Ian McIntosh's top travel deals - UK Rail Deals

Some interesting journeys for you rail buffs this week if you are heading to the UK. 

PONANT’s Arctic 2028 season is now open. Book early and save up to 30% as you plan your journey to the Far North. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes, extraordinary wildlife and French hospitality aboard the company’s intimate expedition ships.

BRITANNIC EXPLORER is the answer for you rail buffs who love to explore in style at a slower pace. Departing from London, the train’s three routes take you on three or six-night journeys through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, the Lake District, and Wales.

BRITISH PULLMAN is another option - the company has just released details of Celia, a new private dining and events carriage imagined and designed by visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. This restored 1920s train has sheltered royalty and been a star of the silver screen. Each whimsically-named carriage has a story to tell. Itineraries include The Golden Age of Travel by steam. Or, how about the great British Sunday lunch as the world rumbles  by. 

WEBJET’s one way flight deals to Europe include MAS from $915 and China Eastern Rome from $1030. Check the details carefully. 

AIR TAHITI NUI is advertising special fares from Sydney to Tahiti and beyond - but you need to be quick. Depart direct from Sydney to Tahiti (from 15 December 2026)  or continue to the islands beyond with connecting flights included in one seamless booking. This offers ends on  6 June 2026.

HELLOWORLD is promoting AFL grand final packages in association with My Way Travel events. Included is two nights accommodation, a grand final eve function and level one seating. No idea of prices but they are sure to be scary.

QATAR AIRWAYS is expanding its network with flights to Bogotá and Caracas, starting 22 July 2026.

TRADE ONLY: 

ATIA says The collapse of AVG Tours is a direct consequence of the gaps that exist when accreditation is not prioritised. If travel businesses are not ATIA-accredited or are choosing to work with suppliers and partners who are not accredited,they are creating the conditions for operators like this to exist and grow. "That is a risk to your business. It is a risk to your customers."

Interline Travel’s newsletter this week covers the release of 2027 rates for Emerald River Cruises, offering excellent value for those who like to plan ahead and secure the best cabins and itineraries early. "We also have availability on the exclusive Emerald Ocean Yachts. These intimate luxury vessels deliver

a genuine five-star-plus experience,” says Stephen West.  

The Travel Industry Club is highlighting HX journeys that go beyond iconic cities and tourist highlights, exploring remote communities and hidden landscapes that few travellers ever experience. Industry deals include Alaska – Inside Passage, Bears & Aleutian Islands - 19 nights, Serene Greenland - 9 nights,  Grand Greenland: The Icy Giants of Disko Bay - 13 nights and Realms of the Polar Bear from Oslo - 13 nights. 

Remember conditions always apply to these specials. Check airline prices from your capital city. I recommend you use a travel agent - and travel insurance is essential. Finally I make mistakes like all of us. Check websites to confirm details. Want to join our mailing list? Send a request to ianmac@travelagentupdate.com. Ian McIntosh is Australia’s senior traveller. We have no commercial relationship with any operator. Our Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/top10traveloz/

Ian McIntosh's Top Travel Deals - Five Nations

CROOKED COMPASS invites you to fully explore the Silk Road crossing  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Together, they form what historians have called the engine room of human civilisation: the crossroads where East met West. The 27 day tours have a max of 12 travellers. https://mailchi.mp/crooked-compass/europe-empties-this-is-where-you-go-instead-7515301?e=c4bb94f7cf

Ian McIntosh's Top Travel Deals - Europe Deals and Tips

While the Aussie dollar is a little stronger against most overseas currencies - you will be slugged with a new departure tax soon. 

IFLY has some value fares to Europe including Rome from $1557 and London from $1580. Check the conditions though - particularly transit times.

Ian McIntosh's Top Travel Deals - Travelodge deals

It seems the expected last minute rush to book flights from Australia to Europe later in the year has not happened - and most of the traffic to Europe is now going via Asia. That means the big Middle East operators like Emirates will have some good fares on the market soon - particularly if the war finally ends.

TRAVELODGE eclub members planning a city getaway this winter take note.  Enjoy a two-night stay from just $269, with bonus inclusions at each location for added comfort. Book before 18 May 2026 to secure your getaway that includes Travelodge Melbourne Docklands from $340 for two nights. 

