Travel News and Updates for October

This month, we wrap up the latest in travel news and updates from around the world. From airlines, hotels and resorts, tours, travel gadgets, trends and more, Captured Travel keeps you up to date so you can better plan your next getaway.

ALDI Australia launches ALDI Holidays

ALDI Australia announces the launch of the ALDI Holidays online portal, meaning Australian shoppers will be able to plan their next vacation with a suite of exclusive ALDI escapes, cruises and tour deals. Aussies bitten by the travel bug can now enjoy exclusive, value-driven holiday packages. 

Partnering with experienced and trusted travel experts, Ignite Travel Group, ALDI’s first drop of packages start at $449pp and include picturesque escapes worth shell-abrating, from Surfers Paradise to The Whitsunday, as well as sea-sational cruises around the Pacific Islands or Japan and a range of awesome adventures to South Africa or China.

Cruise with Carnival in 2026/2027

Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026/27 itineraries, with an eye on its Australian expansion when it adds two ships from sister line P&O Cruises Australia in March 2025. Featuring 201 sailings, a 99% increase from the 2024/25 season, the addition of Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter will see Carnival’s fleet grow to four ships, making it Australia’s largest cruise line. This expanded fleet offers guests even more choices for unforgettable holidays at sea.

The expanded program includes year-round sailings from Sydney on Carnival Adventure and Carnival Splendor, and from Brisbane on Carnival Encounter and Carnival Luminosa (seasonally). The itineraries feature popular destinations such as Moreton Island, the South Pacific, and the Great Barrier Reef, as well as New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and more, perfect for those looking to explore or revisit key holiday hotspots.

Maleny Botanic Gardens launches new Bush Tucker gardens

The Sunshine Coast Hinterland’s premier attraction, Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World, has partnered with the region’s traditional owners, the Jinibara People Aboriginal Corporation, and local cultivators, Brush Turkey Enterprises, to create new Bush Tucker gardens.  Two separate areas of the expansive gardens have been planted with Indigenous plants used traditionally in cooking and medicine by the Jinibara Peoples.

Jinibara rangers prepared the gardens and planted the shrubs and bushes, which were grown by Maleny’s Brush Turkey Enterprises, experts in native plants, re-vegetation, and bush regeneration. Plant descriptions outlining their use in Indigenous culture have been created to educate visitors about the wide variety of uses of the plants.

Vietjet announces schedule updates

Vietjet, Vietnam’s leading low-cost carrier that regularly flies to Australia, has updated the schedule for its Perth to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) flights, optimising its services between Australia and Vietnam. Starting from 27 October 2024, the route will follow a revised schedule, offering increased travel options for Australian passengers. 

Under the new schedule, flights departing from Perth to Ho Chi Minh City will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 8:50 AM (local time), arriving in Ho Chi Minh City at 14:25 (local time). Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Perth will depart every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 23:50 (local time), arriving in Perth at 7:45 AM the following day. 

To mark the schedule updates, Vietjet is offering one-way all-inclusive tickets from AUD199 on the Perth-Ho Chi Minh City route, available until 27 October 2024, for travel from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. Additionally, a one-week promotion across all Australia-Vietnam routes offers tickets from AUD199, bookable from 29 September to 5 October 2024, for travel between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025. Availability may vary based on routes and travel dates.

Marriott recognised in 2024 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Marriott International’s luxury hotels in Australia have been recognised among the best in the region at the 2024 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne ranked #1 hotel in Australia and New Zealand, W Sydney ranked 4th, and The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart placed 9th—all securing positions within the top 10 hotels across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific.  

These prestigious accolades, determined by over 575,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers, reflect Marriott’s continued commitment to excellence in luxury hospitality, combining thoughtful design, innovative dining, and personalised service to create unforgettable guest experiences. This recognition further cements Marriott International’s reputation as a leader in the travel industry. The full list of winners can be found here.

Illumina shines on K’gari (Fraser Island)

Guests of Kingfisher Bay Resort had their first look at Illumina last night, as Queensland’s first permanent light show was launched on the western shores of the world’s largest sand island. The highly anticipated debut of Illumina mesmerised resort guests and dignitaries with the first official show open to the public selling out, and bookings for multiple upcoming shows reaching near capacity for the opening weeks.  

Immersed seamlessly into the natural K’gari landscape, Illumina uses cutting-edge lighting to take the audience on an incredible journey, bringing the island’s intricate ecosystem to life and celebrating the World Heritage-listed values that make the destination a global tourism icon. 

Joining a long list of nature-based tours and activities offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, Illumina provides guests with a unique perspective of the island. As the first nighttime experience of its kind for guests immersed in an island escape at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Illumina will show nightly and can now be booked on the Illumina K’gari or Kingfisher Bay Resort websites. 

