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Ramadan parties in Asia? Let Urban Adventures take you there
Since its inception five years ago, off-the-beaten-track day tour company Urban Adventures' stock-in-trade has been bespoke, immersive experiences. Now it's taking that a step further.
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Swim with giant humpback whales with Sunreef Mooloolaba
Robert Upe A Sunshine Coast company has started a swim-with-the-whales experience. In an Australian first, Sunreef Mooloolaba is providing the chance for people to swim with giant humpbacks.
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Animal-friendly travel: Elephant enlightenment
Jane Reddy Tourists atop elephants in Asia are an all-too-common sight, but Australian operators have taken steps in support of animal-friendly travel.
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Take the ABBA The Museum sightseeing boat tour
Robert Upe If Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen and Fernando still ring in your ears, there's good news out of Stockholm. ABBA The Museum has started a summer sightseeing boat tour about the Swedish supergroup.
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Shangri-La Hotel in China introduces Confucius immersion package
Robert Upe Shangri-La Hotels has a package that goes beyond room upgrades, free spa treatments and late checkouts.
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From surf goddess in Bali to snow goddess in Japan
Jane Reddy After 13 years of running Surf Goddess Retreats in Bali, Michelle Varga is about to also launch Snow Goddess Retreats in Japan.
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Hotel creates its own buzz with rooftop aviary
Jane Reddy In response to the dwindling population of pollinator bees throughout North America, Toronto's Fairmont Royal York is extending its hospitality to the smallest of guests with the opening of the 'Pollinator Bee Hotel'.
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In the pink: Langham revs up with a fleet of pink London taxis
Robert Upe The Langham has redecorated several classic black London cabs for use at its hotels around the world.
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Transport of choice for leaders of the packed
Jane Reddy An unusual motorised suitcase could soon be able to transport both you and your belongings to the airport at the same time.
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It's a girl's world at boutique Bali villa for women
Robert Upe Bliss provides boutique villa accommodation, a daily 90-minute massage, all meals, a personal driver and unlimited yoga.
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Social climbing: Japan's new national public holiday
Jane Reddy Many a traveller has developed a love affair with Japan's mountains and now they are to be officially recognised with a national public holiday.
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Get the royal treatment at the Palace of Versailles
Jane Reddy The Kardashians aren’t the only ones who receive special treatment at the Palace of Versailles.
Belmond hotels vintage experiences in Italy
Robert Upe If you want to experience the good life, the Belmond hotel group in Italy has launched a series of vintage experiences that embody the grace and glamour of the country in the 1950s and '60s.
WeWatt bikes charge your devices at airports
Jane Reddy Stationary bikes that, using pedal power, will also charge your phones and laptops.
Mauritius, Maldives holidays now more affordable for Australians
Robert Upe Mauritius and the Maldives are among the hot beach destinations of the moment, according to Bridget McDonald, the director of Cherry Picked Travel.
United Airlines introduces self check-in at Boston Logan International Airport
Jane Reddy While tagging and checking in baggage might be de rigueur for Qantas flyers in Australia, United States airlines and airports have been innovating on the ground and in the air.
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After dark tourist attractions continue to flourish
Jane Reddy While nine-to-five tourist attractions endure, sights seen after hours and from a new angle continue to draw interest.
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Hotel suite pays homage to Hollywood
Robert Upe The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel is giving its guests a taste of Hollywood luxury in a specially redecorated suite that pays homage to the Golden Globes, the Grammys and the Oscars.
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Rent a spot for pot in Colorado
Robert Upe With recreational marijuana legal in the state of Colorado since January 1 comes the launch of the very real airTHC, a website for marijuana-friendly holiday rentals.
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Adults-only resort in the Maldives wins award
Robert Upe The adults-only Centara Ras Fushi resort in the Maldives has been given the nod in the World Luxury Spa Awards 2014 for the "best luxury emerging spa" in the Indian Ocean region. centarahotelsresorts.com
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Swiss International Air Lines announce first allergy-free airline
Robert Upe Swiss International Air Lines is to become the world's first certificated allergy-friendly airline.
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Top tips to keep holidays costs down
Robert Upe Holidays can be expensive, but there are some secrets to keeping your costs down.
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Travel meets MasterChef, tours for those with a foodie passion
Robert Upe Join the MasterChef food tour series for tastings, sightseeing and cooking in Italy, England, Vietnam, Mexico and India, accompanied by some of the TV show's most popular contestants.
