Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Gold Coast's Economical Holiday Options

By Damian Papworth

You are probably aware by now that we are entering a period where cash is a going to be a little bit tighter for all of us. With record high oil prices, we are paying more and more for the petrol we need in our cars. With inflation on the rise, we spend more for the day to day necessities of life. With both interest rates and rental prices increasing, no matter if you own or rent your home, you will be paying more for it this year, than you were last year. Something has to give.

Often, the annual holiday/vacation is the first thing we let go of when our financial situation gets tougher. A holiday is often one big expense. Skipping it can make the rest of the year a little bit easier to bare. WRONG. Skipping your annual holiday will make the rest of your year much harder to bare. You will get to the end of the year thinking you just survived and that is all. You are not here on this earth to survive, you are here to live.

A year of hard work merits you a reward, something you can look forward to with joy and anticipation. Furthermore, it's necessary to get away to recharge one's batteries for the next spell of drudgery. A good holiday is in this sense another necessity of your life, not simply a luxury. Holidays are that much more important when the going gets rough, the need for some downtime and unloading bad energy is that much greater.

That being said, you do not need to spend a million bucks to have a relaxing, invigorating holiday. In this article, we will show you how you can find alternative methods of planning your Gold Coast Holiday that will strip hundreds of dollars off its cost, while ensuring you enjoy precisely the level relaxation, fun and adventure you need to face another year.

Getting there: to find cheap airfares to your destination there are a few different strategies. Here's a look at some of them:

Reward Programs - If you've yet to register with any such program, do so ASAP! Register with a frequent flier and/or a credit card reward program. To get the most from these benefits, transfer the points from your credit card account to your frequent flier account and make good on the benefit this offers you. In this way, you could very well end up cropping several hundred off your ticket expenses.

Discount Carriers - Leave the full-service companies behind. When it comes down to it, go with the discount carriers to get the best fares. Make sure you sign up to all benefit programs and to their newsletters. The offers that you'll find will be sure to surprise you.

Use a flights comparison service - These comparison services will find the cheapest flights currently available, for the dates you want to fly. It will take the hassle out of the search for you and get you the best prices.

Staying there: Similar alternatives exist with accommodation. Remember too, the hotels know people cannot afford expensive holidays at the moment. They are discounting like crazy!

Reward Programs - Though not as well-known, several booking services and hotel chains offer reward programs. If you happen to be a member to any such program, cash in on your points now; otherwise, sign up now to gather points for next time round.

Accommodation comparison services - Search engines like these will find you the best option for the quality/price you need.

Consider other options - Hotels don't have to be part of a vacation, as other alternatives exist. Hostels for backpackers are one option to consider for those searching for a "shared" experience. For those demanding more privacy, there are always B&Bs, holiday apartments and RV parks, all rich in cheap possibilities.

While there: One of the great things about the Gold Coast are our surf beaches. Once you get here, you can entertain yourself for your whole holiday, without spending a single cent. All you need is a towel and a pair of bathers, so you can take your self to the beach and spend your holiday body surfing, swimming (always between the flags) and tanning.

For travelers looking for a bit of adventure, you can use the long-term surf rental services offered along the coast. The difference with the normal surf rental houses is that, given a long-term rental contract, you have access to much more reasonable and affordable rates, opening up the activity to a broader crowd.

Then, there is a plethora of cheap entertainment options to be taken advantage of farther inland as long as you have some planning skills. There are the frequent and often free music and art festivals that always draw throngs to the Australian east coast. There are the charming local markets and the sporting events that abound. To get a taste of the nightlife scene, check out the Surf Life Saving Clubs where drinks are much cheaper than at the regular bars, yet the atmosphere equally lively and upbeat (you'll also be patronizing the noble cause this institution represents).

With all these great ideas, you can still enjoy your unique Gold Coast vacation--even on a slender budget!

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