New high-speed rail route links Hong Kong and China

Hong Kong's Transport and Housing Bureau has announced the official launch date of the new High Speed Rail System connecting Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The new system, which is expected to reduce travel time by approximately 60%, will commence operation on September 23.



Boosting Hong Kong's position as a gateway to Greater China, the 142km track will connect the city to 44 stations across Mainland China, including six short-haul and 38 long-haul stations.

With trains reaching speeds of up to 350kmh, Wuhan, one of China's major cities, will be accessible from Hong Kong in five hours, whilst the journey time between Guangzhou and Hong Kong will be reduced from 100 minutes to about 50 minutes.

The Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail is approximately 26km and runs along a dedicated underground rail corridor from a new terminus at West Kowloon to the boundary near Lok Ma Chau, where it connects with the Mainland section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong High Speed Rail.

The West Kowloon Station will also debut on September 23, and will be the main Hong Kong hub for the new rail network.

Once completed, the station (below) will be one of the largest underground high speed rail stations in the world. It features a pedestrian skywalk with views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline; an urban green oasis and more than 4,000 glass panels.



Hong Kong Tourism Board Regional Director for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, Andrew Clark, said the new High Speed Rail System will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the gateway to China.

"We have seen growing interest in China among the Australian and New Zealand markets, however accessibility has also been a main area of concern," he said. "We believe that this rail system will be the missing link to connect Hong Kong to the main cities of China and beyond."

Tickets for the High Speed Rail System start at HK$78 (approx $12.50) from Hong Kong to Futian station; HK$247 (approx $40) to Guangzhou South; and tickets to long-haul destinations, such as Beijing will start at HK$1,240 (approx $200).

For further information visit:
www.expressraillink.hk/en/ticketing-info/type-guangdong.html

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Special river cruise deals for solo travellers

Solo travellers often get a raw travel deal, being forced to pay massive supplements or to share rooms with strangers.

Aqua Expeditions has just announced some solo traveller deals for its high-end Mekong And Amazon cruise adventures with the single supplement will be waived on selected departures aboard the Aqua Mekong (below) and Aria Amazon.



With a small-ship capacity of only 32 to 40 passengers on each sailing, solo travellers can easily mingle with and get to know other guests on each of these ships at meals and on active biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, and kayaking excursions during their cruises of the Mekong and Amazon rivers.

Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the luxury onboard amenities including relaxing spa treatments, cooking classes, evening entertainment programs and a lively bar scene (depending, of course, on how lively your fellow travellers are).

Many of Aqua Expeditions’ solo guests incorporate their cruises into a longer travel itinerary in which they may choose to visit the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, stay in Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City (Aqua Mekong cruises) or take a trip to Machu Picchu or Lima (Aria Amazon cruises).

Aqua Expeditions is committed to employing local expert guides on its cruise vessels, whose passion for sharing knowledge of the Mekong and Amazon regions helps create a memorable adventure for travellers.

The naturalist guides – many of whom grew up on the rivers – lead guests on daily expeditions.

Aqua Expeditions will waive the single supplement on the following cruises for the
remainder of 2018:

Aqua Mekong
3-night Discovery Cruise from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Cambodia
November 13-16. Priced from $US4050 per person twin share or single

4-night Explorer Cruise from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 30-December 4. Priced from $US5400 per person twin share or single

Aria Amazon
3-night Discovery Cruise from Iquitos to Iquitos, Peru
October 1-15, November 2-5, November 9-12, November 16-19. Priced from $US3825 per person twin share or single.

Bookings for Aqua Mekong and Aria Amazon cruises are available through travel agents or Aqua Expeditions Australia on 1300 124 204 or reservations@aquaexpeditions.com.au.

Affordable accommodation deal for the Melbourne Spring Carnival

Anyone who travels to Melbourne on a regular basis will have been caught out by fluctuating hotel prices.

An big AFL match, a big concert or the Spring Racing Carnival can easily send prices spiralling.

I've written before about Metro Apartments on Bank Place, brilliantly situated in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, and they have just released a Spring Carnival racing offer with rates starting from $140 per night throughout the carnival period.

Book before October 7, and you can save up to 15% on your accommodation. The package includes one night’s accommodation in a compact room, complimentary wifi, discount meal vouchers, and early check-ins.

Metro Apartments on Bank Place offers inner-city apartment-style accommodation down a cobbled laneaway that is a short stroll away from Melbourne’s sought-after attractions including Bourke Street Mall, Federation Square, Southgate Centre and Crown Casino. 

