Here are some tips to help you to book your holiday for next year with confidence, so you can finally leave your four walls, and start travelling again!

1. Be aware of the current travel restrictions

As we have seen with the situation in South Australia a few weeks ago, travel restrictions can change in a heartbeat. Stay on top of government guidelines before and during your trip, to ensure you don’t get turned away at a border, or end up in quarantine. 

2. Be aware of the cancellation policy

Now, more than ever, it is important to look at the travel provider’s cancellation policy before paying any money. Is there a special COVID policy should you be unable to travel? If so, would you receive a refund, or would it be a credit for a future stay instead? If a credit voucher is the only option, check to see how long you may have to make use of this, as this may be restrictive.

While I know it’s tempting, avoid booking dirt cheap, non-refundable rates for hotels at this time. Should government advice change and you’re unable to travel, these rates are just that, non-refundable. Choose instead, the more expensive, fully flexible rates. All hotel stays for 2021 booked through Mosaic Travel will be fully refundable in case of cancellation, unless otherwise advised, and before you pay a deposit, we’ll advise you of all cancellation details.

3. Book with trusted operators

Since the travel industry was deregulated in 2012, almost anyone can set up a travel company and started taking bookings (and your money)! So it’s important to only book with trusted travel agencies, tour operators and hoteliers. Look for operators and agencies that are ATAS accredited (Mosaic Travel is), as we are required to continually meet stringent criteria to retain accreditation. 

Booking with a trusted operator means you’re more likely to go on your holiday, and receive a fair outcome should you need to cancel due to COVID.

Consider how easy it may be to get hold of the travel provider in an emergency. Can you easily pick up the phone to call for help, or do you have to sit on hold to a call centre, or battle through online chat with a robot?

4. Purchase travel insurance 

Breaking news – Covermore Insurance is next week launching their ‘COVID benefits’ insurance policy, providing coverage for should you contract COVID, experience delays or need to quarantine due to COVID. Please contact me for more details.

COVID aside, purchasing travel insurance is always a good idea, even for domestic holidays. Generally, a travel insurance policy should cover you for your hire car excess, plus it is also handy should something else go wrong. I was once able to claim for a stolen bag on a weekend trip to Sydney, and so was very grateful for my annual travel insurance policy.

5. Travel close to home for now

It looks like travel to Europe and the US may be off the cards for 2021 at this stage, so perhaps 2021 is the year to explore our own backyard. 

Whether it be a luxury outback lodge in the Northern Territory, a beach holiday to Queensland, a 4WD trip in the Kimberleys, or a hedonistic Tassie wine trip, Australia has a lot to offer. Hopefully travel within Australia in 2021 will be relatively care-free and normal, and we can enjoy these special places without huge crowds. Having said that, iconic destinations like El Questro and Cable Beach club are already heavily booked for 2021, and are advising Aussies to book early.

Even closer to home, consider a road trip holiday within your own state and explore surprising destinations just a stones-throw from your everyday life!

Talk of a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore is sounding really positive at this stage. However, without a time frame for this bubble, I’d recommend only booking fully flexible arrangements to these destinations at this stage. 

6. Relax and enjoy your holiday!

Once you’ve considered all of the above recommendations, you can relax and enjoy the anticipation of an upcoming holiday, knowing you’ve done everything you can to book with confidence. One of my favourite parts of travelling is the lead-up to the trip, plotting, planning and getting excited! 

In 2021, I think we’ll all really appreciate travelling with family and friends, exploring fabulous destinations close to home and interacting with locals. Finally, we can start to get excited about travelling again. 

The post How to confidently book a holiday post-COVID appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Sadly, none of us are doing that this year are we?! While we can’t physically travel, why don’t we do the next best thing, and bring the flavours of afar to our own homes, with an online cooking class!

We’ve been working with our travel industry friends and colleagues in our favourite destinations to bring to you a suite of unique cooking classes over Zoom.

We’ll provide you with the recipe cards, the grocery list (and as an optional extra, a grocery box delivered to your door), and a fun, hands on and interactive cooking class. You can join in from the comfort of your own home, and enjoy the fruits of your labour at the end of the class!

