Australia Travel Blog: Melbourne Highlights & Impressions

Melbourne Travel Blog: Part 1

At the MEL Airport

I expected to meet live immigration officers at the Melbourne Airport Tullamarine Airport (MEL). But all the necessary immigration formalities were done by a SmartGates automated machine. I obtained my Australian Electronic Travel Authority or ETA online months before my trip, which is just an electronic visa for Canadians.

At one point when I was walking, a police dog came to my luggage and started sniffing. I stopped and let him sniff, but he lost interest right away and moved onto sniffing someone else.

The whole airport process went so fast and smooth that I thought I missed something. So I asked the standing immigration officer near the exit gate if there was something else. He pointed me to the exit gate and I was relieved.

First Hour in Melbourne

Once I found my relatives at the airport, we headed for the parking lot. The first thing I noticed was that it was not as warm as I was expecting. I was coming from Singapore, so expected hot and humid weather. But it was rather cool and even a light jacket would be appropriate.

If you are a world traveler, you know the feeling the first few hours in a new country. I was trying to notice everything surrounding me to my heart’s content.

Vehicles operate on the left side of the road and drivers sit on the right side, which is opposite than North America. Road and highway signs and markings look noticeably different than Canada as well.

Destination Wyndham Vale

We were heading towards Wyndham Vale, which is a suburb of Melbourne with 25,000 population. It took about 35 to 40 minutes to reach. Wyndham Vale reminded me of suburbs of Toronto like Ajax or Markham.

The first thing I noticed was that average houses are smaller than Canada and tress or plants are different too due to the hot weather. I noticed lots of birds and crows and their chirping was loud.

Melbourne Travel Blog: Part 2

Scoot Airlines Review: Instead of Buying Business Class, Do This.

Scoot Flight: Singapore to Melbourne Boeing 787-800

This leg of my four-country trip from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia, I decided to fly a low-cost flight instead of business class. Singapore Airlines’ subsidiary Scoot seemed to be a good option.

I was contemplating Scoot’s business class called Scoot Biz, but decided to go for Scoot in Silence. And I was glad I did.

My flight was 3 hours late. But the delay appeared on the screen at the last moment when people were already at the counter. There was no one from Scoot to be found anywhere to confirm the delay. I saw that some people started sleeping on floor at the waiting area near the gate counter because it was already midnight.

After a long wait, I boarded the plane and was happy that I chose Scoot in Silence. It costed me around $80 for the seat selection in the Scoot in Silence quiet zone. I had my seat right behind the business class section after the divider. There was no one in front of me and even the seats next to me were empty.

Scoot in Silence does not allow kids under 12 and the seats are better than economy with 34-inch peach rather than 31-inch regular economy. And being in the 1st front row bulkhead seat in Scoot in Silence, I had no one sitting in front of me and I literally had infinite leg stretch space.

The Scoot Biz cabin was right in front of me and I noticed the seats are not lie-flat business class; it’s more like premium economy. They just have a little more space in between and in front compared to my seat. Definitely it’s not worth paying extra for business class. You will get the best value for your money if you spend around $80 (Canadian) and pick a seat in the Scoot in Silence zone, especially where there are no seats are in front of you.

I ordered food online months ahead and its quality was not bad. The overall cleanliness of the aircraft exceeded my expectations, including the bathrooms, and I did not find anything to complain about.

 Except for the delay and the absence of anyone from Scoot to properly communicate with the customers, everything else was a pleasant experience, and I won’t mind flying again with Scoot.

How to Get from Singapore Changi Airport to Downtown or City Hotels

Singapore Airport to Downtown Hotels

There are many ways you can get to Singapore city or downtown hotels from the airport. Some of these options are expensive. Today, I will talk about the best and cheapest way to reach your hotel from Singapore airport.

Taking the City shuttle costs only $9 and it will take you to most of the downtown hotels or city centre. Once you pass immigration and customs, look for the City Shuttle concierge desk near the exit gates. If you can’t find it, ask someone or look for a huge red fan on the ceiling. The concierge desk is near the big, red fan.

You will have to purchase your ticket using the self-service kiosks. If you need help, just ask the concierge and they will show you how to buy a ticket.

Once purchased, wait near the concierge desk. The driver will come and pick you up. The city shuttle runs every 15-30 minutes. You can also book your return trip from the hotel to the airport with the driver or by calling their phone #. Check the Singapore Airport Website for updated information.

My trips on the city shuttle both times (airport to the hotel and back) were pleasant. I was the only one on the shuttle and the driver gave me a lot of information about Singapore. So it was like I paid only $9 each time but had better experience than taking a taxi.

