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WELCOME TO THE SEAN SIMMONS TRAVEL NEWSLETTER FOR MAY 2013 Sean Simmons Travel Staff Update – Sadly, Benoit Lecat has returned to Paris, as his visa was not renewed! We all miss Ben a great deal and hope that we will soon welcome him back to the family. We do have 2 new team members to announce! Glen Monteith joins as senior consultant, and brings an immense knowledge of the travel industry, having worked for some very major names, and is already settled into his new role! We also welcome Vanji Sekaran to our family, in the role of marketing assistant! Vanji has worked diligently to finalise the online store, and is an invaluable support member to the entire team. Please welcome them both aboard!
HOTFARES MALAYSIA AIRLINES BUSINESS CLASS ON SALE Return fare Melbourne to: PARIS LONDON ISTANBUL FRANKFURT AMSTERDAM
$5388 $5623 $5293 $5378 $5312
Fares on sale until 6pm, 30 April, 2013, unless sold out prior. Fares available from other capital cities. Please ask the team for a quotation! Tickets valid for a maximum stay of 3 months. Fares are per person return, subject to availability, and include airport taxes and fuel surcharges correct as at 20 April 13. Fees and penalties apply for changes, and fare may be non-refundable.
QATAR AIRWAYS WORLDS TOP AIRLINE AS VOTED BY SKYTRAX Return fare Melbourne to: London Economy Business Frankfurt Economy Business Return fare Perth to: London Economy Business
$1875 $7691 $1776 $7452 $1863 $7689
Fares on sale until 6pm, 30 April, 2013, unless sold out prior. Fares available from other capital cities. Please ask the team for a quotation! Tickets valid for a maximum stay of 3 months. Fares are per person return, subject to availability, and include airport taxes and fuel surcharges correct as at 20 April 13. Fees and penalties apply for changes, and fare may be non-refundable.
BALI SPA AND COOKING HOLIDAYS HERES JUST A COUPLE OF THE MANY SPECIALS AVAILABLE. CONTACT SEAN SIMMONS TRAVEL FOR MORE GREAT BALI DEALS. HOTEL TJAMPUHAN & SPA UBUD
ALILA MANGGIS CANDI DASA
4 NIGHTS/5 DAYS NATURAL RETREAT PACKAGE EX MELBOURNE $1190 PP Return air to Bali, 4 nights twin share accommodation in a Deluxe Raja Room overlooking the river valley, daily buffet breakfast, one set dinner, Spa Adventure program (which includes a morning trek, time enjoying the facilities at Tjampuhan Spa & 1 hour massage), Daily use of spa facilities (such as sauna, steam, hot & cold jacuzzi), special gift upon departure, scheduled shuttle service to Ubud Centre & return airport transfers.
4 NIGHTS/5 DAYS BALINESE CUISINE EX MELBOURNE $1450 PP Return air to Bali, 4 nights twin share accommodation in a Superior Room, daily A La Carte breakfast, Choose one of three cooking classes (Balinese Cuisine and Market Tour with lunch OR Catch and Cook Seafood Adventure with dinner OR Cooking in the Organic Garden with lunch), one 3 course Chef’s tailor–made Asian Flavour dinner or Traditional Balinese Megibung dinner, one 60 minute Spa Treatment at Spa Alila, daily afternoon tea at poolside, mountain bikes with maps & return airport transfers.
RISATA BALI RESORT & SPA SOUTH KUTA 5 NIGHTS/6 DAYS COOKING & MASSAGE PACKAGE EX MELBOURNE $1212 PP Return air to Bali, 5 nights twin share accommodation in a Superior Room, daily breakfast, one cooking class, one breakfast with Chef, one lunch with Chef, 1 apron, traditional market visit, one 30 min tension relief massage, cooking certificate, recipes & return airport transfers.
THE ELYSIAN SEMINYAK 3 NIGHTS/4 DAYS SPA ESCAPE PACKAGE EX MELBOURNE $1728 PP Return air to Bali, 3 nights twin share accommodation in a One Bedroom Private Villa with pool, daily breakfast & afternoon tea, 3 two hours spa treatments - choice of Balinese Ritual; Royal Javanese Ritual; Facial & Reflexology & Herbal Spa Ritual, 2 healthy lunch set menu & return airport transfers.
THE VILLAS BALI SEMINYAK 3 NIGHTS/4 DAYS SPA PACKAGE EX MELBOURNE $1551 PP Return air to Bali, 3 nights twin share accommodation in a One Bedroom Pool Villa, Daily breakfast, one Yoga Session, one 2 hour Spa Treatment at Prana Spa plus 30 min access to Prana Spa’s hot & cold plunge pools & return airport transfers.
