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Vegas nights and Delta days paddle steamer cruise

Michael G Browne
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Vegas nights and Delta days paddle steamer cruise

Did you know that Mark Twain (as Samuel Clemens) worked on Mississippi steamers as a young man? And he got his pen name from the gauge used to measure the depth of the river.

I mention it because Cruise Traveller has come up with an excellent deal to get you channeling your inner Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn on a Mississippi River Cruise on American Splendour, a ship that gives more than a nod to the steamboat era.

You start your 14 night package with four nights in Las Vegas from where you can enjoy the bonus tour to the Grand Canyon (described at the end of this feature).

There are of course plenty of other things to do amongst the neon and palaces of the place where what happens there stays there!

Tn you fly to New Orleans to embark on a unique riverboat adventure along the Lower Mississippi River between New Orleans, Louisiana and Memphis, Tennessee.

Savor a week aboard intimate and relaxed modern riverboats as you cruise the lower Mississippi River.

The enthusiastic all-American crew are ready to share with you a wonderful journey filled with historical tales, culinary delights, unique culture, vibrant music, and new friends.

Enjoy time onboard the ship in your comfortable and spacious stateroom. From your private balcony, enjoy expansive river views, the rising bluffs of the historic river towns, and the tree-lined banks accented with blue herons and bald eagles.

Delight in the diverse menu of delicious meals carefully crafted by the onboard culinary team to include samples of regional cuisine.

Dynamic presentations by your onboard speaker connect you to the region’s culture and history. Local guides also share insights to illuminate your shore excursions.

Memphis offers savory barbecue, rich music history museums, Sun Studios, and the amazing tour of Elvis` Graceland mansion exhibits.

You can explore why the Mississippi River and the port of Vicksburg were so important during the Civil War as you explore the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Enjoy beautiful architecture, antiques, and gardens at grand plantation homes as you learn southern stories from local guides and fascinating museums.

Take in the local shops and museums of quaint and cozy towns like St. Francisville and Natchez. Perhaps sip and savor a tasty mint julep while strolling under the canopy of the 300-year-old trees at Oak Alley Plantation or explore the lavishly restored mansion and the expansive, manicured grounds surrounding Houmas House Plantation.

A Grand Bonus

Free full-day tour to the Grand Canyon round trip from Las Vegas by Coach: Along the way you will see epic sights such as the Hoover Dam, travel through an eerie Joshua tree forest and explore a genuine frontier town inhabited by the Hualapai nation.

This action-packed tour starts with a stop at the amazing O`Callaghan-Tillman Bridge for a photo op of the Hoover Dam and enough time to enjoy the majesty of this engineering masterpiece. Travel through the Joshua tree forest, which has to be seen to be believed, before arriving at the Indian village and the Hualapai Market.

Take in a Wild West Show with Old West gunfights at the Hualapai Ranch, dine at the Skywalk Cafe (additional cost) and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Canyon from Guano Point and Eagle Point.

For all the cabin details, pricing and choice of three departures, CLICK HERE or call Cruise Traveller on 1800 507 777

Connect to country via this free online magazine

Jimmy Thomson
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Connect to country via this free online magazine

It could be argued that one of the unexpected benefits of the covid pandemic was that Australian travellers started looking closer to home when planning our adventures.  And along with that came a renewed interest in Aboriginal culture, including visiting “country” where those ancient traditions are rooted.

If that piques your interest, there’s a fascinating free online magazine that will take you to places that you may never even have heard of where cultural riches await.

The latest edition of Connect to Country digital magazine, dedicated to telling the stories of Discover Aboriginal Experiences members, is out now. It’s a highly professional online publication with a ton of stunning images, worth a look, just for them.

The new issue (no.7) showcases DAE’s website, which can help you plan your perfect Indigenous adventure.

It features a new luxury Tiwi Islands Escape and highlight some of the incredible Aboriginal-led experiences available in Broome.

