Alternative stopover destinations for Australians travelling overseas

Seoul's Incheon Airport is rated as one of the world's best. Photo: Shutterstock

The choices used to be pretty obvious. If you were flying to Europe you'd stop off in Singapore, or Hong Kong, or – more recently – Dubai or Abu Dhabi. If you were on your way to the US, meanwhile, you might go via Hawaii, or head straight to LA for a quick stop. Those were the options.

Now, however, there are so many more. You can break up your trip to Europe with a visit to a city you've never even heard of before. There are so many options – so many destinations, so many carriers – it's almost mind-boggling. And even in the US, new destinations are constantly appearing, allowing new ways of avoiding the dreaded LAX.

If you're flying long-haul in the next few months, here are a few stopover choices you may not have previously considered.

Kunming, China

Green Lake Park, Kunming. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? China Eastern

What can you do? Kunming, in the Yunnan province in China's south, is one of the country's cleaner, greener hubs, a nice place to kick back for a couple of days and work off the jet-lag. The food is good – try the area's famous "bridge-crossing noodles", or steam-pot chicken – plus there's the chance to check out sights like the Bamboo Temple, with its vast array of weird and wonderful sculptures, and the Green Lake Park, perfect for some post-travel exercise.

Where can you go next? China Eastern has direct flights from Kunming to Moscow, Paris and New Delhi.

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Seoul, Korea

Head to the bars in Hongdae. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? Qantas, Asiana, Korean Air

What can you do? You've heard of Seoul, obviously, but you probably haven't considered it as a stopover destination. The South Korean capital seems to be forgotten in favour of some of its more famous neighbours, but this is one great destination to spend a few days on your way to Europe. Transfer into town from Incheon and pretty soon you're dining on Korean barbecue or hanging out at fried chicken and beer joints, shopping for "Gangnam Style", going out to great bars in Hongdae, or just relaxing in a fancy hotel.

Where can you go next? From Seoul you can fly pretty much anywhere in the world, including Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, Tel Aviv, Vancouver, San Francisco and more.

Nadi, Fiji

Nadi offers the perfect opportunity to hang out under palm trees. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? Fiji Airways, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia

What can you do? Very little, if that's your thing. You can spend your few days in Fiji checking off the tropical island cliches, hanging out under palm trees, drinking cocktails with umbrellas in them, going swimming in infinity pools and sleeping in beachside bungalows. You can also spice things up in Fiji, however, maybe with a little whitewater rafting on the Upper Navua River, or jetboating on the Sigatoka River, or deep-sea fishing, or – if you have time to recover before your flight out – going scuba-diving with sharks.

Where can you go next? The US is your main destination, with direct flights to LA. You can also get to Port Vila, Honiara, or even Hong Kong.

Guangzhou, China

China's third-largest city has plenty to offer visitors. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? China Southern, Qantas

What can you do? This is China's third-largest city, so the answer, obviously, is that there's a lot you can do. Perhaps the most interesting thing for most Australians is that is the home of yum cha, or dim sum, and you can't leave without filling your face at least once with all the dumplings and noodles and fried things that you can get your hands on. If you can handle it between meals, there are the usual temples and museums to visit, but this stopover is mostly about food.

Where can you go next? Continue on to Kathmandu, Paris, Amsterdam, London, New York, or San Francisco.

Houston, US

Houston's Museum of Natural Science. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? United Airlines

What can you do? This is the newest stopover possibility for Australians heading to the US, with United Airlines opening up direct flights from Sydney next year. What's doing in Houston? Well, you can do the boot-scootin' cowboy thing by hanging out at a saloon bar or going to a Texas barbecue joint. Or you can do the more modern thing and check out the Museum of Natural Science, or the Museum of Fine Arts, or go to a Houston Rockets NBA game.

Where can you go next? If it's in the US, or Canada, or Mexico, or anywhere in Central America, you can get there from Houston.

