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TravelManagers Australia

TravelManagers operates in all Australian States and is a wholly owned subsidiary of House of Travel. Since first opening in New Zealand in 1986 and its arrival in Australia in 2007, House of Travel has grown into the largest independent travel company in Australasia. TravelManagers is a sister company to Hoot Holidays, also owned by House of Travel, and has a network of personal travel managers in all states and territories throughout Australia with a dedicated support team at the company’s national partnership office in Sydney. This means that not only do our personal travel managers have access to amazing travel deals, but customers are provided with the security that their money is secure through the booking process. TravelManagers places all customer money in a dedicated and audited Client Trust Account which is separate from the general business accounts, ensuring client funds are secure and only used for client purchases.

As individual as you are

Whether you’re planning an annual break, a bucket list holiday or your next business trip, a personal travel manager will make it a wonderful experience. With personal travel managers having on average over 20 years’ travel experience each, they will take care of all your travel arrangements and provide that insider information to save you time and create a trip that is tailored just for you.

What’s a personal travel manager?

Think of a personal travel manager the way you’d think of your mortgage broker, a personal trainer or financial planner – they’re here to help you achieve a specific goal in their field of expertise. They get to know you, understand what your needs and priorities are and provide a service which is suitable for you. In this case, it’s travel. And whether you’re travelling for business or for fun, your personal travel manager will work closely with you to create a tailor-made trip that’s as individual as you are.

Other businesses may call them travel agents or travel advisors, but we prefer personal travel manager (PTM) because of the highly personalised service they provide to their clients. Regardless of what we call them, this handy information sheet by the Australia Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) highlights some of the key aspects in understanding the role of a PTM and the legal relationships between consumer, PTM and Travel Providers.

More about TravelManagers Australia

The Value of a PTM

The Australian travel industry’s most respected and highly-awarded home-based travel advisor network. This is evident through the awards and accolades we have achieved.

A summary of why you can trust TravelManagers and its Australia-wide personal travel manager network with your hard earned money.

Travel starts long before you leave home. Researching and booking all your arrangements can be time consuming and overwhelming. Leave that to your personal travel manager (or PTM for short).

10 Reasons Why You Need a Personal Travel Manager

Whether you’re planning your annual family beach holiday, a short break with friends, or a once-in-a-lifetime epic adventure, choosing to book with an experienced personal travel manager (PTM) could transform your holiday from enjoyable to exceptional… Here’s why:

What our clients are saying

"Andrea's attention to detail consistently delivered wonderful travel experiences. Every flight, tour and accommodation booking was made with a real understanding of our expectations and needs." - Anthony & Terri

"We had an amazing time and everything went according to plan. Thank you for all your efforts in arranging this holiday for us. We will certainly be in touch for our next adventure." - Lynn and Graham

You deserve a personal travel manager

You can search from hundreds of personal travel managers across the country, based on your location and travel preferences.

TravelManagers Australia Pty Ltd – Memberships and Accreditations

We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.

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House of Travel Ellerslie

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Welcome to House of Travel Ellerslie

We are a team of friendly, knowledgeable and professional travel consultants who believe that working together will help you find the best travel experience that money can buy.

Ours is a diverse and experienced team, led by Owner Operator Tania Matselskaya. Our heritage ranges from Canada to Croatia, and Belarus to India. We have flown, sailed, hiked, driven, toured and cruised our way to many of the world's key destinations.

We think every holiday is special, and every journey is unique, and understand everyone we meet is looking for us to create an amazing travel experience.

Not content with offering amazing holidays? We also offer our services for business travel and group travel. Come in to meet us in person or contact us today to start your journey with House of Travel Ellerslie.

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Tania Matselskaya

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Call (02) 8062 6400 Contact us

TravelManagers is part of the House of Travel family, the largest independent travel company in Australasia.

Founder and chair, Chris Paulson had a vision in 2005 and the company set its sights on building Australia’s premium home-based travel network.

