Vacations of value
Check out these cheap getaways that are light on your wallet, but not on fun
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Features
Last update: 4/22/09 at 8:16 PM EST
Cairns, Australia
The lively, historic, picturesque city of Cairns is located in Far North Queensland on the northeastern coast of Australia.
Although the seasons in Australia are the opposite of our seasons, Cairns is like the San Diego of Australia: the weather is beautiful year-round with average "winter" temperatures of 80 degrees.
May marks the end of the wet season, as well as the stinger season, which means no red flags will keep you from swimming in the gorgeous South Pacific Ocean, home to none other than the Great Barrier Reef.
Sites like reeftrip.com or divingdownunder.com boast thrilling opportunities to take a helicopter tour, cruise the outer reef or even learn how to dive or snorkel along the largest coral reef in the world.
Although the reef is the main draw, and Cairns is ranked as one of the safest and fastest growing tourist spots in Australia, it also boasts a bursting nightlife to explore after your relaxing days in the southern sun. Cairnsattractions.com is a simple and straightforward guide to your long list of Aussie options, including nightclubs, casinos and golf courses, as well as one-of-a-kind attractions like the Night Zoo or a rainforest horseback ride.
But bear in mind: traveling to the other end of the world won't be a short trip - or a cheap one. Especially booking this close to travel, flights will average 35 hours and hover around $2,000.
Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive options for accommodations in Cairns. Plus, if you use sites like Travelocity.com to plan a trip that includes your flight and accommodation, your entire trip can ring in at under $2,000.
No matter what, the view and list of things to do "Down Under" make it worth every Aussie dollar. Speaking of which, keep in mind that the exchange rate will work in your favor for this trip. Sites boasting accommodations for 50 bucks per night could actually be 50 Aussie bucks, which means somewhere around $35 out of your U.S. pockets.
The lively, historic, picturesque city of Cairns is located in Far North Queensland on the northeastern coast of Australia.
Although the seasons in Australia are the opposite of our seasons, Cairns is like the San Diego of Australia: the weather is beautiful year-round with average "winter" temperatures of 80 degrees.
May marks the end of the wet season, as well as the stinger season, which means no red flags will keep you from swimming in the gorgeous South Pacific Ocean, home to none other than the Great Barrier Reef.
Sites like reeftrip.com or divingdownunder.com boast thrilling opportunities to take a helicopter tour, cruise the outer reef or even learn how to dive or snorkel along the largest coral reef in the world.
Although the reef is the main draw, and Cairns is ranked as one of the safest and fastest growing tourist spots in Australia, it also boasts a bursting nightlife to explore after your relaxing days in the southern sun. Cairnsattractions.com is a simple and straightforward guide to your long list of Aussie options, including nightclubs, casinos and golf courses, as well as one-of-a-kind attractions like the Night Zoo or a rainforest horseback ride.
But bear in mind: traveling to the other end of the world won't be a short trip - or a cheap one. Especially booking this close to travel, flights will average 35 hours and hover around $2,000.
Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive options for accommodations in Cairns. Plus, if you use sites like Travelocity.com to plan a trip that includes your flight and accommodation, your entire trip can ring in at under $2,000.
No matter what, the view and list of things to do "Down Under" make it worth every Aussie dollar. Speaking of which, keep in mind that the exchange rate will work in your favor for this trip. Sites boasting accommodations for 50 bucks per night could actually be 50 Aussie bucks, which means somewhere around $35 out of your U.S. pockets.
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