Wuhan, China

Wuhan offers historical and cultural attractions. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? China Eastern

What can you do? First thing you can do is google Wuhan and find out where the hell you are. This might be a city of some 10 million people, but that doesn't mean most of us know too much about it. Wuhan is in eastern China, relatively close to Shanghai. It's not the world's prettiest city, but it does have enough historical and cultural attractions to keep travellers amused on a short stopover.

Where can you go next? There are direct flights to Rome and Paris, plus pretty much anywhere in China.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur's famous Petronas Towers. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X

What can you do? KL will be very familiar to most people – however, since the run of disasters for Malaysia Airlines a few years ago, it seems to have dropped off as a favoured stopover destination. This is a great city for a few days rest though, with some of the best food going around in places like the night markets on Jalan Alor, and the hawker stands at Lot 10 Hutong, plus you have the twin Petronas Towers, a great Chinatown, and the chance to lash out on some fancy accommodation for a reasonable price.

Where can you go next? Anywhere you want, really. Try another south-east Asian destination, or head to Chennai, Amsterdam, Muscat, London, Tehran and more.

Taipei, Taiwan

Hit the streets of Taipei to find the best foods. Photo: Shutterstock

Who flies there? Qantas, China Airlines

What can you do? This is Asia, so obviously you're going to want to eat. Taipei is the home of Din Tai Fung, but there's more to its dining scene than that famous chain restaurant. Hit the streets to find the best stuff, from night markets to hole-in-the-wall Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants. In between meals, Taipei has a National Palace Museum with pieces that date back 5000 years, plus some pretty charming old neighbourhoods to wander and work off jet-lag/indigestion.

Where can you go next? Head to Los Angeles or Tokyo, Istanbul or Frankfurt, Seattle or Amsterdam, all with direct flights.

Podcast – The world's best stopover destinations

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What is your favourite stopover destination? Have you tried any that most people wouldn't consider?

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: instagram.com/bengroundwater

Source: Alternative stopover destinations for Australians travelling overseas

Can the centre hold in central Europe?

The coming two weekends will bring elections in Austria and the Czech Republic.

The stakes are considerably lower than in the Dutch, French, and German elections that seemed decisive for the survival of the European project itself.

Yet, the results from the two small central European nations will be illustrative of the direction in which central European politics is headed today. In all likelihood, the centre will hold. Yet, it will be a different centre from the one many have taken for granted.

Although coalition mathematics are bound to be complicated, on 15 October, Austrians are expecting an electoral triumph of the centre-right Austrian People's Party (OVP), led by the 31-year firebrand foreign minister, Sebastian Kurz. In one sense, that looks a relief for the centrists.

Following the 2015 refugee crisis, Austria saw a dramatic rise in support for its far-right populist party, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), whose presidential candidate was only defeated narrowly in the presidential election in December last year.

As the refugee crisis reverberated throughout the EU, the FPO's promises to retake control of Austria's borders and its rejection of Islam, which was "not a part of Austria," resonated.

'Austria First'

But no matter how effective the rebranding of FPO – which is now running under the slogan of "Austria First" – has been, there is no sugarcoating the party's heritage. FPO was founded by former SS officers. Today, it maintains close ties to Russia, including an explicit endorsement of the annexation of Crimea.

Kurz, at the helm of OVP since May, has been successful in capturing large chunks of FPO's electorate by appropriating its own topics.

Two years ago, he proposed a law on Islam that would ban foreign funding to Austrian mosques in order to prevent radicalisation. More recently, he has called for the EU to concentrate incoming migrants and asylum seekers on islands off mainland Europe and has pledged to reduce the social benefits available to them.

Simultaneously, he is embracing a youthful and informal Macron-like style of politics, populating the candidate list with new faces. That is a novelty in country where politics has long been consensus-based, predictable, and bland.

Austria's foreign-born population is large and has grown substantially over the past decade. The country has also been a destination for asylum-seekers that have been arriving on Europe's shores since the outbreak of conflicts in Syria and Libya.

Czech-mate

Immigration has been also at the centre of Czech political debates, although the country is home to only a small foreign-born population – a plurality of whom are Ukrainians and Slovaks.

