Travel: Six champagne

ON A BEER BUDGET Champagne travel hacks 6

Score that five-star vacay without months of scrimping and saving! Y ou’re older, wiser and deserve better than your old backpacking days when you slummed it with budget travel! But if your bank balance can’t cover that lavish holiday you see popping up on everyone else’s Instagram, we’ll let you in on a secret – it’s easy to hack your way to a lust-worthy getaway.

All you need to do is try these tips from pointshacks.com.au… UPGRADE AUCTIONS Let’s be honest, when was the last time shamelessly begging actually worked to get bumped up to business? Don’t leave it to chance – instead, see if your airline offers upgrade auctions for a cheaper way to nab premium seats. You’ll either receive an email invitation from your carrier, or check their website in the lead-up to your flight to see if you qualify to bid. LOUNGING AROUND Don’t be left looking longingly at the hallowed ground of limitless booze, much needed showers, plush seats and peace and quiet that is an airport lounge. While access usually comes courtesy of a membership or business or first-class ticket, LoungeBuddy (loungebuddy.com. au) helps you bypass that annoying criteria and instead buy a single-use pass. Best of all, passes start from as little as $35 – kerching! You’ll be enjoying those all-inclusive amenities in no time! HAUTE HOTEL FOR LESS Cursing your decision to be a cheapskate and have an hours-long stopover somewhere during the day? Make the most of it – and the luxury hotels that offer cheaper daytime rates – by staying between 9am and 5pm and going hard on all the luxury facilities for up to 70 per cent less. Think a stint at The RitzCarlton in Vienna for $299 instead of the usual $1055 overnightsplurge! SOOTHING STOPOVER Don’t wait until yougettoyourhotelto fork out for an outrageouslypriced massage to soothesoremuscles.Getseen to it in transit foralotlesswithairport spas or a relaxingyogastint.Some airports such as HelsinkiandSan Francisco have onsiteyogarooms,while airport spas suchasBeRelax(berelax. com), which has over52locationsaround the world, will leaveyourelaxedwith chair or table massages,asteamorastop at their juice bar. MAKE IT RAIN There’s nothing likeashowertomakeyou feel a million bucks,soifyou’re20hours in transit and counting,there’sabudget way to cleanse yourselfofthat globetrotting grime.Someairportssuch as Singapore’s Changiofferpay-per-use

The gorgeous surrounds of the Jewel Changi and Butterfly Garden (right) make an airport stay in Singapore a pleasure

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KENDALL JENNER

showersforthebargainpriceof$18 (hallelujah!), while those in the US should keepaneyeout for Minute Suites. Not onlydoesthis service have showers and hairdryers,you can also book a suite for thatmuchneeded catnap. FREEBIE FOODIES OK,soyou’ve arrived – now to recharge withadelicious feed. But don’t fall victim tooverpriced tourist traps – fire up food-loverwebsites such as The Fork (thefork.com.au)and Eat Club (eatclub. com.au),which offer huge discounts (50 percentofyour total bill, anyone?) at high-quality eateries. Do your research andlookatthe reviews for the best-value restaurants.

COMPILED BY ALLISON YEE TIP Worried about catching a cold aboard the plane? A nasal saline spray can help guard against germs.

On cruise contro Star Style TRAVEL

Cocktail, anyone? Katie’s in relaxation mode

OK!’s Katie Garside takes the sea-nic route for an all Aussie adventure

Viking’s 17-day Komodo & The Australian Coast itinerary sails from Bali to Sydney or vice versa from $7995 per person, twin share. Book before March 31 for free business class flights (one way) to meet the cruise. Conditions apply. vikingcruises.com.au

orgetflyingforhours toarrivejet-laggedand cash-strappedbefore you even get to your holiday hotspot – sometimes the best getaways are right in your backyard. And luxury lovers needn’t fret – you don’t need to sacrifice a resort-style vacay. In fact, there’s an all too-easy way to combine Aussie paradise with spacious rooms, grand amenities and fine-dining restaurants: a cruise. I happily joined Viking Orion’s cruise down the Australian east coast, and let me tell you, there’s almost no better way to explore in style. Whether I was on the ship sipping a cocktail or off enjoying a shore experience, Viking ensured my trip was packed with plenty of cool culture and fun sights. tfl i f h

Relax on your private balcony overlooking the waves The large cabins offer all the amenities a top hotel would

ROOM WITH A VIEW Viking cruises offer some of the largest suites at sea, and walking into my Penthouse Veranda stateroom, I was immediately impressed with how spacious it was. To keep you feeling cosy, every room includes a king-size bed, a large bathroom with heated floors, a separate sitting area, a flat-screen TV, a minibar and a spacious wardrobe. My favourite feature, however, was the private balcony. I could begin every day with a new view from the comfort of my very own room.

