Travelling on a budget doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun or adventure – in fact, it often leads to more fulfilling and memorable holiday experiences. Budget-friendly travel is all about being strategic, creative and making the most of what you have. Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing beach getaway, an adventurous city break or an immersive cultural vacation, there’s no shortage of holiday options that are low in cost but high in experience. Check out our top travel tips for an adventure that won’t break the bank.
Plan ahead, but stay flexible
Planning is key to budget-friendly holidays. You can usually maximise savings by booking flights, accommodation and transport well in advance. However, to snag the best deals you need to be flexible with travel dates. Try to avoid travelling on weekends or during school holidays, and instead opt for off-peak days when airlines and hotels offer lower rates.
Travel with a group
One of the best travel tips to be savvy with your money on holiday is to travel with friends or family. Group travel allows you to split costs on the more expensive parts of travelling like accommodation and transport. Airtrain offers discounts for group travel, like our $16pp fare for travel between Brisbane Airport and Brisbane City. Even if you’re travelling solo, look for opportunities to join group tours or activities which often provide lower prices compared to booking individually.
Find free activities
Just because you’re on a budget-friendly holiday doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. With a bit of research and speaking with locals you can discover a whole world of free or low-cost activities at your destination, whether that’s walking tours and hiking trails, historical sites and parks, or museums and festivals.
Eat like a local
Avoid the price mark-up of dining at touristy spots; instead, save money by eating like the locals. Head to street food markets, local cafes and neighbourhood restaurants for authentic local cuisine at a fraction of the cost. Another of our top travel tips to stick to a budget on holiday is to book accommodation with kitchen facilities, so that you can shop for local produce and cook some meals yourself.
Make Airtrain part of your next budget-friendly holiday
Whether you’re travelling to Brisbane or returning home, you can count on our reliable and affordable service to travel between Brisbane Airport and Brisbane City, or to your final stop on the Gold Coast.
With journeys from Brisbane Airport departing every 15 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes off peak, you’ll be at your destination before you know it. Once on board, you will have a quick and comfortable journey from Brisbane Airport to Brisbane City in just 20 minutes or from Brisbane Airport to Helensvale Station in as little as 90 minutes. Once you’re on the Gold Coast, it’s easy to get around with the extensive network of trains, buses and G:link trams.
Get around easily with a go card – just touch on at your departure station then touch off when you arrive at your destination. The go card is accepted on all Translink transport, including Airtrain, throughout Greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
Smart Ticketing is also available on Airtrain, making your journey easier than ever before! With the world-class Smart Ticketing system, you can simply tap and travel with Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
