How to travel asleep on Europe’s first night bus with lie-flat seats

Buses with lie-flat beds are emerging as an enticing travel option in Europe.

Zurich, Basle, Luxembourg, Brussels and Amsterdam are in line to become among the first cities to see the arrival of a new era of overnight coach travel, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Swiss company Twiliner has announced that its first luxury night bus route will officially launch on November 14.

Twiliner’s mission is to make long-distance bus travel as comfortable - and nearly as sustainable - as rail journeys, while offering a greener alternative to short-haul flights.

The company says its service “closes the comfort gap in long-distance travel,” bringing airline business-class style to its buses.

Each double-decker bus will carry just 21 passengers (18 on the upper deck and three on the lower level).

This is compared to up to 80 seats for a normal cheap-and-cheerful coach service.

Seats (above) looking like those found in business class cabins in commercial aircraft. At the push of a button, they fully recline into flat beds.

Travellers can expect pillows, blankets, privacy screens, reading lights, USB ports, wifi and personal storage compartments.

Downstairs, passengers will find bathroom and changing facilities and a snack bar stocked with light refreshments.

Each guest will be allowed to bring one large suitcase (up to 23kg) and a small carry-on, with options to book extra space for bikes or sports equipment.

Sustainability is a major part of Twiliner’s identity. The buses will run on HVO diesel, a renewable fuel made from recycled fats and vegetable oils.

The company says the system cuts carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to flying and is on par with train travel in terms of sustainability.

The trips will, however, not be cheap: one-way fares start around €155 (about $AU270) to €250 depending on distance and season. But you will save on the cost of a hotel room overnight. 

The network will debut with one route: Zurich–Basle-Luxembourg-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam.

By the end of 2025, a second route between Zurich and Barcelona will be launched: Zurich–Berne-Girona-Barcelona.

Initially operating several times per week in December, Twiliner expects to offer daily departures by mid-2026.

Additional routes are already planned for 2026 with the aim of a total of 30 European destinations within the next three years. These would include cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Munich and Vienna.

“This is about redefining how people move across Europe at night,” said Twiliner CEO Samuel Keller. “You can rest, work, or simply sleep your way from one city to another - comfortably and sustainably.”

See https://www.twiliner.com/en/

Dark Mofo returns to brighten up Tasmania's winter

Tasmania's Dark Mofo mid-winter solstice festival,will return in 2026 from Thursday, June 11-Monday, June 22.

Alongside large-scale public art installations, live performances and musical acts, Dark Mofo 2026 will include familiar rituals: Winter Feast, Night Mass, the Ogoh-Ogoh burning and the Nude Solstice Swim as the sun rises after the longest night of the year.

While the full festival program will be announced next year, organisers have revealed that a strictly limited first release of tickets to Night Mass - Dark Mofo's late-night takeover of Nipaluna/Hobart CBD - will go on sale at 10am on Wednesday, November 5, to those who have pre-registered via the Dark Mofo website.

"Mark your calendars," urged Dark Mofo artistic director Chris Twite. "It’s exciting to share Dark Mofo’s 2026 dates today as we take our first steps towards next year’s festival where we’ll once again bathe the streets in red, feast by firelight and indulge in a smorgasbord of art, music and performance.

"With plenty of surprises in store, revellers have an opportunity this week to access an early release of tickets to Night Mass and get a head start on planning their winter debauchery."

Following a one-year hiatus, the return of Dark Mofo in 2025 attracted over 50,000 interstate and overseas visitors to Tasmania and delivered over $67 million in economic benefit to the state.

"We’re so grateful for the continued support from David Walsh, and that of the Tasmanian Government, not to mention Tasmanian businesses, residents and visitors - all of whom enable us to continue celebrating the dark," Twite says.

Minister for Tourism, Hospitality and Events, Jane Howlett, said: "Dark Mofo is an iconic Tasmanian event, which drives visitation to the state during the off season and one that is recognised as a world-class winter festival. The Tasmanian Government is a proud supporter of this event.

