1 Pass over 27 Destinations

IKON Pass, the new standard in season passes, announces Thredbo as its newest partner, now offering access to nearly 26,000 hectares (more than 64,000 acres) at 27 premier mountain destinations across the globe. The Ikon Pass is available for purchase at www.ikonpass.com and through selected travel partners. 

In addition to access to 26 destinations in North America, all Ikon Pass holders can enjoy skiing and riding throughout Thredbo’s 2018 winter season. Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to Thredbo on the Ikon Pass with no black-out dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, with selected black-out dates. 

Thredbo, Australia’s premier snow destination, offers an incredible snow experience with its impressive mountain accessing 480 hectares of varied terrain and its 672 vertical meters providing the country’s longest snow runs, combined with its picturesque alpine village at the base of the mountain which creates a vibrant après atmosphere. 

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First to board

JOINING the inaugural round trip cruise from Reykjavik, regular PONANT cruisers Wendy Burgess & Dainis Kivlenieks from Australia were the first passengers to board PONANT’s brand new Explorer class small luxury expedition ship Le Laperouse, they joined a sell-out group of passengers from around the world eager to try out this first of six new PONANT Explorer ships currently being constructed. 

Le Laperouse will spend some time in Northern Europe and Mediterranean before heading south via the Seychelles and Borneo to arrive in Australia early in 2019 for a season of voyages that include the Great Barrier Reef, Kimberley, Sub Antarctic Islands and New Zealand waters.



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W Hotels to take to the stage in Nashville

HOW do you make Music City USA even more exciting? Set up a new stage for people to play. W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, today announces the anticipated 2020 opening of W Nashville, Tennessee. 

Owned by Twelfth Avenue Realty Holdings, the new-build hotel is the latest North American development in the brand's packed line-up of extraordinary new hotels across the United States and beyond, including the soon to open W Aspen and W Philadelphia. Known for pushing the boundaries of modern design, W Hotels and leading architecture and design firm, Rockwell Group, will infuse the rich culture and musical legacy of Nashville into every aspect of the property.

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Hilton expands in New Zealand

LOCATED in the beautiful rural town of Karaka, just 30 minutes south from Auckland city, the new DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka is part of the famous New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Centre; the country’s largest international thoroughbred auction venue. 

Construction of the hotel will commence by the third quarter of 2018 and is due for completion by early 2020. The hotel will feature 120 stylish guest rooms, including four spacious suites, a restaurant and bar, fully equipped gym, pool and two meeting rooms. The hotel will also have full access to Karaka Pavilion which encompasses four meeting and event spaces, accommodating events from 12 to 600 people.

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Top five leisure trends for hotels

THERE is no doubt that global leisure travel has been on the increase over the past decade and there are no signs of slow down. According to howmuch.net, the five countries that spend the most on #travel are China ($164.9 billion), the US ($145.7 billion), Germany ($106.6 billion), the UK ($79.9 billion) and France ($59.4 billion). Independent hotels are fantastically placed to capitalise on some of the hottest leisure trends. Below we review the top five trends that independent hotels should be considered as they develop their sales and marketing plans.

1. “Bleisure”: With the frequency of business trips increasing, corporate travellers have had enough to being stuck in the endless cycle of the hotel to office and back to the hotel. More and more, we are seeing corporate guests opting to extend their business trips by adding on some time for leisure.

2. Millennials: This demographic is causing titanic shifts in all industries, so of course, they are also changing the very nature of leisure travel. Contrary to popular belief, according to a new report by Merrill Edge, millennials are saving money, with 81% say they are more likely to spend that money on travel.

3. The quest for new experiences: The World Travel & Tourism Council reported that the countries showing the strongest international travel and tourism growth in 2017 were: Myanmar, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Sao Tome & Principe and Sri Lanka. These are probably not the places that came to mind immediately when you were planning your last holiday but, it’s crucial to remember that a key driver of today’s leisure travel is travellers looking for adventure and new experiences.

4. Female travellers: Forbes reports that women account for 80% of purchases related to travel and tourism. From deciding on the place to visit and why type of holiday to booking the tickets and reserving the hotel and restaurants, women are making these decisions.

5. Responsible travel: The United Nations designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organisation, said, “This is a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued.”

