Australia Archives : Plane Sailing

Where the action is: hotels with Hollywood connections

I once stayed at the Hyatt (now Andaz) hotel on Sunset in West Hollywood where, apart from seeing Axl Rose in the foyer, I visited the rooftop pool that featured in the cult film This is Spinal Tap. The so-called “riot hotel” was also the scene of many real band-behaving-badly moments back in the day.

I didn’t seek out this rock’n’roll experience (it came as part of a deal secured by a friend), but there are plenty of people who do want to stay in hotels with connections to the rich and famous.

Sydney first, but don’t forget the rest of Australasia

Former Australian prime minister Paul Keating once famously said: “If you don’t live in Sydney, you’re just camping out.” It would seem that many agree with him.

The New South Wales capital was named “Australasia’s leading destination” at the 25th Annual World Travel Awards held in September 2018.

What makes Vienna more liveable than Melbourne? Or anywhere else?

Melbourne skyline. (Credit: visitvictoria.com)

I like Melbourne — for the lifestyle, the coffee, the culture, the food, even the weather (though not so much the football code they follow ) — so I was a bit disappointed to read that it has been displaced as the “world’s most liveable city” by Vienna.

But then I thought: What the hell is a “liveable” city? And why does this matter?

Continue reading What makes Vienna more liveable than Melbourne? Or anywhere else?

It’s time for a inquiry into internet data roaming prices

Telstra, the Australian telecommunications giant, has just announced a A$10-a-day roaming package for travellers to 57 countries.

Before we break out the champagne to celebrate such a groundbreaking deal, can I be allowed to point out — in fact, shout out — that this is still outrageous and unacceptably high given what’s on offer?

Continue reading It’s time for a inquiry into internet data roaming prices

Reflections on the river city

“Brisbane,” said a friend over coffee, “is like a boring boyfriend.

“Dependable, but after a while you want to run away with someone more exciting.”

Continue reading Reflections on the river city

Scoot sets sights on Oz-Europe route

Although it often seems prohibitively expensive, air travel has actually become far more affordable in recent years. A flight from Sydney to London, for example, costs roughly the same as it did 30 years ago, despite inflation.

And flying to Europe is about to get even cheaper for Australians, with Singapore-based airline Scoot offering flights from the east coast to Athens for less than $1000.

But cheaper isn’t always better …

Continue reading Scoot sets sights on Oz-Europe route

Liveable or not liveable?

I’m a big fan of Melbourne — indeed, I have friends there and I often advise people planning a trip to Australia to include it on their itinerary.

But I can’t say that I’m convinced that it is the world’s “most liveable city”, as it has been declared by The Economist for six years running. (Will it make seven? Wait until August to find out.)

Continue reading Liveable or not liveable?

As seen on TV

This blog received a shout-out on Australia’s Channel 10 this morning in the Studio 10 program.

They discussed this post about scrapping airline safety demos on the basis that nobody is paying attention.

Australia: it’s a big country

Beer coaster guide to Australia* (planesailing.co)

As an Australian living abroad, I often get asked for advice from people who want to visit my homeland.

Typically the conversation goes something like this:

Continue reading Australia: it’s a big country

What’s wrong with Australia?

What’s wrong with Australia? That was the question posted recently on Quora.com, and it attracted some interesting replies.

As an Aussie myself, I guess I’m expected to say that there is nothing wrong with Australia. But that would be untrue. It’s just that the faults I find are not necessarily the ones others find.

Continue reading What’s wrong with Australia?

A smarter way to fly

Smart gates at airports — designed to allow passengers to get out into the arrivals hall as quickly as possible by self-scanning their passports rather than queuing to see an immigration official — may seem like new technology. But the fact is that Australia already has plans to phase them out.

Don’t panic. It’s all good. They will be replaced by even newer tech that promises to make life easier for frequent travellers.

Continue reading A smarter way to fly

Being in Brisbane

It may be hard to be objective to write about your home town, but I’m going to try.

First, it’s true that Brisbane, where I was born and I’ve spent more than half of my life, is not the immediate “go-to” Australian city. Sydney is that — because of the harbour, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bondi Beach, the Manly ferry and so many other attractions that all would-be tourists associate with the land down under. Continue reading Being in Brisbane