I am booked on the Australia trip in September and have a few questions re. the optional excursions and the holiday.

- If we choose to book the trips whilst in Australia, do you have to pay in Sterling or Australian Dollars? And does it have to be cash or can you pay by card?

- What is the deadline for booking trips before we go?

- Re. the trips in Perth, are you able to let me know which of the trips will be on each day, and when the tour of Perth will be. Reason being, I have friends in Perth so want to be able to arrange to meet them and wondering which will be the best day/time.

- Are you able to tell me how many people are booked on the trip? Male/female age ratio?

- I have connecting flights booked from Manchester, what is the likelihood that I can book my bag straight through from Manchester to Perth?

Its less than 12 weeks before we go, and getting rather excited now!

Thanks for your help,

Michelle

:thumbup:

Sorry for the delay from your orignal post, but I have now spoken to my coolleagues around the business and gotten answers to your questions...

Booking trips in Australia - Ideally these should be paid in local currency but the Tour Manager may accept sterling. You cannot pay by credit card.

If you would like to book the trips before you go, the latest you can book these is 8 days before you travel.

Perth, we have the trips scheduled as follows - but please speak to your tour manager as they sometimes tweak the days/times

Day 3 – Mid morning (approx 11am start) for the included city tour – return to hotel at 17hrs.

Day 4 – Fremantle and Swan River cruise – 9am – 3pm

Day 5 – Yanchep National Park – Full day

For the numbers - there are 8 people booked in total. 6 on the main tour, 2 staying for the add-on with ages from ealy 40s through to late 70s and there are 2 men and 6 women.

Finally, if you can send me across your booking reference, I can check with our aviation team about your luggage.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I did this tour last November and also had friends in Perth so I arranged to meet them on the evening of Day 2 in Perth ( Day 4 ) after Freemantle which was not to be missed and I skipped Yanchep the following day to have some time with them so I think the best time would be to meet your friends would be after Freemantle which we got back around 3 as you have the welcome meal the first evening after the sightseeing tour and then the only other opportunity would be to miss Yanchep on the last day or arrange to see them when you get back that evening which would be sometime after five

hope this helps, enjoy Australia you'll love it, anything else you wish to know just ask

Dave

If you do the Balloon flight in Alice Springs you can pay by credit card. I was amazed that it could be done when we landered in open country side and the pilot got out a credit card machine in the middle of nowere. AND yes it worked!!!

In fact the exchange rate was better that day out there than in Alice springs!

Eric

Hi Michelle

I did this tour last November and also had friends in Perth so I arranged to meet them on the evening of Day 2 in Perth ( Day 4 ) after Freemantle which was not to be missed and I skipped Yanchep the following day to have some time with them so I think the best time would be to meet your friends would be after Freemantle which we got back around 3 as you have the welcome meal the first evening after the sightseeing tour and then the only other opportunity would be to miss Yanchep on the last day or arrange to see them when you get back that evening which would be sometime after five

hope this helps, enjoy Australia you'll love it, anything else you wish to know just ask

Dave

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your info. This helps me a great deal with planning my time in Perth. I didn't want to miss out on seeing my friends and also making new ones on the trip. Really looking forward to it - just gotta plan the rest of my trips and my packing. Did you go on the trip to Daintree? That's one that I am not sure about going on, and whether to just have a chill out day.

Thanks

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

If you do the Balloon flight in Alice Springs you can pay by credit card. I was amazed that it could be done when we landered in open country side and the pilot got out a credit card machine in the middle of nowere. AND yes it worked!!!

In fact the exchange rate was better that day out there than in Alice springs!

Eric

Hi Eric

Thanks for your info on the Balloon flight. That is something that I have been told is a must to do from one of my friends and I am hoping the weather will be good to do that. Will make sure I take my CC with me on the trip - The wonders of modern technology!!

Cheers

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

Sorry for the delay from your orignal post, but I have now spoken to my coolleagues around the business and gotten answers to your questions...

Booking trips in Australia - Ideally these should be paid in local currency but the Tour Manager may accept sterling. You cannot pay by credit card.

If you would like to book the trips before you go, the latest you can book these is 8 days before you travel.

Perth, we have the trips scheduled as follows - but please speak to your tour manager as they sometimes tweak the days/times

Day 3 – Mid morning (approx 11am start) for the included city tour – return to hotel at 17hrs.

Day 4 – Fremantle and Swan River cruise – 9am – 3pm

Day 5 – Yanchep National Park – Full day

For the numbers - there are 8 people booked in total. 6 on the main tour, 2 staying for the add-on with ages from ealy 40s through to late 70s and there are 2 men and 6 women.

Finally, if you can send me across your booking reference, I can check with our aviation team about your luggage.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Julia

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure that I had pressed the right button, which is why I sent another the next day. If you can check about the luggage that would be great. My ref is A******.

Many Thanks,

Michelle

Post edited to remove Booking reference number

I understand that you will need to collect your luggage at Heathrow. I would however recommend that you double check this when you check in at Manchester.

Kindest regards,

Julia

I gave the Daintree excursion from Cairns a miss, your right you need a chill out day and that was it, actually on our tour it never went ahead as not enough booked, not sure if anyone did actually but the Kuranda which is the day after the Great Barrier Reef is a MUST do, very enjoyable and well worth the money and time, arrival back at the hotel both days was around five, the balloon in Alice I really loved and boy did I go over board with the Champagne, 8 glasses I gulped down at bfast in the dessert ho ho, the bbq in Alice was ok but well over priced and you could leave that till you get there see who else is going or dine in town or at one of the hotel restaurants at easily half the price and I also chose to miss out the Melbourne tours to just chill out and see a bit of the city etc

regards

Dave

I will never forgot the 8 glasses of Champagne I had after the balloon flight but I agree as out came the credit card machine in the middle of nowhere, the price was quoted around £200 but I think I only paid £175, has a trick been missed there by not taking payment in advance by our tour company and I can't get my head round why the TM does not carry a credit card machine to take payment for any optionals I think more would book that way and would cut down on the amount of cash he/she has to carry for security reasons also

regards

Dave

ps I will get round to doing my review soon

Hi Michelle

I gave the Daintree excursion from Cairns a miss, your right you need a chill out day and that was it, actually on our tour it never went ahead as not enough booked, not sure if anyone did actually but the Kuranda which is the day after the Great Barrier Reef is a MUST do, very enjoyable and well worth the money and time, arrival back at the hotel both days was around five, the balloon in Alice I really loved and boy did I go over board with the Champagne, 8 glasses I gulped down at bfast in the dessert ho ho, the bbq in Alice was ok but well over priced and you could leave that till you get there see who else is going or dine in town or at one of the hotel restaurants at easily half the price and I also chose to miss out the Melbourne tours to just chill out and see a bit of the city etc

regards

Dave

Hi Dave,

That has been really useful info, and has made my mind up on a few things. Am liking the idea of the Champagne on the balloon flight. And 8 glasses??? Well that's a challenge I'm willing to try and beat!!!

Many Thanks for all your help,

Michelle

Good idea you suggested for the TM to carry a payment machine with them, but I can see they would have some difficulties doing that regarding the different holidays they do in all different parts of the world. Maybe something could be done by JY regarding payments in the field to the tour manager.

(Would have replied earlier Dave but had a couple problems with my PC).

Eric.

Hi Michelle

I gave the Daintree excursion from Cairns a miss, your right you need a chill out day and that was it, actually on our tour it never went ahead as not enough booked, not sure if anyone did actually but the Kuranda which is the day after the Great Barrier Reef is a MUST do, very enjoyable and well worth the money and time, arrival back at the hotel both days was around five, the balloon in Alice I really loved and boy did I go over board with the Champagne, 8 glasses I gulped down at bfast in the dessert ho ho, the bbq in Alice was ok but well over priced and you could leave that till you get there see who else is going or dine in town or at one of the hotel restaurants at easily half the price and I also chose to miss out the Melbourne tours to just chill out and see a bit of the city etc

regards

Dave

Hi Dave,

That has been really useful info, and has made my mind up on a few things. Am liking the idea of the Champagne on the balloon flight. And 8 glasses??? Well that's a challenge I'm willing to try and beat!!!

Many Thanks for all your help,

Michelle

i wouldn't recommend it Michelle as was a very long day with the city tour and the Mcdonnell Ranges straight after it i had the worst posssible headache all day to get through then after a couple hours back at the hotel several of the group walked into town and eat at Bojangles bar a good 25 mins walk but we got a taxi back later

Hi Michelle,

I understand that you will need to collect your luggage at Heathrow. I would however recommend that you double check this when you check in at Manchester.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Hi Julia

Thanks for that. Just one more question re. the flight back to Manchester. Please can you let me know whether my ticket is flexible and whether I may be able to get on an earlier flight if we land ontime.

Thanks

Michelle

Generally our terms and conditions with the airlines won't allow us to change the ticket but if you did arrive early, there would be no harm in visiting the BA desk and asking if you can change. They may be able to change your flight for a fee.

Kindest regards,

Julia