Tamara Tiffin - TravelManager

✈️ Qatar and Singapore Air were the most reliable airlines throughout Covid, and flying out of Brisbane, it’s no surprise that the Top 3️⃣ are my faves for my clients.

There’s a few extra great options that also made the list (like Korean Air, who offer a free stopover in Seoul for interested explorers 🇰🇷), and a few surprises as well.

🛫 Let me help you navigate the skies first the best deal and service. 🌏

[email protected]

Consider this list next time you fly! 🛫

Customers have crowned the best of the best at the World Airline Awards but it was bad news for Australia's carriers, with Qantas dropping out of the top 20 and Virgin slipping to 54th.

TOP 20 RANKINGS ▶️ https://nine.social/Kp9

Ayers Rock Resort EOFY Sale 🏜️

Experience the heart of Australia with these Ayers Rock Resort EOFY Sale packages! Be captivated by the Field of Light Exhibition and the mesmerising Outback Sky Journey, or enjoy a magical Wintjiru Wiru Twilight Experience, Guided Sunset Uluru Tour and a Kings Canyon & Outback Panaromas Tour for a deeper exploration of the region!

4 Day Red Centre Escape

🚐 Return Airport Shuttle Transfers

🛎️ 3 Nights at Ayers Rock Resort with Breakfast

🏮 Field of Light Exhibition Pass

🌌 Outback Sky Journey

4 Day Uluru Lights & Beyond

🚐 Return Airport Shuttle Transfers

🛎️ 3 Nights at Ayers Rock Resort with Breakfast

🏮 Wintjiru Wiru Twilight Experience

☀️ Sunset Uluru Guided Experience

🏜️ Kings Canyon and Outback Panoramas Tour

Contact me today to book before the 3rd of July! 👇
[email protected]

🚢 Disney Wonder returns to Australia in 2024 and 2025 and for a limited time, you will only have to pay 50% of the required deposit*.

https://www.travelmanagers.com.au/campaigns/magic-at-sea-returns/

With sailings out of Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne - it’s too easy to let your inner child experience the Disney wonder 🤩

Contact me to get onboard 👇🏼
[email protected]

*T&Cs apply

🤩Mega Luxury - Mega Savings🤩

Save over $11k on luxury cruises🤯 Plus, receive a bonus 3-night pre- or post-cruise land program, included speciality dining, beverages and more.

Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3X8UvDf

T&Cs apply

🚢 BREAKING CRUISE NEWS 🚢

No more P&O Australia 🛳️

Carnival Cruise Line today announced that in March 2025, the company will sunset the P&O Cruises Australia brand and fold the Australia operations into Carnival Cruise Line, according to a press release.

The Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure ships will be rebranded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line brand while the Pacific Explorer will exit the fleet in February of 2025, the company said.

This change is the latest in a series of what Carnival said were strategic moves designed to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, the company’s flagship brand and the highest-returning brand in Carnival Corporation’s global portfolio, the company said.

This will result in the addition of eight new ships to Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet since 2021, including the shift of three vessels from sister brand Costa Cruises. In addition, the company recently placed its first new ship order in half a decade for two new Excel-class cruise ships to join Carnival Cruise Line in 2027 and 2028.

“Despite increasing Carnival Cruise Line’s capacity by almost 25% since 2019 including transferring three ships from Costa Cruises, guest demand remains incredibly strong so we’re leveraging our scale in an even more meaningful way by absorbing an entire brand into the world’s most popular cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation.

“In 2019, Carnival Cruise Line was 29% of our total capacity, and when we complete this move early next year, Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – will make up approximately 35% of our total global capacity. While our company’s overall growth between 2019 – 2028 is projected to be less than 2% (CAGR), the majority will be for Carnival Cruise Line, which will grow by approximately 50% over that time period.”

In addition to further optimizing the composition of Carnival Corporation’s global brand portfolio, the realignment will strengthen the company’s performance in the South Pacific through numerous operational efficiencies, the company said in a statement.

