Skip to the sun or travel with a conscience: travel deals, August 4, 2013



Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket


If now is the winter of your discontent, get thee to Thailand: to Phuket, to be precise. Or Burma, which is so hot right now - in the tourist sense as well as talking temperatures. 

Australia's Gold Coast is always a favourite escape for us southerners, though this time, it's with a twist for the kids (because kids appreciate posh labels, don't they?). But if you want to embrace winter, do it with a conscience, in Melbourne's only carbon-neutral hotel, in this week's travel deals.







GO NOW: MELBOURNE
Alto on Bourke is Melbourne’s only carbon-neutral hotel. Stay in its studio rooms from $158 (normally from $238), and get breakfast, unlimited organic, fair-trade coffee and free bike hire. Book by August 16 for travel until October 26. 1800 135 123, altohotel.com.au.
Alto on Bourke, Melbourne
GO SOONER: THAILAND
Dusit hotels worldwide, including the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, are giving guests 35 percent of their accommodation costs to spend on dining and spa treatments. Suite upgrades are available for $54. Costs from $139 a double, room only, until end September. (02) 9410 3405, dusit.com.

  
GO LATER: BURMA
Meditate with monks on a The Golden Land of Burma tour that includes lunch with the Intha tribe. Save 15 percent on selected departures until March 11, 2014. Costs from $3630 a person, twin share. 1300 836 764, coxandkings.com.au/au/15off.

Inle lake fishermen, Burma
KIDS: GOLD COAST'S GLAM BABES
Chic children take tea at the Gold Coast’s iconic Palazzo Versace hotel. Its new Little Fashionistas high teas are served on Versace china (that’s brave!) overlooking the hotel’s lagoon. The menu, for groups of eight or more, includes lemonade spiders, toffee apples, cake pops and the omnipresent macaroons. Costs $12 for children 12 and under, (07) 5509 8000, palazzoversace.com.au.


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