Australia Summer 2011- when should I buy tickets

aah

Hi there

OH and I are hoping to go to Australia in the summer - he is a schoolteacher so we have to go in late July or August, we hope to go for three weeks and visit Brisbane and Albany where we have family. We'd also like to see Sydney so thats a lot of travelling.

I wonder if anyone could advise on the best way to do this - what sort of tickets to buy and also when to buy for best prices.

We're travelling from Newcastle upon Tyne by the way.

Any help or advice from experts / seasoned travellers out there would be most welcome.

Many thanks
A.

eamon

I would be tempted to book everything today and avoid the extra VAT. However the flights I've seen today seem to be expensive for that time of the year however the pound is currently weak against most currencies so that may explain that.

Have a look at these links and don't forget to visit your local travel agent. My top tips are to make sure that your luggage is checked in from your departure airport all the way to your destination. You do not want the hassle of unneccesary visits to luggage reclaim. If you have to change aircraft (at Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur) and there is enough time check into one of the "executive" lounges (not expensive) and get shower and something to eat (included in the price). Pack slippers in your hand luggage, don't forget to wear the anti blood clot socks, don't be afraid to do some exercise on the flights (I walked quite a bit and done a lot of stretching routines, got some funny looks). Don't pack too much, there are shops in Oz.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-flights#brokers
http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/ncl/bne/110728/110818/airfares-from-newcastle-to-brisbane-in-july-2011-and-august-2011.html
http://www.kayak.co.uk/r/Iurzec?force=remaining&clienttimeout=true&streamerr=ERROR:+UNKNOWN+ERROR

Eamon

P.S You will need a visa check the Oz embassy for information

http://www.australia.com/articles/planning_a_trip.aspx

Westin

There is NO VAT on air travel (yet - don't tell the Government).

I would still probably book now as most travel companies seem to have a sale on or will offer very good deals thru end of January.

Both BA and Virgin have sales on at the moment.

You might be better looking at Emirates for a flight from a northern airport into Brisbane and out from Sydney.

JustWonderful

Hey

I went last year to Perth, we went late June and didnt book until March/April, and the price was VERY reasonable...

Personally, I found trying to book complicated things such as a trip like yours, or what we did, with a 4 day stop in Dubai on the way through, online very difficult to find a good deal, so we popped into Thomas Cook who were very helpful, and found as a superb deal- we found flights for 2 adults+1 child at approx £2600, in the end we booked the flights AND a 4 night stay in the Atlantis Palm in Dubai with Half Board for £2400!

And I would definitely recommend a stopver in a place like Dubai- it wont be much more expensive and is so worth it!

Sorry for the rambling post hope it makes sense