Travelista is delighted to bring you this special offer from Sea World Resort:

Stay at Sea World Resort for a 2 nights including unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Wet’n’Wild Water World and Sea World

Stay before 30 June 2011 and get unlimited theme park entry until 30 June 2011.
Stay between 1 July 2011 and 31 March 2012 and get unlimited theme park entry until 30 June 2012

Get below the surface to discover a world of amazing marine animals, rides, and shows at Sea World. Discover a world of fantasy, super-heroes and world-class rides at Warner Bros. Movie World. Wet’n’Wild Water World offers something for everyone including adrenaline pumping slides and an amazing kids aquatic playground. And with the VIP Pass you’ll be able to go back again and again!

From $139 per person twin share. Most rooms sleep 4 so bring the kids for only $100* each per stay.

Click here to book this special with Sea World Resort

Terms and Conditions* Payment required in full by credit card at time of booking. No refunds. Date may be changed subject to availability and within the sell period timeframe. Surcharges apply for room upgrades, Qld School holiday periods and Gold Coast 600 Race week. Price includes entry for 2 adults to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild Water World until 30 June 2011 for stays prior to 30 June 2011. VIP Passes valid to 30 June 2012 for stays from 1 July 2011 to 31 March 2012. Additional adults/children 3yrs+/pensioners $100.00 each. All packages are subject to availability. VIP Passes are provided on checkin and cannot be redeemed prior to your stay.

Travelling to an unfamiliar place can be equally fun and dangerous and sometimes it can be difficult to trust just anyone for directions or instructions. Nevertheless, you can always rely on technology to help you find your way around a new place and there is no more hyped technology today than the  iPhone!

With no shortage of travel and translation applications that you can download from the app store, we have put together a quick list  of some of the top travel apps for your iPhone:

1. Air Sharing- Feed your curious mind with this knowledgeable software program. You can use it to access information about anything that you want to find out. It’s like an encyclopedia just that it provides information via wikepedia pages, photos and PDF. With this app installed on your iPhone, you’re an instant genius on the go!
2. TripIt- This free application is a frequent jet-setter’s best friend. It helps you organize your travel itineraries by syncing your emails straight into your iPhone. It also has a social feature that allows you to stalk on friends, giving you details about when and where they are travelling and if your trips overlap. It also gives information through text if your flight has been delayed.
3. Accuweather- This weather app usually gives an accurate report of weather updates that will surely come in handy when you plan for your trip outdoors. It provides 15-day local forecasts, 15 hours of hourly forecasts, forecast videos and stores up to 15 locations.
4. Skype- International roaming charges from your phone carrier can be BIG and can break your bank account when you need to communicate with family, friends and colleagues while travelling. Locate a WiFi hotspot and call or chat with them through Skype instead. You can make cheap international calls and stay connected to the people who matter most.
5. Waze- This social driving and navigation app gives you almost surreal traffic updates, police information and construction hazards. It also has a voice prompt that gives you thorough navigation instructions. Recent updates were done to increase user participation with the integration of Foursquare and facebook and a contribution scoreboard. Compared to your GPS, it is more energy efficient as it automatically turns off after 10 minutes of idle time.
6. GoogleMaps- Going somewhere or lost in a city? googleMaps gives you step-by-step driving directions with live traffic conditions and allows to plan multiple stops in your trip.
7. OpenTable- This app allows you to book restaurant reservations to more than more than 15,000 OpenTable-enabled restaurants in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, members of this app can earn Dining Rewards Points redeemable for Dining Cheques at any OpenTable restaurant. It can also provide you with a list of restaurants that are customised to fit your schedule and venue needs.
8. ZAGAT to go- be entertained with music, podcasts, television shows and audio books while travelling. You can avail the podcast feature anywhere in the airport, restaurant, hotel, airplane, etc.

If you are vegetarian, or just love a great value and wholesome meal, join the locals as they keep coming back to Melbourne’s greatest vegetarian institutions. Here are four of the best offering a range of prices and unique experiences.

Crossways – a seriously cheap lunch in the city

Look for a person dressed in Hare Krishna garb on Swanston Street, climb the stairs behind and you’ll find the best value lunch in the city.

