Travel Tips and Facts

Sunday, October 11, 2009

With Trafalgar, you will experience the distinctive cuisine of Australia, China and Hawaii with their "Be My Guest" program. Trafalgar goes to great levels to enable you to enjoy delicious and authentic local dishes while traveling. 

Australia:
Enjoy a dinner under the stars in Australia at a Maori Hangi (feast,) where you will be dancing and listening to the vibrant music, and your food will be cooked in the traditional way - by steam. You will be entertained at Ooraminna Station Homestead, near Alice Springs where you will discover the authentic taste of outback life.  In Watson Bay, Sydney, a real treat awaits you with great dining at the family-owned Watsons Bay Hotel This delightful Art Deco building on the beachfront has a sweeping outdoor deck with spectacular panoramic views, and is one of Sydney's most enticing destinations.

In New Zealand, you will be invited into the home of direct descendants from the first ships to arrive in Christchurch, the Garden City, in 1850.  They will give you a personal tour of their historical home and gardens before enjoying a home cooked dinner complete with local wine.

On tour there will be mouthwatering lunches like a tropical buffet onboard a catamaran as you sail the Great Barrier Reef, or while you cruise New Zealand's majestic Milford Sound.

China:
Experience a traditional Peking Duck Feast in Beijing, a Tang Dynasty Dinner  in Xi'an or a Dim Sum lunch in Shanghai.  Get a glimpse of local family life while enjoying a Chinese home hosted highlight lunch.

South America: 
Enjoy a Brazilian barbecue dinner. In Buenos Aires, attend a traditional Argentine dinner hosted in the apartment-home of a resident.  In Lima, relish a three-course Peruvian lunch in the private and elegant mansion of the Diez Canseco family. In Costa Rica, you will have the opportunity to lunch at a local home, then children from a nearby school will perform a typical dance.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Please share some of your unique ideas!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

When you are planning a vacation to Australia and the South Pacific, please remember that Australia is an island the size of the U.S.A. It is wider across than the distance from New York to Los Angeles but has a population of only 20 million people.

Passports and Visas

A valid visa is required for all people wishing to travel to Australia. Visitors of all nationalities (except Australian and New Zealand passport holders) must obtain a visa prior to arrival.

Atlas will issue your Electronic Visas complimentary when you book a tour vacation with us.

Currency

The Australian unit of currency is the Australian dollar.

Credit Cards & Traveler's Checks

Exchange facilities can be found at all international airports and foreign currency or travelers’ checks can be exchanged at banks and large hotels. Normal bank opening hours are from 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 5:00pm on Friday. All major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, banks and most stores.

Goods and Services Tax

All goods and services purchased in Australia are subject to a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is usually included in the displayed price. You may apply for a refund on the GST but only on goods costing A$300 (GST inclusive) or more, bought from the same store no more than 30 days before you leave Australia, which are to be taken with you as hand luggage or worn onto the aircraft upon your departure. Further information is available from Australian Customs upon arrival.

Electricity

The electricity current in Australia is 220–240 volts; AC 50Hz. The Australian 3-pin power outlet is different so you will need an adapter socket. Check your appliances to see if there is a 100–240v switch. If not, you will need a voltage converter. Universal outlets for 240v or 110v shavers are usually found in leading stores.

Climate

Australia is largely a temperate island destination. The seasons are the opposite to the seasons in North America. Some areas of Northern Australia experience a tropical climate, so be prepared for pleasantly warmer weather.

Shopping

Australia is a true shopping heaven. All major cities have extensive shopping facilities with malls, arcades and specialty shops selling a wide range of home-produce and international products. In the last few years Aboriginal art has increased in popularity. Duty-free shopping can be enjoyed in every capital city and international airports.

Fine Food and Wine

If you’re passionate about fine food and wine, you’ll fall in love with Australia. Fresh seafood is widely available. For something unique, try ‘fusion’ food, combining the best flavors from Asian, European and Australian cuisine. Australian wines are renowned throughout the world.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Port Douglas is a popular port of call for major cruise lines on 10+ day Australia and New Zealand cruises.

From glamorous Four Mile Beach to the wilderness of Dickson Inlet, picturesque Port Douglas has become an international holiday mecca - just 70 kilometers north of Cairns. With nothing taller than a palm tree, development is low-rise, low-key and relaxing. It is regarded as the most popular base from which to explore the northern areas of the reef and rainforest coast of Daintree and Cape Tribulation. 

Fishing village charm meets aquatic amusement and jungle intrigue in Port Douglas. And if you think this sounds like the perfect setting for your Australian adventure, wait 'til you experience it firsthand. Take a dip in the warm tropical waters. Sip a fruity drink at one of the many seaside cafés. Or relish the heart-pumping thrill of reef, river and rain-forest exploration. There are more than 100 day tour options which depart Port Douglas daily.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

No vacation to Australia is complete with out a trip to Cairns.  Built on Trinity Inlet, the Coral Sea calls from the east whilst the rainforest-clad Atherton Tableland serenades from the west, making Cairns an enchanting nature lovers Nirvana.  To reach the Atherton Tableland you can drive, but to truly appreciate the changing landscape from waving cane fields to walls of rainforest, you should travel the scenic railway to the mountain town of Kuranda.  Famed for its vibrant markets and stunning views, Kuranda is a charming hideaway and a good place to mingle with the locals selling regional arts and crafts. 

Make your way down the mountain by gliding above the rainforest canopy on the Skyrail gondola.  Adjacent to the Skyrail station at the valley floor is Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.  Here, visitors are treated to a taste of Aboriginal culture with origin tales of the Dreaming, festive, native dances, and instruction on how to throw a boomerang and spear. 

Head to the heart of the city, the Esplanade, and enjoy a café latte before catching a catamaran to Cairns’ underwater rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef.  The only living organism visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef is 1,240 miles of memories that will last a lifetime.  Snorkel with sea turtles, dive the rich waters off Green Island or birdwatch on Michelmas Cay.  No fancy photograph or travel documentary will prepare you for the perpetual paradise that awaits you at the spectacular Great Barrier Reef.