In Prague, it is the billionaire Andrej Babis who seems poised to become the country's next prime minister after the parliamentary election to be held on 20-21 October.

Five years ago, Babis started a centrist populist movement called ANO (an acronym for "Alliance of Dissatisfied Citizens," but which also means "Yes" in Czech), which came in second in the 2013 election, catapulting its leader into the office of finance minister in a coalition cabinet led by the Social Democrats (CSSD).

Babis lacks Kurz' refinement. He bluntly called refugees from the Arab world "the greatest threat Europe faces" and argued that not a single asylum seeker should be allowed into the country.

Still, he's managed to reconcile that populist tone with a dose of international respectability (ANO remains a member of the liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament) and ability to speak to a centre-right, urban electorate – not to mention his surviving the curse of being a junior coalition partner in an unmemorable government.

Media mogul

Recently, however, his numerous conflicts of interest have been haunting him.

Babis, who owns two of the leading broadsheet newspaper and whose conglomerate of companies is the largest private-sector employer in the country, is being investigated for fraud involving EU subsidies used to fund the construction of his signature resort in the Bohemian countryside, the Stork's Nest.

As a result, his power will be kept in check by his need to seek or more coalition partners in order to form a government with a parliamentary majority.

Neither the Austrians not the Czechs need to worry yet about a Fidesz (Hungary) or Law and Justice (Poland) style authoritarianism at home. In that sense, the centre will hold.

However, the future Czech and Austrian governments will likely borrow from Viktor Orban's and Jaroslaw Kaczynski's foreign and EU policy playbooks, slowly pushing the so-called 'Overton window', or possible political spectrum, in central Europe away from an EU-wide compromise on asylum policy and reforms of the eurozone - which the Czechs adamantly refuse to join.

How well the leaders in Berlin, Paris, and Brussels can handle such dynamics remains an open question.

Dalibor Rohac is a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC

Source: Can the centre hold in central Europe?

5 of this season’s best ski destinations

By Craig Burton on Oct 09, 2017 in Canada, Europe, France, Italy, Leisure Travel, North America, Norway, Regions, Speciality Travel, Western Europe

Are you trying to figure out where to ski this winter? Perhaps you're considering the wide, open skies of Canada or the Alpine slopes of France? Take a look at our pick of the hottest places to ski during the upcoming season to help you decide.

Panorama, Canada

To truly feel like you're walking in a winter wonderland, there can be no better choice than Canada, with the iconic Rocky Mountains, generous falls of snow and relatively quiet pistes. Panorama is nestled at the foot of the Purcell mountains and is suitable for a variety of abilities: over half of its terrain is ideal for intermediate skiers, and there's a number of nursery slopes for beginners as well.

It also has adventurous options that include the Extreme Dream zone, which, with its runs through tight trees and abundance of cliffs, provides numerous twists and turns to keep even the biggest thrill-seekers happy. For a one-of-a-kind adventure, the resort has one of the best hair-raising heli-skiing experiences in the world. There are opportunities to try out dog-sledging and snowmobiling too. The après-ski scene here is laid-back yet cheerful, with plenty of live music and outdoor drinking terraces on offer.

Alpe Cimbra, Italy

For quick weekend getaways during the winter season, hop over to Alpe Cimbra in northern Italy. The resort's 50 slopes can be reached in just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Verona airport, so you can maximise your time enjoying tree-lined runs and wide open slopes.

For sun-seekers, Alpe Cimbra is an excellent choice, with glorious sunshine even in the depths of winter. Italy's first ever ski lift was built here, and you can still enjoy stunning, panoramic views from each stop. When the sun goes down, work your way around the many tempting pizzerias and pasticcerias, which serve local, mouth-watering dishes like Vezzena – an Alpine cheese with bacon and honey.

Courchevel, France

Located in the world's largest ski area, Les Trois Vallées, Courchevel is one of the world's most glamorous places to ski, attracting billionaires and private jets. As well as appealing to snow hounds, Courchevel is a favourite destination for foodies, with the most Michelin stars of any Alpine resort.