PLATARAN BALI RESORT CANGGU 6 NIGHTS/7 DAYS HEALTH & WELLNESS EX MELBOURNE $1746 PP Return air to Bali, 6 nights twin share accommodation in a 1 Bedroom Pool Villa, daily breakfast, one healthy cooking class with lunch (duration 150 mins), 2 hours spa treatment at the Padma Spa, daily morning yoga class, one Uma Alas Cycling trip to local school, one Balinese Dancing Lesson, farewell dinner with Balinese performance & return airport transfers.
Prices are per person on a twin share basis, including return airport transfers seat in coach, Return airfares flying Garuda Indonesia to Bali ex MEL YD available on request. Hotel and Air in Low Season only, based on 02 May ’13 departure. Hotel seasonal surcharges apply. Prices valid as at 11 Apr’ 13 & are subject to change without notice. Offers subject to availability. Prices may fluctuate if taxes, currency, surcharges or fees change. Fees and charges apply for changes / cancellations. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.
HOTNEWS GARUDA LAUNCHES AUSTRALIALONDON SERVICE Garuda Indonesia is introducing through-services between Sydney and London from November 2 operated by its brand new 777-300ERs. The flights will operate five times a week via Jakarta, with four connecting services a week from Melbourne and five from Perth. Garuda is streamlining schedules to provide convenient transfers from 90 minutes. The new 777-300ERs are configured with first, business and economy cabins. In London, Garuda will operate to and from lesscongested Gatwick, which has convenient train services into London Victoria. Promotional fares are expected soon – please ask a consultant for details!
VIRGIN LAUNCHES VELOCITY ‘GLOBAL WALLET’ Velocity Frequent Flyer, in partnership with Visa, is launching the ‘Global Wallet’, a prepaid travel money card. Located on one side of the new-look Velocity Frequent Flyer membership card, the Global Wallet will enable members to load money onto their card and store it in multiple foreign currencies as well as Australian dollars; make purchases wherever Visa is accepted; withdraw funds from ATMs in Australia and around the world; and earn Velocity Frequent Flyer Points for purchases made using their Global Wallet, both in Australia and overseas. “Not only will our cards be the access point to a range of Velocity benefits including seamless check- in, access to lounges and priority services, they will make spending in Australia and overseas an easier, more rewarding experience,” Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Neil Thompson said.
“We are also working with Rev Worldwide, a global payments specialist to deliver the product to market and we look forward to sharing more about the Global Wallet’s unique features when it launches in the coming months.”
QANTASLINK MOVES TO TERMINAL 3 IN SYDNEY QantasLink will transfer its operations to Terminal 3 – the main Qantas domestic terminal – in Sydney during the second half of 2013. The change will greatly improve flight connections and amenity for passengers. A new dedicated lounge for QantasLink passengers is being constructed at gate 1 in Terminal 3, with work having already commenced. QantasLink executive manager John Gissing said operating QantasLink and Qantas Domestic flights from the same terminal was set to deliver big benefits to business and leisure travellers flying to or from Sydney and beyond. “With QantasLink in Terminal 3, customers can expect smoother connections between regional, domestic and international services,” said Gissing. “This means passengers travelling from regional NSW to Sydney with a connecting flight to Brisbane or Melbourne, will no longer need to transfer between terminals to connect to their flights.” Gissing said the new ‘Smarter Check-in’ services in Terminal 3 would significantly reduce check-in times for QantasLink, as well as offering regional passengers access to the Qantas Club and Domestic Business Lounge. Apart from Canberra flights, QantasLink services currently operate from Sydney’s Terminal 2, which is shared with Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Regional Express.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA AND AIR NZ LAUNCH DIRECT CHRISTCURCH TO PERTH LINK Air New Zealand ceo Christopher Luxon has just officially announced new non-stop flights between Christchurch and Perth, together with the airline’s alliance partner Virgin Australia. He told guests at the official opening of new terminal facilities at Christchurch Airport this evening that it’s the first direct connection between the cities for more than two decades. The twice weekly service will operate through the peak demand period from December 2013 until late April 2014. “This is a great time to be linking these two destinations,” he said. “The West Australian economy continues to grow at a faster rate than the rest of Australia and rebuilding activity is poised to stimulate travel demand within Christchurch and Canterbury”. Virgin Australia chief commercial officer, Judith Crompton, said the carriers had been working together for the past two years to ensure they offer the best possible network and service across the Tasman. “We have been very pleased with the recovery we have seen on Christchurch routes in recent times and we expect traffic to continue to increase as a result of the new airport facilities,” she said. The route will be operated using an Air NZ Boeing 767 aircraft, and Virgin Australia will codeshare on the flights which will depart CHC at 1540 and PER at 1910 each Wednesday and Saturday, and fares are now on sale from both carriers.
