Cautious Australians staying closer to home, survey shows

Uncertainty around fuel supply is driving Australians to rethink their holiday plans, a new survey shows. 

Many are staying closer to home and spending less on travel. 

Travellers are keeping their holiday plans on track by choosing destinations closer to their doorstep, data from the largest holiday park group in New South Wales, Reflections Holidays, shows.

The survey for a group that manages 40 holiday parks in coastal and inland NSW was conducted over the Easter long weekend and revealed that fuel prices and availability are weighing on travellers’ minds, and they are choosing to holiday closer to home. 

The Reflections survey found 23% of travellers with bookings in the next three months had changed their plans to holiday closer to home, and in this cohort, 36.2% had reduced their travel distance by at least 300 kilometres.

Reflections CEO Nick Baker said in a media release that the shift showed that travellers were now more cautious but still determined to go on holidays.

“What our guests are telling us is that they still want to holiday, they are weighing up cost and availability of fuel, and around one quarter of them are shifting their trip to a destination that is closer to home,” Baker said.

“The survey reinforces that people still want to holiday, arguably because now more than ever it’s important to connect with each other and with nature, and they are prioritising travelling shorter distances to have a getaway with loved ones."

Reflections has introduced discounts in coming months which encourage local travel, and until April 30 is offering a $25 fuel offset voucher.

See https://reflectionsholidays.com.au/   

Image: Reflections, Bonny Hills

Lyvin Melasti adds a new luxe option in Bali

Done Kuta, Legian and Seminyak?

Looking for somewhere brand new to stay in Bali?

How about Melasti Beach, located in the Ungasan area on the southern coast of Bali?

It is about a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport and is situated along the Bukit Peninsula, an area known for its dramatic cliffs and pristine beaches.

Recently opened Lyvin Melasti is set high above the beach and is a boutique collection of villas and suites that claims "a refined new take on barefoot luxury, where minimalist architecture, sweeping ocean views, and heartfelt hospitality converge across four levels of cliffside serenity".

The property features 18 ocean-facing villas (each with private pools) and 20 ocean-view suites that will launch in December.

Designed by co-founder and product director Victoria Sokovykh, Lyvin Melasti features locally sourced Sulawesi marble floors, custom teak furniture, soft neutral tones, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Each villa is positioned to capture 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean

“We designed Lyvin Melasti to feel both grounding and expansive - a space that invites rest, reflection, and reconnection,” says Sokovyhk.

“Everything is intentional, but never overdone. It’s a place to breathe."

Set within a three-hectare estate surrounded by forest, the Lyvin Melasti complex includes a pond at its centre, with planned walking trails that invite slow strolls and quiet moments in nature.

The resort offers nanny services for family groups.

Coming soon: a signature restaurant by Tiga Bule (scheduled to open in December), and a wellness spa (2026).

I've added Lyvin Melasti to my list of places to visit next time I am in Bali.   

See https://lyvinproperties.co/melasti

Chaos as cruise ships are seized over unpaid fuel bills

Two cruise ships owned by the financially troubled Crystal Cruises company have been impounded by US Marshals over unpaid bills - and all passengers offloaded.

The Crystal Symphony, and a sister ship, the Crystal Serenity, were taken over by local authorities during the weekend, the Miami Herald reported.

Crystal Symphony, which had been scheduled to dock in Miami on January 24, had been in the Bahamas avoiding an arrest warrant issued after Peninsula Petroleum Far East filed a civil lawsuit in a US federal court.

Peninsula Petroleum has claimed that of the $3.4 million fuel bill owed it by Genting Hong Kong-owned Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises, $1.2 million was for Crystal Symphony’s fuel.

A federal judge in Miami signed a seizure warrant for the Crystal Symphony, which went to the Bahamas instead of Miami.

The Crystal Serenity diverted to the Bahamas last week. Passengers from both ships were ferried to Port Everglades in Florida.

Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony had only crew members on board at the time law enforcement boarded.

There were conflicting reports concerning the Crystal Endeavor, the line’s newest vessel. 

One report said it had been seized in Argentina, others said the ship was en route to Montevideo, Uruguay.

Crystal Endeavor docked at Ushuaia without incident on Friday, as scheduled, after an Antarctic cruise and passengers were flown back to the US via a previously scheduled charter flight.