I've never been a fan of Oprah for so many reasons. But I would love to go to Australia and visit with you Koala!!

I think she should have donated the trip money to several cities food banks.

Or used the money to build a women's shelter somewhere.


It is her money tho, and we cant exactly tell her what to do with it, or insist that she spend it on certain groups of people. I just hope that she figures out that people might be disappointed in her, and maybe she'll do something charitable in addition to going to Australia with 150 of her best friends. (or however many were in that audience)

Koala,
I don't see any who got a trip. If I were rich (like Oprah) Australia has been on my wish list for decades and I'd be there.

Never been to Oprah's show...never will. I've lived in Chicago area my whole life, and when she was on the air, she made a difference, because she discussed what was going on in regular people's lives.
Then she went all Hollywood, and hasn't been the same since; it saddens me, because she helped so many people grow. Now it's all about the bling and name-dropping, IMHO.

To air a commercial on the Oprah show is probably about $75,000 for a 30 second spot. Pontiac donated all those cars to her show to give away. Whenever she "gives" things away, they are being re-gifted. It's a great marketing deal for the car makers and such. I don't think Ford or Chevy would do the donation of 300 cars like Pontiac did. (might have been their downfall since they are now gone).

And the trip is costing her nothing either, it's all paid for by Quantis Airlines and Tourism Australia.

I wonder if all 300 of the people in the audience have passports, ability to take two weeks off work? with pay? If this is economically viable for them. Not sure how the taxes work but I'm sure they are on the hook, I know they were for the cars, like someone said above, many didn't keep them.

AS far as Oprah giving to food banks and such. I read somewhere she gives millions away to charity each year, but as a billionaire, she can and has to do that for tax breaks. She does her share, but her share is SO huge, she has to do this stuff too. I doubt it will cost her or Harpo a dime.

I saw the show and the pilot for the flights is John Travolta, who is a certified ATP pilot and an honorary Quantis pilot. in a chartered Quantis 747.

I fully expect her to give away the moon this year, since it is her final year. It will be interesting to see what all she gives. My cousin will be in her show for the Christmas (holiday) give away show, she got tickets 3 years ago.

Is this her final year, her final final year, her final final final year????

Earl. the fact that none of the money for this great gift, is coming out of her pocket, makes it even more dishonest and smelly.

its the Oprah show final season. She is starting her very own network called OWN or the Oprah Winfrey network. Like TBS or NBC. lets see what new tricks she comes up with.

I would love a 2 week vaca, but when you think about work, school, kids, pets, taxes, passports, clothes, meals, taxes on hotels, and so on...how free really is this?

I would love to visit Australia, but I dont think I'd want to go with Oprah and 300 of her best friends. (all those tour buses they'll probably be using. Too many people for me)

It sounds like a good deal, if you can take the time off and I'm sure you need to have your own spending money for buying souvenirs or do anything extra that isnt on O's itinerary.

Someday I'd love to go Down Under tho. That would be a dream vacation. My other dream vacation would be Scotland. (I've been to England about 9yrs ago. That was FUN! But, no one would drive me up to Scotland to make it perfect...darnit! At least back then, I was physically able to make the climb into the Tower of London. I couldnt do that now)

I just saw an update on this story on Oz television.

Apparently her people spoke to our people, or vice versa, because she wanted something really big for the first show in her final season.

Now I have more details, I can say that Earl is correct in that the Australian Tourist Bureau is collecting the tab for the audience, in the name of tourism.

If they all take up the offer, 300 audience members will get free flights, free accommodation, free tours and free entry into any attractions they visit.

Most (but not all) accommodation in Australia offer a free light breakfast and some places include one other meal in the package. Other than that, any extra meals and personal spending (like shopping) would be at the guest's own expense.

We do have GST (tax) on just about everything, same as everywhere else, but GST is already included in the price. You don't have to work it out yourself, or add it onto any price quoted. What you see is what you get.

There's no tipping policy for hotels and restaurants in Australia. There is no 5% or whatever to add to your bill. Any tips are voluntary and not compulsory.

Any additional taxes to enter the country would be included in the flight ticket, the way it is for us. Same for entry into attractions. I can't tell you yet what those attractions will be, but so far they've mentioned the Great Barrier Reef, an Outback tour, a trip to one of our major wine areas, and cruising on Sydney Harbour.

Oprah will do at least one show from the Sydney Opera House, and I believe that there's already huge interest in Australians wanting tickets to attend (I won't be one of them). I even heard one TV presenter say she'd be broadcasting from the Sydney Oprah House!

For those who are against this trip, I get where you're coming from, but at the same time I'm very happy for 300 people who are being given the opportunity to visit our beautiful country, at minimal cost to themselves.

I understand that a lot won't make the trip due to time or financial constraints, but I do think it's the chance of a life time for some, who without this.... would never get the chance.

If I was fit enough to travel and was offered free flights and accommodation in the USA, I'd not have enough spending money at the moment to make the trip worthwhile. Given the time to organise my finances I could.... just not as such short notice. I believe the trip is to be sometime in December, but I may be wrong there.

One of our TV stations is doing a group trip to Hawaii in November. They're trying to fill a plane and do a big show from Honolulu, but everyone has to pay for themselves. Albeit the price is fairly low, but I don't have that much money to spend right now, so thet's another I'll not be attending.

Sadly, no, I wasn't in the audience!!! Koala, it sounds like your country would be a wonderful place to visit with tips, taxes, etc., included in those package deals. And those little "Joey's are so cute!

I say good for Oprah -- she's worked hard for many years to become such a successful woman and she's entitled to spend her money in whatever way she wants. I'm sure she gives many $$$$$$ to charities, started the school for girls, etc., etc.
The part that would be scary for me is having John Trovolta flying the plane -- did you see him as the "Mother" in "HAIRSPRAY"?