Going Away over Christmas - Ideas and Bargains

As it's getting close to the most wonderful time of the year I was wondering if it would be a good idea to set up a topic to collect xmas travel ideas.

Personally, I try to find something for 4 adults in the ANZ area that doesn't break the bank - or the heart of a true OzBargainer. Yes, I have procrastinated on this for far to long, and another option is that we just stay home. But maybe someone sees something and posts it here. Would be great. As for my case: We start in Melbourne and Tasmania, WA or the south island of NZ are on the wish list. Accommodation seems easier - Airbnb etc, flights are more difficult.

As for everyone else - please feel free to post your ideas, plans and find's.

Ho Ho Ho

Comments

  • +1

    If you haven't booked by now, staying home is a bargain ;)

    • Agreed. We dithered booking a beach house in June and missed out.

      • Thanks for the feedback - and yes, you absolutely have a point. I may have to settle for semi-bargain, but I don't want to give up just yet. :)

  • There are no bargains on flights over Christmas period. If you want to fly overseas, you need to fly at least 1 week before school holidays kick in and book many months in advance. And even then you will still pay premium. During school holidays, the only day I found prices acceptable were on Christmas day (turns out many people don't want to fly on Christmas day).

  • +2

    Perhaps look for something in the Westpac area.

    • +3

      There is a Guzman Y Gomez next to the Westpac branch near me

    • +1

      Good idea, the west Pacific islands are really nice

  • +2

    Perhaps do a house swap with another Ozbargainer in another state who left it late.

  • +1

    Houseboat rental on the Murray. Personally Id go camping way out west, anywhere on the east coast will be crazy. Top end is off season so less people and reasonable hotel rates (if you dont mind the humidity/heat).

  • +1

    we tend to staycation in the busy season. Look at your hometown the way a tourist would. There are probably a bunch of things you haven’t done, restaurants you haven’t tried, short drives to wineries etc, with an overnighter if it takes your fancy. You don’t pay for accomodation, apart from any overnighter, and you can still look after your pets.

  • +1

    House-swap with someone overseas? We did it once with one of my colleagues who lives in a quaint little alpine town in the south-east of France called Annency. We left before the school holidays ( around the 5th of December) and flew out of CDG on Christmas Day. Those were the cheapest dates my wife could find. The kids got the white Christmas they've always dreamt of in a fairy tale setting and then a second aussie christmas with our friends and family when we got back home. Best of all, it didn't even break the bank.

    24th and 25th of December, and 31st and 1st of January are always the cheapest days to fly in or out of the country.

    • *cheapest dates during the school holidays.

  • Big thanks to all of you - great ideas. Love the house swap and the house boat idea. I will hit the keyboard this arvo and see what I can find.
    Happy Sunday to you all.

  • Do you have a frequent flyer account?

    I managed to find a good deal to Fiji over Christmas using Velocity points - booked it last week.

    I think Virgin also has a kids fly free promo on at the moment.

    Otherwise refer to the suggestions above :)

  • Using Qantas points to book flights, availability will be rare prior to Xmas day, but if you're ok to travel on the 25th you may get something to NZ/Fiji/Bali.

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