Author Archives: Leonie Clay
Spring Into Singapore with Shoalhaven Solo Sisters
Have you always wanted to travel to Asia but are unsure where to start? Do you enjoy holidays away where you don’t need to move hotels regularly but still enjoy sightseeing? Do you like a good mix of free time and scheduled events while away?
Singapore is the perfect destination. Following on the heels of our Honk Kong Experience, we are running a similar tour to Singapore in February 2016. We encourage everyone to come and find out what we are doing, what will be included and have your chance to input what you would like to see included at our Singapore Workshop on the 4th February 2015 at 5pm.
If Singapore sounds like a destination for you, either for the destination itself, an introductory trip to Asia, or if you just enjoy good company then please register online to join our workshop today!
Register Online Now!
Just a quick reminder that we have the limited time special on our USA departure still available. We are still seeking starters for our Adelaide and Kangaroo Island trip so we can firm up a date, and are seeking more expressions of Interest in our Christmas Markets Tour!
A Quick Update – January 2015
Just a brief reminder of a few things we have available in January that may be worth thinking of or looking further into!
My Egypt Workshop: If you have ever wanted to travel to Egypt, then My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters have something that may be of interest. This is happening on the 14th January 2015 at 5pm. If you want to come along and see what is in the works just let us know beforehand!
Golden West USA Special: Just a brief reminder that for our fantastic Golden West USA special you can save AU$1955 per person in share twin if you book in January and pay by February.
My Singapore Worskshop: Following on the heels of our fantastic Hong Kong Trip in 2014 we will be running a similar tour to Singapore in 2016, this February 4th we encourage everyone who has ever wanted a taste of this Asian Gateway to come down and see what it is we will be doing on our departure – just let us know in advance because space is limited.
Spectacular Silos Soiree: A nice easy meet and greet amongst fellow travellers. Just AU$35 for a nice meal and a great wine tasting on the 14th March, just rsvp and pay by the 8th February to secure your spot.
Classifieds Section: We still have a number of solo travellers seeking companions, be it for a trip to China, a North Pacific Passage or beyond, remember to keep checking our classifieds section for regular updates.
Classifieds: Cruise the North Pacific
Just a reminder to all we have a number of travellers seeking companions for their own trips, some of which are shown on our classifieds section. We do have one seeker looking for company on a Trans-Pacific Cruise in April 2015 with Celebrity cruises journeying from Shanghai to Vancouver with stops at Jeju Usland in South Korea, Kobe, Mt Fuji, and Tokyo in Japan and Petropavlovsk in Russia.
So if you have ever wanted to see even the basics of China, or cruise the waters of the Northern Pacific, encounter the Arctic Circle or if you are a single traveller who enjoys cruising this may be the opportunity for you! For more information just contact us!
Take A Hand In Shaping Your Egyptian Experience!
Have you ever wanted to explore Egypt? To walk the great Hypostyle Hall at Luxor (Image below), to sit back and enjoy High Tea at the Aswan Hotel where Agatha Christie wrote Death On The Nile, or spend some time browsing the shelves of the Great Library of Alexandria?
Then you are in luck, in January 2016, My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters are running a group tour to Egypt that will take in the best of Cairo, Alexandria and the Nile. Our plan is to run a trip of between two and three weeks, including all transport, accommodation, sightseeing, entrance fees and much more.
We are not just doing what we want though, and encourage you to come in and join us on the evening of Wednesday the 14th of January 2015 to hear what we are planning and let us know what you would like included!
CONFIRM YOUR PLACE NOW!
REGISTER HERE FOR YOUR EGYPT WORKSHOP – 14 JANUARY 2015
Seasons Greeting ! Shoalhaven Solo Sisters & My Travel Expert
Wow, what a year ! The Solo Sisters have now been going for 14 months and the response from the community, members and even our travel colleagues has been absolutely fantastic! Better in fact than we could have hoped for, and while not every package we have offered have gotten off the ground enough have and those have all been well received and the feedback fantastic.
2014 has been an incredible year for us , and we have plans to see that 2015 and 2016 are even better!
We have a fantastic array of tours for 2015 which can be seen here on our website, and we have an incredible range of tours we are hoping to run in 2016 that we will be running tour workshops on throughout 2015 so you can have your say on what is included!
A number of people have asked us about receiving more regular updates, we try and keep our physical mail-outs to once every three months, and do our e-mail updates once a month, more regular updates can be obtained by registering at http://www.shoalhavensolosisters.com.au and you will receive our e-newsletter and blog updates, or by following us on Twitter, Google +, Facebook, Tumbler or Instagram
So Once again, Merry Christmas, thanks for a great year and we hope to see you in 2015!
