MONEY: OK, there’s no getting around the fact that Australia is expensive when compared to the USA, and even the UK based on my recent sojourn.  This is especially true for daily spending on things we all take for granted like cheap fast food, coffee, booze and taxis.  To avoid sticker shock, I want to prepare for the worst so you can all just enjoy your time rather than having your mouth drop open when you’re told that’ll be a $4 latte!  American mates, it’s best just to work out the currency conversion as dollar-to-dollar when figuring if you can afford things (at the moment it’s about 0.91 cents US for every Aussie buck) as it gives a buffer for transaction fees and the slightly more comfortable feeling of getting back and having spent 10% less than you though 🙂

Not teaching any of you to suck eggs as I know you’ve all traveled but here are some tips that should help ease the sticker shock.

1. Try to minimize cash withdrawals as the ATMs can whack anything from $3-$7.50 as a one-time “you’re not our customer so fuck you” fee.  Aussie banks are pretty much all in cahoots on this so I’d recommend taking a chunkier lump sum and then splitting the dosh and stashing amounts away in various locations to avoid drama if a bag or wallet is lost or stolen (very unlikely but can obviously happen anywhere).
2. I recommend using an ATM at Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney airport as soon as you land from the international flight as sometimes the airport bus that transports you from the International to Domestic terminal has a charge ($5.50 in Sydney from memory) and sometimes don’t take cards.  This is a super stupid system and may be different now (I got caught out a few years ago with no cash and had to beg coins from other passengers to make my connecting flight which was a good look!) but just in case, be prepared with some of our hilarious, brilliantly colourful, “you can see exactly how much you’ve got even when drunk cause blue means $10, orange means $20 etc” and “don’t worry about putting it through the washing machine as it’s indestructible” currency notes.
3. Find out if your credit card company have a policy of not charging international transaction fees.  Chase United doesn’t, plus they have the awesome massive points bonus AND you can earn points while spending money on holidays.  If your provider doesn’t charge fees for overseas use, happy days!  If they do, consider doing a balance transfer to one that does, you can save a lot by using your credit card at every opportunity, however be mindful that some Aussie merchants have a minimum $10 charge before you can use plastic so you will still need to carry some cash for smaller purchases.

MEDICAL: Yankee mates, make sure y’all get full travel insurance for your visit.  Unfortunately the US don’t participate in the wonderful Reciprocal Health Care Agreement that Aussie’s and a bunch of other nations do, so if you’re unlucky and stub your toe while visiting you are going to be billed for any treatment you receive.  While medical care is MUCH cheaper Down Under than in the States, a trip to a general doctor for something not too serious is $40-$80 plus the cost of medications (definitely less than a short-term policy); a visit to the emergency room could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  UK friends, feel free to do whatever physical damage and repair work you like, it’s on us 🙂

While not the most exciting series of posts, I’m going to start providing nuggets of logistical information here that should prove to be helpful, money-saving and most importantly, stress-eliminating factoids for your trip Down Under (which is approximately 15 weeks away for most of you, if you can believe that).  This first one is the least interesting and possibly most important… getting in.

VISAS: although we (Aussie’s, Poms and Yanks) are all part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) where we can all pop by to visit each other for up to 90 days with a valid passport that is at least six months away from expiring (double check this one as it is a bitch to navigate if you discover this fun fact in transit), there is apparently now a requirement for an extra step in the process.  There are lots of places to get information on this (here for example) however between Anni and my sleuthing it looks like the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is the one and you can apply for that online here for a AUS$20 fee anytime up to 72 hours prior to departure.  There is no label or stamp, it’s all electronic.  Don’t pay any more than the $20 to a third-party, this is a super easy thing to do and the linked site is the official government one.

TassiePalooza_Sydney Trip Flip pitch

TassiePalooza_Trip Flip Tassie pitch

The links to the PDFs above should give an idea of things you might want to do if you’re arriving earlier, staying later or spending time in Sydney.  Bear in mind that both of these pitches were for a luxury travel show I was working on a few years ago so some of the activities are “high budget”, some won’t be on (Sculptures By The Sea sadly) and some won’t be possible to arrange personally.  Some things listed are free though, like checking out our life savers bums on Bondi Beach!  Quite a few of the activities in the Tassie brief are already being covered as part of our planned fun times however there are some extra bits in there I’d forgotten about that might be fun if folk have time.  Bear in mind both were written for TV Executives so are designed for the short-attention span 🙂

Then here they are!  Click ze link below ma dahlinks.

26 more good reasons…