holiday helpline

holiday helpline

We asked three operators – Qantas Holidays, Kuoni and Travel 2 – for their recommendations for three clients with special requests for holidays in Australia.

Client A is a family on a budget who wants to experience the Australia they saw on TV during the Olympics including the beaches and the famous sights – and there has to be plenty of entertainment for the two children aged 10 and 12.

qantas holidays

Destination: Bangkok, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Product: fly to Sydney with a one-night stop at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Bangkok. Stay five nights at the Hyde Park Plaza in Sydney with an excursion to Fox Studios to experience the world of movie making. Using a three-day Sydney Discovery Pass, explore the main sights of the city. Fly to Brisbane and take a coach to the Gold Coast. Stay five nights at the Australis Sovereign Hotel with a pass allowing entry to Sea World, Dream World and Wet ‘n’ Wild and an Unlimited Gold Coast Get-around pass that allows visitors to explore the Gold Coast. Return to Brisbane for two nights at the Mercure Hotel with a day tour to the Tower Hill observatory and the Australian Woolshed for a sheep-shearing demonstration.

Price: £4,722 for the family including flights, transfers and pre-payable taxes, room-only accommodation and excursions as quoted.

travel 2

Destination: Sydney, Ayers Rock and Cairns.

Product: fly to Sydney for four nights at the Hyde Park Plaza in a suite with a kitchen area. Take a full-day city tour, including a harbour lunch cruise, and a day tour to the Blue Mountains plus the Wildlife Park (two adults get a free dinner to the value of £25). Fly on to Ayers Rock for the two-night Essential Ayers Rock package, staying at the Outback Pioneer, and touring Ayers Rock and the Olgas and joining a Sound of Silence Dinner outback tour which includes dinner and star gazing. Fly to Cairns for five nights at the Rihga Colonial Club from where an add-on could include a two-night Cape Tribulation Safari for £51 per adult and £36 per child.

Price: £5,065 for the family including flights, all transfers and pre-payable taxes, room-only accommodation and excursions as quoted.

kuoni

Destination: Sydney and Surfers Paradise.

Product: fly to Sydney and stay at the Mercure Hotel for five nights. Explore the city at leisure and include an Olympic Venues excursion. Fly to Surfers Paradise for easy access to the Gold Coast’s Movie World and Sea World. Stay at the Calypso Plaza.

Price: £3,533 for the family including flights, transfers, pre-payable taxes, room-only accommodation and Olympic Venues excursion.