“P&O Cruises Australia is a storied brand with an amazing team, and we are extremely proud of everything we have accomplished together in Australia and the broader region,” said Weinstein. “However, given the strategic reality of the South Pacific’s small population and significantly higher operating and regulatory costs, we’re adjusting our approach to give us the efficiencies we need to continue delivering an incredible cruise experience year-round to our guests in the region. Carnival Corporation remains committed to Australia and we will continue to be the largest cruise operator in the region with 19 ships calling on 78 destinations and representing almost 60% of the market.”

For P&O Australia, current itineraries will operate business as usual, and guests will be notified in the coming days of any changes to future bookings as a result of this announcement.

When the transition is complete next year, Carnival Cruise Line will have four ships in the market, including Sydney-based Carnival Splendor and Carnival Luminosa sailing seasonally from Brisbane, in addition to their new sister ships Encounter and Adventure.

Price Drop! For a short time only, All Inclusive @ 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭. Was $2990pp, now from $2790pp, twin share. Save 51%!
Includes:
🔥 Return flights & airport transfers
🔥 6 nights, Resort view room
🔥 All inclusive meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner daily for 2 adults
🔥 All inclusive drinks package for 2 adults daily including beer, wine, select spirits, select cocktails, soft drinks & juices
🔥 Choose a F$200 Bebe spa credit or 2 days nanny service per stay
🔥 Up to 2 kids 12yrs & under stay, play & eat FREE!^
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^ Click here for full details & travel dates 👉https://bit.ly/3q7ENK6

📧 [email protected]

The internet is for looking, your travel manager is for booking 🤝

Google can show you plenty of hotel options and tour operators, but if you want to be assured that you’re making the right choice to suit your individual needs, there’s simply no substitute for a personal travel manager.

I will manage every element of your travel experience, offer 24/7 emergency assistance and make the planning process fun 💙🧡💛💚

Well and truly back in the thick of work, since returning from an epic, immersive Japan experience. 🏯🍡🌸

If you’d like to hear more about our adventures, check out my blog. 🇯🇵 https://bit.ly/3VfFH4t

Please reach out if you want to know more, have any questions, or if you’d like help putting together your special journey. 🙌🏼

📧 [email protected]

🚨 Exclusive Discount for You - 10% off

Book any day tours/sightseeing through my Viator link from now to 31 May, and get 10% off!

Apply ADVISORSUMMER at checkout

Things to Do, Tickets, Tours & Attractions | 2024 | Viator Find and book city tours, helicopter tours, day trips, show tickets, sightseeing day tours, popular activities and things to do in hundreds of destinations worldwide

⛩️Ceremonial Chameleons & 🐻Bearly There...
As part of our trip to Japan, we were invited to participate in some Buddhist ceremonies.

These were deeply personal, intimate, moving and humbling. One ceremony was a memorial for our late family friend, and Zen Master – Daido Hogen Yamahata (1935-2024). Part of Hogen-san’s life work was about brining Zen to the West (and Australia in particular), and sharing in this cross-cultural spiritual exchange was a dedication to Him and honouring His legacy. 🙏

After concluding ceremonies, we went on a short stroll up the street from the temple, to an intriguing and inviting path up the mountain. 🌲🌲🐻🌲🌲

As my family and I were cautiously ascending the path the prior evening, a very elderly woman neighbour (looked about 200 years old! 👵🏽) was yelling at us in incoherent Japanese. After some time of trying to ignore her, we descended back to the road, and managed to calm her down. We learned later that she had phoned our Temple family, concerned about us foreigners, as we were heading up the mountain, into the woods – where bears lived! In hindsight, I think she may have just saved our lives! Silly foreigners. 🤦🏽‍♀️

This time though, we were escorted on a walk up the same path, to a beautiful old temple in the woods, next to a very old Shinto Shrine ⛩️ . Along the walk, our friend and Head Priest blew a conch shell 🐚 (sounds like a loud horn), as is customary, to alert bears to our presence, so that they can stay away. Thankfully, we didn't encounter any, but could clearly see their scratch marks on the trees around us! 😬

🔥HOT WEEKLY DEAL ALERT🔥

G Adventures Classic, 11 day, Back Roads of Japan tour is on sale for the month of May 🇯🇵
From now until May 31, you can save 15% on select departure dates until 31 August, 2024.