‘Dark Mofo has something for everyone and we know how important it is to our tourism and hospitality sector during the quieter months. Visitors to Tasmanian events stay longer than the average visitor, and stays have grown, now 2.5 nights longer than they were in 2019."

 # Dark Mofo is a project of the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania, with additional support provided by the City of Hobart.

Punt Road opens a new wine destination

Visitors to the Yarra Valley have a new wine experience to enjoy with the recent opening of the new cellar door for Punt Road Wines.

Next door to Meletos restaurant and surrounded by vines and orchards, the new space has a barrel hall for tastings, and a new small plates menu.

It is just 400 metres from the former home of Punt Road, the new facility also offers The Farmhouse accommodation, and Il Massaggio day spa, creating an all-in-one destination surrounded by vineyards.

Bookings for the new cellar door at 12 St Huberts Road, Coldstream are now open. You can book your visit here.

Punt Road has an almost 40-year history and makes wines under the Punt Road and Airlie Bank labels.

The Napoleone family-owned and -operated cellar door offers two wine tasting experiences: the Classic Wine Tasting for $15 per person, or the Food and Wine Experience for $65pp (two-person minimum) featuring five estate-grown wines paired with a seasonal selection of local and international cheeses and small bites.  

Booming Geelong adds another place to stay

Booming Geelong keeps adding hotel rooms to meet growing demand.

Choice Hotels' Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments, an Ascend Collection Hotel, has unveilied the first stage of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment of its waterfront property.

The transformation of the circa 1962 property, originally known as Hamilton Hume Motor Inn and more recently Quality Hotel Bayside Geelong, sees it re-emerge as a 4.5-star, 110-room boutique hotel.

The project has generated approximately 300 construction jobs and created 75 operational roles. Once complete in late 2026, the hotel will feature a new façade and a fine dining restaurant with sweeping views of Corio Bay.

Stage one is now complete and has seen 60% of the original structure demolished to make way for:

* a new lobby and guest arrival space
* Franca's Ristorante, an all-day Italian-inspired dining venue
* 79 newly built guest rooms
* seven flexible meeting and event spaces
* a fitness centre, sauna, and indoor lap pool with accessibility hoist.

Kevin Robe, general manager, Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments, said the redevelopment is about more than just bricks and mortar.

“We're creating a hotel that reflects the spirit of Geelong - its history, its people, and its future. From the architecture and interiors to the smallest design details, we've drawn inspiration from our stunning bay front location, the region's wool and textile heritage, and its Indigenous roots,” he said.

“We're proud to offer a contemporary, inclusive, and welcoming space for travellers from across Victoria, interstate and overseas - whether they're here for business, leisure, or one of the region's many iconic events.”

Inclusivity and accessibility have been a key focus in the refurbishment plans, with 10 accessible rooms, including seven twin share options ideal for families, carers, and guests travelling together.

Franca's Ristorante, named in honour of the hotel's founder Francesca, is headed by executive chef John Hornsey, whose career spans working in Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury venues in the UK, Caribbean and Australia.

“Bayside Geelong Hotel & Apartments is a shining example of what the Ascend brand represents, unique, locally connected, and independently owned hotels that offer authentic experiences,” said Trent Fraser, CEO of Choice Hotels Asia-Pacific.

For more info see https://www.choicehotels.com/en-au/victoria/geelong/quality-inn-hotels/au387

Growing interest in culinary adventures in Vietnam

Australians have a growing appetite for food experiences across Vietnam - from street eats to Michelin-starred eateries. 

BestPrice Travel is one of the companies leading the way with food tours designed for Australian travellers who are increasingly seeking immersive culinary experiences. 

Vietnam has emerged as a leading destination for food-focused adventures, the company says.

That coincides with Australian tourism to Vietnam continuing to surge, with a 35.4% increase in arrivals recorded in the 2024-2025 financial year alone. 

More than ever, Australian travellers are seeking authentic, hands-on culinary experiences that connect them to local cultures -through food, farming, and regional flavours.

In recent years, Vietnam has experienced a culinary renaissance. 

