12/10/2015

Qantas Airways

Qantas used to be one of the best international airlines in the world, and I was always looking forward to finding a good ticket with Qantas to enjoy the Aussie experience. That was about fifteenth years ago.  

Flying internationally with Qantas is still very enjoyable and a good experience, but not as good as it used to be. However, they still have comfortable planes, good generous meals, a great entertainment system, very helpful cheerful staff on board, and, since everything is bigger in Australia, they usually allow travellers to check-in more kilos than other airlines. What I miss these days in Qantas is the finesse and generosity in the service they used to have.  

Qantas Domestic has always been my preferred carrier for domestic flights in Australia. They are very good value for money and the broad smile and care of the Qantas staff on the plane makes a difference to me. The customer is their focus not the uniform they are wearing, or to have fun on-board. Some of my domestic flights felt like an international flight minus the price, as the plane and the on-board service was fantastic and similar to the one they offer for International flights. Other times the planes were smaller, not as comfortable and spacious, but the service was still great regarding courtesy and professionalism of the staff, quality of the meals and entertainment program. Their pricing is great for domestic, at times the same price as with a budget airline, other times about 10-50 bucks more, like the last flight I bought with them, 10 bucks more and a whole world of goodness for those. I pay happily the difference because there is a huge different in service, for the best, with Qantas Domestic. One of my friends and his wife don't travel Qantas domestically, and they are Australians!, and I think this is a huge mistake :) 

Air Asia

I spent a month in Malaysia about 5 years ago and booked all my International and domestic flights with Air Asia.  This was before the accidents that have given a bad name to the airline. To be honest, very reputed airlines have had also accidents, and others had been put down by terrorists, so you never know when you are going to die, or a plane you travel in is going to fall, even if you pay first class in the best airline in the world there is no guarantee.  Call it destiny. Call it bad luck. Call it you have a heart attack. Whatever.

My experience with Air Asia was fantastic all the way, and I took plenty of domestic flights plus the Perth-Kuala Lumpur-Perth. I booked everything online through their website, way in advance, and I managed my bookings online. Everything was stated clearly and I knew exactly what I was paying for, the seat area and type I was getting and the meal I would have on-board because you can pre-order those at very discounted prices if you want. Also, you can book no check-in luggage but then change your mind and upgrade to check-in luggage, or choose a number of kilos for the check-in luggage and them upgrade because you are carrying more than initially thought. You can do that online as well. I actually did.

This is a budget airline. As you can expect, you will pay extra money for premium seats and for meals on board. However, their planes and the service on board was decent, the punctuality was great, and the pricing was awesome. I did not feel I was travelling with a bad company nor did I have bad flights or anything that disrupted my action-packed holidays.

Air Asia has its own budget airport in Kuala Lumpur, so you don't land on the International airport there. However, this is decently-sized airport, well communicated, with basic services and a good information system. 

I would certainly use Air Asia again when travelling to/fro Asia and within Asia as they have an excellent network of destinations in Asia. 

I thought this budget airline was better than Virgin Australia, and similar to Jetstar, at times better. 

This was my experience with them. Very good.  

Having said that, Air Asia is a budget airline, you know. Personally, I take for granted that this airline, like any other budget airline, won't be good if problems arise, so I always get travel insurance with comprehensive cover. I do even when I travel with good airlines, even more when I travel with budget airlines as their compensation policies and their ability or willingness to help customers when problems arise is not good most of the time. If you travel with Air Asia you just need travel insurance to go with it as it will give you peace of mind.

12/09/2015

The Body Shop Drench Sponge


Although, generally speaking, I am not into The Body Shop products or shops, I am a devotee of this sponge. It looks like a natural sea sponge. It behaves like a natural sea sponge. It is not a sea sponge, it is a mutant! Artificially engineered to give you the best of the natural sponge without any of its inconveniences. 

If you leave it dry, it becomes totally dry, the consistency of volcanic porous rock and you can use it as exfoliator if you wish. If you keep it in a moist area or put it under running warm water it softens and becomes a wonderful soft sponge again. This sponge cleans well, doesn't irritate my skin, maximises any body wash by using just a drop of the product, it feels good to touch and it has a long life, forever, no deterioration so far. Like a mummy. 
I have used this sponge as my every-day sponge since it came out to the market. This is also my-every-travel sponge as it can be carried safely when dry, and it dries fast enough for bring it with me when I'm moving around. If I have a shower in the evening it will be dry in a few hours and ready to be packed next morning.
My only wish is that this was half its size, as any traveller kit is always small and the smaller anything you carry the better. Of course, you can easily cut it in two or tree pieces, and voilà. 

This is an expensive sponge, as you will pay around 13 bucks for it. A lot of money for an sponge, you might say, but it lasts forever so, in that regard, it is a great investment. 

Goat Soap Bar

Goat's milk products are living a golden age, with goat brands popping up as flies in summer, some of them with very similar branding and products. This bar is made by Goat (how original!), an Australian company. To be honest, I don't know anything about the company as their own website doesn't give many details either. 

Although I don't use soap bars much these days, I do use them when travelling, especially when travelling to remote areas of the world, when I am staying in cheap or medium-range hotels, or when I am travelling constantly and showering in different kinds of water.

These soap bars aren't glamourous but they are excellent for people with sensitive or problematic skin as they are designed for them. They are mild on my  skin, but leave it velvety soft after washing, as if I had applied a moisturiser. 

The bar is small enough to carry in your suitcase without the need of bringing any liquid or lotion specific for your sensitive skin. They have many varieties, coconut,  manuka honey, oatmeal, lemon myrtle, argan oil and the original one which is the best if you are having skin problems right now.

They are usually less than three bucks, and tend to be discounted quite often.  Great value for money.

Naturopathica GastroHealth Probiotics

Naturopathica GastroHealth in capsules is an every-day probiotic brand that will help you keep your intestinal flora happy like in a manicured garden. They will help you recover from common ailments (flu, fungal infections, or stomach flu for example) and are needed to help recover your system after having antibiotics (my doctor dixit.)

Although I use stronger probiotics from other brands when I am sick (as they have many more millions of probiotics per capsule and many more varieties  as well) these are my usual daily brand. Besides, I take a package of these any time I travel anywhere as they don't require refrigeration and, once your remove the package, you can pack them flat anywhere.

I always recommend any traveller taking a package of these, especially if travelling to parts of the world where hygiene is lacking or you are going to eat or drink unfamiliar food. You will certainly be happy to have them at hand if you get a runny belly or food poisoning, I can guarantee you that. 

Pro-biotics are never cheap, but these ones are usually cheaper than other brands or more discounted. 
 

12/08/2015

Lifespace Home Innovations (Online Retailer)


Lifespace is a home and garage storage and organisation store. I've bought a couple of times in the past from this online retailer and I love the items I got, the variety of products online, the speedy dispatch and delivery.

I really like the range, quality and functionality of the design of the storage products these guys have, and pricing is the same you find for similar items in similar storage and organisation stores, (Howards, for example). A poor consolation, as most items are expensive unless you buy them during sale periods. 

Their online shop is easy to browse and you can check-out as a guest without the need of registering, which is always a point-maker with me. They clearly state which products are in stock, which ones are limited, and those that are out of stock, and you will receive an email when your order is processed and another when a tracking link once it is dispatched. They dispatched my items next day using TollEPC, and these guys SMSed me when my parcel was out for delivery. 

A few days after delivery Lifespace sent me an email requesting a review for each item.

Shipping costs were low, something that I always love, but I  would like their shipping costs waved for purchases of 100+ or 150+ bucks.
 
Lifespace is a reliable online retailer, and my experience with them is very positive. If they sold at cheaper prices. I would visit them more often.

Chemist Warehouse (Online Retailer)

 


I have always been a devotee of the Chemist Warehouse stores. Not pretty places but they have anything I need from prescription medication, OTC medication, vitamins and supplements, beauty and cosmetic products, perfumes and cleaning products, sex toys, travel products, and all at very good prices. My sort of heaven.  

Although I have been buying from Chemist Warehouse for years, lately I am ordering online, and I am very happy with their online shop.

CW's online shop is large and well structured, with a huge variety of products available. Everything is sold at the same price you get it from a real store. The search tool is great not just to looup up products you already know, but to search for types of medication or active ingredients. For example, you can look up Vitamin C, or Clotrimazole or anti-histamines or Murine. You also have the latest catalogue online, so you can order those super-discounted products online as well. The description of some products in their individual page could be more detailed, but this varies from product to product, and overall it is a very good online shop.

They deliver to Australia and overseas, and you get free domestic delivery if you expend over +100, which is easy if you buy bulk. Otherwise, their shipping fees are reasonable. You can include prescriptions in your order; of course, you have to provide exact details of the prescription before they put the medication in your parcel. Yet, it is worth ordering, as their prices for prescription are way cheaper than elsewhere. 
  
You have to register to order. Once you pay, a confirmation email is sent to you. Once your parcel is dispatched, you receive another email with the tracking link. You can pay with credit card, Bpay or Paypal.

Dispatch has always been reasonably fast, like a couple of days and they use Australia Post. The delivery has also been as per estimated periods and the parcels brought to my door properly packed, so bottles with liquid are all sealed in individual plastic bags, and items with glass containers are properly wrapped. 

This is e-pharmacy at its best.