Explore every episode of the podcast The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

Bursting with culture, balmy nights, bustling streets and flavoursome food make Siem Reap a must-do for any family holiday, especially when it could be the last trip you do with your teens.

This week, host Kirstie Bedford explains why Siem Reap is the ultimate last hurrah when it comes to family holidays.

Finder details how you can get the most out of your frequent flyer points – and the best credit cards to maximise them.

And we give you the lowdown on the new Kyoto tourism tax, which comes into play next year. 

Read Responsible Travel's detailed report about tourism taxes at https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/tourist-taxes

Kirstie's cover story in the Sunday Star Times is at https://www.thepost.co.nz/travel/360838639/last-hurrah-why-siem-reap-should-be-last-family-holiday-you-do-teens-go and her hotel review for Karryon is here https://karryon.com.au/luxury/fcc-angkor-by-avani-cultural-heart-cambodia/.

And you can find out more about FCC Angkor by Avani, where Kirstie stayed at https://www.avanihotels.com/.

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Ivona Siniarska has been to Africa 40 times and the founder and managing director of travel booker Take Off Go says it's more than a destination, "it's a deep-seated emotion".

From Kenya to South Africa, Ivona talks to us about the best places to go, where to start for first-timers, and how to ensure you're travelling in a way that's right by the wildlife, and ensures you are able to make the most of the experience, https://www.takeoffgo.com/

Also, loud talkers, crowding the luggage carousel and throwing your plane seat back… these are just some of the things that irk us most when we travel, according to Vodafone.

And the Great Aussie Pie Competition results are in - listen in for where to get the best pie in Australia. Road trips just got a whole lot more delicious, https://greataussiepiecomp.com.au/

Read Kirstie's shortlisted adventure story for the Australian Society of Travel Writers' Excellence Awards about Sardinia and Belle's shortlisted culinary story about eating in Oman.

Belle has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Travel Writer of the Year award; her stories include AlUla in Saudi Arabia and Moor, Please! A fabulous self-guided journey on Spain's public trains from Seville to Jerez and Cadiz, with Inntravel.

And if you'd like to hear Belle chatting with 2GB about her cover story about travelling through Tunisia with Intrepid Travel, and the goat that tried to derail it all, listen here, https://omny.fm/shows/2gb-afternoons/travel-tunisia 

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“Opera and classical music shouldn’t be just for the elite,” says Australian-born soprano Breana Stillman. The opera singer leads a double life; based in Rome and singing throughout Europe, she’s also on a mission to bring classical music and opera to disadvantaged youth in central Africa, using art as a therapy. 

Breana spends several months a year in Kenya with the charity she founded, OperAffinity, working and performing with impoverished children to develop their artistic abilities, and to create cultural connection through music. 

Follow Breana's journey and for more on OperAffinity and its festival in Todi, Italy, https://www.breanasoprano.com/, https://www.operaffinity.com/ 

Also, while Americans are travelling to Australian in record numbers, Aussies are choosing Asia over the US for their international holidays, according to the latest Travel Trends Report from the  Australian Travel Industry Association, https://atia.travel/ 

And finally, Southern Cross Travel Insurance makes the case for taking out travel insurance for domestic travel, https://www.scti.com.au/ 

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Melissa Hoyer is one of Australia’s most respected lifestyle commentators, journalists and editors, who has worked in the travel and lifestyle sector of the media industry for more than three decades, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett and JK Rowling.

This week, we take a look at what life's like for a leading commentator travelling on the celeb circuit, and find out where the A-listers like to go.

Also, Intrepid's "Not Hot List" is out! This annual report highlights the lesser-known destinations and regions for those who care about treading lightly when they travel.

And our tip this week is from eSIM provider Saily about how to get the most out of your data when you travel. 

Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au or on Instagram here.

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There's great nightlife, it's summer all year round, and really, really hospitable people. Add to that fabulous architecture and a blossoming food scene, and what's not to love about Malta? 

In Australia, he's Mr Malta - Maltese-Australian chef, restaurateur and TV presenter Shane Delia has been returning to the Mediterranean island nation since he was 13, so he knows a thing or two about exploring Malta's food, beaches and lifestyle. 

Talking to the podcast just ahead of Maltese Independence Day, Shane, whose restaurants include Maha in Melbourne, Layla in Brisbane and the Biggie Smalls kebab chain, appears on Channel 9's Postcards every week, says Malta is blossomed with high-end restaurants. "But while it’s well documented where we’ve been, young Maltese chefs are asking, 'Where can we be, who can we be?'" he says.  His hot tips include Marsaskala Bay for swimming and Sphinx Malta for delicious pastizzi. Follow Shane at @shanedelia 

Also, be compensated for late or cancelled flights here in Australia: you can have your say on the proposed Aviation Consumer Protection Scheme, see http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-consumer-protections

And finally, car rental group VroomVroomVroom says that Australian airports are the most common place for bingles in your hire car. 

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For many, Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast is all about the surf, sun and stunning boutiques, but on this week’s episode we take you on a deeper dive into this pretty coastal region.

Co-host Kirstie Bedford loves nothing more than an active getaway, and so a chance to hike, bike and kayak in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was her idea of a dream weekend – throw in whale watching, and it was a match made in heaven.

Take a listen to her recommendations of how to explore a different side of Noosa, with top tips about where to stay, play and eat. Go to https://www.visitnoosa.com.au/ for more and see footage from her recent trip at: @kirstiewrites.

 Also, Skyscanner reveals how Gen Z is travelling today. This teen to 28-year-old age group is a big decision maker when it comes to family travel, and you might just be surprised at what their top priorities are when it comes to a getaway.

And for those who love a bit of stargazing, insuremytrip.com takes us to the best places in the world for astrotourism. The full research is here: https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-advice/travel-inspiration/best-destinations-for-stargazing/

The places Kirstie mentioned:

https://whalesongsnoosa.com.au/

https://byearthandocean.com.au/noosa-ebike-tours/ and https://byearthandocean.com.au/stingrays-and-everglades-kayak-tour/

Lanai https://lanainoosa.com.au/

Light Years: https://www.lightyearsasiandiner.com.au/

Noosa Surf Club: https://www.noosasurfclub.com.au/

https://www.therisenoosa.com.au/

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Airports are one of the most stressful places we'll find ourselves, and this week, we're looking at travel from the viewpoint of a neurodivergent traveller.  

