Vacation Rentals

A very good way to save money while on vacation is to get a bunch of friends and rent a house together. This is especially a good idea for those who prefer the freedom but hate the campervans. You will still have the possibility to explore the surrounding on your own but you will also benefit from hotel-like facilities. Add some money saved as you will be able to cook your own meals and the benefits are getting even more important.

When to Rent?

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and want to escape winter – who wouldn’t? – a very good idea is to catch a cheap flight to Australia from December to February. Yes, it’s summer and prices are quite high but it sure beats the European or North American winters!

Here you can read more about the Weather in Australia.

What to Rent?

This can be quite a difficult question for most of us. If you don’t have any previous experience and you don’t quite trust the websites, try to decide what you want by asking some questions like: How many persons will be living together? Do we like to cook? What are our plans? Do we want luxury or just a decent place to stay?

Do pay attention when you read the house’s descriptions. Some might have a small kitchen with almost nothing in it, while other houses might have a really well equipped kitchen with anything from oven to microwave.

Houses located on the beach tend to be more expensive than those located in the forest or in the villages. Expect to pay about AUD 5500 per week for a 4 bedroom villa (sleeps 8 ) located right on the beach in Queensland. Also in Queensland, a 2 bedroom villa (sleeps 4) located in Kuranda costs AUD 770 per week.

Payment Issues

You can rent directly over the web or from the owner. Some of the properties listed only offer a link to email the owner with a reservation inquiry. In this case, it tends to be quite expensive because of the money transfers you will need to make overseas. Some other payment options might be available – hardly ever the credit card – and you will need to make the payment prior to arrival. If you decide to rent directly from the web, you can use your credit card hence paying much lower commissions than in the case of direct bank transfers.

• As an alternative to vacation rentals, why not look into house swapping?