A reef trip, a family holiday or a stop on the way north. Holiday prices across Australia, quarter by quarter for ten years, and the questions worth asking before you book.
The price, ten years on
Domestic holiday travel and accommodation, across Australia, from the ABS Consumer Price Index. The class holds holiday travel within Australia, such as fares and package charges, as well as hotel and motel stays.
June 2016$100
June 2026$152
$136Everything a household buys, over the same years
Up over ten years, by more than everything a household buys.
$100$120$140$160$152$136
20162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Domestic holiday travel and accommodationAll groups CPI, everything a household buys
Booking a hotel in Cairns. The first half is what to look for yourself. Put the second half to each place you try.
Look for
The full price for your datesThe room rate plus any fees, for the exact nights you want.
Where it sits on the mapHow far it is from the places you plan to spend your days.
Guests' own photosPictures from people who stayed, beside the hotel's own.
What the room hasBeds, air conditioning, a kitchen or a balcony, and what is shared.
The booking termsRead what happens if your plans change, before you pay.
Ask
01What is in the rate, and what costs extra?Breakfast, parking, a cot, early check in or late check out.
02What happens if we change or cancel the booking?Ask by which date, and how much of what you paid comes back.
03Which room would we get?Ask for a photo of that room type, and which floor or view it has.
04Is anything nearby noisy at night or early in the morning?Building work, a late venue, a busy road.
05Can we leave bags before check in or after check out?Handy when flights land early or leave late.
06How do guests get to the places we plan to go?Shuttles, parking, walking routes, tour pick ups.
From cairnshotel.com.au, a concept page.
Choosing where to stay
Decide first what the days are for. A base for early tour pick ups wants to be close to where they start; a week by the pool can sit further out and cost less.
Read guests' recent comments for the things that matter to you, such as quiet, cleanliness or the walk into town, and give less weight to the rest.
Asking each place the same questions
Put the same questions to every place and write the answers side by side. A low room rate can end up costing more once parking and breakfast are added, and a list of answers shows it at a glance.
Keep a copy of the booking terms you agreed to, with the date by which a change can still be made.
Shows whether a business's ABN is active or cancelled, its business type and its GST status, and the Register says the public can use it to check a business before buying.