How to Save Money While Travelling Australia
Many people assume that a trip Down Under will break the bank. However, you shouldn’t miss out on the wonders of Australia because you have a tighter budget. Check out our top tips for helping your money stretch further in Aus.
How to find cheap flights
Before you even embark on your Aussie adventure, money can be saved on your outbound and return flights (if you want to come back). Research dictates that Wednesday is the most expensive day to book a flight, whereas Sundays are cheaper. Online tools like Kayak, Skyscanner and Expedia also help slash costs.
When it comes to Australia itself, flying to some airports is cheaper than others. Sydney often has higher fares whereas Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are a little less. There have also been cases where it was cheaper to fly to an airport and catch an internal flight to Sydney or the Gold Coast. Furthermore, flights with longer stopovers can save you money too.
Greyhound bus
Whilst internal flights can be snapped up for a cheaper price, Greyhound buses in Australia cover 250 coach stops the length and breadth of the country. All major cities and popular tourist areas are covered, as well as locations off the beaten track. Passes or point to point tickets can be purchased.
For travellers, the Whimit Travel is the most popular pass for travellers. Prices start at $329 (£171) but it allows for unlimited travel for 365 days with zero restrictions compared to other pass options. However, if you plan on remaining on the East Coast, the Hop On Hop Off Pass comes in at $149 (£77) and can be used for 90 days.
Car hire Australia
Renting a car Down Under is not as expensive as you may think. Steering clear of providers in cities and small towns will help save you some money. Rental companies at airports typically offer cheaper quotes in comparison. Avis, Hertz, Thrifty, Europcar and Budget are all popular hire providers in Australia.
The cheapest option; usually coming in at around $30 a day for an economy car. Prices escalate the larger or more luxury a vehicle is. However, paying for a week or more will give you a reduced fee opposed to the daily rate.
Car hire excess insurance Australia
A top tip of ours, to take outgoings down further, is to take out car hire excess insurance. With most insurance policies when you rent a car, the excess is extremely high. Purchasing a worldwide insurance car hire excess policy will ensure you don’t spend an extra penny if you were to damage your rental vehicle whilst abroad.
Saving on accommodation
Hostels are a conventional and popular option for backpackers or those who want to experience Australia on a budget. Whilst sharing with strangers dorm-style has its sociable perks there are hostels which offer smaller private rooms that sleep two to four people.
Hotels are popular with holidaymakers and sites such as booking.com, Trivago and LateRooms.com can help you find the best deal. An alternative is to use Airbnb and filter by prices to see if a saving can be made.