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Technology enabled travel planning

WITH innovative marketing tactics, service providers in holiday planning and booking process market in the UK are reversing the impact of Brexit and fuel hikes. Technological solutions such as OTA bookings, apps, bots, and advanced payment tools are encouraging travelers to facilitate well planned holidays. 

As part of its recent development in holiday planning and booking process, Thomas Cook has introduced two novel features such as Direct Debit Payments and Zero Deposit Offer for its summer 2019 program. With the former, end-users can choose to book their holiday plan against a minimum token amount. The latter eases end-users by booking their holiday packages without any advance payment.

Technology enabled travel planning is gaining momentum in holiday planning and booking process market in the UK. Leading holiday organizers are infusing advanced technology with meticulous planning to deliver superlative hospitality experience to end-users in holiday planning and booking process market in the UK. Noted travel planner Thomas Cook has confirmed its incorporation of Bold360ai to improve customer services. With this AI enabled service solution, Thomas Cook has garnered happy customers across Europe with the project first rolling out in the UK.

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Great North knees-up

GREAT Northumberland launches in Hexham on Saturday 7 July in what promises to be a fun-filled-festival demonstrating exactly what makes #Northumberland great.

To kick-off eight weeks of summer in the county, Great Northumberland (delivered by Northumberland County Council) are inviting everyone to Hexham Abbey Grounds and the Sele for a vibrant family-friendly day of performance, street theatre and a line-up of musicians designed to get everyone up and dancing, culminating in an energetic public ceilidh.

Inspired by the Great Exhibition of the North, Great Northumberland is designed to encourage those visiting the North for the once in a generation exhibition to venture further afield into England’s most northerly county.
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Celebrate Independence Day at the Empire State Building

THIS Independence Day, celebrate the holiday with friends and family at the Empire State Building's "Ultimate 4th of July" celebration. Limited tickets are still available for this exclusive event which offers breathtaking views of the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular from the only open-air Observatory over one thousand feet above New York City – putting you at the center of all the action.

Closed to the general public, ticket holders are provided VIP private access to the 86th floor Observatory with prime viewing of the East River from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Guests are also invited to enjoy the 80th floor "Dare to Dream" exhibit where drinks flow from a premium open bar and gourmet food will be provided by STATE Grill and Bar, the signature restaurant of the Empire State Building. Following the fireworks, attendees will be invited to visit the 102nd floor Observatory to cap off their breathtaking evening.


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Egypt sees increase in foreign visitors

RENOWNED for its rich culture and history dating back 4,000 years of Pharaoh and Pyramids, #Egypt also has a lot more to offer - a paradise on earth and magic of Egypt Western Desert.  According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the country has received at least 730,000 tourists in February 2018, achieving a 35 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

Egypt Western Desert Tours has seen an increase of foreign visitors group tours for eco-tourism from the UK, Ukraine, and Eastern Europe along with new markets from Asia; South Korea, China, and Malaysia. 

According to the latest Oxford Business Group (OBG)’s, the positive outlook for Egypt’s tourism was backed by the increase in visitors by 54% in 2017 to 8.3 millionGroup travel jumped 66.5%, indicating resurgent interest from package tour operators, and the January-February period saw a 39% year-over-year increase in the number of tourists from the UK - another traditional source of arrivals.


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Aruba Redesigned

ARUBA Tourism Authority happily invites visitors to explore its all-new Aruba.com. The new and improved Aruba.com is the island's official destination for travelers planning their next #Caribbean vacation.

Created in eight languages to provide visitors from all over the world with a warm and welcoming #Aruba experience, the new site has been completely redesigned to make exploring, planning and booking a vacation to Aruba even easier.

Immersive video and imagery bring travelers face to face with the Aruba locals and repeat visitors, while a fresh, intuitive design and navigation inspires them to explore all the adventurous, romantic and relaxing things the happy island is known for.

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Explore like never before

EXPLORE the Disney theme parks like never before with the Play Disney Parks mobile app, a transformative new digital entertainment offering that will make its official debut on June 30 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

The Play Disney Parks app will bring to life unique interactive experiences that enable guests of all ages to access a wide range of activities including themed games, Disney trivia, digital achievements, music and so much more – whether they are playing on Main Street, U.S.A. or waiting in line at beloved attractions.

