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“Fairytale” chateau re-listed with million-dollar discount

<p dir="ltr">An estate dubbed Chateau Jardin Perfume has taken a price cut after being on the market since mid 2021.</p><p dir="ltr">The chateau-inspired mansion was first listed for $8 and $8.8 million, and has been <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/sassafras-vic-3787-2017057790" target="_blank" rel="noopener">relisted</a> with a price guide between $5.7 and $6.2 million.</p><p dir="ltr">Located in the town of Sassafras in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, the home has been renovated and filled with French chandeliers, Italian porcelain floors, custom statues, and an imported staircase.</p><p dir="ltr">The three-bedroom, three-bathroom house sits on 2600 square metres and has been described as a “fairytale”, “off-the-charts” and a “palace in the sky”.</p><p dir="ltr">Its current owners first bought the home in 2016 for $2.66 million, when it was marketed as “Beauxbatons Manor”, referencing the French wizardry school in the Harry Potter books.</p><p dir="ltr">After completing a swift, multimillion-dollar renovation, Peninsula Sotheby’s International says it has become the kind of home you’d find in the Hollywood Hills.</p><p dir="ltr">“When you look at the colouring of the decor, the splashes of pink, the outdoor furniture, which is all from LA, the Rolls-Royce in the garage, it is very Hollywood Hills, even with the aspect over Melbourne city which is typical of what you would see in LA,” agent Rob Curtain said.</p><p dir="ltr">Along with the glamourous finishings, the home features vivid colours and patterns like fuschia and leopard print throughout.</p><p dir="ltr">Originally, the interior and exterior furniture and furnishings - except the artwork - were included with the home.</p><p dir="ltr">With the relisting of the home, Mr Curtain told <em><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/property/news/fairytale-mansion-dandenong-ranges-for-sale/aef16231-7655-4cee-85a5-351dbc618f47" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Domain</a> </em>that the price would be readjusted accordingly if the prospective buyer didn’t wish to buy the fixtures and fittings - which may explain the new, reduced price.</p><p dir="ltr">Other luxe features include two separate master wings, a six-car garage, a “gold-class” theatre room with space for eight people, and an opulent cigar room.</p><p dir="ltr">The extensive renovations also saw the grounds undergo a major transformation, with the 2400-square-metre grounds undergoing extensive landscaping to create gardens filled with roses, camelias, gardenias, tulips, freesias, hyacinth, jasmine and Mexican orange blossom.</p><p dir="ltr">The fairytale atmosphere is made complete with the stunning pool featuring a mosaic tile rose on the bottom, as we</p><p dir="ltr">ll as with a series of stone paths and twinkling lights.</p><p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Domain</em></p>

Real Estate

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Thousands of Seniors have made the discovery!

<p>While millions of people have a Seniors Discount card or the Senior Savers Card, it can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out just how many perks and savings we can be getting.</p> <p>All over Australia and New Zealand, thousands of businesses offer serious savings for those who hold a senior discount card, but do you know just HOW many companies there are that want you to get more bang for your buck?</p> <p>From big brands and national retailers to local businesses and smaller vendors, there are over 36,000 discounts throughout Australia and New Zealand that seniors have the opportunity to tap into quickly and easily.</p> <p>The key to getting all that you possibly can with your discount card is by using the <a href="https://www.seniorsdiscounts.com.au/download">Senior Cards Discounts App</a> – an application that allows older Australians and New Zealanders to tap into perks and savings across the two nations.</p> <p>Already the app has helped thousands of seniors find all of the different place where they can use their discount card.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835168/senior-discount-card-app-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/30b35f2ff3e34c289f0f00cc77812738" /></p> <p>Whether you are wanting to save on changing a tyre or scrape a few dollars off of your morning coffee, the <a href="https://www.seniorsdiscounts.com.au/download">Senior Cards Discounts App</a> shows you the helpful savings across both everyday items and special purchases.</p> <p>The new free smartphone app is not just a gamechanger in your local community – it lets users get great deals and discounts wherever they go.  </p> <p>Along with a number of helpful services and products you can save on, there are also gorgeous and adventurous attractions you can get for a reduced price – so your retirement fund can be stretched out just that little bit further.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835163/senior-discount-card-app-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/77f0476694ae4d1184631673a4bb736c" /></p> <p>Founder Lane Prowd created the <a href="https://www.seniorsdiscounts.com.au/download">Senior Cards Discounts App</a> when he realised just how little his friends and family knew about their discount card.</p> <p>“They didn’t want to always be referring to a big book, nor did they want to be constantly asking in shops and being told no,” he explained.</p> <p>“So the app really started out as a way they could have access to all those discounts right from their smartphone.</p> <p>“I wanted to make it easier for people to find the discounts all around them.”</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.seniorsdiscounts.com.au/download">Senior Cards Discounts App</a> has proven to be a helpful tool for Seniors  who believe the new application has created a way for them to take advantage of all the incredible savings around them.</p> <p>Melbourne-based Sandra Gould says since finding the app, discounts she was not aware of have become accessible to her.</p> <p>“I’ve used it in cafés, restaurants, and in some of my favourite retail shops that I never even thought about for receiving a discount,” Ms Gould said. “I even discovered my hairdresser offers Seniors Discounts!”</p> <p>She added: “It’s quite amazing the huge variety of businesses and discount offers that are out there rewarding us seniors.”</p> <p>Take advantage of your opportunity to live a lifestyle you deserve, for a reduced cost that you have earned.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.2142038946163px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835182/senior-discount-card-app-3-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4a8e57668d494f148256ea2d583e8f45" /></p> <p><em>Download the <a href="https://www.seniorsdiscounts.com.au/download">Senior Cards Discounts App</a> here.</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Families with polite kids get discount at Italian restaurant