Sarah Maree Cameron is a radio and TV presenter, writer and comedian. She presents the House of Wellness on Nine Radio, and in Melbourne, the Weekend Break with Grubby on 3AW and TravelOz on Channel 7. 

With that job description, she's constantly on the road, and we chat about how she manages her hectic schedule while juggling a number of dietary and health issues. Listen for her top tips on staying stress-free and healthy. Follow Sarah Maree on instagram for more wellness tips 

Also, which are the most crowded tourist destinations in the world?  A couple are particular favourites for Australian travellers, according to new analysis from  Deluxe Holiday Homes. 

And Kadi Luggage reveals how to get the best bang for your buck when shopping duty-free at airports. 

Sarah Maree's tips include:

Listening to sleep stories with the Calm app 

Hotteeze heat pads 

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When Chelsea Ross launched the world’s first women-only surf retreat in Bali, it was purely because it was something she would have loved to do herself.

Twenty-two years later, she’s hosted more than 18,000 women seeking a transformational experience in Bali through Goddess Retreats.

She shares her experience, tips for the best ways to have a wellness experience in the popular Indonesian hotspot, and explains why you should give surfing a go – and how to get started!

The latest research on the 'grey gap year' shows as we age we’re now increasingly likely to want to spend the kids’ inheritance on a big holiday. Read the full Grey Gap Year report here.

The Japan National Tourism Organisation gives the low-down on food etiquette in Japan – think you shouldn’t slurp your noodles? Think again!

Also, win a copy of Ultimate Dive Sites by last week's guest, Todd Thimios - see our Instagram to enter, and here's Kirstie's story about the luxury advisors turned digital nomads. https://karryon.com.au/luxury/nomad-the-consultants-living-remote/

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Welcome to the underwater world of photographer and professional diver Todd Thimios, who shares his best dive sites in Australia and around the world – he’s got some hot tips for snorkellers, too. 

To win a copy of Todd's book, Ultimate Dive Sites (Hardie Grant), follow us on instagram @theworldawaitspodcast and catch him MC'ing at the Go Diving Show at Sydney Showgrounds 6-7 September, see godivingshow.com/anz/sydney-dive-show 

Also, do we really need travel insurance for local travel within Australia? Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s (SCTI), most recent Future of Travel report might just change your mind, scti.com.au 

And where's the best place in the world to work and holiday? IWG's annual Work from Anywhere Barometer names the best cities for a workcation, and there are a few surprises in the top 10. Listen for the full list, see iwgplc.com

Also, click here to listen back to Jacques Smit of Sabi Sabi private game reserve in South Africa, and read Kirstie's story from her interview with Jacques here. 

And to find out more about the next big hot in cycling tourism, take a look at Victoria’s High Country's gravel bike riding campaign victoriashighcountry.com.au/ride/

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“We’ve kind of become addicted to the novelty, life is always exciting… someone said to me, ‘you never get beyond the honeymoon stage in these countries you live in’, and I thought well that’s entirely true... but honeymoons are awesome… spending your life on a honeymoon sounds pretty good to me," says Brent Hartinger of Brent and Michael are Going Places. 

Authors, travel writers, digital creators and husbands Brent Hartinger and Michael Jensen have lived in more than 30 countries and travelled to more than 60. The long-time digital nomads have no plans to return to their home in the US, particularly now with Trump at the helm. This week, they share their insights into what it’s like living a nomadic life, with top tips on how you can do it too.

Also, Compare the Market has found almost 30 per cent of Aussies say they have relied on AI tools for travel plans – do you trust it?

And, after the fourth fatal boat accident in Bali this year, how can travellers make safe choices when choosing a boat trip in the Indonesian province? We provide some top tips of how to stay safe on a boating trip in Bali, and you can listen to Belle chatting about it on ABC here.

And here's a link to read Kirstie's story about FCC Angkor by Avani.

Visit us at https://theworldawaits.au or on Instagram here.

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You've booked a holiday to Egypt, but the Grand Egyptian Museum's (GEM) opening has been postponed...again! "All is not lost!" says podcast host and Egypt aficionado Belle Jackson, who is just back from Cairo.

Belle shares her top three things to do in Cairo, including the best Egyptian museums and neighbourhoods, essential experiences and answers the age-old question, is Cairo safe right now? For more of Belle's travels, see https://www.instagram.com/global_salsa 

And we have a winner of our tropical Thai holiday giveaway of four nights at Avani+ Khao Lak! Thanks to Avani Hotels & Resorts, who generously offered this prize to our listeners to celebrate our 100th episode! 

And finally, our tip this week is how to avoid the rainiest places in the world (unless you love a downpour!), and we cover off the craziest things people have left in Ubers.

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Hi there, welcome to our winter series. This week, we're taking you to the idyllic Cocos Keeling Islands – an atoll almost halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka where the airport runway doubles as the golf course, so infrequent are the flights.

Host Kirstie Bedford talks about her recent visit to the remote islands and what makes this largely unknown Australian island a must-visit. You can see some footage of her trip on Instagram at @kirstiewrites

Next up, we chat to author and freelance travel writer Celeste Mitchell about her new book, Ultimate Beaches Australia. She's scoured the nation to come up with 80 of the best beaches from the big names to some secret spots; places for world-class surf breaks or rock pools for the kids.  

Celeste is also owner of Life Unhurried, lifeunhurried.com 

And don't forget to enter our competition to win a tropical holiday in Thailand! To celebrate our 100th episode, we've partnered with Avani Hotels and Resorts to give away four nights' stay for two people in a deluxe room at Avani+ Khao Lak, with daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and a Muay Thai boxing class.

Just like the competition post on our Instagram page and tag a friend, and follow both The World Awaits and Avani Hotels, and you're in for the win! 

Entrants can be located anywhere in the world. Entries close 31st July 2025.

*flights not included.

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This week, we’re chatting to two remarkable women adventurers.

