Best value travel spots for Aussies
Forget Japan, Vietnam or Brazil. If you’re looking to get more for your dollar, Expedia recommends you consider China, Sri Lanka or Argentina.
Expedia.com.au, has released its annual Expedia Value Tracker, showcasing the best value international destinations for Australian travellers.
The report, which is based on the performance of the Australian dollar against major global currencies, combined with the average cost of international flights and accommodation booked from Australia, has been developed to help Australians make smarter, more cost effective travel choices.
Managing Director of Expedia Brand for Australia and New Zealand, Georg Ruebensal, commented on the value tracker:
“Expedia’s Value Tracker is a useful guide for Aussies who are unsure of where to travel to next and who want to find the best value-for-money destination. Changes in the Australian dollar do not mean you need to cancel your next holiday. Instead, the answer should be to travel smarter by keeping an eye on currencies to give you the most value out of your trip. When considering where to go, we recommend to hunt around for deals, be flexible with your dates and bundle hotels and flights to stretch your Aussie dollar even further.”
To help Aussie travellers evaluate where they can get more bang for their buck, Expedia has compiled a list of the top value destination swaps suggesting where to travel to next.
Swap Japan for China
Whilst Japan ranks highly on the top ten most popular international destinations for Australian travellers (ABS), Aussies looking for a value-for-money trip to East Asia should consider swapping the ski slopes of Japan for the ancient monuments in China, where the dollar value has seen 4% growth year-on-year (YOY) and the average cost of a flight from Australia to China decreased by 10%, to just $767.
Thrifty travellers will also save on accommodation, where the average cost of a hotel was 37% cheaper in China than Japan, at $130 on average per night.
Swap Hong Kong for South Korea
Money-conscious travellers looking for an Asian escape which merges modern cities and delicious authentic cuisine, may want to consider South Korea over Hong Kong.
With the Australian dollar depreciating by 3% against the Hong Kong dollar, while remaining stable against the South Korean won, now is the time to visit.
Average flight prices from Australia to Hong Kong have increased by 12% YOY, compared to a more enticing 7% drop in average flight prices from Australia to South Korea.This means it was 24% cheaper to fly to South Korea from Australia, at $725, compared to a flight from Australia to Hong Kong’s pricier average of $950.
Accommodation prices were also down in South Korea by 8%, to $133 on average per night and 38% cheaper when compared to accommodation prices in Hong Kong.
Savvy Aussie travellers may be catching on, with a noticeable increase in demand of over 35% for travel from Australia to South Korea recorded during the first six months of 2016.
Swap Brazil for Argentina
With prices sky-rocketing in Brazil thanks to some of the world’s best athletes hitting town, Australians should consider swapping salsa for tango and seek a South American adventure in Argentina.
Offering great value-for-money, the Australian dollar has appreciated a massive 59% against the Argentine peso when compared to the same time last year.
Travel from Australia to Argentina recorded a nearly 55% YOY increase in demand during the first six months of 2016, which coincided with over a 6% decrease for the average flight prices from Australian to Argentina, down to $1,662.
Swap Morocco for South Africa
Australians can consider trading camel rides in Morocco for safaris in South Africa, with average flight prices from Australia to Morocco increasing by a significant 23%, whilst prices for flights from Australia to South Africa falling 11% during the first six months of 2016.
The Australian dollar has also appreciated by a notable 18% against the South African rand. 5. Swap Vietnam for Sri Lanka.
With a number of new luxury resorts moving in, the island’s unspoiled coastal areas and lush landscapes are a great place to take advantage of the Australian dollar’s 5% growth against the Sri Lankan rupee.
Hotel prices were also down by 14%, to $152 on average per night, alongside a 7% YOY drop in average flight prices from Australia to Sri Lanka, to just $576.
In contrast, Vietnam saw a decrease in value since 2015, with a whopping 29% surge in average flight prices YOY from Australia to Vietnam, making jumping on a plane to the popular South East Asian travel spot 13% cheaper than Vietnam.
Swap Malaysia for Fiji
If you’re hankering for a tropical island escape, consider swapping Malaysia for Fiji, which saw a significant 15% decrease in average flight prices from Australia to Fiji to just $378, compared to Malaysia’s 10% increase.
Within easy reach from Australia, Fiji is a picturesque paradise made up of more than 300 islands, meaning world-class diving and snorkeling is at your fingertips and won’t be breaking the bank.
Swap Guatemala for Mexico
The Australian dollar has seen significant YOY growth against the Mexican peso at 14%, so travellers may opt for exploring ancient sites in Mexico over those in Guatemala.
Average flight prices from Australia to Guatemala increased by 25%, with a flight from Australia to Mexico slightly cheaper by 2%, at $1,597.
Accommodation prices also increased significantly in Guatemala, with a huge 26% increase in average nightly hotel prices, compared to Mexican rates which remained stable at $127 on average per night.
Swap Chile for Peru
If you are looking to explore ancient South American culture, stunning landscapes and delicious South American cuisine, consider swapping Chile for Peru, which experienced a significant 18% drop in average flight prices from Australia to Peru, making it 7% cheaper at $1,607, compared to flights from Australia to Chile at $1,719.
A hotel in Peru’s capital, Lima was also 19% cheaper than an overnight stay in Santiago, Chile’s equivalent, at $182 a night.
Swap Indonesia for New Zealand
Just a 3.5 hour fight from Eastern Australia and boasting excellent ski slopes, beautiful scenery and plenty of adventure sports, it’s easy to understand why Australian demand for travel to New Zealand grew by over 15% YOY during the first six months of 2016.
Aussies looking for an adventure closer to home may want to consider New Zealand over Indonesia, with average flight prices from Australia to New Zealand dropping by 9% to an affordable $252, 11% cheaper than a flight from Australia to Indonesia, during the first six months of 2016.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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