Join the queue of lunching locals to get your big plate of hearty vegetarian food and a desert according to the day’s menu (i.e. Mondays may be chickpea curry, rice, and papadum with pineapple halava in custard). You can go back as much as you want – all for $6.50! Discounts apply for students and the elderly.

Sitting at the communal tables you might have some interesting conversation with some locals.

123 Swanston Street, Melbourne
(Upstairs on 1st Floor)
(03) 9650 2939
Monday – Saturday 11.30am – 2.30pm

Lentil as Anything – you decide what it is worth

Lentil as Anything offers a warming experience for your heart as well as your stomach. Come here for delicious vegetarian food sourced from local organic suppliers and served buffet style.

You pay, anonymously, what you feel the meal is worth. It is a unique opportunity to place human dignity above profit.

There are three locations throughout Melbourne: St Kilda, Footscray and at the Abbortsford Convent. The later is a particularly lovely experience to enjoy the music, markets, gardens, and galleries of the Convent over breakfast, lunch or dinner.

1 St. Heliers Street, Abbotsford
(03) 9419 6444
Everyday 9.00am – 9.00pm (except Monday, 12.00pm – 9.00pm)

41 Blessington Street, St Kilda
0430 388 984
Everyday 10.00am – 9.00pm

233 Barkly Street, Footscray
0424 081 652
Everyday 9.30am – 9.30pm

Tofu Shop International – the best tofu in Australia

This little eatery has been enticing the lunch time crowd for over 20 years with their well thought out kosher vegetarian food. Squeeze in and ask someone in the queue what is best combination of the current tasty choices on offer as the menu is always changing. But make sure you don’t miss out on the house brand of tofu – Five Seasons – as it is arguably the best in the continent. Expect to pay from $9 to $20 for your lunch.

78 Bridge Road, Richmond
(03) 9429 6204
Monday – Friday 12.00pm – 8.00pm
Saturday 12.00pm – 5.00pm

Shakahari – the original and still the best

When a visiting Indian colleague tells you eating at Shakahari was the best vegetarian meal he has ever had, you know you’re onto a good thing. Shakahari has been serving Melbournian’s for over 30 years and stay on top by continuously refining their carefully crafted, beautifully presented, light but satisfying vegetarian meals. Expect to pay around $15 for entrees and $20 for mains.

201-203 Faraday Street, Carlton
(03) 9347 3848
Monday – Saturday 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Sunday -Thursday 6.00pm – 9.30pm
Friday – Saturday 6.00pm – 10.00pm

Costa Rica is a country with abundant gifts from Mother Nature making it one of the world’s leaders in eco-tourism. The bio-diversity of this place is one-of-a–kind. Environmentalists, nature lovers and enthusiasts of extreme sports like water rafting, quad biking, surfing and zip line tours through the rainforest canopy will certainly fall in love to this country. Botanists and gardeners alike will also admire Costa Rica’s breathtaking plant life whose grandeur is evident in the country’s national parks.

Strong influences from the Europeans are seen in the culture and tradition of Costa Rica’s society from the use of Spanish language and the architecture style to the tastes of the delicacies in the markets and restaurants. The mix of colonial Spain with Caribbean flavours is an exciting combination. Indeed, the country is not only bio-diverse but multicultural as well.

San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica. Ticos (Costa Rican citizens) fondly call the city ‘Chepe’. San Jose is the complete opposite to what travel ads say about Costa Rica as a whole. Instead of finding the emerald rainforests, Chepe has more of the hustle and bustle of cities like Guatemala city and La Paz in Boliva. San Jose may be a noisy smoky mash up of a city but it is a city where you can find superb museums, excellent dining experience and fun bar hopping.

Our Top 3 must do’s in Costa Rica are :

1. Manuel Antonio National park
2. Arenal Volcano
3. Hit Pavones for a surf : http://www.surf-costarica.com/surfing-destination-pavones.shtml

Enjoy!

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Travelista has partnered with Intrepid Travel to offer readers $150 travel vouchers on tours to Costa Rica

The Sierra Nevada’s in Southern Spain boasts the highest mountain range in Europe after the Alps. There are over 20 peaks with the highest being over 3,000 metres, but walkers do not have to succumb to mountain climbing to enjoy the fabulous hiking, photographic opportunities or bird watching in the area. Here are three options on where to start planning your walking adventures into this stunning part of Spain.

