A Trip News

Michelle Griffin books into a new boutique hotel and finds some finishing touches are needed.
The smallest room in a luxury hotel or the biggest suite in a budget hotel? On the premise the latter is bound to be better value, we book into the $200 courtyard suite at Melbourne’s newest budget accommodation, the Pensione Hotel.
At the casino end of Spencer Street, edged between the Pensione and its neighbouring hotel, is a tiny square of private open space, ivy on the walls, flagstones (more…)

The Southern Star ferris wheel is set to change Melbourne’s skyline when if opens in November. The AU$100 million (US$62 million) wheel, located at Melbourne’s Waterfront City, will feature 21 cabins providing 360° views the city. Once opening, it will become the world’s third largest observation wheel, after the London Eye and Singapore Flyer.

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My husband and I are frequent fliers. Recently, his flight was delayed for four hours. We knew it would be late taking off before we left for the airport, but he was unable to check in online so didn't have a boarding card. Since he was aware that the flight was full, we played safe by going to the airport, checking him in, and then leaving for four hours; but it was a shame to waste the time coming and going. Are there any rules about reporting times when a flight is known in advance to be (more…)

Malaysia’s best-known destination for street food has been renamed, in a surprise re-branding that has created an uproar among the dozens of traders who sell local delicacies there.
Jalan Alor, which comes alive at night with more than 100 stalls selling everything from chicken satay to frog porridge, has been renamed Jalan Kejora by city authorities.
Critics say the change is pointless and will only confuse tourists, who nightly flock to the crowded street in the capital’s Bukit Bintang district. (more…)

The first flight of an Airbus A380 by Qantas touched down in Los Angeles today, inaugurating the Australian carrier’s service using the world’s biggest commercial jet.
The mammoth jet touched down at Los Angeles International Airport about 7.30am (0130 AEDT Tuesday) following a 12-hour trans-Pacific voyage from Melbourne.
The superjumbo was to be welcomed at an airport ceremony later today including movie star, pilot and Qantas “ambassador” John Travolta as well as singer Olivia Newton-John. (more…)

THE tourism industry fears that $40 million in funding the State Government promised it may not be delivered.
The Minister for Tourism, Jodi Mackay, has repeatedly refused to guarantee the extra funds, over three years, which her predecessor, Matt Brown, promised in an effort to lure more visitors.
Last week the Government published a calendar of big tourism events.
At budget estimates hearings Ms Mackay was asked five times about the funding. In addition to the $43 million annual tourism (more…)

The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be transformed into a giant kitchen table to host breakfast for 20,000 people, news.com.au has reported. Cars will be replaced by 1,000 tables in the event to promote New South Wales, and with tickets priced at just AU$20 per head, the morning fry-up will be within the reach of all.
“We want to make it affordable,” Events NSW boss, Jeff Parmenter, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday. “We needed to do more to sell Sydney than just tell people that we had a Bridge and (more…)

The concept of a Tibetan resort in Yunnan province may sound strange - and it is, writes Roy Masters.
Two weeks after the Chinese army swept into Shangri-La and ordered out all foreign visitors, our small group of Australians gains permission to enter the Tibetan plateau city. There we join French tourists eating yak meat at the Great Hotel of Good Luck and Happiness and sipping ginger tea at the Happy Corner cafe.
Shangri-La is an artificially created paradise; a once remote, (more…)

Andrew Stephens finds modern apartments in an old post office.
The old post office in Echuca stands proudly above the town, competing only with the splendour of the historic flour mill (now a restaurant and bar) and the damp-stained industrial workmanship of a water tower several blocks away.
Like a miniature version of Melbourne’s GPO, but whitewashed, this lovely 1879 building has a beautiful clocktower with a large timepiece. So it is with some trepidation that we book an (more…)

The Pinnacles Desert in Western Australia is a phenomenal natural treat, writes Andy Phillips.
Mike Newton cocks his head towards the sandy ground at our feet: “Stop right where you are.” Without another word, he falls to his knees and thrusts the tips of his fingers into a tiny ridge of sand branching out from a nearby plant. He runs the edges of his fingers along the length of the ridge as if trying to dig up whatever has caused them.
“I think it must have gone,” he says. (more…)