SHANGHAI

Our first taste of Shanghai was on the Maglev Train. This is a “magnetic levitation” train; a type of mono-rail that is glided on magnets. The speed of this train can reach over 400km per hour, its almost like being on a roller coaster, especially going around corners! We took this train from the airport to the Longyang Road Station in Pudong (took 7 minutes to travel 30KM).

It’s very cheap to get around Shanghai by taxi. We took a taxi from Nanjing Road back to the hotel and it cost approx NZD$4 for 3 of us.

We stayed in the 4* Shanghai Oriental Bund Hotel, which is located very close to the Bund and the “Chinatown” bazaar area of Shanghai and the Yuyuang Garden. The rooms were a good size with 2 double beds, plus the hotel also has 2 restaurants, a bar and a breakfast room. It’s an excellent location for people wanting to be near the bund and the bazaar.

There are many different shopping areas of Shanghai – Nanjing Road is the main one. It’s a pedestrian street with many western and Chinese shops and restaurants. Many people say it is like the “Times Square of China”. This street gets very busy in the weekends so I would advise to go during the week (and be careful of pick-pockets). This would be a good area for first-time travellers or wary travellers to stay as it may not be as great a cultural shock as other areas.

On the first day of our China holidays we visited the Shanghai Museum for a few hours. I’d definitely recommend pre-booking with a tour to skip a majority of the entrance line. The museum has 11 galleries and 3 exhibition halls (there was even a New Zealand exhibition on while we were there!) so I would recommend a good few hours to see everything. The museum is full of ancient art and relics and is fascinating for any history buffs.

We did the Huangpu River Cruise during the evening,which was awesome as we got to see all the night lights of Shanghai. The cruise goes for 1 hour and turns around half way through the trip so you get to see both sides of the river.

Next day we visited the Yuyuan Garden, built in 1577 (Ming Dynasty) for a government official’ parents to retire in. This is a really beautiful garden and palace rich in history, restored to its original state and covering over 5 acres of land.

Right next to the Yuyuan Garden is the City of God Temple; this is what local people refer to as “Chinatown”. Today it is a bustling market full of hundreds of shops and restaurants, but 100 years ago was a temple. This is the best place to go if you want to purchase either Chinese souvenirs or cheap knock-off hand bags, watches etc. I bought a “Louis Vuitton” handbag which was really good quality leather. This is also where you can find the best dumplings in China; there is always a line outside the restaurant.

Another of the things to do in Shanghai is visiting the Jade Buddha, housed in an old temple which is inhabited by 70 monks. We arrived on a worship day so it was extremely busy. The Jade Buddha is actually made out of White Jade and is encrusted with jewels. You can book a tour of the temple in conjunction with the Yuyuan Garden if you fancy visiting both sights.

In the evening we took in a spot of local culture with the “Era” acrobatic show, which must be about the best acrobatic show to see in Shanghai. It was really awesome, incorporating different elements such as motorbikes and other tools.

SUZHOU

We travelled to Suzhou by coach, which took about 1 hour 30 minutes, but it is also easily accessible by high speed train which takes about 20 minutes. A lot of people actually commute from Suzhou to Shanghai and it is thought that one day Shanghai will get so big it will reach Suzhou and become one big city. Suzhou is famous for its silk production, canals and gardens.

We stayed in the 4* Suzhou Nanlin Hotel,which had really spacious rooms with 2 double beds. It’s a large hotel with 250 rooms and 4 restaurants. The location was really good, being walking distance to the main shopping area of Suzhou with many shops, bars and restaurants.

The Humble Administrator’s Garden was another really beautiful garden, this one built in the Ming dynasty. We took a day tour around this garden plus the nearby Silk Institute, where you can learn how silk is made right from the beginning as a worm. This was very interesting, and at the end of the tour there is a chance to purchase silk products such as a pure silk duvet inner.

On our way back to Shanghai from Suzhou we visited the famous water town of Tongli – the Venice of China. Tongli is divided into seven islands with 15 canals. We went on a gondola ride down the main canal, which was really cool. This is a quite a romantic little town with markets, shops and restaurants, as well as a few B & B type accommodation.

Looking for more information on holidays in Shanghai?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

The people were so friendly on our Samoa holidays, accommodating and seem really focussed on looking after you. People waved as we passed and it was nice to have willing assistance at the markets but no pressure, rather genuine friendliness.

Apia was a very nice experience – a busy thriving Pacific Island main town to visit, good markets and nice seafront to walk along or dine out on.

Moving over to the other side of the island, I could not believe how beautiful Lalomanu Beach was! Sea Breeze Resort was a lovely place to stay and one I’d recommend for couples who want that extra bit special. They have rental cars available, which is a bonus if you want to get out and have a look around.

Savaii was a wonderful surprise. I loved the views of Samoa and the idyllic lagoon surrounding the island is stunning! Stevensons at Manase have some beautiful open beach fales with ensuites. It was nice to have a relaxing restaurant and bar setting as well; nothing pretentious but entertaining and welcoming to Kiwis.

Le Legoto would be a good option for families, with a really nice set up and a huge family room. Overall though the area seemed such a hive of activity and any of the resorts would be great to stay at.

All in all, I’m so glad I took the holiday to Samoa. Having a love of the beach, the outdoors and amazing beach settings, the long stretches of pure white sand and crystal clear tropical waters blew me away. Finally I’ve found a place that rivals our own New Zealand beaches.

Need more information on holidays in Samoa? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

We began our Fiji holidays with a Nadi faces and places tour, for which we were picked up by Pacific Destinationz at Denarau for a 4-hour tour around the main Nadi attractions. Our tour guide was very good and kept us entertained throughout the whole tour.

We started with a drive to the local village, where we were explained some facts about the layout of the village and local customs, as well as had the chance to shop in a small market they set up for tourists in front of the village. The village was quite modern and had lots of beautiful local children out playing.

After this we went to the garden of sleeping giant, which is a big park with lots of orchids and other plants with a loop boardwalk, followed by a visit to a Hindu temple before finishing at the local food market.

For travellers wanting to stay in an island resort with all the trimmings, my top picks in Denerau would be:

Sheraton Fiji

This family oriented Fiji resort has been in operation since 1987, sure to keep all members of the family occupied with a complimentary kids club and a lagoon-style kids pool. Nanny services are also available for an additional charge. There is a great selection of restaurants, including Flying Fish, Feast (buffet-style) and Pantry (deli-style).

Guests can also enjoy the private Akula Island, which is exclusive to the resort and just a short boat ride away (boats depart every hour). The island is good for swimming and snorkelling. There are no restaurants or shops, but guests can take picnic packs to munch on while relaxing in the sun.

The accommodation is across 2 levels, all of which have king beds and either a small patio or balcony outside with chairs to enjoy the sunlight.

If you get carried away with the romance of the islands, there’s a beautiful seaside chapel on site, as well as 2 full time wedding coordinators to help plan everything.

For families wanting even more space, or just couples wanting to stay in style, the Sheraton Villas are great for self catering. There are either 2 or 3 bedroom villas, all of which feature the super comfortable Heavenly Beds. Also available is the famous Heavenly Spa, with 10 treatment rooms, lap pool, gym and jacuzzi.

Fiji beach resort and spa managed by Hilton

This beautiful property was my favourite in Denarau. It has a more mature feel but with great facilities for kids as well, including a free kids club and a kids pool. If this wasn’t enough, guests can also hire Playstations and games at reception for the kids. The leisure facilities on site include an award-winning spa, several pools and a restaurant.

The ground floor Deluxe Rooms have shared access to a plunge pool, and the 3 bedroom Deluxe Rooms have their own private plunge pool.

Sonaisali resort

Located 20 minutes from Nadi, this is separated from the mainland by a 5 minute boat ride. The accommodation is spread out in a wide area,with good facilities on offer such as WiFi in the lobby, a 24 hour pool with swim up pool bar, shop, day spa and hair salon. There are a range of room categories, from beachfront rooms to ocean view bures.

