Cheap Travel - for Australians
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
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Accommodation
Cheaper Than Hotels You can look at all the specials for a particular star rating in the city you choose. For example, I saerched for 4 star hotels in Melbourne and was blown away by how CHEAP the prices were. Very impressive. Here
Couch Surfing, Hospitality Club and Global Freeloaders help connect you with strangers who will let you sleep over at their place - free. Check it out, see if it's worthwhile and get back to me!
Need It Now Specialises in last minute accommodation deals. Also has flights and car rental Here
YHA operates Youth Hostels the world over - buy a membership and get a discount at all of them. Swoit! Here
Trav.com It's been quite hard picking through all the crappy hotel websites but this one seems ok. Worldwide. Here
Short Stays Operates a few apartments in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Cheaper than using an average motel and huge points for privacy. Here
Aussie House Swap Instead of paying a mint to book accommodation, swap houses with someone. $48/yr membership. Here
Budget Stay Pinpoints some of the better places in Australia to stay cheaply. Here
Wotif More last minute deals. They quote the full rate for the most expensive room, but the discounted rate for the cheapest room - making it look like you're saving a lot more than you actually are - pretty dodgy!. But some good deals can be had. Here
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Airfares
Best Flights Top site. Top, top site. They post some amazing travel deals. Subscribe to their email to stay in touch, it's worth it. Here
Sky Scanner Search flights worldwide, it will dig prices up from anywhere! A great way to get the best deal in the shortest possible time. Better for Europe than other locations Here
Student Flights and Sta Travel Are two of the good major travel agents for flights and package deals. Student Flights is owned by Flight Centre.
Pacific Blue
Web Jet gets good deals on Aussie domestic flights
Jet Star
Virgin Blue
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Travel Tips and Hints
The real bargains of travel are generally found by asking other people. Use the forum resources of these three amazing sites to get the information you need.
Lonely Planet has a wealth of information including country-specific guides. Also use the forum for some help. Here
Virtual Tourist compiles reviews of attractions, lists of things to do and more all written by previous visitors - normal people. Also make use of their wonderful forums. When I went to Bangkok this place was an out-and-out goldmine. Here
Trip Advisor is basically the same as Virtual Tourist but not very user-friendly. Here
About.com has an enormous sectioon on budget travel. Here
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Work Abroad
TNT Magazine provides all sorts of informations to travellers but is most valuable for work related information! And a little bit for accommodation too :) TNT UK | TNT AUS & NZ
Jobs Abroad Search by country for positions that interest you - a very broad list! Here
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Getting Around
Standby Cars Pick up campervans and return them to their home for $1-5 a day! They have restrictions (of course) but by checking you will see some amazing deals in Australia and NZ. There's less deals on Baktrak and Network Cars but they still exist (click on Hot Deals).
Cheap Motorhomes Cheap motorhome rental. Great prices available. Here
Boomerang Cars Buy a car from them, at the end of the trip they will buy it back. Not bad eh? Here
Backpacker bargain cars - NZ The NZ version of Boomerang cars. Rentals available too. Here
Driveaway International car rental site with some nice prices. Here
Vroom Vroom Vroom Not a Mazda ad (zoom zoom zoom!). Last minute car rental, digs up prices from all the major rental companies .. very convenient. Here
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Best of the Rest
Kid Friendly offers vouchers, discounts and information on children friendly tourist attractions. Primarily NSW and Melbourne. HereHave a suggestion? Use the form below!
See Melbourne See Tasmania See Sydney . Buy one of these when you go travelling and get free or discounted entry to tons of locations. It's a fantastic deal. I went crazy for one day in Sydney, touring the Opera house, the Tooronga Zoo, the Aquarium, doing the Jet Boat and finishing off at Luna Park. Lots of great memories, all in one 24 hour period.
What's On In Sydney With some special offers for Sydney. Here
Luggage Direct In their words: "Australia's Largest Luggage Retailer of Brand Name Luggage at Warehouse Prices." In mine: if you like to get luggage that is actually good.. probably the best way to do it. Here
Luggage.net.au Discount branded luggage Here
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