2015 Gallipoli Ballot - 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings

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Check your IST hotel bookings!

I've been keeping an eye on ours (booked in June) and noticed last week the price dropped by 13% ... made a new booking and cancelled the old. Just took another peek this morning, and it's dropped again :D this time by another 9% .... made a new booking and cancelled the old.

Pretty chuffed - the savings have basically turned our booking into a "stay 4 pay three" deal :cool:

OMG I love flexible bookings! Just had another look - it's dropped again! ~ 30% drop in the daily rate since June last year. I've now booked/cancelled/rebooked three times :D ~ 1,000 euro difference between original and today's booking ... wonder if it will drop again?
 
OMG I love flexible bookings! Just had another look - it's dropped again! ~ 30% drop in the daily rate since June last year. I've now booked/cancelled/rebooked three times :D ~ 1,000 euro difference between original and today's booking ... wonder if it will drop again?
Ooh - I will have to go and check. I've just booked a room at the Taj in San Francisco for Master FM as he is going to spend the weekend with us and I noticed his room was 15% cheaper than ours - unfortunately I booked ours as paid in advance, as I wanted to lock in the $ so can't do the cancel rebook trick. Aus $ has gone up heaps against the euro as well which is nice (not so nice against US$ and pound).
 
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Cheaper in Istanbul ?

Just checked my IC IST booking ...

When I first booked using AMB voucher ( yes, via the correct page ), my quote is at 280 Euro

Today ... it's 300 ( which is for Club Intercontinental Room )

Wish I could see 'reductions' in my other bookings, but no, not really ...
 
Cheaper in Istanbul ?

Just checked my IC IST booking ...

When I first booked using AMB voucher ( yes, via the correct page ), my quote is at 280 Euro

Today ... it's 300 ( which is for Club Intercontinental Room )

Wish I could see 'reductions' in my other bookings, but no, not really ...
I've checked my room down from 840 a night ot 780....
 
Damn ! Must be due to booking with AMB voucher.

No such thing, as a 'free' night, uhh ?
 
I've checked my room down from 840 a night ot 780....

Excellent! AFF at its best
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(not so nice against US$ and pound).

The hotel savings from IST might just cover our LON night indulgence with Michel Roux Jnr tasting menu with wine. Should be a world of difference from the Dardanelles BBQ feast served a few nights earlier :shock:
 
The hotel savings from IST might just cover our LON night indulgence with Michel Roux Jnr tasting menu with wine. Should be a world of difference from the Dardanelles BBQ feast served a few nights earlier :shock:
It's not about saving money - it is about reallocating resources to a better use :) it would be entirely inappropriate to have a luxury experience in Gallipoli - view it as part of the pilgrimage! I must go and check my four season booking in Florence to see if there are similar savings (also the Pierre in New York - the work of a value conscious traveller is never done!).
 
No "luxury" at Gallipoli, for sure. We'll all be exposed to the elements overnight together ...

However, I think that once back 'in town', after all due respects have been paid, I don't see an issue with a five star stay ( for two nights ) ...
 
No "luxury" at Gallipoli, for sure. We'll all be exposed to the elements overnight together ...

However, I think that once back 'in town', after all due respects have been paid, I don't see an issue with a five star stay ( for two nights ) ...
Absolutely not - I was just teasing.....
 
There is still hope .. for anyone waitlisted and booked.

GALLIPOLI 2015 BALLOT – SEEKING WAIT LISTED INDIVIDUALS WITH CONFIRMED TRAVEL BOOKINGS TO GALLIPOLI
We are writing to update you on the operation of the Anzac Day Gallipoli 2015 ballot wait list. The majority of all Australian attendance places have now been taken up.

The wait list remains operational, with final offers being made before the formal closure of the wait list on 31 March 2015. Given the acceptance rate to date, it is likely that only a very small number of passes will remain available after 31 March 2015.
Attendance passes are also being returned by individuals who advise they are no longer able to attend the commemorations.
To ensure all passes are allocated, any remaining after 31 March 2015 will be offered to individuals in sequential order, on the wait list who have existing bookings to travel to Gallipoli.
To be considered for attendance passes that may remain after 31 March 2015, you must have:
• Applied in the Australian ballot and remain on the wait list;
• Booked (and paid) for flights to Turkey (or other form of confirmed transport into Turkey);
• Booked (and paid) for a tour, cruise or other form of transport to get to the Gallipoli peninsula on 24-25 April;
• Booked your travel arrangements on or before 31 December 2014; and
• A current passport.

If you wish to have another person attend the commemorations with you as your accompanying guest, that person must also have:
• Booked (and paid) for flights to Turkey (or other form of confirmed transport into Turkey);
• Booked (and paid) for a tour, cruise or other form of transport to get to the Gallipoli peninsula on 24-25 April;
• Booked their travel arrangements on or before 31 December 2014; and
• A current passport.

If you wish to be considered for any remaining passes, please:
Fax: (02) 6289 4849, or
Write to: Gallipoli 2015 Commemorations Team
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
GPO Box 9998
Canberra ACT 2601

by 11:59PM AEDT on 30 March 2015 with the following:
• Evidence of bookings (made on or before 31 December 2014) to Gallipoli – a scanned itinerary with confirmation of payment is sufficient - for yourself and your accompanying person (if you are requesting a second attendance pass);
• Your (and your accompanying person’s) passport number and country of issue;
• Your accompanying person’s first and last name, date of birth, email, address and phone contact details; and
• Your date of departure from Australia.

Please be advised that this request and any documentation (provided by you) to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, does not provide any guarantee or assurance that you may be offered or allocated attendance passes to the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli on 24-25 April 2015.
Any remaining passes will be allocated to individuals, in sequential order, based on their position/rank in the wait list. There will be no distinction based on ballot category.
If you have any further questions, please contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254.
Yours sincerely
The Gallipoli Ballot Team
 
Why the need for booked airfare before December 31 and already booked tours to Gallipoli to be eligible? Who would do that without ballot success? I though they were telling people to stay away if not successful?
 
Why the need for booked airfare before December 31 and already booked tours to Gallipoli to be eligible? Who would do that without ballot success? I though they were telling people to stay away if not successful?
Well until we cancelled we had all that and I suspect half the people on our ex boat would not have been successful in the ballot but would meet those requirements. I would think the number meeting those requirements would be in the thousands.

Our ex guys seem to be organising a very nice alternate dawn service as well. Still waiting for our refund but have been promised it today. Feeling a little sad at not going, but we feel we made the right decision for us.
 
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If anybody is traveling on from Turkey, to wind up in Egypt ...

I just returned from the Sydney Consulate Office ( of Egypt ), and they require CASH with your visa application.

The latest downloadable Application states $AU40. ( cash ) per visa application.

When I got there ( with $80. cash ), they said: "no, no, no. $120. $60. each. Go and get more money".

I wonder WHERE that cash goes to ....
 
Anybody who is going to Gallipoli next month should be subscribing to 'SmartTraveller' ....

Bit disturbing, the WARNING sent out today via email ...
 
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Anybody who is going to Gallipoli next month should be subscribing to 'SmartTraveller' ....

Bit disturbing, the WARNING sent out today via email ...

The one I got was worldwide .... no mention of Turkey. Reading it you'd think twice before visiting Britain, France, Thailand, Canada etc, etc
 
They are going to be edgy after Tunisia. I only worry about Do not Travel warnings. For the rest of it - life is dangerous and has become more so over the last few decades, but you can't just sit at home.....
 
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