Doing the south of France in elevated leisurely style

Barge holidays are great way to explore France at a leisurely pace and French Waterways has just upped the ante with a luxury spin on the concept. 

French Waterways has announced a voyage along the historic Canal du Midi that combines luxury barge cruising with excursions through and above the Mediterranean countryside by vintage Citroën 2CV and helicopter. 

From May-October, cruisers can visit medieval villages and a 17th-century château, enjoy private wine tastings at Minervois vineyards, shop local markets, and, aboard the hotel barge Savannah, enjoy gourmet meals prepared by a private chef. 

All-inclusive six-night charters are available from May through October, starting at $US32,000 for four guests or $US39,000 for six.

“A Canal du Midi voyage on the Savannah truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Rosie Mansfield, CEO of French Waterways. 

“From serene cruising amid stunning nature and engineering marvels to private wine tastings and thrilling excursions like a fun-filled drive in a vintage car and a breath-taking helicopter flight, it’s the ultimate immersive escape. And the itinerary can be tailored to suit your family or group of friends, making it one of the most flexible in France.”

After a welcoming Champagne reception aboard the Savannah, guests will spend a week cruising the UNESCO-listed Canal du Midi’s locks, aqueducts and stone bridges from La Redorte to Bram, taking in villages, vineyards, wheat fields and sunflowers.

Guests can take to the roads of the Languedoc-Roussillon region at the wheel of a vintage Citroën 2CV, as well as flying over the spectacular Château de Quéribus and Château de Peyrepertuse ruins, the Carcassonne citadel, the Étang de Leucate, and Salses fortress by helicopter.



The itinerary also includes privately guided excursions by chauffeured Mercedes Viano to Minerve, named one of the prettiest villages in France, and a local vineyard for a private tasting with the winemaker. 

Wines have been made since Roman times in the Minervois. 

Visits to Narbonne, a founded in 118 BC, Mirepoix, and Carcassonne, are also among the highlights.

The Savannah has three double cabins and a single cabin with en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, and a sun deck with shaded dining area, loungers and a spa pool.

Departures are available from either La Redorte or Bram, with transfers from Narbonne or Carcassonne included.

For more info visit https://www.french-waterways.com/ 

Mixed messages for would-be flyers

All flight restrictions in UAE airspace have now been lifted, with operations returning to normal, the General Civil Aviation Authority of UAE announced over the weekend.

“Our decision came following a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, in coordination with the relevant authorities”, the aviation authority said in a post on X.

 

So are you ready to book a flight via the UAE with Emirates, Etihad, Qatar or other Middle Eastern airlines?

Not so fast if you are an Australian.

The Australian Government's https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ website is, as of today, still advising "Do Not Travel" to the volatile region.

Which means your travel insurance will almost certainly be invalid.

Here's what the official advice is:

"The situation in the Middle East remains volatile. There remains a risk of attacks and escalation. If you're in the UAE and want to leave, can secure a flight and it’s safe to travel to the airport, we continue to advise you to leave while commercial flights are available. UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Abu Dhabi and Dubai international airports.

"Prioritise your safety, monitor developments closely and follow local authorities’ advice. Stay aware of your environment and avoid government, military or energy infrastructure, including oil production facilities. Avoid Israeli and US diplomatic missions and other locations associated with Israeli, Jewish and US interests. Follow local warning systems and, if warned of an imminent attack, move to an enclosed hardened shelter, ideally underground or close to ground level if available. If these are not available, seek an inner room without windows.

"Civilian infrastructure including hotels, roads, bridges, universities, energy infrastructure, including oil production facilities, water infrastructure and airports may continue to be targeted. There are widespread movement restrictions and other travel disruptions in the region. The UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.

"We raised our level of advice for the UAE to do not travel on 28 February due to the volatile security situation in the region and military strikes. ‘Do not travel’ advice applies to transit and layovers in the UAE. Even if you don’t plan to leave the airport. If you travel to or transit through the UAE, you may be unable to leave. Your safety will be at risk. Your travel insurance may become invalid.

"Due to heightened security concerns, the Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai are closed. Online passport applications are open for Australians in the UAE."

A chance to explore some of NSW's top drops

Calling all Sydney wine lovers. 

The Winter Cellar Door will be returning to Carriageworks in Eveleigh this winter. 

After the success of last year's NSW Wine X Carriageworks festivities, the event will return to the Blacksmiths Workshop at Carriageworks on July 5. 

Organisers promise a relaxed afternoon of wine and food under one roof and the chance "to meet the passionate people behind the labels". 