INSPIRED TRAVEL - IF YOU LIKE FOOD THAT IS! IF YOU LIKE FOOD AND WINE, YOU’LL LOVE THE INSPIRATIONAL FOOD HOLIDAY SERIES FEATURED BY TRAFALGAR TOURS 2013 NORTH AMERICA & EUROPE BROCHURE. THEIR FOOD-FOCUSED ITINERARIES WILL COMPLETELY IMMERSE YOU IN THE LOCAL CUISINE, TRADITIONS AND FLAVOURS OF THE REGION YOU’RE VISITING!
FLAVOURS OF ITALY
10 days-9 nights from $2625 pp twin share
NASHVILLE TO NEW ORLEANS TASTES AND SOUNDS OF THE SOUTH
SAN FRANCISCO AND WINE COUNTRY DELIGHT
Highlights
Immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of soulful music as you tour through America’s south. Pay tribute to Elvis Presley at his estate in Graceland, discover the secrets of Creole cuisine in New Orleans and visit a selection of beautiful southern mansions and historic plantations on this sense-awakening tour.
Experience a laidback lifestyle on this tour through California. Discover the iconic sights of San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge to vibrant Chinatown before heading to the renowned picturesque California Wine Country. Explore the lush vineyards of the Napa Valley, sample fine wines and even blend your own bottle of wine on this exciting tour through this world-famous wine region.
Gain a deeper knowledge of culinary Italy. As well as the sights of ancient Rome, Renaissance Florence and Byzantine Venice, sample the real Tuscan lifestyle. Visit olive oil and wine producers, shop for fresh ingredients at local markets and cook up a storm with a professional chef!
Rome / Greve / Florence / Pisa / Parma / Bologna / Venice / Secret Venice Experience • First Class hotel accommodation featuring twobedded rooms and private facilities • All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes • Travel by luxury, air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and an on-board restroom • The services of a professional Travel Director • Audio headsets to clearly hear your guide’s commentary on all included sightseeing • A travel wallet with your documentation / Complimentary keepsake photo and map • Airport transfers are included on the arrival and departure days of your trip. Dining • 9 hot buffet breakfasts. / Italian cooking lesson and Highlight Lunch. / 5 evening meals including: Welcome Reception including light snacks and welcome drinks with your Travel Director in Rome. • 1 three-course dinner with local wine. / Highlight Dinner with wine in Parma. • Be My Guest dinner with wine in a vineyard overlooking the Chianti hills. / Farewell Dinner with wine in Venice.
10 days-9 nights from $2325pp twin share
Highlights Nashville / Memphis / Graceland / Natchez / Oak Alley / Frogmore Plantation / New Orleans / Small Group Sightseeing • First class hotel accommodation featuring twin rooms and private facilities. • All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included. • Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and onboard restroom. • The services of one of our professional Travel Directors throughout your journey. • 9 nights First Class accommodation. Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 10. • Complimentary keepsake photo and My Journey book. • Audio Headsets for all guided visits and included sightseeing. Dining • 9 full breakfasts / 6 evening meals: Welcome Reception with light appetisers and drinks with your Travel Director in Nashville • 1 tapas and wine dinner / Your Choice Dining in Memphis • Be My Guest dinner with wine in Natchez / Highlight Dinner with wine at New Orleans School of Cooking. • Farewell Dinner with wine in New Orleans overlooking the Chianti hills. • Farewell Dinner with wine in Venice.
TO BOOK, CONTACT THE SEAN SIMMONS TRAVEL TRAVEL TEAM ON: Phone: +61 3 9429 3294 (local) Toll Free: 1300 391 590 (interstate) Fax: +61 3 9429 3293 Email: enquiries@seanstravel.com.au ABN 48153795129 TCF 10343 TRAVEL AGENT LICENSE VIC 33025 IATA 02-3 6275 4
8 days-7 nights from $2350 pp twin share
Highlights San Francisco / Sonoma and Napa Valley / Ravenswood Winery / Sonoma / St. Helena / Clos Pegase / Castello di Amorosa / Nicholson Ranch Winery / Domaine Carneros / Small Group Sightseeing / Wine Tasting • First class hotel accommodation featuring twin rooms and private facilities • All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included • Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and onboard restroom • The services of one of our professional Travel Directors throughout your journey • 7 nights First Class accommodation / Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 8 • Complimentary keepsake photo and My Journey book / Audio Headsets for all guided visits and included sightseeing Dining • 7 full breakfasts / Picnic Highlight Lunch with drinks at a winery in St. Helena • 4 evening meals: / Welcome Reception with light appetisers and drinks with your Travel Director in San Francisco • Your Choice Dining in San Francisco / Be My Guest dinner with wine at a Sonoma Valley winery • Private cooking class and Farewell Dinner with wine in Sonoma
seansimmons travel.com.au Suite 6, 53 Coppin Street, Richmond VIC 3121