British Airways Testing New Check-In System

British Airways has started the trial of a new system that it says will revolutionize how passengers will check in for flights in the future. British Airways will begin testing the new process soon in France.

The airline will automatically check-in passengers without them having to lift a finger, or use a mouse or touch a screen. Twenty-four hours before a flight, selected passengers who opt to take part in the trial will be automatically checked in, assigned a seat and will receive a boarding pass electronically, saving them the time and effort of going through traditional check-in. The automated check-in trial will be extended to more passengers in early 2013.

If the trial is a success the service will be made available as an option to all customers flying with British. Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next British Airways flight!

All About Australia's "Sunshine State"

Queensland is Australia’s second largest state. Commonly called the “Sunshine State”, it boasts a warm climate, tropical beaches, World Heritage rainforests, a portion of the outback, the Great Barrier Reef, cozy beach communities and Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia.

Most visitors to Queensland arrive in Brisbane, as it is the main gateway to this region. Brisbane is a city for every traveler, offering an abundance of outdoor activities, art galleries and museums, shopping, beaches, fine dining and nightlife.

Here are some of the most popular attractions in Brisbane:

South Bank is a community vibrant in arts and culture, situated on 16 hectares of waterfront property. It is full of outdoor markets, cafes, restaurants, walk ways and bike paths. And for those warm Aussie days, cool off at Streets Beach by taking a dip in the swimming lagoon. Home of the Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and the Performing Arts Center it’s a great destination with those who have art in their hearts.

Story Bridge. Bridge tours are available on this famous bridge. A guide will take you on a 2 ½ hour climb, almost a kilometer up the bridge, providing stunning 360 degree views of the city, the Bunya Mountains and the Brisbane River.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. The Sanctuary offers opportunities to get close to many different types of Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, wombats, dingos, and of course koalas! You can even experience holding a koala. The soft marsupial will cling to you like a young child; it is not your average animal!
Riverlife Adventure Center is a perfect way for any outdoor adventurer to spend the day. Located on the edge of the Brisbane River, they offer rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, cycling and rollerblading.
Moreton Bay Islands are just a short drive and ferry ride from Brisbane. Offering dozens of sandy islands in the sheltered blue waters, Moreton Bay is a favorite getaway for Brisbane locals and visitors alike. Here you can feed the wild dolphins or make the rewarding hike up to the summit of Mount Tempest.
The Gold Coast is a very popular destination. In fact, it is where many Aussies go for holiday. With 70 kilometers of sandy beaches, theme parks, restaurants and shopping, you can’t go wrong.

Here are some highlights of the Gold Coast:

There are 35 beautiful beaches on the Gold Coast boasting activities like sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, speed boating, deep sea fishing, and simply enjoying the beach. Some of the more popular ones are Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta, Broadbeach and Currumbin.
The major theme parks in this region include Dreamworld, Sea World, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet N Wild Water World and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. These parks are a wonderful way to bring out the kid in you!
The Gold Coast is home to some of Australia’s best National Parks and Rainforests. Lamington National Park is where you will find Australia’s largest preserved subtropical rainforest. If you visit Lamington, make sure to try the Tree Top Walk. It is an elevated track, 15 meters above the rainforest floor made up of 9 suspension bridges. This park also has many walking and hiking trails, and picnic areas complete with bbq’s.
Also in this area are Springbrook National Park and Tamborine Mountain. Both have a plethora of gorges cascading water, interesting native flora and fauna and scenic walking trails.

The Sunshine Coast is located just 1 hour north of Brisbane. It is known for its 100 kilometers of gorgeous beaches and quaint villages. It is also home to the internationally renowned Australia Zoo.

Here are some highlights of the Sunshine Coast:
Glass House Mountains
Underwater World (largest oceanarium in Southern Hemisphere)
Noosa

Fraser Island is just about 180 miles north of Brisbane. At 120 km long and 15 km wide, it is one of the largest sand islands in the world. It is well known for it’s beautiful white sand beaches, dense rainforests and over 100 fresh water lakes. Unfortunately the beaches on Fraser Island are not safe for swimming due to strong undertows and tiger sharks in the area. There are many great swimming spots at most of the lakes, however.

Just north of Fraser Island is Great Keppel Island. It’s tropical climate and 17 km of fine, white sand beaches have been attracting visitors for years. Since about 90 percent of the island is covered in natural bushland, there are many hiking options. Some other popular activities here include snorkeling, diving, swimming, water skiing, and parasailing.

The Whitsunday Islands is described by many as pure island paradise. They are made up of 74 islands, however only 8 are inhabited. These beautiful islands are bordered by the Great Barrier Reef. They are most popular for sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, golf and tennis.

Cairns is a tropical relaxed city bordered by rainforest mountain rages on one side, and the Coral Sea on the other. It is the primary gateway to this area and the Great Barrier Reef. Some of the main highlights of Cairns are;

The Cairns Esplanade, an oceanfront promenade full of restaurants, outside cafes, shops, waterfront hotels and even a saltwater swimming lagoon.

Cairns also features an abundance of adventure activities, such as sky divining, bungee jumping, white water rafting, and tours to the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef is a must-see for anyone visiting Australia. It the largest reef system in the world, at more than 2,000 kilometers long. It is home to more than 400 types of coral reef, fish and sea life. It can be viewed by boat, plane, helicopter, or underwater observatories.

There are hundreds of snorkel and dive tour options for the Great Barrier Reef, as it offers some of the best diving in the world.

Approximately one hour north of Cairns is the sophisticated yet laid-back town of Port Douglas. Here one can find the pristine 4 Mile Beach, many fine dining options, upscale boutique shops, and a variety of oceanfront resorts and hotels.

Kuranda is a vibrant little village hidden high in the rainforest. It is very famous for the Kuranda Markets. Making your way to Kuranda can be even more fun than the actual visit.
The two main options are;

Scenic Railway departs from Cairns, going through 15 tunnels and over more than 30 bridges.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a cableway, that runs between Caravonica to Kuranda, above the Barron Gorge National Park.

Cape Tribulation is the most northern settlement in Queensland. It is a beautiful, small village in the rainforest, where the rainforest literally meets the reef!

Daintree Rainforest is the largest rainforest in Australia, and is over 135 million years old. It also has the largest and most diverse range of plants and animals on earth. For visitors, it features hiking trails, camp sites, picnic tables, swimming holes and beaches. Guided tours are available, including river tours on the Daintree River.

If you've been thinking about traveling to Australia, contact a Professional Travel Agent today to get started booking your dream vacation!

Swim with the Whale Sharks in Cancun

The newset attraction in Cancun, swimming with the whale sharks, is proving to be very popular among tourists. As many as 1,400 whale sharks, which are the world's largest species of fish, migrate through Cancun's warm coastal waters each year.  Between mid-May to mid-September each year, they pass through to feed on plankton in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Tourists equipped with snorkeling gear can take turns swimming alongside these gentle giants, which can reach up to 50 feet in length.  Whale sharks pose no danger to humans. Eco Colors, an eco-adventure excursion company, which is headed by a marine biologist, is now offering these eco friendly tours. He says one can swim alongside the whale sharks, and if you get in front of them, they will just turn away.

The whale sharks summer in the area and near Isla Mujeres. Seasonal gatherings of the fish can also be seen near Australia, Indonesia and South Africa, but the largest recorded aggregation of whale sharks is off the coast of Isla Mujeres, according to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Tours cost from $120 to $200 per person for about a six hour tour. Unlike swimming with dolphins, which normally occurs in enclosed areas, swimming with whale sharks is done in the wild.