Jetstar adds flights to Chinese island

"In addition to all the physical and mental challenges, it [Everest] was a giant risk-management project and I spent a lot of time reading and talking to people about ways to mitigate the risk. We did a lot of training in crevasse rescue, a lot of rope work and we had rules on the mountain for how we would act.

"The Sherpas had taught us the mountain remains, whereas humans are frail and fragile and that you don't proceed at all costs."

Cheryl's most recent achievement, in January, was reaching the south pole in the centennial year of the first Antarctic explorers. A trek to the north pole in April will complete the explorer "grand slam" - reaching the two poles and the world's highest peaks.

Before then, however, Cheryl returns to Nepal, leading a 24-day trek for World Expeditions. Starting at Lukla, the group journeys to Everest Base Camp, Kala Pattar, and Kongma La, with an optional ascent of the 6189-metre Island Peak. The trip departs from Sydney on October 24 and costs $3640 a person, including meals and internal flights.

See worldexpeditions.com.

Lonely Planet releases

In July, Lonely Planet will release its 16th edition of Southeast Asia on a Shoestring. The first edition, written by Tony and Maureen Wheeler in a Singapore hotel in 1975, included Bali, Thailand and Malaysia; in more peaceful times Cambodia and Vietnam were added to the guide. As well as hard-copy guides, Lonely Planet has country guide apps for Italy, Ireland, France, Spain, Australia and Costa Rica for iPads and iPhones ($10.49), 70 city-guide apps, audio walking guides, audio phrase-book apps and offline translator apps for Apple devices, Nokia and Android.

See lonelyplanet.com.

Going to the dogs

Ronster is a new website for travellers seeking a short-term home for their dogs. Ronster members earn credits for minding others' dogs, then use those credits to have their own pet cared for. Dogs are matched with a minder based on breed, size, exercise habits and sleeping preferences. Owners can "buy" extra credits if they don't have enough for the time they plan to be away travelling.

Website founders Tanya Martin and her husband, Michael - owners of a Weimaraner named Ron - came up with the idea after an informal dog-sitting arrangement with friends. It's Victorian-based and costs $20 to register.

See ronster.com.au.

Key in the forests

Smart Traveller is surely not the only guest to have checked out of a hotel with a plastic, non-recyclable room keycard in hand. The Accor hotel group has introduced room keycards made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood from managed forests. The cards are used at the Pullman, Novotel and Ibis at Sydney Olympic Park and Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. The cards are part of the group's Planet 21 project goals of a 15 per cent reduction in water consumption and 10 per cent decrease in energy use.

See accor.com.

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