Play Disney Parks was designed for families and guests to enjoy together, with group play options that enable everyone to join in on the fun while staying fully engaged in the immersive environments of Disney parks. The app will be available for iOS and Android platforms and will be free to download.


The new Play Disney Parks app is the latest addition to the Disney Parks digital app portfolio. Play Disney Parks complements the popular My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland App at Disneyland Resort, the convenient places for guests to plan their visit, access important information such as attraction wait times and park hours and utilize services like mobile food ordering.

And this is just the beginning. Play Disney Parks is planned to grow and evolve over time with new experiences and offerings at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, including at the eagerly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, coming to Disneyland Resort in summer 2019 and Walt Disney World Resort in late fall 2019.

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Up in the air . . .

BRITISH Airways and Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, have today announced a new partnership which will open up more routes between London and the South Pacific than ever before.

With its idyllic beaches, world-famous dive sites and lush green forests, #Fiji and its extremely popular island destinations are more accessible than ever before as customers in the UK will be able to travel from gateways in the U.S. and Asia to destinations that have previously been more difficult to access from the UK.

From today, British Airways will start selling flights between Singapore, Los Angelesand San Francisco and the Fijian gateway of Nadi direct on ba.com.



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Picture Credit: British Airways

Plastic Expedition

ON Monday ‘eXXpedition North Pacific’, in collaboration with recycling innovators TOMRA, set sail from Honolulu, Hawaii on a scientific research mission led by award winning British skipper and ocean advocate Emily Penn to investigate solutions to the devastating impact of single-use plastic and toxic's in the world’s oceans.

The expedition is made up of a diverse and international group of 24 women from Britain, USA, Canada, Slovenia, Norway and Honduras.

Split over two voyage legs, they will journey for a month over 3,000 nautical miles through the densest ocean plastic accumulation zone on the planet, the North Pacific Gyre - better known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

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Australian Walking Holidays

IF you’ve been thinking about heading to the Northern Territory, do it now! Australian Walking Holidays, the domestic division of the World Expeditions Travel Group which pioneered the trail in 1995, has the best range of walking trips on the stunning Larapinta, including the 6-day Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort, the 9-day Best of the Larapinta Trail and the 6, 9 and 12 day self-guided Larapinta Trail treks. 

The 6-day Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort, which is one of the 13 Great Walks of #Australia, is guided trekking, with walkers carrying only a day pack and enjoying the facilities of the comfortable, semi-permanent eco campsites, while the 9-day Best of the #Larapinta Trail is also guided, with walkers carrying only day packs and wilderness camping under the Milky Way. 

The self-guided treks are suited to more confident walkers, who enjoy being more self-sufficient and travelling at their own pace and who appreciate the logistics – such as lightweight food, equipment, maps and transfers to and from the trail – being organized for them. 

However you choose to experience the Larapinta Trail, you’ll have the chance to swim in peaceful waterholes hidden deep within the West MacDonnell Ranges, to marvel at the stunning rock formations at Simpson’s Gap, Standley Chasm and Serpentine Gorge, to climb Mount Sonder for a spectacular sunrise and to gain an understanding of the rich history of Australia’s traditional owners and the Indigenous culture.

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Picture Credit: By Andrew Dolman Larapinta Trail, commons.wikimedia.org/

Free admission for U.S. veterans

THROUGH to July 4, 2018, SeaWorld is offering U.S. veterans and up to three guests free admission to all three of its parks – SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego.

Since SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment started the Waves of Honor program in 2005, more than 9 million active military, veterans and their families have visited the parks for free, which represents an estimated value of $300 million.

U.S. military veterans and retirees may redeem admission for themselves and up to three guests online at www.WavesofHonor.com


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Travel and Tourism growth for the UK

TRAVEL & Tourism grew by over four times the rate of the wider UK economy in 2017, according to a new report recently launched by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). 

WTTC's latest annual research, in conjunction with Oxford Economics, shows the United Kingdom’s Travel & Tourism sector contribution to GDP grew by 6.2% in 2017, higher than the global average (4.6%) and more than four times faster than the UK’s economy as a whole (which grew by 1.5%). 

This growth translated into £214 billion contribution to GDP, 4 million jobs, and £29 billion in exports. This shows the role of Travel & Tourism in driving economic growth and creating jobs in Britain, and emphasises the vital importance of safeguarding the interests of the sector post-Brexit.