Overview of Cooking Class Schedule

For the chefs’ bios and menu information, please see further down in this post.

Saturday 26 September: Turkish with Mrs Müdje from Selcuk

Saturday 10 October: Greek with Meni Valle, Greek – Australian chef & author

Sunday 11 October: Chinese dumplings with dumpling queen Angie Chong

Saturday 17 October: Italian with Silvestro Silvestori from Lecce

Saturday 24 October: Spanish with Annie B from Andalucia

Saturday 31 October: Moroccan with Annie B from Andalucia

Sunday 1 November: Peruvian with Ricardo Rivera from Lima

Saturday 7 November: Italian with Orietta Schiaffino from Moneglia

To book: Please email rosie@mosaictravel.com.au with the classes you wish to join, and we’ll reply back with the grocery list and payment details.

The post Zoom Cooking Classes appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Are you, like us, wishing you were on holidays right now? Perhaps sunning yourself somewhere exotic, indulging in beautiful food and wine after a big day of exploring?

Sadly, none of us are doing that this winter are we?! While we can’t physically travel, why don’t we do the next best thing, and bring the flavours of afar to our own homes, with an online Spanish cooking class!

Introducing Annie B, a charming Scotswoman who calls Andalucia, Southern Spain, home. Passionate about food, wine and Spanish culture, Annie leads culinary tours that are fun and indulgent, celebrating local ingredients and traditions. She hosts cooking classes from her home in Vejer de la Frontera, a charming little hilltop village, which overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar. A cooking class with Annie is always a highlight in Mosaic Travel’s Spain itineraries!

Join Annie and Rosie together on Zoom as we all cook a fabulous 3 course meal ‘together’, and talk about all things Spain and food. You’ll be so impressed with your dinner at the end of it!

The Details:

Date: Saturday 22 August

Time: 5pm – 7pm, just in time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour afterwards!

Cost: $75.00 per family group / zoom window

The menu:

Melon Gazpacho with diced Jamon

White fish (baked or fried) with Romesco Sauce & Spinach

Chocolate & Almond cake with PX Sherry soaked raisins

The recipes are included so you can cook these delicious meals again and again.

Optional Extra: Rosie will hand deliver all fresh groceries and goodies required for the evening, to your doorstep. $40.00 for a single / $60.00 for a couple

Note – this is only available to those in Geelong, Bellarine and Surfcoast regions, and is subject to government restrictions on the day.

To book: Please email Rosie on rosie@mosaictravel.com.au to reserve your place, and please advise us of any dietary requirements.

Limited spots available!

So lets crank up the heater, turn up the flamenco tunes and pretend we’re in Andalusia for an evening of good food and great company!

The post A Spanish cooking class with Annie… online! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Their location, facilities and value are only part of what continues to get them rave reviews from all Mosaic Travellers who have stayed here!

After falling ill while travelling, Jorn and his team went above and beyond to deliver lemon, ginger and honey tea and a surprise fruit platter to Mosaic Travellers S&S: “there is a definite personal touch. I’ve never experienced such care from a hotel!”

I spoke with Front Office Manager, Jorn Metternich (third from left) to find out more.

Jorn, how did you come to be the Manager at Monet Garden Hotel?

We opened the Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam in December 2017 with a brand new team with the same passion and mission: Making people happy and give a personalised service throughout their stay. I do have experiences in 5 star hotels in different positions and my goal was to achieve the same personal touch and personalised service than in a 5 star hotel. So far we are really happy we succeed in doing this.   

What do you suggest visitors do during their time in Amsterdam?

To at least visit Amsterdam for a couple of days. There is so much to explore. Go for instance to one of our Museums like the Van Gogh, the Rijksmuseum (with the Rembrandt paintings) or rent a bike, like the locals do and explore the lovely historic city centre of Amsterdam on a bike.