For a luxury stay in this chic resort, treat yourself to a few nights at the Fahrenheit Seven hotel. A complete renovation has given the hotel a modern, cosy feel with a vintage twist, while its ski-in, ski-out location and panoramic views mean you're as close to the action as possible. The terrace is the place to be seen for a piste-side lunch, and you can head for the sauna to rest tired muscles after a day on the slopes. Sample the hotel's excellent dining experiences at Le Panoramik restaurant, which serves delicious Alpine delicacies such as fondue and has live music in the evenings.

Megève, France

You'll find many things to tempt you to stylish Megève this season, including 300km of varied pistes, magical forest-lined runs and views of Mont Blanc. The new attraction this year is the opening of Europe's first Four Seasons in the mountains.

Styled to retain the history and character of the area, this five-star boutique hotel has just 55 rooms, most of which come with a fireplace and private balcony – ideal for admiring the spectacular setting. Nestled at the base of the Mont d'Arbois slopes, this luxurious haven is perfectly positioned for direct access to the runs. As for après-ski, it has the region's largest spa and no fewer than five indoor-outdoor options for wining and dining, including a Michelin-two-star restaurant.

Trysil, Norway

Trysil is a fantastic choice for family-friendly fun, with a slalom course for younger skiers and virtually queue-free lifts – perfect for little ones. As one of Norway's largest and oldest resorts, it is well-loved for a varied terrain that spans 66 runs, from easy greens to thrilling blacks.

Both beginner and more demanding slopes are located next to each other, which makes life simple for families with varying abilities. For an on-piste pit-stop at the end of the day, head to the cosy Stallen pub, one of four log cabins on the Knettsetra mid-mountain plateau, which hosts live music every afternoon. In the evening, parents can relax with a quiet drink at one of The Radisson Blu's sophisticated bars.

Craig Burton is Managing Director of Ski Solutions.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Source: 5 of this season's best ski destinations

Madonna, Michael Fassbender and More A-Listers Love this Under-the-Radar European Destination

The little country at the edge of the Iberian Peninsula, long under the radar, received a big profile bump last month when Madonna revealed she'd be moving to Lisbon so her son David Banda, 11, could attend the prestigious Benfica soccer academy. The Queen of Pop has reportedly picked up an 18th-century Moorish-style mansion for $8.9 million in the picturesque suburb of Sintra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that was long a summer destination for Portuguese royals.

Splash News

RELATED: The Best Places to Travel in October, Whether You Want to Peep Leaves or Track Elephants

But Madonna's not exactly roughing it while the historic restate is being restored — she's reportedly staying in a suite at Lisbon's Pestana Palace hotel.

Peter Adams/Getty

The Queen of Pop isn't the only star to purchase property in Portugal. Other noteworthy residents include Christian Louboutin and Michael Fassbender, who purchased a home in the historic Alfama district in May.

Native Cristiano Ronaldo is embracing the influx of A-listers: The second outpost of the soccer star's hotel CR7 (his initials and jersey number) opened last year. The first was in his hometown of Funchal on the island of Madeira, a Portuguese territory off the coast of Morocco.

WATCH: Take a Virtual Vacation to the Magical Portuguese City of Óbidos with Travel + Leisure 

Portugal has beautiful coastline in the southern Algarve region, which lures sun seeking English celebs to hotels like Vila Vita Parc. In the north, is the culture capital of Porto and the Duoro Valley (the birth place of Port Wine. Stars looking for a one-of-a-kind stay, should check into Pedras Salgadas Spa and Nature Park, where they can relax in a futuristic treehouse between treatments.

Pedras Salgadas SpaCourtesy Pedras Salgadas

DO IT FOR LESS

Budget-conscious travelers should take note, too. More affordable than many other European destinations, Portugal has plenty to offer for a reasonable price: In Lisbon, book a stay at the stylish B&B Casa Amora (from $100/night) and ride the city's famous yellow streetcar — route 28 stops at major tourist spots, and a day pass costs $7.25.