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And California's best beach is . . .

HUNTINGTON Beach has got it going on! Surf City USA is named The Best #California Beach by USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Huntington Beach’s shoreline stretches for 16 uninterrupted kilometers of wide opened sandy beaches making it a paradise for families, couples, dogs, and surfers. 

Where perfect waves are born, Surf City USA attracts professional surfers and World Surf League contests. The endless summer weather offers both relaxation and outdoor activities year-round. Some visitors favorites include: volleyball courts, bonfire pits, concerts and movies on the sand, and of course the iconic Huntington Beach Pier spanning 1,850 feet in length. The iconic pier sits in the heart of Huntington Beach and allows visitors and locals alike to experience the the breathtaking views amidst the sounds of crashing waves and the ocean breeze.

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Investment for New South Wales

The New South Wales (NSW) Budget 2018 was announced this week with over $290 million to be invested into the State’s visitor economy. Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “Tourism is big business and vital to the NSW economy delivering $35.2 billion in visitor spend last year and directly employing 171,100 people across the State.” 

$82 million will be invested to secure and support major sporting, arts and business events across the State, while $54 million will be invested to promote NSW destinations and experiences to domestic and international markets, support tourism operators and secure strategic partnerships with airlines and trade partners. 

$7.5 million will be provided for regional programs to attract more visitors, events and conferences, support industry product development and marketing, and spread visitor economy benefits to more communities.

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On the runway

LAST month saw London Gatwick experience the busiest May in its history, as 4.1 million passengers travelled through the airport.

In the same month that Qatar Airways launched a new service from Gatwick to Doha, the airport’s 65 other long-haul routes continued to soar, services to Asia performed strongly, with Hong Kong particularly popular, +39% on last year.

Gatwick’s connections to the United States, +42.8% for the month, drove the airport’s busiest-ever May. The USA’s most iconic cities were among the most popular long-haul destinations during the month, East Coast favourites Boston and New York and Los Angeles.

Bucharest, Pula and Vienna, respectively, were among the most popular European destinations.  Elsewhere, domestic routes to Newquay and the Isle of Man were up 18.6% and 8.7% respectively, while Guernsey saw a 5.8% rise on May last year.

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Eruptions in the Galapagos Islands

LA CUMBRE Volcano in the #Galapagos Islands began erupting on 16 June 2018, creating spectacular laze clouds and steam explosions as the lava flow reached the shore line. The volcano forms the uninhabited Fernandina Island and is the most active volcano in the archipelago. 

Emissions and tremors have decreased however the situation is unpredictable, and a safe distance should be kept. Passengers on cruises in the area have been able to witness the dramatic eruptions from a safe distance with no impact on itineraries. 

Local authorities are monitoring the situation on Fernandina as well as neighbouring Isabela Island that is on yellow alert, although viewpoints on the rim of the Chico Volcano still open to visitors. Any travellers planning to visit the Galapagos Islands in the near future should monitor the situation however all tourist activities are currently not impacted and remain open for business.

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Mexico grows as a world destination

THE Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) announced that Mexico's global air connectivity continues its growth trajectory with the addition of 1.5 million seats on direct flights to #Mexico in 2018. The increase in air connectivity is expected to result in nearly 30 million seats by the end of the year to accommodate travel demand to Mexico's top tourist destinations. Mexico welcomed 10.6 million tourists in the first quarter of 2018, a record-breaking number compared to the 9.4 million documented international visitor arrivals during the same period in 2017.

Mexico is now the 6th most visited country in the world with 39.3 million international visitors in 2017, of which 18.6 million traveled by air. Mexico's strong commitment to increasing air connectivity to match consumer demand has led to investments in developing close partnerships with airlines, hotels, and the tourism industry, diversifying tourism products, promoting new and established destinations, and offering travelers Mexico's world-famous friendliness, hospitality and first-class service.

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Luxury travel escape

FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts and NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, are launching three new made-to-order packages that deliver the ultimate in personalised luxury travel. The dynamic packages combine world class Four Seasons accommodation with the freedom of flying private with NetJets.

Following the multiple-destination itineraries introduced last year by the two iconic brands, Four Seasons guests and NetJets owners can now visit Anguilla, Orlando or the Bahamas and create a uniquely customisable escape, complete with unmatched service, flexibility and access.