Here’s a sneak peak into some of the fun highlights you will experience on this trip:
- Spot snow monkeys in Nagano
- Explore a 16th-century samurai castle
- Cycle through the rural town of Hagi
- Experience a homestay in a traditional Japanese community

Don’t miss out on this hot deal! 🍜🏮⛩️

To start the ball rolling on your next trip, reach out… 📧 [email protected]

🧢🚌 Schools In! It's not every day that you get to be the guests for an International Cultural Exchange program in a rural Japanese Primary School... today was our day!

My daughters and I did hair braiding (and some tiny ponytails for the boys who did not want to miss out!). 🎀 Typically Japanese children are not encouraged to “stand out”, so the joy and delight in some of the children’s eyes when they got to exhibit some self-expression was truly heart warming.

🐨🎨My husband, James hosted Art – Australian animal drawing, and our other travelling companions and friends facilitated tai chi, yoga and a slack line. 🤸

The day was hugely enjoyable. At the end of each group of children, they collectively gathered to give thanks, bow and shake hands. We later received posters of thanks, prepared by the students. Overall, a very wholesome experience and a highlight of the whole trip! 🥰

We were welcomed into yet another generous family's home for lunch - another spread of fantastic home-cooking. For a bit of fun, we collectively made mochi together. 🍡

🫧 And again... another bath after dinner. Funnily, this family had a cockatiel, much like my own, so whilst bathing all very zen-like in the Japanese bath, the bird and I were whistling back and forth to each other. 🦜🎶 No language barriers there! 🤣

A relaxed and joyful family dinner in the temple, resting up for a couple of Ceremonial Days ahead...

Why book with a travel agent? Flight cancelled?

You could spend countless hours on the phone with the airline trying to rearrange flights and being all stressed out…
OR
You could leave it to a travel expert who will happily do all the legwork for you while you relax in the lounge 🍹

… That’s why 🎯

Kyoto– short and sweet overnight stay in a humble little guesthouse on the Southside of Kyoto Station.

I could have spent ages exploring the clean and delightful streets of Kyoto, with houses fronted by flowers and bonsais (we even saw a bonsai lantana - wtf!), and the temples, gardens and rivers of this stunning historical city, but there was no time on this trip. 🌸

🛤️ Navigating Kyoto Station, we found our train and headed north to meet our friends. The train ride was magnificent - the city giving way to traditional homesteads amongst rice fields, to a backdrop of pine forests, and the beautiful expansive Lake Biwa.

Disembarking at Omi-Imazu Station, we were met and driven, thanks to our new wonderful friend Naito-san (to a soundtrack of one of Naito san's faves - Celine Dion!). The drive took us through more lush pine forests, beyond the township of Obama, at the north of the island of Ky, to the magnificent sightseeing drive known as the Angel Line. 🌲🌲🌲

This incredibly scenic journey took us up and over a spectacular fishing bay, where we could see all of Obama to our south, and looking west and north over the Japan Sea, towards Korea and China. A stunning day, and not another person in sight. We did spot a wild monkey on the way down the mountain! 🐒 Truly bliss.

We arrived to our amazing temple homestay, only for a short moment, before heading to Naito-san's house for a full on feast of home-cooked Japanese food, and Plum-Wine! 🍡🍜🥟🍚🍘🍱🍷

After dinner, we discovered, as part of our community homestay share-care plan, we were to have a bath at Naito-san's house. Not one for usually stuffing our bellies full of food, and then bathing in 40+ degree water, it was the polite and expected thing to do at the time. And so we did! And it was so relaxing and rejuvenating simultaneously. 🧖‍♀️

Thankfully, exhausted, full and mildly cooked, we were to sleep well, because the next day we were to be feature guests in a Cross-Cultural Exchange at the local primary school! 🧢

If you're interested in reading more of my Japan - top tips, including a bit of Culture 101, check this out👇🏼
https://bit.ly/3yEcIOO

Ever received an invitation too good to refuse?

That’s what happened to my family and I, when we were invited by our dear friend (who happens to be a Zen Temple Abbott ), to join them on the north coast of Honshu, for a special and rare ceremony.