Every tastebud and palate is catered for in the wealth of dining options available. There is a grill restaurant by the bar, sunset restaurant and also a more formal adult-only restaurant where we had a beautiful fine dining experience. There is also the Zero bar, situated away from the rooms and very lively at night.

One evening we booked on their sunset cruise, which was a great experience with fantastic views and entertainment, all washed down with drinks and canapés.

Need more information on holidays in Fiji? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

MADAME TUSSAUDS
You’ll need to allow 1 – 2 hours to go through the museum plus allow queue time to get in. Priority Entrance tickets are worth considering, but you still need to line up to go through a security check, after which if a staff member is available they will take you straight through to the entrance gate – if not then you need to line up with everyone else.

Once you’re inside you’ll be able to marvel at elaborate wax figures of celebrities, pop stars, royal family, political figures and sports stars including a special Olympics section.

There’s also a number of special exhibits, including Scream (a scary, walk through section with people jumping out at you) and Superheroes 4D (with iconic superheroes such as The Incredible Hulk, Ironman and Spiderman, taking place in the iconic dome structure of Madame Tussauds).

VINTAGE HARRODS OPEN TOP TOUR
Meeting at the bus stop opposite Harrods Department Store, this London bus tour includes Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Westminster, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and over London Bridge to the Tower of London. We were given free time to take photos, grab a coffee etc. We then took a river cruise from the Tower of London to Embankment.

The tour was very interesting; the guide was a proper London ‘geezer’, delivering lots of random facts and stories about the history of the city and its people. The bus itself gives the option of either inside or outside seating, although be warned that in most seasons the outdoor seating is COLD!

LONDON EYE
This is one of the most popular things to do in London. Tickets are collected from the counter inside the building opposite London Eye. Priority Entrance allows you to go straight to the front and then skip through the whole queue to board straight onto the Pod. It’s a great time-saver and definitely worth the extra money, especially in summer when lines can be huge.

There’s also a 4D show included in ticket, which runs for about 5 minutes in the same main building. It covers the City of London and the views you are about to see. There are 32 pods on the Eye in total, and each flight is about 30 minutes for a full rotation.

Inside the Pods themselves are Galaxy Tablets which are interactive and tell you about information on the buildings and green park spaces you are seeing. You can also zoom in on this to see a closer view of the various sights.

Need more information on holidays in London? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

I expected the Gold Coast to be dominated by family oriented activities and children. However I realised that although most activities are aimed for the young and young at heart, there are alternatives for everyone to enjoy, making it the perfect destination to cater to any budget.

Gold Coast in general is quite clean and priced to suit all budgets. The beach is the main natural element dominating the area followed by the hinterland in the distance, which is the natural rainforest.

The two main hubs you ideally wish to be located at in the Gold Coast are either Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach. Surfers Paradise is aimed at a younger audience with a variety of bars, clubs, backpackers and shopping precinct. This area will cater more to the family traveller, teenagers and young adults. Broadbeach on the other hand is quieter however more upmarket with its casino, monorail, cabaret restaurant and mall. Broadbeach is ideal for couples, families with really young children and seniors.

Regardless of where you are located in these areas, the beach is never far away. The endless stretch of beach which connects all the areas together is magnificent. The waters are quite choppy and rough on all these beaches, so if you are not a surfer or swimming skills are not up to scratch you are better off at a pool in your accommodation if you still wish to enjoy the water.

If you are based in Surfers Paradise, Cavill Mall is your entertainment hub for shopping, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Plenty of swimwear, chain clothing stores like ICE, Tarocash and Diva etc. Here you will find a few stops for the Gold Coast Tourist shuttle taking you to various parts of the Gold Coast. They are less frequent during the night.

Some really good restaurants in the area are the award-winning Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant situated in Mantra Crown Towers, as well as QT’s Bazaar which is a mix of several different cuisines, buffet style where you can have meals cooked to perfection. Some interesting choices are seafood paella cooked in squid ink. If you do have a special occasion Seaduction at Sea Temple is perfect for a fine dining experience. The shellfish veloute and truffle mash potatoes were amazing.

Broadbeach boasts the well reputed Draculas cabaret restaurant. Here you will get dinner and a show. This is purely a choice of taste for this experience which lasts 3 hours. The concept is of actors dressed as the “living dead” which put on a show of singing, dancing, acrobatics, holograms and comedy based on adult themes. There were children as young as 10 years old in the audience however I would not recommend this show to anyone under 18 years. Ideal place if you wish to have a bit of a laugh, be laughed at and enjoy some delicious cocktails.

Draculas is directly opposite Pacific Fair, which is a large double storied mall that stretches into alleyways. It is home to small boutiques which are unique as well as chain stores such as Priceline, Forever New, Esprit etc. It has a large food court and plenty of cafes and delis if you wish to eat in the area on a budget particularly for lunch; however plenty of restaurants dotted in the area for dinner. Broadbeach is also host to the iconic Jupiter’s casino if you plan to indulge in a spot of gambling.

Being a family oriented destination, theme parks are one of the main reasons why families travel to the Gold Coast. Dream World and White Water World are located right besides each other. Dream World is perfect for everyone who likes a good amusement ride. It caters to the young and young at heart. The Wiggles and teacups area is perfect for really small children, whereas older children and adults can enjoy the tower of terror, giant drop and the claw to name a few.

Dream World also has Tiger Island where large Bengal tigers jump and do tricks. This is a good show for any age group. Eating at Dream World is quite expensive especially because you cannot bring your own food into the park. You have a choice of going to the buffet lunch or you can buy snacks (eg. a burger costs $14AUD).

If you have a full day to spend or need to cool off, why not nip over to White Water World and enjoy the water slides, the green room, the ever popular “wedgie” for the daring or relax in the cave of waves. There are only three main areas for young children if they do not wish to go on the slides.

Movie World was a very different experience to Dream World. The park is mostly aimed at very young children with a few rides for older children and adults. The best way to navigate around the park is to look at the schedule of the shows and follow them accordingly.

The Hollywood stunt driver show is a very popular one with stunt drivers doing tricks with the cars and engages the audience to participate. Asthmatics should take precaution due to the fumes. The Justice League ride is also very low key and good to do as a small group. Plenty of parades which involve children’s characters such as Batman doing shows on the street. You can also take pictures with character lookalikes such as Wonder Woman and Marilyn Monroe.

For the more adventurous there are extreme rides such as Superman, The Green Lantern, Scooby Doo and the Arkham Asylum. There is plenty of children’s character shopping to do at Movie World interestingly such as the Harry Potter Shop, Warner Brothers Boutique etc. Similar to Dream World, the park also has a no food policy, however there are plenty of options, albeit more expensive. Rick’s Cafe provides buffet style lunch or you can opt for treats if you come midday and simply have a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or Gotham city burgers.

The waiting times for each ride on any of these parks can be significantly longer on busy days. Although we arrived during the off peak times, the parks were still quite crowded so I would recommend to visitors to at least spend a day each in these parks as a large amount of your day can be spent waiting for a ride. There are sign boards along the way of each ride informing the public how long it would take to get to the ride from their spot in the queue. Some of these time spots are as long as 45 minutes.

Jetboating is another great adventure activity for anyone aged 4 years and upward looking for things to do in Gold Coast. Taking place on the Nerang River. Each person is given a life jacket and the choice of wearing a raincoat. My advice would be take a change of clothes, wear the raincoat, if possible wear swimwear underneath and bring a pair of sunglasses as this activity gets you extremely wet. Wearing jeans, skirts or dresses will not do for such an activity.

The skipper takes you on the Nerang River at high speed and then aims for targets and suddenly turns creating splashes and airborne turns. Although there were participants who had phobias of such activities, everyone enjoyed it. The whole activity took nearly a couple of hours with some sightseeing of Chevron Island’s magnificent houses. The location is close to Seaworld and Seaworld Resort.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a good alternative for a low key excursion. Located conveniently close to Coolangatta Airport, the sanctuary is home to a wide range of Australian species. This is a perfect alternative to Australia Zoo if clients are time pressed or have very young children who are unable to tolerate the journey. Following the schedule of shows is the best way to get around the sanctuary otherwise patrons are bound to miss out.