1: Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema

This park has over 51,695 hectares of river valley views, cliffs, limestone caves, grottoes, and gorges to explore, not to mention quaint white washed villages.

The township of Grazalema itself has a woolen mill worth investigating and the enchanting town of Ronda is good for bull fights.

Getting around this part of Spain can be difficult at times without a car. However, this park is the best option if traveling by public transport as there are airport transfers and a direct train service to Grazalema from Granada.

2: Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena

Another option if you are without a hire car is Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena, situated northwest of Sevilla. This park offers hill rather than mountain walks, and also has many lovely villages to visit. There is a bus connection from Sevilla to close to the park which takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.

3:  Parque Natural Los Alcornocales

Option three is the walks from the small town of Alcornocales, the main town of Parque Natural Los Alcornocales. This area boasts unspoilt, stunning scenery and offers around 20 walks within the park, which vary from mountain and hill country walks to coastal tracks.

Deep, narrow valleys, called canutos, shelter rare ferns and other subtropical forest vegetation. You can also see the best example of a primeval Iberian forest and cork tree groves in the world. Visit Alcala Conservation Centre for information, and maybe permission for some of the longer walks. A car is essential for this area.

For all three walking locations check that all paths are open in summer, as in high fire danger times some may be closed. Take good walking boots and carry sunscreen, a hat and water.

Albania has come a long way from difficult times in decades past. Now you’ll find a diamond in the rough with everything you would want out of a trip: a breath-taking coastline, fascinating history, colossal mountains, and heartwarmingly welcoming people. Constantly evolving, Albania today could be different to Albania next year making it a vibrant place to visit.

1.  A unique coastline

You’ll have your breath taken away as you drive along tiny coastal roads, winding around mountains that crash into the sea. A bizarre feature of the coast is the indestructible bunkers that litter the place, placed there by Dictator Enver Hoxha’s paranoia. Climb in, on and around these strange sentinels into Albania’s complicated recent past.

2. Historic grandeur

From ancient hilltop fortresses to excellent Roman ruins, Ottoman mansions to famous orthodox icons, Albania has a rich, fascinating history on display.

Learn the sad ledgend of Rozafa, trapped in her magnificent fortress forever above Shkodra. Climb Gjirokastra’s steep cobbled streets amongst fading Ottoman homes of grandeur to its lonely fortress. Or head to Berat for an even greater taste of rare Ottoman style exploring the many well preserved mansions, as well as its medieval citadel full of churches displaying beautiful frescoes and famous icons. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, a lovingly restored ancient ruin whose history stretches from Hellenistic to Venetian times.

3. Transforming Tirana

Albania’s capital has been working for years to beautify its drab, brutal communist past. Go on your own photographic tour of Tirana discovering the inventive colour schemes that brighten up the city.

Hang out in the cafes by day and dance the night away in the thriving Blloku, an area where the communist elite once lived it up behind walls to keep everyone else out.

Check out www.inyourpocket.com/albania/tirana for the latest tips on where to eat in Tirana, an affordable gastronomical scene which is improving all the time.

4. The unforgettable Accursed Mountains

Albania’s Accursed Mountains are as evocative as they sound. Besides finding indescribable natural beauty you can experience heart-warming stays with families who invite visitors into their remote lifestyles; lives that once were lived fiercely in a hostile, feuding world. Hiking here offers a unique experience to feel as though you are steeping into an undiscovered corner of Europe.

5. Wonderful people

Albania’s greatest gift is its people. They will welcome you to their tables and into their homes, look out for you on buses or just give you a wave on the street. Many countries are friendly but Albania takes hospitality to another level. This alone makes a trip to Albania worth it.

Voluntourism – bite-sized vacations volunteering for a charitable cause – is now a booming business. Worth up to $2.6 billion dollars world wide, volunteering is more commericalised than ever and has lead many to questions the ethics – do the people on the receiving end of the “volunteering” get as much out of it as those trying so hard to do something good?

Australian’s who have headed overseas to dedicate their holiday leave to back breaking work, often at their own expense, will say all the effort is worth it. It can be extremely rewarding to help others in disadvantaged situations but the drawback is it can take jobs away from local workers. Other Voluntourism experiences involve bonding with local children, only to leave them at a loss when the volunteers head home again.

