Remember mystery flights?

Well… there back!

Virgin Australia have put their fun loving twist on this old concept and have introduced “Mystery Breaks”.

Destinations include: Adelaide, Ballina Byron, Brisbane, Broome, Cairns, Canberra, Coffs Coast, Darwin,Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Hamilton Island, Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Port Douglas, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Townsville or the Whitsunday Coast.

Length include 1,2 & 3 nights. You can only book within two weeks of departure.

Take a look at Virgin’s Mystery Breaks page to try your luck!

Virgin Australia Mystery Breaks is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

Related posts:

1. Virgin Australia’s 2012 Plans
2. V Australia Boeing 777-300ER Walkaround

Here’s a quick video overview of seatguru.com

We use this in the office quite a bit. It’s a great resource to use when planning your trip. It a good tool for business travellers and leisure travellers alike.

Picking the best airline seats – Overview of SeatGuru.com is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

I’m a big fan of AusBT, as they report and produce quality content.

Today, they’re releasing their 2011 Business Travel Awards.

Here’s a snippet of the winners so far:

Best Frequent Flyer Programme for Australian Business Travellers: Virgin Australia Velocity

Virgin Australia gave airline loyalty programmes a much-needed shake-up with its mid-year relaunch of the Velocity rewards scheme.

Best Australian Domestic Airport Lounge: Qantas

Many Australian business travellers spend as much time at airport lounges as they do in the air.

Best Frequent Flyer Programme for Australian Business Travellers: Virgin Australia Velocity

Virgin Australia gave airline loyalty programmes a much-needed shake-up with its mid-year relaunch of the Velocity rewards scheme.

See all the category winners here

AusBT Awards 2011 is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

Related posts:

1. Virgin Australia’s 2012 Plans

Thank you to everybody for your support in 2011. Here are our trading hours over the Christmas & New Year period.

Friday 23rd December:	9:00am to 1:00pm
Monday 26th December:	Closed
Tuesday 27th December:	Closed
Wednesday 28th December:	11:00 to 3:00pm (via Phone Only)
Thursday 29th December:	11:00 to 3:00pm (via Phone Only)
Friday 30th December:	11:00 to 3:00pm (via Phone Only)
Monday 2nd January:	Closed

We will resume normal office hours effective Tuesday 3rd January.

On behalf of the entire team at Pan Australian Travel I’d like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

See you in 2012!

Jake Hower

Director

Christmas & New Year Trading Hours is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

Great news from Virgin Australia’s Annual General Meeting today reported by Australian Business Traveller.

Virgin Australia’s CEO John Borghetti has revealed his plans for the airline through the end of this year and into 2012 at today’s Annual General Meeting, and there’s some great news for business travellers.

Australian Business Traveller has sorted through the usual financial and technical AGM guff about procurement frameworks and financial discipline for what’s really relevant to you.

New lounges: Sydney, Gold Coast, Mackay

“I’m pleased to announce today that we will commence work on a new flagship lounge at Sydney domestic airport,” Borghetti confirmed.

Read the full article here

The increased competition in the domestic airfare space is good for travellers.

Virgin Australia’s 2012 Plans is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

Here is a short video taken on-board Thai Airways Boeing 777, which flies the Melbourne to Bangkok route. This includes a walk through Economy Class and Business Class cabins.

Thai Airways Boeing 777 Walkaround is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

Related posts:

1. V Australia Boeing 777-300ER Walkaround

Theo recently was given the opportunity to experience the V Australia Boeing 777-300ER, flying from Melbourne to Sydney, prior to the inaugural V Australia flight to Abu Dhabi.

He shot a short video of the Economy Class, Premium Economy Class and Business Class cabins.

Having had the pleasure of flying on this plane from Melbourne to Los Angeles in December 2009, I can certainly vouch for the quality of the aircraft and the V Australia cabin Crew.

Take a look at Theo’s video below:

V Australia Boeing 777-300ER Walkaround is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

If you are planning on traveling to Europe later in 2011, have an interest in food and would like to visit Russia here is one you might like to consider.

In conjunction with our friends from Eastern Europe Travel Centre we would like to offer you the chance to visit Russia on an exclusive escorted tour which will feature Australian food personality Maggie Beer.