The sanctuary is very hands on with lizards crawling on the steps of the cafe. They even bring snakes to the public that you can touch and hold. If you are keen you can also hug a koala which is an amazing experience. If you are going to do such activities, wear comfortable clothing which you won’t mind getting soiled on, particularly with the koalas. Comfortable footwear and clothing is recommended if you wish to do these.

The sanctuary also has a train that gives you a brief tour of the whole area. You can spot several creatures in their natural habitat from dingoes and peacocks to lizards and other reptiles in the wild with fencing in certain areas. Also visible to the public is the veterinary where injured animals are taken in to be treated.

Located right next to the sanctuary is Honey World, where you can taste honey, see how bees make the honeycomb and buy products. Also next to Honey World is Surf World, a museum dedicated to the history of surfing.

Looking for more information on holidays in Gold Coast?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

On arrival in Papeete we were welcomed by a local group of Tahitian traditional dancers – a wonderful way to begin our time in Tahiti.

One of the highlights of our Tahiti holidays was the “Meet the dolphins” experience at The Moorea Dolphin Centre. We met and got to interact with the 3 dolphins, Hina, Lokahi and Kuokoa, which was absolutely amazing! We also got to visit turtles at the little medical centre.

Another was visiting some of the dozen lovely dive sites located on the west and east coasts of the island. Check out the Topdive Tahiti dive centre to arrange diving trips in the area. The Helmet dive is an amazing submarine activity and the easiest way to visit Nemo’s world.

My top recommendations for places to stay while visiting Tahiti are:

Le Meridien Tahiti – a modern hotel with a great pool area, including a sand bottom pool, and the local Art Center l’Atelier. The Deluxe Ocean View Rooms offer great views over the white sandy beach and the gardens of the resort. There are also spectacular overwater bungalows located over the lagoon, offering luxurious, traditional Tahitian accommodation. These thatched roof bungalows feature woven palm walls, a romantic canopy bed, lovely timber floor, large terrace, Polynesian-style bathroom and open views to the reef.

Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti – situated on Lafayette Beach, all rooms face the ocean and are spacious, elegant and comfortable with separate bedroom. Overall it is a great hotel and one I would definitely recommend.

Moorea Pearl Resort – just 10 minutes from the airport and with boutiques, restaurants and a small shopping centre close at hand. There are 28 overwater bungalows built over the lagoon, plus more on the beach and spread through the grounds with their own private pools and little gardens.

Hotel InterContinental Resort – situated on the northwestern side of the island, this is a gorgeous resort with a private sandy beach, two swimming pools and a diving centre. The range of room types include Garden Pool Bungalows dotted throughout the beautiful and fragrant gardens, and overwater bungalows including an entertainment area and lower sundeck with direct access to the lagoon.

Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort  - absolutely outstanding in terms of standard, facilities and service. The overwater bungalows have windows in the floor to view the tropical fish below. The Garden Bungalows all have a private pool. Garden Pool Suites are located in the tropical garden of the resort and feature a private deck with furniture, gazebo, private pool and garden.

Hotel Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort – recently renovated, this is situated in a great location on a beautiful, white sand beach. I really liked the Spa area, which has a lovely outdoor private plunge pool. There are plenty of water sports activities organised by the hotel.

Need more information on holidays in Tahiti? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Universal Studios
Universal Front of Line passes are brilliant for people who don’t have a lot of time to spare or are there during the busy season.  These passes allows one front of line entry per person per ride. In the non-peak times they can come in quiet beneficial as you can potentially get around the park in as little as 4 hours. The park itself is well set out and offers a wide variety of rides. Predominantly virtual/animated style rides, there are also others such as the Jurassic Park log flume-style water ride.

There are different sections to the park with an upper and lower area joined together by an escalator system. This cuts out the unnecessary hills making it easy to get around for all ages. Tours are available that go around the studios in English and Spanish, and operate during the day at various times.

In front of Universal Studios is Downtown Universal – great for exploring after a long day as there are plenty of restaurant options for the evening, as well as shops and buskers.

Disneyland
Filled with lots of the original rides and home to Toontown, this is a completely different experience in Los Angeles but one just as wonderful. Again designed to be “back in the day” it has a wonderful feel and is great for young and old. The rides are tamer but there are still some thrill-seeking rides around.

Plenty of Disney stars will be around to have photos with; you can even visit their homes for a photo with them. Toontown has lots of fun things to explore with TNT boxes which you can try to blow up or discover other hidden toys. There’s also the famous fireworks display at the end of the night.

Seaworld and Dining With Shamu
Seaworld has rides, shows, experiences, shops and dining. It’s good to get there and plan your day as some of the shows overlap. There is no shelter when viewing the shows and there tends to be a lot of seats but during the busy season they could easily fill up.

The rides are quite fun also, especially the water rides where you can even walk around the outside and pay 0.25c to use one of the water cannons to soak the people on the ride!

Dine with Shamu is a great option for something a little different. You can move about during the show, so even if you don’t have a front row seat you can still move to get a better view. The food is buffet style including a kids section and large dessert selection. There are splash zones throughout all of the shows including Dine with Shamu, though people are always warned if they are in the splash zone.

California Adventure Park
California Adventure Park is another of the great things to do in Los Angeles, and has more of the thrills and spills rides compared to Disney. There are plenty of virtual rides like the Toy Story ride and Monster’s Inc, which are great for the young ones and young at heart. It has a fantastic roller coaster and of course comes to life with the World of Colour show at night, which are a collaboration of favourite Disney movies projected onto water for an amazing display.

The show needs to be used as part of the fast pass throughout the day and the earlier you get in, the better the seat. There are splash zones but again customers will be warned if they are in this area.

California Adventure Park is currently designed to show how life in California was “back in the day” and is beautifully designed. There are different themed areas throughout the park and a great experience for young and old.

San Diego Zoo
This zoo is great – it offers something for everyone and has an open feel to the enclosures. There is a gondola or Skyfari which goes above the grounds so you can have a birds eye view of the enclosures. You can also view the animals during their feeding times to listen to the keepers and give you a chance to see some of the more hidden animals during their active times.

There is a bus that goes around the zoo with commentary should you want to take it easy, as it is quiet hilly in places. There’s also a hop on hop off bus that heads around the zoo for the lesser active members of the family. With a number of eateries and souvenir shops there are plenty of chances to rest or pick up a gift.

Parking is available free of charge and instead of letters for your area that you have parked in they have animals, which is a nice twist. Home to panda and polar bears as well as many other favourites, it’s a good day out for all ages. Easy to find and only a few minutes from downtown San Diego.

Knott’s Berry Farm
Home to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and friends this theme park is filled with the old school roller coaster rides and reminded me of Dreamworld rides in Australia. Heaps of fun with arcade and carnival games (at additional charge), there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained.

Home to the traditional wooden roller coaster, and every October it changes its style to Knott’s Scary Farm – a 15+ theme park to celebrate Halloween. There is a younger area for the little ones and some very high thrill rides for the older ones. A short 20-40 minute drive from Anaheim, its a different and enjoyable theme park which has a more laid-back feel compared to the rush of the Disney parks.

Need more information on holidays in Los Angeles? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Setting foot on the ground at Cairns I was surprised at our small Cairns Airport is but also how easy it is to get around. Even locating the Eurocar rental van was easy. Looking around, the mountains are so close – much closer than I thought.

Tropical North Queensland is a great holiday spot for anyone. It’s easy to get around and great for outdoor types with lots of nature to explore, from reefs to rainforest. Families would enjoy Hartleys, Kuranda and one of the reef tours. It’s easy to run out of time at Kuranda so I’d recommend starting right at the top to see the koalas and butterfly sanctuary, plus make sure you take the rail up and skyrail down.