Alamy

RELATED: This Is the Best Week to Buy Your Plane Tickets for Holiday Travel

In Porto, discover the country's famous blue-and-white tiles, called Azulejos, for free at Porto Cathedral and take in a show or just ogle the architecture at Rem Koolhaas's ultra-modern Casa da Música.

Whatever you do, don't leave Portugal without trying its signature egg tart. Pasteis de Belem in Lisbon is a famous purveyor, where the treats cost $1.30 each.

Source: Madonna, Michael Fassbender and More A-Listers Love this Under-the-Radar European Destination

14 reasons to make Russia your next holiday destination

A hundred years on, Chris Leadbeater relishes Russia's revolutionary appeal.

1. Mausoleum

It's been 100 years, but you still can't have a Russian Revolution without Lenin. The poster boy of 1917 still has pride of place in Moscow, his tomb on Red Square. You can visit him, daily (except Monday and Friday) 10am-1pm. moscow.info/red-square/lenin-mausoleum.aspx

2. Madonna Litta

Over in St Petersburg, what was once the Winter Palace, city home of the Tsar, is now the Hermitage Museum – home to this marvel by Leonardo Da Vinci, among other jewels. Tickets 600 Roubles (£8), queues inevitable. hermitagemuseum.org

The Hermitage Credit: ROMAN EVGENEV 3. Romanov

The deposed royals are remembered in St Petersburg at the sumptuous Grand Hotel Europe – where you can stay in the Romanov Suite which once framed their slumbers. From R61,000 (£790) a night; other rooms for R16,000 (£207). Read a full review and check availability. 

4. The Kremlin

The Revolution knocked St Petersburg off its plinth and made Moscow Russia's focal point, its power set in the walls of the Kremlin. You can visit the museums inside (from R250/£3.25). Vlad Putin works here. Not in the ticket office. kreml.ru/en-us

St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow Credit: getty 5. Glass act over the Moskva

Moscow has just revolutionised its riverfront, creating Zaryadye Park on the site of the demolished 3,000-room Rossiya Hotel. The site has walkways, cafes, a concert hall and a glass bridge over the Moskva River. visitrussia.org.uk

Zaryadye Park Credit: getty 6. Four Seasons

An act of rebellion of your own? The terrace of the Moskovsky Bar at the Four Seasons hotel looks on to the Kremlin. Indulge in some capitalist decadence by ordering a vodka-laced Moscow Sour cocktail for R850 (£11). Read a full review and check availability. 

The Four Seasons in Moscow 7. Dasha Zhukova

Moscow is doing some highly revolutionary things with paint and sculpture at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (R500/£6.50), which was founded by Roman Abramovich's (soon to be ex-) wife in 2008. Great cafe too. garagemca.org/en

8. Mansarda

St Petersburg's image as a city shaped by palaces and heritage is shattered by this glass-sided rooftop restaurant, which offers epic views across the streets where the Bolsheviks marched, as well as tagliolini with caviar for R2990 (£38). ginza-mansarda.ru

9. Afternoon tea

Find a more traditional take on St Petersburg at the five-star Hotel Astoria (a haunt for both Madonna and Lenin in the past) where the Russian Afternoon Tea (from R1500/£20) includes delicate pirozhkis (small meat pies). Read a full review and check availability. 

10. Novaya Gollandiya

St Petersburg breaks another mould in its "New Holland" enclave – the remains of one of the Tsar's old naval prisons, reinvented as a green space with food stalls, deckchairs, play areas and the locals at weekend rest. newhollandsp.com

Novaya Gollandiya Credit: getty 11. Volga

Why visit one Russian revolutionary city when you can take in two? Steppes Travel sells a 13-day cruise between Moscow and St Petersburg which meanders slowly north-west along the Volga, Europe's lengthiest river – from £2,495. steppestravel.co.uk

The Volga Credit: HOLGER LEUE 12. Yekaterinburg

The revolution took one of its darkest turns in this easterly city, where the royal family was killed on July 17 1918. On The Go Tours sells a "Route of the Romanovs" (£1,495) tour which visits the memorial Church On Blood. onthegotours.com

