Flying to Australia is the exciting start of your tailor-made holiday with Bridge & Wickers. Gone are the days when it took the best part of a week to get there…these days you can be in Australia in less than 19 hours! The ideal way to fly of course is in one of the premium cabins, but developments in economy class products now mean that seat back TV’s and comfy seats are standard on all our preferred carriers flying Down Under with a wide range of stopover options to break the journey if you prefer. The cheapest time of the year to travel is generally during the Southern Hemisphere winter i.e. our summer but this is also an excellent time to visit OZ away from the crowds and in fact are when the top half of the country is at it’s best. Peak times, as you’d expect, are Christmas and Easter holidays and during the summer months of January & February.

The first consideration is whether to fly east or west. Most Oz bound travellers choose to a one of the Asian cities with Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong being the most popular, closely followed by Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. Depending on your choice of airline, you can stop in one on the way out, and a different one on the return journey. You might prefer to head west, routing via California say and stopping at one of the South Sea islands. Or you could combine both east and west on a round the world ticket. Many RTW airfares also allow you to take overland sectors, such as the Eastern & Oriental from Bangkok to Singapore, or even a cruise between destinations.  

Your choice of stopover will determine who you fly with Down Under, either because it's where you would change aircraft e.g. Singapore with Singapore Airlines, or a refuelling stop en-route e.g. Bangkok with Qantas.

Here are a few of our most popular options:

Bangkok

Why go?: Temples (wats) and other interesting sights, bargain shopping (silks, tailoring and rip off labels), Thai cuisine, renowned nightlife plus day excursions - to the River Kwai and the floating market for example - and interesting travel by 'tuk tuk' or by longtailed boat along the Chao Phraya river.

Best time to go: Our winter

Who offers Bangkok as a stop over? British Airways, Qantas, Thai and Emirates.

Click here for our hotels in Bangkok

 Singapore

Why go? Known as the 'Switzerland of the East' on account of its squeaky clean standards and impeccable service, Singapore also has Changi airport (near town, easy onward connections), superb food, the ethnic pockets of Little India, Chinatown and the Arab Quarter and the pleasure island of Sentosa. Ideal intro to Asia, especially for families.

Best time to go: Year round (but you can expect rain and humidity anytime, with November to December being the worst).

Who offers Singapore as a stop over? British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Emirates.

Click here for our hotels in Singapore

 Bali

Why go?: Despite its high tourism profile, the island retains its rich cultural heritage, with dances, rituals, festivals and temples both an essential part of the fabric of daily life as well as utterly fascinating to visitors. At its best inland, in among the emerald rice terraces and craft villages around the mountain village of Ubud, the cultural and artistic heart of the island.

Best time to go: In summer

Who offers Bali as a stop over? Qantas

Click here for our hotels in Bali

 Kuala Lumpur

Why go?: Attractions include the royal pewter factory, the Batu caves with scores of Hindu shrines, the Orchid and Hibiscus Gardens, 50 golf courses within an hour's drive, the Dutch colonial delight of Melaka half an hour from the airport and shopping.

Best time to go: Year round, but humid and can rain anytime.

Who offers Kuala Lumpur as a stop over? Malaysian Airlines

Click here for our hotels in Kuala Lumpur

Fiji

Why go?: Everything you want from the South Seas, with delightful islanders as a bonus. All about water, beaches, a wide range of accommodation Coral Beach is the best bet on the main island but for the real Polynesian experience, plus the best beaches and underwater worlds, you need to reach the outer islands.

Best time to go: Our summer

Who offers Fiji as a stop over? Qantas and Air New Zealand

Click here for our hotels in Fiji

 Los Angeles

Why go?: Beverley Hills for the homes of stars and the stores along Rodeo Drive, Hollywood¹s 'Walk of Fame', Disneyland - the original - or Universal Studios, the J Paul Getty museum and the seaside including regenerated Santa Monica, the celebrity retreats of Malibu and funky Venice.

Best time to go: Anytime although the mid summer heat is best avoided.

Who offers Los Angeles as a stop over? Air New Zealand, British Airways and Qantas

Click here for our hotels in Los Angeles

Dubai & Abu Dhabi

Why go?: An ideal city plus beach destination, with whopper but smart resorts on the sands, lots of soft adventures in the desert and wadis, shopping bargains, notably in the gold souk and a wide choice of flights from regional UK airports.

Best time to go: November to April (too hot in summer)

Who offers Dubai as a stop over? Emirates, Etihad & Virgin Australia

Click here for our hotels in Dubai

 Hong Kong

Why go?: A city on a perfect harbour, scenically gobsmacking with the green contours of Victoria Island soaring above the maritime action. In the shadow of the high rises is as much Chinese culture - feasts fit for the Last Emperor, temples, sampan rides - as a short stopover can absorb, as well as trips by ferry to outer islands, beaches and even Macau.

Best time to go: Autumn to spring

Who offers Hong Kong as a stop over? Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Qantas and British Airways

Click here for our hotels in Hong Kong

 Vancouver

Why go?: With its feet in the water and its head in the mountains, Vancouver is the most scenic of Canada’s big cities with a unique blend of both urban and natural attractions. Among the must sees are the second largest Chinatown in the west, Stanley Park, funky Yaletown, Granville Market and cable car rides to the top of Grouse Mountain

Best time to go: Spring until autumn.

Who offers Vancouver as a stop over? Air Canada, Qantas and British Airways

Click here for our hotels in Vancouver

Tokyo

Why go?: Despite its modernity, Tokyo is still the deeply mysterious Orient. The sightseeing menu ranges from temples and department stores to superb food and surprising affordability, plus the option of taking the Bullet Train to Kyoto and mount Fuji.

Best time to go: Spring (cherry blossom time)

Who offers Tokyo as a stop over? Air New Zealand, Qantas and British Airways

Click here for our hotels in Tokyo