In South Australia, visitors can explore the sprawling and culturally significant wetlands surrounding the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre whilst, in the heart of Melbourne, the newly renovated Koorie Heritage Trust provides a central hub of Aboriginal art and knowledge.

There’s a feature about movie locations where you can learn some older, epic tales from the traditional owners of the land and then take the plunge into some special swimming spots. 

How many seasons are there in a year? The answer varies between Aboriginal clans across different regions of Australia.

Connect to Country talks to talk to Australia’s Bush Tucker Queen, Dale Tilbrook about how Aboriginal people take their cues from nature, rather than a calendar, when it comes to recognising and naming a season.

Lovers of art and the outdoors are spoilt for choice on the traditional Kuku-Yalanji lands in Northern Queensland, where a chance discovery has unveiled vast rock art galleries with thousands of years of history and culture on show. 

For those who’d like a more transformative journey, the magazine takes a peek into experiences such as Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness’s Yuin Retreat, that blend the cultural and spiritual with the therapeutic. 

You can view the magazine, entirely free of charge and with no sign-ups, here.

Treat yourself to a top-notch Hayman bargain

Michael G Browne
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Treat yourself to a top-notch Hayman bargain

THE DEAL: Stay four nights from A$2,999 /room valued up to A$5,510,a five-star saving of 46%

THE APPEAL: A jewel on the shores of the sun-drenched Whitsundays, this award-winning resort boasts breathtaking natural beauty right at its doorstep.

An icon of island extravagance, with direct access to the Great Barrier Reef’s shimmering waters, the luxurious oasis welcomes couples and families alike.

This magnificent retreat caters to those who appreciate the finer things, boasting world-class amenities and a collection of exquisite dining options.

From the signature ocean-facing restaurant, Pacific, to Mediterranean-influenced Amici, there’s something for every palate.

Unwind at the world-class Hayman Spa & Salon, which exudes tranquility from the moment you enter, or relax by one of two iconic swimming pools.

When adventure calls, the many sights and experiences dotted throughout the Whitsundays are waiting to welcome you.

Step outside the sanctuary of InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, an IHG Hotel to find yourself in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.

Aquamarine underwater adventures in the glistening Coral Sea and picture-perfect Whitehaven Beach are both just a short boat ride from this idyllic island paradise.

Upon your return to Hayman Island, witness the mesmerising sunsets that paint the sky each evening.

Whether you’re looking for out-of-this-world diving, a romantic escape or a dreamy setting for a family trip, this private island resort is where travel memories are made.

For room choices, add-on options and to book with Luxury Escapes, CLICK HERE or call 1300 941 887

Walking Kyoto: mountains to the sea

Jimmy Thomson
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Walking Kyoto: mountains to the sea

Any traveller thinking of going to Japan will probably at least consider visiting Kyoto, an iconic city that has been at the centre of much of Japan’s history and culture for more than 1,000 years.

Yet few overseas visitors go beyond Kyoto’s precincts to visit its hinterland, a bucolic region that stretches north to the Sea of Japan.

Walk Japan’s newest tour, Kyoto: Mountains to the Sea, explores this other idyllic Kyoto of verdant mountains and valleys, forests and farming villages, remote hillside hamlets and rugged northern Sea of Japan coast.

The contrast between the countryside and life of Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City could not be more stark, yet the two have an intimate symbiotic relationship, established over millennia, that thrives to this day.

The prefecture is the source of much of the produce and crafts for which the city is so rightly well known.

This fully-guided, eight day tour explores remote and beautiful mountainous countryside following ancient trails, once vital for commerce and communication, that lead finally to Amanohashidate, long considered one of Japan’s three classic vistas, on the Sea of Japan coast.

En route, we come across little-known villages and hamlets where you’ll often find our accommodation for the night. Here, friendly hosts provide warm welcomes and mouth watering cuisine that is composed of the same locally-grown ingredients as those served up in the famed ryokan inns of Kyoto, the city.

For full detail and a comprehensive itinerary, visit Walk Japan’s website or contact them and check out TOUR DATES HERE.