There are lots of beaches and while many have crocodile and jellyfish signs, there are spots which are safer to swim in so look out for these signs or ask someone. It’s lovely being out later in the evening and still being able to sit out on the esplanade, go swimming or even have a picnic.

Trinity Beach and Palm Cove are more beachy areas but my favourite was Port Douglas, as there was more to do with a nice beach, great shopping/markets and plentiful restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for nightlife on your Australia holidays, Cairns would be the best place to go though. We visited the Cairns night markets and got a full massage for just $15.

Palm Cove has some boutique shops and surf shops but not as much besides, whereas Trinity Beach didn’t have as many shops but had a more relaxed and laid-back feel to it.

For dining, Peppers Palm Cove was amazing, with a very talkative chef who comes out to explain each dish. The beetroot soup was great. For a taste of something uniquely Australian, Barnaby Bills in Cairns serve crocodile and kangaroo, all in a fun environment.

My top picks for hotels would be:

QT Port Douglas – This is a big resort with a large lobby and excellent service. It has a very modern feel to it, with a bar and restaurant,  large pool with swim-up pool bar and gift shop, all set in lush tropical gardens just minutes from the township of Port Douglas and Four Mile Beach.

Mantra Amphora Palm Cove – This hotel has a massive pool, spa and kids pool, and while there is no restaurant on site there are tons near by. The rooms are the real selling point though; all feature private balconies with garden or ocean views, and most have an indulgent spa bath perfect for unwinding in after a day sightseeing.

Mantra Esplanade Cairns – This has just about the best location ever, right on the waterfront. It’s just minutes from the harbour and on a lively street with plenty of cafes and restaurants, as well as close to the casino and the night markets. The apartments feature private balconies with city or ocean views, while on site leisure facilities include a pool, sauna, whirlpool spa and restaurant.

Overall North Queensland is very clean. Palm Cove and Trinity have the best beaches, Cairns has better nightlife, and Port Douglas is the most relaxed and peaceful. It’s a great place to go and truly feel like you’re on holiday.

Need more information on holidays in North Queensland? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

An experiential gift is a great way to take your mum by surprise and get to spend some quality time together. The team at Flight Centre has put some great holiday options together for you to spoil your mum, this Mother’s Day.

Shopping Tour and High Tea, Sydney

Sydney is the perfect destination for a weekend away with your mum. With warm weather, fantastic shopping and fine dining on offer, Flight Centre has the perfect gift package with a shopping tour and a high tea included.

Flight Centre has Sydney holidays including return airfares flying Air New Zealand, three nights four-star accommodation, a Sydney City Gems Shopping Tour and a High Tea at Sea Cruise from $999* ex Auckland, $1,039* ex Wellington or $965* ex Christchurch, per person, twin share.

*Price subject to availability. Valid for sales until 27 May 2013. Travel from 21 July – 31 August 2013 ex Auckland, 07 – 15 July, 01 August – 31 August 2013 ex Wellington or 01 – 31 August 2013 ex Christchurch. High Tea at Sea Cruise departs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Airfares based on Air New Zealand Seat + Bag.

Shopping Tour & Yarra Valley Wine Tour, Melbourne

If you’re looking for somewhere to take your mother to celebrate Mother’s Day, why not head to Melbourne? It’s well known as a shopper’s paradise – check out the Queen Victoria Market, an open-air market that has been a popular spot with locals for over 125 years.

Combine the city lights with a wine tour – with more than 70 award winning wineries, a host of delicious restaurants, luxury accommodation and gorgeous scenery, the Yarra Valley is the perfect escape.

Flight Centre has Melbourne holidays including return airfares flying Air New Zealand, three nights four-star accommodation with continental breakfast daily, a Bargains and Bubbles Shopping Tour and a Yarra Valley Wine Tour from $1,119* ex Auckland, $1,185* ex Wellington or $1,079* ex Christchurch, per person, twin share.

*Price subject to availability. Valid for sales until 27 May 2013. Travel from 05 August – 26 September 2013. Bargains & Bubbles Shopping tour does operate on Sunday. Airfares based on Air New Zealand Seat + Bag.

Wicked – The Musical, Auckland

Celebrated as one of the most successful shows in Broadway history, the award winning musical Wicked is loved by fans all around the world and is the perfect present for your Mum. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked is the untold story of the Witched of Oz, telling the story of how two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

Spoil your Mum with two nights 4.5-star accommodation at SkyCity Hotel and an Emerald Reserve ticket to Wicked – the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Flight Centre has two nights 4.5-star accommodation at SkyCity Hotel in Auckland and an Emerald Reserve ticket to WICKED from $299* per person, twin share.

*Price subject to availability. Valid for sales until 27 May 2013. Travel from 26 September – 14 October 2013. Emerald Reserve ticket to Wicked is based on a Thursday night performance. Tickets are non-changeable, non-refundable and non-transferrable.

King Kong – The Musical, Melbourne

Sticking with the musical buzz, King Kong premieres in Melbourne on 15 June 2013 for its exclusive Australian season. Based on one of the great modern myths, this world-first adaptation as a large scale musical has been created by an award-winning international team. If shopping or a wine tour isn’t really your thing, this is the perfect alternative.

Flight Centre has King Kong packages including return airfares to Melbourne, two nights accommodation and an A Reserve ticket to King Kong from $869* ex Auckland, $955* ex Wellington or $849* ex Christchurch, per person, twin share.

*Price subject to availability. Valid for sales until 31 May 2013. Travel from 28 May – 23 June, 01 – 16 July 2013. A Reserve ticket to King Kong is based on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening performance. Tickets are non-refundable, non-changeable or transferrable.

Alternatively, a sunset cocktail in Fiji or snorkelling in the Cook Islands are perfect escape options and something that can be enjoyed over a long weekend.

Looking for information on Mother’s Day gifts?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

While in-flight entertainment options are reportedly amongst the least important factors for travellers when booking cheap flights, it seems many of us would make greater use of mobile devices to help pass the time if we could.

The most popular uses of this would be centred around communicating with friends and family, with texting and social media like Facebook and Twitter voted highest in a recent British survey.

Planning the holiday ahead while en route would also be a popular pastime if we were able to do it, with browsing the internet the next most popular option.

It seems the old days of mobile devices being used principally to make calls are fast becoming a thing of the past. Only a small number of people say they’d use the phone to make calls, and of those it’s (perhaps surprisingly) more prevalent in men than women, for whom games held more appeal than chatting with friends.

Whether we’ll continue to see greater access to entertainment via mobile devices in the future is still uncertain, but it’s likely something on the radar of airlines today.

Emirates are the reining champions when it comes to in-flight entertainment, winning the award for Best Inflight Entertainment at the World Airline Awards in both 2012 and 2011.

Sources: IBM.corp, AeroMobile, SKYTRAX

Looking for information on booking your next holiday?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

After nearly thirty hours of travelling, I had finally arrived in Egypt. I had imagined a slightly old and crumbling airport with fans that barely keep up with moving the hot air around the lines of people queuing to secure their visas on arrival. But the airport was very modern, the air conditioning working and the wait was by no means as bad as I had experienced in India before.

On the way to Giza, I was looking out the window of the transfer bus and realised that most of the apartment buildings we were passing looked not yet finished. But why were they all sporting a selection of satellite TV dishes? The explanation from our guide first sounded quite bizarre, but when you can save yourself property tax by not putting a façade on your building, or not completing the balconies, why would you? Satellite TV in Egypt is free, so once you have bought your dish you are set to enjoy all the programming you could want.

When I opened the curtain in the hotel and was greeted by a view of an inviting pool with the pyramids of Giza in the background I knew I had arrived in the land of the pharaohs!

