So, is anyone going to holiday in Australia 2011?

[Alanslegal]

I will continue to do a few long weekend type trips (thur-sun, fri-mon) as work allows me to be pretty flexible in this regard. And whether or not we find this "backyard" of ours as an expensive travel destination, there can still be good bargains and value to be found.

Sure the higher end of travel seems overpriced, but then again, anywhere in the world the higher end of travel is going to cost quite a bit.

For me, if its 4 days or less I will travel in Australia (and I might consider the south pacific). And anything more, its overseas for me.

 

[drron]

Try and have an Aussie holiday every couple of years.To make it cost effective one sector of the airfare is an addon to a DONE as it will be in March 11 when we will spend 10 days in South Australia,returning to Coober Pedy(and to Lake Eyre if water).
In general I agree with comments about service in Australia yet some of my most memorable stays have been in Australia.Currently in NZ and am noticing that if the person you are dealing with is a Kiwi the service is very friendly,however if a backpacker can be indifferent.Thinking about Australia that probably also fits-though there are always exceptions to prove the rule.

 

[ozimax]

Just spent 2 weeks caravaning on the pristine NSW north coast; (why oh why would anyone go further north?), but that is still in 2010.

As for 2011? Most probably will stay in Oz. After travelling all year long, I want to stay nearer to home, rather than fly any distance.

 

[zig]

Great thread - really interesting reading.

I have been lucky to have travelled extensively in Australia, so to some extent don't feel any 'guilt' about not holidaying here for many years now.

I will have a few long weekend trips to MEL, ADL over 2011, but will holiday overseas - USA and HKG are planned at this stage.

Agree with comments made by Mal and others about the state of Australian tourism. One of my favourite places in the world is Broome in winter, but it has been many years since I last visited due to the cost, it is cheaper to go overseas sadly. Likewise was recently pricing Sydney hotels for a long weekend and couldn't understand how they can ask the prices for what they offer. I think I will visit the Teracotta Warriors in Xian, not Sydney.

 

[munitalP]

My job takes me across Australia - in fact, the Broome area is the only part of the country not frequented by me...I don't know if thats good or bad, so when planning holidays, Australia does not form part of my equations.

In saying that though, I spend plenty of weekends across the country with SWMBO and other friends.

2011 will bring at least 1 OS F1 GP meet - possibly 2, I'm hoping KL and Shanghai as they are only a week apart (at least last time I checked!) and this time next year we will be in Tibet/China (although SWMBO is making noises about the US)

From extensive work related travel across Australia over many years, I can make the following statement, Australia for any travel related expense is high, service is low, and in general, accommodation standards are quite low - why would I fork out 40-70% more for Australian holidays when SE Asia is 8 hours away?

munitalP

 

[oz_mark]

I think a few of us are planning a trip to Darwin at the end of May, I think that is part of Australia.

This will be on my itinerary for the year, plus the Kakadu extension - Kakadu is certainly on my bucket list...

I do travel Australia, and slowly filling in the gaps in the places that I have been to. Most og the lengthier travels are overseas though....

 

[Postcode]

A few long and a few shorter overseas trips planned for 2011. Looking forward to it so much.

I was looking visiting family in regional Victoria starting with flying to MEL - airfares reasonable - but add cost of transport to BNE less than an hour away - $100, staying at average hotels and motels, insane internet access charges, car hire, and so on. I told my sister it would be cheaper for me to go to Malaysia for a week to ten days. And I am.

The Shrek family are going to Noosa late January. I think the Sunshine Coast is beautiful. We usually find the best properties to stay for a large family are self-contained and privately owned. I agree that due to the rising dollar there are many attractive overseas destinations. But as a migrant I still have many places here that I would like to explore and I love holidaying here.

Late January is traditionally the start of the wet season here on the Sunshine Coast. And judging by what we have experienced recently it will be the very wet season. You might be lucky.

 

[ozimax]

This will be on my itinerary for the year, plus the Kakadu extension - Kakadu is certainly on my bucket list...

I do travel Australia, and slowly filling in the gaps in the places that I have been to. Most og the lengthier travels are overseas though....

I too am hoping to be in Katharine/Darwin mid year. Maybe an AFF NT official reception would be in order...

 

[straitman]

I too am hoping to be in Katharine/Darwin mid year. Maybe an AFF NT official reception would be in order...

Would that be part of the FT one in May :?:

 

[clifford]

Only a few days in OOL at Easter (only because I'm flying out to KUL).

Otherwise, no.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well $Aust is up to high levels...

Point Running opportunities is also up ensuring point balance is overflowing still...last half of 2010 was very good and opportunities abound in the first half of 2011 too

So Overseas Holidays it is for me...

 

[Durin's Bane]

The Australian tourism industry is totally stuffed, is overpriced, underserviced, dated, non-competitive and trying to survive off a dream built many years ago.

100% agreed.

The only trips within Oz I take are work related or one or two family trips to see the folks. Otherwise my wife and I always spend our hard earned money overseas.

Like others have said, I do not mind paying a premium for top quality - but Oz just doesn't do that well. It's quite similar to QF flights in J!

My wife and I are looking at either a RTW DONE4 at the end of 2011, or a Sydney-Tokyo-NY return in J (with Tokyo and NY behing the hubs for further travel within JPN or USA) - I know the $15K-$20K my wife and I will spend on accommodation, food, sightseeing and shopping will be greatly better value for money in Asia or the USA.

I do not see what the Aussie tourism industry can do, other than praying for a weak AUD.

 

[Hvr]

I do the occasional VFR trip to MEL, other trips in Australia are for work. The odd trip to a FF DO sometimes happens. Having said that DRW is not a place I enjoy so I only go there when I have to for work.

Personal travel is virtually always overseas.

Why? Well at the moment I can afford it so I will do it.

 

[k_sheep]

In the last few years I've been doing a lot of weekends away around Australia, mainly because mr k_sheep and I were sussing out places to relocate to. Thanks to jetstar and QP, we managed to do quite a lot of them on the (relative) cheap. But for "proper" holidays? No way, overseas is cheaper and more fulfilling IMHO.

 

[Twin Pines]

Absolutely... I've changed plans from going overseas to travelling around Australia for the simple fact that our economy need a boost after the succession of body blows mother-nature has dealt us this year

 

[notzac]

Welcome to AFF, Twin Pines!

As for me -- probably just my usual occasional trips to BNE to see family, maybe over to ADL to see friends as well. Like everyone else has said, holidaying in Australia is poor value by comparison to many other places around the world.

 

[RB]

Aust won't be host of our major 2011 holiday. Syd for a weekend or two & maybe Tas or S Aust for short break.