Yekaterinburg, where the revolution took one of its darkest turns Credit: © Florian Blumm / Alamy Stock Photo/Florian Blumm / Alamy Stock Photo 13. Anastasia

Legend once had it that Nicholas II's youngest daughter survived the execution. Alas no. She is entombed in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St Petersburg – part of the Cox & Kings "St Petersburg's Highlights" trip (from £860). coxandkings.co.uk

14. The Ballet

Russia's aristocrats loved ballet, the Bolsheviks less so. Strike back for the old guard by seeing a performance at St Petersburg's Vladimir Palace – courtesy of The Telegraph's Russian Revelations with John Simpson tour. From £4,725. 

Why you should visit Russia in 2017 02:47 But beware... Paperwork

The Russians adore paperwork. Love the stuff. They like you to like it too, which is why the application process for a single-entry tourist visa (from £108.40, including fees) is long (up to three weeks) and dull, but also essential. ru.vfsglobal.co.uk

Source: 14 reasons to make Russia your next holiday destination

Cheap alternative flights to all of Monarch's European destinations that you can still snap up now

Monarch Airlines has gone into administration , with all flights and holidays from Monday 2nd October onwards cancelled.

While there are flights to bring Brits stranded abroad back home, for those with holidays planned over the next few weeks it's thrown a huge spanner in the works - but you don't need to despair and cancel your break just yet.

First of all, you could be entitled to compensation for your cancelled flight, especially if your holiday is ATOL protected - check out our comprehensive guide here .

For those travelling in the next few weeks, there's also a silver lining. Currently there are plenty of airlines hosting autumn sales and cheap routes , many of which cover the destinations on offered by Monarch.

That means you could still bag cheap flights, meaning there's no need to break the bank to still go on holiday.

Then of course there are the airlines' extensive networks covering the affected routes - easyJet and British Airways seem to be offering the biggest selection when it comes to finding available seats.

We take a look at Monarch's popular destinations and alternative airlines you can fly with on a budget...

Grounded Monarch airplanes sit on the tarmac at Luton airport (Image: AFP) Croatia Dubrovnik Split Zagreb Read More Cyprus Lanarca Paphos Read More Find more cheap flights to Europe France Nice Gibraltar Read More Greece Heraklion, Crete Rhodes Read More Europe City Guides Tel Aviv Read More Italy Naples Rome Read More Venice Read More Verona Read More Portugal Faro Funchal Lisbon Porto Read More Holiday booking secrets Spain Ibiza Menorca Palma de Mallorca Fuerteventura Gran Canaria Read More Lanzarote Tenerife Alicante Almeria Barcelona Madrid Malaga Valencia Sweden Stockholm Read More Turkey Antalya Dalaman
Source: Cheap alternative flights to all of Monarch's European destinations that you can still snap up now

Super Independence Discounts! KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offers you up to 20% off to destinations in Europe, America and Canada

Where would you be traveling to as Nigeria turns 57? KLM Royal Dutch Airline is offering special Independence discounts!!! Now is the time to make all those exciting trips with up to 20% discount on all your flight ticket purchase.

Hurry! Buy your tickets from September 28 – October 6th and enjoy up to 20% off in Economy cabin to destinations in Europe, America, and Canada.

Tickets can be bought online.  Visit the website;  www.klm.com.ng . You can also visit any KLM ticket office or your travel agent.

____________________________________________________

*CONDITIONS APPLYFares are inclusive of taxes. Subject to availability

Sale: Till Friday, October 6th, 2017Travel: Till Tuesday, December 12th, 2017 (Last departure)Maximum stay: 12 monthsMinimum stay: NoneStop-over: 1 free in Paris. Additional at $100 per wayChange: $120

For more information, call 0814990676, 09030907124, 08101341037. Follow us on social media

Twitter: @KLMFacebook: @KLMInstagram: @klm

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Source: Super Independence Discounts! KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offers you up to 20% off to destinations in Europe, America and Canada