Dystopia tourism is, I believe, a neglected branch of the travel industry. To find its leading manifestation, drive 13 hours west from Sydney – deep into the Australian outback. The nightmares of your future dreams reside in a ghost town, Silverton, 15 miles north-west of the mining heartland of Broken Hill. I was there yesterday and enjoyed a thrilling day that emphasised the joy of discovery that travel bestows. The scorched landscape constitutes a reasonable definition of the term "desolation": the world looks as though it is rusting away. This was the raw and dangerous territory where Mad Max 2 was filmed. As Silverton's entertaining Mad Max 2 Museum explains, the cult 1981 movie depicts a post-apocalyptic world that has emerged from a global conflagration involving Iran, in which oil looms large. Absurdly far-fetched, right? In the hope that the geopolitical upheavals of the past six days have not deterred you from exploring the planet, I commend a trip to the far west of New South Wales. This is Australia's dusty version of Hollywood. In Broken Hill itself, I stayed in the Palace Hotel. It was the central set for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The elaborate murals created by a local Indigenous artist make you feel you are in an unfolding drama: City Break in Broken Hill. As the hotel owner, Esther La Rovere, tells me on today's travel podcast: "The amazing colour we get with the light, and the clear skies out here, have attracted photographers and filmmakers from all around the globe. There's nothing better than really being somewhere truly remote, just to stand in that landscape and feel the ground buzz." Pick up those good vibrations soon. Family stranded: 'The rescue mission from the UAE was a shambles' Oman diversion: Is Muscat the new Dubai for airline passengers? To buy or not to buy: When is the optimum time to book a flight? Unfit for purpose: Air passengers' rights rules need urgent reform |
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Dystopian vision. But enough about me: the marvellous Mad Max 3 Museum in the ghost town of Silverton, New South Wales. |
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| Amidst calls to boycott the USA, Canada is having its moment in the spotlight. Read more. |
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| Discover little-visited hamlets, gastronomic hideaways and sunflower-filled fields. Read more. |
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| In the South Tyrolean mountains, unwind at Hubertus, a spa hotel with architecture that wows. Read more. |
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World of Cruising TV – Season 4 Ends 31 March! |
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| Don't miss your chance to catch real cruise stories and expert insight from Simon Calder. Plus, the exclusive TV offers and competitions end 31 March. Watch now on Sky, Virgin Media, Freeview or YouTube, hurry, these exclusive deals won't be around for long! |
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| China has now opened up to British passport holders, so on the way out to Australia I made a point of checking just how much red tape remains in the People's Republic. My itinerary via Turkey allowed me to compare and contrast the bureaucracy of borders. First stop: departure from London Stansted. This is the easiest frontier of all, because there is no outbound border check. Given the current focus on knowing who is coming to and going from the UK, I can see that policy changing soon. Next stop: Istanbul's second airport, Sabiha Gökçen – where I lined up after an overnight flight for around half an hour to be processed. My itinerary allowed me a morning to wander through the glories of Turkey's largest city, and every minute lost was regrettable. Checking out was fast at Istanbul's main airport. Oddly, travellers aged 65+ are allowed to use the diplomatic channel. I appreciate that this is a highly niche benefit. My plane from Istanbul arrived in Chengdu in China just after a huge holiday flight from Bangkok had touched down, so I spent another half hour waiting in line. But that allowed plenty of time to complete the online registration. You could opt to fill in a paper form, but the digital version enables you to take a snap of your passport's personal data page; who could possibly have qualms about sharing such information with Chinese officialdom? The form populates before your very eyes. You also swerve an unusual question asked on the paper form: "List the regions and nations you have visited in the past two years." All 10 fingerprints are required, as well as a facial biometric. On the way out, only the face is scanned. The final frontier was Sydney. Most visitors will have spent the necessary three minutes in advance applying for a free eVisitor permit. The immigration kiosk says, approximately: "We've been expecting you." With a single facial biometric, you are free. Thanks to the super-easy train link (just use your contactless bank card – journey time 12 minutes), within half an hour I was sipping a beer at the Old Clare Hotel. Now that's what I call frictionless. |
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| What is EasyJet's hand luggage allowance in 2026? |
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Essential listening: Independent travel podcasts |
