Reviews & advice
Opinion
Russia
This amazing country is now off-limits, but I want to go back
I’ve met so many lovely, kind people in Russia and I know you can’t take media reports or DFAT warnings as the absolute truth.
- by Ben Groundwater
★★★★
Hotel reviews
New Melbourne hotel feels like New York meets ... Collingwood
- by Guy Wilkinson
Luxury resort offers Wes Anderson-level whimsy on Vietnam’s coast
We’ve arrived at Heaven. No, I’m not being hyperbolic. The dreamy Intercontinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort is broken up into Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea.
- by Katherine Scott
★★½
Airline reviews
Airline review: Excess baggage causes dramas on this flight
Upon arrival we are informed that 100 bags were offloaded prior to departure, including mine.
- by Christine Retschlag
Opinion
Tips & advice
Do some countries deserve our tourist dollars more than others?
When it comes to choosing a country to travel to, no nation is without sin (even Australia). Where do you draw the line?
- by Lee Tulloch
Why your boarding pass should always be kept top secret
Ever snapped an image of your airline boarding pass and posted it to social media? Some do, and it’s not hard to find them.
- by Michael Gebicki
Are Boeing 737s still safe to fly?
It’s been a rocky road for giant US aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
- by Michael Gebicki
Opinion
Tripologist
Tripologist: Will my tattoos offend the locals in Japan?
Tattooed bodies were traditionally banned from Japan’s onsens and bathhouses due to their negative associations with criminality and gang affiliations.
- by Michael Gebicki
Opinion
USA
My shocking arrival in the US: Border security was nice to me
Passing through the borders at US airports used to give me nightmares, but something seems to have changed. Or perhaps I have.
- by Steve Madgwick
Nudity and death stares: 10 things we’ll never understand about Germany
Germany has a lot going for it as a travel destination, but some of its cultural habits will make travellers scratch their heads in bemusement.
- by Brian Johnston
★★★★
Airport reviews
It’s one of the best airports in the world - I wish I was stuck here longer
If you’re flying out of Incheon International be sure to arrive at least three hours before your flight to enjoy the facilities and entertainment.
- by Kristie Kellahan
Beware this trap with your passport next time you travel
I had the opportunity for a trip to South-East Asia at short notice. But when I checked the entry requirements, I realised I had a problem.
- by Kristie Kellahan