News from the world of travel

New look for luxury Fiji resort

The popular luxury Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, set on a private beachfront on Denarau Island, has completed its first full renovation since the property opened in 2005.

The work took three years to complete and included a total transformation of guestrooms and public areas.

Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa general manager Vincent Macquet said: “We are thrilled to welcome guests back to Fiji so they can discover our new and stylish resort.”

Spread across 26-acres of tropical gardens, families can choose from a variety of room categories including 52 new family rooms which feature a queen bed and two bunk beds.

Introduced as part of the renovation, the Nui Kids Beach Club caters for children aged 3-12 with a play area, climbing wall, trampoline, fun house on the beach and interactive indoor spaces.

The new Teen Zone offers a variety of interactive arcade style games for kids aged 8-16.

An adults-only sanctuary on the property, called the Waitui Beach Club, offers a “resort within a resort” area with an infinity pool, luxury cabanas, swim-up bar and restaurant as well as nightly entertainment.

There’s a Waitui Beach Club package that includes accommodation in a king room, access to the Waitui Beach Club plus a private cabana with complimentary snacks and sunset cocktails, a 30-minute massage per stay and full breakfast daily.

For more information: sofitel-fiji.com

More Aussies heading overseas for short holidays

Holidays were the major reason that Australians travelled overseas in June with 169,000 holiday makers returning from short trips overseas, according to data just released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director of Migration Statistics Jenny Dobak said this was the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that holidaymakers had overtaken people visiting friends or relatives overseas (which totalled 152,000 in June).

“Since the reopening of Australia’s international border in late 2021, international travel has been steadily increasing for both visitors and residents,” said Dobak.

“We are seeing people opting for holiday destinations and trip durations this June that are more consistent with what we would usually see in June, particularly warm winter getaways.”

Provisional ABS data for July 2022 saw further increases in international travel, with 1,083,000 arrivals and 973,000 departures. Both were the highest since the pandemic began, reaching 54 per cent and 55 per cent of July 2019 levels.

Discovering Italy’s tourist attractions by train

Exploring Italy by train has been made easier following new initiatives from Trenitalia and the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT).

More than five million people are expected to travel on Intercity trains during the current Italian summer with the Ligurian Riviera, Versilia, Sicily and the Adriatic Coast among the most popular destinations for tourists.

Each Intercity trains have been decorated with artistic “postcards” showcasing scenic natural landscapes, and have a 24-seat carriage designed for families with a pram area, spacious bathroom with nursery area, tables with games for toddlers and a stand-up area.

Each child aged 15 and under can travel free with a paying adult.

In addition to new facilities for families, Intercity trains offer extra charging ports and more than 600 bicycle spaces a day to meet the growing demand from locals and tourists keen to roam the Italian countryside on two wheels.

Italian National Tourism Board Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Emanuele Attanasio, said: “Italy is currently enjoying a renaissance as a tourist destination, and these additions will further integrate train travel and tourism.”

For more information: italia.it/en