If you are not in to biking, all major attractions are in close walking distance of our hotel. Like the lovely flower market (10 minutes) the historic and charming 9 streets with his lovely boutique shops (15 minutes) the Royal Palaca of the Dam (12 minutes) or the famous and historic Red light district (10 minutes)

What makes your hotel special and why is it different to others in the area?

Our location is excellent. Within close walking distance of many attractions. When you are staying with us, you do not have the feeling that you are staying in the city centre of Amsterdam. Our rooms are either facing the canal or a tranquelle courtyard. In addition, we do like to offer our guests upon arrival a lovely cup of coffee or a glass of the Amsterdam ‘Heineken’ or even a glass of Prosecco. While the guests are enjoying their welcome drink, we love to give them lots of city information.

Finally, we love food here at Mosaic Travel! Is there a particular dish or restaurant that Mosaic Travellers must try when they’re in Amsterdam?

We at the Monet Garden Hotel also love food!

At the reception we offer a list with restaurant suggestions. We do suggest to eat in of the Dutch cuisine restaurants. Like Restaurant the D’vijf Vlieghen (pictured) or restaurant “Greetje’.

To book a trip to Amsterdam, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Meet the People: Monet Garden Hotel appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

When can we start travelling again? What will travel look like in this brave new world of ours? These are the questions on everyone’s lips at the moment!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been meeting with industry gurus, joining in on webinars hosted by airline staff, tour operators and hotel owners, and have recorded a short video below with my insights in to what I think travel might be like in the next few months and years.

In the immediate future, I think we’ll be able to travel interstate from September, and hopefully to NZ too.
International travel I think won’t be back on the cards until 2021, or possibly the end of 2020.

The biggest change to our travel experiences will be to do with health and sanitation. I think we will see temperature checks at airports, hotels offering contactless check in, sanitation packs provided on tour buses and in hotel rooms, limited visitors to museums and historical sites, and, I’m sorry to say it, no more buffet breaky.

As with the enhanced security measures post September 11, I think these health changes will be part of our new normal.

On top of this, I think there will be an overall culture shift, away from the big coach tours and massive resorts, and towards small little hotels, tours and experiences.
After our enforced lockdown, I think we’ll be craving a human connection more than ever before, and we’ll want to support local, small businesses and get to the heart of a destination, rather than a bland resort catering to the masses. 

I think there will be a trend towards slower travel – less destinations but for a longer time – and instead of lots of flights, there will be more road trips and train travel. 

We may also want to explore more remote, off the beaten track experiences, rather than the big cities. 

One other big change to the way we travel I think will be the flexible booking policies. Already I’m seeing airlines and tour operators offering reduced deposits and more relaxed terms & conditions, all so we can book with confidence for the future.

In my opinion, the future is bright for travel, whether it be in our own backyard, or further afield! Less crowds, a greater focus on health and sanitation, a more authentic experience, and flexible booking terms. 

Let’s keep dreaming of travel, whether it is within Australia or overseas, and please give me a call if you’d like to discuss any travel dreams with me. 

Head on over to my instagram or facebook page where I’ll be regularly posting gorgeous travel ideas for our new normal, starting with some fabulous Aussie holidays.

The post The future of travel in this post pandemic world appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

This modern, boutique hotel is the perfect luxury escape that Mosaic Travellers have been enjoying for years! Slow down, relax and enjoy a delicious dinner made with fresh, local ingredients.

Dinner is served to you or by you if you choose to partake in their cooking class!

“Serenity, a certain slowness, as inseparable from man’s life as the succession of the seasons is inseparable from plants or from the birth of children”
Ernesto Sábato 1911-2011

Can you tell us a little about how Cooking and Nature, Emotional Hotel began and where the idea came from?

Both Rita and I have ancient ties with this region and so we decided, a couple of years ago to start our own small guest house here in Alvados (Casa dos Matos).

As time went by and felt like we could welcome more people and make these people enjoy a different experience here in the heart of Serra d’Aire and Candeeiros Natural Park. That’s how the idea of creating Cooking and Nature came along. We knew we wanted this place to be focused on nature and cooking, two of our biggest passions. We wanted to keep it small, cozy and emotional and we think we have accomplished just that with our 12 themed rooms, lounge areas, kitchen and relaxing area Banhos d’Aire. 