First up meet Lucy Barnard, the Australian Geographic Society's 2024 Adventurer of the Year. Lucy is almost at the end of an intrepid feat to become the first woman to walk the length of the Earth – 30,000 kilometres from the southernmost tip of South America to the top of North America, and talks to co-host Kirstie Bedford about this incredible journey. Follow her on Instagram at @tanglesandtail 

Our second guest is adventurer, author and inspirational speaker Laura Waters, who joins us to talk about her recent, epic journey kayaking 2,400 kilometres solo along the Murray, Australia’s longest river. Laura is also the author of Bewildered, which documents her life-changing hike of the length of New Zealand. She has also authored Ultimate Walks & Hikes Australia.

You can watch a documentary about her journey here, and follow Laura on Instagram at @laurawaters_writer

And don't forget to enter our competition to win a tropical holiday in Thailand! To celebrate our 100th episode, we've partnered with Avani Hotels and Resorts to give away four nights' stay for two people in a deluxe room at Avani+ Khao Lak, with daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and a Muay Thai boxing class.

Just like the competition post on our Instagram page and tag a friend, and follow both The World Awaits and Avani Hotels, and you're in for the win! 

Entrants can be located anywhere in the world. Entries close 31st July 2025.

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Welcome to our Winter Series!

This week we're taking you to Greece.

First up, host Kirstie chats to Andria Mitsakos, founder of Anthologist and global founder of AMPR, who takes us to some of the country's best artisans where she buys her artefacts, and shares insider tips on the best way to enjoy a Greek getaway. 

Next, host Belle Jackson takes us to Greece and Bulgaria, travelling by rail on a slow food, slow travel journey of these neighbouring countries. She travelled on a Eurail pass, which crisscrosses 33 European countries.

And we are giving away a tropical holiday in Thailand! We've partnered with our friends at Avani Hotels and Resorts to celebrate our 100th episode with this great prize. 

You can win four nights for two people in a deluxe room at Avani+ Khao Lak, with daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and a Muay Thai boxing class! 

Just  go to our competition post on instagram, like it and tag a friend, and follow both The World Awaits and Avani Hotels, and you're in for the win! 

Entrants can be located anywhere in the world. Entries close on 31st July.

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Welcome to our Winter Series!

This week is all about Italy. We are taking you from the Amalfi Coast to a tiny town south of Rome. 

First up, host Belinda Jackson’s chats with author Maria Pasquale, who explores the food histories and dishes across regional Italy. Maria, born to Italian parents and raised in Melbourne, is the author of four books and has readers in more than 100 countries.

Then, host Kirstie Bedford talks to award-winning freelance journalist, Natascha Mirosch, who swapped the sunny shores of Brisbane to move temporarily to a tiny village south of Rome. If you ever considered a move to Italy, this is the episode for you. 

And we're giving away a tropical holiday in Thailand! We've partnered with our friends at Avani Hotels and Resorts to celebrate our 100th episode with this great prize. 

You can win four nights for two people in a deluxe room at  Avani+ Khao Lak, with daily breakfast and dinner, airport transfers and a Muay Thai boxing class! 

Just like the competition post on our Instagram page and tag a friend, and follow both The World Awaits and Avani Hotels, and you're in for the win! 

Entrants can be located anywhere in the world. Entries close on 31st July.

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Veteran journalist Andrew Conway has been to India four times, but this time he's doing things differently. His latest month-long sojourn was self-funded, and he took his husband, Greg, who had never been to India before. 

Andrew talks about how having a personal driver (details below) changed his entire experience and lets us in on some of the lesser-known places to go in this often chaotic country.  

1 Hotels opened its first property in Australia recently, and host Kirstie Bedford was there to review it, while host Belle Jackson was among the first to stay in the new villas at Alba Thermal Springs & Spa on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. We also cover all the other new hotel openings in Australia you need to know about.

And, love a good roadie? We cover off Australia's best road trips with Rollin' car insurance. 

Contact Andrew's driver Manoj via email: agmtourntravels@gmail.com

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The World Awaits has hit a remarkable milestone, celebrating its 100th episode!

To get the party started, Avani Hotels & Resorts has partnered with us for a listener giveaway a tropical holiday in Thailand!  To enter, simply like, follow and tag a friend on our Instagram page here.

On this special episode, our sound producer Alaisdair Leith joins us, and we chat about our favourite guests over the last two years (after all, there are now 100 to choose from!)

And it's time to ask ourselves the question we ask all our guests: What’s the most bizarre thing that’s ever happened to you on your travels?  Flying pigs, anyone? Listen in to hear all about that escapade, and we also share our upcoming travels.

We’d like to give a big shout-out to those who have partnered with us over the past 100 episodes and shown so much support for the show: thanks to Avani Hotels & Resorts, Explore Worldwide and Tourism Ireland.

And finally, thank you to you, our listeners. We are so grateful to you. And we love hearing from you, so drop us a line at hello@theworldawaits.au to let us know your thoughts or discuss upcoming partnership opportunities.

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Meet the singing teacher who founded a hiking company in Bhutan. Keen hiker Karen Haranis, of Rare Air Himalayan Travel, shares her favourite hikes, through the territory of Bengal tigers and red pandas, from the high mountain passes and lush rhododendron forests of this tiny mountain kingdom.

Together with her guides Tashi and Namgyel, they scout new routes and cultural experiences in Bhutan, including the little visited East Bhutan, also known for its handicraft villages, rareairtravel.com.au

Also, we track down the most disappointing of the world's famous beaches. The USA has a strong showing at the top, with rubbish, noise and overcrowding destroying the experience at some of its iconic strips of sand, says with research by cloudwards.net

And our tip is all about wellness tourism, which is forecast to be worth $1.35 trillion in 2028. The AvaniWell program focuses on personalised wellness at its resorts, where you can do everything from freediving to football camps, avanihotels.com 

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

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“These dolphins surrounded me and I was hovering above the sand and they were playing with me and I swam up with them and thought I would die for them to be safe, it was like my heart was cracked open and I came up thinking how can I be more impactful in the ocean space,” says freediving champion turned conservationist Hanli Prinsloo.

It was this encounter with dolphins in Mozambique while teaching a freediving course that made Hanli Prinsloo turn conservationist, and now she hosts retreats to teach others how to freedive and educate about marine conservation.

