Category Archives: Promotions
Update: Race Day, P&O, Hong Kong, Canada & Indulgence
Just a quick update on a few Upcoming Events and Group Departures
SSS Race Day: Join us at Shoalhaven Turf Club for a fantastic day at the races, it is a fantastic opportunity to mix and mingle with other Solo Sisters and our staff. A perfect chance to meet up with some of those who may be amenable to travelling with you. If you want to come please let us know before the 23rd May at the latest as we only have limited tickets for giveaway!
P&O Walkaround: We have an extremely limited number of spaces left on our 12 June P&O Ship inspection. At $55 for the day including lunch, transport from Nowra and the Ship Inspection it’s a great value for a fantastic day out. If you would like to come call us on 02 4421 5577 immediately.
Hong Kong Experience: At AU$3393.00 per person our upcoming Hong Tour is a fantastic offer, although billeted as a Shopping Tour the tour is not just for shoppers and most of the shopping is during our non-scheduled time. So if you want to see Hong Kong for any reason this is a great chance to do so. This trips sales period ends though on 31 May, so get in now if you would like to join
Canada & Alaska: Our presale on the May 2015 Canada and Alaska Group has sadly closed – those lucky to have booked will be hearing from us soon. Departing 16 May 2015 we still have space available at AU$10,295 per person share twin. We also have a partners fly free special available at the moment so it is a great idea to look at booking now while seats are available. Please feel free to check out our programme HERE!
Relax, Rewind, Revive: We recently promoted an upcoming indulgence trip we are running in 2015. This trips is all about truly relaxing. Enjoy a laugh on a comedy cruise, knock back a few samples as we visit some of the best wineries near Auckland, and relax to a great massage in Rotorua. Well we now have the full itinerary up and available here! This programme will run on a minimum of 10 travellers and a maximum of 16, so if you are interested in going you should put your name down now!
Relax, Rewind, Revive with Shoalhaven Solo Sisters
Everyone needs from time to time a chance to kick back, unwind and relieve themselves of the stresses of day to day lives. Sometimes though this doesn’t happen when one stays at home – things crop up and you end up spending your downtime being so busy you don’t end up feeling relaxed by the time you are due to head back to the grind.
To that end we have a fantastic trip guaranteed to relax and revive. A dash of humour starts off our little getaway as we depart on a four day comedy cruise from Sydney to Auckland. We follow this up with some pure indulgence in New Zealand itself, first sampling some of the famed New Zealand Wines, then taking off to Rotorua for a Traditional Maori Cultural experience and a fantastic spa package at Hells Gate – Massage, facial, thermal walk, mud soak and spa.
Comedy, Wine and Spa – What more is needed to truly relax!
So if you want to pamper yourself, a friend, or a partner, if you want to truly relax and rewind
THEN GIVE US A CALL TODAY!
2 – 11 April 2015, Sydney-Sydney
From AU$3441 Per Person Share Twin
Includes: 4 Night P&O Comedy Cruise, 2 Nights in Auckland, 3 Nights in Rotorua, Full Board On Cruise and 10 Meals in New Zealand, Transfers in New Zealand, 2 Full Day Tours, Rotorua Spa Day, Return Airfares , Prepayable Taxes and surcharges
* Based on Inside Cabins & dependant on Availability. For Options including Outside or Balcony CabinsSingle Supplement please ask us
Canada & Alaska Pre-sale Ending (16 May)
Our Canada & Alaska Group Departure with Evergreen is now coming to a close on its “pre-sale”, which means if you want to save yourself a small bundle then now is the time to book before prices rise!
Expressions Of Interest: Christmas Markets
One of the best things about travelling, is the experiences it allows you to have, especially when those experiences are not something we have easy access to on a daily basis close to home. This December (probably the 5th) we are looking at heading to Europe to experience something we don’t have here in Australia – a white winter, and the German Christmas Markets.
Ever since the 1300’s there has been some form of Christmas Markets in Germany especially in the areas around Rothenburg ob de Tauber, Wurzenburg and Bamburg. What this tour we are proposing will do will allow you to travel to Europe, see some of the highlights of Germany’s historical sights at a unique time of year, combined with a long running event that is even today still a unique experience. The Historic wooden and cobbled towns will be dusted with snow, adorned with decorations and lit up late into the night so one can explore the culinary delights of Germany, sample fine German wines, and enjoy the Christmas Markets. A fantastic opportunity for the shopper or those who enjoy experiencing unique cultural events.
