Melanie Whyte - Travel Manager

17/04/2026

Good evening all and happy weekend!
There is a new entry requirement for Vietnam, implemented today and effective immediately.

Pre-Arrival Declaration at Ho Chi Minh Airport

Effective NOW! Vietnam has introduced a mandatory pre-arrival information declaration for travellers entering via Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Under this new regulation, foreign nationals and overseas Vietnamese entering with a visa are required to submit personal information prior to arrival. Travellers will receive a QR code upon completion, which must be presented to immigration authorities during entry procedures.

Vietnamese passport holders and transit passengers are exempt from this requirement.

Passengers can complete the declaration in two ways:

✨Online before departure (recommended): https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn/

✨By scanning a QR code upon arrival at the immigration area

To minimise waiting time and ensure a smoother arrival experience, travellers are strongly encouraged to complete the declaration in advance and keep the QR code readily accessible upon landing.

The introduction of this digital pre-arrival system is part of Vietnam’s broader effort to enhance immigration control efficiency and streamline passenger processing, particularly at one of the country’s busiest international gateways.

Pre-Arrival Information - IMMIGRATION

14/03/2026

So I have the large misfortune of (thankfully temporarily) being on crutches at the moment and I discovered this service in Melbourne airport in the last few days.

Most airlines will offer wheelchair services from their check in counters to the departure gate, but this service offers assistance with getting from your taxi/Uber to the check in counter and vice versa.

You just need to call them 15 minutes prior to your arrival to the airport. No SMS, you have to call.

This service is free regardless of which airline you’re travelling with.

They use very new electric wheelchairs and so far I’ve found them to be super friendly and eager to help.

No affiliations here, just a great service that we all may need one day! Anything that makes travelling a little easier is a win for me!

Have a great weekend all ❤️

10/03/2026

Good morning everyone!
I know it’s been a long time since you’ve seen anything from me. A stinky little hacker decided it was time I had a break from Facebook apparently 😡😡

Anyway, I apologise for not being a source of knowledge and facts with what is going on in the Middle East. There is a lot of “Covid-esque” feelings around the management of this situation from a travel perspective but the overall message is pretty clear.

If you have a holiday booked now and you’re unsure about whether to go, please don’t cancel it.

Airlines are releasing waivers of change fee policies up to 2-3 weeks in advance of travel dates but that is all. For example, if you’re booked to go in April, and you cancel now, that will be seen as a change of mind and you will be subject to standard cancellation fees.

Please also note that many insurance policies do not cover acts of war (please read your own PDS to confirm).

I know that many of you have Easter trips booked and we will deal with them as they come up but my advice is to sit tight and don’t make any decisions until we have to.

I’ll be here for any questions, and it’s lovely to be out of Facebook jail! 😊😊

18/01/2026

Good morning all, I hope you had a fabulous weekend!

There are still a lot of questions surrounding the new laws that come into effect in around 5 weeks for travel to the UK. Whilst I am unable to advise specifically on immigration matters, and I am by no means an expert on the topic, the clearest way to say it is that if you are eligible to have a British or Irish passport, regardless of whether you've had one before, you will need to get one to travel to the UK.

You can check if you're a British citizen at https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship?fbclid=IwY2xjawPaSfRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEegbhBEhAYQ9QGVQF-WfVpTQEHX9rljhgQ447J51pqvbj9Q1IWWUOcIvQGIyE_aem_3F6p6JDF2qzfTd528RiO4g

Please keep in mind that you don't have to have been born in the UK to be considered a citizen there. At the moment there aren't any new rules around travelling to mainland Europe under these new changes, but that doesn't mean that it won't happen, and the processing time at the moment for UK passports has blown out due to these changes.

A colleague of mine has already gone through the process and whilst the fees weren't too bad at $300, the paperwork needed was quite involved - original birth and marriage certificates need to be sent, Australian passports (or copies of every page) and if you've had a British passport in the past but it was years ago and you can't find it, you will need to report it lost.

The moral of the story here is that if there could be any chance that you could be considered UK citizens and you plan on travelling at any time, now is the time to look into this and get it sorted :)

Check if you're automatically a British citizen - it depends on where and when you were born and your parents' immigration status.

05/01/2026

On the TENTH day of Christmas, my Travel Manager gave to me, another place that's super sunny!

Kia Orana - It's the Cook Islands!

The Cooks is such a stunning place, both for the scenery and marine life and especially the people. A day tour to Aitutaki (not included) will show you what is, in my opinion, one of the top 3 most stunning beaches in the world!

This is what we have...

