Australia's Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s best kept secrets.

As the largest habitable island of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays chain, the island is on a long term lease to the Oatley family who have developed the island into a fantastic resort. The island even has its own airport which allows for flights to Australia’s largest cities. The island is also accessed by ferry from Airlie Beach on the mainland, which is a popular destination for many who are looking to explore the Whitsundays and need a base. The town is also popular with backpackers and travelling students with a rather wild nightlife.

Made up of four hotels, holiday homes and villas, Hamilton Island caters from the budget traveler to the luxury hunter. Qualia is the island’s top resort offering views from each room out to the Whitsundays and several with their own plunge or swimming pool.

One of the real highlights of the island for many families is the use of a golf buggy to get around. Some of the hotel rates will include this fee in the price per room whilst others will require you to pay an additional fee if you would like to make use of the golf buggys when on the island.

Top Tip:

Head off the beaten track and head up the 2.6km bushwalk to Passage Peak. Better still, do it first thing in the morning to watch the sun rise and be amazed by the stunning views across the island and down to the main resort area. There are a number of bush walks around the island that can be enjoyed. Other activities on the island include sailing school, target shooting, a driving range, mini golf and kayak tours to name just a few. 

How to choose your airline

There are so many airlines nowadays that are all competing for your business and each one offers different products and services from booking to baggage collection, so how do you decide which airline to fly with? By shopping around for both prices, and airline reviews.

Whether it’s economy class or first class that you are planning to travel, it’s always a great idea to have a look around at prices to your destination. Speak with your local travel agent as well as having a look at the various flight booking engines online, such as Expedia, Opodo and ebookers.com. This will mean that you have more of a chance for getting the best deal. Many prices will be quite similar but some do offer the ability to search for dates around your ideal dates to see if you can get a cheaper fare when you are flexible with dates.

So when you have found a couple of possible options, the next thing to do is decide which airline to fly with. If you are already a frequent flyer or you have flown a number of times before, you will no doubt have your own opinions and preferences on airlines. You may have enjoyed wonderful service on board Singapore Airlines or enjoyed the food available on Etihad Airways, however, if you are faced with an airline that you have never heard of before or are unsure what they are like, it’s worth looking online for some airline reviews. This is a great example of Etihad reviews to keep an eye out for. The gentleman is a regular traveler as you will see from many of his other posts but he enjoyed his experience on Etihad Airways.

At the same time, it is also worth speaking with friend, family and colleagues about who they have flown with previously. Again, they may have had a great experience with one airline whilst had a terrible experience with another. The one thing you do have to keep in mind though is that all airlines are different and people will have all different kinds of experiences with the airline. Some people just love complaining whilst others understand the difficulties that can arise for an airline. Keep an open mind and an open eye for other people’s experiences but what it really comes down to is you. You’ll only get your own experience and opinion of an airline when you try it for yourself.

For traditional culture, there’s nowhere better than Ireland’s capital Dublin

From the moment you land, there’s a whole world of things to discover. If you have already booked your flights to Dublin, you’ll want to start researching what you can do there. To start, Dublin is home to the famous Guinness Storehouse in St James Gate, just minutes by foot from the city centre. Here you can learn about how the traditional Irish pint is made, from growing the Barley, to the fermentation process and even how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness. At the end of your tour, you can try one for yourself for free at the

The Washington Monument

Washington, D.C. can boast so many different things. The White House, Capitol Building, a history as rich as they come but one thing that really sets apart Washington from other cities in the United States are the monuments dedicated to its heroes. One in particular, the Washington Monument, took over 100 years to be planned, designed and finally built. George Washington was one of America’s true leaders, dedicated to his country during the American Revolution. The patriotism that is within one of the leading countries on earth is astounding and for this, the idea to build a monument dedicated to George Washington was born in 1783. 

Why Etihad?

So Etihad earlier this year launched their Why campaign. Just eight years old but one of the world’s fastest growing airline, more people have switched to Etihad than any other airline.

Why?

Excellent service, fantastic product and a growing list of destinations has helped to get Etihad to where they are today, having won a number of awards from World’s Leading Airline in the World Travel Awards to Best First Class product. Their first class suites have been leading the way in luxury travel, designed to give maximum privacy onboard. Fine dining created by on board chefs have also many introduced on many long haul routes. Both Pearl Business and Diamond First classes also offer an all day kitchen, with Arabic mezzes to steak sandwiches, all to be enjoyed on demand at any part of your flight.

All long haul flights also offer lie flat beds in business class, a bonus when travelling overnight and you want to feel refreshed the next day. The airlines entertainment system, the E-box, also provides over 600 hours of on demand entertainment to every customer, no matter which class you are seated in.