Maldives resort promises sun-kissed glow with poolside treatments
Robert Upe If you want to come back from holidays looking "radiant, sexy and attractive", Anantara resorts may have just the thing.
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Join the sunset set at Rock Bar in Jimbaran Bay, Bali
Jane Reddy Watching the sun set from the cliffside Rock Bar at Ayana in Jimbaran Bay is a must-do Bali experience, with visitors and resort guests catching the inclinator to the bar perched on the side of the cliff for the legendary view.
Hotels offer guests dolled-up wheels for local sightseeing
Jane Reddy Hotels offering bikes to their guests as a way to see the local sights isn't new, but some are now taking the concept to another level.
Detox the winter blues away at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Jane Reddy Is there an alternative to the standard winter hibernation of eating chocolate, drinking red wine and packing a few kilos?
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Networking at 30,000 feet gears up with Delta Air
Jane Reddy It's unlikely to be every mover and shaker's idea of fun but networking at 30,000 feet has now become that much more focused on Delta Air Lines with the start of its Innovation Class of travel.
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Relax with treatments at Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort and Spa
Jane Reddy Here's the perfect excuse to get away from the rat race, for three days at least.
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Glamping: Camping for cheats
Anthony Dennis Glamping has staked its place in remote Australian tourism.
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IceHotel's made-to-order ice suites north of the Arctic Circle
Jane Reddy A hotel guest designing their own suite before arrival is unusual, even more so when the room is made of ice.
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Melbourne Star observation wheel offers bird's-eye view of city
Robert Upe For a bird's-eye view of Melbourne, the city's observation wheel in Docklands is again turning after an almost five-year hiatus.
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Any interest, coral atoll east of Tonga?
Robert Upe One of the Pacific's most isolated islands is about to become twice as accessible.
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Connect on New York's subway
Jane Reddy Visitors to New York will soon be able to connect thanks to the roll-out of Wi-Fi through the city's subway.
Your new canine holiday companion
Jane Reddy Man's best friend can't always be on holiday, so Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has resident "canine ambassadors" for guests who might be pining for their dog.
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Cruise control through Poland
Andrea Jones Bored with guided tours? Add a self-drive charter boat through the Masurian lakes of Poland to your next European vacation.
Different type of playground for volunteers abroad
Sally Webb Left-field of typical voluntourism gigs, such as building schools or teaching English, is playground construction.
Off the tourist trail in Japan
Andrea Jones The 17-day Best of Japan Tour is a small-group adventure that offers some unusual highlights.
New seats to change the face of economy travel
Sally Webb Down the back of the plane, it often feels like seats are getting narrower and narrower, with the economics of maximising aircraft capacity working directly against passenger comfort.
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Glamping out of Africa
Andrea Jones This super-sized splendour might look like it's out of Africa, but it's just down the highway at Jervis Bay.
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Plan a break - in your own city
Andrea Jones As Sydneysiders, it's easy to overlook what's on offer in our own city when planning a special, celebratory break, such as your anniversary, or that big birthday with an '0' in it.
All the right night moves
Jane Reddy Instead of counting sheep, sleepless surfers can count the waves with a new night session at the Keramas break on Bali's east coast.
Tour: Hanoi to Luang Prabang cycle with Ben Groundwater
READER OFFER: Enjoy a spectacular journey of discovery from North Vietnam to Laos.
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Stateroom deal on Rhapsody of the Seas
Andrea Jones Cruise fans, here's a Royal Caribbean deal that will get you into that deckchair without breaking the bank.
Wotif to sell package holidays
Sally Webb Going way beyond its original mission as an accommodation booking site, Wotif is branching out into selling package holidays.
Perth's Crown Metropol goes Hollywood with private cabanas
Andrea Jones Private poolside cabanas are the kind of glitzy touch you might not expect in downtown Perth.
How to hitch-hike on a private jet
Sally Webb We all dream of being able to fly in our own private jet and avoid some of the annoyances of commercial air travel.
Takeoff: private tour of Vietnam
Andrea Jones For a memorable travel experience there's nothing quite like a personal guided tour.
Air travel
Retrofitted future
Jane Reddy Flyers of different airlines are crossing paths at check-in at Geneva Airport with the launch of self bag drop on domestic and international flights.