The internet and related technology, together with 24/7 remote access and centralised systems paved the way for people to work at home. And the future of travel consulting without a traditional retail shop was born. Just like in the banking industry, you think ‘personal banker or mortgage broker’, or in the fitness industry you think ‘personal trainer’, the future for travel is a ‘personal travel manager’.

Today, our national network of over 450 home-based and mobile personal travel managers create bespoke experiences. Clients see the real benefits of personalised and convenient service, with all the technology and back office systems that a ‘traditional’ retail agent provides.

More than ever, clients are looking for security and someone they can call on if the need arises during their travels.

Meet our people, discover the 50+ people in our support team at the National Partnership office. Hear testimonials from our personal travel managers and discover more about Australia’s premium home-based travel network.

• TravelManagers is an Australian company operating in all states of Australia and is the largest and most successful mobile travel advisor business.
• TravelManagers is a wholly-owned division of House of Travel, Australasia’s largest independent travel company.
• TravelManagers is accredited to IATA (International Air Transport Association) and is authorised to issue tickets on behalf of the trade body’s member airlines.
• TravelManagers is a member of ATIA (Australia Travel Industry Association) and ATAS.
• TravelManagers is a member of CLIA (the Cruise Lines International Association).
• TravelManagers is a member of CT Partners – the largest and most influential independent travel buying network in Australia.
• TravelManagers has the most comprehensive financial protections in the Australian travel industry. Find out about them here .

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Dangers for Aussie tourists in seemingly safe overseas hotspots

Some of our most beloved overseas destinations have travel warnings for risks and dangers many may not realise – and experts say it’s “frankly nuts” to not find out.

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Some of Australians’ most beloved overseas destinations have travel warnings for risks and dangers many tourists may not even realise.

What some Aussies may not realise is in countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, Thailand and Indonesia, travellers are warned to “exercise a high degree of caution”.

According to the Australian government these popular nations have more or higher risks than what you would typically find in a large Australian city.

Adrian Taylor, manager of general insurance at Compare the Market, said many Australians are booking holidays to these destinations based on what they’re seeing their friends, family, celebrities and influencers post on social media.

“In terms of celebrities or influencers, they may actually be getting paid to only highlight the best parts of a destination, while friends and family tend to focus on the fun or glamorous moments of their vacation,” he said.

“No matter where you’re travelling, our advice is to do your research and not just see these hotspots through rose-coloured glasses. No destination comes without its risks or dangers.”

Mr Taylor said it was important to note in most destinations, you won’t be covered by Medicare or your private health insurance if you fall ill or become injured — and the quality of healthcare or access to medical facilities may not be as great.

He said taking out travel insurance before a trip was vital.

The same advice was shared by Dr David Beirman, a senior lecturer in tourism and risk management at the University of Technology Sydney, who added “forewarned is forearmed”.

“It’s easier to research a travel destination than it’s ever been,” he said. “In the days when I started as a travel consultant in the 1980s people tended to be very highly reliant on travel agents to tell them what to expect.

“Anyone who travels blind is quite frankly nuts.”

Dr Beirman said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades’ Smartraveller website was a good place to start but it was important to research further about where in particular you were visiting within a country and what you planned to do there.

He said unfortunately with online booking these days, it was a risk people weren’t learning about the destination before they went. His big advice? Talk to someone who has been there.

See below the risks in countries you may be surprised to know currently carry a level two travel advice warning for Australians.

France is home to the iconic Eiffel Tower in the “City of Love” and famously glamorous beach resorts on the French Riviera, but romance and suntans is not all travellers have to worry about.

In March, France raised its terror alert warning to its highest level after the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, Russia. It comes not long before the Paris Olympics kicks off in July.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the decision was taken in light of “Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for the attack and the threats weighing on our country”.

Australians are warned to expect high-level security measures in places of worship, shopping centres and landmarks.

“Be cautious around locations known to be targets. Attacks could be indiscriminate and could occur anywhere without warning,” Smartraveller warns.