All three packages feature air transportation from NetJets, offering access from 5,000 airports in 170 countries around the globe, and luxury accommodations from Four Seasons. Travellers can fully customise each escape, with a menu of specialty à la carte activities for added personalisation.


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A tour of the Vatican before sunrise

FOR the first time, travellers can experience the Vatican – the most-booked attraction on TripAdvisor – in quiet solitude, before sunrise, and before it opens to the public. The #Vatican is famously popular, with travellers waiting up to 4 hours during peak season. 

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest provider of bookable experiences, is giving travellers a look at its new ‘Waking up the Vatican’ tour. The tour is available now and allows a small number of travellers to join the ‘Clavigero’, the Vatican key holder, as he unlocks the doors to the Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s rooms, the Galleries, and more, hours before these iconic sites open to the public.

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Top trending summer travel spots

ONE of the fastest growing online travel agents Agoda, has revealed the top trending summer travel spots, globally, for independent travelers in 2018.
The allure of Japan with its combination of unique culture, temples, mountains and beaches, proves too much to resist as Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa and Kyoto all feature in the top ten Asia Pacific destinations this summer.

• Bali is the top Asia Pacific destination for UK travelers.
• Australians are the biggest international travelers to Bali, followed by South Koreans, Chinese, Singaporean and Malaysian travelers.
• Top summer destinations for Taiwanese independent travelers are Tokyo, Okinawa, Osaka, Kyoto and Seoul.
• American travelers' top three Asia Pacific destinations are Tokyo, Kyoto and Bangkok.
• Most popular African destinations are the Seychelles, Johannesburg (South Africa), Durban (South Africa), Mauritius and Cape Town (South Africa).
• Dubai tops Middle East travel followed by Medina and Mecca, which receive huge numbers of pilgrims for Hajj (19-24 August 2018).
• Despite being the Southern Hemisphere winter, Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast are in the top five Pacific Ocean destinations and still receive their fair share of tourists during the June to August period. Guam and Saipan also feature.

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Love to do it? Hate to plan it?

Travelling with friends and family? A new survey conducted by the world's leading travel search engine reveals that nearly 50 percent of Americans are stressed out when travel planning for friends and family, with the U.S. ranking second among the most stressed out of all the countries polled.

Enter KAYAK Trip Huddle, a new tool to help take the pain out of planning group travel. KAYAK looked at some of the top pain points for planning trips – choosing accommodations, selecting a destination and coordinating travel schedules, which collectively stress out 57% of Americans – and created a tool to address each and every one of them. 

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Taking it easy

E-BIKES have become popular with commuters in Europe and North America, but they are an attractive option for #cycling #holidays. Riders with less experience, lower fitness, recovering from injury, or with less confidence in their abilities can enjoy trips and destinations without worrying about being able to keep up. Even more experienced riders can benefit from riding an e-bike on a tour that is particularly challenging.

Sri Lanka e-bikes are SCOTT Cross-E Sub 20 bikes, while select Vietnam tours feature Giant Explore E+ bikes. The new e-bikes can be hired per tour, as an alternative to standard mountain, road, or carbon bike hire. Both models of e-bike use “pedal assist” technology, which engages the bike’s motor once the rider begins to pedal. The more the rider pedals, the more the motor is activated, making e-bikes great for tackling climbs or comfortably cruising at speed.

SpiceRoads Cycling are cycle touring specialists based in Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1995, SpiceRoads leads over 10,000 passengers per year on active cycling adventures in 32 destinations worldwide.SpiceRoads offer cycling tours to suit every type of cyclist, from road enthusiasts, to leisure cyclists, to day trippers, to mountain bikers.



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Winning Island

FOR the second year in a row, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts took home the award for “Best Hotel Chain in Hawaii” at the 2018 TravelAge West WAVE Awards, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Ray on June 14. Outrigger also picked up the accolade of “Best Hotel Brand for Families in Hawaii.”

The State of #Hawaii was also a winner – garnering the top spot for “Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA” against New Orleans, Alaska, Las Vegas and New York City. Plus, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) was honored as the “U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support” – beating out Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, NYC & Company, Inc., and New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Taking the perfect selfie

IF you're not a millennial, the art of the selfie might seem a little intimidating. This pressure is only intensified for travel selfies, when you want to look great and also show off all the activities you're doing on your getaway. OneTravel, a leading online travel agency, has analyzed the many travel selfies to offer travelers the best tips for getting that perfect shot.