For the shopper though you will have the unique opportunity to uncover traditionally made toys alongside their contemporary counterparts, you will find stalls of hand crafted and intricately detailed Christmas decorations, as well as a number of stalls, booths and shop fronts that will selling wonderful sweets, foods and drinks .. some of which are only regularly made during this of the year, and in some cases by tradition only consumed on certain dates!
A perfect winter getaway mixed with a magical taste of Christmas. For those that are considering coming along on this experience you will have the opportunity of getting first class service from your local tour manager plus the tour escort who will journey ex-Sydney (with minimum numbers). You will have the unique experience of attending an evening choral concert at the Benedictine Abbey in Amorbach. You will visit the medieval town of Rothunburg ob de Tauber, as well as Wertheim with its Glass Museum, Miltenburg with is Half Timbered Houses, and more. Then there is the whole Christmas Market experience as you visit a number of markets including Nurembergs fames “Christkindlemarkt”, Wurzburgs Christmas Markets and Kathe Wolfhart’s World Famouse Christmas Village Shop.
Expected land Itinerary:
Day One: Arrive in Frankfurt
Meet and greet at Frankfurt Airport with the specialist tour manager and a transfer to the deluxe coach to start the tour. Drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber; a beautiful small town with medieval buildings and cobbled streets. Time at leisure to explore the town, take a horse and carriage ride or walk the restored city walls. Dinner in a local ‘gasthaus’ and an overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Two: The Shopping Begins
Today the serious business starts with a visit to the Käthe Wohlfahrt’s world famous Christmas village shop. A true cavern of delight full of decorations. In the afternoon and evening watch the Christmas decoration lights come on, the market stalls come to life and take time to browse the market and take in the sights and aromas. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Three: Wertheim/Miltenburg/Amorbach
Today travel to Wertheim to visit the glass museum and watch demonstrations of the production and design from the traditional to the modern. Continue to Miltenburg, with its half timbered houses, for a short stop to indulge in the local biscuits and coffee. Onto to Amorbach for an evening choral concert in its Benedictine abbey, accompanied by its famous baroque organ. Return to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for an overnight stay.
Day Four: Wuerzburg Christmas Market
Morning at leisure to explore and shop or just relax and take in the atmosphere. Afternoon excursion to the Wuerzburg Christmas Market; one of the most atmospheric in Germany held against the historical backdrop of the Gothic St. Mary’s Chapel and the ‘Falkenhaus’ Rococco mansion. A delightful selection of Christmas goods are on offer here at the beautifully decorated wooden booths. The town hall’s historical courtyard also hosts an artists’ Christmas market. Return in the early evening to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for an overnight stay.
Day Five: Bamberg
The morning free to explore and shop, or just relax and take in the atmosphere. An afternoon excursion to Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage site, including visits to the town hall and cathedral. Experience Bamberg’s charming Christmas Market steeped in tradition. Explore the nativity scenes and over 50 market stalls offering Christmas decorations, ornaments and sweet delicacies from around the region. Return in the early evening to Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
Day Six: Nuremburg
Travel to Nuremberg to take a city tour starting with the Toy Museum, which has displays covering toys from antiquity to the present day. Then a more traditional visit to the Church of St Sebald, which has been on the site since 1070 and a place of pilgrimage for many to the grave of the holy Sebaldus. Then down to some serious shopping with a visit to Nuremberg’s main market square (Hauptmarkt): In the heart of the old quarter is the setting for the annual ceremony at which the ‘Christkindl’ or Christ Child opens Nuremberg’s ‘Christkindlesmarkt’, the most famous Christmas market in the world. Every year over two million visitors soak up the medieval atmosphere and romance of this miniature town of Christmas stalls. Delight in the delicious aromas of gingerbread, cinnamon, Nuremberg ‘bratwurst’, roasted almonds and ‘glühwein’. Younger visitors can enjoy the ‘Kinderweihnacht’ or children’s Christmas where a magnificent, traditional carousel comes complete with an upper tier, reindeer figures and Santa’s sleigh. Return in the evening happy, full and contented to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for an overnight stay at the hotel.
