Cheap Hotels Australia

Cheap travel in and around Australia is possible – in fact, it can be quite fun and rewarding! The first step to cheap holidays in Australia is to look for cheap hotels, which usually accounts for about a third of travel expenses.

Surfing the Internet is a fantastic place to start. But where do you begin? How do you make the most out of the colossal amount of information?

Start by visiting the official Australian tourism websites. In Australia, there is a central tourism agency (for general information), and there are corresponding regional tourism agencies (for specific information). Having an idea about which cities you wish to visit will help you considerably narrow your search. To guide you along, here are some of the popular tourist cities in Australia, and the states they are located in, listed in a clockwise manner on the Australian continent:

• Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast - Queensland (eastern coast of the Australian continent)
• Sydney - New South Wales (south of Queensland; east Australia)
• Melbourne – Victoria (further south of NSW, south-eastern tip of the Australian continent)
• Hobart – Tasmania (southern-most tip off the Australian continent)
• Adelaide - South Australia (west of state of Victoria)
• Perth - Western Australia (south-western tip of the Australian continent)

The advantage of starting out with these official tourism websites is to get a sense of the range of cheap hotels available. Additionally, you can sign up to be updated of cheap hotel bargains via email.

Draw up a list of hotels that are offering cheap rates or discounts for each Australian city you wish to visit. When surfing the Internet for cheap hotels in Australia, instead of using keywords like “cheap hotels”, try expanding your search by including keywords like “inn”, “lodge”, and “bed and breakfasts”.

After you have compiled a list of potential cheap hotels, search the net again, using the name of the hotels you have drawn up. This time, your objective is to compare prices to get a real sense of whether the bargain is genuine – don’t forget to include the actual website of the hotel itself – different “cheap hotels” websites can offer different discounts on the same hotel!

Another way to get cheap hotel rates is to make advance bookings - early bird discounts or promotional rates can go for as much as half the rack (published) rates. Some hotels offer cheap rates for longer stays, such as stay for 3 nights and get fourth night free. Some hotels offer cheaper rates for weekday bookings, others offer perks like Children Stay for Free, or free breakfasts.

Watch out for last minute deals. This method has its risks, especially if you are coordinating long-distance flight plans. One way to minimize risk is to secure a night’s accommodation at a hotel within your budget.

Hotel deals and airfares are generally lower in the low season, so this is a good time to look around for cheap holidays in Australia! The Australian winter season (June to September) is generally considered as the low season. True, beach activities, such as sunbathing, is limited in winter; but there are many beach activities, such as surfing. Perth in Western Australia is pleasant to visit at the start of winter (end May / June). Winter is also a great time to visit the Great Barrier Reef. South Australian city Adelaide is popular for winery tours anytime of the year.

Once you have secured your cheap hotel, don’t forget to secure cheap flights to and within Australia