The lounge at Abu Dhabi airport also provides a haven away from the rest of the passengers transiting Abu Dhabi and even offers a spa service with six mini treatments to enjoy during your wait between flights. A new midfield terminal, due to be completed by 2017 will also provide a modern connecting terminal for all passengers with this rapidly growing airline.

You can find numerous Etihad reviews online but why do you like to travel with Etihad?

How to get upgraded

For those that are lucky enough, business class is a truly fantastic way to fly and should really be experienced at least once in your life. No doubt you will have read various airline reviews about the services available, like the Singapore Airline reviews or the Etihad reviews that you can often find online. For those that don’t have the cash to spare, there are a number of ways that you can increase your chances of getting upgraded. Here’s our top list.

Be flexible – If you are a frequent flyer and have your meal and seat requests stored in your frequent flyer profile, take it out. The airlines need someone who can switch at the last minute.

Dress smartly – Airlines won’t let you into their business lounges or business class if you look scruffy. They want to create a sense of allure to the service and if anyone does need to be upgraded, the person who is looking the nicest will no doubt be chosen.

Arrive early – Checking-in early means you are at the airport already and you can ask how busy the flight is. You could always cheekily ask them to keep you in mind in case they need to upgrade anyone.

Be flexible (again) – This time it’s all about when you travel. Airlines overbook their flights because (surprisingly) people just don’t turn up for them. Often passengers miss flights or they get cancelled or changed, but either way, if your flight is full and they need to bump people onto a later flight, they are going to ask you to. They may compensate you with food vouchers and a night in a hotel or money or if you are lucky, they will upgrade you. The latter is not always possible if a lot of the flights are full but it’s better to keep your options open.

Check online at other experiences people have had with the airlines and if you really want a look, checkout these Etihad reviews for an example of what business class is really like.

Etihad Reviews - A four star airline

There are a number of four-star rated airlines in the world, offering excellent service, tasty food and personal entertainment, all at 30,000ft. The Etihad reviews received but its auditing team shows how Etihad Airways has become one of these airlines who Skytrax has awarded four-stars to.

For the past three years, Etihad has also received a range of awards including World’s Leading Airline three years running in the World Travel Awards. It is still a relatively young airline in the industry compared to some of its larger competitors, however, Etihad has grown from strength to strength and has even been given the title as the world’s fastest growing airline. Not an easy feat in this day and age.

Image courtesy of Etihad Airways

Excellent service in each of its First, Business and Economy classes allows an enjoyable onboard experience, added to 600+ hours of on demand entertainment plus delicious food means your flight will be over before you realise. Business and First Class passengers also have the option of ‘anytime’ dining, with dishes such as steak sandwiches and mezzes on offer.

Being such a young airline, Etihad can also boast having one of the youngest fleets in the world and with both Boeing 787 and Airbus A380s on order, the constant expansion of routes to each of the continents will certainly be catered for.

Constantly looking at ways to improve, it surprises me that the Etihad reviews were only rated at four-star and not five-star but when it comes down to it, it’s all a personal opinion.

For airline reviews with your next flight booking

eDreams is a UK based travel agency focusing on flights, city breaks, car hire and hotels and includes a number of low-cost airlines. The company can search regional flights from Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Edinburgh and many other areas of the UK.

On top of this, eDreams offers its clients the opportunity to write hotel and airline reviews, written by its customers for other travellers. It’s a great way for people to learn about experiences. It shows a number of different routes taken by eDreams clients with ratings for the service and route on offer.

Although a premium rate telephone number, searches and bookings can be made online to save on this cost. When searching for hotels, Trip Advisor reviews are also available to travellers searching for their next holiday and with over 150,000 hotels available to search through, it’s a great idea. Furthermore, working with all the top car hire companies has meant that eDreams can bring discounts and the best rates to its clients with car hire starting at just €9 per day in Europe.

If it’s a city break you are after, then look no further. eDreams comprehensive package of flight and hotel deals means that you can compare fares from over 750 airlines and airline reviews like Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Etihad Airways reviews and package them together with a hotel for greater discounts.

Destination Travel - With Airline Reviews

From airline reviews to activity bookings, Destination Travel is a site to keep your eye on.

This travel dedicated website, with many airline reviews, including Virgin and Etihad reviews, and a host of other important travel related information offers travellers a guide to how to travel and what to do when they get there, with prices in sterling, US and Australian dollars and the Euro.

Take a look at their hot air balloon excursion ideas or sky-diving or if that seems a little too extreme for you, why not take a look at their concert and theatre show ideas. If you are in the UK or abroad, these suggestions will be sure to keep you occupied.

A range of hotel options are also available on the site, ranging from Accor, Starwood and even Hostelworld for those on a budget. There are also a number of links to various transport websites, such as RailEurope, Amtrak, Global Coach Tours and Cunard Cruises.

