Planning a Vacation to Australia

Carefully planning your vacation to Australia is a good idea. Even before deciding which exciting places to visit in Australia, there are mundane practical matters that you should know. As with any overseas travel, you will want to know what travel documents you'll need; if there are any mandatory vaccinations needed, and what the currency is. Since it's a very long plane ride you'll also want to research airlines and airfare. This article will help to answer some of these concerns.

Travel guides are your best friends.

You can find the answers to most of your questions in a variety of travel guide books. Two excellent sources are Frommer and Lonely Planet travel guides. Much of the information for this article was gleaned from Frommer's Adventure Guides: Australia and New Zealand. There are many web sites that offer additional information some of which I have cited at the end of this article. I also have access to first hand information as my daughter is living in Australia. Hopefully, my research will answer your questions and save you time from having to do your own searches.

Travel Documents

Besides a passport you will need a visa or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority.) With an ETA you can spend up to three months in Australia. It is the equivalent to a visa but you do not get a stamp on your passport. An ETA can be obtained through a travel agent, the airlines or online through Internet Visa Services Australia. The charge is $20 AUS and must be put on your credit card. For a stay longer than 3 months you will need a visa.

Health Concerns and Currency

There are no mandatory vaccinations needed for travel in Australia. It is a good idea to check with your doctor and make sure that your vaccinations are up to date. Especially important is to be current on your tetanus shot.

Australian currency is the dollar (A$1) and comes in notes similar to the U.S. dollar, A$100, A$50, A$20, A$10 and A$5. Coins come in denominations of AU$2, AU$1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents. The value of the Australian dollar to the U.S. dollar is approximately A$1=$0.91 U.S. There are web sites for checking on the current value which changes on a daily basis. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted and American Express to a lesser degree.

A Long Flight

It is roughly a 20 hour flight to Australia. If your trip is originating on the east coast of the U.S., it is highly recommended by my daughter that you fly to Los Angeles first and spend an overnight. Departing from Los Angeles makes the flight more manageable. Between the time change and the time spent in airports the round trip flight will eat up 2 days of your vacation. Quantas is the official airline of Australia and my daughter reports that the service is excellent. The seasons in Australia are the opposite of the United States. Peak tourism season is October through February, which is summer in Australia. Flights are expensive but deals can be found especially if you are willing to travel during the off season.

Now that preparations have been made the fun part begins, deciding what to do and see in Australia. Anyone I've spoken to who has visited Australia has raved about it. Having visited it once, many say they would move there. My daughter did. Whatever you choose to see and do, I don't think you can go wrong.

Sources:
1. Frommer's Adventure Guides Australia and New Zealand
2. http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAAus2En.html
3. http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1&From=AUD&To=USD&image.x=49&image.y=11&im
4. http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1&From=AUD&To=USD&image.x=49&image.y=11&im
5. http://www.destination360.com/australia-south-pacific/australia/airlines-to-australia