Day Seven: Depart for Home
Last minute shopping and the last chance to savour a sweet pastry or glass of ‘gluhwein’, before heading back to Frankfurt airport for the return flight home.
At this stage we would need a minimum of 10 travellers to get this tour away, and we would restrict the tour group size to 16, we prefer to keep our groups smaller as not only is it more intimate, but it allows greater access to guides and tour escorts, and allows us to add in the occasional unexpected surprise. So if you think that perhaps you would like to see some of Europe”s most incredible towns, at a time of year when the weather is unlike that experienced in Australia and when one of the worlds most unique regional experiences is available? Then Contact us now to let us know you are interested in coming!
Just call (02) 4421 5577 or e-mail nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au
Coral Princess Specials for Solo Travellers
A lot of the specials that we offer with the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters are to get solo travellers to match up, and while with this package this can still be the case, the real special here is that on limited departures we can offer Single Travellers the chance to travel at the same cost at share twin – no Single Supplement! If you want more information just contact us!
SSS Race Day Invitation – May 2014
A lot of those registered with us on our mailing lists have received this already, but we are aware that there are a number of followers who are not on the direct mail list – and we do not wish you to miss out! We are holding a social event this month, and while places are limited we would like to invite you to attend and get a chance to mingle with some of our other Solo Travellers.
If You wish to Join, Just let us know!
Events & Festivals, Preparing To Attend Them
With Easter now upon us it has reminded us of any number of events which happen across the Globe, from the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race every boxing day to Easter Mass at the Vatican. The one thing every large event around the world shares is that for those wanting to attend it is always best to plan ahead.
Planning ahead is essential, not just so you can organise any necessary seating, tickets or entrance fees, but by planning ahead you can ensure that accommodation is available when you want it and if you are lucky you are still able to get reasonably priced flights. So what are the main things you need to be aware of when planning to attend an event and why should you book early?
Visas, and Entry Permits
To start with these are always important, if you are denied entry to a destination, planning to see an event becomes a moot point, and in some cases how you get permission will determine how you travel!
If as an example you wanted to attend the Mass Games in North Korea, as an Australia Citizen you would be required to travel via China (Beijing Specifically) to get your visa issued, which means in turn getting a visa to enter China.
It is also important to plan because some Travel Visa’s take time to acquire, for example a tourist Visa to Brazil takes up to 50 days to process with the embassy, so coming in and saying “I want to attend Carnival” two weeks before it occurs in Rio as an Australian Citizen means, whether we can secure tickets, flights and accommodation becomes meaningless next to the fact that you wouldn’t get a visa issued in time to travel.
Accommodation
Any number of events are in the end limited by the availability of who can comfortably get in to see the event and how many the local town or city can accommodate – for example only so many hotels exist in Cusco and only so much area is available for camping, so ensuring you have things planed out for a trip to view Inti Raymi is imperative.
On the Gallipoli Peninsula for example there are only a very few low quality hotels, so most stay across the straights in Cannakale or Assos (or further afield) so planning ahead ensures you have the time to choose a tour that will stay and cover what you are after. With Oktoberfest, the population in Munich booms like no other time, so if you are there to attend Oktoberfest if you want a hotel or property that is within walking (or stumbling) distance of the main beer tents then it is imperative that you book in as soon as you can or otherwise you will be up for much longer travel times.
Flights & Travel
So as you can see, ensuring you book out far enough to make sure you can be accommodated is important.
Getting there, and paying a reasonable price is at times just as imperative, and sometimes the convergence of events doesn’t help with prices if left to the last minute. For example this year as in every year Easter coincides with school holidays,add to that the fact that this year ANZAC day falls the same week that Easter Monday arrives. This mean if you were looking to travel to Europe to attend Mass at the Vatican over Easter you would be competing for flight space with school holiday makers (students, teachers and families), as well as pilgrims heading to Turkey and France to attend ANZAC Day services. Even six months out flights were already becoming more expensive than many hoped for.