If you are thinking of taking a Voluntourism trip, make sure all your efforts will be as rewarding for those you are trying to help as it will be for you. Do you homework using the following steps:

1. Find an organization whose ethics you are comfortable with

Look for an organisation that represents the developing world in a positive, respectful way. Avoid companies that make it sound like you will be saving locals who are not able to save themselves.

2. Ask pointed questions to make sure your trip is well organised to gain best benefit for you and the project.

• Do they match the work needed to be done to your skills?
• What information can they provide prior to your departure on the work involved and the culture you will be living in?
• What will your weekly schedule be and what breaks will you have?
• What are the local support people’s roles and responsibilies?
• Can you contact some Australian returned volunteers?

3. Make sure your money is going where it should be

How willing the organisation is to answer the following financial questions will give you a good indication of their ethics:

• Where will you be staying and in what conditions?
• Do the local staff receive a fair wage?
• Are host families remunerated for only their costs for a small profit?
• Are local leaders employed to direct efforts on projects?
• What efforts are make towards professional development in the local community?
• Are materials purchased locally to support the economy?

By doing your homework your Voluntourism experience will be all the more rewarding, knowing all your efforts have been poured in the right direction.

Think of anything you would want out of a diving holiday and you’ll find it in Indonesia: exciting sea life from the bizarre to the whopping huge, perfect coral, and a bit of an adventure. In no particular order, here is the Top Five dive sites in Indonesia for all budgets.

1. “SS Liberty” Wreck in Tulamben on the north coat of Bali

Lying only 50m from the beach in depths between 5 and 45m, SS Liberty is a World War II wreak that was torpedoed, run around with the idea of being repaired, abandoned and pushed to its final resting place by lava from a volcano eruption. It is unrecognisable as a ship now but that’s not the point. Dive here for schools of 50cm jackfish in their hundreds, massive rock cod, stunning hard and soft corals and intriguing macro-life (shrimp, pipefish etc).

Stay in Tulamben or Amed and dive it early morning or late afternoon to avoid the day-trippers from Kuta.

Price^#: $
Ease of access^*: 5
Big stuff^*: 3
Corals^*: 5
Critters^*: 4
Current: Negligible (suitable for all divers)

2. “Sardine’s Reef” in the Raja Ampat archipelago off the western end of Indonesian Papua

Arguably the most “complete” reef dive in the world, you’ll find everything here: from the bizarre 1cm pygmy seahorse to 2m sharks, schooling barracuda and jacks, perfect hard and soft corals, cryptic octopus… it just goes on! “Sardine’s Reef” is not easy or cheap to get to but that is what has kept it so special.

Price: $$$
Ease of access: 1
Big stuff: 5
Corals: 5
Critters: 5
Current: Intermediate

3. “Castle Rock” in Komodo (a.k.a. “Hard to Find Rock” or “Full Moon”)

A challenging-at-times but always rewarding pinnacle site, “Castle Rock” is in the north of the Komodo region between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, 500km east of Bali. Perfect hard corals gardens adorn this site but you’ll be distracted by patrolling white tip and grey reef sharks, hunting giant jacks and visiting manta rays and dolphins. Not a site for beginners but a must-see for all other divers.

Price: $ if on a day dive from Labuanbajo, $$$ if on a liveaboard cruise
Ease of access: 3
Big stuff: 5
Corals: 4
Critters: 3
Current: Advanced

4. “Manta Bay” in Nusa Penida just southeast of Bali

Arguably the most accessible “big stuff” site in Indonesia, as the name suggests come here for an unforgettable dive with manta rays, proper 5m ones in groups of up to 10. Many operators dive the site as a long day trip from Sanur in Bali but it’s preferable to stay on the laid-back island of Nusa Lembongan from which it’s a 20 minute ride to the site.