* Return airfares ex Sydney
* 20kg checked in luggage per person
* Return private car airport transfers
* 5 nights accommodation at the Edgewater Resort and Spa
* Breakfast daily

Price per person: $1995
Price for family of 4: $6150 (2 adults, 2 children)

CONDITIONS:
Price is per person twin share and subject to availability.
Travel is based on a 12 May departure but other dates are available.

03/01/2026

Let's return to our regular scheduled programming now with.....
the NINTH day of Christmas (or the first deal of 2026!)

Let's go to the sunshine - BULA!!

We're off to Fiji and it includes the following..

* Return economy airfares ex Melbourne
* 20kg per person checked in luggage
* Return private car transfers
* 5 nights' accommodation at the Warwick Resort in a garden view room
* Breakfast daily

Price per person (twin share): $1995
Total cost for a family (2 ad, 2 ch) - $5950

CONDITIONS:
Price is based on 2 people travelling and is subject to availability.
Departure date is based on a 12 May departure but other dates are available.
Flights are with Fiji Airways.

01/01/2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2026 is the year of the holiday - well, not officially but I think it's an idea that lots of us can get behind!

I'm so thankful for and to all of you for where 2025 took us all, and especially for everyone's patience in the last few weeks. My illness took all kinds of twists and turns but I have finally turned a corner and will be back on deck on Monday the 5th as scheduled - WITH THE REST OF THE 12 DEALS OF CHRISTMAS!

One important piece of information to share with you all now though as this will affect all of you that hold both Australian and British/Irish passports.

Effective 25 February, 2026 if you hold a British or Irish passport, you MUST travel to the UK on that passport, not your Australian/NZ one. You cannot use your Australian/NZ passport with an ETA visa anymore.

If your British passport is expired, you will need to get it renewed if you're planning on travelling to the UK.

All Australian passports will still need the ETA to be done.

Stay tuned for the last few amazing deals on their way - let's go 2026!!

Send a message to learn more

21/12/2025

Good morning all, and welcome to Christmas week! 🎄
Unfortunately I still haven’t been able to kick this pneumonia as I start on version 4 of a drug regime so I’m flipping around my leave time and the office is now closed for the Christmas break for any new business.
If your email is already in my inbox or we’ve spoken then I’m working through those and they will definitely get done before the new year.
I can’t thank you all enough for your patience in this time, and also for your support throughout the whole year. Your business, your referrals, your likes and shares and telling your friends about me has enabled me to kick some pretty big goals this year and I’m eternally grateful.
I will be available for anyone travelling now, and also for any emergencies through the normal contact methods as always.
It’s been a crazy year, not all of it good but the whole point is that we’re still here to make 2026 an absolute cracker so give it everything you’ve got - life isn’t a dress rehearsal!
I hope you get to spend time with people that make you smile over the holiday period, and that 2026 is a safe, happy and healthy year for all of us.
Merry Christmas everyone ❤️

15/12/2025

We interrupt the 12 deals of Christmas for a couple of days. Sadly the influenza train I was aboard has stopped into pneumonia station, but hopefully after a day or so of the good stuff, I’ll be back on deck with the last few deals - and they’re worth hanging around for, I promise!

14/12/2025

Surprise! It's a double barrel Sunday!

On the EIGHTH day of Christmas, my Travel Manager gave to me - the tropics with a tonne of freebies!

That's right, this one is an AMAZING special at one of the most luxurious properties in Australia - the Reef House in Palm Cove.

THIS ONE IS ADULTS ONLY, NO KIDS ALLOWED.

This one includes...

* Return economy airfares flying Virgin Australia ex Launceston to Cairns
* 20kg checked in luggage per person
* Return private car transfers from Cairns to Palm Cove
* 4 nights' accommodation at the Reef House, Palm Cove in a Brigadier King Room
* Daily A La Carte Breakfast overlooking the Coral Sea
* A chilled bottle of Sparkling Wine in-room
* Candlelit three-course a la carte dinner for two on one night
* Brigadier’s punch & canapés served in the Lounge at twilight
* Reef House cap and water bottle per guest.
* Tropical sorbet served around the pools at 3pm
* "Reef House Mixology" interactive cocktail classes twice per week
* Sommelier Wine Appreciation Experience twice per week
* Tranquility pool or Heated Mineral pool & hot spas to while away tropical days.
* Reef House Day Spa reserved for House Guests only
* Beachfront yoga four times per week
* Vintage style cruiser bikes for unlimited use
* Yoga mats and blocks in room for personalised stretching and fitness
* Aqua Aerobics in our heated mineral pool twice per week
* Stretch & Breathe class poolside twice per week

PRICE PER PERSON: $2975

There are a number of other inclusions as well. This is a perfect combination of a Valentines Day escape and to congratulate yourselves for making it through another school holidays!! :D

Price is based on per person, twin share departing on 12 February, 2026 but other dates may be available.
Price is available until sold out.