FAQ

It is always advisable to book in advance to obtain the best price, however it must be said that these rates will have heavy penalties or non-refundable conditions attached.

Heavily discounted or non-refundable airfares, cruising, accommodation, car hire etc can attract high cancellation penalties as well as non-refundable terms, therefore we recommend you make travel insurance a priority.  We suggest you take this out as soon as you make and pay for the reservation.  Alternatively, look at booking slightly higher airfares or refundable options, in case of unavoidable cancellations.

Each airline has their own regulations, however you should contact the airline involved to see if any alternative flight has been scheduled.  If this does not suit, a full refund or future travel credit should be offered.

Use public transport where possible. Consider staying in hostels in share rooms/dorms or in budget accommodation.  Purchase food from supermarkets, rather than eating in restaurants all the time or find out where the locals go for quality ‘cheap eats’.

Travel adaptors, charging cables for mobiles, laptops, power bank, camera and a SD card, first aid kit and locks.

Any countries that have ongoing conflicts or civil unrest, like Afghanistan and Syria to name a few.  You should always observe a higher of level of caution when travelling and be aware of crimes like pick pocketing, kidnapping, protests and terrorism.

We like to recommend Barcelona in Spain. Busy Barcelona is filled with café-lined boulevards which are perfect for people watching, or if you are eager to escape the hustle and bustle, city beaches are accessible on a great public transport system. 

Less is more. Travel with items that you can mix and match easily. Limit certain items like shoes, you don’t need to have a pair to match every outfit!

Report it to the airline so they can track down your luggage and request something writing from the airline or a report so you can be easily updated on where it is and when it will be returned to you.  If your luggage is not returned in a few days, you may be able to claim against your travel insurance for purchases of incidentals needed whilst your bag was not located.

Avoid taking stimulants, wear comfortable clothing and shoes, use neck supports, ear plugs and eye masks and keep hydrated!

Tigers Nest Bhutan, Cape Verde, Senegal, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, to name a few.

This happens all the time and is quite normal within Canada and the US.  They place a notice in the suitcase saying it was inspected and sometimes even a reference number. It is actually conducted by security rather than the airline in those countries. 

There are countries however, who inspect without notifying the passenger and in some countries they will request the passenger to open luggage, so that they can be manually inspected.

Duty free concessions do not apply to commercial goods. If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to AUD900 worth of general goods into Australia duty free. If you are under 18 years of age the limit is AUD450. There are no duty free concessions on tobacco or alcohol for travellers aged under 18 years of age.

If you’re planning on flying out of Australia with duty free items, make sure you do your research first. When it comes to general goods, alcohol and/or tobacco, you must ensure you heed the duty-free restrictions of your final destination to avoid being stung by taxes when trying to cross the border.

It’s also worth checking up on restrictions for any stops en-route, or you may run the risk of losing your duty free items in transit. For example, if you are travelling from Australia to London via Dubai, you run the risk of losing any duty free alcohol purchases in Dubai if they’re not packed in your checked luggage.  

Another essential rule of thumb is to follow all quantity limits placed on liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs):

• Off-airport duty free purchases must not exceed 100 millilitres and be packed in a clear, resealable plastic bag in your carry-on.
• Duty free LAGs exceeding 100 millilitres can be purchased at off-airport retailers but must be packed in checked-luggage. Alternatively, you can undergo security screening at one of Australia’s gateway airports in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney to determine if the item is safe to be carried onto your flight. This includes presenting them in the properly sealed bag provided at the time of purchase.
• Passengers can also purchase duty free LAGs in greater quantities at Australian airports after they have passed through the security screening point.

This applies to all flights out of Australia, including international flights leaving the country as well as domestic legs of international journeys that pass through Australia. It’s also applicable on such common duty free purchases as:  

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
• Perfume
• Cosmetics (including lipsticks, lip balms and liquid foundations)

Limits Apply For:

Alcohol:

• Up to 2.25 litres of alcoholic beverage is permitted per adult (must be 18 years or older).

Tobacco:

• Up to 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of cigars or tobacco products are permitted per adult (Must be 18 years or older).

All liquids must be in clear containers that are no bigger than 100ml and placed in a zip lock plastic bag. Containers bigger than 100ml are not permitted even if they are not full.

There are countries however, who inspect without notifying the passenger and in some countries they will request the passenger to open luggage, so that they can be manually inspected.

• Explosive and incendiary materials
• Flammable items
• Glasses and pressure containers (aerosols)
• Matches
• Oxidizers and organic peroxides
• Poisons
• Infections materials
• Corrosives
• Organics
• Radioactive materials
• Magnetic materials
• Narcotics

Depending on the airline and class of travel.

A general rule of thumb for air travel to Europe is:

Economy class -One piece between 20-30kgs per bag. 

Premium Economy- 20-30kgs per bag 

Business Class-  40kgs per bag

First Class 50kg per bag.

A general rule of thumb for air travel to the United States

Economy Class- Two pieces, 23kgs per bag

Premium Economy Class- Two pieces, 23kgs per bag

Business Class- Three pieces, 32kgs per bag

First Class- Three pieces, 32kgs per bag

Frequent flyer members on some airlines provide additional baggage allowances depending on travel status.

Low cost airlines vary and often give weight options to choose from which will determine what you pay.

Yes, as a general rule of thumb:
Economy Class- One piece, 23 kgs per bag
Business Class- Two pieces, 32 kgs per bag.

Generally no,  but there are exceptions and ever changing conditions so each individual case needs to be checked.

Middle Eastern countries, Uganda, Sudan and North Korea to name a few.  When visiting mosques and churches in most countries it is advised that shoulders be covered and attire cannot be above the knee eg shorts, mini-skirts etc.

Join a frequent flyer program. Some airlines now allow customers to bid for an upgrade in a flight auction.  There may be option to request an upgrade when checking in online at a reduced cost, which maybe attractive. 

Travel during off peak periods.  Dress code is important as is your frequent flyer status.  It doesn’t hurt to ask airport when checking but it will be at the discretion of the airport staff and the flights passenger loadings.

Both cities are unique and different.

We think Iceland and Luxemburg

Depending on the individual, if you are prone to sea sickness, yes but you can take preventative measures like seasick tablets and herbal remedies.  Most ships feature stabilisers and are relatively solid in the water.  If on board and still feel seasick without improvement, then best to go straight to the resident ship doctor who will most likely give you an injection.  This is recommended as you want to improve quickly and not be confined to your cabin for days and miss out enjoying your holiday.

Travel insurance is always strongly recommended.  Your destination, duration, age and the amount paid for your travel arrangements will determine which cover is recommended.  Any pre-existing conditions will also effect what type of cover is required.  Go to our Travel Insurance section for more information.

Yes pandemics are not covered.  Please ask us more.

This is a difficult question, so many cities and all unique and different.  I think this is a very personal question to each individual.

Depending on how much travel you are doing, and which airlines cover the areas you predominately travel to, we would recommend you elect that airline. 

The two largest frequent flyer programs are One World or Star Alliance.  Each of these programs utilise a number of airlines that you can accrue points with.  For example if you join the frequent flyer program with Qantas you will accrue points with 15 other airlines, like American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Finnair, Qatar to name a few.  Star Alliance have 26 airline partners, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Thai Airways, Swiss, Air Canada, again to name a few.

A lot of airlines rank very high, but looking over the past few years, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas and Cathay Pacific have ranked well.

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