Come back to Greece, it’s still blessed by the gods

My daughter Francesca at the Acropolis enjoying her holiday in Greece

My friends and family living in Greece are suffering economic woes that are bringing them to their knees, but in the same breath they say: “Come to Greece for a holiday. It’s still gorgeous!”

Three cool places to explore in the wide, wide West

Camel trek along a beach in Western Australia

Western Australia occupies around one-third of Australia’s total landmass. That’s an area of 2.5 million square kilometres. Here’s three cool places to explore.

48-hour sale: A hot Med cruise for as little as $A300

MSC Sinfonia

MSC Cruises is offering savings of up to 64 per cent on its 2012 September to November Mediterranean itineraries through a hot mid-year 48-hour sale, with fares beginning at $A300.

How foreign tourists really see Australia

How tourists typically see us - as rugged, outdoorsy and laid back. Pic: Tourism Western Australia

Is Australia a distinctive tourism brand? Are the wide open spaces, big skies, dazzling beaches, quality wines, good food, eco-adventures, indigenous culture and city nightlife enough?

China’s little Venice off the beaten track

Zhouzhuang1

The quaint Chinese village of Zhouzhuang may not command the same attention as nearby Shanghai, but the town’s preservation as the country’s oldest water town gives travellers the chance to delve into a historically significant past.

Fussy Sydney chef hates her customers, says US expert

Customer satisfaction is what drives business through the door, says blogger Penelope Tsaldaris

An inner-Sydney chef with notoriously strict rules about who could eat at her restaurant has drawn fiery criticism from an American blogger in the hospitality industry.

Qatar Airways voted best in the world – again

Apparently cabin crew prefer to work in economy rather than in here

Qatar Airways has won Skytrax’s best airline award for the second year running. The Doha-based carrier retained the coveted title of Airline of the Year 2012 and notched up two further awards.

Top chefs head for Peru’s mega food show Mistura

Chocolate will naturally be a star at Mistura 2012

Peru’s Mistura gourmet festival kicks off on September 7 with up to 500,000 foodie fans expected, along with a star-studded lineup from the world’s top chefs.

James Stapley cooks dinner at Tower Estate

Tower Estate

The New Zealand Relais & Chateaux chef James Stapley will be cooking his unique cuisine in the Hunter Valley at Tower Estate’s exclusive “Grand Chef Series” dinner on July 14.

Cape Kidnappers dinner matched with Neudorf wines

The Farm, Cape Kidnappers, where one of the tours will start

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers will celebrate five great years of New Zealand hospitality with chef Peter Gordon cooking at a special food and wine weekend, featuring one of the country’s top wineries, Neudorf.