Every week, seasoned travel watcher Ian McIntosh casts a careful eye across the travel marketplace, separating genuine bargains from the usual marketing fluff. This week’s Ian McIntosh’s Weekly Travel Deals serves up a tidy collection of tempting escapes from a footy-fuelled weekend in Adelaide and bargain fares to Bali and Tokyo, to luxury river cruising along the Danube and polar adventures to Antarctica. Airlines are launching new routes, cruise lines are trimming fares, and hotel groups are dangling seasonal discounts. In short, it’s the sort of week that reminds travellers why keeping an eye on the deals page can pay handsome dividends.
ALL ACCOR is giving you the chance to win a 2026 AFL Gather Round weekend for two. Simply advise your team for a chance to win return domestic flights to Adelaide with Virgin Australia, 10th-12 April, plus two nights in your AFL Gather Round Superfan Suite at Peppers Waymouth Adelaide, including breakfast. Deal ends March 16. Details here.
AIR TAHITI NUI has announced the launch of a nonstop service connecting Papeete and Sydney. The first flight is scheduled for December 15, 2026
WEBJET has the Northern Territory on sale – save up to $175 off flights. Explore Darwin’s dining, croc encounters and culture; chase Kakadu’s waterfalls; uncover Aboriginal art or head to the Red Centre and Alice Springs. Other deals include Bali one-way from $200, Phuket one-way from $385, and Tokyo return from $1320.
VIKING invites you to set sail on a Danube River voyage from $5,695pp plus your preferred choice offer valued up to $5,000 per couple: Free economy flights (use code FFE25), upgrade to business class with an airfare credit (use code FFB25) or receive a discount off your cruise fare* (use code CRU25).
FROM LAST WEEK:
CATHAY PACIFIC had a great deal for rugby fans. Catch the Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium from 17 – 19 April 2026, with Flight + Event packages from $1,610 using the code 26R7AU.
NESUTO HOTELS is sweetening up Easter with up to 25% off at its properties across Australia and NZ. The sale runs until Thursday, 30 April 2025. Nesuto Docklands in Melbourne is priced from $185 per night, and Nesuto Parramatta from $180 per night. Kids stay and enjoy free breakfast. To book, visit nesuto.com/easter.
JUST YOU, the specialist solo tour operator, has a 13-day Balkans tour on sale. Departing June 7, 2026 and priced from $5549, the tour includes 12 nights’ accommodation (4-star hotels) and a guaranteed room for each traveller with no single supplement. Have a look here www.justyou.com/au/.
FAR EAST INSIDERS members are enjoying an SPD100 off stay in Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan. Join up here. https://www.fareasthospitality.com/en/insiders-signup.
CELESTYAL CRUISES has unveiled its ‘Big Savings for a Big Summer’ campaign, valid across 100 Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf sailings in 2026 and 2027. The promotion combines savings of up to 50% plus up to €200 onboard credit. Third and fourth guests will also sail free. Conditions apply.
CHINA EASTERN heads back to Adelaide from 21st June 2026. Jump onboard and enjoy free in-flight Wi-Fi and non-stop services to Shanghai and beyond, including great connections to Beijing from just $680 and London from $962. Flights are on sale now via www.ceair.com. Conditions apply.
AAT KINGS and EVENTS NT have partnered to offer travellers a limited-time air credit delivering savings of up to $1,800 per couple on select Northern Territory Small Group tours.
PONANT invites you to steam south to Antarctica. Unlock your 2026 or 2027 polar expedition now and enjoy up to 30% off with an exclusive bonus.
TRADE ONLY:
Travel Industry Club is pushing a wide range of Asian cruises. Cruising is one of the most effortless and rewarding ways to experience this extraordinary region, according to Sur Francis. Deals include Silversea – Tokyo/Seward 30 Apr, 15 nights.
Breakaway Travel Club has published last-minute Easter specials, including Celebrity Edge, 20th April 2026, 18 Night Pacific Cruise departing from Sydney and arriving in Honolulu. Don’t miss the Hawaiian Airlines deals.
NRMA Parks and Resorts says the Turtle Sands Nature Resort at Mon Repos in Bundaberg, Queensland, has been recognised at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, winning the prestigious New Tourism Business category.
Sky Airline is now officially activated in BSP Australia and New Zealand. This enables IATA-accredited travel agents to issue Sky Airline tickets directly via their GDS under BSP, ensuring seamless access to the airline’s expanding South American network.
Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, has ramped up air services between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo with the launch of Johannesburg – Kinshasa flights.
BestPrice Travel has expanded into Australia with AVIAREPS as the official representative. This Indochina travel company offers an extensive range of tours, cruises, hotel bookings, and travel services across Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
AVIAREPS, a global leader in aviation, tourism, and hospitality representation with 76 offices in 71 countries worldwide, has been awarded “World’s Leading Airline GSA” at the World Travel Awards 2025.
Air Mauritius has confirmed the return to three weekly services between Perth and Mauritius, effective July 2026.
AAT Kings has unveiled its expanded 2026/27 Day Tour collection – broadening its range of short-format guided experiences designed to help travellers experience more of Australia’s standout destinations with ease.
French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui has updated its 2027 program, with some new island destinations added to the maiden season. Aranoa’s 13-day Austral Islands voyages with Rapa are currently 15 per cent off, priced from A$8049pp twin share until May 31.
Remember, conditions always apply to these specials. Check airline prices from your capital city. I recommend you use a travel agent, and travel insurance is essential. Finally, I make mistakes like all of us. Check websites to confirm details. Want to join our mailing list? Send a request to [email protected]. Ian McIntosh is Australia’s senior traveller. We have no commercial relationship with any operator.
by Ian McIntosh – (c) 2026.
Read Time: 5 minutes.
About the Writer.
Veteran journalist and publisher Ian McIntosh has spent a lifetime exploring the world and sharing its wonders. As the founder of Travelnews Australia, his nationally distributed, full-colour travel trade publication earned the esteemed Telstra Business Award.
Though now retired, Ian remains a passionate globetrotter with a soft spot for small-ship cruising and discovering good-value hotels across Europe. His most recent adventure involved a rather enthusiastic Thai elephant named Bo, who promptly deposited him into a pond. A true storyteller at heart, Ian continues to travel with humour, curiosity, and an unwavering love for the road less travelled.