For more about her next retreat in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll while staying at Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, go to avanihotels.com. For more information about Hanli, go to hanliprinsloo.com

 Also, do you ever wonder when and where you should tip? Travelex has put a guide together to help you know which countries you should tip in and how much you should be handing over. For the full tipping guide, go to https://www.travelex.com.au/media/1338/tipping-guide.pdf

And our tip this week is from Travelinsurance.com.au about how to maximise your frequent flyer points. For more, go to https://www.travelinsurance.com.au/

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

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"Southern Africa is very hard to describe; for many people, you get bitten by something, or you breathe something in, and you become hooked," says Australian author Tony Park. 

Speaking to us from his home just north of Kruger National Park in South Africa, Tony shares his vast experience about going on safari in southern and east Africa. From the Kruger to the Kalahari, we're taking self-drive safaris on a budget, which regions are better for different wildlife and wildlife poaching.

"The best way to tackle poaching is to uplift the communities and the people, who feel that their only option is to turn to wildlife crime," he says. "So the best thing for wildlife is to visit Africa." 

Tony has published 22 novels set in southern Africa; his 23rd, Die by the Sword, is out at the end of July, and like all his novels, it has a strong environmental and wildlife conservation angle. See tonypark.net

Also, what's new on the slopes for the Australian ski season? From lifts to going cashless. Visit perisher.com, thredbo.com.au, charlottepass.com.au and perisher.com.au

And find out which of the Avani Tribes you belong to, and then match your destination to your personality type at https://tribes.avanihotels.com.

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

Tony’s picks:

For a great, all-inclusive luxury safari experience in South Africa, check out the Sabi Sabi collection of lodges in South Africa's Sabi Sand Game Reserve: sabisabi.com 

A bit cheaper, but in a great game viewing area inside the Kruger National Park is Imbali Game Reserve (and also check out its neighbouring, affiliate properties, Hamiltons and Hoyo Hoyo), imbali.com 

If you’re game for a self-drive trip (which will save you loads), fly from Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport to Skukuza in the Kruger National Park and hire an Avis or Europcar rental car and stay in self-catering accommodation (there are also restaurants in most of Kruger’s rest camps), sanparks.org

For a get-away-from-it-all safari in an untouristy-park, check out Hwange National Park, close to Victoria Falls. These are good places: hideawaysafrica.com, robinscamp.com 

In East Africa, Tony prefers the Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya’s Masai Mara. Maasai Wanderings, owned by an Aussie woman does excellent mobile safaris, maasaiwanderings.com 

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On the fringe of the Sahara, at the birthplace of Star Wars, the little Northern African country of Tunisia's drawcards are its medinas and souqs, its Roman ruins and Mediterranean seaside resorts. Stay in desert camps or in cave hotels carved into the mountains; you'll find spicy harissa, dramatic doors and ornate tiles everywhere.

"What's not to love?" asks co-host Belle Jackson, who travelled through Tunisia recently with Intrepid Travel, intrepidtravel.com

Also, if you enjoy going off the beaten track, travel insurance company Insure & Go lists the 10 global destinations you must visit before they boom, insureandgo.com And the bulk-billed travel vaccination clinic TravAX lets you search your travel destination and the vaccinations it recommends, travax.nhs.uk  

Finally, our tip this week is about how to get a good dose of culture when you travel to Italy, from mask making in Venice to touring Milan in a Fiat 500.  Find out more at avanihotels.com

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

The full length, 19-minute documentary about Belle's slow-food travels in Greece and Bulgaria with Eurail has now been released; watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hf7ldApatlQ

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

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"The best way to see the Mekong is slowly," says travel journalist Michael Turtle. 

He takes us on a cruise down the river in Laos on board the beautiful new boat Boheme. With only 13 cabins, it runs between the royal city of Luang Prabang and the capital, Vientiane, connecting you to the lifeblood of the country, all while exploring Laos' cuisine and visiting its villages.

"Watch longtail boats, see temples... on a river cruise, you see the river at all times of the day, while people are fishing or swimming," says Michael of the six-day sailing journeys. 

For more about the Boheme, visit mekongkingdoms.com and add a stay at the Avani+ Luang Prabang, avanihotels.com And to follow Michael, see timetravelturtle.com 

Also, what's the world's most beautiful airstrip? This list of ravishing runways will have you fighting for the window seat. https://www.allcleartravel.co.uk/blog/the-worlds-most-beautiful-airport-landings/ 

And finally, tap into the set-jetting trend and get your travel inspiration from movies and TV series. We're talking Thailand, Malta and the UK - tune in to see what's filmed where.

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

READING RECOMMENDATIONS

If you'd like to read Belle's story on the young woman shaking up PNG's traditional drumming scene, visit airniuginiparadise.com

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 Do you know who was behind the design of Canberra? What about the first person hired to manage the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge? Both are women whose stories have historically rarely been told.

That’s something tour guide, feminist, history nerd, and author Sita Sargeant plans on changing. Frustrated by the lack of recognition for women’s historical contributions, she founded She Shapes History – a tourism company offering entertaining and engaging walking tours in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne to make sure the remarkable achievements of women are not lost.

She chats to us about how she got started with her tours, and what her plans are to ensure the message is spread far and wide.

We also talk about the sober curious movement and how Avani Hotels is ensuring no one is left sipping a boring drink!

And Health Direct has some top tips for avoiding motion sickness. 

This mini-series is brought to you by Avani Hotels & Resorts. With more than 40 properties across five continents, Avani offers city hotels, tropical resorts and retreats in nature. For more, visit avanihotels.com

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Have you ever thought about packing everything up, renting or selling the house and moving to Italy? Well, that’s just what our guest this week did. 

Award-winning freelance food, travel and lifestyle journalist Natascha Mirosch has swapped the sunny shores of Brisbane to move temporarily to a tiny village south of Rome. We chat about why she did it, what there is to see and do in the region where she’s now living and how you could do it too.

We also have a last-minute Mother’s Day guide for the travel-loving mum in your family (or yourself) and do people really care about giving back when they travel?  We give you the feedback from some of the experts including Booking.com's 2025 Sustainable Travel report. 

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Should Australians be concerned about travelling to the US now?

