Australia ranks sixth among the world’s most expensive countries. This is because the economy is rapidly growing, making living costs high. However, just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune when you travel there. Do you want to know how you can travel to Australia on a budget? Read on.
Book Your Ticket Early
Booking a ticket early enough is one of the most underrated travelling tips. Generally, booking flights 6 to 12 months in advance saves money. Additionally, ticket prices vary depending on the day and time of year you wish to travel. Therefore, be wise not to travel around the high peak times of the year.
Autumn is the best season to visit Australia (April to August.) When booking your ticket, book it early in the morning or late at night. Also, make sure it’s in the middle of the week. Plane tickets in such periods are usually cheaper.
Find Cheap Money Transfer Options
Money transfers can cost you a lot without your knowledge. Therefore, rather than using costly banks, you can use companies such as CurrencyFair or Wise. These companies will help you save a lot of money. For instance, you can save up to around $50 on a $1500-$2000 transfer.
Get a Travel Insurance
You wouldn’t want to incur expensive medical bills on top of your travel bills. Therefore, travel insurance is essential, especially since your safety is not a hundred per cent guaranteed.
Know When and Where to Shop for Food
Food is costly in Australia. What’s more interesting is that food prices in supermarkets fluctuate during the day. Therefore, the price of a food item in the morning will differ from the price in the evening.
They tend to run huge discounts in the evening, especially on fresh products. These discounts can go as far as 50%. Also, visit the local markets, especially at the end of the week. They also sell food cheaply at this time of the week.
Another piece of food shopping advice is to avoid high-priced supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles. ALDI is a good option if you’re on a budget. It’s also worth mentioning that water and anything prepared using large amounts of it is pretty costly. However, drinking water is available practically everywhere in Australia. With your water bottle, you can refill it frequently.
Find Affordable Accommodation Places
After attempting to save money while traveling in Australia, the last thing you want to do is spend all of your money on accommodation. If you are on a budget, forget about hotels. They cost between 120 to 150 AUD for bed and breakfast.
These are various places you can stay that are price friendly.
You can opt to stay in hostels. The best-recommended ones are the YHA hostels since they are comfortable and affordable. They cost around 60 to 70 AUD for a shared bathroom and 80 to 100 AUD per night for a private bathroom. Additionally, shared dorms cost $20-$30 per night.
If you want a more homely vibe, you can book an Airbnb. They cost around 70 to 100 AUD per night. The advantage of booking an Airbnb is that you can use it for long-term and short-term stays.
Lastly, if you’re planning for an extended stay in Australia, other than an Airbnb, you can opt for a good house sit. It is the cheapest form of accommodation for long-term stays.
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