The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

Travel has taken a huge hit with the Middle East crisis now entering its fifth week, and it can be challenging to keep up with what you should and shouldn't do with travel plans during these significant and devastating world events.
This week on our Hot Take, hosts Belinda Jackson and Kirstie Bedford bring you the good and the bad news to help you navigate this uncertain time when it comes to travel plans – with some positive solutions.
Our tip this week is for the aviation geeks among us. We’re sharing the best runway rooms at Australasian airports; so if the sight of a plane taking off gets your blood pumping, this is the list for you. 
And if you can't get enough #avgeek, listen in for Belle's tarmac tour of Melbourne Airport; the airport does occasionally offer similar tours, see https://www.melbourneairport.com.au/community/airport-tours
Here are links to the stories Kirstie mentions.:
Accor's Middle East CEO
Virtuoso Australia New Zealand forum stats
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Toby Venus of the Point Hacks podcast joins us this episode to demystify frequent flyer points – how to earn, how to burn and creating a checklist to keep your points in good shape and working for you.   
Coming to you from the Novotel Melbourne Airport, Toby shares some sneaky hacks, and we're talking gift cards, credit cards, hotel loyalty programs and the difference between rewards seats and the perils of the points-plus-pay scheme, so buckle up, avgeeks!

We also have a giveaway for a night's stay and buffet breakfast at the Novotel Melbourne Airport - jump on our instagram competition post to enter!  
Also, which of the world's most visited cities gives you best bang for your buck on hotel stays, and how to prepare for the new border rules for entry to the EU - saily.com shares some tips on getting prepped. 
And stay tuned for Kirstie's super exciting news, as well as the announcement of the winner of two Andrea Barton crime novels. 
freepoints.com.au 
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New Zealand is renowned for its spectacular scenery, and the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island will not disappoint.
Come with host Kirstie Bedford as she hikes and bikes the Queen Charlotte Track, and kayaks in the glassy waters of the Marlborough Sounds, where seals and dolphins are your only neighbours, then beds down in lodges only accessible via the track, boat or helicopter.
She explains how to get there, why this is one of the best places to hike in New Zealand, and where to stay pre- and post your hike. 
Also, an Australian city has for the first time made the top 50 best cities list by Time Out. Find out where it is, and we give our personal recommendations of some of the best things to do while you're there!
And, love to travel but don't want to leave your furry friend behind? We have the rundown of the best places around the country for those wanting to travel with their pooch.
Check out some of the stunning images and footage of Kirstie's trip here. 
The full list of Time Out’s 50 Best Cities 2026 can be found here.
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She's the queen of the roadtrip, and bestselling author and travel writer Lee Atkinson joins us to talk about her latest adventure, motorbiking across the European Alps. 
A self-described 'pillion princess', Lee and husband Bill shipped their Suzuki V-Strom tourer to the UK to ride 10,000km through the mountains over three months. Lee shares the trials of ultra-light packing and the joys of kevlar jeans. 
Her latest book, Ultimate Backroads & Detours: Australia is for lovers of road trips, but haters of traffic, and is out now. Visit leeatkinson.com.au
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Also, some personal anecdotes about getting out of the Middle East as war takes hold of the region, and the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) says not to panic-cancel your upcoming European trip.
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This week, we are taking you through the colourful, decadent, sordid, and scandalous histories of famous hotels with D'Etta and Yael, hosts of the Hotel History podcast.
They launched the podcast to explore the history of hotels and their interplay with culture, society and politics.
We talk about some of the most interesting hotels they have covered, from the haunted to the downright bizarre. 
Find the Hotel History podcast here: www.hotelhistorypodcast.com
Also, Money.com research has revealed Aussies are saving big by using frequent flyer points – we look into what the research shows and how you can save using frequent flyer points.
And, we chat about Southern Cross Travel Insurance's latest data on travel insurance claims, how much we are claiming, and why monkeys keep popping up as an ongoing problem. 
Follow Kirstie on Instagram here
Follow Belinda on Instagram here
Audio editing by Alaisdair Leith. You can follow him here
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