The Egyptian Museum was a great place to start the exploration of Ancient Egypt. Our tour guide was so passionate that he brought the artefacts to life. Talking about the astonishing feat of bringing a block of stone from Ethiopia to Egypt that can only be cut by diamonds that needed to be brought from a different part of Africa had me wondering how the ancient Egyptians had accumulated all their knowledge.

After a good night’s rest, the next day of our Egypt holidays was all about the pyramids. Starting off with the Necropolis in Saqqara and then moving on to “The Big Three” in Giza. Surprisingly enough, the town of Giza is creeping ever so much closer on to the ancient site. From the plateau in front of the pyramid of Cheops you have a spectacular view of the accumulated mess that is Cairo.

That night we found ourselves on the train to Luxor. I had thought that the clickety-clack of the railway carriages making their way to Upper Egypt would easily put me to sleep, but as it was my first overnight rail trip, I had to get used to the train stopping for no apparent reason and nearly throwing me out of my bed. Well, maybe that is an exaggeration, but it certainly felt like it at 3 am in the morning when another jolting stop woke me up.

Luxor greeted us with brilliant sunshine and after a quick stop at the Nile Cruiser, we were off again to see more of the ancient sites. We started off with the Valley of the Kings – and got to meet a special friend that was going to stay with us for the next 6 days or so – meet the heat! Temperatures had risen to about 40 degrees as we were slowly making our way through the Valley of the Kings, where archaeologists have uncovered more than 50 royal tombs. Some are open to be visited and it is very impressive to see what people about 4000 years managed to achieve without the help of dynamite or precision drilling, let alone computers to simulate the final result.

We also met the other constant companion for the rest of our time in Upper Egypt – the vendors. These guys will follow you around and offer you all they can possibly think of in a variety of languages until they find the one that you understand. That is when the hard sell begins. To be honest it is all a lot of fun, but can easily wear you out. Especially when you are exhausted from the heat and all you want to do is sit in the shade and be left alone. For the women in our group it sometimes was so much easier to have an instant wedding – and present one of the men as their husbands. Needless to say the “divorce” followed as soon as we were back on the bus.

Apart from the Valley of the Kings, we also visited the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (or if you have problems with remembering Pharaonic names, try “Hat – cheap suit”) and the Colossi of Memnon.

Luckily we got to spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or in the comfort of our air-conditioned cabins on board the Nile Cruiser, before heading out to one last site – Luxor Temple. It is right in the city centre and when lit up at night, there is not much else that I would consider more majestic.

One of the most amazing experiences possible on Egypt tours was to greet me the next morning – after an early morning wake-up call and crossing the Nile in the dark, we were getting into the basket of a hot air balloon, right next to the Colossi of Memnon. It was stunning to see the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, but this time while silently gliding through the air above.

Silently that is until the pilot started the burners again to gain a little bit more height and get us drifting into another direction. Seeing the sun rise over the Nile and making out the green band of fertile land snaking through the desert is a sight that I will not forget in a hurry.  The colours of the sky were impressive.

There was one more temple to see before setting sail, the Temple of Karnak. This majestic temple with its hall of columns just blew me away. The sheer size of the whole site is awe inspiring and finding out that the ancient Egyptians put down foundations that were earthquake proof to some extent just completely stunned me.

The most perplexing aspect of the temple though was the fact that quite a few of the carvings are still in colour – and yes it is the colour originally applied over 4000 years ago. Bearing in mind that Egypt is constantly bathed in sun and there are sandstorms to deal with, I just wonder why our modern paint hardly stands up to the test of time.

For the next couple of days the Nile Cruise Ship became our home from home, and it was just lovely to sit on a sun lounger while reading a book, or just gazing at the landscape drifting by. We passed ruins of temples, that “just sit there” rather than being used as tourist attractions.

Going through the locks at Esna, we encountered a spectacle that was very unusual. As the ship slows down to enter the lock, an armada of small wooden rowing boats descended on us. All of them were filled with vendors of textiles and other artefacts that they will throw up to you on the top deck of the cruise ship. The goods are protected by plastic bags, which in hand turn out to be useful containers for your payment that you sling down to the boat, should you wish to buy the article.

We later arrived in Aswan, which feels very much like arriving in Africa. The temperature increased by another notch and the local people, the Nubians, are definitely African in looks and no longer Egyptian. Aswan is the last city of Egypt. Famously known for the High Dam, south of here stretches the wide expanse of Lake Nasser and the desert all the way to Sudan.

On our last day in Aswan we ended the day with high tea at the Old Cataract Hotel. It was here that Agatha Christie wrote “Death on the River Nile”. We were fortunate enough to be shown around and got a glimpse of true old world luxury, while walking through the rooms and suites of the hotel. The Winston Churchill Suite offers commanding views of the Nile from its balcony, complete with two sitting areas and outdoor fans.

While I was eating the delicious morsels of food, that brought back memories of the best high teas in London, I pondered the stunning mix of impressions that I had that day. It had all started with a very early morning drive to Abu Simbel. This impressive temple complex was saved from the waters of Lake Nasser and moved to higher ground. Even under close inspection it is very hard to tell where the engineers had cut the buildings into blocks to move.

I was even more impressed by the fact that it had been built in the first place, in the heat of the desert and the middle of nowhere. As it was not too busy at Abu Simbel it was not too difficult to slightly close my eyes and wonder what life was like back when Ramses II had this complex built.

These thoughts were coming back to me as I was sipping Egyptian Mint Tea in a hotel that truly embodies the luxury that was enjoyed by a few at the beginning of the 20th century. About a hundred years ago, people started coming to Egypt to discover the wonders of Ancient Egypt. The main reason for building all the pyramids and temples was to live forever, and I found myself wondering if the Pharaohs have actually achieved this goal. We are still impressed by the magnificent structures that were built back then and over the years have discovered who built them and read about their lives in the hieroglyphics in the tombs. Not a bad effort, I think, for trying to be immortal.

Need more information on tours to Egypt? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Thailand continues to be easily reachable on Thai Airways, although the services between Auckland and Bangkok will reduce slightly over the Kiwi winter, down to 4 per week until normal services resume in November.

The carrier is also active in encouraging Thai travellers to venture to New Zealand for their holidays. Working in conjunction with Tourism New Zealand they are promoting special deals around the country’s unique landscapes and famous attractions, like the winter wonderland of Queenstown, thermal hotspot of Rotorua and hobbit-friendly movie sets in Matamata.

Phuket is the classic beach holiday destination for Thailand holidays, but for something different why not take a cycling tour? The island is largely hilly, but there are several parts that can be explored in a group or on your own with a rental mountain bike and make a refreshing change to the more touristy areas.

Cycle through rubber plantations, past pineapple fields and through local villages and to more secluded beaches you might not see otherwise.

A great holiday in Phuket can be as much about the amazing food as it is about the perfect beaches – and there is a way to enjoy your culinary experiences back in New Zealand well after your tan has faded.

There are several authentic cooking schools in Phuket with classes ranging from three hours in length to several days. Some classes even include a tour of the local markets to teach you how to select the best vegetables and herbs for each meal as well as preparation techniques and, of course, the recipes.

Looking for more information on holidays in Thailand?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

On arrival in Apia for our Samoa holidays it was like opening an oven door – hot and humid! By the baggage carousel a band of local musicians serenade passengers as they wait to collect their luggage, which is a lovely way to slip into island life.

I was really impressed with Apia as a town. The waterfront area is starting to be developed and there are plans to add more cafes/restaurants.  There are supermarkets galore (a lot of American products), plenty of ATMs and a surprising number of hairdressers. For getting around the island, local buses operate throughout the day and taxis are cheap.

If you are looking to do a little shopping on holiday, don’t miss out on visiting one of the Samoa markets on a busy Saturday morning. The Old Apia market has everything from clothing to hand made knick knacks, and you can even stop and watch local women weaving mats, hats, and handbags.

The newer Apia market offers a wide variety of tropical fruits and vegetables under a dry pavilion. And you don’t have to worry about bargaining or paying tourist prices – all of the prices are clearly marked.

