A quick heads up for all you Aussies, or travellers visiting the land Down Under, Jetstar is having a sale on domestic fares. You can score yourself a bargain with flights as cheap as $39 one way (Melbourne to Adelaide).The good thing is that many of the flights are available to use during December & January (when often sale fares can only be used in off-peak times). Maybe it is time to plan a little Summer getaway?
It is the substance of travel legend. To have a few of these notched up is to have obtained savvy traveller status, to be spoken of in revered tones by green-eyed fellow travellers forever more.
What am I talking about? Getting an upgrade.
Is it purely urban myth or does it really happen to stylish but not-quite-cashed-up-yet individuals like you and me?
And most importantly, how can we make sure that this Holy Grail of Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget happens to you next time you travel?
The turbulence, the seatbelts, the emergency landing routine - surely all of this will be such a lighter burden from the front end of the plane?
In a two-part series, Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget presents the ULTIMATE guide to getting an upgrade when you fly.
To whet your appetite, Part 1 will provide the low-down on all that first-class has to offer across the different airline carriers. Part 2 will deliver the information you need from the people in the know to ensure that you’ll be turning left, not right, next time you board a plane.
Here is the best of the best:
Cuisine
Qantas has partnered with award-winning chef Neil Perry (of Sydney’s Rockpool restaurant) to present a first-class menu that includes caviar and an 8-course tasting menu. Freshly made coffee from an onboard espresso machine is one aspect that would bring a smile to this traveller’s face.
Entertainment
Mr Branson definitley takes the cake when it come to in-flight entertainment. Not only are there on-board beauty treatment available on Virgin Atlantic flights,
but you can even lean over to your neighbour and ask if they’d like to join you for a drink at the bar.
That’s right, Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Upper Class’ suite comes with its own bar and bartender. It could get interesting trying to look stylish sipping that martini whilst trying to maintain your balance during turbulence though.
Comfort
Singapore Airlines sees exclusivity as the key, offering only 8 seats in first class. Keeping the front of the plane exclusive isn’t the only reason for so few seats with Singapore Airlines boasting the biggest seats, beds and entertainment screens available. If size matters for you, Singapore is your airline.
Convenience
Apart from the obvious conveniences of quicker check-in lines and being first to board and depart the plane that most airlines offer their big-spending passengers, British Airwaysgoes one step further. To help you kill some waiting time at the airport and allow you to make the most of sleeping time on the plane, BA offer you your meal in their FIRST lounge at the airort prior to flying as part of their dine before you fly concept.
These snippets are only the tip of the iceberg. For a full explanation of everything you can expect frm international first class air travel, as well as a detailed comparison of what the different airlines offer, check out The Seat Guru’s first class comparison guide.
Ok.. tempted yet? Well, if you’re worth your weight in bubbly as a champagne traveller on a beer budget, then you’ll be as keen as mustard to know how you can experience some of the luxury described for the same price as a seat down the back of the plane.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series which will be jam packed with advice from those in the know on how to turn your upgrade dreams into reality.
Want to make sure you don’t miss Part 2? Why not subscribe via RSS or e-mail (see the icon at the top right hand corner of the blog).
Have you indulged in one too many reality TV shows or trashy magazines and feel like its time to balance out your culture karma?
Melbourne is a city with culture opportunities aplenty… and the best part? A full day of culture-immersion won’t set you back much more than the change in your pocket.
So, if you want to experience Melbourne’s high brow offerings, here are my suggestions:
1. Jump aboard the Melbourne Tourist Shuttle. It will take you right around the CBD and outskirts, with plenty of opportunities to jump-on/jump-off at most of the attractions listed below. It will also help you to gather your bearings and learn about the history of the city. Cost: free
2. Get along to Federation Square. Apart from being quite an ogle-worthy piece of architecture and one of the newest feathers in Melbourne’s hat, the tourist office is right next door. This has to be one of the best and most informative tourist offices I’ve seen. It is here that you will grab the brochures and information books you’ll need for your day of culture. Cost: free
3. Take in an exhibition or two. Currently, The State Library of Victory has multiple traditional exhibitions and new media displays within its galleries, while Federation Square is showing the David Caird Photographic Exhibition. Entry is also free to the National Gallery & other galleries around town. A full listing of current exhibitions can be found at the tourist information office. Cost: free
4. Browse through a selection of original art works, craft and gourmet foods. Every Sunday, The Arts Centre hosts the Sunday Market. Browse the works of some of the cities finest, albeit currently undiscovered, artists. Cost: free
5. Now it is time for lunch and a show. A fabulous Melbourne institution is the Lunchtime Theatre. Show, soup & bread will set you back a measly $5. Find out more about it here. Cost: $5
6. Tour the laneways. As with many cities, it is along the hidden lane ways and alleys where you will find quirky little shops, live music and other unforgettable memories that you won’t get to see from the window of a tour bus. Why not download this great podcast and let it guide you through the hidden gems of Melbourne that many people miss.
7. End the day with a culinary feast. You don’t want to leave Melbourne without indulging in some Italian cuisine from one of the many restaurants in Lygon Street, Carlton. And although you could probably afford to splurge a little on dinner after barely spending a cent all day, you can enjoy world class fare very affordably in this foodie-heaven street. Cost: specials spotted recently in Lygon St include soup, garlic bread, pasta & a glass of wine for $17 and a generous slice of cake & a coffee for $5.
Leave a comment if you have some Melbourne culture tips you’d love to pass along…
Gridskipper finds gourmet restaurant delights at bistro prices in Paris Bistronomy
Budget Globetrotting explains how to Stay at Convents for Cheap Accommodations in Italy
Concierge provides the low-down on How to avoid currency conversion fees
Want to compare the price of a cup of coffee or a movie ticket in Paris, Cairo or Auckland to find out how far your travelling funds will take you?
Check out the Frommer’s Global Price Index for June 2007 at http://www.frommers.com/rss/articles/4445.html
Puntarenas, Costa Rica looks like a good bet to me.