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US-Iran war: Do you think this conflict will change the appeal of Dubai forever? |
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After escalating conflict between Iran, the US and Israel stranded thousands of holidaymakers and expats in the United Arab Emirates, do you think the risk of airspace closures and widespread flight cancellations will change the appeal of Dubai forever? Vote using the buttons above. As cartel violence pushes more of Mexico into the Foreign Office's amber zone, readers appear wary: 81 per cent said they would not visit, while just 19 per cent said they would still travel despite the risks. |
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Losing lottery ticket saves cash on attractions |
For one week each year, tourism venues that are funded by the National Lottery return the favour by offering free or discounted days out for anyone who can produce a paper or digital lottery ticket. This year National Lottery Open Week starts tomorrow and runs from 7 to 15 March. You can get free entry for you and a guest to the Eden Project in Cornwall (below); visit many English Heritage locations on the house; join an RSPB guided walk in the Lake District; or try curling in Aberdeen. |
Essex airport railway stations go contactless |
From Sunday, passengers travelling from London to either of the Essex airports – Stansted or Southend – will finally be able to use contactless payments. For years, confusion has reigned because passengers heading for the airports could tap in to get through the gates at stations in the capital – but then find, on arrival at the airport, they could not tap out. They were inadvertently travelling ticketless and subject to a penalty.
Starting on 8 March, passengers can have confidence that using a contactless bank card (though not an Oyster card) will enable them to pay the best available fare. To benefit from railcard reductions, though, passengers should not use contactless but instead buy a paper or digital ticket to cover the journey.
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Do bargain all-inclusive holidays inevitably involve poor food and entertainment? I would like to save money by not having to budget for eating out, but I don't want a dismal experience. |
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Most British travellers who book all-inclusive holidays are flown to a Mediterranean destination (with Turkey currently the market leader) and bussed to the resort. There, they are given a wristband that indicates their entitlement to unlimited food – usually from a buffet – and "non-premium" alcoholic drinks, which I have found are usually fine, except in Cuba and Mexico. Entertainment may be on offer, but it has never detained me for long: if you want top-quality shows included in the price, opt for a cruise. My favourite all-inclusive experience was on a Greek island: at a resort just south of Rhodes airport, with excellent fresh food. I was encouraged enough to sample the salad; normally I steer clear, because raw food comes with some microbiological risk in the Med – especially if it has been left out for some time on warm days. There was no entertainment, but a convivial, taverna-like ambience, lubricated by decent local beer and wine. A vast resort I stayed at in Hurghada, Egypt, was notable for having several excellent speciality restaurants at no extra charge. Egyptian waiters are impressively swift to bring you a fresh drink when you finish the previous one, but in return you are expected to be swift in tipping them reasonably: about 100 Egyptian pounds (£1.50) for a round. Elsewhere, the experience has not always been joyful. The economics depend on industrial-scale catering for as many people as possible. More widely, I am concerned about the lower quality of experience on an all-inclusive; you are financially incentivised to stay in the resort. Such insularity means you miss out on what the hinterland has to offer. I can, though, see the appeal for anyone who wants to conserve cash. When choosing one, assume you will get what you pay for – and avoid the very cheapest. |
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| | Treat yourself to a charming East Sussex break at the Mermaid Inn in Rye, complete with a hearty English breakfast. Valid for selected Sunday–Thursday stays until 31 Oct 2026. Learn more. |
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| Escape to Spain for less with Love Holidays. Enjoy 5-star accommodation and return flights, with a range of board options. Based on selected dates and departures throughout May 2026. Learn more. |
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| Book a one-night weekend stay at any Village Hotel from only £99 for two people and get £50 credit to spend on food and drinks in the Pub & Grill. T&C's apply. Learn more. | |
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| Travel the world without flying! The Impossible Journey by Thor Pedersen has 38% off for a limited time at Amazon. |
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| Keep your feet comfortable at 30,000 feet with these travel socks from the London Sock Company. Use code "BOOST" for a discount! |
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