Christian churches of various denominations feature heavily in Samoan society and cultural identity, and there are churches just about everywhere. The pastor/priest is highly regarded within the village and their counsel is often sort for dispute resolution. Families give a large percentage of their income to the church.

Samoan pancakes or panikeke (deep fried balls of banana bread) are a MUST and absolutely delicious! They are cheap at 0.50 Tala (approx 25cents NZ) and can be bought at local store or ferry terminals. Pina Coladas are extremely refreshing in the island heat; the best ones are at the Siufaga Resort in Savai’i.

As one would expect, seafood is very popular and features heavily in national favourite dishes: Oka (raw fish and coconut cream), octopus, lobster, tuna, the list is endless.

For Samoa accommodation the stand out options for me are:

Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Resort and Hotel – On the whole this is a fantastic resort for families, couples and single travellers alike. The reception area is a nice escape from the heat, with large comfortable couches accented in Samoan prints – you know you’re in Samoa! All rooms are ocean view. The al fresco breakfast/dining area is a great place to start your day; friendly staff are there to help serve breakfast.

The pool area is lovely and well maintained with lots of greenery and a swim up bar. The man-made beach front is surprisingly good and has thatched fales for shade while relaxing on the beach. The spa is beautiful; Balinese style with beautiful walkways out to open-style fales among the trees where treatments are administered.

Litia Sini – This is a 2 star property in a 5 star location – the beach is breathtakingly beautiful. Re-built since the 2009 tsunami, this is a great property for those who enjoy camping style holidays. With breakfast and dinner included in the rate, it’s fantastic value.

Sinalei Reef Resort & Coconuts Beach Club – These two properties are next door to each other, but quite different. Sinalei has more of a lush green, rain forest setting and the property is large with walkways or paths along the front, facing the beach. Coconuts is far more ‘beach-y’ and is almost entirely set on the beach. To me, Coconuts is the quintessential tropical island resort: sand, beachfront location, stunning rooms (the rooms set on the beach in particular) and huge verandahs from which to look out over the ocean.

Stevenson’s at Manase – For those who favour a quiet location and authentic accommodation with touches of comfort, this is the place. They have Deluxe Suites in funky colours and a private bar! The restaurant/bar area is across the road and is nicely decorated in vibrant reds and local wood.

All in all, most of the accommodation in Samoa exceeded my expectations. I loved Samoa and would happily return as soon as I could!

Need more information on holidays in Samoa? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

With the peak summer holiday season approaching and thousands of Kiwis preparing to take off on New York holidays, Flight Centre has tapped into its consultants’ local knowledge to compile 10 Manhatten money-saving tips for a break in the Big Apple.

1) SIGHTSEEING: FREE STATUE OF LIBERTY VIEWS AND A CRUISE
Spectacular views of Manhattan and its attractions are available from the Staten Island Ferry, a free passenger service that caters for about 20million people per year. During the 25-minute each way journey between Whitehall Street (Lower Manhattan) and St George (Staten Island), passengers enjoy close-up views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, plus the Manhattan skyline.

2) GETTING AROUND: WALK THE WALK
While New York’s taxies and subway services are icons, the best way to experience NYC is on foot. Manhattan is a walking city – you can easily walk from one end of the island to the other or across the bridge to Brooklyn. So invest in a good pair of walking shoes and grab a free map from your hotel concierge.

3) SHOWTIME: DISCOUNTED THEATRE TICKETS
Line up at the discount tickets booth in Time Square for bargain show tickets. Discounts of 30- 70% are often available for the evening’s Broadway and Off-Broadway performances.

4) CHEERS: HAPPY HOURS
Many local watering holes and restaurant bars in New York have late afternoon or early evening happy hours, typically from 5-7pm on weeknights. To find your happy hour haunt, explore the neighbourhood near your hotel and look for the blackboards that are used to promote the various happy hour offers.

5) FINE DINING: RESTAURANT WEEKS AND PRICE-FIX
If you’re in Manhattan during the Restaurant Week celebrations, you’re in for a culinary treat. Participating restaurants, which typically include many of Manhattan’s leading eateries, offer a fixed price promotional deal for lunch and dinner. Prices are reduced and are typically in the order of $25 for a three-course lunch or $35 for dinner (excluding taxes and tips).

Outside of restaurant week, look for early bird “price fix” deals for early lunches or dinners. For example, the popular Bar Boulud, French chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant in Lincoln Square, offers a three-course weekday price fix lunch for $25 (plus tax and tip).

6) A QUICK BITE: MEALS ON WHEELS MANHATTAN-STYLE
If you’re looking for a fast and affordable feed, try mobile street vendors or food trucks. Look for street vendors ones with the long queues. While you may wait a little longer, chances are you will be sinking the teeth into NYC’s freshest and cheapest hotdogs.

Food trucks are a relatively new food revolution and are known for their great food at reasonable prices. There are now lobster trucks, dumpling trucks, BBQ trucks and seemingly everything in between. You can follow the trucks on twitter or look for them around busy areas like Union Square and Battery Park.

Your neighbourhood deli or Bodega may also be a good dining option – these local stores will often do a hearty breakfast for well under $5.

7) CUT-PRICE SHOPPING: COUPONS, OUTLETS AND MARKETS
Shopping is one of the main things to do in New York for many travellers, but before you shop, go online and look for additional discounts that may be available. Many of the good wholesale and discount stores, including Century 21, Loehmann’s, Marshalls, T.J.Maxx and Sephora, have coupons that deliver additional discounts. Simply print the coupons out before you leave your hotel and use them with your shopping.

Woodbury Common, an outlet mall, is also a good shopping option and is within easy reach, with regular bus services to Woodbury available from the Port Authority Building. Closer to the city, try the hugely popular Chelsea Markets.

For many locals, the markets’ Wine Vault is an automatic first stop. Shopping can be thirsty work and the staff can sometimes be persuaded to provide plastic glasses so you can enjoy your wine/bubbly while you shop.

8) WHAT’S ON: FREE ENTERTAINMENT
Central Park is a great sightseeing and people watching location. Grab a takeaway (coffee is fine and alcohol is allowed in moderation), find a seat and enjoy the free show, as entertainers of all shapes and sizes exercise their right to perform.

You can also log on to websites like nycgo.com, for a list of free events and fun activities around the city, or nonsensenyc.com’s email service, which alerts subscribers to unusual activities and events that are taking place in the city.

9) MUSEUMS: PICK YOUR DAY OR NIGHT
Many NYC museums offer free admission. In addition, many others offer promotional free nights or free days. Details can generally be found online. If you plan to visit several museums that have cover charges, consider taking part in a Hop-on, Hop-off tour. Not only will you save time travelling between museums and attractions, you may also save money as the Hop-on, Hop-off tour may offer a better overall rate than paying at each individual attraction.

10) ART: MAKE A BEELINE FOR THE HIGH LINE
Art lovers should make a beeline for the High Line. The park, which was once part of the elevated New York City Railroad, runs between West 30th Street and the Chelsea/Meatpacking districts, and is home to a host of art galleries. Entry to the galleries is typically free.

Need more information on holidays in New York? Contact a Flight Centre travel expert - 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Colours of Chiang Mai – This tour is great for travellers wanting a different experience of the city. The cycling tour takes you outside the city centre to visit places such as an orphanage, chinese temple, bakery and ancient ruins. You only need a reasonable level of fitness as there are many stops. The tour lasts about 4 hours.

Thai Cookery School – This was such a good experience, I would recommend this to anyone interested in Thailand cooking. The morning starts off with a tour of the local markets to learn about some of the ingredients used in the cooking. Then you are taken to the cooking school where you cook 4 dishes after being shown first by the chef.

Night Safari – I’d recommend this tour especially for families. There are 2 tram routes with many animals to see such as giraffes, zebras, deer, elephants, lions and tigers. There is a walking route available during the day. There is also paint ball and other activities on site.