It also warns passport theft, pickpocketing, bag snatching, burglaries and muggins, are common, particularly in summer.

“Groups of thieves also operate on public transport, including busy metro lines that service tourist attractions and trains to/from the airports,” it says, adding criminals use children to help them.

Dr Beirman said his number one piece of advice was to “make sure your money belt is under your clothes and not sitting out like a big sign”.

“A lot of people go with what we call a bum bag and in my humble opinion that is the dumbest thing to do because it’s like saying to pickpockets ‘look here I am, here’s all my money.’”

Mr Taylor said Paris, Marseilles and Bordeaux were favourite cities for scammers and thieves.

“People may also not be aware that France has a history of protests and violent demonstrations,” My Taylor added.

“Even if you have travel insurance, your insurer won’t cover costs relating to these incidents, so avoid protests whenever possible and check local media to stay up to date with ongoing issues.”

Dr Beirman agreed it was important to avoid these protests.

“France is a lovely place but if you happen to be walking in the middle of a demonstration in the middle of Paris, it can get pretty hairy,” he said.

Indonesia is home to one of Australia’s most popular overseas destinations, Bali and it’s no surprise Aussies are the island’s top foreign visitors. But the country is made up of more than 17,000 islands.

And like France, terrorism is a major concern.

Smartraveller warns there is an ongoing risk of a terrorist attack, where popular tourist areas may be the target.

While nature is what makes Indonesia a stunning place to visit, it also presents dangers.

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis happen regularly as Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.

Mr Taylor said tourists should ensure their travel insurance covers natural disasters.

“As we’ve seen in the past, Bali is home to several few active volcanoes, most notably Mount Agung,” he said. “Volcanic eruptions can be life-threatening and the ash clouds they create can also disrupt air traffic and cause mass flight cancellations.

“Having travel insurance ahead of time can help cover the cost of cancellation in the event of a volcanic eruption.”

While tourists are letting their hair down, they should be aware of pickpocketing, drink spiking, and crimes involving taxis.

“Solo women are at higher risk. Be alert in taxis, public transport, crowds, bars and nightclubs,” Smartraveller warns.

It also advises travellers to check their safety equipment when doing adventure activities.

There is a higher travel advice level for Papua, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah and Papua Selatan due to the risk of serious security incidents or demonstrations that may turn violent.

Australians are advised to reconsider their need to travel to those provinces.

“Armed groups have stated that they’re targeting foreigners, including Australians,” it states.

Thailand is another Aussie favourite not too far away.

Terrorism is again an ongoing risk, particularly in popular tourist areas, and Thai authorities have warned of possible bombings on symbolic dates or holidays.

The most common safety issues are road accidents, floods and severe weather during the wet season, and scams, credit card fraud and ATM fraud are common.

Tourists are warned of sexual assault, assault, robbery and drink spiking.

“Stay with people you trust at parties, in bars, nightclubs and taxis,” Smartraveller warns.

Mr Taylor said petty theft and pickpocketing could be worse in areas around cheap accommodation like hostels or visiting busy areas like markets.

“Always keep valuables and personal effects locked up, safe and out of sight and be constantly vigilant when in transit,” he said.

“And while there’s a thriving night-life in many parts of the country, be aware that drink spiking is particularly common in the night-time entertainment zones in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.”

Anti-government protests in Bangkok and other areas of Thailand can turn violent and result in being arrested, while there is a higher travel advice level for the three most southern provinces of the Thailand-Malaysia border.

Due to low-level insurgent activity, Australians are advised to reconsider their need to travel to Yala province, Pattani province, and Narathiwat province.

Australian-born Mary Donaldson became the Queen of Denmark this year, putting the Scandinavian country back in the Aussie spotlight.

Tourists heading over there to check it out for themselves should keep a few things in mind.

Denmark’s terror threat level is “significant” with travellers advised to maintain high vigilance in public spaces and avoid crowds.