• Find the Right Angle
• Consider Your Lighting
• Seek Out Unusual Locations
• Sunglasses or No Sunglasses
• Mind the Sun
• Figure Out Your Selfie Smile
• Beware of the Solo Selfie
• Get Creative

You're on vacation, visiting incredible locations, eating sensational food, and exploring the world. Instead of the standard selfies, try to get creative on your vacation. Take pictures where you try new activities, eat strange new things, or meet cool new people. Your vacation selfies are a chance to show a whole new world — and a completely different side of yourself. Have fun with them, and see where your imagination takes you.

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Festival of Frights

THIS Halloween season, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (WBSTH) will send chills down guests' spines with the return of Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights. This year's event will host even more dark mazes, scare zones, horror-themed activities.

The Neibolt House maze from New Line Cinema's record-breaking 2017 film IT will return to Horror Made Here, where guests will experience the full wrath of Pennywise. This year's reimagined maze will feature new scares and surprises with every twist and turn. Those daring enough to step into the Neibolt House must remember that "It knows what scares you" and beware of Pennywise, who may be lurking in the dark just around the corner.

From DC, fans will experience the iconic and unhinged characters from Batman: Arkham Asylum as the infamous Gotham City institution for the criminally insane is constructed, for the first time ever, on the Warner Bros. backlot. In this brand-new maze, guests must first face their judge, The Joker, who will decide their fate, leading to encounters with his fellow DC Super-Villains – including Harley Quinn, Scarecrow, and Two-Face, among others – as visitors are driven to the brink of madness while navigating the gruesome asylum.

Horror Made Here: A Festival of Frights is a special ticketed event, held on October 5-6, October 11-13, October 18-21 and October 25-28, open from 

7PM to 1AM.

horrormadehere.com

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Dive, dive, dive

FEATURING dive destinations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and the Maldives ZuBlu provides an easy-to-use platform allowing guests to discover new and exciting #dive destinations in #Asia. The website marries a powerful search tool with an exciting range of dive destinations, eco-friendly resorts and conservation experiences, putting the power of discovery and choice into the hands of ZuBlu’s guests.

ZuBlu ensures conservation and sustainability are at the heart of its business. Each resort listing displays an ‘at-a-glance’ summary of sustainable practices, as well as information about conservation activities. And as part of its commitment to the environment, ZuBlu donates a percentage of revenue to local conservation organisations.


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On the runway . . .

WORK will begin this month on the expansion of Adelaide Airport’s main terminal in South Australia. The expansion will significantly improve the arrivals and departures experience for international passengers and create more retail and dining options for domestic and international travellers. 

The overall terminal footprint will be increased by 16,500sq m with the retail area growing by more than 80 per cent to 7257sq m. Due for completion in 2021, the project is the largest upgrade at the airport since the existing terminal was opened in 2005. 

Carriers offering international services in and out of Adelaide include China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand.

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Luxury sustainable surf programme

SONEVA SURF is an eco-friendly surfing experience, offered at Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll and Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll in the #Maldives, and is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. In celebration of the launch, WRD has collaborated with respected Australian surf experts, Coastalwatch, to give surfers the opportunity to win a ‘World Surfaris Golden Passport’. 

WRD Executive Director, Tess Willcox, said the World Surfaris Golden Passport is an unforgettable surfing experience for two people, involving a year of epic waves at four of the best surfing spots in the world: Samoa, Mentawis, J-Bay, and of course, the Soneva Surf breaks in the Maldives. “There are 13 surf breaks in the Baa Atoll and 11 in the Noonu Atoll, and not only do they boast some of the best waves in the region, they’re a well-kept secret, which means they’re uncrowded and pristine – a surfer’s dream.” 

Guests are encouraged to leave everything at home as the resorts provide everything they need, from rash guards to sunscreen, and wax, and everything’s entirely eco-friendly. The eco boards are made from poxy resin, bamboo woven mats; and bio-foam, which comprises materials converted from natural plant materials and they’re manufactured by an approved ECOBOARD builder.

Entry in the competition is simple, visit the Coastalwatch website and sign up to Coastalwatch Plus. 

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