Your calls always answered within 5 rings.
Air India, despite its quite recent privatisation, is simply awful in every way. I was at Gatwick for 11 hours , with zero information about what was happening. Apparently the previous two Air India flights to Kochi were cancelled. All very stressful, but no fault of DAF!
There is a great deal of reassurance in knowing that your trip has been arranged by people who really know what they are doing. And that you are not just abandoned to the anonymous machinery of an airline that doesn't really care, in spite of all their rubbish claims about caring! Also that if something goes wrong you can get advice with a telephone call that is actually answered!
Although my baggage was lost from Dubai to London Gatwick I was able to speak to DialAFlight and ask for guidance on how to process the forms to reclaim my baggage. This they did readily which was a comfort at the time. You'll be glad to hear I now have my lost baggage!
Archie was brilliant - sorted everything out. Will definitely be using you guys and recommending to friends
Great service, especially from Ray Taylor.
Zoe Lane is an excellent travel agent.
It's not until something goes wrong with your travel plans that you realise the benefits of booking with them. After sitting on the plane at Gatwick for a couple of hours our flight was cancelled due to a technical issue. At 11pm there aren't that many people in the airport to help. Fortunately a call to DialAFlight's emergency phone line had me talking to Korinna within seconds. She was able to see there were no flights from Gatwick the following morning but there were spaces on the Heathrow flight and she changed our booking to this flight. She also re-arranged our connecting flight for Dubai to Delhi. All this whilst my husband was trying to talk to the airline's customer call centre who were saying they couldn't do anything as the flight hadn't been officially cancelled! A big thanks to Korinna for her help.
Efficient and helpful
No hitches on the way despite the potential for this to happen. Radisson Blue Hotel in Connaught Place excellent service and very convenient for shopping and restaurants.
Always very helpful and a pleasure to book with.
Other than the changes with the flights everything else was great
Amazing customer care
Excellent service
None. Good service
Alfie was very helpful, as usual and ensured all went smoothly
You didn't have to rearrange a flight home for me after a last minute international flight cancellation on this holiday, as you did on the last, but it was so good to know that - far from home - you were there to help me should I find myself stranded. Thank you so much for being there.
Excellent service and they were there for me when I needed assistance. Will definitely use again.
Always had good customer service from Michelle
Flight suggestions worked really well
All perfect!
Everything was handled promptly, professionally and it delivered an experience in India that was everything we hoped for. Great to have a team that were readily available to support us in both the planning and execution! Particular call-out for Brody Letchfield who was our main contact and ensured that, through liaison with Tamarind Global on the ground in India, everything ran smoothly
Connecting flight from Heathrow was delayed because of fog in Delhi, causing us to miss the connection to Goa. Seven hour wait for the next flight.
Great service yet again
Brody once again has provided excellent service and planned our holiday to perfection
Edward Scudder is a star - above and beyond. Quality service
Absolutely seamless holiday to Goa with all the flights booked with Rosie at DialAFlight Thanks again
As always, excellent service especially by Gino. If only BA could learn a thing or two from you about customer service.
Raphael was very helpful throughout the entire process, from initial booking to just before departure
Aiden is great and always most helpful as are all your team!
Thank you for your attentive services
Victoria is home to Melbourne, one of Australia's coolest cities, where a labyrinth of laneways, boutique shops and art galleries invite you to explore.
The capital of this south-eastern state is also surrounded by wineries, wildlife-filled national parks and stunning coastal drives. It's easy to understand why so many visitors flock here and how Victoria has become host to so many sporting and cultural events.
Start your visit in vibrant Melbourne, where you can spend a few days exploring this hugely cultural and sporting city. Hire a car and head to nearby wine regions such as the Yarra Valley or the Mornington Peninsula to sample award-winning wines and perhaps stay the night.
Or head out to one of the many national parks or nature reserves before cruising along the Great Ocean Road and witnessing the rugged coastline and infamous 12 Apostles that rise from the ocean.
Here are some of the best ways to explore the city and beyond.
Feel the buzz of the city
Consistently identified among the most liveable cities in the world, Melbourne is a cultural delight. It's a place where art galleries and amazing museums rub shoulders with street art-adorned laneways, and independent fashion boutiques sit alongside hole-in-the-wall coffee shops and some of the country's most exciting restaurants.