Airline reviews are also available for numerous airlines, including budget airlines such as easyJet to the Etihad reviews who offer personal suites in their first class cabins.

For those who can’t afford the upgrade, however, there is a great article on how to get yourself an upgrade for free. It’s very unlikely in this day and age to get upgrades but they are possible and these tips will give you a slight advantage over your competing fellow passengers.

Fly to Bangkok for the Chinese Moon Festival

Every September, Bangkok is alive with the Mid-Autumn festival of dancing, eating and gazing at the moon. Mooncakes are the staple of the Moon festival when the moon is at its biggest and brightest.

The legend of the moon fairy who lived in a crystal palace is one of the wonderful folk tales told by parents to their children. The moon fairy, dances on the moon’s shadowed surface when the moon is at its brightest.

The mooncake is a traditional food of the festival with flavours as odd as ham and roasted chestnut. All are worth a try, at least for the experience but in Bangkok’s Chinatown is where the festival really takes place. Lively streets filled with lots of colour makes this one place you definitely want to enjoy.

Combine your flights to Bangkok from Manchester or London with a side trip to one of Thailand’s beautiful islands.

Top 10 things to do in Bangkok

Are you heading out to Bangkok to enjoy this cultural, lively city?

With so many different things to do, especially if your time in the capital is limited, it's hard to know what to do. Discover the top 10 things to do in Bangkok with this list I discovered. From relaxing at the temples to enjoying some Thai cooking, this great top ten list of things to do is one to read before you go

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/123651212/Top-10-things-to-do-in-Bangkok

Manchester - A quick review

Manchester is arguably one of the best cities in the UK and with a busy international airport and two mainline train terminals, it’s also is to get to and experience.

From the hustle and bustle of Market Street to the relaxing waterways around Castlefield, there’s something for everyone. First stop is the city’s shopping area of Market Street with the huge Arndale Centre, full of the latest fashions, jewelry and electronics. Across the road you’ll find the Triangle and it’s giant outdoor screen, showing the latest sports and events for passersby. Walking past Selfridges and Harvey Nichols brings you to the Corn Exchange and King Street. If all this shopping gets too much, why not head to one of the city’s many canal side bars at Deansgate Locks or Canal Street. This is where the city comes to life at night with various clubs in the area too.

No trip to Manchester should be without a visit to Old Trafford, site of the legendary Manchester United team. Tours should be pre-booked although you can still go and visit the shop if a tour isn’t for you. While in the area, wander across to Salford Quays and Media City. An up and coming area in the Greater Manchester area, Salford Quays has become a popular residential area with local celebrities. Salford Quays shopping centre is also located here if you can’t get enough shopping but for the culture vultures, the Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry Centre (a performing arts centre in memory of LS Lowry) are also here to enjoy.

Flights to Manchester come from all over the world, including Singapore, New York and Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways). Etihad are now the official sponsor of Manchester City Football Club, rival to Man Utd and have renamed their stadium to the Etihad Stadium, located in the East of the City. Etihad have been awarded the world’s best airline but for more information, check out the Etihad reviews.

Transport links to the airport are by train although a new tram link to the city is underway. The city also boasts three bus routes, complimentary to residents and visitors that take you to various areas of the inner city.

For children, the Museum of Discovery and Science, close to Deansgate is a great option with interactive activities as well as learning about the history of Manchester.

Bangkok will celebrate with Queen’s birthday

On the 12^th August each year, thousands of Bangkok citizens celebrate Queen Sirikit as Sanam Luang is lit up with hundreds and thousands of candles, together with a beautifully lit up Thanon Ratchadamnoen, once the widest street in Bangkok.

Born in 1932, her majesty Sirikit Kitiyakara is devoted to helping the Thai people and improving welfare amongst Thai citizens. A public holiday, the Queen’s birthday is celebrated throughout Thailand when candles are lit and portraits of the Queen are placed on display around the country.

Etihad - Leading the way

Etihad Airways has been awarded, for the third year running, the world’s leading airline and in the 2012 awards won the award for Middle East's leading airline.

Whether it’s the 5-star experience, tasty cuisine or simply a great product, Etihad Airways truly offers something for everybody. No doubt you will have read many Etihad reviews and come across some wonderful experiences, but with a dedicated Etihad Guest team for any difficulties you may have, the airline certainly know how to treat their staff.

The award winning airline has also become the world’s fastest growing airline, proving that people are flying with them for a reason.

From their hub in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad fly to numerous worldwide destinations, and from next year, their first South American destination with flights to Sao Paulo.

Started in 2003, the airline is still relatively young compared to its main competitors but Etihad is growing strong and is dedicated to helping protect the environment. From water saving programmes in the workplace to install new Sharklet wingtips on its Airbus A320s, Eithad Airways is dedicated to protecting its future and the environment.

Image courtesy of http://www.etihad.com/