Tickets and Entry
This may sound simple enough but making sure you get the right ticket for the event you are attending can be critical. Making sure you have seating at the best spot to view the parades as Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, to witness the final match at the Australian Open, or to get a close up view of the Edinburgh Tattoo. Booking ahead, or as soon as they become available means that you will have more choice in where you want to be placed, rather than simply being placed wherever is left.
Climate and Preparing for it.
Not everyone stops to consider this but, while the weather in Australia is fairly mild year round, when travelling to attend events overseas the weather can make a huge impact on your travelling arrangements. For (as an extreme example) if you attend the Harbin Ice Festival you will be in China in the midst of winter, with temperatures often below freezing which means packing heavy duty cold weather gear, a big change from the thought that you may need a jumper when you travel, making sure you have well fitted gloves and jackets means making sure you have time to get them before you travel.
As another example people attending the Dawn Service at Gallipoli will usually spend all night on the beaches, so whilst the days may be moderately warm (or not unbearably cold) the temperatures drop fast in the night and towards Dawn are almost freezing – an not every tour company provides sleeping bags for whilst you are on the beach so being prepared is definitely a key to attending this event and packing appropriately.
Finding You A Travel Companion!
Finally, and from our perspective always worth while, is that the best reason to start looking, thinking and organising early is so that if you do want us as Shoalhaven Solo Sisters (or My Travel Expert) to find someone else who is interested in travelling to the event of your choice, then the more notice you give the more chances we have of being able to find someone for you from our database and possible pool of travellers. If you let us know 12 months, or 9 months out that “hey I really want to attend Naadam in Mongolia” , then we have a chance at finding you a travel parter. Where as if you come to us 3 months before the event is due to take place the possibility of us finding someone, let alone someone who will be willing to pay an inflated price for booking closer to the event, is far, far, less probable.
So, if you are thinking about attending an event somewhere around the world, remember to get in touch with us early to ensure your arrangements are organised to meet your desires, and an affordable budget!
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- Australian Open, Melbourne
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- Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh
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- Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh
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- Carnival, Rio de Janeiro
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- Carnival, Rio de Janeiro
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- Calgary Stampede, Calgary
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- Ice Festival, Harbin
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- Ice Festival, Harbin
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- Mass Games, Pyongyang
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- Mass Games, Pyongyang
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- Oktoberfest, Munich
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- Oktoberfest, Munich
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- Easter Mass, Vatican City
Hong Kong – A Shopping Tour, Not Just for the Ladies
Now, we realise that we have often (and repeatedly) stressed that the main focus of all our trips and tours are for the single ladies who wish to travel but who don’t have anyone to travel with. This is, in essence, totally true. This is not though, wholly whom our market is. All our group departures, Hong Kong, Europe, Canada, Norfolk .. wherever, are built not just for us to match single travellers up, but for couples, or friends who are looking to get away in good company.
Now our upcoming Tour to Hong Kong (labelled as a shopping tour) is indeed focused towards the shopaholic, in part, we have left plenty of free time for shopping, and our day tours to Macau and Shenzen will spend some time taking in the best shopping in those areas. There are though a number of inclusions and things to do for those whom shopping holds no thrall.
Our first major day in Hong Kong after arrival for example we don’t spend shopping, we spend the day taking in the Highlights of Hong Kong, followed by an evening Junk Cruise and a fantastic traditional dinner. Later in the Week we take you our for a night at the Happy Valley Racecourse, and even the trips to Shenzen and Macau take in a number of cultural and historic sites before our “shopping visits”.
Now, whilst many of the travellers may end up visiting the shopping malls and retail centres during the free days, there is plenty for those not interested in shopping to do. There are any number of cultural and historic sights visited not in the day tours, there are Art, Maritime and Heritage Museums, there is always Disneyland for the adventurous, and a number of parks and reserves, Golf Courses, walking trails, scuba diving and more.
Hong Kong is a perfect introductory stop for those who are thinking or a longer tour through China, or for those who are considering a trip to somewhere in Asia but want a smoother introduction than a few weeks in Nepal, India or Cambodia.
Right now we can offer our package at AU$3397 per person share twin, which is a discount of AU$572 from the published rate you will see if you go to the tour page. So if an introduction to the Orient interests you, be you a single looking for someone to travel with, a pair of mates, or a couple looking for an easy going getaway .. then get in touch with us today.
My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters 