At first glance, there appear to be three major areas to consider;

1) Destination

2) Accommodation

3) Travel

Firstly; destination. Once you have decided what sort of holiday you are after, be it a ski break, gourmet tour, lazy beach getaway, family holiday or romantic escape, naturally, thoughts turn to destination. This is where a little research comes in. Eastern European holidays are notoriously good value for money, especially for ski holidays, although Andorra will always be a leading light for cheap ski holidays, especially for those that enjoy a good night out after a long day on the slopes. Generally though, resorts are expensive, and the more independent your holiday, the larger the possible savings.

 Accommodation tends to be the greatest area where you can save money. Amazingly, research shows that taking a private holiday home is actually cheaper than a hotel room, and by some 30-40% too. So, not only are you getting space, privacy and a little luxury, you can save some significant cash too. The more people you get together, the lower the prices too…the biggest selection of holiday homes to rent can be found at Holiday-Rentals.co.uk.

 The location of your accommodation makes a huge difference too. Again, the vague rule that resorts are expensive applies, and by staying just outside the main resort you can enjoy significantly cheaper prices for accommodation, food and even tours and trips.

 Travel; travel is always a slightly sore point, and with budget airlines going out of business left, right and centre, it is a subject that I feel is very important to highlight.

 The old rule of early birds and worms still applies when it comes to finding the cheapest flights, but of course, this is a risky strategy in the current financial climate, so what can you do? As far as flights are concerned, it is a risk. Booking with major airlines is the best way to ensure the company is still in business by the time it comes to actually boarding your flight, but this immediately negates the early-bird savings.

There is no easy answer to this see-saw I am afraid. However, you can always think a little ‘outside the box’. Europe’s rail network is astonishingly good, even connecting our little island to the rest of the continent, and you can be in any far flung corner of Europe within 36 hours for very little money. If you have decided to fly, just check to see if a hire car doesn’t actually work out cheaper than the airport shuttle bus both ways. Should there be a small group of you travelling together, this is an especially good way of saving you money during the week.

There are plenty of other ways to save significant money on holiday without reducing quality, luxury or enjoyment too, self catering accommodation and independently arranged tours and trips being among the most obvious.

From the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Sydney to the laid back surf culture of the Gold Coast and the natural beauty of Perth in Western Australia, each state offers its own unique glimpse of this huge island continent.

Sydney: the city for all seasons

From famous Bondi Beach to the tranquil Blue Mountains, to glittering Sydney Harbour and the thriving city centre, Sydney has it all.

Transport: getting there and getting around:

You can fly direct to Sydney from major international airports. There are 40 airlines servicing Sydney airport including all the major carriers such as Qantas, Virgin and British Airways.

Sydney has a well established rail and bus system which can take you all over the city and out to regional areas and interstate. The road system is modern and easy to navigate and car hire is available at reasonable rates.

Climate: Sydney weather and seasonal variations

Sydney enjoys mild weather all year round. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. It’s the perfect escape from a cold northern hemisphere winter!

Spring is from September to November. Summer is from December to February. Autumn is from March to May. Winter is from June to August. , so it can provide a great escape from a cold winter!

Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Booking accommodation is easy with a huge range available. Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of hotels in Sydney.

Events: there’s always something on in Sydney

• Variety Club Annual Road Bash starts from Garden Island on August 5 2007 on its way to the Northern Territory

• Priscilla the Queen of the Desert – the iconic Australian Musical is on at the Lyric Theatre Star City Darling Harbour

• Sydney Opera House has started its Winter Season – for details of what is on visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com

• For the family, El Caballo Blanco is on at the Horseworld Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights – it is a show with amazingly trained choreographed horses

Gold coast: surf, sand, fun and excitement

If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway with the family or an action-packed adventure with friends, a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast is a must.

It is just 80kms south of the major city of Brisbane which has an international airport with flights from around the world daily. You can also fly direct from other Australian cities on the domestic routes to the Gold Coast airport. Taxis, car hire, trains and buses are readily available.

From the miles of sparking beaches and nearby tropical rainforests to the famous high rise city skyline and the incredible choice of major theme parks – Dreamworld, Movieworld, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and more – the Gold Coast is Australia’s playground.

Not forgetting the world famous Gold Coast Indy 300, where for 4 days and 4 nights in October the streets around Southport are transformed into a high speed car racing track.