Sail Japan and Korea pretty in pink in cherry blossom time

Michael G Browne
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Sail Japan and Korea pretty in pink in cherry blossom time

The popularity of Japan and Korea with Australian visitors seems to be increasing as every day passes.

It’s definitely in the zeitgeist as we say in English, and cherry blossom time is so treasured by the locals it should be on everyone’s bucket list.

If this short-lived nationally revered Japanese wonder is anywhere on yours, the Azamara cruise from Luxury Escapes is so comprehensive in its itinerary it’s as breathtaking as some of the scenery.

The ultimate Japan itinerary awaits! From the historic waters of Kobe to the soaring skyscrapers of Tokyo and the legendary gardens of Kanazawa, a trove of wonders are ready to be discovered on this 13-night cruise.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan, South Korea

Your experience begins with one night of pre-cruise accommodation in Kobe before embarking on an unforgettable odyssey that will take you past the country’s sparkling southernmost shores, South Korea’s sunny Busan, and the length of Japan’s west coast.

Departing during cherry blossom season, you’re guaranteed a chance to see some remarkable pink blooms in action.

Return south for two nights of post-cruise accommodation in Tokyo’s lively Shinjuku district, an ideal spot to sample the city’s nightlife and entertainment.

Throughout your cruise, make use of the fabulous facilities onboard – specialty restaurants, a swimming pool, a state-of-the-art spa, enrichment programs and classes and Broadway-style entertainment await.

You’ll enjoy all-inclusive onboard dining, onboard drinks and five-star Azamara service throughout, plus a $1,500 Luxury Escapes flight credit to help get you to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Three Highlights in Three Days

Day 4: Kochi

The capital of the prefecture of the same name and a city renowned for its friendliness and hospitality to visitors.

Visit the castle of Kochi-jo for a look at one of the country’s best-preserved historic castles.

For lunch, be sure to try the city’s most famous dish: katsuo no tataki, or lightly grilled and sliced bonito tuna, served with spring onions, ginger, garlic and soy sauce.

Day 5: Hiroshima

Return to Honshu and stop in at Hiroshima. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which today serves as a symbol of enduring peace.

Built around the now-infamous Atomic Bomb Dome – the only structure left standing when the atomic bomb was dropped – the museum offers an extraordinary, if harrowing, glimpse into the horrors of nuclear warfare.

After working up an appetite, why not head to a local restaurant for one of the city’s signature dishes – okonomiyaki, a delicious savoury pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, pork or seafood and lashings of delicious umami-rich sauce.

Day 6: Kitakyushu

The island of Kyushu’s northernmost city, Kitakyushu has historically been one of Japan’s most vital industrial and maritime hubs.

Echoes of the Meiji era – the period from 1868 to 1912 when Japan modernised at a rapid pace – can be felt everywhere in the city, with red-brick warehouses and European-inspired architecture a common sight.

For something a little different, check out the TOTO Museum, dedicated to honouring the humble porcelain toilet and Kitakyushu’s place in plumbing manufacture throughout the 20th century.

Your journey takes you to: Kobe, Japan – Kochi – Hiroshima – Kitakyushu – Sasebo – Busan, South Korea – Sakaiminato, Japan – Kanazawa – Niigata – Akita – Aomori – Tokyo.

For all prices and bookings from Luxury Escapes CLICK HERE or call 1300 820 853

Korea change for culture vultures

Jimmy Thomson
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Korea change for culture vultures

The Deal: Grab the last few spots and save $1000 per couple on a culture-packed eight-day TravelMarvel tour of South Korea.

