Sam catches a Tiger by the tail
When you hire a celebrity presenter with a reputation for straight shooting, there’s always a risk they might turn their fire on your sponsors, and so it proved at this year’s Golden Backpack Awards. Read more »
Industry lets its hair down at TNT Expo After Party
The backpacking industry’s week of celebrations and networking events continued on Saturday night with TNT Magazine hosting its annual Saturday night Expo After Party, this year at the Scary Canary. Read more »
Photos from the inaugural Independent Travel Exchange and ABIC welcome drinks
The inaugural Independent Travel Exchange (ITE) took place in Sydney last week with delegates spending the day engaged in conversation both at appointments and over the bar. Read more »
Wicked hits back at ACA
An attack against Wicked Campers’ safety standards on A Current Affair has prompted the campervan rental company to launch an attack of its own. Read more »
Vote Lane – you know it makes sense!
It’s amazing the lengths some people will go to to get themselves on to the Backpacker Tourism Advisory Panel. Read more »
WTF for?
An American tourism organisation has made a decision to change the order of words in its name to avoid being mistaken with a crude acronym. Read more »
Monster croc gets a new home in Darwin’s CBD
An 18-foot (5.5 metre) Saltwater Crocodile has been introduced to his new home in Darwin’s Crocosaurus Cove. Read more »
Shots from the 2009 World Youth and Student Travel Conference
This year’s WYSTC is taking place in The Palace in Manchester hotel and the Manchester International Convention Centre. Read more »
Italian pair given lots of Lee way
Following recent allegations of foul play in the Golden Backpack Awards, event organisers have been rigorously cross-checking every vote submitted and were pleased to stumble across this gem this morning. Read more »
How many BTAP members does it take to count to 11?
ATEC New South Wales hosted its annual trivia night last week with the backpacking team and defending champions Generation YHA determined to retain the trophy. Read more »
Jetstar dishes out the tweet love
Following brands on Twitter has its rewards, as Jetstar demonstrated yesterday. Read more »
Agent needs geography lesson after failing double Dutch
That old travel chestnut rears its head again today with news a pair of hapless travellers planning the trip of a lifetime to Sydney, Australia ended up in Canada instead. Read more »
It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta to do it…
Today sees the launch of a regular feature on Thumbrella, the travel writers’ “nice work if you can get it” award, in which we recognise the outstanding contribution and self-sacrifice of travel journalists the world over. Read more »
Travellers not keen on getting naked
Dr Thumbo received an e-newsletter from Trip Advisor today. The top story was a survey of over 3,800 of its members, asking if they would ever bare all at a nude beach. Read more »
Many (un)happy returns
STA’s update on the 10 Pound Pom has proven a massive success in the UK, with 150 one-way fares to Australia selling out within an hour of going on sale. Read more »
Brits camp out in rain hoping to leave England’s dreary summer behind
A group of English backpackers were so desperate to leave behind England’s poor excuse of a Summer they camped out in the rain for five days in hope of getting their hands on a ten pound ticket to Australia. Read more »
BedJump.com – posting photos of travellers jumping on beds since 2006
American hotel booking site Hotels By City is encouraging hotel guests around the world to jump on their bed and take a photo of themselves mid-air and post it online for the entertainment of others.
Best Job Ben’s first ‘work’ video
Ben Southall, the winner of the Best Job in the World has posted his first video documenting his six-month ‘job’ on the islands of the Whitsundays. The video shows Southall diving off Lizard Island at popular dive spot the Cod Hole.