Price: $$ if on a day-trip from Bali, $ if staying on Nusa Lembongan island
Ease of access: 4
Big stuff: 5
Corals: 1
Critters: 1
Current: Not challenging

5. Any site in the Lembeh Straits, just east of Manado in northern Sulawesi

Most new divers react poorly to their first dive in Lembeh. Gone are the stunning reefs, toasty and crystal-clear waters that characterise much of Indonesian diving. Instead you’ll find black sand, chillier temperatures, low visibility and lots of garbage. However, it is amongst the detritus from the local port-city of Bitung that divers who love the bizarre, the odd and the down-right weird find their version of an earth-bound heaven: mimic octopus and wunderpus, crazy cryptic frogfish, harlequin shrimp, the much-maligned blue-ringed octopus, seahorses, Ambon scorpionfish, and pygmy seahorses. All these and more are to be found here on a daily basis. As a new diver all you need is an open-mind and a desire to learn more about the critter-end of nature’s spectrum. This is a destination where people are still finding new species fairly regularly. If that appeals then Lembeh is for you.

Price: $$
Ease of access: 3
Big stuff: 1
Corals: 1
Critters: 5
Current: Usually not

* Out of 5 by Indonesian dive site standards
# $ is cheaper, $$ is mid priced, $$$ is more expensive

Melbourne is one of the few cities in the world that caters balloon rides for its tourists. A balloon ride can be a creative way for you and a loved one to celebrate a special event. The ride is also a perfect gift to any occasion. But above all that, the balloon ride is a great way to explore the city of Melbourne with a bird’s eye view.
Most balloon ride companies offer a flight package that schedules the hot air balloon to fly in the early dawn. But in general, the balloon flight in Melbourne depends on the city’s weather. When you schedule your ride, the tour operator gives you several choices. Either they pick you up at your hotel accommodation early in the morning or you avail of the complementary hotel transfers to the launch site. You can also opt for a champagne breakfast on the air or land.
On the day of your air adventure, you can participate with the operators in preparing the hot air balloon. But if you don’t feel like helping, you can just stand back and capture photos of the preparation phase. After everything’s set, it’s now time to rocket up in the sky. The route is determined by the direction of the winds. While the city awakens in the morning light, you and your co-passengers are there up in the sky, hovering over Melbourne’s gardens, parks and the Yarra River. Throughout a one hour flight, you can look down and see some of the city’s famous places like Melbourne Park, Albert Park Racetrack and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Your balloon may also fly over Melbourne’s CBD or head to the inner suburbs, gardens and parks. Here you’ll realize why Victoria is known as the Garden State. While your eyes feast to the beautiful sceneries, some hot air balloon operators provide facts and stories about balloon flying.
Final landing and it’s over. But the memories of a great balloon experience will live on. You can now head back to your hotel and take a good rest for another adventure in the land of Melbourne!

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Although Valentine’s day passed too long ago, it’s not yet too late for you to treat your partner on a romantic get-away. Here in the Land down Under are some of the perfect places where you and your partner can bask in the glory of your love.
• Melbourne- It remains a mystery why Melbourne is considered as one of the romantic cities in the world. The city’s ambiance might have created a powerful force that hypes up the emotions and passions of couples and lovers. Additionally, the city’s many bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, events and nightlife contribute to an intimate evening for couples or offer a chance to single individuals to get their awaited love life.

• Broken Hill – This popular lover’s town in NSW. Starting from Adelaide, this 7-hour outback journey northeast leads you to a mining town with art galleries, pubs, camel rides and other services and establishments. A great outback adventure is definitely a new and memorable experience for you and your darling.

• Brisbane – There are lots of theme parks, attractions, shows, dining and shopping that you can see here in Brisbane. The Broad beach area is the ideal place for a beach outing. An hour away, you’ll also find Noosa which is an attractive town that has sorts of hotels and resorts, beaches, restaurants and stores that are perfect for a couple’s honeymoon.

• Sydney – This vibrant city the first port of call for most international travelers that arrive in Australia. The perfect blend of wildlife, beach, wine-tasting and awesome city life makes Sydney and its nearby countryside New South Wales an ideal place for a honeymoon. Some of the most popular attractions that can be reached easily by ferry are the aquarium, zoo, Lunar Park, Darling Harbour, and many more. There are also amazing honeymoon packages outside Sydney that you can take like a trip to the Blue Mountains where you can view kangaroos and the Hunter Valleys where some of Australia’s finest wines are produced.

The aforementioned places are parcels that make Australia a top romantic destination for lovers. Whether it’s a tour in the jungle, exploring nature or indulging in the city’s life, the activities are truly endless. Add some spark in your love life and surprise you partner to a trip to the cities in Australia.