Arrivals & Departures Weekly Travel News & Views 19 November 2024

ERUPTION DISRUPTION

The “running story” of the travel week was the disruption caused by the eruption of Indonesia’s Mt Lewotobi Laki-Laki and the cancellation of flights to and from Bali which highlighted the importance of buying travel insurance. There’s more on the insurance situation here.

MORE THAN DUST

It has brought to mind my days in Rabaul, in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, where Tavurvur was erupting at the time. Don’t be fooled by the term “volcanic ash”. From my experience there, the ash which falls is abrasive, heavy and caustic. More like a very fine grit. In Rabaul, people had to brush it off the roofs of their homes all the time, as the weight could easily collapse a house. Precisely what you don’t want sucked into an aircraft engine.

EGYPT IS UP

Despite the war in adjoining Gaza and its opposition to any Israeli military presence along the border, Egypt received a record number of tourists during the first two quarters of 2024. It is on track for 15 million by the end of the year, which would be 5 per cent more than last year. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has stated that the 7.1 million tourists that arrived in the first half of the year broke the previous record of 6.9 million in 2010.

I am often asked by readers “is it safe” and feel quite confident about what I call “the main corridor” for tourists, from Cairo south along the Nile to Luxor and Aswan.

Viking river cruises is clearly equally confident, having just held a naming ceremony in Luxor for its two newest river ships, Viking Hathor and Viking Sobek. The two 82-guest vessels will mean even more departures of its popular 12-day Pharaohs and Pyramids river voyage in 2027.

And back in Cairo, we visit the new museum here.

THE GODFATHER(S)

In keeping with maritime tradition, each ship has a ceremonial godfather.

Viking Hathor’s godfather is the Hon. Edward Herbert, whose great-great-grandfather, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, was Howard Carter’s benefactor and co-explorer. It was their excavation that uncovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen in 1922.

In ancient Egyptian belief, Hathor is goddess of the sky, women, fertility and love.

The godfather of Viking Sobek is Mohamed El Banna, a member of the Egyptian senate and founder of Cosmos Egypt tour company. Viking has worked with Mr El Banna’s company for more than 15 years to bring visitors to the Nile River.

Sobek (or Sebek) was an ancient Egyptian crocodile god. He plays dual roles, as both a protector and menacing destroyer in mythology.

SMART WARNING

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller advises a high degree of caution in Egypt overall. And please note that the Western Desert is not safe for tourists; certainly not within 50km of the border with Libya. (Stick to “the main corridor”.)

GOING (NEW) PLACES

Low-cost airline Scoot is adding three new destinations from December 2024, connecting through its hub in Singapore. Phu Quoc, pictured at the top of the page, is a Vietnamese island off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. More than half of the island is part of Phu Quoc National Park — a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Flights start on December 20.

Padang , in Indonesia, is known for its Minangkabau heritage and as the birthplace of nasi padang — a dish of steamed rice served with various pre-cooked dishes, which some might also know as Padang rice. The flights start on January 6, 2025.

Shantou is a coastal city in China which is rich in history. With distinctive Chaoshan cuisine, cooks stew duck, goose, pork or seafood in the sauce until they are completely cooked. It is sometimes called “Chaoshan brined meat”. Flights begin on January 16.

Scoot, an offshoot of Singapore Airlines, has launch prices from $249 to Phu Quoc and $239 to Padang.

The sale lasts until this Sunday, November 17, 2024. (No sale prices are given for Shantou.) flyscoot.com

EMBRACING EMBRAER

The new routes to Phu Quoc and Padang will be flown in Embraer E190-E2 aircraft and the Shantou route with an Airbus A320. The Embraer E-Jet E2 is a four-abreast, narrow-body plane designed and made in Brazil.

From November 24, Scoot is also increasing to 21 flights a week to Koh Samui, Thailand, and to daily flights to Davao, Philippines, from December 22.

HOARDING CASH

ALL.accor.com is the booking platform and loyalty program for Accor, which operates hotels in more than 110 countries.

It has just released new research which predicts that Australians have more than $1 billion in unspent foreign currency, as 68 per cent of international travellers surveyed say they have leftover holiday money at home. The national study of 1001 Australians who have travelled overseas was conducted earlier this month. One in seven say they have at least $300 in foreign currency and a third have $49.

Interestingly, the survey reveals that 97 per cent of the respondents still carry cash in the destination’s currency, despite all the cashless travel money cards available. While 43 per cent say they do this to avoid international card transaction fees, the same percentage says they carry cash to tip locals.

POP-UP BOOTHS

Based on their study, ALL has launched pop-up currency exchange booths, where travellers can change their loose change foreign currency for the chance to win a holiday. The winners could take it at various places across the Pacific, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Queenstown. There isn’t a booth in Perth, but you still have the chance of winning a prize by signing up at ALL.accor.com.

A BIG DEAL

Some readers like big packages with lots of inclusions and lots of value, and I’ve spotted a beauty with My Cruises. For a start, the 17-night Asia package is from $4490 per person, twin share. It includes economy return flights, three nights in Singapore, a Gardens by the Bay tour, before a 14-night Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam cruise from Singapore on Diamond Princess. It has to be booked by November 30, 2024, for select travel dates in January 2026. Call 1300 924 585 or visit mycruises.com.au.

SAIL IN COMPANY

Sail Croatia has a new seven-day flotilla holiday for the Ultra Music Festival next July. Six yachts, each for up to 10 guests, will leave Split on July 5, 2025, and sail through the islands of the Dalmatian coast before returning to Split in time for the first night of festival.

Prices start from £1009 ($1968) per person, twin share, in a standard cabin. Each yacht is led by a professional skipper, and guests can get involved with learning to sail during the week, if they wish. sail-croatia.com

MUSIC MIX

Emirates airline has collaborated with audio streamer Spotify to offers access to popular music playlists and podcasts.

HOTEL TO REOPEN

And, back in Western Australia, the Denmark Hotel reopens on December 24 after extensive renovations. The heritage hotel in the heart of the south coast town has been a big part of the town since 1926. It’s all set for a happy Christmas, and another 100 years.