I have a video on the whole process. Watch it here and you will see how easy, cheap, and efficient taking the city shuttle from Singapore’s airport to the city.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico; A Perfect Vacation Spot

The Beautiful City Of Cabo San Lucas Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is located on the Baja Peninsula Tip in Mexico. It is most commonly known for its beautiful scenery, luxurious hotels and thriving nightlife. So if you are thinking about visiting Cabo San Lucas on your next vacation, read on to find out all the essential information to make your trip more enjoyable. 
There are several ways to get to Cabo San Lucas, depending on where you are departing from. It has its own small airport located 4 miles out of town. It only serves domestic flights to other cities in Mexico. If you are coming from the United States or an international country then you may have to catch a flight to Manual Marquez De Leon International Airport, which is located in La Pez. It can also be reached via the highways which run through the country, and is a great place to stop off if you are going on a road trip. 
Cabo San Lucas is the perfect place to relax and Unwind. Many of the hotels offer special spa packages so you can get pampered in the most luxurious surroundings. A beautiful coastline stretches along Cab San Lucas, which features picture perfect white sandy beaches as well as amazing cliffs and secret hidden coves. If you are a bit more adventurous then you may want to try out some water-sports such as jet-skiing or banana boating. There are also day and night fishing trips which can be booked through your hotel or travel agent and make a nice day out for all the family. 
A great way to explore the area is to hire your own rental car. If you book in advance you can collect it from the airport you arrive at, or at a specific downtown location. A rental car gives you the freedom to travel where you want when you want – without having to depend on unreliable public transportation or expensive taxi’s. It will also allow you to escape from the crowds and visit areas of natural beauty that are off the tourist trail. 
If you really want to see how the other half live, then it is worth visiting the Los Cabos corridor. This 30km stretch of coastal land is home to some stunning houses owned by the rich and the famous. There are also many Golf courses along the corridor, some are membership only, but other allow one day passes – so you can test out your golfing skills. 
And when the sun sets, Cabo San Lucas turns into a vibrant playground with a great party atmosphere. There are many prestigious bars, where you can enjoy a relaxing drink. Or if you fancy something more crazy why not check out the large clubs where young and beautiful party revellers dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning. Cabo San Lucus does really have it all, so whether you are going for a short weekend away with your friends, or a romantic long break with your partner – you are sure to have a great time. Enjoy your vacation!

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Travelnowsimply.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to Entrepreneur Journey site. This article originally published on the above website on Feb 27, 2010.

Family Skiing in New Zealand

Vacations and Holidays in New Zealand

Deciding on the perfect family holiday when you have children in early to late teens can be something of a challenge, with children not yet independent but wanting to spread their wings. One of the best family friendly holidays, and one where parents can relax, knowing that their children are safely occupied, and are enjoying themselves very much, is by booking a skiing holiday in New Zealand.

There are many family ski packages available, both budget and deluxe, which include beginners and advanced ski tuition, with all the equipment that you will need available for hire, package deals for all transport needs, and a variety of different types of family accommodation, from chalet rooms to self- catering apartments.

The New Zealand ski season lasts from about June until November, and both islands have family ski resorts with package deals on offer. Ski areas include The Remarkables Range near Queenstown, offering 220 skiable hectares in a 700 hectare reserve. Coronet Peak is a ski field also close to Queenstown – with easy beginner slopes to more difficult runs, Coronet Peak offers skiing and boarding, equipment hire and a snow sport school.

Cardrona is in the centre of the Southern Alps and offers chalet accommodation for families and great apre ski evening entertainment at the Cardrona Hotel, with shuttles from Wanaka and Queenstown, equipment hire and a snow sport school. Mount Hutt is another option, only 25k from Methven and close to Christchurch, Mount Hutt offers accommodation, from 5 star to backpackers and family apartments, with a nightlife second to none. Mount Hutt offers skiing, boarding and heli skiing, and has a six seater summit chair lift. Whatever your preference for a healthy outdoor family skiing holiday, there will be a resort in New Zealand to suit your needs and style.

Complete package deals including airfares, transfers, accommodation, and ski slope bookings can easily be purchased. Skiing holidays offer the challenge of learning to ski by day. There are also snowboarding options and other snow sport activities that will be guaranteed to challenge the kids and perhaps wear them out a bit. Adult parents can either take up the challenge of skiing, shop at boutique shops or take photos of outstanding scenic views and simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery. With a New Zealand skiing holiday you will get all the relaxation of an out of doors holiday without a lot of travelling, and using the shuttle services. You will enjoy cozy, after ski family style entertainment, with musicians, good café or restaurant meals, enjoy bars, and pubs and quiz nights that will keep the family fully entertained and amused in a nice old-fashioned way. There are ski lessons for everyone, beginners and advanced, easy slopes to practice on, and all equipment is for hire. All that you need to do is to put in some training, so that you can bend ze nees, and you are guaranteed a fun, family holiday that everyone will enjoy, skiing in New Zealand.

To streamline and minimize blog maintenance, I will be discontinuing maintaining the Travelnowsimply.com website (however, I will still hold the domain). I will gradually move all articles from this site to Ahmed Dawn Dot Com site. This article originally published on the above website on Feb 4, 2010.