Golden West USA Special – Grab It While Available !!!
We have had one of our 2015 departures on this site for a while now, but with deadlines for everything else, and last minute specials we haven’t had too much time to really talk about this trip much. But, as the blog post says we do have something with this tour now that will grab your attention*
The Golden West USA Tour we have departing in October 2014 retails for 5359 per person in share twin for an 18 day tour programme including flights, a price we believe is reasonable, if we didn’t we wouldn’t have used it for our solo sisters departures. We have though been speaking to our providers and have managed to make that price even better, and can offer you the tour package at a fantastic cost of AU$3403 per person in share twin .. that is a saving of AU$1955 per person!!
To take advantage of this special all you need to do is book before the end of January 2015, and pay in full before the end of February.
What though is going to be seen on this trip, where will be visited that will make you want to outlay this sort of money? The truth is that this trip sees the best of the west, with the major sights entrance fees included and plenty of time for you to get out and explore on your own the sights you may wish to see – be it Madam Tussauds in Las Vegas, the infamous Pier in Santas Monica or the shopping malls of Beverly Hills.
With the group we spend 16 day touring from Los Angeles to Los Angeles, taking in Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, the bright lights of Las Vegas, the incredible natural scenery of Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite National Park, the iconic city of San Francisco and the beautiful coastal towns of California!
In the last twelve months we have had Kelly, Julie and Leonie all scout out some of the fantastic locations that this tour is going to and all three have had a ball encountering the “Golden West”, enjoying everything from the scenic flights over the Grand Canyon to testing their luck at the tables in Las Vegas.
You can review the tour in full here on our website – just click here – and you can see whats included, what is going to be seen and where is going to be visited.
So if you want to take advantage of this incredible offer and book aboard for just AU$3403 per person in share twin then give us a call today on (02) 4421 5577 or email us at nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au !
* Yes, I am using the ‘grab’ wording as an excuse to use this fantastic photo of Leonie from Madam Tussauds visit
Seeking Travellers! 2015 Departures
With only a few days left before the “Silly Season” is well and truly upon us I thought I should take a few moments to remind everyone about a few of the departures we are still seeking travellers for in 2015.
While new travellers are still welcome for the Canada & Alaska Tour and the European River Cruise we are hoping for more looking to join our Golden West Adventure next October, and our Thai Discovery Tour in November.
We also have two programmes we need more expressions of interest in so we can ensure that as we package them up we have the numbers to get them away!
Kangaroo Island: The first is a genuine taste of Australia, a journey just over a week long taking in the natural, cultural culinary and historical highlights of Kangaroo Island and Adelaide, combined with some time in the Barossa Valley and a trip aboard the Indian-Pacific. This trip will hopefully run in late September 2015, but we will need minimum numbers to run it. With several already interested now is the time to let us know that you would like to come! As you can see Leonie has recently been on site to scope out some of the highlights and believes it will be a fantastic trip!
Christmas Markets: With this years season of celebration upon us it is time to look ahead to think about what you will be doing next Christmas .. or more importantly just prior! We have a great programme we are hoping to get off the ground covering the best of Germany alongside the unique revelry that are the German Christmas Markets. A perfect chance to explore a taste of Christmas that is not usually seen within Australia.
So if you are intrigued by Kangaroo Island or the Christmas Markets or would like to join one of our other 2015 tours do not hesitate to let us know!
Otherwise if you would like to join us at one of our workshops to help us develop our 2016 Tours please just click on the appropriate link here at Shoalhavensolosisters.com.au
A Limited Time Special – Moreton Island Cruise February 2015
It is a truth that a large portion of our travellers are from the Shoalhaven Region, and for them, with fantastic beaches at almost every turn the question beckons .. why would I want to go on a cruise to a Tropical Island known for its beaches?
To that I say, that it is not about the destination but the voyage. Moreton Island is fantastic, its bush, beaches and activities are the sort of thing every Australian loves, but for someone from the South Coast its not exceptional. The voyage there and back though is, as we spend 5 days and 4 nights aboard the Pacific Jewel cruising from Sydney to Sydney. You will have the opportunity to experience what it means to take an Ocean Cruise – on board entertainment, full meal inclusions, the ability to relax in good company, or to avail yourself of one of the many activities.
For those that have never cruised before our departure on the 11th February is the perfect way to get that taste of Ocean Cruising, for those that have cruised it is a perfect way to sit back and enjoy an extended weekend in some fantastic company.
If you have been considering it then here is some great news, P&O have released some last minute specials – instant book and purchase – for those that may still be interested in sailing. Cabins are limited and subject to availability but you could join us for as little as AU$698 for an inside cabin , AU$758 for an outside Cabin or AU$1158 for a balcony (please note these are lead in prices and based on two travellers per cabin).
So if you want a taste of cruising, the chance to take a loved one away for Valentines Day, or are just interested in a short break in good company .. then call us today!
Shoalhaven Solo Sisters & My Travel Expert (02) 4421 5577
My Tour Workshops – A 2015 Tour Update and a 2016 Tour Preview Brief
For those that managed to make it to our 2015 Tour Launch and 2016 Tour preview thanks for a great evening, the group was the right size to provide us with an intimate evening that allowed us to get a fantastic amount of feedback on what we running, and what we are planning to do. Our thanks.
For those that were unable to make our evening event here is (in brief) what was covered on the night – as well as a few dates for our workshops on upcoming 2016 tour packages.
First Our 2015 Tour Departures ..
11th – 15th February 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$749 per person on a twin share basis. Prices variable dependant on Cabin Category, Availability and “Spot” Specials from P&O Package includes 4 night cruise from Sydney to Sydney visiting Moreton Island, inclusive of all meals* and included shipboard entertainment. A perfect getaway to trial cruising, to get away over Valentines with a loved one – or just to enjoy some fantastic company!
7th – 14th March 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$2225 per person on a twin share basis. 7 Nights in Queenstown including rounds of Golf at Jacks Point, Kelvin Heights and Millbrook Golf Courses. Package includes flights to Queenstown from Sydney and return, 7 nights 4* accommodation, breakfast daily, 1 dinner at the Skyline Restaurant, 3 days golfing inclusive of green fees and cart hire, transfers in New Zealand to/from the airport and golf courses
16th May – 8th June 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$11,423 per person on a twin share basis. 15 Day Canadian Rockies Tour and 7 Night Inside Passage Cruise. Package includes flights to Vancouver from Sydney and return, Rockies Tour and Inside Passage Cruise, Oceanview Room on Cruise, Silverleaf Service on Rocky Mountaineer, port taxes and surcharges, all tipping and gratuities, 43 superb meals.
17th – 24th June 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$2,781 per person on a twin share basis. 8 Days visiting Kangaroo Island, Adelaide and Barossa Valley. Package includes Indian-Pacific from Sydney to Adelaide in Gold Class, 4 Nights in Adelaide and 3 on Kangaroo Island, touring daily, breakfast daily, some dinners, flight Adelaide to Sydney. Operated & Escorted based on 16 Travellers – dates subject to change
5th – 25th September 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$10,570 per person on a twin share basis. A magnificent 14 day Danube cruise with 3 days in Prague and 3 days in Paris. Package includes International airfares from Sydney to Europe and return, Accommodation in Prague and Paris, Danube Cruise, Port taxes and surcharges, touring and sightseeing, tipping and gratuities, 49 superb meals, Escorted Ex-Australia
21st October – 7th November 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$5359 per person on a twin share basis. A Fantastic 18 Day Programme taking in the highlights of Western USA – San Francisco, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and more! Package includes International airfares from Sydney to LA and return, Accommodation throughout, sightseeing as detailed, some entry fees, local tour director, air-conditioned coach transport, some meals, transfers in LA
7th – 14th November 2015. Sydney to Sydney. From AU$2400 per person on a twin share basis. A fantastic Introduction to Thailand, covering the highlights of Bangkok and surrounds. Package includes International airfares from Sydney to Bangkok and Return, 4 Star Accommodation, Transfers in Bangkok, Sightseeing, Breakfast daily and more. Chiang Mai Extension Available (14th – 20th November 2014) from $980 per person in twin share
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Est. Cost From AU$5000 per person in twin share. An incredible European Journey taking in the wintery festivities of Germany. Fine Food, Beautiful Beverages, Spectacular Shopping and more. Highlights includes Closing of the gates with a traditional lantern lit walk in Rothenburg, the Christmas Markets of Wurzburg, Choral Concert at Amorbach’s Bennedictine Abbey, The Christkidlesmarkt and much, much more!
Then we have what we are looking at for 2016 and beyond!
Egypt – January 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Cairo including the Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Saqquara, Memphis, Khan El-Khalili, Egyptian Museum, Mosque of Saladin and More. Alexandria including Pompeii’s Pillar, the Montazah Gardens, the New Library, Kom ash-Shuqqafa and more. Nile Cruise Covering Aswan, Luxor, Edfu, Esna and Kom Ombo and their sites including the Valley of Kings and the Temple Of Karnak. Optional Extras including Abu Simbel & King Tuts Tomb
Singapore – April 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : This tour is built for those looking to get a taste of Asia, or for the New Traveller. One Week in Singapore, mix of scheduled tours and free days. Uniquely Singapore Tours including Breakfast with the Orang-Utans and High Tea at the Raffles. Option to Extend the trip and Cruise back to Sydney with Royal Caribbean via the Top end and Queensland
Italy – May 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Venice Dogge’s Palace, Glassmaking, The Grand Canal and more. Hills and villages of Cinque Terre. Pisa and Florence, including the Duomo, Leaning Tower, Galleria dellÁccademia. Perugia and Spello as you visit the beautiful Umbria Region. Rome, including the Pantheon and Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, St Peters Basillica, Vatican City and more.
East Africa – July 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Lake Nakuru National Park and the Masai Mara National Reserve. Serengeti National Park including Ngorongoro Crater. Permanent Tented Camps. 4×4 Vehicles for use on Game Drives. Opportunity to spot the “Big 5”- Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino & Elephant. Annual Migration is usually moving between Serenget and Masai Mara in July
Spain & Morocco – September 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest Highlights includes : Combined tour of Spain and Morocco. Highlights of Southern Spain including Seville, Grazalema, Granada, Ronda and Malaga. Imperial Cities of Morocco including Casablanca, Rabat, Mekenes, Volubilis, Fez and Marrakech. Depending on feedback we may run this as two tours (one to Spain and one to Morocco) that can be combined back to back
Dubai & UAE – Late October 2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Highlights of Dubai including a desert safari , dhow cruise dinner, the Modern Wonders and the Old Souks. Highlights of Abu Dhabi including Ferrari World and the Falcon Rehabilitation Centre. Exploratory trip of the UAE’s Wadis, Mountains, Deserts and the Old Spice Route including Fujeirah, Musandum, Hatta and Al Ain. Option will be available to extend and discover Oman
Vietnam – November2016, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Hanoi including the Old Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda and Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum. Highlights of North Vietnam such as the Hill Tribes and a Halong Bay Junk Cruise. The Imperial City of Hue, the original capital of Vietnam and Hoian. Resort Towns of Nha Trang and Mui Ne. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) including Cu Chi Tunnels, Reunification Palace, French Quarter and more.
South America – 2017, Sydney to Sydney
Now Taking Expressions Of Interest. Highlights includes : Return International Airfare and Regional Connections. Highlights of Peru & Bolivia – Machu Picchu, Ollyantambo, Lake Titicaca. Highlights of Argentina and Brazil including Buenos Aires, Iguasu and Rio De Janeiro. Torres del Pine National Park – a chance to see the Perito Moreno Glacier. Option to Extend and do Galapagos or Easter Islands
We are holding a number of fantastic Workshops and Seminars for our 2016 departures, simply click the above link, on the events shown on our side menu or here to register
As you can see we have an incredible array of group on the books for the next 2 years.
For more information on our 2015 programmes please feel free to give us a call, drop by for a visit or take a look at them online at www.shoalhavensolosisters.com.au
For our 2016 programmes you can call or visit us to get more information, or you can attend one of the tour workshops we will be running in 2015 where we give you the chance to help us design our tour programmes! Simply visit www.shoalhavensolosisters.com.au or visit the My Travel Expert or Shoalhaven Solo Sisters Website and register for the events now!
A Few Solo Specials From AAT Kings
Over the past few months between talking about our events, tours and trips we have been introducing information about providers like Travel Indochina and Peregrine who have a solo matching system in place. These products are great but are not the only ones out there that are thinking of solo travellers. While they are great for the most part due to no single supplements there are providers who are putting together discounted packages for solo traveller such as Insight and AAT Kings.
Specials with these other companies work on a basis of reducing the single supplement costs to as minimal as possible rather than eradicationg them altogether and matching with strangers. So if you don’t mind travelling alone and spending AU$300 on a single supplement rather than AU$600 sounds good (as an example) then let us know and we can see what would match your needs.
For now, here are a few special AAT Kings have let us know about across Australia and Tasmania
My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters 