Click here for main page content Click here for main blog navigation Click here for competiton link Click here to search the blog Click here to sign up the newsletter Click here for blog information Click here for the main sta travel website links Click here for the main sta travel website lrgal information

STA Travel Blog

Apply for one of the ‘Best Jobs in the World’ in Australia!

Do you remember the Best Job in the World campaign from 2009? The one that offered one lucky individual the chance to get paid £70,000 to live on a tropical island in the Great Barrier Reef somewhere off the coast of Queensland.

The only requirements being that the successful candidate must be — and this is important — willing to swim, snorkel, dive and sail. In whichever order they want. Whenever they want.

Sounds great, right? Well imagine if it was back. But instead of one job for one person on one island, there are six jobs, in six states, for six people.

Well, it’s back.

Tourism Australia has six incredible jobs up for grabs – each with a six-month contract and salary package worth AUD $100,000 (£65k). If you’re successful, you could be paid to live a life most people can only dream of, working in one of six extraordinary areas of Australia.

Your daily duties could include waking-up kangaroos, taste-testing boutique beer and wine, patrolling pristine beaches or sleeping in a swag under the stars in the Outback.

Coming up, we’ll tell you exactly how you could be spending your days down under, if you land one of the Best Jobs in the World.

Swimming with Sea Lions, Baird Bay, South Australia

Here’s some more information about the jobs…

(null)

10 Things You’ve Learned at our Big Trip Travel Talks

We’re about half way through our big trip travel talks that have been happening across the length and breadth of the UK over the past couple of weeks.

These talks are built to help you plan the trip you’ve been day dreaming about for ages and make sure that you squeeze the absolute most amazing experience possible from your time away.

And there really is no one better to help you do that than our own Travel Experts, during our big trip travel talks they have been sharing a huge selection of their knowledge and tips to help you make your trip as good as it possibly can be – much of which you’d be forgiven for not realising – that’s why we call them experts after all!

If you can possibly make it to any of our remaining travel talks I strongly suggest you do – there’s so much you can take from it to improve your travels, but, just incase you are unable to attend for any reason, no fear, I’ve tapped up our Travel Experts to share some of those pearls of wisdom that the attendees at their talks have learned so you don’t have to miss out on some of the best bits.

Here are 10 things learned from budding travellers just like you, over the past couple of weeks
Continue reading

7 Perfect Places to Pap a Penguin

OK admit it, who’s been watching Spy in the Huddle on BBC One over the past few weeks and is now hastily planning a tour of all the penguin hotspots of the world? Me too!

There are more places to get up close to penguins than you might think, so I’m counting down seven of the best spots around the world where you can pay a visit and make like the paparazzi for some pretty incredible, and very cute, holiday snaps.

(null)

Can a Holiday Romance Go the Distance?

Holiday romances are common when travelling, the experience can’t help but make us all a little bit more fun, flirty and open to suggestion than we normally would be.

So it’s natural that during those wonder years, months, or weeks, while having the time of our lives away from home, we are more open to falling in love. But, can holiday romances actually go the distance? Can they turn out to be something more than a bit of fun, encouraged by the laid back traveller lifestyle?

I’m a bit cynical myself, so I took my question online, to scout for some real life experiences from our Twitter followers, and got some very intriguing replies. A couple of which will warm the cockles of your heart.

Have you found long lasting love on your travels? Do you think it’s possible, or are you a bit of a non believer? Share your story with the rest of us nosey parkers in the comments box below.

Can a holiday romance really last?

Continue reading

Where and When to Find our ‘Your Big Trip’ Travel Talks

What is the one thing you need to know if you’re booking a round the world trip? How do you get a job after gaining a TEFL qualification? What’s they best way to travel across America? How long do you need to take part in a volunteering project?

When it comes to planning your own big trip, whatever that may be, there’s one thing that you’ll have in common with everyone else planning theirs – questions. And lots of them.

This month and next, our STA Travel stores will be open late to host our ‘Your Big Trip’ travel talks. A series of nights aimed at sharing advice, tips, important information and inspiring ideas you haven’t even considered, straight from the mouths of our own Travel Experts but also from some very knowledgeable and experienced special guests.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, you could win one of a whole heap of prizes, from bus passes to hotel nights, just for turning up! (Oh, and there’ll probably be a free beer or two too, as if you needed any more convincing).

If you’re planning on heading off on your own trip of a lifetime anytime soon, you can’t afford to miss it, and best of all – they’re totally free! Just make sure you reserve your place as soon as possible because places are filling up fast.

So, that’s the ‘why’s’ taken care of, here’s all the info on the ‘when’ and ‘where’s’.

Thousands of excited would be travellers take inspiration from out travel talks every year.

Continue reading