Traveling to Australia's Outback

The Northern Territory is the third largest state in Australia, the least populated and occupies the northern central part of the country. It is also what many consider to be the “Real Outback”, with dramatic landscapes, abundant wartime heritage, rich aboriginal culture, World Heritage listed Kakadu National park, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the location for a number of scenes from Australia the movie.

When traveling to the Outback, it is most common to fly into the city of Alice Springs. Flights from Los Angeles or San Francisco fly non-stop to either Sydney or Brisbane, and then connect on to Alice Springs. The entire travel time takes about 20 hours.

The best times of year to travel to this area are April,or September - October, when the weather is typically warm and dry. The climate in the Outback is semi-arid with little rain usually falling during the hottest months, which are from October to March. Central Australia receives less than 250 mm of rain per year.

The city of Alice Springs is surrounded by dramatic red desert, and is referred to by locals as the Capitol of the Outback. Some of the most popular activities include mountain-bike riding, four-wheel driving, trekking along the Larapinta Trail, bush camping and swimming in lush waterholes. Some of the top attractions in Alice Springs are:

Alice Springs Desert Park offers the opportunity to discover many of the secrets of the Central Australian deserts, you even have the option to experience desert habitats as they are at night, including animals, in their nocturnal tour. Open year round, except for Christmas day

Alice Springs Reptile Centre is not very big, but it features over 30 species of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and crocodiles. You can even get up close and have a chance to feed some of them. Live shows run a few times daily. Open year round, except for major holidays.

Larapinta Trail is a 155 mile trail that begins just outside of Alice Springs, and runs through red desert, high mountains, and a national park. It can also be hiked in shorter, more manageable sections.

Approximately 270 miles southwest of Alice Springs is where the most famous attraction in the Northern Territory can be found. Uluru / Ayers Rock is located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. This famous sandstone monolith stands over 1100 feet high, and is over 500 million years old. The best ways to see this park are via Aboriginal lead walking tours, helicopter tours or on the back of a camel. Make sure not to miss the spectacular Sounds of Silence gourmet dinner under a clear night sky.

For the ultimate journey right through the heart of Australia, take The Ghan train from Alice Springs to Darwin or Adelaide to experience another Australian city.

Contact an Australia Travel Specialist today to start planning your trip of a lifetime!

Why You Should Use a Travel Agent

In this era of technology, many travelers have foregone the days of using of a Travel Agent, and instead have began booking all their travels online.

In some cases, such as a simple non-stop flight within the United States, this is often the quickest and easiest scenario. However, there are many cases where booking your trip with a huge online company may not be to your benefit.

For instance, if you are planning a vacation to a foreign country that you know very little about, it’s probably in your best interest to contact a Travel Agency that specializes in that country. Most Travel Agents specialize in a specific country or region of the world, and they can be a plethora of knowledge and information, and very helpful with planning all the details of your vacation, finding the best rates, assisting with travel visa’s, etc.

Also, think of all the time you will save if you use a Travel Agent. Once you have discussed your travel dates, interests and budget with a Travel Agent, you can relax and let them do all the work for you, and rest assured that they will have the knowledge of which hotels and tour companies are more reputable, will give you the best experience and provide the most value for you.

The most important reason to book with a Travel Agent, as many travelers have recently found out, is in case a problem or emergency should arise during your trip. Say you booked your trip with one of the huge online companies or directly with the airline. If an emergency, such as a natural disaster, inclement weather or even personal emergency should occur, good luck getting assistance. You are pretty much on your own. Most airlines have substantially cut back on their customer service staff in recent years, making wait times painfully long. When such an emergency should arise, such as the earthquake in Christchurch, NZ last month, many people were completely on their own with rebooking their flights and getting assistance.

For those who booked with a Travel Agency, they had the comfort of having a direct phone number and email address to contact their personal Travel Agent for quick and personal support and assistance. Travel Agents are typically able to get in contact with the airlines, hotels or travel insurance quickly, and also assist with rebooking flights much quicker than the average traveler can.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to get started booking your next vacation!

10 Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling

Wherever you're traveling, and whether it be for vacation or business, of course you want to remain healthy. Here are a few tips to help out.

1. Reduce airport stress by allowing plenty of time to check in and get through security.

2. Always carry any medications with you in your carry-on, in their original containers.

3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes during your flight.

4. Eat lightly before and during your flight (and pack your own food).

5. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water both during your flight and for the duration of your trip.

6. Try to stand up and walk around the airplane cabin every once in a while.

7. Never purchase foreign medications unless you are familiar with them.

8. Make sure to wear sun block at tropical locations or in high altitudes.

9. Utilize hotel gyms, or if your hotel doesn't have one, go for brisk walks at least every other day.

10. Try to get a room with a refrigerator and microwave (or at least a refrigerator). That way you can stock it with your own food from the store, and have more control over what you eat.

Contact a Professional Travel Agent today for assistance with booking your next trip!