I booked the Crowne Plaza Kochi hotel thinking I had picked free cancellation option - for 3 nights over the Christmas period - apparently I was sorely mistaken. Unfortunately I had to book 2 rooms as there are no family suites which is why I was looking for free cancellation option. Now that I have found something else that suits our needs better with young children, I have tried to cancel but am being hit with not 1 but 2 cancellation fees. Both rooms x1 night. I selected the waive option in booking.com to no avail. I have also contacted the hotel via booking.com explaining my mistake and offering to pay for 1 room for the first night. No dice. It's like as if it's not peak holiday season & they won't be able to re-sell ... read more

Geo: -33.8679, 151.20772/96 HOURS IN SYDNEY WHY GOSydney is capital city of the state of New South Wales, and is the jewel city in the southern hemisphere crown with its beautiful opera house and Harbour Bridge.It's a very walkable city, with the CBD stretching from Circular Quay in the north to Central Station in the south (around 40 minutes' walk between the two). There are plenty of public transport options although it could not be accused of being a particularly cycle friendly city but that is trying to change despite the lack of support from main stream media, access to the water is from circular quay and there are many places accessible from there. WHEN TO GOThe seasons are fairly obedient with Summer being December – February and can be sticky, Autumn is March- May and ... read more

Geo: -27.4676, 153.02872 Hours in Brisbane (sans children)WHY GOBrisbane/Brissie/Brisvegas is capital city of the state of Queensland, it has grown a lot in the past decade and has a lot offer gastro and arts wise.A few of my Aussie friends thought it was strange choice but then I remind then I'm European and city breaks is definitely one of our things!It's an amazingly pedestrian and cycle friendly city, access to the water is refreshing and the use of the river for public transport is great.WHEN TO GO?I am told August is an ideal month to visit the Sunshine State, with an average top temperature of 24C in Brisbane; but we went in June because we had a benevolent grandmother who wanted to take her grand-children off our hands! (We did try in go in February as ... read more

Geo: -28.8127, 153.279Point Clare-Coffs- Nimbin-Lismore tried to go to Brisbane - turned back to hunter valley via johns river.... read more

Geo: 53.206, -9.04175 Dublin Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Electric Picnic So my sister moved to Ireland in April after 13 yrs in Australia but moved back to Oz in Sept as they tried to buy a bar in Dublin for 7 mths and did due diligence on 4 and had more than reasonable funds but everyone is living in la la land and thinks their pubs are worth the artifiical mad high price of 7 yrs ago. Plus theres this new government thing NAMA that is sucking up the toxic debts so bizarrely its better for the owners to hold onto to the pubs and pretend they are worth 10 times more than they are than actually sell. Sick. The country is fecked now. Looks good though esp Dublin docklands and motorways all the way Dub - ... read more