The property has a choice of compact rooms, studios, and one-bedroom suites.

The $140 deal is valid for stays between October 18 and November 12.

Book online www.metrohotels.com.au

Is this the ultimate luxury wine experience?

Wine lovers from Asia are being enticed to South Australia to enjoy what is being described as the most exciting hands-on wine experience in the world. 

Wine lovers prepared to pay $US250,000 per couple for the Ultimate Barossa Australia Wine Experience will get the chance to make their own wine and return home with 800 bottles for their personal cellar. 

The well-heeled wine lovers will spend seven days flying in luxury and experiencing the best of Australia's most famous wine region. 

Guests will fly to Adelaide and then stay at Cambourne Boutique Accommodation in the heart of the vines next to Hentley Farm, where much of the experience takes place. 

Stops at some of Barossa’s best-known wineries, including Penfolds and Seppeltsfield, are also part of the itinerary.

The highlight of the trip will be the personal wine blending session, headed by Hentley Farm’s chief winemaker Andrew Quin, who will advise guests how to create their own personal blend of fine wine.

 

At the end of the experience, 800 bottles of that personal blend will be delivered to the guests’ home, anywhere in the world. A personalised label, where guests are named “co-winemakers” will finish off each bottle with a flourish.

Other high points include a helicopter transfer from the Barossa Valley to Penfolds at Magill Estate (below), a private lunch at the Penfolds Barrel Room, as well as a private translator and concierge service for additional comfort, the South China Post has reported in Hong Kong.

One of Australia's most experienced wine experts, Peter Jackson, is chief concierge for the experience, which has been backed by South Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway. 

Contact Phil Hoffman Business Travel in Adelaide for all details and use the code word "Winsor" to ensure you get the best possible service. 

Visit www.pht.com.au/business-travel or contact Flight Centre in Hong Kong. For bookings:
belindavt@pht.com.au PH +61 (0)8 8179 9625 or or in Asia:  cecilia.yee@flightcentre.com.hk PH: +852 6972 3293.  

  

  

New earphones prove a serious travel hit

A few months ago I wrote about the PaMu wireless earbud headphones, which I liked a lot because they are darn close to impossible to dislodge even if you are jogging or dancing.

The second generation PaMu Scroll earbuds were launched this week - and will retail for only US$39 including charging case.

Here's the link, should be be interested:  https://igg.me/at/pamuscroll/x/19351355

I'm using the new earbuds both with my iPhone and my Smart TV. They are ultra-lightweight, weighing just 4.5 grams.  

So what is different? Bluetooth 5.0, enhanced bass, wireless charging, autro pairing, an even snugger fit, a leather shell, scroll design, water resistant and touch control.

I'm very impressed. These are perfect for using when travelling if you don't want to be carrying bulky headphones - and the sound quality is good.

System meltdown as Eurostar staff threaten strike

It was once the icon of European railway travel but now Eurostar staff are threatening to strike over what they describe as a "system meltdown" and "shocking working conditions".

Eurostar is a high-speed rail service connecting London with Paris, Amsterdam, Avignon, Brussels, Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Rotterdam. 

All its trains use the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France.

Rail workers union RMT said station staff at St Pancras, along with Eurostar train managers, will strike for 48 hours on Sunday, September 30 and Monday, October 1. So check your travel schedules.

The union said workers are in a dispute with management over "shocking and dangerous working conditions resulting from repeated service failures and breakdowns".

The union says the international terminal at St Pancras , which has only been operational since replacing Waterloo International in late 2007, was "reduced to chaos" over the summer following a spate of service problems, with staff left to bear the brunt of public anger.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The conditions at St Pancras have been simply appalling over the summer with dangerous levels of overcrowding on the concourse as services plunge into meltdown on the cusp of the busiest part of the year. RMT will not tolerate a position where our members are left to pick up the pieces due to corporate failures.

"Eurostar train managers are now joining this dispute after a recent ballot and will also be striking alongside their station staff colleagues.

"The union remains available for genuine and serious talks that will bring about guarantees to resolve the situation."

His statememt added that workers at the French end of the Eurostar operation have also registered their "disgust"' and have taken action in an attempt to force the company to act.

A spokesman for Eurostar said the company was aware of the planned strikes and is disappointed the action is planned.

"We are meeting with the RMT next week to discuss this further and hope to find a solution," he said.