TRAVEL TIDBITS
Land cheap airfares to Singapore, explore South America in style, sample one of France’s best wine regions via Shank’s pony and save big in Thailand
AIRFARES SCOOT is celebrating Christmas in July with hefty fare savings.
Return flights from the Gold Coast to Singapore are priced at a flat $300 including all taxes in economy (bags and food extra).
A return ScootBiz ticket, including a bag and a meal, will cost a flat $600 from the Gold Coast.
There are specific travel periods, and blackout periods may apply over school holidays and event periods.
Scoot has recently added more destinations ex-Singapore with flights to Osaka in Japan and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The Christmas in July Sale ends at 11pm on Tuesday.
FlyScoot.com
SOUTH AMERICA A NEW tour offered by Aurora Expeditions will take travellers on an in-depth exploration of Ecuador. They will cruise the Amazon by luxury riverboat, visit indigenous villages and Incan ruins, encounter Galapagos wildlife, walk on the world’s highest active volcano and soak in hot springs.
The 26-dayEcuador In Depth tour will take travellers to three distinct regions – the Galapagos, the Amazon and the Andes – as well as the cities of Quito and Otavalo. Highlights include a seven-night Amazon jungle river cruise aboard the 36-passenger Anakonda, an eight-night cruise through the Galapagos aboard the 40-passenger expedition vessel, Isabela II and a ride aboard Ecuador’s Tren Crucero train.
Also on the itinerary is the ‘‘Middle of the World’’, where a French explorer calculated the world’s equatorial line, allowing visitors to place a foot in each hemisphere. Guests will also share a day with local indigenous villagers learning local traditions and cooking. A walk along the lower slopes of 5897m-high Mt Cotopaxi is also featured. Two departures for the tour are available from Quito next year – September 17 and October 15.
Prices start from $US15,600 per person, twin-share, including all accommodation, transfers, domestic flights in Ecuador, guided excursions and day tours, and most meals. Flights from Australia are extra.
auroraexpeditions.com.au FRANCE ON Foot Holidays, a self-guided walking tour operator, is offering Australians the opportunity to journey through the French wine region, Cotes du Rhone, and the foothills of Mont Ventoux – a regular feature of the Tour de France.
The walk package includes seven nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts, five evening meals, five picnic lunches and all luggage transfers between hotels. Walkers carry a day pack. Bookings made before October 31 will secure 2016 tours at 2015 prices.
The Cotes du Rhone walk is of medium-hard difficulty with four to seven walking hours daily. It can be walked from April to September. It costs about $1841 per person for two people sharing one room.
onfootholidays.co.uk
THAILAND HOLIDAY website TravelOnline is offering a half-price deal to Centara Kata Resort Phuket – travellers can enjoy eight nights for the price of four and other extras.
Priced from just $289 per person twin share, the holiday includes eight nights for the price of four in a deluxe room, buffet breakfast daily, return airport transfers by private vehicle and the choice of a free two-hour Thai massage for two or a free fourhour sightseeing tour for two.
The offer is valid for sale until July 31 for travel to October 31. Conditions apply.
travelonline.com