After worldly travels for the past 6 days, I thought there would be nothing more appropriate than to go back home. Melbourne, the place to be. This is true not only in virtual travelling but really, when my plane lands on the tarmac at Tullamarine, there is this gush of relief and pure feeling of joy to know that I’m finally back home.

That’s because Melbourne is the best home anyone can have. Who doesn’t want to live here? We’ve got clean air and water supplies, smooth streets, plenty of good coffee, bars and restaurants, beautiful grand parks and gardens…need I say more? There is no other city in the world who can boast about all of those things about themselves.

Even though people complain about Melbourne’s temperamental weather, I am actually quite fond of it. Apart from the occasional random downpour on a bright sunny day, the weather here is nice enough to be outside for a long time before it gets too hot or too cold. This is provided you wear the right clothing and are somewhat moving; not standing in one place shivering like nobody’s business. The best thing about the weather is that it is the perfect temperature for a good night’s sleep. A Melbourne sleep is a sleep that you cannot be bothered to get up from, one where you can lie on your bed under the doona until around midday without feeling the need to get up.

Melbourne’s relaxing feel is also to be commended for. There is a general sense of calmness and peacefulness in Melbourne and it truly is one of the best places to come to relieve your stress. You’ve got the bustling of people, cars and buses in other cities but in Melbourne, with our semi-quiet tram systems and people who are actually in no rush to get anywhere, you’ve got a city who is the epitome of relaxation. Visit a spa if you really need to, but visiting the botanical garden would give you the same therapy.

Although Melbournians also have our rowdy moments. The only thing that comes to mind is Footy, because when that’s on there is nothing relaxing about Melbourne. Footy is the affectionate term we use for the Australian Football League (AFL), which is the main local sport here. The only reason anyone would come to the CBD from suburbs 50-60km away is to watch a game of footy. The trains are packed, traffic jams form out of nowhere, the streets are lined with colours of whoever’s team is playing that day.

If sport is not your thing then don’t worry, there are plenty more activities that Melbourne has to offer. Come down to Melbourne and experience it yourself, even if the only thing you want to experience is the Melbourne Sleep, trust me it will be worth it!

I wont be needing travel insurance but for all you out of towners, you definitely need one to ensure that your travel plans are insured and that you are covered if anything happens to go wrong. Visit our Travel Insurance Page for the best and cheapest deals on travel insurance so that you can come to Melbourne with a mind of peace.

Melbourne’s Iconic Flinders Street Station

Source: icebergevents.com

Who doesn’t know about this famous city on water? The city of romance and one of those travel destinations that fall under the category of Places You Must Visit Before You Die. If you ever have the chance to visit Venice, Italy you will understand why it is the dreams of millions around the world to have the chance to visit this beautiful city.

Apart from the gondola rides, one of those cliched romantic gestures every couple feel they must experience, Venice is also known for its bridges (well, how else would people get around?) and beautiful architecture. Being the world’s only pedestrian city is a plus since there are no cars around, which means no pollution and bad traffic, and the only thing that will get you around is by foot. There are water taxis and buses that can get you to further boroughs. It is an unusual experience living in a city surrounded by water everywhere you go. Certainly not an everyday experience for the average Australian.

Of course, like every other city in Europe, there are plenty of museums to explore and churches to walk into. Venice is about 2000 years old so inevitably there are many magnificent buildings for you to be in awe at. The famous St. Mark’s square and Rialto Bridge is a must visit for tourists.

Being in Italy also means you are in the presence of great culinary treasures. Italian pizzas are like no other, and once you taste some, Australian “Italian-claimed” pizzas will no longer be on your take away dinner menu for a while. Gelatos, Pastas, Dips, Risotto, Italian bread… the list goes on and on. Have a try at anything that your eye picks out because it is likely to taste as great as it looks.

You can’t leave Venice without having a view of the Grand Canal. I don’t know why but that view is just purely enchanting and even if the only thing you can do there is to appreciate the view, just enjoy it because it is truly a calming and extraordinary experience.

Venice, the city on water and the city where dreams come true. The best time to visit is during the spring or autumn season as the temperature is ideal for walking and spending long days on the streets. When planning your trip to Venice, make sure to buy some travel insurance just in case travel plans go wrong or things get lost! Visit our 1300 travel insurance page to find out how to get the best deals on travel insurance!

Enchanting View of the Grand Canal

Source: jmeyersforeman.wordpress.com

Quebec City is the little French town in the Canadian province of its namesake, Quebec. When you arrive in Quebec from Ontario or other English regions of Canada, you will have thought you arrived in a European city especially as the official language is French and no one is willing to answer in English unless you really force them to.

The city has similar architecture to that of a classic European town as Quebec city was once the capital city of New France. The city preserves a special part of town called Old Town that has been christened as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO that is a popular tourist spot for many coming in to Quebec in search of the European feel. The narrow streets and buildings that look like they’ve been pulled out of a Hollywood movie set are enough to make you believe you really are in Europe.