Gold Coast hotels and accommodation are available in a huge array of styles and budgets to suit everyone and the weather is sunny almost 300 days a year with temperature highs above 20°C all year round. See you there!

Perth: Australia at its best

A major city buzzing with attractions surrounded by incredible beaches and outback wilderness, Perth truly is the best of both worlds. It’s on the far western side of Australia and is well worth the trip.

Perth’s International airport is the gateway to the vast West Coast of Australia, encompassing one third of the entire continent. Shuttle buses, hire cars and taxis operate regularly between Perth and Fremantle town centres and the airports. Tour buses are also available to guide you around all the popular sites and attractions. You can choose from a wide range of Perth hotels and accommodation options to match your budget.

Explore the secluded surf beaches running for miles up and down the west coast, relax at over 60 wineries in the Margaret River region just a few hours away, or escape on to the water and spot the Monkey Mia dolphins, go whale watching, snorkel over Ningaloo reef or visit the incredible Pinnacles.

Summer temperatures average between 29°C and 32°C during the day, perfect for a dip or surf, and winter temperatures average 18°C during the day, ideal for a long lunch with the sun on your back.

Whether you’re in a large group or a family, looking for budget travel or luxury resort accommodation, there’s options to delight everyone.

Sydney: the city for all seasons

From famous Bondi Beach to the tranquil Blue Mountains, to glittering Sydney Harbour and the thriving city centre, Sydney has it all.

Transport: getting there and getting around:

You can fly direct to Sydney from major international airports. There are 40 airlines servicing Sydney airport including all the major carriers such as Qantas, Virgin and British Airways.

Sydney has a well established rail and bus system which can take you all over the city and out to regional areas and interstate. The road system is modern and easy to navigate and car hire is available at reasonable rates.

Climate: Sydney weather and seasonal variations

Sydney enjoys mild weather all year round. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. It’s the perfect escape from a cold northern hemisphere winter!

Spring is from September to November. Summer is from December to February. Autumn is from March to May. Winter is from June to August. , so it can provide a great escape from a cold winter!

Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts

Booking accommodation is easy with a huge range available. Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Sydney Hotels.

Events: there’s always something on in Sydney

• Variety Club Annual Road Bash starts from Garden Island on August 5 2007 on its way to the Northern Territory

• Priscilla the Queen of the Desert – the iconic Australian Musical is on at the Lyric Theatre Star City Darling Harbour

• Sydney Opera House has started its Winter Season – for details of what is on visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com

• For the family, El Caballo Blanco is on at the Horseworld Stadium on Saturday and Sunday nights – it is a show with amazingly trained choreographed horses

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Melbourne: shopping, restaurants and entertainment

Melbourne is known as the cultural centre of Australia. It is renowned for its beautiful restaurants, bars, shopping, art galleries, sport, live entertainment, the Melbourne Grand Prix and of course the world famous Melbourne Cup horse racing event – ‘the race that stops a nation’.

You can fly direct to Melbourne’s international airport from major international airports. Bus, taxi and rental cars are all readily available from the airport and the road network is simple to navigate. Melbourne’s trams – the only remaining tram network in Australia – are one of its major attractions and a unique and easy way to get around town.

Accommodation is plentiful with hundreds of Melbourne Hotels catering for all tastes and every budget. Be sure to stop by the Travellers Information Desk located in the International Arrivals terminal to pick up all the information you need to have a great holiday.

Set on the Yarra River, Melbourne is a wonderful place to explore. There are distinct enclaves to tour around whatever your interests are. If you want to go further afield, the Victorian Alps are only a few hours away by car and offer good skiing in winter.

Brisbane: beautiful one day, perfect the next

If you’re looking for superb sub-tropical weather, friendly relaxed people and some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Brisbane is the place to be any time of the year. It offers long hot summers and wonderfully mild winters.

Brisbane’s international and domestic airports are easily accessible by train, taxi and car and shuttle buses also depart regularly. Situated on the Brisbane River, the city boasts a well resourced ferry system to let you tour the city sites in ease.

Brisbane hotels are available to suit any budget, and accommodation is also plentiful in surrounding areas. The pristine coastline and beaches both north and south of Brisbane are popular holiday destinations with many attractions and islands to explore.

Last but not least, from Brisbane you can visit many of Australia’s biggest theme parks including Dreamworld, Movieworld, Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Sea World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and more. Shuttle buses are a quick and easy way to get there.