There will be over 20 wine producers from across New South Wales pouring a range of wines from "familiar favourites to exciting new releases and some undiscovered gems".

The full line-up of wineries will be announced later this month, but tickets are on sale now.

Potential imbibers can also pre-purchase tasting cups to enjoy fast-track entry on the day as well as going into a draw to wine a mixed dozen case of wine. 

The first 300 tickets purchased will also receive a free NSW Wine tote bag. 

The Sunday event will run from 11am-5pm. 

You can book here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-cellar-door?c=nswwine

Tauranga gets its first international hotel brand

Tauranga, the fifth-biggest city in New Zealand and heartbeat of the Bay of Plenty, has never had an international hotel. Until this week. 

New Zealand's largest hotel operator, Accor, has just opened Mercure Tauranga, marking the global giant's arrival in the region. 

Formerly Hotel Armitage and Conference Centre - located in the heart of Tauranga's CBD - the 80-room hotel has been refurbed and rebranded as a Mercure after a multi-million-dollar project. 

Accor's New Zealand portfolio now comprises 49 hotels. 

Adrian Williams, Accor's Chief Operating Officer in the Pacific region,  said the opening reflects strong confidence in Tauranga and its evolution as a key regional hub.

“Tauranga has been a focus for us for some time," he said. "Tourism earnings rose by 5% last summer, underscoring the Bay of Plenty's strong fundamentals and increasingly important role in New Zealand's tourism and business landscape..

“As the first internationally branded hotel in the city, Mercure Tauranga represents a significant milestone for the local industry. It allows us to bring global standards, distribution and loyalty to the market, while supporting the continued evolution of Tauranga as a compelling destination for both domestic and international travellers.”

The latest Accor addition comes as the Bay of Plenty rebuilds momentum following recent weather events, including Cyclone Vainu. 

The refurb has including upgrades to guest rooms, public areas, and food and beverage spaces," accor says in its media release.  Further enhancements, including conference facilities and recreational amenities, are planned for later. 

Accor's New Zealand portfolio spans key gateway cities and leisure destinations including Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Lake Tekapo, with 17 brands currently in operation across the country. 

See https://all.accor.com/hotel/C636/index.en.shtml

Walking in sunshine: Nantes offers an artistic voyage

 

Often overlooked, Nantes is one of my favourite cities in France.

I have very fond memories of plates piled high with local seafood and bottles of chilled Muscadet at the delightful and historic La Cigale.

From July 4 to September 6, the Brittany city will host the 15th edition of  Le Voyage à Nantes, its summer arts expo. 

The voyage comprises a 20km open-air gallery with over 100 artworks, exhibitions and experiences
to be discovered on a route traversing streets, gardens and historic landmarks.

For this year’s event, organisers promise, visitors will see new artworks integrated into both iconic sites and hidden locations.

The event showcases Nantes as offering one of Europe’s most walkable cultural experiences.

"This year, Le Voyage à Nantes begins a new cycle of events devoted to the elements," says event director general Sophie Lévy.

"If urban space can be said to be a deeply reconstructed form of nature - one moulded to our scale and offering a backdrop to our modern cacophony - in Nantes, it is founded on the sensorial, fluid character of the elements: earth, water, air, and fire that surround our fair city and shape us in ways both intangible and imperious."

The city is located on the Loire River in Upper Brittany in western France.

It is home to the restored, medieval Château des Ducs de Bretagne, where the Dukes of Brittany once
lived, and is now a history museum.

The city also offers a food scene shaped by its maritime heritage, and the remarkable Galerie des Machines (check it out).

See https://www.levoyageanantes.fr/en/events/the-summer-journey/ 

Major budget airline goes out of business

US ultra low-cost airline Spirit Airlines is no more.

The airline cancelled all flights effective immediately on Saturday morning US time, and told passengers not to go to airports for their flights.

The airline's website homepage, where customers could previously make reservations, has a bright yellow banner declaring that Spirit was “winding down all operations,” The New York Times reported.

The budget airline had lost billions of dollars in recent years, filing for bankruptcy in 2024 and 2025.

The Trump administration offered a $US500 million federal lifeline, but the airline’s investors and government officials could not reach an agreement on how to structure a deal to save the company.

“Unfortunately, despite the company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook,” the airline said. 

“With no additional funding available to the company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind-down.”

In 2023 n 2023, Miami-based Spirit was the seventh-largest passenger carrier in North America with a business model based on keeping costs very low and offering customers cheap tickets.

It had over 130 aircraft in its fleet and served 70 destinations.