The Appeal:  From September 12-19, only, all the other tours this year are sold out so this is a truly limited offer. For $5,495pp, it includes:  

  • Seven nights’ premium accommodation
  • Services of a Travelmarvel Tour Director
  • 14 meals – 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
  • A traditional Korean BBQ dinner in Seoul
  • Hands-on cooking workshop to make bibimbap
  • See the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace
  • Experience a traditional Korean village at Bukchon Hanok
  • Travel on board the Korea’s high speed bullet train, the KTX Express

DAY 1

Arrive in Seoul and transfer to your accommodation for three nights, at the Courtyard Seoul Namdaemun. Meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers and enjoy a Welcome Dinner at a traditional Korean-style BBQ house.

Day 2

See the changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace, learn how to make South Korea’s favourite dish, bibimbap, visit Bukchon Hanok  traditional village, visiting Jogyesa Temple to share tea with a monk.

Final stop is Insadong Antique Alley, where quirky amulets and jewellery among other wares are scattered across stalls.

Day 3

Visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) bordering North Korea. See Imjingak Park, the Bridge of Freedom and the Third Infiltration Tunnel, where it’s believed that 30,000 invading soldiers could have passed through within an hour. Peer into North Korea through binoculars at Dora Observatory.

Day 4 

Take one of South Korea’s famous KTX Express Trains to Busan at speeds of over 300 clicks. Starting at Busan Tower, which offers a great vantage point to the city’s bustling port, visit Jagalchi Fishery Market, the largest seafood market in South Korea. Here, locals take their newly caught purchases to the market’s chefs for a fresher-than-fresh seafood lunch. Finish at Gamcheon Village, a mishmash of pastel-coloured houses, street art and art galleries. Overnight at Avani Central Busan.

Day 5

After taking in Taejongdae observatory’s sweeping views of Taejongdae Resort Park. Continue to the United Nations Memorial cemetery – the only one of its kind – and visit to Haedong Yonggung temple before journeying to Gyeongju where you’ll spend two nights in the Lahan Select Gyeongju.

Day 6

Start with the  World Heritage Bulguksa Temple resting on the slopes of Mt Toham, a masterpiece of Buddhist art. Explore nearby Seokguram Grotto where there’s the giant Sakyamuni Buddha buried in its inner chambers. Then it’s Tumuli Park with over 200 royal tombs, Family Choi’s House, the oldest in the area, was built in 1630, and the Cheomseongdae observatory. After dinner, toin a moonlight walking tour of Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, once part of the palace complex of ancient Silla.

Day 7 

Your first stop is Haeinsa Temple, a World Heritage site, and one of the three principal Buddhist temples in South Korea. Discover Buddhist scriptures carved into more than 80,000 wooden blocks. Then it’s back on board the KTX Express Train to Seoul and a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8, Depart, Seoul

Voyage to remote Solomons and Papua New Guinea 

Michael G Browne
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Voyage to remote Solomons and Papua New Guinea 

if you like to rove mildly off the beaten track without the accompanying mishaps and lack of comfort, then Cruise Traveller has a very seductive cruise on offer exploring some of our less visited Pacific neighbours

A rarely offered expedition voyage this October deep into the heart of remote, tropical islands in The Solomons and Papua New Guinea has been packaged with savings of A$4090 per person – and a bonus flight credit – for bookings made by April 30, 2024. Savings of A$4090 per person – plus bonus flight credit

Cruise Traveller’s special, 11-night ‘Pacific and Papua’ fly/cruise package features a culturally immersive expedition voyage to exotic and seldom-visited destinations across Melanesia aboard the luxurious, Ponant exploration ship, Le Laperouse.

Ideal for adventurous and seasoned travellers seeking new horizons, the journey begins with an included flight from Brisbane to Honiara in the Solomon Islands on October 29, 2024, with guests then boarding the 184-guest Le Laperouse for an exciting, 11-night journey across the Coral Sea to Cairns. 

Sleek and stylish, Le Laperouse offers a refined and intimate, yacht-like elegance, fine dining restaurants, plush lounges, theatre, pool, an expert team of naturalists and personalised service. All staterooms feature a private balcony or terrace.

The itinerary takes in four idyllic destinations within the Solomon Islands noted for their traditional villages and customs, white, palm-lined beaches, and crystalline waters – Roderick Bay and the islands of  Malaita, Njari and Ghizo.