With a super-strong US dollar and reports of 'enhanced vetting' at US borders, economics groups forecast a 12% drop in visitors to the States this year. So just how welcome are travellers these days? New York State is bucking the trend, says Michael Cassis, the Australian representative for the state, and shares some tips for smooth entry into the US.  

And - jazz hands to the ready - 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of iconic American novel The Great Gatsby. Author F Scott Fitzgerald set the novel amongst the mansions of Long Island, so Michael takes us back to  1925 and where to visit to find the romance and glamour of the Jazz Age, iloveny.com

Also, monkey bites, bag snatches and Bali belly -  Southern Cross Travel Insurance spills the tea on the most unusual claims submitted by Australians holidaying in Bali and the biggest, most eye-watering claims, scti.com.au

Finally, if you've ever had an opulent train trip in mind, this North American beauty is the last word in luxury, according to research from Japan Rail Pass, jrpass.com 

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Australia has more than 10,000 beaches, so if you need a beachside break, how do you choose where to go?

Celeste Mitchell, author of Ultimate Beaches Australia has scoured the nation to come up with 80 of the best beaches from the big names to some secret spots; places for world-class surf breaks or rock pools for the kids.  https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/ultimate-beaches-australia-by-celeste-mitchell/9781741178920

Celeste is also the owner of the slow travel booking site, Life Unhurried and she reveals some of her top picks for beachside slow stays.

Also, Skytrax’s annual survey of the top airports around the world is out. Can you guess which airport takes the top gong? 

And DiscoverCars.com reveals the best countries for a road trip. Take a listen to find out where they are!

And co-host Belle Jackson visits the Bendigo Art Gallery for the Frida Kahlo: In her own image exhibition – a look at one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. 

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Giant green palms, sugar-white sand beaches where every shell seems to move with life, and gin-clear waters home to an aquarium of kaleidoscopic marine life.

Welcome to the Cocos Keeling Islands – an atoll almost halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka where the airport runway doubles as the golf course, so infrequent are the flights.

We explain why this special little spot should be on your travel bucket list – and if you’re travelling from Australia, you don’t even need a passport to get there. 

We also chat about Emirates' new data about the hot European destinations this winter, and Airbnb's spring travel report is out with some top tips for staying safe when you are a solo traveller.

https://cocoskeelingislands.com.au/

https://news.airbnb.com/2025-spring-trends-travelers-embrace-soft-slow-travel/

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What do you do when a revolution breaks out? If you're Dennis Bunnik, you throw yourself into the thick of it. Dennis is co-owner of Bunnik Tours which, in 2025  celebrates 30 years taking Australians to every corner of the globe, and he chats to Belle about the situations he's found himself in as a very, very hands-on small group tour operator. 

He's also a hardcore aviation geek with a huge YouTube following for his airline reviews and behind-the-scenes access into the world of aviation, answering all the big questions like, "What happens to airline blankets?" 

He shares his hot tips for best airlines in all classes, adds a few airport lounge hacks and 'fesses up to the country-counting competition of his family. See bunniktours.com.au   

Also, where to go if you're seeking spiritual enlightenment on your next trip. New research from Psychic World reveals the top destinations we're searching for that deepen our connection to faith, heritage and history.

And a new study by Australian luggage brand Kadi Luggage reveals the best time and day of the week to schedule your flights at five major Australian airports to avoid the dread flight delays.

https://kadiluggage.com/

Finally, where is Belle off to this week? Tune in...

https://www.youtube.com/c/DennisBunnikTravels  

https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/world-book 

https://www.psychicworld.com/

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First, she walked the length of New Zealand and now adventurer, author and inspirational speaker Laura Waters has completed an epic journey paddling the length of Australia’s longest river, the Murray River.

The 2,400-kilometre challenge saw her paddle for weeks on end. She tells us why she did it, recounts the tough challenges she faced along the way and tells us where the best spots are if you want to follow in her wake.

Watch Laura here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCRARCeTKyw

The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards has revealed the best in the business, from tourist attractions and festivals to five-star accommodation.

And non-bank lender MONEYME has analysed Australia’s 10 most popular holiday destinations to find the best and worst value destinations for travellers.

Finally, we give you a sneak peek into one of Melbourne's most anticipated luxury hotels, 1 Hotel, and explain why this hotel is gaining so much attention.

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If your dream destination is anywhere curled up with a great book in a cosy nook by the fire or by the pool, let Lucy Pearson take you on a reading retreat. 

Lucy is a bibliotherapist and bespoke library curator who has designed a series of upcoming reading retreats in France, Wales and Australia.
  
Expect silent book clubs or find a cosy nook by the fire or pool to read, as well as a bibliotherapy session and a book 'prescription'. Each retreat has a theme, stories shaped by the sea, a French-inspired reading list inspired by the allure of France, and a winter retreat where houses are the central character.

Co-host Belle also asks Lucy for her travel lit hot list, which includes:

Holy Cow! (India) Sarah MacDonald
Wild (USA) Sheryl Strayed
In Search of Silence (India & New Zealand) Poorna Bell 
Eat Pray Love (India, Italy, Indonesia) Elizabeth Gilbert
Hideous Kinky (Morocco) Esther Freud and her favourite travelogue;
A Year in Provence (France) Peter Mayle.

For more about Lucy's reading retreats in Provence, Wales or Daylesford here in Australia and her bibliotherapy practice, visit thelitedit.com  You can also sign up to her substack, and follow her on Instagram.

And what kind of holidays are we taking? Find out what's hot right now, according to new research from experience network Big Red Group.

We also hit the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival; Kirstie went to the Longest Lunch - think hundreds of meters of tables set along the lawns of Kings Domain, while Belle went to gaol. She sat down to what should have been Ned Kelly's final dinner the atmospheric Old Melbourne Gaol. There are still more free and low-cost events at the festival, or pop in the diary for the 2026 festival; https://www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au

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“These women are selling bikes to families who are using them to get to the river to fish, fields to farm and to get to school… we have one bike shop in Zambia that has sold over 8,000 bikes in that local community… and they are ferocious entrepreneurs and it’s so fun to hear them talk about their lives now compared to when they started nine years ago,” Keith Sproule, the Executive Director of Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy.

