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Wed 8 Apr: 10 travel news stories you need to know today

We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.

We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for our top ten travel news stories we think you need to know today.

1. Kenya tourism – what you need to know

Kenya

The world has come together for the third time this year, to show its support for a growing tourist destination impacted by religious attacks. This time it’s Kenya.

For anyone out of the loop – it was the day before Good Friday, when a group of gunmen from terrorist group, Al Shabaab stormed into Garissa University College campus, killing 148 students.

It came as a shock to the country and to the hundreds of families whose Easter celebrations were crushed by the fatal attack.

Read on

 

2. Aussies keen to travel ‘Deep South’

deep south

We’ve done the east, we’ve done the west and now it’s time for us to do the south – travel to the south of the USA that is.

According to Creative Holiday’s Managing Director, James Gaskell, ‘lesser-known’ destinations – particularly those in the south – are slowly but surely making their way onto the Aussie bucket list.

From the cowboys in Dallas to the hot parties and beaches in Miami, Mr Gaskell says new demand shows Aussies have a real taste for the south.

Read on

 

3. Money may weaken, but travel stays on the brain

Young travellers

A dip in the Aussie dollar hasn’t done much to deter Australians from booking or searching for their next getaway, according to new figures.

Data released by Skyscanner revealed there was an increase of 97 percent in Australians looking to book travel over the Easter break, compared to the same period last year.

This came despite the Australian dollar reaching a US conversion rate of 0.75 during Easter this year – a fall from 0.93 during the break last year.

Skyscanner’s Oceania Head of Marketing, Alana Saphin-Polchleb said our adventurous travel spirit lives on and won’t be deterred – not even a weakened dollar.

Read on

 

4. Aus consulate opens in Texas

travel news Houston Texas

Image: f11photo/Shutterstock

The Australian government has opened an Australian-Consulate General in Houston, Texas to assist Aussies in the area.

The number of Aussies visiting Texas has grown steadily over the last few years, this is mainly due to Qantas’ direct flights between Australia and Dallas Fort Worth.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Houston, Texas consulate will provide consular and passport services to Australians visiting or residing in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

The consulate is located at 1900 West Loop South, Suite 575 Houston Texas 77027 USA.

 

5. Virgin’s kiddy inflight entertainment

Bound Round and Virgin Australia are bringing kids all the inflight entertainment they’ll need as part of a new agreement.

The partnership, which kicked in this month, sees over 30 Bound Round destination and attraction videos – made by kids for kids – available during Virgin Australia flights.

New content will be added every month and every video will be created to offer young travellers educational travel content in a fun and engaging way.

Read on

Meanwhile, Virgin’s Americam airline – Virgin America – announced overnight that it will fly direct from San Francisco to Hawaii.

The service starts in November with one daily round-trip flight to Honolulu International Airport.

Flights from San Francisco to Kahului will take off in December.

Seats for both services are already available for purchase.

 

6. Pandaw’s new four-country Asian itinerary

travel news Laos Pandaw

Pandaw is pushing river cruising in Asia to new levels, with a first-of-its-kind four-country river cruise journey on the Mekong.

The new seven-night itinerary will launch for eight departures next year, will sail from Thailand to China stopping at Burma and Laos.

Named ‘The Mekong to China’, the cruise will take place on the brand new Laos Pandaw, which was custom built by the line for sailing on the shallow water of the Upper Mekong.

Laos Pandaw has 10 main deck staterooms for a maximum of 20 guests and powerful engines to navigate the river.

Early departure dates include 28 February; 14 and 28 March; and 11 April.

The cruise will take off from Chiang Saen in Thailand and travel to Old Mandalay Road in Burma; Muang Long in Laos; cross the border and sail to Gang Le in China before visits to China’s Menglun Botanical Garden and Mangfeilong Monastery and tea plantation. The cruise ends in Jinghong, China.

 

7. Passengers compensated after rocky flight

travel news air canada - karryon

Passengers that were onboard during flight AC624’s rocky landing late last month have been offered up to CA$5,000 in compensation.

Air Canada sent cheques and letters to passengers’ homes this week as an apology for the incident, which left 25 people hospitalised.

The plane, which was carrying 133 passengers, came off the runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Nova Scotia.

The accident occurred due to snowy weather and further investigation is underway.

As well as human injuries the Airbus A320 was also damaged.

 

8. Tauck plans two new ships for 2016

Tauck's new Inspiration vessels

Tauck’s new Inspiration-class vessels will have the unique ‘Loft Cabins’.

Small ship and river cruise operator, Tauck has revealed it will introduce two new Inspiration class vessels next year, bringing the new fleet of ships up to four.

MS Grace, will join existing MS Inspire and MS Savor in April followed by MS Joy in June.

As Inspiration-class vessels, both ships will carry 130 passengers – the fewest passengers of any riverboat of comparable size in Europe.

Unique to the ship is the ‘Loft Cabins’ – 225 square feet rooms with windows that extend from the first to the second decks, providing additional views and increased natural light.

Joy will sail down the Danube and Grace will be exclusively used on the Rhine.

Among the itineraries travellers can expect to book on the ships include the 10-day ‘The Rhine, Swiss Alps & Amsterdam’ program, which includes two nights at the five-star Bellevue Palace in Bern and sightseeing.

 

9. airberlin hearts its passengers

airberlin chocolate

Small gestures are often the cutest and we’re loving airberlin’s chocolate heart handout.

Since 2007, all passengers flying with the airline have received a small chocolate heart when disembarking from short and medium-haul flights.

The airline says it is a small gesture of gratitude and has seen some 13 million hearts handed out per year.

However, a delicious change is coming.

All future popular little keepsakes will be made by Lindt.

As part of a new agreement, the red heart Lindts will weigh roughly 20 grams and each chocolate heart will be made of Alpine milk chocolate and a cocoa content of at least 30 percent.

Flying airberlin sounds oh so yummy!

 

10. Tourism Portfolio hosts five-star Hawaiian incentive

travel news Tourism Portfolio famil to Hawaii

Tourism Portfolio’s Hawaiian program included a cocktail making lesson at the Royal Hawaiian.

A group of incentive and event planners from Australia were treated to a Hawaiian famil where they experienced an all luxurious side to the island nation.

Hosted by Tourism Portfolio and its DMC partner Lizard IncentEvents the six-day program took them on a tour of Hawaii’s world-class luxury resorts and unique experiences.

The itinerary showcased Starwood Hotels & Resorts, with guests staying at the renowned Royal Hawaiian and the “first lady of Waikiki” the Westin Moana Surfrider hotel on the island of Oahu, as well as visiting the celebrated St Regis Princeville Resort on the island of Kauai.

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Need to Know Extra: Would you pay $25,000 to sleep in this hotel suite?

Vivienne Westwood suite feature

Two bedrooms, 11,000 square feet of space, a full kitchen, marble bathrooms and only $25,000.

It’s the hotel suite that will make you feel like the rich and famous and quite possibly leave you a little broke.

It’s also the penthouse that meets and matches the luxury and space of Etihad’s ‘The Residence’ inflight suite (although it will lack the same mobility).

Read on

What are your thoughts on today’s travel news stories?