Oh lordy, I just wrote a lengthy rant in response to this thread and decided to delete it because in general I'm usually much more polite than the aforementioned rant would indicate.

So instead I'll just say that sweeping generalizations based on assumptions are unfair and often inaccurate.

China is a great deal cheaper than Australia, NZ and the USA and again probably because of cheap labour and the economy of scale.
Anita I rarely, if ever, stay in 5 star Chain hotels and mostly stay in B&Bs which are remarkably cheaper in Australia compared with the USA. Also our Pubs offer fantastic accommodation prices AND cheap and good food - the latter is also cheap in the many, many Service and Sports clubs around Australia. We answer questions as they are put to us. If someone wants a hotel near Circular Quay then I have always suggested The Russell Hotel which has about the best situation you can get BUT does not have a lift for its 3 floors or whatever. So what price a lift? Usually Americans do not want to know about hotels that do not have lifts or massages or spas nor has my suggestion been taken up very many times about the best food and eating location in Sydney being The Botanical Gardens near Mrs Macquarie's Chair & eating a hamper from David Jones the Department Store and having a bottle of something great for about $10 a bottle from the BWS bottle shop. Great price, great food, great wine and the best view in town!!!!!!!!! Taco Bell or Dell could be cheaper but I doubt it has changed to gourmet food yet. If you want the best cheese in Australia then go for King Island cheese and you cannot go wrong with any wine with grapes grown in Margaret River W.A., Barossa Valley S. A., Yarra Valley Victoria or Hunter Valley in N.S.W. There are many more places but those will do for a start. If you don't ask the questions regarding cheaper prices you won't get the answers you want.

Melnq8 - We do care about the tourist things in our own backyard but there are so many times that I have suggested places to go instead of ones that are written up in " 1000 things to do before you die" or Frommers or Fodors only to be flamed because I don't agree with those publications or people who have followed those publications. In most cases the writers on this forum who live in Australia are widely travelled throughout the World as well as in this region and have had time and many visits to various places to make evaluations on the different areas. When we suggest a place which is different from the usual, or not in the Publications, it is because it offers a better attraction for both money and/or ease of getting there or indeed value in terms of unique Australiana. The times I have suggested a particular place only to have man and his dog write in and say that they had been to such and such a place and it was wonderful and the poster should go there come what may. I don't bother much any more and it is no skin of my nose if people go to places which cost far more than others I could have suggested.

Hi Lizzy -

My comment wasn't directed at any country in particular, I was just trying to point out that visitors and residents often have different criteria.

Where the heck is the OP by the way?

Melnq8; OP can be a lot of things -
O. P. depending on the context

other planet........ trekkies
Original poster...... fodors
Old prick........ in laws
other party ........ legal
over proof ......... usually Rum
opportunity plus.... sex if young & keen

to name just a handful.
Yes I know you were generalizing but it was a good opportunity to get in my whinge anyway.

LizzieF,
From your list:
Maybe 2 is an 3 from 1 who's indulging in a little 4 hoping for some 5.

Oops - should have been:

2, a 3 from 1, indulging in 5 hoping for 6 with 4.

you crack me up Bokara

Perhaps if the original poster told us more about budget dental work we may be more likely to impart information about budget travel.

A note to Neil and Afterall --

you mentioned our short vacation time (Neil) and Afterall remarked on the 12-day vacation scenario.....

Guess what? Tourism Australia's just told us Specialists of their new marketing program which is aimed at the West Coast -- AUSTRALIA IN A WEEK.

I'm not kidding. We're assured by them that demographics show that "people are taking shorter vacations" and "this will appeal to the same clients who visit Europe" -

(hello? I've never had a client in 16 years who told me they wanted to go to Europe for a week!) Maybe if you're flying to London or Paris from the East Coast.

By the way, if anyone's reading this from the Bay Area, the ads are due to start running during "Australia Week" and will be on Channel 5 starting at 7PM on Saturday, Feb. 23rd.

Ay yi yi.

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Melodie -

As if people don't rush around enough. Yikes.

Melnq,

I think it's one of the dumber things I've heard recently (makes me wonder how much they paid for this "demographic study&quot - I could probably take a tape recorder and wander around the mall asking people "would you fly all the way to Australia for just a week?" and get a more accurate response!

Melodie

that creep did not even have the guts to answer....it is making problems on the asia forum as well

Not seen YOU here before, rhkkmk.

I agree it's a shame that the OP has not returned. But I would never call him/her a "creep"

I'd say it was a very pertinent question. Of course, you are beyond budget; only the the best hotels will do.

I feel sorry for you.

Okay.... I'm back.
Call me a 'creep', but I had to take off for a 2 week family related issue - don't ask please.

Already have the flights - jumped on the direct Vancouver to Sydney flight through Air Canada. Very reasonable at $1200 return, and the MAIN THING IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH LA OR SAN FRAN


We have a Stayz.com Sydney rental just off Broadway, at a very reasonable price, for the month of May..... took a while, but it is done.

Bought two Virgin Blue sale fares for trips outside Sydney . Budget Airfares within Australia are ridiculously cheap with Virgin Blue and/or Jetstar.

This is a great site.
A lot of great info.

Stayz and Virgin Blue are absolutely great assets to know about , if you are going to visit Australia. But hardly ever mentioned here. Do what most Australians do, and that is to jump all over budget deals through these guys.

Delighted you have returned, guaranteed. And chuffed you have found somewhere to stay that suits.

Fodors isn't a place for travellers. People here think they travel but all they do is hop from one five star to another and take photos to show the folks back home.

Some of them think they are being incredibly adventurous - "Bangkok is my favorite place" - but then, they've never been anywhere else.

Hope you have a fantastic time.

Completely off-topic, but knowing that there are Americans who have the intelligence and/or education, or maybe just the desire, to travel is something to set against my overall impression that the US is a basket case. You are still ruling the world - but given the eppalling ignorance or the population do you think you should be?

Dear Afterall,
I am Canadian not American.
I love being a Canadian in Australia, because when I walk into any RSL in Australia, and present my Canadian Passport, I get Carte Blanche. The Commonwealth concept still does exist at RSL's.
It's all about being able to talk to real Australians , who will gladly give you advice re fishing golf or whatever you want to know about.