The itinerary then takes modern-day explorers westwards to six, rarely frequented ports in Papua New Guinea – the islands of Kiriwina, Lusancay, Dobu and Fergusson, as well as Tufi Harbour and Alotau on PNG’s mainland .

These untouched places boast beautiful, palm-lined beaches, stunning coral atolls, crystal-clear fjords, tropical jungle, isolated, authentic villages and sapphire lagoons on which local tribes host outrigger canoe rides for guests.

Welcome dances will greet guests at many places and the cruise includes guided, complimentary excursions on Zodiacs and ashore and also insights into the culture, history, flora and fauna of each destination with the ship’s expert expedition team.

There will also be opportunities for snorkelling and for those qualified, diving with an instructor.

Adding to the luxury indulgence is a daily open bar onboard Le Laperouse. The voyage ends in Cairns. 

Including the flight from Brisbane to Honiara, onboard beverages and excursions, the 11-night ‘Pacific and Papua’ cruise package from October 29, 2024, is available from A$13,990 per person, twin-share, in a Prestige Balcony stateroom – a saving of A$4090 per person. 

A bonus A$400 per person air credit is also available to spend with Cruise Traveller on flights to Brisbane and home from Cairns.

The savings and air bonus are valid for bookings made by April 30, 2024.
To book, CLICK HERE or call Cruise Traveller on 1800 507 777.

Ski suites and fine dining in Chatrium Niseko Japan

Michael G Browne
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Ski suites and fine dining in Chatrium Niseko Japan

THE DEAL: Stay and ski five nights from A$1,999 /suite, valued up to A$4,545 a cool saving of 56%

THE APPEAL: Glide through some of the world’s finest snow with a stylish stay at this luxe ski resort.

Claiming prime real estate in the heart of Hirafu Village and beautifully cradled by the snowy peaks of Mount Yotei and Mount Niseko-Annupuri, Chatrium Niseko offers a contemporary retreat for those seeking ample space and apartment-style luxuries within easy reach of the Grand Hirafu slopes.

Housed within Shiki Niseko’s distinguished architecture, Chatrium Niseko offers an array of world-class dining facilities, including four impressive restaurants — ranging from Michelin-starred French-Japanese cuisine at Kamimura, to local Hokkaidan flavours at The Flats and tapas-style dining and world-class wines at Temporada Tapas Bar.

Skiers and snow lovers will find themselves perfectly poised to hit the slopes here, with an equipment rental service, private lockers and boot drying room all available onsite.

Plus a 24-hour market and gym means you can plan your daily itinerary with ease.

Longer Stay Bonus: Extend your escape to seven nights or more and receive JPY10,000 drinks and dining credit per package. Extend further to 10 nights or more and receive JPY15,000 drinks and dining credit.

For all pricing and bookings from Luxury Escapes CLICK HERE or call 1300 88 99 00

Sofitel Dubai The Palm, Jumeirah

Jimmy Thomson
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Sofitel Dubai The Palm, Jumeirah

DEAL: 3 nights from $1,199 per room (valued up to A$3,129)

If you are on your way to or from Europe this northern summer, why not give yourself a break and take full advantages of this terrific opportunity to experience the allure of Dubai with a touch of French elegance on the sun-soaked Eastern Crescent of the world-famous Palm Jumeirah.

Boasting an 11 dining venues, bars and lounges, six outdoor pools, and the rejuvenating Sofitel SPA with L’Occitane, the Sofitel Dubai The Palm has it all.

With daily dining across a selection of onsite restaurants and AED200 spa credit per package included, you can truly make the most of your stay.

The resort offers a tranquil atmosphere for guests of all ages, with a purpose-built kids’ club and an adults-only pool. An endless stretch of private golden sands offers a playground for exhilarating watersports, romantic walks or basking in the Arabian sun.