With a focus on well being and relaxation, how is this achieved at your hotel?

“Relax” is one of our mantras here at Cooking and Nature and that can easily be achieved in any area of the hotel. Either in our cozy rooms, in our library, at our garden or the pool deck, guests can always find some peace.

And then there the Banhos d’Aire area (pictured) where guests will find an indoor hot pool circuit which they can have all for themselves and also a massage room. We also promote some themed workshops focused on mindfulness, well-being and other subjects like yoga, for instance.

Other than this we have the great outdoors, what can be more relaxing than sitting alone on top of a mountain overlooking a majestic landscape and listening to the silence?

Food is another main aspect of your hotel, which local ingredients can guests expect to sample in your cooking lessons and restaurants? Are many of these grown on-site?

Yes, it certainly is. We are food lovers and also nature lovers and with that in mind, we try to bring into our kitchen and menu the best local, fresh, seasonal and whenever possible organic ingredients. We grow our aromatic herbs and we are also working on our veggies garden.

We love food here at Mosaic Travel! What is your favourite dish currently on the menu for guests to cook during their stay with you?

Humm. That is a tough question. We love all the dishes our executive chef designed to be prepared by our guests. If we had to pick a menu we’d probably pick the tart of Alcobaça apple caramelized onion and rice pudding to start. Then we’d pick the duck pies with berries and orange salad as a main and top it off with some nice red wine pears, vanilla mousse, and almond snaps. 

While in the area, what are some things you recommend visitors should see and do? 

There are many things to see and do around!

First and foremost, make the most out of this fabulous Natural Park we stand at! To do just that we have just launched an app with all the trails you can do either on foot, by bike or e-bike in the surroundings of the hotel. The app is already available at Google Play and soon it will also be available at App Store.

The natural caves of Alvados, the lovely village of Porto de Mós are also mandatory! Not far from the hotel guests will find plenty of World Heritage Sites like Alcobaça and Batalha Monasteries and the Templar City of Tomar. For beach lovers, we recommend a visit to any of neighbouring beaches such as world-famous Nazaré and Peniche/Baleal. A day in Obidos is always a good idea, also!

So as you can see there is plenty do see and do around! 

To book your trip to Portugal, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Meet the People: Cooking and Nature Emotional Hotel appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Dublin is such a lively city, filled with quaint pubs, plenty of music and good craic (gossip)!

Here are my top 5 things to see and do in 48 hours!

1. As we only had 48 hours here, there wasn’t much time to get off the beaten track.

We found the hop on hop off bus a handy way to get around and with live commentary on most of the buses, it was informative and hilarious. It’s a small city so you can pack a lot in and cover most of the sights!

You’ll see Dublin Castle (pictured), Kilmainham Gaol, National Museum of Ireland, Irish Whiskey Museum, Irish Museum of Modern Art, The Temple Bar District and so much more!

2. An absolute must see is the Teeling Whiskey Distillery – the only working distillery in Dublin!

The tour here was fantastic! And this is coming from someone who doesn’t like whiskey!

3. The iconic Guinness factory is another must!

As there is quite a lot of information to take in, a guided tour rather than the standard self-guided (which can easily be booked online) is recommended here.

Tasting sessions, personalised pints and other extras can be added to your tour here.

4. Pubs!

Ireland is synonymous with pubs and bars – so much so that you’ll find an Irish pub in most major cities around the world!

With live music, a fun and friendly atmosphere, hearty meals and of course pints of guinness, we set off to find our favourite.

Our favourite pubs were The Palace on Fleet Street (the main street of the Temple Bar District) and The Stags Head just outside of the Temple Bar District.

5. Finally, the book of Kells.

The library was phenomenal! It was a great example of the history here in Dublin and a nice break from pubs and breweries. I recommend to book online to avoid queues.

