Domestic & International Travel

When you mention the word ‘travel’ to most Australians, their first thought is most likely to focus on jetting off overseas. Being focused on heading abroad, we don’t always take the time to appreciate what’s right on our doorstep.

Aside from the odd trip to another state capital and family holidays to the coast or country, Ozzies hardly venture further than a few hundred kilometers from home. This is strange when you think of the vast numbers of international backpackers that come here every year. Hearing their stories of Uluru, the Great Barrier Reef and Devil’s Marbles is almost like learning about a foreign country - the mythical Australia that only tourists visit.
This is not to say that you have to explore your own backyard before you head overseas. But at least when planning your next trip, check your options. Domestic travel offers a different experience to discovering foreign shores, but it can be just as fulfilling.

Culturally, international travel is always going to offer a more diverse experience than staying local. Being in a foreign country allows you to discover a language, currency and customs that are utterly different to what you’re used to. But you might be surprised at the variety you can find right here. The conversations you’ll have over a beer with blokes in the Top End will be worlds apart from those you have while sipping coffee in a Melbourne street cafe. While you might think that all Australians are essentially ‘alike’, travel does tend to dispel such preconceptions.

In terms of cost, staying local has the advantage of avoiding a massive airfare. Even heading all the way from Sydney to Margaret River is only going to set you back a few hundred dollars if you find cheap airfares on the net. You’ll also save on travel insurance. You’ll be surprised at the number of direct insurance providers that offer highly discounted rates for domestic travel insurance. This offers fantastic peace of mind should your valuables go missing or your flight is delayed or cancelled.

But of course there are advantages to taking your Aussie dollar elsewhere. In some international destinations, essentials like accommodation and food are outrageously cheap. Although in others it’ll cost you a small fortune just to use the loos. The biggest deciding factor for you may be time. If you only have a couple of weeks off work it’s hard to squeeze in an international flight without coming home feeling as though you’ve left your brain back in Tokyo. If you have slightly longer you’ll be able to relax and get to know a location.

Consider the amount of time you have. An international holiday is often action packed with a new city every other day and always something to see and do. But if you’re limited to a few leisurely days to soak up the sun, you may as well head to Byron or the Whitsundays.

If you have the opportunity to travel both within Australia & abroad a number of times a year, you may want to check out annual multi trip travel insurance. Again, with direct travel insurance you are able to save yourself a small fortune. Annual multi trip insurance costs around $300 - $400 per year and with some companies, is assurance that you are covered whether travelling overseas or within Australia, for leisure or for business. With annual multi insurance, you can take a number of spontaneous trips throughout the year and not have to concern yourself with applying for travel insurance every time.

For some of us, the thought of heading overseas has an allure that a domestic holiday will never match. Everyone should experience international travel in their lifetime. But the funny thing is, you might find that getting out of the country is just the thing to kick start your desire to really discover Australia. If for no other reason than you’re sick of foreigners knowing more about your country than you do.