Little did we know there’d be school visits, Japanese BBQs and Bears! 🧢🍗🐻..
✈️ Two weeks ago, we flew from Brisbane to Osaka, arriving at night, and catching the train to Kyoto, where we'd spend the night in a cute little guesthouse on the Southside of Kyoto Station. 🏯

Over the next week, I'll share with you some of the life-changing experiences that took place.

It had been 5 years since my last international trip, so I needed to brush up on the latest tips n tricks.

👩🏼‍💻 Check out my blog post if you'd like to learn more:
https://bit.ly/4bpn9of

🚨Update on Australia Passports

From July 1, 2024, 10 year passports that are issued from 16 years of age will increase by 15%. Current price is $346. After July 1 Price will be $401.

From July 1 this year, people will also be able to pay an extra $100 to see their application processed within 5 business days.

The option already exists for people to pay a larger fee of $252 to have their application processed in 2 business days.

Children’s passports are currently $175 & issued for 5 years. These will also increase by 15% to $202.

So if you need to update your passport do it before July 1 to avoid the price increase.

Amazing savings (up to 20%!) 🤩 with one of my favourite tour providers… Intrepid Travel - they’re eco and ethically conscious, so you can be sure you’re giving back to the communities you visit.

Ready to explore deeper? Reach out 👇🏼
📧 [email protected]

"We travel because we need to, because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity.
When we get home, home is still the same.
But something in our mind has been changed, and that changes everything".

Feeling awestruck by the last week in Japan. 🇯🇵

Photos and travel tips and stories to come, but for now… riding the wave 🌊 of the high, of zen temple life 😌

Here’s a different view of Italy! 🇮🇹

That's nice. Good on you Virgin Australia 👏👏👏

Get ready to ride the wave of good vibes at Mamaka By Ovolo Bali! 🌊
Unlike any other hotel in Bali, Mamaka is your vibrant, elegant, and earth-conscious oasis. Book now to unlock exclusive deals packed with all the extras: complimentary room upgrades, ice-cold beers, rejuvenating massages, and more!
Don't miss out on this limited time offer—reserve your slice of paradise today!

6 Nights ex Brisbane from $1390* per person twin share

Includes:

⭐️ Return flights including checked luggage^

⭐️ Return private airport transfers

⭐ 6 nights in a Bali Hai Room with complimentary upgrade to Kokomo Room, twin share

⭐ Breakfast daily

⭐ Free Loot Bag on arrival

⭐ Welcome drink

⭐ Wi-fi throughout the resort

⭐ 24/7 Wellness Zone including free scheduled classes – yoga, boxing, bootcamp on beach & more

⭐ Vespa ride tour Kuta – Legian

⭐ 2 times beer buckets per room

⭐ 1 time dinner (set menu) in Street 32 or Kuta Social Club per person

⭐ 1 time 30 min foot reflexology per room

⭐ Free access to cabana or rooftop day bed

⭐15% discount for F&B in Kuta Social Club & Street 32

⭐ 10% discount at Kupu-Kupu Blow Bar Salon & Spa

Book by 30 Jun 2024
Valid for travel: 1 Sep – 20 Sep, 10 Oct – 30 Nov 2024 & 20 Jan - 15 Mar 2025

^Flights operated by Virgin Australia, seats are limited, all dates are subject to availability.

Prices are per person based on twin share, subject to availability,.
*Contact me for full terms and conditions.

My clients ask me about travel cards use overseas.

I recommend Pelikin as it is Australian owned and operated
* it allows up to 22 currencies on your account and the funds can be moved around within your wallet
* can be used where Visa is accepted
* you are not charged transaction fees unlike other travel cards or credit/debit cards
* use either your Google Wallet/Apple Pay or the physical card
* easy to use.

Here is my link: https://pelikin.co/affiliates/tamaratiffin/

* Disclosure: I earn a small commission when you sign up using my link. Thank you, it is appreciated.

Next level luxury ship now in Australia! 🛳️

Scenic Eclipse II has sailed into Sydney Harbour The much-anticipated Scenic Eclipse II has officially arrived in Australia before embarking on its first exploration of Australian waters.