Australia- Help??

sweetpeas_2

Hiya,
I am looking for a 2/3 week holiday for our Wedding Anniversary. It is a complete suprise for my husband and I would be stashing money away for a long time without his knowing in order to cover the total price plus spending money.

My DH has always fancied Australia, and I wondered if anyone had been over there- which place is best to stay, which places best to visit, who is best to book through etc etc.

I would like to maybe re-new our wedding vows while we are there as well, and my DH is a bit of a snorkelling fan and would enjoy doing a bit whilst over there.

There are 2 adults and 2 children, but we would most likely go with my mum and dad also.

Any ideas anybody?

Many thanks

Nog x

Incapuppy

I would recommend looking at the website of a specialist such as Austravel or Travelbag for starters. Mercury Direct's brochure offers what seem at first glance some reasonably priced holidays featuring some apartment based stays rather than hotels if you would prefer that but then again this is probably something that the specialists can help you with too.

Good luck with the planning, it is a dream destination of mine too but would mean us foregoing ordinary holidays for a few years in order to achieve it and I'm not sure I have the willpower for that at the moment x

continualdiamond

Im from Australia, Perth in fact. So i will be biased in saying visit Perth. I love it, i love the city as its surrounded by the swan river. Kings park is also a great visit, its up really high and then you can look right at the city/river. I also love Fremantle, Freo as we call it. Hillarys is also fab, shops and more shops surrounded by the ocean, it has a little friendly beach with play equiptment, then a massive wall that then the other side of it is the real ocean. Its full of nice resturants as well.

The swan valley is also nice and they have good priced places to stay. Has winerys and a chocolate factory, all surrounded by the bush. I always book via the Qantas website.

I grew up as a child in Adelaide, South Australia. But i don't think it has as much to offer as Perth, Western Australia. I visited Melbourne, Victoria as a child and i loved sovenior hill, in which you mine for gold and its old setting, will mills and a school where you write with a feather, all the people are dressed up and the shops are set just as they would of been all those years and years ago.

I hope that was some little help, might give you some names to search for online to look at yourself.

sweetpeas_2

hi incapuppy,
it will mean us forgetting holidays for a few years as well. it will be difficult as i will have to think of something convincing to tell dh as he doesnt know im condisering aus.

it may quite well be just a dream for me as well, no harm in getting some good info and investigating though is there

thanks for the info i will try out the two companies you suggested xxx

th

Incapuppy

Hi Nog

I know you have said you want to do it as a surprise - that is a lovely idea - but I can see that it might be difficult to stash that much money away in secret whilst insisting that you can't afford a holiday.

Just an idea - and I know it is the opposite of the surprise that you would like to spring - but if it looks affordable why not get the whole family in on it from the beginning? That way you can plan it together and look forward to it together and to me that part of the holiday stage is really exciting and enjoyable too x

richardw

noggin wrote: »

I would be stashing money away for a long time without his knowing in order to cover the total price plus spending money.

Does it have to be a surprise?

Consider if it is good for the family to forego future holidays just to pursue this dream holiday.

tanith

Australia has been my dream destination for 10yrs and I even have the money saved , BUT my OH is a non-flyer and I have yet to pluck up the courage to go alone... its such a shame and I know I could go on an escorted tour but they want so much money for the single supplement... :eek:

I will read the thread with great interest , and see what all the suggestions are.. I am so jealous that your whole family will be involved what a lovely idea... but I too think they would all love to be 'in' on the planning of it too...

sweetpeas_2

I think you are all quite right, were talking about a good few thousands of pounds and it would be a lot easier if i could enlist the help of DH to save.
I could add my suprises in at a later date by booking the snorkelling and arranging re newing of vows without DH knowing...

Thanks for all your advice, i will involve DH and kiddie winks now and enjoy the build up together x

Incapuppy

I think if you organised a renewal of vows as a surprise that would be a lovely, special thing to do - really romantic x

PS: I'll stop waffling now and let some people with some proper advice get a word in ;0)

Incapuppy

Have a look at the Travel Index sticky at the top of the page - there are links to all sorts of useful info on there ;0)

tanith

I just had an excellent idea for another 'surprise':eek: I have arranged for this complete stranger (me:rotfl: ) to tag along on our 'once in a lifetime holiday) :rotfl: D'ya think they'd mind?:eek: