Travel
WEEKLY TRAVEL SPECIALS FROM IAN’S DESK
As I mentioned on social media, my husband spent his career in daily newspapers where he rose through the ranks to become the editor of the most enormous travel pages for the Sunday paper. When he struck out alone, together we set up a travel industry magazine that ran for 16 years before we sold it so that I could become a full time novelist. Anyway, he’s always nourished his interest in travel and to this day, 20 years later, he receives all the latest product news from the travel industry and most weeks he publishes a range of interesting travel opportunities and rates via his own pages.
My audience reacted swiftly and positively when I offered to keep it updated with this news from Ian’s desk that I’ve been reading for years and thinking my readers might love all this advance info. We sampled some of these through my Christmas 2024 newsletter and people enjoyed it and appreciated it because sorting out a travel itinerary is very hard work and just finding the best deal for your situation can take an age. Anyway, I will begin to publish his news here. It will always be brief and the onus is on you to check the dates and to please make sure you double check the deal with the supplier. Ian can only go on what is being fed to him. Also none of us are infallible so a simple typing error on a date could frustrate. So I am ensuring anyone who visits here understands that this is raw information only and hopefully it gives you a helpful platform from which to bounce off to do your own research.
Ian tends to favour cruising deals because he’s a cruise fanatic . But as a matter of course he will always hunt down very good deals to Europe and UK particularly as we need them ourselves for my research.
I also think it’s very important for transparency to assure you that I am not and Ian is NOT affiliated with any tour operator or airline. He receives not a cent in payment for his interest in providing this information and he also does not get invited on jollies. Ian and I pay for all our own travel domestically and internationally so we are just like you, looking for the very best opportunities to get from place to place.
Here we go – deals for w/e Dec 7/24:
With Black Friday dead and buried, the advertising whiz kids have now rolled out Year End deals.
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MALAYSIA AIRLINES was first cab off the rank with specials to more than 50 destinations worldwide priced from $659 return. Book by 21 Dec 2024 – travel from 03 Feb until 30 Nov 2025.
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QANTAS calls it The sale before Christmas – more than 60 destinations are on sale until 11.59pm (AEDT) 12 December 2024.
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HELLOWORLD has released a 19 night fly, rail cruise and tour package to Greece and Italy aboard Majestic Princess priced from $9079 for a balcony cabin. Start date is March 31, 2025.
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SEABOURN, a leader in ultra-luxury cruising, has unveiled its annual “Sail of the Year” event which features savings and benefits on select 2025 and 2026 worldwide ocean and expedition voyages.
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FAR EAST INSIDERS invites you to plan your 2025 escape and enjoy up to 43% savings when you book accommodation at least 14 days in advance (minimum 2 nights). Hotels include the Oasia Hotel Novena, Singapore.
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VIETNAM AIRLINES has a special for Perth travellers heading to Vietnam. Premium economy fares starting from $1,464, or upgrade to Business class from $3,198.
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VIKING has deals going if you prefer to cruise Europe during the the “Quiet Season” – spanning autumn to spring from November to March. Not a bad idea given the overcrowding going on right now. A couple could save save up to $2000.
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MSC CRUISES is offering $1000 in onboard credit and kids free on selected cruises in 2025.
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KRISFLYER CRUISE is a brand-new way to earn miles on your adventures out at sea. As a Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer member, you can now earn 2 KrisFlyer miles for every USD 1 spent on cruise fares booked through KrisFlyerCruise.com.
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PONANT has launched its 2026 Kimberley season – 16 departures from May to September offer a 30% PONANT Bonus in savings.