Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise

23/08/2024

Went on a cruise in the Katherine Gorge back in July. Hope you enjoy.

A cruise in the Katherine Gorge, Northern Territory of Australia

06/07/2024

https://gr8l1f.blog/

got nothing on

28/06/2024

https://gr8l1f.blog/2024/06/29/6-great-life-lapping-australia-2024/

Kynuna QLD Known as the Blue Heeler, this pub is very busy with one night stays of passing nomads and farm contractors. Before arriving at Kynuna, we travelled through wide open space of grasslands…

05/11/2023

Enjoy the movie of our garden clubs annual Open Garden Show held this weekend in the Yarra Valley.

Upper Yarra Valley Garden Club 5 November 2023

01/11/2021

With borders opening to international travel, my advice is to be patient and wait. It will be the same as if you were on the maiden voyage of a new ship - not everything is smooth sailing. There are enormous changes for agents and suppliers to adapt to and they/we are learning new ways and processes that need to be followed. The passengers will be responsible for many of the conditions of departure from Australia and arrival in other countries that they weren’t in pre-Covid times. Travel insurance conditions are still not clear for both the travellers and the providers. So please be patient; the travel industry is eager to get you to your destination but new rules and procedures need to be learnt and followed. Happy planning.

19/03/2021

Here’s a copy of a letter written by a colleague today to the heavies in the government. It gives a clear picture of the plight of the travel agents in Australia at this time.

Hi all,

this is copy of my email to Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg and Dan Tehan sent this morning:

Dear Mr Frydenberg,

The vast majority of travel agents in this country are small businesses and you already know the trade employs circa 39k staff. The jobkeeper program has been a lifeline to keep staff employed. It has not helped to pay the other bills such as rent, rates communication costs, technology commitments, leasing costs, licencing fees, accountancy and legal fees and many other business expenses. It is fair to say that the cash flow boost (many month ago), state government grants and various rent relief schemes have helped to keep businesses operating. However this all comes to a grinding halt on 31st March.

The Travel Agent grants of $128m in November with a top up due soon of additional $128m, will hopefully help to see the industry through until end June but this won’t pay for the staff as well as the operational expenses.

As an industry we have refunded in excess of $6bn to customers who’s travel was curtailed because of this awful pandemic. There is still circa $4bn to process. Everyone in the travel fraternity has worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome without even a thank-you from our governments! $10bn back into the economy which could have easily been lost! If the government does not come up with an extension of Jobkeeper for the travel trade then I fear the vast majority of staff will be laid off in April because it will be unaffordable to keep them on the books. As business owner I have the fiduciary responsibility to the business.

I suggest as you have done with the Aviation industry, extend Jobkeeper for the next 7 months under the Travelkeeper name if you like. The cost for this at $500 per week per staff would total approx. $500m compared to the Government spending at least $300m having the same cohort on Centrelink plus of course the extra cost incurred to manage the resource to service such!

In real terms this means $200m extra in expenditure which reflects a meagre 2% of the $10bn this wonderful industry has managed to recover in the economy. This reward will help sustain a industry that through no fault of its own, which has had it’s busines torn from under it by border closures.

Just one final thought. When the borders reopen, Australia will need a vibrant, experienced and reliable travel trade to service the needs of millions of travellers. If the trade collapses in this country is the Government going to be happy to place their travel account in an overseas agent’s pockets?

Don’t forget, without a travel agent you’re on your own.

I hope this resonates and trust you will give this the most serious consideration and adopt such a policy to extend jobkeeper for the travel trade.

Yours sincerely
Andrew Allen

12/12/2020

https://gntc.com.au/2020/12/13/december-update/

Yes, the travel agency industry has been decimated due to the pandemic. We were hit on day one and it looks like we won’t see any international business income until at least quarter 3, 2021. Since…

11/06/2020

11/06/2020

You may want to take notice of this article if traveling to Cambodia. There’s a chance many countries that are Covid-19 free will bring in something similar. And if you get the virus and die in Cambodia, you be up for $1500 cremation fees as well. (What a nice thought. Not)

CAMBODIA Travel News.

The government has decided to charge all foreign visitors for lab testing, medical treatment and accommodation under health measures to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 (C-19) transmission in the country.

[https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50732611/foreigners-to-be-charged-for-c-19-quarantine-tests/](https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50732611/foreigners-to-be-charged-for-c-19-quarantine-tests/)

The government has decided to charge all foreign visitors for lab testing.

03/06/2020

Today is a special day for Lyn Spain. 30 years ago, Lyn started out on an adventure that has been filled with fun and enjoyment. In a pokey little shop in Yarra Junction, Yarra Travel Junction was born. Three years later, a move to larger premises took place and the shop became a place where dreams and holidays were commenced for many in the Yarra Valley; where clients would poke their head in to say “Hi, how’s things?”

Lyn has had the wish to always be honest and up front with her clients in a soft manner that has meant “clients keep coming back” to have Lyn help with their next bucket list adventure. Tours to over 50 countries, with clients in tow, have been a time where lasting friendships developed and experiences of a lifetime were encountered and enjoyed.

With a change of direction inevitable due to Lyn wanting to mix both providing travel and living in her motor home with “the husband”, Grey Nomads Travel and Cruise became both the business name and the intention for the future. What a great mix!

Happy Birthday Lyn, Good health, and continue with that “spirit of adventure”. The Upper Yarra Valley is thankful for your honesty, integrity and proper fairness in your business over the last 30 years.

27/05/2020

Some you may want to know the official word on refunds for your travel. We try to adhere to fairness to the customer.