It’s easy to feel distressed when you’re looking at how poorly the Australian Dollar is doing in some destinations.
Want to go to the United States, or the UK? You can look forward to bleeding money (while you load up on cheap carbs to fill the void).
The good news, of course, is that there are plenty of overseas destinations where the strong Aussie Dollar gives us more bang for our buck and lets us live like kings for a week or two.
READ MORE: The most beautiful towns in Australia revealed in new ranking
Why not pack your bags and head to…
Japan
True, the Land of the Rising Sun has always been considered an expensive country for many Australian travellers, but with the Aussie Dollar at a decade-long high against the Japanese Yen, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Japan is never going to be on par with Vietnam, Cambodia or Indonesia, but travel within the next few months and you’re likely to find decent accommodation in a ryokan for $50 a night, meals for less than $10, and beers for under $5, Remember too, that many attractions such as the country’s famous shrines, are largely free, and that it’s home to some of the best secondhand stores in the world.
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South Africa
We already know that a South African safari is infinitely cheaper than one in Kenya or Tanzania, but a city break in the likes of Cape Town or Johannesburg can be surprisingly affordable for Australians too.
Earmark the likes of Table Mountain, Robben Island and Kalk Bay; you can expect to pay less than $30 per night for slick hotel accommodation (yes, you read that correctly), around $35 -$40 for a decent dinner for two, enjoy a flat white for $2.50 or pick up a bottle of red for $6.
All that and the knowledge that many of the country’s attributes – those beaches and hiking trails – cost nothing at all.
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Sri Lanka
It always blows my mind that Sri Lanka isn’t right at the top of the travel wish list for Australians. It’s ridiculously affordable, for one thing, but it also offers the perfect holiday for every kind of traveller, whether you’re after a safari, a beach holiday, city colour and chaos or a rich history.
Now the peak tourist season here runs between December and April, so travel outside of that period and you’re likely to find solid accommodation options around the country from around $20 (granted this pricing is more inline with local homestays) to $40 for moderate hotels and you can enjoy a casual (and oh-so-delicious) bite from as little as $4.
Serviced by an extensive, economical network of trains and buses, getting around to all those beach towns and tea plantations is easy on the wallet too.
Philippines
Fiji may always have your heart, but those seeking this powder white sands and azure water should look further afield to the Philippines, which is quietly earning the admiration of few fans globally with each passing day.
Offering a blend of postcard perfect beach holidays (Boracay, for example), the vibrant city stays (Manilla, we see you), regular sale fares from the likes of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines sweeten the deal, provided you can jump online the minute a sale is announced (those tickets sell out quickly).
On the ground, Australians can expect to pay as little as $60 per night for a waterfront resort in Boracay, or something significantly less for a smaller property inland. You can feast on street foods for less than $2, enjoy restaurant meals for under $10 and book a local day tour for around $50.
Remember too that we’re talking Boracay pricing, some of the most expensive in the Philippines. Head anywhere else and you’re going to see those figures decrease even further.
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Vietnam
Like Bali, Vietnam can be one of those places where a person swears it’s not for them (even though they’ve never visited) but then can’t stop visiting again and again. It makes sense that the country would get under their skin of course – take a wealth of UNESCO World Heritage sites, surround them with luxury beach resort towns, lush mountain getaways and tranquil towns and add to that one of the world’s tastiest cuisines, and you’ve got the perfect base for a holiday. That’s without us even starting on the local tailoring industry which is frightfully cheap.
Although it’s recommended travellers visiting Vietnam budget for around $50 a day (less if you’re really budgeting), it can be helpful to know that a budget hotel stay can cost as little as $10 – $15 a day, a bowl of noodles or banh mi will average between $4 – $5 and a cup of Vietnamese coffee just two glorious bucks a pop.
Be sure to check out India, Fiji and somewhat surprisingly, New Zealand – all of which are currently offering great value for Aussie travellers.
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