Quebec has wonderful sights though, high cliffs for beautiful panoramic views and in the Canadian winter the city is just blanketed with snow making the views even the more prettier. Quebec has a unique culture compared to its English speaking neighbours as they really do inherit most of their livelihoods from their French ancestors. They loathe the English converts and try to maintain as much French in the foods, language and culture as they possibly can.

The city is rich with history and a visit to one of its many museums could be educational and interesting. But the best thing about this city is just enjoying the architecture and the feel of the town. You could just walk around the city and feel completely satisfied.

Quebec City is also home to one of only two in the world; an Ice Hotel. It is certainly a great novelty and for $15 you can get a full tour during the day or for $299/night can get you a room. But I don’t know whether sleeping on a block of ice is anyone’s idea of a good night sleep.

This wonderful city is a must visit when visiting Canada or when you feel like enjoying a city with beautiful architecture and a unique culture. Remember to buy some travel insurance when planning your visit because you never know what can go wrong. For all your travel insurance needs, visit our Travel Insurance page for the best deals on travel insurance. Au Revoir!

Quebec City

Source: toursquebec.com

Ho Chi Minh City is the former capital city of South Vietnam before the Communist North took over after the allies lost in the infamous Vietnam War. Back then, it was called Saigon and interestingly enough, the locals still refer to their hometown by its former name. No taxi driver or tour leader will use Ho Chi Minh City, because that name brings hostile memories that still touch on the raw wounds of war and turmoil.

History is the flavour of Vietnam and it plays strong on your palette, but to those who love it, you cannot get enough of it. The best bit of Vietnam’s history lesson is that it is embodied in its people; from the shop keepers in the street market to the person attending the reception at your hotel. Each one of them can still tell their own little personal story of how the Vietnam War had touched each of their lives. How the war has affected their families, their livelihood, their hometown and their country. With scars more than skin deep, their stories are colourful, albeit horrifyingly vivid, giving you more insight than any history classroom  in the world can.

A famous tourist attraction in Vietnam is the Chu Ci Tunnel, located about 2.5 hours away from Ho Chi Minh City. A visit to Vietnam wont be complete without it. The Chu Ci Tunnels are perhaps the proudest achievements the North Vietnamese troops can brag about. The tunnels spanning 121 kilometers is an immense underground network of tunnels that provided the North Vietnamese cover during combat, living quarters for guerilla soldiers, served as a communications and supply channel and provided care for the injured and wounded. You cannot imagine the height of these tunnels until you go see for yourself. You will not stop wondering how on earth those people can move around under there for so long!

After you think you’ve had enough of a history lesson and soaked up enough of the political and religious culture that Vietnam provides, head over to the local market or even better the floating market on the famous Delta River. The floating market is a market that operates fully on people’s boats, they live on the boat and sell their fruits and vegetables on it too! They move around offering you their goods and you can also get on a dinghy so you can see the range of fresh produce on offer. If you’re afraid of the water or prefer a market on land, then visit one of many Vietnamese local markets where traditional clothings are sold, hand made bags and shoes amongst many others.

Don’t forget to taste the local food. The Vietnamese are famous for their spring rolls and noodles called Pho, so there’s no better place to give a taste other than in Vietnam. Food is very cheap and everywhere… so you will never go hungry!

Be warned, pick pocketers are very common in Vietnam the traffic is jammed at most times during the day. Secure your travel plans with some travel insurance just in case anything goes wrong. Visit our travel insurance page to get the best deals on travel insurance!

The Floating Market on the Delta River

Source: vietnamtour4you.com

This city lies in the Northern part of China, and is infamous for its very very cold winters. Temperatures can easily reach -30 degrees Celsius so if you’re ever planning to visit in the winter, bring lots of layers! But the winter weather is part of the attraction in this beautiful icy city.

Harbin is well known for its famous International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which is held from January 5th annually celebrating the winter season. It is a must visit since it really is a magnificent sight! Although you could probably only last 30 minutes in the -20 degree weather, it is definitely worth the frostbite. Giant snow sculptures of famous places around the world such as The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Egyptian Pyramids and The Eiffel Tower among many others are replicated using nothing but ice blocks! Isn’t that incredible?

The city of Harbin is also very unique in that it has Russian influences since it is situated so close to the Russian border. The rich history in the town’s architecture and also in the culture is very apparent and interesting. Take a city tour or a day tour to visit all the famous spots of Harbin such as the famous St.Sophia Church.

Harbin can be reached by plane or by train from Beijing. Harbin may be well out of your way since it is not close to any other major cities. But it is well worth a visit, even if only for a few days. Experiencing the chilling weather is also a unique experience that is hard to get anywhere else.

Travel plans to Harbin must be well planned and insured since delays and cancellations are common due to weather conditions. You also need to be insured just in case your body doesn’t respond well to the extreme weather condition.

So make sure you get some travel insurance to ensure that you’re fully covered for your journey to Harbin! Visit our travel insurance page to get the best deals on your travel insurance needs!

Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

Source: 23hq.com

It has been named the world’s most livable city and indeed this city, home to Heinz Ketchup amongst many others, is a beautiful city with unbeatable landscape and a great unique culture. Pittsburgh is one of those small cities in the States that may not shine as bright as New York or LA but has its own little quirks that make it truly a wonderful city to visit and play in.

The city is surrounded by rolling hills framed by the three rivers and decorated with bridges, it is no wonder that Pittsburgh is the epitome of a picturesque city. Don’t be fooled by the picture perfect views however, this steel city is also full of character and personality that will guarantee to make you fall in love with it straight away.

From being a great sports town, home to the Pittsburgh Pirates (baseball) and Pittsburgh Steelers (American Football), the sports’ spirit is definitely alive in this town! Catch a baseball game at PNC Park if you can, the tickets aren’t hard to come by, but just don’t bet on scoring a ticket for a Steelers game.

The city is also rich with history…discover why it was once (and still is!) named Steel City! Visit the numerous museums around town, remain in awe of the vintage architecture such as the Heinz Chapel or take a lift up the Cathedral of Learning, both at the University of Pittsburgh.

That’s another beauty of Pittsburgh, it is a vibrant active college town. Oakland is the college neighborhood filled with bars, restaurants and bubbling with the feeling of youth. If you want to experience the feel of a true American college town, Pittsburgh is the 2nd largest college town in America and definitely features some of the cliches from those teen flick movies.

Pittsburgh is that one city you wish you called home, with beautiful suburban houses and the wonderful people that comes with it. One thing it’s not is boring, so go down to the ‘burgh and take a little look at this gorgeous city; a city that is one of Pennsylvania’s biggest secret.

Make sure you are always fully insured whilst you are travelling, get travel insurance from our travel insurance page because that’s where the best deal on travel insurance lives!

Pittsburgh, as seen from Mt. Washington. 

Source: psc473.org

We all have heard or been to Bali, that small island in Indonesia that attract thousands of Australians and foreign tourists to visit its beautiful beaches and experience its unique culture. But not so many have heard about Lombok, the neigbouring island next to Bali situated across from the Lombok Strait approximately just an hour away by plane from Bali.

This untouched island is rich with its own unique cultural practices of the local Sasak people. Lombok doesn’t receive so many visitors unlike its much more popular sibling, Bali, and therefore is truly a paradise for any traveler.

The beaches are much quieter and the streets aren’t decorated with the usual line of souvenir shops. There isn’t an “I Love Bali” t-shirt seller at every corner nor are there any McDonald’s or a food chain restaurant everywhere you go. The shops and restaurants in Lombok are very much locally owned and the majority aren’t targeted at tourists. Lombok is an island that has not yet been spoiled by mass tourism, an island where you can still manage a snapshot of its natural personality.

The landscape of Lombok is also incredible, boasting not only a wonderful stretch of beach but also enchanting waterfalls and the great volcano that is Mount Rinjani. For those adventurous enough, Mount Rinjani is climbable but this requires a great deal of physical fitness. For the rest of us, we can still visit the foot of the volcano and absorb the surrounding atmosphere of this highly active volcano.

If climbing a volcano doesn’t tickle your fancy, why not visit the rural areas of Lombok? Take a local bemo, a three wheeled mini-van, or rent a car to explore the whole island. If you’re looking for more adventure, why not take a cruise or a boat ride around the whole island, which will promise terrific views and even snorkeling opportunities!

What are you waiting for? The next time you plan an island getaway, don’t pick boring old Bali, head over next door to Lombok for a more unique travel experience! But don’t be fooled, traveling to a paradise isn’t always picture perfect. To be safe and be fully insured for all your belongings and travel plans, visit our travel insurance page for more information on how you can get the best deal on travel insurance to fully enjoy the holiday you deserve.

The Beautiful Island of Lombok

Source: villasandland.com

So for the next 7 days we are going to do a virtual visit on the best, yet unique and not so well known, travel destinations around the world. We will transport you to these amazing hidden travel gems, places not familiar to a tourists’ eyes but inspirational to the adventurers’. Embark with us on this exciting journey as we open your eyes to the great big wonderful world that we live in!

If you don’t already know, 1300 Insurance has a Facebook page which we will be updating with photos, videos, blog posts and anything related to 1300 Insurance.

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What better way to enjoy this Easter Holidays than to bring your family to visit these top Australian Getaways? These places are the beautiful works of nature, enchanting landscapes, and can transport us to a place far far away from our busy everyday schedule.

Here is the top 10 Australian Getaways as listed in Search Australia

1. The WhitSunday Islands – QLD

2. The Great Ocean Road – VIC

3. Uluru – NT

4. The Snowy Mountains – NSW

5. Port Arthur – TAS

6. The Daintree Rainforest – QLD

7. Kakadu National Park – NT

8. Margaret River Region – WA

9. Kangaroo Island – SA

10. Victorian Goldfields Region – VIC

Make sure you are well insured when traveling, check out our Australian-Only Travel Insurance package where you can get the best deals in domestic travel insurance.

Happy Holidays!