<p>Tired of children misbehaving and interrupting other diners, an Italian wine bar has introduced a five per cent discount to reward patrons with polite children.</p> <p>Antonio Ferrari owns the restaurant, located in Padua, northern Italy, which caters to families on Sundays. He came up with the idea when he was pleasantly surprised to see a family of 11, including five children, sitting quietly and composed. </p> <p>Ferrari told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.thelocal.it/20170214/italian-restaurant-gives-discount-to-family-with-polite-children" target="_blank">The Local</a></strong></em></span> the discount was a way of showing his customers "we like having children here - as long as they behave".</p> <p>Having managed the eatery for 12 years, Ferrari said he has seen his fair share of rude children, from those who climb on the tables with their shoes on, play in the bathroom and make a mess, run around tables and annoy the other customers. "We don't often get well-behaved children."</p> <p>He explained the children, around four to six years old, were a "delight" to serve. He was particularly impressed when, after finishing their meals, the children worked on their times tables and colouring books as the parents drank their wine.</p> <p>"The restaurant is essentially an enoteca (winery). We don't have a children's menu or any other special provisions, but on Sundays, parents often come and bring their children," he said to The Local. </p> <p>The restaurant will continue to bestow the discount on dining parties with well-mannered children and hopes the novel solution will encourage patrons with disruptive children to rein them in. </p> <p>The family who received the discount were delighted by the news and left a €30 ($44) tip, Ferrari said.</p> <p>Italian Sunday lunches are often a long drawn-out affair, lasting more than three hours. They typically consist of five courses, starting with an antipasto platter, then fresh pasta, a main of meat or seafood, followed by vegetables and finally dessert.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/why-an-older-brother-is-named-best-dad-at-a-father-daughter-dance/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Why an older brother is named best dad at a father-daughter dance</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/boy-writes-the-sweetest-valentines-day-card/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Boy writes the sweetest Valentine’s Day card</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2017/02/students-raise-600-dollars-in-single-night-for-dogs-surgery/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Students raise $600 in a single night for dog’s surgery</strong></em></span></a></p>

News

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5 cruise discounts you should know about

<p>Cruise lines put an end to heavy discounting a few years ago so rates for a specific cruise should be about the same everywhere you look. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t legitimate discounts that you can qualify for.</p> <p><strong>1. Seniors offer</strong></p> <p>There are many third party websites set up to help seniors access discount cruises offers made especially for them. Try <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.seniorcruiseholidays.com.au/" target="_blank">seniorcruiseholidays.com</a> </strong></span>and <a href="http://www.cruiseabout.com.au/cruises/senior-travel" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>cruiseabout.com</strong></span></a></p> <p><strong>2. Use bigger booking agents</strong></p> <p>Look for agencies that advertise themselves as "preferred" sellers of various cruise lines – that means, the agencies sell a high volume of those line's cruises and have good relationships with the lines, so the lines are more likely to offer them these deals, knowing they can sell them. And when you see a message to "call for low rates," definitely call. </p> <p><strong>3. Group discounts</strong></p> <p>This is again where booking through a travel agent who works for a large agency can save you money. Even if you are just booking one cabin, a travel agent can many times book you into another group they have on the same sailing getting you not only a lower cruise fare, but many times on board credit and other perks as well.</p> <p><strong>4. Repeat cruisers</strong></p> <p>When checking for rates on a cruise line’s website, always make sure you are logged into your account if you have cruised with that cruise line before. Many companies have loyalty programs, even if you don’t’ know about them.</p> <p><strong>5. Don’t be afraid to ask</strong></p> <p>Always ask about bonus inclusions when booking your cruise. Some cruise lines offer incredible incentives such as cabin upgrades, massive savings on airfares or even extra on board credit. These inclusions can turn a good value cruise into a great value cruise!</p> <p>Do you have any other cruise booking tips to share with us? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2016/05/5-things-you-must-do-to-avoid-seasickness-on-a-cruise/"><em>5 things you MUST do to avoid seasickness on a cruise</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2016/05/10-things-you-must-never-do-in-a-cruise-cabin/"><em>10 things you must never do in a cruise cabin</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/cruising/2016/05/po-ships-first-new-zealand-cruise/"><em>P&amp;O’s first cruise around New Zealand</em></a></strong></span></p>

Cruising