You’ll see how famous dishes are created, visit historic food stores and farmers markets and explore the essential sights like the Hermitage Museum and Moscow’s Kremlin. Maggie Beer will be a celebrity guest from days 3 to 9 of this wonderful 12 day itinerary.

For full inclusions, booking conditions and further information contact Pan Australian Travel today.

2011 Escorted Russia Tour with Maggie Beer is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

Below is a good comparison article on Australian Business Traveller, detailing Australian credit card travel insurance options. It highlights the best and worst features of Australia’s most popular credit card travel insurance policies.

I’ll point out a couple of items I feel are important to note when considering credit card insurance policies:

• These “free” policies often require you to pay using your credit card. Almost all airlines and travel providers charge for payments made via credit card, usually in the vicinity 1-2% for Visa/MasterCard and 3-4% for Amex/Diners. On a typical return economy airfare to Europe this can be anywhere between $25-75 per person, add in accommodation etc and these fees increase dramatically. The net result is you end up paying for your “free” policy in credit card fees.

• The vast majority of travel insurance claims are for amounts under $500. The most common reasons for claiming are lost baggage, medical costs, travel delay and cancellation of journey. Most credit card policies will therefore have you footing the bill for a large portion of a typical claim.

• Most of these cards have a relatively high annual card fee. While they are also often linked to rewards programs and provide value beyond just the free travel insurance, it is still important to consider this fee when comparing.

Click here to read the full article at Australian Business Traveller.

P.S. I’m sure you have heard that buying travel insurance from a travel agent is a rip off (Not true). That we earn a large commission selling it (This is true). However, you aren’t paying more for simply the travel insurance policy. You are paying extra for:

• Experienced consultants assisting in selecting a policy to suit your needs.
• Assistance in lodging claims and preparing documents for claims.
• Access to someone you know and trust while overseas to help in case of emergencies.

Seems to be quite good value to me……

Photo credit jared

Credit card travel insurance: reading between the lines is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.

Earlier last month Theo participated in a rail tour, of Switzerland and Italy as a guest of Rail Plus. He experienced new high speeds trains, Panoramic Trains, mountain top excisions and even a few regional trains!

Enter Theo………..

Switzerland:

We spent a total of 7 nights in Switzerland: Zurich, Luzern (Weggis, Mnt Rigi) and Engelberg (Trubsee). What can I say words or photographs cannot describe the beauty and radiance of this country. Every City is just breathtaking, clean and vibrant.

Switzerland is covered by a very efficient and comprehensive railway network. Many citizens do not own a car as they rely on the fantastic public transport systems. Our travel experience ran very smoothly, always on time and never any delays. The views were picturesque, making the journey even more enjoyable and relaxing.

Our Swiss Rail pass covered almost all our travel and it was so convenient presenting the one ticket whenever a rail officer was checking on board.

We travelled on EC (Euro city fast train) at approx. 220km/hr, ICE trains (Fast intercity train at approx. 280km/hr) regional trains and Panoramic Trains.

The fast trains are very similar: some were more spacious, offering separate luggage compartments and more leg room.

I enjoyed travelling on the ICE train the most, as this train provided more open spacious carriages, which were very modern and clean with enough leg room and space for your luggage behind your seat or in the luggage compartments near the doors.

We also had the privilege of experiencing a Cogwheel train with panoramic views travelling from Weggis to Mnt Rigi. It was a lovely old fashioned train, able to travel down a steep descent at a very slow, relaxing pace.

Cinque Terre:

CORNIGLIA, VERNAZZA, MONTEROSSO, MANAROLA and RIOMAGGIORE make up the five towns.

The only way to see the Cinque Terre is by train, regional trains operate between each of these cities and can get you there in a fraction of the time a car would. Alternatively, you can do the hikes which we certainly did and enjoyed. Covering endless uneven steps, rocks, narrow paths, wet slippery areas and bushes it was a bit of a challenge, but worth every second.

The plunging views were just magnificent with sweeping olive groves, orchards, vineyards and much more.

Contact Theo Ikosidekas today for further information on his trip or for some advice on your own.

October 2010 – A rail odyssey? is a post from: Pan Australian Travel

No related posts.