Everyone seems to be going to Australia
 

My mom and I went to book our trip to Australi and we couldn't get on the dates we wanted to go, January 23rd week at all. Just one seat left unless you pay for the more expensive ones. <BR>We got on January 28th. <BR>The travel lady phoned and told my mom that everyone is booking to go to Australia. <BR>I guess since others places are cancelling, they are going to Australia as that is a safe place. <BR>Our tour that we were going to take to Thailand got cancelled in November. So Australia here we come. <BR> <BR>anyone else having that problem, too, finding out seats are hard to get unless you go business or first class which is too expensive for us.

Welcome to Australia in advance. We hope that all the predictions are correct and that we are safe here, together with anyone else. <BR>Shame you will be missing the Australia day celebrations as that is a big thing in Sydney. <BR>Have fun! <BR>

the fares seem to be so high. anyone got any information to share on a reasonable fare. Paid $800. 18 months ago and now the fares are around $1200.

We're travelling from the UK on December 24th for £820 return, including up to 5 free internal flights. (£400 cheaper on 24th than the few weeks before then). I don't think that's a bad price. <BR>However we started looking in April and had a very limited choice of flights! As it is we are taking 2 flights with 1 refuel on the way out, and 3 flights with a further 2 stops on the return. <BR> <BR>Australia - you'd better be worth it! <BR> <BR>(I have no doubt you will be - and I will see by best bud for the first time in 2.5 years.) <BR> <BR>bee <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Kathleen- January is summer and prime tourist season in Australia. Last year, I went through the same sticker shock and then decided to go in June instead. prices dropped from $1000+ to $700 +

Why not put a question to travel agents on this forum asking for prices. I did see something about consolidator prices and there were a number of Agents who answered that. Another thing to try is get an Australian Travel Agent to do the booking.

Even if your air tickets are a bit dearer than you thought they would be, bear in mind that the Aussie dollar is painfully low at the moment. The US dollar will buy two Aussie dollars, and the English pound buys three, so whatever costs you have here, they will be sharply reduced by the exchange rate. Meals are not expensive here so that is another saving.