The dreaded swine flu

I get lots of questions about swine flu so I thought it was timely to include some information from the Travelvax people who say that "only people at higher risk of swine flu should forego overseas travel during the current pandemic".
Anyone travelling needs to be aware of the potential risks of close contact with crowds in particular at airports and on planes and take commonsense precautions against flu, such as washing their hands often in soap and running water and using an alcohol based hand gel when soap is not available. You can buy these gels and have your own on hand for travelling. Also avoiding contact with obviously sick people is a sensible precaution.
If you are planning a trip and are concerned about swine flu you can put together a kit to put your mind at rest. Include latex gloves, antiseptic towelettes, N95 face masks - not all face masks are the same and these are considered the ones you need to protect against flu germs - and contact details for the Australian Health department.
Talking to your doctor, who knows your medical history, is also a wise precaution.

Travel newsletters - do you read them?

Like many businesses these days, including travel agencies, we have a weekly newsletter that goes out to subscribers and clients listing some of the latest deals. And like many businesses we receive thousands of emails from our suppliers and other businesses every week. I am selective about what I read as I simply don't have time to read them all... which means that sometimes I miss a gem or some really helpful/interesting news.
There are stacks of travel newsletters and as I can tell how many of our newsletters are opened at the other end I am often disappointed to find that they are not read by more people. So I've created a poll - at right - and would love to know what you think about travel newsletters.
Of course we will continue to produce ours but if you have time to take a look perhaps you could offer suggestions about what you would like to see in it.
To comment on this blog you only need a gmail address... really simple to do.

World's safest destinations

Though we specialise in finding the right cruise for each and every client - we also do plenty of general travel work so I was fascinated when a friend sent me a link to this story on the Forbes traveler website.
To establish the safest destinations the researchers analysed data from the US State Department on crime warnings for travellers (similar to Australia's DFAT warnings); looked at the latest UN survey on global crime trends and checked fear factors such as natural disasters and terrorism.
No doubt you will do what I did and try to second guess what these destinations are - and like me you will get some right and be surprised at others.
So here are some of the countries that make this list - not in any order:

• New Zealand. I love New Zealand. We spent 5 days in Wellington recently enjoying the crisp winter days, the clean fresh air and the warm hospitality of the Kiwis.

• Singapore. A regular stopover for many Aussies, but how many of us stay here for a few days - a great place to indulge in eating and shopping

• Iceland. I have yet to visit this tiny country - but it is on my list

• Switzerland. We had a wonderful time backpacking round Switzerland in the 70s. It was incredibly modern by Australian standards then.

• Bhutan. My older son, who is a great traveller, recently visited Bhutan and found the people amongst the warmest and friendliest he had ever met.

• Mauritius. Popular with honeymooners - and anyone who wants a great island holiday,.

• ABC Islands - the Dutch islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao in the Caribbean - (mental note to find out more about these).

• Dubai. Popular stopover - which I have done - but well worth a visit. If you are a keen horse race-goer Dubai will be on your list.

• Ireland - surprised? it has been found to be the least violent country in Europe.

• Cyprus - another surprise.

And the most dangerous - Afghanistan, Iraq... and the U.S.
Find out more - including why these countries are considered so safe - by clicking the link above. And if you would like to find out more about the destinations drop me a line - martin@travelchoice.com.au

Cruising around and out of Australia

Many of our clients want to cruise from Australia - the convenience of catching a taxi to the ship and unpacking only once just can't be beaten. Avoiding airports is very attractive in itself and boarding a ship is a a very different and much more leisurely experience.
So we've put together a flier on the luxury ships that will be cruising from and into Australian ports over this summer. There's still time to book and this flier will give you an outline of what is available and when. You can check it out on our website - or you can contact us - travel@travelchoice.com.au and we will send you a copy.
I took this photo of the Crystal Serenity when she was in Sydney this summer... not that you can mistake the port given the glorious coathanger in the background!

A barge holiday, Wind Star and a celebration: my week

Sometimes clients pop in to the agency because they would like to take a break, but nothing has caught their imagination. Other clients have seen an advertisement for a cruise or a holiday but when we explore we find that the dates are not suitable - or there are other conditions that are not to their liking. It can be fascinating exploring holiday options to suit individual needs.
I just love the variety that this job brings. This week's inquiries include the family who would like to take a barge holiday in Europe, complete with tandem bikes so they can take their young children to explore the surrounding countryside; the couple who are taking a Wind Star cruise in the Mediterranean; the family who would like to take a cruise together to celebrate a birthday and the retired businessman who wants to do a New Year cruise to New Zealand.
We took a barge holiday with our family when they were teenagers and cruised the Oxford canals. The weather was glorious, late September summer days with warm sunshine and long days where we could walk the canal paths, stop whenever we pleased and simply enjoy the English countryside. My sons loved working the locks and in fact took over the running of the barge which made it a truly relaxing holiday for me. We didn't have bikes but they are certainly an option on many barge holidays.
Wind Star is a four star sail-cruiser from the Windstar Cruise line. This means that she is a cruiser but she also has four giant masts fitted with computer controlled sails. Though this ship is seriously stocked with water sport equipment there are no scheduled activities and she is known for her stylish luxury and superb comfort. This ship not only sails the Mediterranean , including intimate Greek Island cruises, she also visits the Caribbean.
If spending a special occasion on board ship or taking time away for Christmas or New Year is something you would like to do there are dozens of options - you need to decide what type of cruise you would like, ask your travel agent for brochures and information to help you decide. Often folk will find something on the internet that appeals - but there may be something better or more suited that is not easily found - and that's where I love to be able to help out.
I wonder what next week will bring?