CULTURE VULTURES If you can bear to tear yourself away from your luxe digs, a shore excursion is included for each guest in every port. I was lucky enough to spend a day on a catamaran in the turquoise waters of the Whitsunday Islands, anchoring near Whitehaven Beach to snorkel among reefs teeming with colourful sea life. For those feeling lazy, performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and much more are available aboard. No matter what your cruising style, you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation of a different way of travelling!

Craft beers and fine wines are on offer at the Explorers’ Lounge Can there be a more spectacular city from which to depart by ship?! Katie’s snorkelling day was flippering fantastic!

Waffle hour is to be savoured!

WINE NOT? oodies will discover an abundance of ne dining options on board that are ure to cater to everybody’s tastes. exploring new cultures through food your thing, you can’t go past The taurant, where the menu includes a on of cuisines tailored to your region l. After something more traditional? Hit up Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant for delicious Italian cuisine or The Chef’s Table for a perfect pairing of food and wine. Afterwards, head to the Explorers’ Lounge – it’s the perfect spot to share a cocktail and take in the views from the panoramic two-storey windows. While you’re there, try some of the Norwegian specialities on offer at Mamsen’s – the waffles are to die for! Fo fi su If is y Rest selecti of trave

KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN

The snow grotto provides the cool… …while the spa provides the warmth!

SPA LIFE Is it even a holiday if you don’t get a massage? While you might already feel totally relaxed on board, The Spa adds that extra bit of indulgence. I tried my hand at some traditional Nordic Bathing, renowned for relaxing tired muscles, detoxing and boosting circulation in the body. The treatment consists of relaxing in the sauna, then taking a dip in the cold plunge pool, heating up in the sauna again, and then stepping into The Spa’s snow grotto – and yes, there was actual snow in there! For added benefits, repeat as many times as you like. Afterwards, just sit back and relax in a pool of soothing spa bubbles…

ELYSE KNOWLES

PERFECT BYRON BLISS

Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky call it home, as does Aussie stunner Elyse Knowles. If you want to do Byron Bay in A-list style, look no further than A Perfect Stay. Not only do they have some of the most outrageously luxe properties on their books, they can also organise other indulgent experiences for a true resort-style holiday. OK! was lucky enough to check out the gorgeous seven-bedroom, four-bathroom Villa St Helena (aperfectstay.com.au/properties/ villa-st-helena), complete with sleek modern interiors, views of the hinterland and Hamptons-chic decor. Special touches include A Perfect Stay booking a masseuse to come to the villa, and Dinner Is Served delivering a homecooked lamb roast before you even check in. In fact, there’s no need to drag yourself away from the 25-metre pool for anything. Who needs a hotel when you can have your own private paradise?

Hotspots, trends and #tripspo for your next vacay News TRAVEL

CALLING HP FANS!

London’s calling for Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts addicts with news the Natural History Museum is launching a wonder-filled Wizarding World exhibit. Showing off Pottertastic props alongside their real-life counterparts (think an Erumpent Horn side by side with a Galapagos marine iguana), the displays show how nature has inspired the whimsical on-screen creatures. The exhibit kicks off in the UK spring –head to nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions.html for more information.

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WHIT’S TRAVEL MANTRA

You’re already Team Leggings when it comes to comfy travel gear, now take heed of The Hills cool girl Whitney Port’s pre-flight routine by ditching the face paint, too. ‘I don’t wear make-up on the plane,’ she reveals. ‘Everybody says the air is dirty and your skin gets so clogged. For me, it’s more of a mental thing. I feel like it’s just the time when it shouldn’t matter how you look. So give your skin a rest!’ We hear you, girl!

#TRENDING SUBSCRIPTION TRAVEL

Subscription services ain’t nothing new (seriously, where would we be without Netflix and Spotify?), so it makes sense to do it with your travel as well. Cue new websites like Safara (safara.travel) where you pay a joining fee, then book from their range of carefully curated – and pretty damn fancy! –hotels. Instead of taking a commission for the booking, Safara passes the savings back to members in the form of Safara Points, which you can redeem with future vacays. There’s nothing like a freebie for next time!

FREE JAPAN FLIGHTS!

This is not a drill, people –domestic flights in Japan are up for grabs, and they won’t cost a single yen. As part of the Your Japan 2020 campaign by the Japan Tourist Agency and Japan National Tourism Organisation, Japan Airlines (JAL) is giving away 100,000 seats to encourage travellers to explore

COMPILED BY ALLISON YEE greater Japan. You’ll need to be in the country between July and October, and signed up to JAL’s loyalty scheme. Tickets get handed out later this month (first come, first served!) and you won’t get to choose which destination you receive, but hey, that’s half the fun. Head to jal.co.jp/en for more details.