Scoot announces network adjustments

Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), today announced adjustments to its network in anticipation of stronger demand during the Northern Winter season. From November 2024, extra weekly flights will be mounted to Chiang Mai and Hanoi, increasing services from 10 to 11 times weekly and five to six times weekly, respectively.  

From December 2024, services to Perth will increase from 13 to 14 times weekly. Services to Melbourne will also increase from 12 to 13 times weekly, and subsequently to twice daily from January 2025. In addition, three more weekly flights will be mounted to Seoul (Incheon) via Taipei, making it a daily service. Similarly, services to Tokyo (Narita) via Taipei will also increase from 12 to 14 times weekly.  

Within Southeast Asia, Scoot will be increasing flights to destinations operated by the Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. These include Davao, which will increase from seven to nine times weekly, as well as Balikpapan and Makassar, which will each increase from three to four times weekly. More recently, Scoot started operating daily services to Subang in Malaysia from 1 September 2024, and will be launching operations to Kertajati (Greater Bandung) in Indonesia on 28 September 2024 and Malacca in Malaysia on 23 October 2024. For more information, visit FlyScoot.com. 

Aman announces Amankila Residences their first branded residences in Indonesia

Revered hospitality and lifestyle brand Aman is delighted to announce the development of exclusive villas to own in one of its most iconic destinations, Amankila in Bali, Indonesia. Situated on the hillside adjacent to the hotel, Amankila Residences will consist of just eleven inimitable homes, each benefiting from an elevated position above the Lombok Strait.  

Designed to celebrate the verdant landscape that surrounds, Amankila Residences will feature expansive outdoor terraces and infinity swimming pools, as well as a series of pavilions connected by private covered walkways. Interiors will showcase a modern evolution of the existing design language of Amankila, taking cues from local artisans, using tactile materials including contemporary thatch and crafted stone.

Epic Australia Pass launches Magic Moments Road Trip contest

To celebrate Australia’s best-value season Pass 2025 Epic Australia Pass, the Magic Moments Road-trip contest offers snow lovers the chance to win an Australian ski resort road trip of a lifetime for 4 people for 11 nights across Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in 2025, as well as 25 runner-up prizes up for grabs – taking the total prize pool to over $45,000 in value.

The Magic Moments Road Trip contest marks Australia’s best-value season Pass, the 2025 Epic Australia Pass. To enter, lock in your 2025 Epic Australia Pass for $999 (adult) and $599 (child) with just $49 upfront before lowest prices end on 16 October., send in your favourite ‘magic moment’ captured on video in resort at Perisher, Falls Creek or Hotham and share your video to a public Facebook or Instagram account using the hashtag #EpicAustraliaPassRoadTrip. The competition runs from midday 19 September to midnight 16 October 2024, with winners announced on 30 October 2024 via website, email and social media. Entrants must be aged 18 or older. For full terms and conditions click here.

National Geographic Family Journeys launch in Ecuador, Mexico and Spain

G Adventures and National Geographic Expeditions are announcing the addition of three new ‘National Geographic Family Journeys with G Adventures’ trips with Ecuador, Mexico and Spain being added to the program. This collection of trips is designed for parents, children and extended families who are travelling together to connect with the world around them in a culturally immersive way as they spend time together, unifying learning and adventure with some of the world’s most incredible settings as a backdrop.  

Each new National Geographic Family Journeys itinerary features unique, interactive activities inspired by National Geographic’s expertise in photography and storytelling, wildlife, culture and history, and exploration. For more information or to book, please visit: www.gadventures.com

Scarlet Lady to Undergo Epic Glow-Up this Spring

While Scarlet Lady will always be the First Lady of Virgin Voyages’ fleet, the ship that earned a coveted spot on Condé Nast Traveller’s 2024 Gold List is getting a fabulous glow-up. While it’s hard to make a good thing even better, Virgin Voyages’ first vessel is heading into dry dock from Nov. 14-28 for a handful of cosmetic upgrades after her introductory seasons sailing the high seas. 

Scarlet Lady’s signature experiences — like Scarlet Night, epicurious, award-winning dining and breathtaking acrobatics — are here to stay, but the brand’s OG vessel is reimagining a couple of its eateries. Matching the overwhelming demand for suites aboard the Lady Ships, several Sea Terrace cabins on deck 11 are being converted to create 24 “Seriously Suite” RockStar Quarters. The glam-up isn’t just for Scarlet’s interiors. On deck, VIP cabanas flanked by breezy white curtains and luxe daybeds overlooking the Aquatic Club will offer a front-row view for A-listers to see and be seen or by anyone wanting to treat themselves.

Finally, Scarlet Lady will debut a new mermaid on its bow, a symbol of strength and safe passage for the seafaring brand. To book one of Scarlet Lady’s spectacular long Caribbean voyages and experience her elevated interiors, visit www.VirginVoyages.com or contact your First Mate. Cabins start at $2,620 AUD. 

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