6 Cost-saving Tips for Your Australia Holiday Budget

• Leave your heavy gorgeous boots in the wardrobe, ditto multiple pairs of jeans. Try to pack everything into a cabin sized carry on bag. Save your travel flight dollars with a seat + cabin baggage ticket. 
• If you’re short on time or want to tick off destinations in the east and west, flying could be your only option. If you are on a strict budget, you might want to consider visiting fewer places to minimise the number of flights you take. 
• Travelling as a group or family and covering the cost of more than one ticket look for family deals. 
• Finding your way from the airport a pre-booked shuttle could easily provide savings. Check the metro bus service as it likely has a convenient bus route. 
• Check with our airline consolidator for price comparison.
• Book in advance where possible.
• Sign up to email alerts from these airlines so you’ll know when sales or special deals are on.

Plenty of savings to be made with carefully selected planning of bus trips around Australia.

• Long distance bus operators Greyhound and Firefly Express offer a number of cost-saving options from unlimited travel pass for a specified period of days or hop on and hop off choices.
• Forward plan how you are going to get to the long distance bus station. In metropolitan areas it’s likely the metro buses easily connect to the long distance bus. Work on your route to allow the day of travel to be relaxed. If you are rushed and worried about getting to the long distance bus on time, that’s when you splurge money on an expensive taxi. 
• Book in advance if you can to secure your seat and take advantage of deals.

LONG DISTANCE TRAIN TRAVEL in Australia does not have the fast commuter train routes of Europe. Long distance trains are slow with a number of stops adding a number of hours to the journey gobbling up precious holiday time.

METROPOLITAN TRAIN SERVICES in major cities is cost-effective and a great way to get around. Purchase a multiple pass ticket and hop onboard.

Australia has awesome scenic journeys on well maintained, well signposted roads. The highways are lined with lookout points and attractions so you can expect to make regular stops. Lookout stops offer free parking. Central city locations generally have paid parking fees. Petrol in Australia and New Zealand, compared to North America and Europe, is more expensive. 

• One way hire is expensive
• Evaluate flight + vehicle deals 
• Check with the rental car provider if there are deals involving a specific number of days and a discounted rate
• If you need a child car seat check the cost of hire before booking the vehicle

Your Australian holiday with your own wheels, a motorhome is cost-effective, you have accommodation and kitchen facilities. For families you can enjoy holiday resort campgrounds, laundry facilities and the resources of a tourist park.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE ‘CRAMPED’ CONDITIONS OF A MOTORHOME?

Take a leaf from nzjane and friends, check into a motel for a night or two and enjoy the space. Motorhomes can seem very cramped after a week or two on the road. Budget beforehand to avoid the last minute ‘I’m over this’ moment.

IS IT CHEAPER TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN VEHICLE?

Everyone has, at some point, been engaged in the purchase of a vehicle. It is complex as you need to check vehicle reliability and evaluate fuel efficiency. You need to spend time both purchasing and selling a vehicle. Leave this option to the long term working visas.