We couldn’t be happier that it’s Thursday – because it means we get to write another one of our fabulous Road & Rail wraps! Well, that and the fact that it’s Friday tomorrow.

Busabout’s Asia 2019/20 brochure features NEW mini breaks, extended adventures and bucket list experiences in Southeast Asia

Award-winning flexible travel expert, Busabout has launched its Asia 2019/20 brochure featuring a selection of exciting new trips and bucket list experiences. With a maximum group size of 28, the Busabout Asia collection offers a variety of trips for different tastes and budgets, plus the opportunity to experience all trips in the brochure, linked up via the Unlimited Asia Pass.

Following the success of Busabout’s Hop-on Hop-off model in Europe, the operator will launch its freestyle form of travel in North America for the first time in May 2019. Busabout has also been expanding its product in Asia over the past four years and introduced the Unlimited Asia Pass to the programme this past season.

In an effort to offer its passengers deeper cultural experiences and local encounters in Southeast Asia, Busabout is now working with more local Busabout Guides than ever before, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and cultural insights, and a great understanding of what passengers want out of a Busabout holiday.

Railbookers announces ‘Europe on Sale’ Travel Deals

Railbookers, a Yankee Leisure Group (YLG) brand, has debuted its ‘Europe on Sale’ travel offers, making the dream of a European train holiday a reality. For a limited time — until 14 December — Railbookers is offering $300 off any seven-night or more or $400 off any 14-night or more train journeys, valid for travel in 2019.

This is an opportunity to score the best savings on both European classics and emerging traveller favourites packed with breath-taking landscapes, unforgettable onboard experiences, crowd-pleasing attractions, historical churches, renowned cuisine, and museums.

The allure of Europe has never been more captivating. Travellers can visit the sunny, picturesque coastal towns that line the Mediterranean Coast, stroll along cobbled streets in fairy-tale medieval settings, cruise along Norway’s fabulous fjords, unwind in world-famous cities such as Paris, London, Venice, and St. Moritz, or immerse themselves in the local lore of the rugged Scottish Highlands.

The most popular itineraries include Switzerland’s Lakes and Mountains; Barcelona, Seville and Madrid; London, Amsterdam and Berlin; Ultimate Norway in a Nutshell; Arlberg Pass: Zurich, Salzburg and Vienna; and Ultimate Britain by Rail.

New live booking system for UK and Europe and save 37 per cent

Australian-owned International Rail has just launched its new live booking system for rail travel in UK and Europe, creating an easy to use four-step system for customers to book trains instantly online.

Available for trains in the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as popular intercountry services such as Eurostar and overnight trains; the website will connect directly to the European reservations systems. Customers can access cheap instant purchase fares up to 60 per cent off by booking months in advance.

Customers can book multiple trains in one shopping basket, with one flat booking fee at check out and no credit card fees for MasterCard or VISA. The vast majority of tickets are issued electronically with tickets received instantly to your inbox, ready to print and take with you on your holiday.

For example, book live online a ticket on the famous Eurostar train between London and Paris from just $84 in second class, or a ticket on a high-speed train from Rome to Florence from just $31 in second class. For longer itineraries where a Rail Pass is better value and flexibility is preferred, customers may take advantage of great deals for the month of December with the full range of Eurail Passes on sale up to 37 per cent off.

Eurail extends passes sale until end of year

Customers planning their annual European escape can now do so for less with Eurail releasing a new sale which will enable travellers to pre-book their passes for upcoming travel for 2018/19.

Eurail train passes are synonymous with borderless rail experience throughout Europe, providing multi-destination train travel across the continent. Over 1.7 million Australian’s travel to Europe each year, with over 40,000 using Eurail as a one-pass access to over 10,000 destinations.

To celebrate Black Friday, Eurail had taken up to 37 per cent off all of their Global Passes from the 23 of November to 31 December 2018 but will then extend the 37 per cent off Global passes deal from 30 November to include 20 per cent off Select Country passes and 15 per cent off One Country Passes, which will go on sale from 30 November to 31 December. Agents should book via their preferred Eurail sales agent.

Eurail train passes are synonymous with borderless rail experience throughout Europe, providing multi-destination train travel across the continent. With just one rail pass travellers of all ages have the ability to travel in and through up to 28 different European countries, and access extra benefits and discounts along their journey.

International Rail launch live booking system for UK and Europe

International Rail has just launched its new live booking system for rail systems in UK and Europe, allowing agents to book trains instantly for their clients. Available for trains in the UK, Europe, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as popular intercountry services such as Eurostar and overnight trains; the website will connect directly to the European reservations systems, managing director Jonathan Hume said.

A major benefit for agents is the ability to book multiple trains in one shopping basket, with one flat booking fee at check out and no credit card fees for Mastercard or VISA.

Agents can opt to add their own booking fee to the cart if charging a customer’s credit card, a welcome tool said Hume, for agents to finally be able to earn some decent margin on rail bookings

The vast majority of tickets are issued electronically with tickets received instantly to the agent’s inbox, ready to print and hand to customers. The software will be fully supported by International Rail’s expert team in the Melbourne office and can be accessed from the newly released travel agent portal at www.agent.internationalrail.au by clicking on “Rail Passes and Tickets”.