Ian McIntosh's top travel deals - Mongolia’s The Naadam Festival

Ready to be amazed? How about experiencing Mongolia’s The Naadam Festival offering everything from archery and wrestling to the thunder of horses. Departure is July 4 with prices from $7,456. 

CROOKED COMPASS invites you to witness a ceremony of identity that has endured through empires, revolutions, and the march of the modern world. Mongolia’s The Naadam Festival is listed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. It is a nation's memory made physical through nomadic sports of archery, wrestling, and the thunder of horses celebrated across the country. Departure is July 4 with prices from $7456. Tours have a max of 12 people. 

Nesuto Hotels and Apartments is offering travellers 25 per cent off winter stays across its Australian and New Zealand portfolio, including Nesuto Docklands in Melbourne, Nesuto Parramatta in Sydney, and Nesuto St Martins in Auckland. Discounted rates start from $185 at Nesuto Docklands (normally $240 per room per night). More details,  www.nesuto.com/winterstays

HELLOWORLD is promoting an APT Travel deal - 13-day Vietnam and Cambodia highlights, including a seven-night Mekong River cruise priced from $4995pp twin share - a claimed saving of $4200pp. Departure is July 25, 2026.

WEBJET has Asia and Pacific Island holiday packages on sale. Have a look at the Go Somewhere specials and select the deal from your capital city. Check conditions carefully.

NT EVENT packages are on sale for the BASSINTHEGRASS music festival, the betr Darwin Triple Crown Supercars, Test Cricket and MXGP. The cost of from $919 includes event tickets. Here is the events guide: https://a.storyblok.com/f/286255898790625/x/c1d793ec19/tntcs-001458-festivals-_-events-2026-v10-april.pdf

IMAGINE CRUISING has an excellent deal if you are interesting in cruising from the UK to Sydney aboard Cunard’s new Queen Anne. Departing January 9, 2028 - prices start at  $9,999pp for a 46-night full-board voyage, a one-night, four-star hotel stay in London, a complimentary flight from Australia, and all taxes and transfers. 

AMAWATERWAYS  is introducing a limited-time Cruise & Fly promotion, combining more than 300 selected river cruise itineraries across Europe and Asia with return international airfares. Examples include Grand Rhine & Dutch Canals (14 nights) - Cruise through the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and Switzerland, starting or ending in Amsterdam. The price of from $9,678pp includes the 14-night cruise and return international flights.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES has released special fares to top Asian destinations including Kuala Lumpur from $888 and Bangkok from $876. The sale ends May 20 for travel until November 18. 

137 PILLARS HOTELS & RESORTS invite you to experience this luxury boutique hotel brand through exclusive Thai Resident Rates across Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Step into timeless elegance at 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, where a beautifully restored 130-year-old teak homestead anchors an intimate 30-key sanctuary surrounded by lush tropical gardens.

PELAGO has one day tickets for the F1 Singapore Grand Prix from October 9-11. Use code RACE1000 and get a bonus 1000 KrisFlyer miles.

HERTZ suggests you book your next car rental via Virgin Australia for a chance to win 1 million Velocity Points. Book your Hertz car by 29 May 2026 for travel on or before 31 August 2026 to enter for a chance to win.

PONANT has released its 2028 Kimberley program with a special incentive. Explore one of Australia’s last true wilderness frontiers and enjoy 30% bonus savings.

WENDY WU TOURS  has launched a global sale across its entire touring portfolio offering savings of up to $2,000 pp across 2026/27 tours.

FROM LAST WEEK:

UTRACKS advises travellers planning to walk the Camino de Santiago in 2027 to lock in current pricing which has been held at 2026 levels across more than 40 itineraries in Spain and Portugal. More details, https://www.utracks.com/themes/camino/camino-price-lock

PONANT EXPLORATIONS free Solo Supplement is now available on more than 240 voyages worldwide. Discover extraordinary destinations ranging from Antarctica to The Kimberley.

JUST YOU - the specialist solo tour operator - has introduced a range of new tours for 2027 including a southern Spanish sojourn, a Sicilian immersion, a seven-day visit to Scandinavia, and a coastal Canadian adventure.