Keith Sproule oversees 55 philanthropy projects for A&K in 24 countries, including this one that he mentions, where A&K opens bike shops for women across Africa and the Middle East who use the money to buy homes and ensure their children have access to a better education. 

Also, TravelInsurance.com.au research shows many Aussie travellers are choosing Asia over Europe – we explain why, and our tip is about the top five passport mistakes you need to avoid by Smartraveller.

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Discover what fills your heart with Ireland, be it the rich culture, the legendary Irish hospitality, the stunning scenery, ancient cities or world-class food.  This episode is sponsored by our friends at Tourism Ireland. Learn more at ireland.com

This coming week sees the celebration of St Patrick's Day, one of the biggest festivals on the Emerald Isle. Walk the famous saint's waymarked way, or find your  own celebration, from the long-running Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival to the Puca Festival, marking the pagan event Samhain, the ancestor of Halloween. Ireland's most famous literary son, Oscar Wilde, died 125 years ago in 2025, and is celebrated in a new Wilde weekend, In Our Dreams.

Then, we take an about-turn back to Australia. "Melbourne is a city of stories," says author, guide and Melbourne aficionado Dale Campisi, whose new book, Naarm/Melbourne Neighbourhoods is a wealth of history, walks and minutiae about the Victorian capital. 

We ask Dale all your burning questions; did Melbourne narrowly avoid being called Batmania? Which Melbourne skyscraper is drizzled in (symbolic) blood? And was Flinders Street Station really supposed to be built in Mumbai? He also talks about Naarm/Melbourne's indigenous history, and what the land was like before Europeans settled here. 

We also have a giveaway! To win a copy of Dale's book, drop us a line at hello@theworldawaits.au to be in the running.  

And our tip this week is the art exhibitions you need to see right now. We're talking Inca gold, Japanese pumpkins and Australia's contribution to Europe's 20th-century, avant-garde art movement. 

Melbourne @ National Gallery of Victoria ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/yayoi-kusama/ 

Sydney @ Australian Museum australian.museum/exhibition/machu-picchu/ 

Canberra @ National Gallery nga.gov.au/exhibitions/anne-dangar/ 

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“I don’t see a town any sooner than five days and now 10 to 20 days … so it’s remote, it’s very cold …and there are grizzly bears, and wolves and they travel in packs… so I start at daylight and I’ve always got a podcast playing because of predators,” says Lucy Barnard, the Australian woman walking the length of the Earth. 

With International Women's Day fast approaching, there couldn’t be a more fitting interview for this week as Lucy attempts to be the first woman to walk the world from Argentina to Alaska, covering 30,000 kilometres across 14 countries, with her dog Wombat in tow.  

Lucy shares her favourite places to hike and explains what it’s like walking through regions so dangerous you need a police escort tanglesandtail.com

Also, the world's best food destinations according to  British online travel agency Travel Bag - which Australian city's taken the coveted prize of the global food capital and we're talking gold-covered baklava (say Dubai without saying Dubai) travelbag.co.uk

NIB Travel has seven top tips to beat jet lag, nibtravelinsurance.com.au and Belle opens the doors to the Little National Hotel in Sydney’s CBD littlenationalhotel.com.au/Sydney/

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Ice skating, Christmas markets, imperial palaces and eating sausages in your opera gown – welcome to Vienna. Co-host Belle Jackson gives us a rundown from her recent 'coolcation' to Austria's capital and why 2025 is the year to visit, wien.info/en  and how you can use Vienna as a hub for further European exploration, using a Eurail pass.

We also chat about the NZ$500,000 campaign to lure Aussies across the ditch. Have you heard of the new tagline? Sublime or a stinker? Take a listen to hear our thoughts, newzealand.com 

And here's a link to Australia's own tourism classic youtube.com/watch?v=LaWrkBo0t1o and the current Swiss campaign, which we love, features Roger Federer and Trevor Noah, youtube.com/watch?v=5JK7vjVaIvo 

And how do you avoid Japan's cherry blossom crowds? We're thinking outside the box on this one... japan-guide.com/sakura/ 

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How do you get more real estate in an economy airline seat? Tech reviewer Alaisdair Leith rounds up some great new travel gear - with a seriously unexpected find... 

His new travel gear recommendations are:
Ninja water bottle
Bellroy Lite Travel Pack
Sony in-ear headphones
The Bevledge - ta-da!
and Belle's addition, thanks to guide James Burt of the Tasmanian Walking Company, is the Wollemi 90 Ultralight Expedition pack

Also, Kirstie and Belle chat about their recent stay at the newly reopened Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall, and bring you the best news from the world's biggest travel industry meet, by TravMedia. 

And finally, we touch on the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and ask; where will you find the world's most polite drivers?  

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It's one of the world's greatest tourist destinations, and Machu Picchu totally lives up to the hype! 

Our guest this week is Sol Campos de Parry, Peru trade commissioner to Australia, who talks about the joy of hiking to the Inca City's Sun Gate. But if you miss out on a hiking permit up the Inca Trail, or are keen to explore other trails in Peru, Sol also takes us to other great walking destinations in the Amazon and Ancash's classic Laguna 69 trek in Huascarán National Park. Beware - Laguna 69 is at over 4600m, so she also shares some tips on adapting to high altitudes.

Also, this week, all the news of new hotels, restaurants and adventures on the Sunshine Coast. See visitsunshinecoast.com

And hello to all the lovers out there - Kirstie and Belle name their most romantic hotels for Valentine's Day, guaranteed to make you swoon!

This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small-group adventures with local tour leaders. Click here for adventure travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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"I always say 'collect, don’t shop'… so when you're purchasing something that’s a tangible representation of a destination you’re making a contribution not only financially, but also to that cultural preservation of a destination, and that’s something you’ll have forever and it’s better than any memory," says Andria Mitsakos, founder of Anthologist and global founder of AMPR. 

It was an accident, quite literally, that saw Mitsakos fall in love with Greece, and now she splits her time between Athens and the Greek island of Paros. She takes us to some of the country's best artisans where she buys her artefacts, and shares insider tips on the best way to enjoy a Greek getaway. 

We also talk about all the new flight routes landing in Australia, and our tip this week is from Smartraveller about how to stay safe when drinking overseas. Watch Belle’s interview on ABC News TV here. See Smartraveller’s tips here. 

This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small-group adventures with local tour leaders. Click here for adventure travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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“Costa Rica has something that’s very special… we have the second best place in the world for diving … and now the Government is thinking in blue, and you’ll hear that soon about the Costa Rica preservation, the idea is to make the coastline a [fish] nursery… so you’re going to hear very soon about the blue country Costa Rica wants to be,” Juan Carlos Rodriguez, a naturalist guide with Explore Worldwide.

Few people would be as passionate about their country as Juan, who has been taking tours to experience Costa Rica's incredible flora and fauna for more than three decades. He talks to us about what makes the Central American country the best destination for a nature escape, and how it plans to be the world’s first ‘blue country’. 

We also chat about the world's safest airlines by Airline Ratings; and what do you do when you make a purchase overseas and are given the option to pay in multiple currencies? We explain the best way to save with a tip from CNN journalist and host of the travel series, Quest’s World of Wonder, Richard Quest.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small-group adventures with local tour leaders. Click here for adventure travel inspiration to Costa Rica from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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There are 26,000 ramen bars in Tokyo – how do you choose the best one? Chef Luke Burgess talks about finding your way to the best places to eat in Tokyo.

Luke, who co-authored the book 'Only in Tokyo: Two Chefs, 24 Hours, the Ultimate Food City', shares his favourite, and most confronting dishes, and talks about the endless pursuit of understanding Japanese food and its refinement, see https://www.instagram.com/lukeburgess77/?hl=en

Also, Lonely Planet's much anticipated global best beaches of 2025 list has dropped and Australia has made the top two; and travel is still top of our wishlist, according to a new survey from money.com.au.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small group adventures with local tour leaders. Click here for adventure travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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Sri Lanka now has its first long-distance hiking route and we’re talking to the man who created it.
 
The 300-kilometre The Pekoe Trail is the brainchild of adventurer Miguel Cunat, who spent a decade knitting together hill-country trails to create a walking route that ventures through tea plantations and historical sites, and visits remote villages to connect with the local culture. He talks about how he did it, and his favourite parts of the trail.
 
We also take you to the Australian Open tennis tournament, and cover the best Australian summer events for your calendar. And our hot tip is how best to travel with your hound, thanks to Shandos Cleaver, author of Off the Leash in Australia., see travelnuity.com
 
This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small group adventures with local tour leaders. Click here for adventure travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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Dream of days wandering Italy’s Amalfi Coast? In our first episode of 2025, we are taking you there with Australian-Italian author Maria Pasquale.

Maria’s new book, Mangia: How to eat your way through Italy, explores the food histories and dishes across regional Italy, including Campania, home to the Amalfi Coast, famed for its fragrant lemons and San Marzano tomatoes.
So let’s go explore some of the villages and beaches, Maria’s shares the best places to eat on the Amalfi Coast, her favourite dining experiences, and the best times to visit Italy's playground, maria-pasquale.com  

We also chat about the top travel trends for 2025 from coolcations to radical sabbaticals exploreworldwide.com.au/travel-trends-2025, and we share some great tips from Etihad’s cabin crew about inflight skincare.

This episode is sponsored by Explore Worldwide, which offers small group adventures with local tour leaders. We dare you not to be tempted by these incredible tours.

Click here for Adventure Travel inspiration from our friends at Explore Worldwide. Don’t Just Travel, Explore.

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This is our last Summer Series before we return to normal programming! Tune in for a masterclass on how to fly first class with Chris Chamberlin of Points Hacks. Chris has travelled more than two million kilometres in first or business class (that’s to the moon and back, twice) and shares his insights on which loyalty programs to focus on, and how to strategise your spending to switch your seats from beside the toilets to the champagne class. See pointhacks.com.au 

Want to get the best airfare to Europe or the US? Co-founder of Complex Travel Group, Mark Trim shares insider secrets on airlines to watch, alternative routes and the best time to buy. Trim's advice on what constitutes the 'best' airfare might also surprise you. complextravel.com.au

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Do you go on holiday, only to come back feeling like you need ...another holiday? How do we come back rested from a getaway? Journalist, author and co-founder of Life Unhurried Celeste Mitchell talks about how to slow down when you travel, and the best places to do it, lifeunhurried.com

Then all aboard for The Orient Express, The Ghan, The Flying Scotsman or The Rocky Mountaineer with train aficionado and travel writer Tim Richards. The author of several books including Heading South and Ultimate Train Journeys, he chats about why sleeper trains are back in fashion, new innovations in train travel, the best, scenic train routes and how to train on a budget, iwriter.com.au

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Let's take you completely off the beaten track and to the ends of the Earth.

Jenny Gray is the force behind Intrepid Travel’s women-only expeditions, which it runs in seven countries including Saudi Arabia. Jenny chats about travelling as a woman in the kingdom, exploring its deserts and meeting its people, merging two of the hottest trends in tourism at the moment - women-only travel and Saudi Arabia, intrepid.com

And Antarctica and the Arctic are two of the last frontiers on the planet. Veteran journalist Andrew Conway takes us into these incredibly fragile places, explaining  what you can expect in each, how they differ, and how we travellers can help ensure their survival for future generations https://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/ship/greg-mortimer/

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Welcome to our Summer Series for 24/25. We're kicking off with our islands edition, and we're taking you to Indonesia and Italy!

Let's go to a remote tropical island in the Indonesian archipelago, where young Aussie couple, Jess and Dan Baldock have built Alamayah, a luxury boutique retreat. Designed by Jess and built by Dan along with the people of Sumba, the tiny, six-suite retreat has been a cultural experience, as the couple learned the local language and culture in the process, embedding Alamayah into the community, all the while raising their own young family on the island, alamayah.com 

Would you cycle for more than 210 kilometres in 30+ degree heat around southern Sardinia? For host Kirstie Bedford it was a dream come true. Kirstie spent a week biking the hills of the Italian island, all in the name of fun. She rode through an abandoned medieval village, biked through a Blue Zone, climbed hills to scour some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful beaches, and drank wine with locals to celebrate what Italians do best – live life to the fullest. Listen for Kirstie's vote for the prettiest Italian town and how you can follow in her bike tracks, utracks.com

And you can read Kirstie's latest story about her trip here: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/australian-geographic-adventure/destinations/2024/12/pedalling-for-pasta-a-week-of-cycling-around-southern-sardinia/

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Fly up the pointy end of the plane with air mile loyalty specialist, Adele Eliseo of  The Champagne Mile. 

“Points collection is less about flying and more about where you can maximise your points on the ground," says  Adele, "In almost every area where we spend money there’s a way to get points, so start by analysing your spending and where you could collect points.”

And she walks the talk, having flown her entire family business class around the world, thechampagnemile.com.au

Also, the summer travel scams you need to watch out for according to booking.com, and with Christmas mere seconds away, we've got gift suggestions for the jetsetter in your life.

Buy experiences at redballoon.com.au
Search hardtofind.com.au & buyfromthebush.com.au
Bluetooth luggage tags: tile.com & apple.com
Buy a goat unwrapped.oxfam.org.au
Destination-inspired candles glasshousefragrances.com

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Southern USA rings with the sweet sounds of blues, soul and R&B – this week, we’re designing the perfect musical roadtrip through the southern states with iconic rock journalist Glenn A Baker.

“Memphis really is the centre of the journey,” says Glenn, who suggests starting in New Orleans and driving through four or five states – with even a river cruise in the mix – to find the places of legend. We're talking the crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for fame, the studio where Rolling Stone Keith Richards sat on the toilet and wrote the lyrics to Wild Horses, whether Elvis really was afraid of flying and the Tallahatchie Bridge, to name just a few sights on his dream US roadtrip, follow him here: facebook.com/officialglennabaker   

He’s even built us a soundtrack to drive by. So get a big convertible, plug in the playlist, and step on the gas. 

Also, we’ve got Wicked fever as Belle checks out the new movie and the Novotel Melbourne Central and its Wicked packages. Also, the World’s 50 Best Bars list is out, and three of them are here in Australia, and what do you do with your left-over foreign currency? ALL.com says Australians are sitting on more than one billion dollars in unspent foreign currency! If you have spare cash, you could donate it to the good people at UNICEF via this currency exchange outlet, travelmoneyoz.com/donate-foreign-coin   

For more, see;

www.hardiegrantgift.com.au/books/ultimate-island-escapes-australia-9781741178821
www.theworlds50best.com/bars/index.html
novotel.accor.com/a/en/offers/apac-wicked-the-movie.html
novotel.accor.com/a/en/offers/novotel-family.html 

We also asked Glenn A Baker for his mix tape for a US roadtrip through the musical south. Here's what he gave us:

Elvis Presley - That’s All Right Mama/Good Rockin’ Tonight
Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On
Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
Little Richard - Tutti Frutti/Long Tall Sally
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone
Booker T & MGs - Green Onions/Soul Limbo/Time Is Tight
Carla  Thomas - Gee Whiz
Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog
Otis Redding - I Can’t Turn You Loose
Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman
Sam & Dave - Hold On I’m Coming/Soul Man
Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour/Land of 1000 Dances
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man
The Mar Kays - Soul Finger
Eddie Floyd - Knock On Wood
Hank Williams - Move It On Over
Jimmie Rodgers - Blue Yodel

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“The thing I like most about Bali is [it’s] like one big resort, and when you go on holiday you leave all your baggage behind… so everyone is enjoying themselves, it’s very optimistic,” says esteemed Australian designer, artist and owner of Pineapple Hill, Stuart Membery.

Stuart, the former head designer of Esprit, now splits his time between Bondi, Australia and Bali, Indonesia. He talks to us about his new boutique luxury Balinese villa, Pineapple Hill, how Bali has changed over the decades and gives us some insider picks of where you should go on your next trip to the Island of the Gods, see stuartmemberyhome.com or instagram.com/pineapplehill_bali/

We also chat about life at sea, with one US residential cruise ship launching a multi-year, around-the-world voyage to 'escape' the incoming US presidency, and we reveal the world’s best vineyards, which includes several in Australia and New Zealand, see worldsbestvineyards.com

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Solo sailor Lisa Blair OAM has sailed around Antarctica not once, but twice, and her book Facing Fear records that first, near-fatal expedition. Lisa has a rack of world records under her belt – just this year alone, she set the fastest time sailing Sydney to Auckland and first woman solo monohull record, slicing an incredible four days off the previous record; and is the first person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around New Zealand, a feat that took just 17 days. She is also Australian Geographic's Adventurer of the Year 2022.

Having spent so much time on the ocean and seeing the effects of pollution and climate change, she is a powerful advocate for sustainability with the Climate Action Now project and Boating Industry Australia's Sustainability Ambassador. See lisablairsailstheworld.com and the new movie about her adventures, Ice Maiden.

Which do you think are the safest countries to travel through? Travel insurer Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s research shows some of the best are very, very close to home;  bhtp.com/blog/safest-places-to-travel/

And how do you get a bargain in Bali? The Bali Bible shares some tips for getting not the lowest price, but the price that is fair for both you - the buyer - as well as the seller. The trick? To treat haggling as a charming game, see thebalibible.com 

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Is the 'Land of the Long White Cloud’ on your travel to-do list? This week, our resident Kiwi, co-host Kirstie Bedford chats about all the reasons you should head to New Zealand’s far north.

From a moving cultural experience to bedding down in the ultimate luxury at Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, pretty Northland ticks many a box and you’ll leave with a new appreciation of this sacred land to Māori, the Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa, rosewoodhotels.com/en/kauri-cliffs

Belle also takes us on a little detour to one of NSW’s major wine regions, and how long does it take to save for a holiday? Money.com runs the numbers. Finally, a hot tip on how to get a 10-day holiday with only a few days of unpaid leave, thanks to seek.com

Read Kirstie's story about Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, karryon.com.au/luxury/rosewood-kauri-cliffs-northland-new-zealand

And Belle's tips for a Hunter Valley getaway include:
Accommodation @ Cypress Lakes, cypresslakes.com.au
Oud massage @ Elysia spa, elysiaretreat.com.au
Vamp wine rooms by Lisa McGuigan, vampwinerooms.com.au and Make-up & Merlot by The Boys Studio theboysstudio.com

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