Travel Planning

Welcome to
A note from Craig Platt, Editor
This week marks a milestone in the evolution of
Traveller as we launch traveller.com.au -
For more than seven years,
a website for those who love travel of all kinds, whether it be an epic
overseas adventure, a relaxing escape to a resort, a memorable cruise trip
or a simple short break for a weekend.
Traveller.com.au features thousands of inspirational articles, informative
tips and expert reviews from our wide range of experienced writers.
We’ll also offer you the best travel deals of the week, spectacular imagery
from around the world and an events calendar to help you plan where to
go, when.
Our experts have all aspects of travel covered. Michael Gebicki, the
Tripologist, will answer the questions all travellers want answered, Lee
Tulloch covers wish-list high-end travel, Tracey Spicer offers advice for
1. The sections
Traveller has been inspiring Australians by
delivering superior writing, beautiful photography
and independent, expert advice every weekend.
Now these much-loved travel articles, reviews and
destination guides have a fresh new home online
with the launch of Australia’s most comprehensive
travel website, Traveller.com.au. Designed for mobile
and desktop, the site is your destination for travel
inspiration at home or on-the-go.
Destinations, experiences, travel planning,
reviews, deals and cruises - Traveller.com.au has
five key sections to ensure we have all your travel
needs covered.
2. Search
We’ve all got a bucket list. That’s why we’ve made
search prominent throughout the site so you can
easily find what you are looking for and where you
want to go.
And there’s much, much more: a vast
accommodation review database in partnership
with TripAdvisor; dedicated destination guides with
things to do and places to stay, a monthly travel
planning calendar and experience pages to suit all
holiday types whether it’s trekking in Burma – or
lazing by the pool in the Whitsundays.
3. Our team
Traveller boasts a line-up of some of the most
experienced travel writers and contributors in
Australia. Our team includes resident backpacker
Ben Groundwater, family holiday guru Tracey
Spicer, cruise connoisseur Sally Macmillan, luxury
traveller Lee Tulloch and our very own Tripologist
Michael Gebicki.
We hope Traveller.com.au inspires, entices and
informs, and above all provides you with the tools
to turn your dreams into reality with advice from
Australia’s most experinced travel writers. This is
your destination for travel inspiration and it’s all at
Traveller.com.au. Let us know what you think.
4. Photo galleries
What better way to dream about travel than
through beautiful photos from around the world.
We have continued with rich imagery and a
magazine-style design throughout the site to get
you inspired for your next holiday.
holidaying families and globetrotter Ben Groundwater offers his unique
perspective from the edgy side of travelling.
Our thousands of articles are categorised not only by the destinations they
cover, but also by the type of experience offered. Seeking a beach escape?
Head to our Beaches and Islands section. Look for a gourmet experience?
Our Food and Wine section will whet your appetite. Want to know what’s
hot in cruising? We’ve got both ocean and river cruising covered.
Take some time to explore the site and tell us what you think.
Email us at travel@fairfaxmedia.com.au or visit our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/travellerAU
Destinations
Experiences
Traveller.com.au boasts over 700
destination travel guide pages.
These hubs feature everything
travellers need to know from
things to do and places to stay to
unique activities and breathtaking
experiences within that location.
This section of the site spans
international and domestic
destination. Be transported to the
wild Kimberley Coast in Western
Australia or a sun lounge on the
Cote d’Azur in France, with a
mimosa in hand.
Traveller.com.au is for those who
love travel of all kinds, from the
adventurous types who are not
afraid to get off the beaten track
to relaxed holidaymakers who
would prefer to chill out on the
beach with their families. That’s
why we have created dedicated
experience pages to showcase the
best holidays in their categories
including adventure, beach,
cruising, culture, family, food
& wine, luxury, ski, weekend
getaways and wellbeing.
5. Deals
Who doesn’t love a deal? These curated deals are
hand selected by the Traveller editorial team and
are updated on a weekly basis.
Travel Planning
Reviews
The Travel Planning section is
home to all the advice you will
need to assist in your holiday
preparation. We understand
planning your next trip can be
stressful so here you will find all
the important information you
need to know before you go, the
latest travel gadgets and the best
products to match your
holiday type.
We know as travellers, you want
transparent and credible travel
advice and reviews. This is why we
have partnered with tripadvisor
across our 1500 accommodation
reviews and counting. Featured on
each review article are the latest
user reviews from Trip Advisor
and an our newly introduced
expert Traveller.com.au rating
providing you with the tools to
make the most suitable choices
for your holiday.
7. Experiences
If you are just leisurely looking for inspiration you
can browse by holiday type by using the clickable
experience icons including adventure, beach,
cruising, culture, family, food & wine, luxury, ski,
weekend getaways and wellbeing. These dedicated
experience pages will showcase the best holidays
in their categories.
In partnership with
6. Where to go this month calendar
A key feature on the homepage is the interactive
‘where to go this month’ calendar where you can
discover events from around Australia and the
world each month. Time to start planning.
How has the internet changed the world of travel?
Tracey Spicer
For families, the internet has changed
the world of travel irrevocably. Children
now have the tools to help plan, and
share, their holidays. Using educational
and entertaining apps such as Bound
Round kids can live blog, create digital
photo albums, and learn more about the
destinations.
Ben Groundwater
You never need lose touch with anyone
from your travels again. That couple
you met in Antarctica? They're your
friends on Facebook. The crazy guy you
hung out with in India? He's following
you on Instagram. The woman you
bonded with over vodka shots on the
Trans-Monglian? She's on Twitter.
Sally MacMillan
How did we manage without Google?
I think it's replacing our brains … the
internet in general is a wonderful tool
for research before you go anywhere,
for communicating with friends and
family when you're travelling - and
when you’ve arrived.
Michael Gebicki
It’s given the mouse the power to roar,
put wings on our wildest dreams, and
legs on our passions. The minarets of
Samarkand, a gulet cruise along the
Turkish coast, an apartment on Paris’
Ile Saint-Louis – all booked from your
armchair with just a few clicks.
Lee Tulloch
The upside of the internet - travellers
have the power to make their dreams
happen themselves by researching
and creating their own itineraries. The
downside? Seeing the world through too
many devices and not our own eyes.
Lance Richardson
So much in travel already looks like
magic: airplanes, biometric passports,
lightweight tents, those towel animals
on cruise ships. The internet is one
more magician’s trick. How does
it work? Who knows! But it makes
anything seem possible.