Belle Jackson

07/08/2025

Bali has had four tragic boat disasters this year, most recently with a speedboat carrying 80 people between the popular tourist island Nusa Penida and Sanur, on Bali's east coast, yesterday.

I spoke with ABC News Channel about boat safety in Bali, and how travellers can travel safely in the region.

Bali has had four tragic boat disasters this year, most recently with a speedboat carrying 80 people between the popular tourist island Nusa Penida and Sanur...

02/06/2025

On the fringe of the Sahara, at the birthplace of Star Wars, the little Northern African country of Tunisia's drawcards are its medinas and souqs, its Roman ruins and Mediterranean seaside resorts. Stay in desert camps or in cave hotels carved into the mountains; you'll find spicy harissa, dramatic doors and ornate tiles everywhere.

"What's not to love?" asks co-host Belle Jackson, who travelled through Tunisia recently with Intrepid Travel, intrepidtravel.com

Listen on this week's episode of The World Awaits - on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or tune in via our website https://TheWorldAwaits.au

Also, if you enjoy going off the beaten track, travel insurance company Insure & Go lists the 10 global destinations you must visit before they boom, insureandgo.com And the bulk-billed travel vaccination clinic TravAX lets you search your travel destination and the vaccinations it recommends, travax.nhs.uk

Finally, our tip this week is about how to get a good dose of culture when you travel to Italy, from mask making in Venice to touring MIlan in a Fiat 500. Find out more at avanihotels.com

02/05/2025

28/11/2024

Every year, a fresh wave of travellers leaves Australia on their great adventure, and with schoolies and gap year travellers heading off now, it’s more important than ever that we talk about how to keep safe on the road.

The tragic death of two young Melbourne girls, Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, shows that we need to teach young travellers about the dangers of methanol poisoning.

I had a chat with about methanol in alcohol, some of the warning signs to look out for. If you’re having this conversation with your friends or those new to travel, here are a couple of tips:

- don't drink spirits: choose beer, wine, cider...
- don't drink homemade alcohol
- drink in bars in regulated areas
- watch your drink being opened or prepared in front of you - no dodgy or damaged labels
- have travel insurance, and call them in medical situations
- look after your friends; check in on them after a big night out
- See smarttraveller.gov.au for emergency contacts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1c05T8z9XM

One Australian teenager has died and another is fighting for her life in a Thai hospital after they consumed drinks suspected to contain methanol in Laos.Tra...

14/10/2024

My travel dramas have made the Traveller pages, thanks Michael Gebicki for sharing my tale of missed connections in your column this weekend...

https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/reviews-and-advice/middle-east-conflict-has-caused-chaos-for-flights-to-europe-20241011-p5khn0.html

For a visual representation, you could check my reel on instagram this morning :D :D :D
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBE7PUgzewS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The happy face was on the last leg home... slightly less happy beforehand, but then, it's in stark comparison to those trying to escape the war that caused these delays as Iranian and Iraqi airspaces are closed due to conflict, right? Perspective.

Flights that should take about 20 hours have turned into three-day ordeals thanks to changing routes and cancellations.

13/10/2024

Slow food, slow travel - back to my Bulgaria/Greece spam for more fabulous tomatoes, long train rides, gold-domed cathedrals and cobblestones streets - let me tell you more about it in this week's episode of The World Awaits podcast!

Listen via our website at https://theworldawaits.au or jump onto Apple Podcasts or Spotify to find co-host Kirstie and me, with our sound producer Alaisdair.

Tune in, follow the pod, rate or review us, we'd love to hear from you! Thanks for listening.