beginning Nov. 2, with fares starting from 99 Australian dollars (US$87; euro62) for one-way travel departing from Gold Coast, AirAsia X said in a statement. The first flight is expected to carry 315 passengers aboard an Airbus A330, comprising 279 economy seats and 36 premium seats, the statement added.

A train across south-west Australia

The great India Pacific rail journey from Sydney to Perth takes 65 hours, but the most popular part is the 38-hour stretch you are after, west from Adelaide.
The word "Nullarbor" is derived from the Latin for "no trees" and there's an especially desolate, swerve-free section of track there that lasts for a staggering 297 miles. It's the longest bit of straight railway line in the world ­ that's like catching a train from Southampton to Newcastle without once being driven round a

Hawaiian Airlines launches New Fares from Australia to US Mainland

Low season, follow the airline’s introduction of additional Boeing 767 aircraft, and extra services between Honolulu and the mainland. “With more seats available between Hawaii and the mainland, there are now more opportunities for Australians to visit the USA,” said Scott Cammell, Sales and Marketing Manager Australia for Hawaiian Airlines.
“We offer a relaxing alternative for travel to America, stopping first in exciting Hawaii, or continuing on one of our connecting flights from Honolulu to the mainland, with a stopover on the way home,” said Mr Cammell. “It’s two American holidays in one trip.”

Holidays in Australia

Flights to Australia can seem to cost the earth, but with canny research it is possible to find cheap flights to any destination within this beautiful country. Dial a flight for instance offer flights to Australia starting at a little under £600 including tax.
The cost of flights to Australia are as variable as to any other country, and there are certain pitfalls to be aware of before you commit yourself to what looks like the cheapest deal. Firstly, beware of the hidden taxes in any unfeasibly cheap flight deal: you may end up paying a lot more than is advertised. It is always advisable to check the fine print in any of these deals - you may end up paying hundreds of pounds in tax and surcharges. For example if you pay by credit card, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and the implications of your payment method.

Hotel boom in boutique rooms

Big hotel chains may provide consistency and comfort, but not everyone is enamoured of their impersonal atmosphere. As a result, customers are seeking out boutique hotels in record numbers.Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) saw reservations revenue jump 25 per cent in 2006, and added 70 properties to its portfolio in 2007. It now lists more than 400 hotels in 65 countries. In North America, the Preferred Hotel Group has just created a new brand called Preferred Boutique to meet growing demand – and is expanding into Australasia.

Sydney voted best city in travel awards

Sydney has been voted the best city for overseas visitors in a survey by travel publication Conde Nast Traveller. The Readers' Travel Awards 2007 saw the Australian city come out on top ahead of closest rivals New York, Paris and Rome.
In the airline list, British Airways was voted best, with bmi close behind in second.
Hong Kong International Airport was deemed to be the top hub in the world and was noted for its cleanliness and design. "I'm delighted that readers of Conde Nast Traveller voted Sydney their favourite overseas city," the magazine's editor Sarah Miller told the Australian Associated Press.

Making waves; Tahiti giveaway

Tahiti giveaway: Pay for three nights, get another three free at Tahiti's Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora, a saving of $1100 a person. From $2699 a person ex Sydney ($2899 ex Melbourne and Brisbane), including six nights at Le Maitai Polynesia, two nights at the InterContinental Hotel Tahiti, inter-island flights, transfers and taxes. Upgrade to an over-water villa for $600 a person. Available for travel until the end of December and from January 21 to March 31. Book by October 31. More: 1300 650 965; www.hotelmaitai.com.

VIRGIN Blue aims to take on Qantas' dominance of the regional air travel market

With the new aircraft we will do new flying and be able to increase frequencies and be better able to match capacity and schedules with demand. Virgin is also looking at airports in more than 20 cities and towns across rural Australia, including places as far apart as Devonport on the north-west coast of Tasmania and Emerald in southern Queensland. During the past few months evaluation teams were despatched to Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Burnie, Dubbo, Mildura, Tamworth and Wagga to check on likely ticket sales from local travel markets, suitability of airstrips and requisite facilities in air small air terminals.

Stamford Grand our best

The Stamford Grand Adelaide at Glenelg, the Hilton Adelaide and the Hyatt Regency Adelaide, were SA winners in the HotelClub Hotel Awards 2007, from online accommodation provider HotelClub.com.au. More than 55,000 hotel nominations were received across the region, which included Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The top three hotels overall were the Marriott Resort & Spa Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Hilton Sydney, New South Wales and Crown Towers Hotel, Victoria.