NRMA PARKS is on sale until May 11 for stays until August 31, 2026. There are savings available on powered and unpowered sites as well as cabins and villas across a network of around 50 holiday destinations.

FINNAIR will operate out of Melbourne from October. The carrier invites you to experience the thrill of skiing in Kittilä or Kuusamo, admire the Northern Lights inside a glass igloo at Ivalo or enjoy the all-year Christmas spirit in Rovaniemi.

AIR MAURITIUS has confirmed the return to three weekly services between Perth and Mauritius, effective July 2026. The new service supports improved onward connections via Mauritius to destinations across Africa and Europe.

VIKING’s 2028‑2029 expedition voyages are now open for booking. Enjoy select savings when you book by 30‍ June‍ 2026 and if you book this month your past guest discount is automatically doubled.

VIKING cruises has the answer to long, tiring and increasingly expensive overseas flights. Adult only cruises from Sydney circumnavigate Australia, New Zealand or Japan and journey through Southeast Asia. Book now and for a limited time, save up to 35% across selected ocean voyages.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES has a great deal if you are going to stopover in KL. Double your adventure and enjoy a flight to one of eight local destinations at no extra fare – just pay the taxes.

CHINA EASTERN heads back to Adelaide from June 21 2026. Enjoy free inflight Wi-Fi and non-stop services to Shanghai and beyond, including great connections to Beijing from $680, London from $962. Flights are on sale now via www.ceair.com. Conditions apply. How good is the service? I will find out in June.


TRADE ONLY: 

Breakaway Travel Club has released AMA Waterways 2026 interline rates. Availability is limited and sales are available until further notice.

The Travel Industry Club is featuring updated industry rates from Azamara. With four intimate, luxurious ships hosting around 700 guests each, Azamara offers a more personal and immersive journey.

Interline Travel:  Kimberley - last call for 2026 on Seabourn and Silversea, more rates from Windstar (Tahiti, Alaska and the Med) and Uniworld updates 5 star river cruise rates.

AmaWaterways has unveiled a new Cruise & Fly offering for guests in Australia and New Zealand making it easier than ever to book a complete river cruise journey in one place. For the first time, guests and travel advisors can now book international flights directly through AmaWaterways’ Sydney-based reservations team, alongside their river cruise, benefiting from competitive airfares, expert support and a fully integrated booking experience. For advisors, it’s about saving time, adding value for clients, and having confidence that everything is taken care of in one booking.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA), with a line-up that includes both familiar and refreshed categories. In 2026, 36 categories will recognise excellence across the industry, as ATIA continues to adapt the awards to reflect the evolving travel industry.  The awards will be presented at the NTIA Gala Dinner on October 10 in Melbourne, following the Beyond Borders Summit and Finalist Celebration on October 9.

Roam by Tauck has opened bookings for its 2027 portfolio of journeys, expanding the brand to a total of 12 itineraries worldwide. The expanded collection across land, river and small ship cruising introduces seven new itineraries in Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Mozambique, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, and California. According to Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh: "We're seeing strong early interest in 2027 departures from our travel advisors”. 

Specialist solo tour operator Just You has launched a ‘Holiday Assurance Guarantee’, allowing travellers to amend their booking as many times as required up to 75 days prior to departure without any amendment fees. The guarantee is valid on new bookings made until May 31 and for tours departing in 2026. Conditions apply.

Tickets are now available for ATIA’s  Beyond Borders on the Road Brisbane on May 20. For a limited time, members can secure their spot for just $55. Brisbane is the second stop in a national series building towards ATIA’s flagship Beyond Borders summit later in the year.

ELEMENTS OF BYRON has confirmed that there is a clear shift in Australia this year toward destinations that deliver that “island holiday” feeling… without long-haul flights. The beachfront resort offers cocktails by the pool, spa time, surf, great food and nature - all within easy reach.

Remember conditions always apply to these specials. Check airline prices from your capital city. I recommend you use a travel agent - and travel insurance is essential. Finally I make mistakes like all of us. Check websites to confirm details. Want to join our mailing list? Send a request to ianmac@travelagentupdate.com. Ian McIntosh is Australia’s senior traveller. We have no commercial relationship with any operator.