Sydney & Cairns from $1499
 

I would like to here your opinion about this package. Is it cheaper and better to put it all together by myself?

Package Inclusions
? Roundtrip Economy Class air from Los Angeles
? Add-on airfares available from other cities
? All domestic air in Australia
? 8 nights accommodation: 4 in Sydney, 4 in Cairns

Sightseeing Options
Add some of the most popular excursions Oz has to offer. All include roundtrip coach transfers between the airport and your hotel in these cities.
? Sydney: 1/2 day city tour
? Cairns: Full day rainforest tour with lunch
? Full day Great Barrier Reef tour with lunch

Thank you

You do't mention time of year for this trip. But it's not unusual that bare bottom airfare from LAX to SYD is under $1,000. So you also have the r/t air to Cairns and hotels for you time in OZ. Though at that price, I am certain these are not 5* hotels, probably 3*. And with this package, all your transfers to/from airports/hotels are included.

Do you get any meals with this package, at least breakfast? If you want to knock yourself and see if you can do better, be my guest; but I wouldn't bother - unless you don't like the hotels. If this is the case, find out how much the charge would be to upgrade.

As to the optional tours - the Rainforest and GBR are both good. As to the 1/2 day city tour in SYD, is a toss up. We didn't feel we needed a tour to figure out where we were, what to see, where to go.

Within one day we were telling a taxi driver how to get to our hotel, and the driver lives in SYD. It's a very easy city to navigate.

I am planing to go on 05/31/2004 and this is what I am looking at. It is for a 3 star hotel and I was also wondering if those are any good? Is Marriot consider to be a 3 star hotel?

http://syd.australia.com/deals/HYE_q...?L=en&C=US
Here is another good one..
http://syd.australia.com/deals/HYE_q...?L=en&C=US

I checked the first site you listed and it looks good. While I didn't notice the specific hotels, you mention Marriott. This package might have this particular Marriott as a 3*, but the star system is different in each country and even between properties of the same chain.

I would only ask where the hotels (both in Sydney & Cairns) where exactly they are located (what neighborhood/area). Cairns is so small, that I do't really thing it matters much. Sydney, on the otherhand, while larger - there are some areas I would avoid, so check here. As close as you can get the hotel to the Quay (waterfront) is best, as most sights are within easy walking.

The extra price of $355 for the tours is fine as the full-day trips can easily set you back $100+/day (which does include lunch). And the extra $110 for breakfast each day is also a good idea, unless you don't eat breakfast and would prefer to pay as you go at the hotel, or pick up something on the street. And do remember that on top of the $1499 are the airport taxes (I don't recall the figure)

Since the package has been put together by Qantas, I don't think you can do better on your own. To determine that, check with Qantas for the airfare (and taxes) only LAX-SYD-CNS-SYD-LAX for your dates. And check the hotels for their best daily rates. Remember also the package includes your transfers - I believe trying to put the package together on your own will be more expensive.

Okay-desperation time! Would you spend (and go into poverty)for the last family vacation almost $3,000 USD apiece to do a Qantas Vacation package for next month (high season)?The two college kids are off for the first 3 weeks and the hubs and myself are off also.I feel like it is one of those"trip of a lifetime" trips? The trip starts off cheaper but by the time you add the high season fare for hotels, then another $500 for the sightseeing options it gets up to about $3000 which seems REALLY high.I have never done a vacation package(always have booked everything myself) and because of health problems in the future I feel as though we should go and enjoy despite the hugh cost and what we will be giving up for other things. Any thoughts and PLEASE be nice!

Forgot to add that the trip is for 4 days in Sydney,4 in Cairns, 4 in Adelaide and Kangeroo Island with airfare from Lax and air in Australia and all hotels and transfers with some tours.

The best thing that you can do, unfortunately is to take some time, sit down, (I did this with a spread sheet in Excel) and compare the two prices side by side, one for the package and one if you do it by yourself. Include all inner australia flights, hotels..(be sure you look up the hotels listed in the package) and those add ons, make sure that the add ons that come with the package are all that you want them to be.. (small groups, reputable companies etc). Add all these things up (you may want to value in the time that you will spend booking your own hotels and arranging your own tours as well) and then you can make a fair determination of whether or not it is worth it to buy the package. I actually just went through this process.. sounds like the same package.. the Quantas Have you ever promotion to K.I, Cairns and Sydney. I ended up going with the package.. because I bought it through a US rep and it is paid in US dollars.. so the price won't keep going up and up as the exchange rate goes down and down.. also, the tour company gets your visitor's visa, (it's included) and that's $50.00 per person.

I haven't had much luck trying to respond to this for the last 3 days-AOL is just not doing it for me? Anyway, the tour that I am interested in is the 4 days,Sydney,4 days Cairns and the Adelaide with Kangeroo Island. Did you use a local travel agent or did you book it online? I have been waiting for Qantas to call me back on the vacation but no replies yet.Thra-when are you planning on going?I am such a "travel junkie" that I am willing to let the driveway sink another year and wait to ever have my kitchen redone!!! Thanks for any information that you can share on this!

Hello There, actually I heard about the promotion from Australia.com newsletter, I called an 800 number listed on the email newsletter and that directed me to a "Quantas Preferred" travel agent, (whatever that means).. or maybe it was "Australia Expert" something along those lines. In any event, I ended up with a company in San Jose, named Down Under Answers, who has, so far proven informative, and easy to deal with.. we don't leave until September '04, however, when I saw the prices listed I just had to book.. Our visit is timed to coincide with my 40th birthday, and because of that, I added on some really substantial upgrades, (3nights at Silky Oaks lodge in the Daintree Rainforest) for example that really pushes the price up, however, P and O who owns Silk oaks, is owned by or partnered with Quantas, so I did end up getting a price break,,, (price break on a REALLY expensive place, mind you).. but hey, it's my birthday. I will be very interested in what you decide to do, and how this ends up working out for you. In terms of your drive way.. yeah, I know what you mean.. let the darn thing sink.. maybe it will go down at the same time as my rotting bathroom floor!! Oh,, but who needs flooring when you have seen the Great Barrier Reef??? lol.. keep me updated.

Thyra-thanks for your info.I called the 800 number yesterday but they still have not gotten back to me as to whether they have openings for next month or not.(I had emailed and also left a message on their answering machine so I am sure they think that I am stalking them?)The agent about dies when I said that I was interested in the trip in two weeks-well see what happens?Did they ever send you a detailed description as to what you do every day in terms of destinations? She did ask me if I wanted to start in Adelaide or Sydney-I chose Sydney after that long flight. Our family may still end up in Europe or the Carribean? I hate this last minute stuff!

Hey There, sorry your not getting a response. Yes, they did send me a detailed itinerary.. it had to be fairly specific as the big goal of this trip is to spend my time at Silky Oaks ON my actual birthday, so we are starting out in Adelaide.. then Cairns then ending up in Sydney.. As I haven't yet taken my trip.. I can't vouch for the end result, however, I have been pleased with the responsiveness I have gotten from my travel agent so far. Did you try calling the company I am using below? I have included the email of our contact as well. It never hurts to try.
Let me know how it progresses. (Sorry they are in Washington, NOT San Jose)

[email protected]

Martin Richardson
Down Under Answers
400 - 108th Ave. N.E., Suite 604
Bellevue, WA 98004 USA
Phone: 1-800-788-6685