Grab a bike and explore on two wheels, winding through the streets and arcades and discover Melbourne's wealth of street art such as in famous ACDC Lane or Hosier Lane. Stroll along the Yarra River or head out to the suburbs of Collingwood, Brunswick, Northcote and Fitzroy, transformed by creatives and liberally sprinkled with great bars and eateries.
Fly high above the skyline for a new perspective - Melbourne is one of the only cities you can fly over in a hot air balloon - and delve into the rich Aboriginal culture that permeates the city.
Discover Melbourne's Aboriginal culture at Koorie Heritage Trust, located in the city's cultural heart on the banks of the Yarra River.
Or join an Aboriginal guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens to identify significant native plants and their uses before heading to Aboriginal-owned Mabu Mabu restaurant for authentic flavours in a modern setting.
Get an adrenaline rush
Melbourne is Australia's sporting capital and home to a diverse mix of sporting fans, with the Australian Open, and Formula 1 Grand Prix, for example, held here annually, while the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has hosted both the T20 cricket and The Ashes.
Add to that the FIFA Women's World Cup, heading Down Under in 2023 to be hosted between Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne will host clashes between Australia and Canada, Germany and Morocco and Jamaica and Brazil. Catch one of the matches, then head to the Australian Sports Museum to soak up more sporting history.
Sport is woven into Melbourne's social fabric, and it's one of the best places in the world to catch a game of Aussie rules football, cricket, tennis, and motorsports, to name a few. Victoria is also set to host the Commonwealth Games 2026. In a world first, the opening ceremony will be at the MCG in Melbourne, but the games will be held in regional Victoria, namely Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and in Gippsland.
Head out on the open road
With its wealth of national parks such as Wilsons Promontory, The Grampians or the Otway National Parks, abundant wildlife and stunning coastline, it's easy to see why Victoria is renowned for its road trips. Whether you have one day or several, there are amazing touring routes to explore from Melbourne.
Start with one of the world's most famous drives. The Great Ocean Road which follows the spectacular coastline along clifftops, through rainforests and past surf beaches from Torquay to Allansford and via the famous rock formation of the 12 Apostles. It can be completed in three days from Melbourne, but more time will mean longer stops to discover for example the wild koalas, kangaroos and emus along this route or see the migrating whales.
Alternatively, head east on the Melbourne to Sydney Coastal Drive to discover beautiful Wilsons Promontory National Park, the Gippsland Lakes where you can find the newly opened Metung Hot Springs plus plenty of untouched nature and wildlife. Allow at least seven days for this journey to see the best of the area. Head inland along the Great Alpine Road for mountain scenery or north to see the Murray River.
There are plenty of shorter trips from Melbourne as well. Sample wine at the vineyards of the Yarra Valley, less than an hour from Melbourne, or enjoy the cute Penguin Parade on Phillip Island.
Melbourne sits on Port Phillip Bay and it's easy to plot a driving tour that also takes in the Mornington Peninsula, discovering historic towns and beautiful beaches on the way.
In one day, you can escape the city completely and unwind in the cool forests of the Dandenong Ranges. Witness the spectacular rhododendrons bloom in spring, or marvel at the golden colours of the old trees in the Alfred Nicholas Gardens in autumn.
Get to know the locals
Victoria is roughly the size of the UK and is home to about 30 per cent of Australia's wildlife, making it a wonderful place to see the iconic species such as kangaroos and koalas in the wild.
Phillip Island is a two-hour drive from Melbourne and home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. Head to the famous Penguin Parade in the evening to see them waddle ashore or take a boat trip to get up close to Australian fur seals, spotting seabirds along the way.
Spot wild koalas in the trees in the Otway National Park along the Great Ocean Road or glide across Lake Elizabeth for a chance to see platypus.
In the Grampians National Park you can see some of Australia's other famous residents, such as kangaroos, wallabies and emus, while the Wilsons Promontory National Park is a great place to spot wombats in the wild.
From epic road trips and iconic wildlife to sports-mad culture and hipster neighbourhoods, Victoria is the perfect mix of buzzing city and outdoor adventures. Soak up the city then head to local wine regions, national parks and drive that beautiful coastline.
First published in the Daily Mail - February 2023
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