budget travel

Where to holiday on the strong Australian dollar

Expedia.com.au

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Where to holiday on the strong Australian dollar

"Even those uninterested in the history and landscapes of the region will be overwhelmed by the eye-candy."

Expedia.com.au

More about Budget:

Topics:

Budget Dora

With the Aussie dollar continuing to gain ground over other major currencies, Expedia.com.au and HiFX have come together to bring you the ten best destinations to spend your gold coins abroad. Check out the value on offer as you get the best bang for your Aussie buck.

1. Hungary

Hungary lies nearly at the geographical heart of Europe, and with our money up 27.7% on the forint, you can bed down longer in Buda, and pay more in Pest as you explore this beautiful, historic country.

2. Denmark

Our cash has advanced 22.6% on the Danish krone. So though Scandinavia is known for scandalous prices (we've all heard of Copenhagen's shocking $15 bottles of beer), you might be able to shout that tall, blonde haired, blue eyed beauty a brew next time you saddle up to the bar.

3. A whole lotta Europe

Our currency is up 22.5% on the euro, which means that you can now travel with more dosh in 16 countries right around Europe — normally a no-go zone for budget travellers. So set your sights on Austria, Belgium, Holland, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia, and you'll be able to splash out like never before.

4. Romania

The Aussie dollar will buy you 21.8% more Romanian leu than it used to, so get on Count Dracula's trail in the Danube Delta. Transylvania is a treasure trove of small villages, ancient legends and picture-postcard countryside, so be sure to keep this Eastern European stand-out in mind as you plot your course.

5. The Czech Republic

The Aussie dollar is up 18.7% on the Czech koruna, which means that the already cheap-as-chips Czech Republic is offering Australian travellers better bargains than ever. Check out our Insider's Guide to Prague for itineraries, things to do, and ideas on how you can spend all those extra koruna you find in your pocket.

6. United Kingdom

Our currency has long been a joke in the 'motherland', and Aussie adventurers in the UK have been forced to exist on tuppence. But these days our currency has gained some serious ground on the pound — 14.6%, to be specific, so get spending! Our Insider's Guide to London is a great place to get started.

7. Norway

We see a trend, here! The Norwegian krone is also down 12.6% on our robust roo bucks. So why not make a total Scandi adventure out of your next trip to Europe? Even those uninterested in the history and landscapes of the region will be overwhelmed by the eye-candy.

8. Sweden

Another Scandi entry on our list, Sweden's krona has lost 11.5% to our Aussie dollar in the last six months. So sprint to Stockholm and start spending!

Source: HiFX, 01/10/2009 — 01/04/2010

User comments

when john howard was PM the dollar went down to 33 cents or three dollars to the pound. my advise is travel now while our fluctuating currency is strong and go overseas because Australia has become one of the most expensive countries in the world in the last decade.

Please why would you holiday in oz for an extended break the service is atrocious and the cost of acom and leisure activities is outrageous. We regularly travel to the US and even when the dollar is down you still get much better value for money and service. Holidayed in gold coast last xmas will never return there service, what service the hotel staff were offended and rudeif you asked for anything, the theme parks were way overpriced and did not offer value for money. Its no wonder aussies are travelling os in droves. IOz tourism operaters need to get t heir act together. Eddie sights his reasons as volcanoes in europe and riots in asia..cmon eddie what about the drunken drugged yobos that hang around our main tourist areas, probably more of a risk

An option most of you may have overlooked for a south east Asian Holiday is Singapore.The Aussie Dollar buys about 1.15 Singapore Dollars to our $1 and if you book all your sightseeing before leaving Australia you avoid paying the big difference in their money.I am headed there later this year.Also have any of you considered a South Pacific Cruise Most likely Pacific Sun,Pacific Dawn or Pacific Jewel depending on how well you time it there are some great deals to be had and everything is all inclusive except for any optional extras I have done two cruises with happy memories.it is all done in Australian Money So the only foreign money you need is for Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

You need to up-date this article to the reality of the present time. The Australian Dollar is currently in FREE FALL against every currency that is worth having, NZ ~ US ~ EURO ~ YEN ~ UK ~ Swiss ~ CANADIAN ~ CNY. Your article should actually be suggesting to people that if they want an overseas holiday, do it now, quickly, very quickly before the Australian Dollar gets down to 52cents USA like it did under Hawke & Keating. Alas I suspect that under Kevin07 we may take a lot less time to reach that level.

Before you people posted this article did you think to check the Forex situation or consult with any of the number Financial journalists lurking around your office. Just another media mashup, this time publish and perish, misinformation doesn't help your credibility, this smacks of a cut and paste pastiche.

Why the need for the sexist undertones...'tall, blonde blue eyed beauty', 'eye candy'...it's not just males reading the article. Clearly written by a male for a male.

Obviously the USA doesn't get a mention, with the dollar declining here!!!! When will it go up again?

I have travelled to NZ twice. There are definitely some reasonable savings in NZ. I believe that there is no import tax so, some prices may be more reasonable. My husband and I managed to find some places that offered therapeutic massages for less than NZ $100 per hour each. Last month, we travelled to Daylesford and where we were staying, I believe, the price for same did not compare favourably. Also, I was surprised that, whilst holidaying in Rotorua, that some of the activities that my husband and I booked offered complimentary pick-up from certain locations..

Volcanos in Europe , Riots in Asia ....My healthy A$ will be safely spent holidaying in Australia.

WORST THINGS ABOUT FLYING

From screaming babies to loud drunks — these are the most annoying things about flying.

<i>Dictator</i> travel: Where to find the real palace of Sacha Baron Cohen's General Aladeen

Dictator travel: Where to find the real palace of Sacha Baron Cohen's General Aladeen

May 21 2012 2:45PM

So you enjoyed getting oppressed by Sacha Baron Cohen's General Aladeen in his new film The Dictator? Why not take the tourist trail to the fictional bearded ruler's real-life digs?

Read full story