I would like to "pick the minds" of fellow Fodorites who have been to Australia during high season. I have a college student who goes to a school that is on a 4-1-4 schedule. They offer international trips during the one month(January) that you go and get one credit for. My daughter has asked if it would be possible for her to go on a trip for 24 days to Australia that has her major within the trip. They would fly from the east coast to Sydney,go up to Great Barrier reef,down to rain forests of New south Wales,study Aborigine culture,etc. for the time period. Everything is included except her lunches/dinners,spending money. Does anyone else think that $5700.00USD is high or do you think that is about right with the college credit? Thanks for any info !

The 24 days comes out to about $230/day - so I hope they'll be putting them up in very good hotels.

I just checked my records and our trip including air (Int'l & intra-country), transfers, hotels, tours, meals not included and souvenirs (travel end-Nov/beg-Dec) - only cost $220/day for a 16-day trip and we stayed in either 4.5* or 5* hotels.

With the exchange rate, meals shouldn't be expensive and there are MdDonald's on just about every street corner in SYD, if it comes to a tight budget.

But not knowing the exact itinerary, mode of travel (air or road) - who can say? But do keep in mind that January is high-season which probably effects the price.

See what other posters think!

January is a high season but not for the GBR - as its the low season there and there are many holiday places throughout Australia which means that usually the prices are pretty competitive anyway. I live near the Gold Coast which is the major holiday destination in Australia and the prices at that time of year are really very good and there is always availability - I used to have my own B&B and really we never regarded January as the high season unless you are on the beach.
I think that the price is a bit high unless everything is being done 5 star.
Thats my 2 cents worth though and others may have other ideas.

I think that's high. My hubby and I did 21 days for $8K and that included all airfare, meals, souveners, etc..

But depending on how much tuition is..then you have to add that in. What is 1 credit worth at her school?

I seem to have lost my last response-sorry? Anyway,my husband was in the Air Force during Vietnam and says that the area up in the GBR can get extremely hot(he said it was always around 110F )when he was there and he thinks that it would be quite uncomfortable out in a boat or beach doing marine science stuff. She will not be staying at " ya-ya" hotels as they are in a group of 15 students and 1 professor. It just seems really high for a university tour but that is why I wanted some imput from others who have gone and what they have paid. The university credit doesn't really figure into the equation as they figure it as a "global or environmental" requirement.Anyone else have any thoughts? Thanks!

In addition to your daughter's travel expenses, they are probably charging you for the chaperone/professor's time and travel expenses. That could account for some of the extra cost.

there are many colleges and universities that do this sort of trip. Why not do a search on the Web and see what other programs charge for similar itineraries?

G'day Dutyfree,
that's AU$ 8,820 - seems pretty high to me. Even without the fligh it's still around AU$ 315 per day !!!!
I take people on 23 day tours for just over half of that, all inclusive!
Maybe I should offer my services to some of the US Colleges

I would also as Linsey suggested do a search to find out what other programs charge for that type of trip.

A couple of years ago I took a group of 14 US Girl Guides on a tour, from memory that worked out at AU$ 164 per day, all inclusive.

Ignoring the money side of it, I'm sure that your daughter will have some great experiences, especially if it includes interaction with Aborigines.

Cheers, Mike.