Looking for more information on tours in Chiang Mai?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Gold Coast holidays are great for families as there is so much for them to do, the theme parks are fun for all ages and the apartment-style accommodation comfortably accounts for family groups. It is also great for the young twenties market going away for their first holiday together, for the same reasons plus a great nightlife.

We travelled with Air New Zealand on a works fare. Having the ability to pay less or more depending on the product you want helps them keep more in line with the budget airlines that also traverse the Aussie routes. There was a good selection of movies, including some New Zealand made ones, plus a good TV and games selection. Their constantly changing safety videos always make things entertaining.

The Gold Coast seems to be going the way of the high rise and there are lots of flashing lights and ads for exciting things to do. The whole feel of the place is based around keeping yourself entertained but with water on each side it still feels open. The views are incredible from many of the high rise buildings.

Car hire is something I would recommend to make it easiest to get around, but there is also a monorail to help in some areas plus buses are frequent and cheap.

For keen shoppers one of the things to do on Gold Coast is the Pacific Fair, and while the mall itself is small the surrounding area is larger with a good mix of clothes shops.

When it comes to dining the Bazaar restaurant was fantastic, with a theme to make us feel like we were wandering round the North African souks or the markets of Europe. The theme certainly worked and the atmosphere was fantastic.

Seaduction at the Sea Temple hotel is a warm, modern 5-restaurant. There is a good choice of food as well as an option to pay $115 AUD for a 5 course menu which has a glass of wine with each course.

Rick’s Cafe at Movie world is an all you can eat Casablanca-themed buffet restaurant. It is in a good location right by where the shows are put on so you can eat and see a show after or the other way around. There is a good selection of food and a soft serve ice-cream machine for the kids desserts.

The top Gold Coast hotels in my eyes would have Mantra Circle on Caville at the top. Good, spacious, modern rooms with a large TV outside to watch games in the circle, a pool for each tower and a cinema room you can hire free of charge.

The Sheraton Mirage is in the resort-style area and one of the few beach front properties. Fully self contained, it has a selection of restaurants and bars.

Chevron Towers of Renaissance has a rooftop pool and gardens, a lap pool and a cinema you can even make popcorn in. The room sizes are huge, especially for the 3 bedrooms.

The Mantra Crown Towers has a large reception area with a bridge going over what looks like the bottom of a boat. Great beach-style pool with a separate kids area, it also boasts the Gold Coast’s number one Thai restaurant on site.

Overall I found the Gold Coast very clean and not as built up as I would have expected. The beach looked good even in overcast weather, so I’m already looking forward to another holiday here.

Looking for more information on holidays in Gold Coast?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Next stop on our Hawaii holiday was Hanuama Bay. This bay is considered one of the best on the island of Oahu and great for swimming and snorkelling. As we continued on our way up the East coast our lack of planning became obvious, as it was sun down and we had spent far too much time exploring and ended up in Kailua town.

This town has no hostel or hotel so we ended up backtracking to the Bellow’s Beach Air Force Base. This camping spot is considered one of the safest on the island because it’s located on the military base. One catch though – you have to be gone by 6am, which is a very early start on holiday! If you do decide to camp you will need a camping permit.

Monday morning we drove to Lanikai beach and watched the sun rise before continuing our drive north. We continued to stop at every available point and saw whales spouting off the coast, which was spectacular. We stopped in just past Turtle bay resort at the infamous Giovanni’s Shrimp truck. These trucks are synonymous with Hawaii’s North Shore with a shrimp truck every few hundred metres along a huge stretch of road.

All prices are $13USD for a plate of varied shrimp and 2 scoops of rice. We had garlic and lemon scampi from Giovanni’s which was absolutely delicious, though incredibly messy and not slimming whatsoever. We washed it down with a cold coconut for $5USD; all in all, not a particularly cheap meal but very local.

Next stop on our Hawaii adventure was watching the surfers at Sunset beach, before we continued on to the town of Waimea, and found the Plantation Village Backpackers hostel. We purchased a private room for $83/night USD in a house that featured shared facilities including a huge living area and great kitchen. The house was opposite the Three Tables Beach and you could see the massive waves from the balcony.

There aren’t many restaurants in Waimea or Sunset beach, with the closest being in Haliewa about 15 minutes drive away, so as we were rather budget conscious we decided to make the most of the kitchen and do some cooking with ingredients from the supermarket a block from the hostel.

The next day we drove west to Haliewa and took a look around town. This is the spot to pick up a surf lesson or enjoy the historical North Shore. The town is built around the main street, a collection of old villa style stores selling everything from food, groceries, snow cones, glass, surf wear, antiques etc.

We continued on to the Moleukai Beach, to what’s known as the end of the road for the North Shore, literally – the road just ends. We took a walk along the beach trying to find a swimming spot but as stunning as the water looked there was too much coral and the waves were too strong for us to even attempt a swim. Returning to our hostel we spent an hour swimming there, as this is the most popular swimming spot on the Shore complete with life guards, public toilets and parking.

Wednesday morning started with a carving lesson which resulted in a hand carved Tiki, one of the fun things to do in Hawaii. Continuing on the cultural theme of the day, we explored the Pu’u o Mahuka Helau State Monument and old temple on the hill above our hostel, which dated back to the 16th century. From here the views of the North Shore are incredible and there are plenty of walking tracks so you can explore every possible vantage point.

The next morning we drove back to Waikiki and spent an hour gathering bargains at the Waikele Outlet shops, before heading on to Pearl Harbour for the cultural part of the holiday. It’s free to enter the site, and we walked the shore front and read the information boards. Note that if you take any bags with you, you’ll have to pay $3 to store them.

Later on we decided to spend our last night in luxury and checked into the Waikiki Mirimar Hotel in a Deluxe Ocean View Room, which was absolutely fantastic and a thoroughly spectacular view. For lunch we splurged and went to the Cheesecake Factory, where I took my raspberry and lemon cheesecake and sat on the balcony overlooking the ocean… bliss!

That night, we walked to the beach and joined our pre-booked Mai Tai sunset cruise. This was fantastic and we saw a humpback whale, which was just spectacular. Take a jumper though as it gets very cold out on the water. Next stop was the iconic Dukes bar on the waterfront for a few drinks and dinner.

As money was now at an all time low, we grabbed some breakfast at Denny’s, and spent the rest of the day on the beach before catching the bus again to the airport. I really didn’t want to leave and would have loved to stay longer. I’m totally in love with Hawaii!

Looking for more information on holidays in Hawaii?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

Our game plan was simple: 7 nights in Hawaii, the first 2 nights of which we would spend in Waikiki, then hire a car and head up the East coast to the North Shore for 4 nights, then back to Waikiki for the last night. What could go wrong? On our ‘to do list’ was take a surfing lesson, eat local, visit Pipeline, do some shopping and see as much as possible for as little money as possible.

We flew to Hawaii with Air New Zealand on their Works fare. This is a must, as the flight was 8.5 hours and there is no way I’d travel longer than 3 hours without entertainment and food! The flight was excellent; it left at 10.40am Saturday morning and arrived into Hawaii on Friday the day prior at 8pm. Excellent flight times and meaning we would be in Waikiki with plenty of time to party. Sadly we then got stuck at Immigration for 1.5 hours; there’s nothing like travelling to the US to test your patience after a long flight!

We then caught the number 19 bus from outside the terminal into Waikiki. All bus travel anywhere on the island, regardless of distance, is just $2.50USD – a bargain! We arrived at the Seaside Hawaiian Hostel and got a private room with shared facilities for $70USD per night, and this included a free breakfast of toast and jam, with the option of purchasing eggs for 35c each. It was nice and clean with a really social vibe.

Next stop on our Hawaii adventure was heading out for a few cheap but rather weak strawberry margaritas at Cha Cha Cha Mexican restaurant. They were delicious but you quickly learn that Hawaii is not the place for potent cocktails; stick to beer and wine, that way you know the value and alcohol percentage you’re getting.