While serious crime is low, pickpockets often target people in tourist areas like on public transport, at national landmarks, museums, railway stations and restaurants.

There is one unique place in Copenhagen that Aussies must prepare for.

Christiania has its own flag, own national anthem, and even its own currency. Smartraveller warns you shouldn’t take photos there.

“Travellers have been assaulted and robbed for taking photographs,” it states.

Sweden is currently hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, prompting large protests.

On Thursday, local time, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied against Israel’s participation in the song contest.

Smartraveller advises tourists to avoid areas where protests are happening.

In August last year, Sweden raised the terror threat from “elevated” level three to “high” level four out of five, meaning the probability of an attack is high.

Tourists should maintain high vigilance in public spaces and take official warnings seriously.

Belgium is famous for its chocolate and beer culture but the terror threat level for the country, including the capital Brussels, remains at “serious” – level three of four – meaning there’s a possible and imminent threat.

“Terrorists have staged attacks and may plan more,” Smartraveller says. “Crowded places, such as music and cultural events, tourist areas, shopping areas, transport hubs, major sporting events and other public areas, are possible targets. Be vigilant in public places and follow the advice of local authorities. Report anything suspicious to the police.”

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United Kingdom

Aussies are instructed to “always be alert to terrorism” in the UK with the national threat level (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) considered “substantial” – level three of five.

A full list of travel warnings and advice levels for each country can be found at Smartraveller .

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Luxury All Inclusive Resorts in Barbados – Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados

This is an overview of Sandals Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados. Both resorts offer sharing privileges of all dining and activities. They are both All Inclusive and Adult Only, and offer extensive Water Sports program including Scuba Diving, and High Tier Room Categories if you are looking for a really nice room.

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Watch Two of the World's Best Aerialists Put on an Air Show in Western Australia

N ot even Erik Knutson, John Florence’s filmer for a decade-plus, is immune from praising top-shelf surfing in real-time. In the raw clips documenting a single session with brothers John and Nathan Florence and Italo Ferreira in West Australia before the 2024 Margaret River Pro, Knutson follows every air attempt with an animated reaction and a few expletives. 

In a wonky onshore beach break (with the occasional tube), the three surfers attempt to launch from the biggest ramps they can find. John goes for several alley-oops, backflips and massive air reverses. Italo, with the agility and energy of a cat on caffeine, pulls off whistle-inducing backside rotations. He even lands one on a borrowed Pyzel on his first attempt. 

It speaks to their absurd level of well-roundedness that John and Italo are aerial wizards and have serious big-wave chops. Both have won contests at pumping Pipeline. Maybe they just like being in the water? John's an Eddie winner and has landed some of the largest alley-oops ever. Italo can huck every air in the book and has towed  legitimate Nazare  (He's even  skimboarded there).  Some guys are just different. 

So, all that said, who do you think won the session? 

Biden says he is 'considering' Australia's request to end Julian Assange's prosecution

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that he is "considering" a request from Australia for the United States to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks  founder  Julian Assange .

“We’re considering it,” Biden said in response to a shouted question by a reporter during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House.

Assange was indicted on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks’ publication of classified U.S. files. American prosecutors said that he endangered lives when he aided U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in unlawfully obtaining diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Biden's remarks.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for giving classified information to WikiLeaks, but then-President Barack Obama commuted her sentence after seven years. She was later jailed for refusing to cooperate with grand juries investigating the documents.

Assange, an Australian citizen, has been engaged in a battle against U.S. extradition efforts from prison in the United Kingdom for more than a decade. He spent seven years in self-exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the last five years in the high-security Belmarsh Prison on the outskirts of the British capital.

Last month, the High Court in London granted Assange a temporary reprieve from extradition to the U.S. on espionage charges, allowing him to take his challenge to a new hearing.

Tara Prindiville is a White House producer for NBC News.

Summer Concepcion is a politics reporter for NBC News.

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

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The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

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• solar flares
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