You’ll feel a world away from Dubai’s bustling metropolis, while still having the top sights within easy reach.

Within a 20-minute drive, you’ll find the glitzy boutiques of the Mall of Emirates, the awe-inspiring Burj Khalifa and the evocative desert landscapes that surround this futuristic city.

Travelling with family? Upgrade to a Family Apartment with sea views for up to two adults and two children (11 years and under).

Club Upgrade Bonus: Upgrade to a Junior Suite or Signature Palm Suite Sea View for access to The Premier Lounge overlooking the Palm Jumeirah, including daily breakfast, daily afternoon tea and nightly aperitivo drinks and canapes from 5pm to 7pm.

For more details and booking, click HERE.

Blood Moon and the best (budget) hotel in Saigon

Jimmy Thomson
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Blood Moon and the best (budget) hotel in Saigon

I’m just back from Saigon, where I was finishing my next James Dunbar novel, with a lot of stories to tell.  And in case you’re thinking of joining the ever-increasing number of Aussies in the VietSet,  I’d like to jump in with a review of what I discovered to be an amazing bargain-price ‘boutique’ hotel.

Consider this: a huge room and giant bed, with an en suite, a desk,a fridge and a view, in a hotel with a 24-hour concierge desk, about half a block from the Opera House, for… drum roll … $50 dollars a night.

Now, before we go any further, this is not a sponsored or subsidised review.  I was in Saigon for 10 days, wanted to spend another four nights there but also needed to find somewhere less expensive than the fabulous Silverland Ben Thanh, where I spent my last few days.

As ever, I went on to Booking.com which I use a lot because I get significant  discounts as a Level 2 “Genius” and it has genuine reviews.

I was looking for a small hotel in the city centre that was not a “Chill” apartment – they are usually small Airbnb-style joints with loose rules and regulations and where people could just crash after a long day’s touring or a hard night’s partying… or both.

The La Paix Boutique two-star hotel popped up. It was a great price with mostly positive reviews with the only negatives being muted complaints that there was poor soundproofing between rooms and the fact that the middle, cheaper rooms didn’t really have windows.

Apart from that the rooms were clean and comfortable and the cleaners were hearing impaired.  Apparently it can be difficult for anyone with any disability to get work in Vietnam, so this was something of a breakthrough.

The Huge room in La Paix – note the desk – I really was there to work.

Huge bed, huge bathroom, thin walls.

My favourite Mexican restaurant (I know, I know) from my room in La Paix

Saigon River – the frames just visible on the other side turn into a huge advertising screen at night

This animated electronic hoarding is even bigger than it looks (obscured by building on left)

Blood Moon over Saigon River

Now, before you rush off and book yourself a room, be aware of a couple of things. At first I was in a “deluxe” room on the third floor at the front which was quite noisy.

Next day I moved to the top (eighth floor) which was a lot quieter but the free wi-fi, which was fine further down the building, lost a lot of its reliability on the way up through the floors.

Also, the hotel is a typically tall, narrow building which means only the deluxe rooms at the front and back have windows directly to the outside while the two cheaper rooms in the middle have windows that give you a view across the internal corridors, to external windows.

As for the soundproofing, I never heard a thing until the morning my Immediate neighbour spent a good half hour talking to God on the great white telephone (copyright, Mr W Connolly).  The walls between the bathroom seem to be where the insulation is at its thinnest.

There are compromises to be made.  The aircon on three was too puny for the 38 degree days, while the one on eight handled the heat and humidity with impunity, but dripped like an over-watered houseplant.

The Hotel is on Hai Ba Trung, parallel to Dong Khoi (formerly the Rue Cattinat of Graham Greene fame) and two streets from Nguyen Hue Boulevard. It’s also just a couple of blocks from the river and surrounded by all sorts of restaurants offering all kinds of cuisines.

Would I stay there again?  I might set another novel in Saigon just so I can justify another trip there. Oh, and I got a picture of a “blood moon” from my window. Maybe that’s what I’ll call the book.

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