Airline war heats up with dirt-cheap fares

The airline war has reached a new low, with AirAsia offering return flights to London for $217 from the Gold Coast or $240 from Melbourne.

If the booking confusion doesn’t deter your search for the ultimate fare (all legs need to be booked separately and through Kuala Lumpur), you may be rewarded with an unprecedented discount flight.

AirAsia has been a dominant player in the ultra-cheap flight sector, recently making headlines for offering free flights to Bangkok from Asian ports, to help restore tourism after the recent political unrest. Earlier last month, it excited travel enthusiasts with $378 Australia-London flights.

The current discount-basket fare is part of a sale which started at 2am this morning and will run for 48 hours, for travel only between October 11 and November 14, 2010.

Although the base flights are some of the cheapest in Australian history, don’t expect to indulge in the normally free benefits of international travel – the low-cost airline will charge you for meals, beverages, in-flight entertainment and extra baggage.

AirAsia recently reported a net profit after tax of $A81.23 million for the first quarter of the year. The airline sources 16 per cent of its revenue from their extra charges, referred to as the “unbundling of services”.

Source  :  www.thewest.com.au

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Perth resort restaurant named and shamed

A Swan Valley tourist resort is the latest outlet to be named and shamed on WA’s ever-growing filthy restaurant register.

The Swan Valley Oasis Restaurant and Function Centre at Henley Brook is the 46th eatery to be so exposed on the ‘Notifications of Convictions’ list published by the the WA Health Department.

As revealed first on WAtoday, the venue was fined $8,750, and ordered to pay $1571.70 in costs, for hygiene breaches including:               

– allowing vermin into the restaurant;
– exposing food to possible contamination; and
– failing to ensure the premises and appliances were clean.

The restaurant is part of the Swan Valley Oasis Resort, which also boasts a golf course and boutique brewery.

The eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, and is a popular wedding reception venue.

Testimonials on the venue’s website include one from Helen, of Hong Kong.

“Clean, relaxed and family-friendly – really pleased to have found a nice, reasonably-priced place to stay before heading out of Perth,” Helen wrote.

According to the website, Rebecca, of Paynes Find, was “pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meals and service”.  Samantha, of Albany, found the venue “very clean and neat” and said she would “definitely be back”.

Since September 2006, the 46 prosecuted food outlets have together been fined in excess of $170,000.

However, this might only be the thin edge of the potato wedge, because it is not compulsory for local authorities to report breaches to the government.

Hence, only hygiene breaches in 11 of WA’s 139 local authorities appear on the government’s dirt list.

After WAtoday.com.au exposed the initial 41 list inductees in January, Health Minister Kim Hames rejected a call by consumer group Choice to post hygiene ratings on restaurant doors.

Mr Hames said that hygeine breaches from every local council would be added to the list when mandatory reporting was introduced under a new Food Act that is being drafted.

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MINDARIE – 20 Clarecastle Retreat – $1.995 million

SITUATED in one of Mindarie’s best sought after locations, this lavish residence commands respect.                                          

Beautifully finished both inside and out, the home makes great use of space.

Sprawled over three levels, and with 550sqm of indoor and outdoor living, entertaining has never been such a breeze.

Accompanied with ocean and marina vistas and you’ve got a house that is sure to impress.

Upon entry into the home there is a chic foyer with stunning spiral staircase. This elegance is matched by the luxurious formal lounge and dining areas with decorative feature ceilings.

There is a great sense of space throughout the home thanks to the open-plan kitchen, meals and family room.

A stylish and elegantly appointed kitchen creates a focal point in the home, and comes complete with state of the art built-in stainless steel appliances, ample storage and island bench with galaxy granite black bench tops and splash backs.

With five bedrooms and three bathrooms this luxury abode is ideal for a growing family. The master bedroom, with unsurpassed ocean views is serviced by an open-plan en-suite complete with relaxing corner spa.

After a hectic day, immerse yourself in a hot spa and feel your stress drift away.

To ensure everyone in the home takes advantage of the amazing WA sunsets, balconies can be found on every level of the home.

The home also features, a spacious games room with sleek granite service bar, airconditioning to all rooms, intercom security system and reticulation.

Well positioned, you are only a short walk to the beach.

Home Features

Bed: Five

Bath: Three

Garage: Two

Agent: Jones Ballard Property Group

Contact:Sabrina & Michael Minic 0433 299 908

www.inmycommunity.com.au

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Giant liner will dock in Freo next year

FREMANTLE will host the biggest cruise liner ever to visit WA when the Queen Mary 2 squeezes into the harbour next year.

The 152,000-tonne ship, the largest of any type to sail into WA, will be visiting on March 14, 2010.

Built in 2003, the 3000-passenger liner has 10 restaurants, five pools, 8000-book library, casino, nightclub and even a planetarium.

On offer is a 30-night fly-cruise-and-stay deal that includes a 29-night cruise visiting China, Japan, New Zealand, Sydney and Adelaide.

Cruise Express is offering the package, which includes meals, for $8795 per person, twin-share.

www.inmycommunity.com.au

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