Thursday, June 22, 2006

First Class Airfares to Australia


Dom Pérignon, Hermès hand lotion, personal video screens, reclining leather seats . . . we're not in coach class anymore, Toto.
Fly first class airfares to Australia and know the luxury that you've been missing! Flying first is all about arriving in better shape: It is the ultimate way to survive the 14 hour grueling flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

The luxury of first class is space, privacy, and a sleeper seat that gives the chance of a proper night's rest. Seats are big and comfy front-of-the-plane recliners, which make it possible for even the tallest person to stretch their legs out. The sleeper seat is the best antidote for jet lag with seat pitch typically around 60 to 62 inches and a 70-degree angle of recline, which enables you to stretch out almost horizontally across five windows. The food is served on china with tablecloths, real glasses, and a full meal is presented in courses. Drinks, including fine wines, champagne and cognac are complimentary as well. First-class passengers' luggage is given special handling and is always first off the plane. There's even extra space designated for their on-board luggage - far more than coach passengers are permitted to carry on. Refreshments, newspapers, and Internet connections are available. First-class passengers may wait for their flights in a separate, often luxurious, area of the airport called a club or lounge, and on arrival in Australia, they often are privilege to an exclusive arrivals' lounge where first class clients can have breakfast, shower and change, make calls, get a suit pressed and generally get their act together after they land.

There is still nothing that can match the serene and luxurious atmosphere of traveling First Class.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Business Class to Europe


Tired of flying economy? Sick of peanuts and terrible in-flight movies? Desperate for a little legroom? Then maybe it's time you moved up to Business Class.

If your main concern is a cheap airfare you can stop reading right now. The cheapest airfares are based on flying Economy or "Coach" Class ­ the class of the masses. Sure, you'll save money by booking Economy but if your flight is over two hours long, the comfort factor could end up being more important than the fare. After all, Economy Class is just a seat on an airplane. You'll get from Point A to Point B but comfort and convenience? Forget it!

OK, so you decide to give it a try. Aside from paying more, what sort of goodies await you? Well, first of all, the seats are wider and they recline further, which is a big plus on long flights. Most airlines also equip their Business Class seats with connections for your laptop and other electronics. Some even have a DVD facility so you can enjoy your choice of movie. The overhead lighting is also better in Business and there's more room for your carry-on baggage. And the food? It's more than peanuts! Many flights of over three hours feature full meals. On Lufthansa Airlines, Business Class meals are created by well-known European chefs and feature a wide range of starters, salads, side dishes and desserts.!

Business Class passengers also get perks at the airport, before and after the flight. There are often separate check-in desks for Business passengers, and checked luggage is given priority handling. Separate security lines reduce that inevitable boarding wait. While you're waiting for your flight to be called you may even be offered access to the airline's private lounge, where the seating is comfortable, the food is often free and there's an open bar.

So forget the peanuts and move up to Business Class. If you've never tried it before you're going to find yourself in a much more pleasant world!

Next time you experience flying frustration or airport agony, don't complain to Laura Quarantiello. You probably haven't read her book "Air-Ways: The Insider's Guide to Air Travel."

Monday, June 12, 2006

Sydney Tour Packages


Random Facts about Sydney:
Fact 1: For a bird's-eye view of Sydney, whiz to the top of AMP Centrepoint Tower, recognized as having the southern hemisphere's most lofty observation deck and being Sydney's tallest building. Set 1000 feet above the city, the tower's viewing deck and restaurants offer panoramic views and an incredible vista of the city's environs.
Fact 2: Widely hailed as the country's premiere newspaper, the esteemed Sydney Morning Herald is also the oldest daily publication south of the equator. It's been informing and educating the Aussie populace since 1831.
Fact 3: To combat wear and counterfeiting, Australia's government introduced plastic money in the late '80s. And not credit cards, either. The actual cash is created from a polymer, making it hard to duplicate. In addition, the money lasts four times as long as paper and can be recycled when it's exhausted its usefulness.
Fact 4: The impressive Sydney Harbour Bridge has been a prominent city landmark since its completion in 1932. The edifice accommodates traffic from pedestrians, bicycles, cars, and trains, all thanks to millions of rivets, thousands of tons of steel, and three ships-ful of granite. However, upkeep can be a bit of a chore; its paintable surface equals that of 60 playing fields.
Fact 5: A melting pot of races and ethnicities, Australia has embraced everyone from native aborigines to immigrants from Europe and Asia. However, it also holds mysteries in its past. During excavations on the site of a hotel in the late '80s, artifacts from the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world were discovered. Their presence has never been suitably explained.
Fact 6: If all the confusion with drains emptying counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere and Christmas occurring during the summer has you stymied, you'll be relieved to know that Sydney's climate is comparable to that of southern California. Anticipate heat and some extra humidity, and you'll be right in line with the weather.
Fact 7: If you're never quite sure what the natives in a city are called, Sydney may give you pause. Nope, its residents are not Sydneyites, or even Sydnonians. Denizens refer to themselves as Sydneysiders - and now, you will too.
Fact 8: In ancient times, the area where Sydney now exists was the domain of the native Daruk, Eora, and Guringai tribes. When the British took control of the region, the aborigines were pressed outward and crippled by disease and brutality. These days, the primary signs of their presence are the names of several city suburbs and a variety of rock engravings, paintings, and shell middens (refuse piles from seafood consumption).
Fact 9: If you've ever agonized over finding a restroom in New York city, you'll love Sydney's "comfort" initiative. The government has documented the location of approximately 13,000 restrooms all over the country and consolidated the data for the convenience of travelers. In preparation for a vacation or even a shopping jaunt, you'll want to log on to www.toiletmap.gov.au and determine where best to accommodate nature's call.
Fact 10: Many folks know that Sydney began life as a British penal colony, populated by convicts who often committed crimes as innocuous as petty theft. What most folks don't realize is that the criminals were only sent to Australia once the American colonies ousted the British from their territory. Prior to that, English convicts were shipped across the Atlantic.

Want to go? Check out our many options for Sydney Tour Packages!