To book your trip to Dublin, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post 48 Hours in Dublin! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Travel with a group of like-minded adventurers on a small-group tour, and then on board a small, eco-friendly expedition ship.

February 2021. From $16,300.00 per person.

Contact us for more information on (03) 5275 4583 or rosie@mosaictravel.com.au

The post Explore ANTARCTICA – The Final Frontier! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

First, we meet Sophia Bergqvist, the owner of Quinta de la Rosa in Pinhão, Portugal.

I first visited Quinta de la Rosa in 2017 and Mosaic Travellers have been loving it ever since!

Here I am having a ball stomping the port grapes!

Sophia, how did you come to operate this beautiful winery and hotel in Pinhão?

The vineyard was given to my grandmother Claire as a christening present in 1906.  Her father and ancestors had a port shipping company that ended going bankrupt in the 1930s. But the vineyard stayed in the family & my father and I started making port from it in 1988. 

More Australians are now coming to visit Portugal. Why is Pinhão, the heart of the Douro Valley a destination they must visit?

It is in the best location to visit many port quintas and is right on the river Douro so very picturesque. Pinhão itself is quite ugly!  But the surrounding landscape makes up for it.

Aside from touring your on site winery, what do you suggest visitors do when they’re in Pinhão?

Other wineries nearby to visit, river & train trips, spectacular walking & biking, sites to see eg Mateus Palace, Roman sites, Neolithic ones and more.

What makes your hotel special, and why is it different to others in the region?

You get to experience living on a vineyard. The rooms are scattered around the wine making part of the quinta all with river views.

Furnished with modern and family antiques we focus on simplicity. No TVs and a brilliantly designed onsite restaurant which has been given many accolades. Guests often thank me for having them to stay!

Finally, we love food here at Mosaic Travel. Is there a particular dish or restaurant that Mosaic Travellers must try when they’re in Pinhão?

Try cabrito (baby kid) or bacalhau (salted cod) cooked many different ways by our chef Pedro Cardoso at our restaurant named after my grandmother, Cozinha da Clara.

To book your trip to Portugal, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Meet the People: Quinta de la Rosa appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

So far we have covered how to access your money, and using your mobile phone abroad.

Now, it’s time for:

3. Tips for choosing Travel Insurance

Ahh travel insurance: the thing that we all know we should have, but don’t really want to pay for! I’d definitely never advise to travel without it.

How much cover do I really need? Doesn’t my credit card offer it for free? What’s the difference between all these options and companies?

I’m going to try to shed some light on the top things to look for, when choosing an insurance policy.

Benefits

-Not all policies are equal here. Yes, most these days offer unlimited medical assistance but, does it cover you for medical evacuation?

-“Additional expenses” is a tricky one. Most insurance policies will cover the person who may be ill in hospital, but check to see if the travelling partner will be covered for re-arranging their plans to look after them.

-Will you be covered if you need to come home to a sick, elderly relative?

What is the excess?

-A policy with $1000 excess will be cheaper than a policy with a nil excess. An “excess” is the amount you need to pay before the insurance policy awards your claim.

Have you checked there is enough cover for all your personal items?

-Laptop, camera, jewellery etc

Does the policy cover you for the activities you’ll be doing?

-Skiing, cruising, car and scooter hire etc

Assistance

-Is there a 24/7 emergency number to call?

-Does the insurer make payments directly to hospitals

-Is there anyone who can assist you in submitting claims? If your Travel Insurance has been booked through Mosaic Travel – we will assist you! There’s no need to worry if a problem arises.

Credit Card

-Is there a minimum $$ on the credit card before the insurance is valid?

-Do I have a policy number and a phone number to call in an emergency?

There’s a lot to consider!

The best travel insurance policy for you will depend on your age, where you’re going, for how long, and what sort of activities you’ll be participating in. 

I recommend you do some thorough internet research before purchasing insurance or, let me take care of it for you!

A tailor-made insurance quote is one of the included services when you’re a Mosaic Traveller!

Last in this series, we will look at fluctuating flight prices and the best time to book!

To book your next adventure, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

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