Also worth noting is that many bars and restaurants provide you with free food while you’re drinking. At Cha Cha Cha they gave us corn chips and salsa, The Cheesecake Factory give you free bread and butter, Dukes give you free corn chips and salsa… so if you’re travelling on a budget this definitely helps!

The next morning we grabbed breakfast and headed through the international markets and the Royal Hawaiian centre (an upmarket shopping centre on the beachfront). We then took the bus from Kuhoi street to the Ala Moana Centre, a huge shopping mall with 430 shops.

After some shopping we decided to hit the beach. We followed some people quite clearly heading to the beach (that old Kiwi ad undies-undies-togs really needs to apply in Hawaii) and wandered through the Sheraton Waikiki foyer, past the shops and to their pool area, where the most magnificent views opened before us. Their infinity pool looks right out over the water of Waikiki Beach and is just spectacular.

To the right of the Sheraton is a small beach where the popular Mai Tai Cruise leaves from. This is an all you can drink sunset cruise but you have to pre-book as it’s sold out almost every night. We purchased two tickets for Thursday night at $39USD each, then hit the beach for a much-needed swim along with thousands of other people. Watch your belongings here.

That night we visited the nightlife on Kalakaua Ave, which after dark is full of street artists, performers and musicians, with a fun atmosphere great to walk along and enjoy.

On Sunday morning we hired a car from Paradise Rentals to make it easier to visit things to do in Hawaii. If you book online and in advance you can get much cheaper rates so I recommend being organised and booking ahead of time. Another piece of advice: make sure you know your conversions (km to miles, litres to gallons etc).

We decided to drive to the North Shore via the East coast route and take our time, exploring all the beaches on the way. Our first stop was the Diamond Head Crater, which we were totally unprepared for and failed in our research. We turned up in jandals and then proceeded to climb the crater’s 45 minute walk to the peak without any water or sunblock… not ideal. Definitely be prepared and wear strong footwear, as it is a bit of a climb but completely worth it, the views from the top all over Honolulu are spectacular, and it only costs $1USD per person.

Part 2 of Jen’s Hawaii blog is coming tomorrow.

Looking for more information on holidays in Hawaii?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

The next generation in-flight innovations have been shortlisted for this year’s Crystal Cabin Award, which is an international competition that recognises new aircraft design features that are waiting in the wings.

Forty-seven entrants are in the running for the seven award categories, with seven winning entries announced next week at the aircraft cabin trade fair in Hamburg.

Previous winners of the prestigious Crystal Cabin titles include Lufthansa Systems for its wireless infotainment system BroadConnect, Almadesign for its eco-efficient cabin interior concept Project LIFE, and C&D Zodiac for its super spacious cabin design C3 Ultralounge.

Flight Centre New Zealand’s executive general manager Mike Friend said special additions and services have transformed the in-flight experience in recent years, with the introduction of innovations such as shower spas with Emirates, meals on demand with Singapore Airlines and double beds with Virgin Atlantic.

“Innovations in the air have provided more choices for travellers, depending on when and where they fly,” said Mr Friend. “Judging by this year’s award nominations, some great new features will soon be on the way to aircrafts near you.

Flight Centre has scanned the list of Crystal Cabin Award finalists and handpicked a few highlights. This year’s nominations include:

1. Live TV channels

No longer will you have to record your favourite sports, soap series or cooking shows before you catch a flight – you can watch them onboard. Row 44 has created an Inflight Wi-Fi Live Television that lets passengers watch live TV channels during the flight, on their smart phones, tablets, laptops or other devices.

This would be the first service of its kind, operating on a commercial aircraft. Channels will include Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC Sports Network and more, and they will be available to passengers, independent of whether they pay for Internet or not.

2. Reversible seats

If you are travelling with friends, a young family or business colleagues, this clever seating configuration is the perfect way to keep conversation flowing.

The Reversible Seat, designed by Zodiac Seats in the USA, allows passengers to pivot their seat to face the person seated behind or next to them, during the course of the flight. And don’t worry, there’s a locking feature to prevent you from spinning around in circles.

3. In-flight entertainment, controlled by eye movements and hand gestures

Ever dreamed you could move things with your eyes? Well, a US company called Thales has made that possible with an in-flight entertainment system that is purely controlled by a combination of eye-tracking and hand gesture technologies. Naturally, this reduces the need to constantly look down to find buttons on a remote control in the dark.

4. Roomier toilets

The Big Lavatory Concept, designed by German company Waldheuer, will be the first toilet on an airplane to be tailored to the special needs of obese passengers and wheelchair users.

A diagonally positioned toilet seat not only creates more space in the lavatory, but makes it easier and safer for disabled passengers to move around.

Additionally, it will be the first time that airlines can earn money from their lavatories, with infomercials displayed in the onboard cubicles.

5. Self-cleaning tray table

A UK-based company, Acro Aircraft Seating, has developed a tray table that is lightweight, cleans itself and quickly folds away into the armrest. The table is the full width of the seat, when fully extended in front of the passenger, as opposed to behind the passenger.

Looking for information on booking your next holiday?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.

The Gold Coast is a fun place to go for any age group; even older groups can go to enjoy the views and just relax. It can be a bit busy for couples wanting a completely quiet time, but choosing the right place to stay will help a lot with this.

Broadbeach has an awesome cafe and restaurant scene, as well as being close to the casino and Draculas just in case you fancy a bit of night life.

There are tons of activities and attractions to keep everyone entertained. Paradise Jet Boating was amazing and I’d recommend to people wanting to have a bit of fun. Note to self though: wear togs or lightweight clothes under raincoat next time, as you get drenched!

As well as the theme parks which Gold Coast are known for, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was really neat and Draculas was fun; the show is very well out together and the meals are very nice as well as staying within the theme (for example, a chocolate filled coffin for dessert). Be warned that it it is over 16 though, as it can be a bit racy at times.

When you have some free time in between things to do on Gold Coast and need some retail therapy, there are a few options to tempt the shopaholics. Pacific Fare has 260 retailers, the popular Harbour Town has 220 shops, and Robina town centre is a real favourite with 300 shops there. There are also markets happening along the beach and 2 evenings a week they have a market in central Surfers along the beach.

In downtown Surfers there are a selection of chain restaurants, fast food and cultural dining establishments all at quite reasonable prices. The surf clubs can also offer excellent value for money for a good solid meal.

We enjoyed a divine dinner at the Sea Temple restaurant called “Seaduction”. The food was presented beautifully amidst a real 5 star ambiance, and would make a lovely choice for a special occasion.

A light rail system is being developed around the centre of Surfers Paradise, which will be really beneficial for getting around. Taxis are reasonably priced for short distances, and the bus network is quite efficient for getting between Surfers, Broadbeach and the theme parks. You can also rent a car as most hotels have underground parking available.

One of my top hotel picks on the Gold Coast would be Mantra Wings in Surfers Paradise; friendly staff, close to a lot of amenities, good facilities, and good value for money rooms.

The Mantra Circle on Cavill has rooms with an impressive layout, with one bedroom on either side with bathroom and living area in the middle. There are sweeping views from many of the rooms, as well as from the rooftop pool. It’s very central to downtown Surfers and designed apartment-style with full kitchen, so would really tick all the boxes for couples and families.

The Peppers on Broadbeach is also apartment-style and very professionally run. There is a gym in each tower, ipod docks, pools, spa and plenty of restaurants close by.

The Sheraton on Main Beach is also worth considering, with stunning furnishings, wall art and layout. They have an amazing seafood buffet. It would be a top location for a wedding as the back of the property leads directly onto the beach.

We had a lot of fun on our 5 days on the Gold Coast, enjoying lovely accommodation and good food. The only downside was that we packed so much in that we came back pretty tired; maybe more relaxing needed next holiday…

Looking for more information on holidays in Gold Coast?  Contact a Flight Centre travel expert – 135 stores nationwide. Phone 0800 24 35 44.