Bali News / Island’s News Updates

Bali has become the cheapest overseas holiday destination for Australians with heavily-discounted deals luring holidaymakers back to the resort island. Travel companies have released such specials as seven nights in a three-star hotel for $165, following the announcement last week Pacific Blue will start flying directly from Adelaide to Bali.

The airline will fly twice a week each way between Adelaide and Denpasar, Bali, from December 1. The airline announced special fares from $299 one-way, including taxes, which sold out this week. Hundreds of South Australians are expected to travel to the Indonesian island during the Christmas holiday period. Travel to the island was hit after the Bali club bombings in 2002 when 202 people, most of them foreigners, died.

Pacific Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said response to the cheap airfares had been fantastic, especially around Christmas.
She said the airline would start with two flights a week and look to add more capacity if the demand was there.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a 63 per cent growth in the number of Australians holidaying in the island paradise. Last year 8270 South Australians traveled to Bali compared with 5695 in 2006.

Harvey World Travel Glenelg owner Sue Yabsley has Bali accommodation packages from $271 for six nights. She said the direct flights were the “best thing to hit Adelaide travelers after the collapse of Air Paradise”. “Our phones rang hot when clients heard about the direct flights,” she said. “Diehard Bali fans are booking multiple trips and new clients are now choosing to go as the prices and flight times are just fantastic.”

Travel identity Phil Hoffmann welcomed the direct flights out of Adelaide and said it would be positive for Adelaide Airport. He said the direct flights made getting to Bali much more accessible without having to lose a day flying via another city.

News by Adelaide Now - news.com.au/adelaidenow/