With nine restaurants awarded a Michelin star across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang , the Asian country is increasingly gaining global recognition. 

This gastronomic boom has gone hand-in-hand with the rise in food tourism as travellers are increasingly seeking immersive experiences ranging from street food tours and regional tastings to hands-on cooking classes and market visits.

BestPrice Travel aims to set itself apart by offering culinary journeys that connect Australians directly with Vietnamese chefs, farmers, and coffee artisans. 

“It is no longer just pho and banh mi that travellers are indulging in - Vietnam’s evolving Michelin scene is highlighting new levels of culinary sophistication, all rooted in homegrown produce," says Khuc Tan Dung, founder and CEO of BestPrice Travel.

"Australians, much like Anthony Bourdain, who championed putting Vietnam on the global culinary map, can’t get enough of it and neither can Luke Nguyen, who understands the Australian appetite with over seven TV shows to date focused on Vietnamese cuisine. 

"And it It is not just the food scene; Vietnam’s vibrant coffee culture is also drawing attention. The country is home to over 640,000 coffee farms. 

Fuelling this culinary evolution is a new generation of young, creative Vietnamese chefs. 

BestPrice Travel says its "curated culinary journeys" go beyond sightseeing. Strong local networks allow them to design immersive food tours, incorporating sustainable tourism practices that support local chefs, producers, and communities.

The tours allow the chance to visit and dine in a 140-year-old preserved French colonial villa housing Spices Villa in Hanoi’s old quarter. 

“Australians are among the world’s most passionate travellers, especially when it comes to food,” says  Khuc Tan Dung. 

“We don’t’ just organise tours, we’re food story curators, taking guests through Vietnam’s culinary culture journey, from Hanoi street food tables to fine dining in Danang, ending with a simple family meal in the Mekong Delta, where guests have picked the produce themselves and cooked with the host.”

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Tours can be tailored to the needs of individual travellers.

See www.bestpricetravel.com

Boom time for wine tourism

Wine producers who do not invest in tasting facilities and tourism drawcards risk missing out on valuable income.

A new international study has found that wine tourism remains a profitable and expanding part of the global wine industry, with 65% of wineries reporting positive returns and more than half planning to invest further, trade news hub drinks business reported this week.

Wine tourism continues to prove a strong revenue driver for producers worldwide, with 65% of wineries describing it as profitable or very profitable, according to a new study by Geisenheim University in collaboration with UN Tourism, the OIV, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network and WineTourism.com.

The Global Wine Tourism Report 2025, based on responses from 1,310 wineries across 47 countries, found that 88% currently offer some form of wine tourism activity, most commonly tastings (79%), cellar tours (68%) and vineyard tours (61%). 

The report records a median of 1,500 visitors per winery each year, with domestic tourists making up 65% of total visitors. 

While most wineries report stable or rising visitor numbers, 43% of European producers saw growth over the past year compared to 28% of those overseas.

The largest visitor segment is aged 45–65 (82%), followed by 25–44 (59%), while only 2% of wineries report guests under 25, suggesting ongoing challenges in engaging younger audiences.

More than half of wineries surveyed (51%) plan to invest further in wine tourism, and 73% expect their wine tourism activities to grow in the future. The study also found that 78% of wineries collaborate with other organisations to enhance experiences.

In my experience, producers in South Africa and Argentina are among those most proactive with tourists.  

Wine tourism contributes an average of 25% of total winery revenue, rising to 32% in non-European wineries. Key challenges identified include economic pressures (51%), decreasing consumption (51%), and changing consumer preferences (40%).

Overall, 68% of wineries believe wine tourism will grow in their region, and more than 60% see it as a valuable tool in times of crisis.

The report says wine tourism “plays a key role in diversifying rural economies, creating jobs, and supporting local communities”. 

And, of course, there are the financial benefits of sales direct to customers. 

Image; Solms Delta Wines in Franschhoek, South Africa, will offer wine tastings, live music, and an on-site museum in 2026, and is planning to reopen its Fyndraai Restaurant.