Traditional fly-and-flop style holidays are getting a run for their money from tailor-made, voluntourism and multi-destination trips, travel agencies say.
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The strong dollar is also encouraging Australians to explore all corners of the world map, experiment with new stopover options and stay for longer.
Creative Holiday, Australia’s leading independent holiday company, says more people are travelling with intended interest, such as shopping, enjoying good food and wine or for a destination wedding, rather than just a fly and flop holiday.
Guided holiday operator Trafalgar says Australian travellers are seeking more immersive holiday experiences.
Lunch at a family-run olive grove estate in Tuscany; dinner at an Irish family’s farmhouse; or staying in an old working dude ranch in the Wild West are just some activities Trafalgar offers that are popular with holidaymakers, it says.
Flight Centre said “voluntourism” was increasing in popularity among Australians of all ages, from teens to retirees.
“Basically it allows them to flop and drop as well as ‘give back’ something to the local community.”
Travellers are also choosing to “double dip” into destinations, flying into one airport and flying out of another, Flight Centre says.
“Innovative flights, with plenty of stopover options, has seen more Aussies attach a secondary destination to the one holiday,” it said.
With the dollar going further than ever before in destinations such as the US, Europe and the UK, Australians are taking longer breaks, Creative Holidays says.
“The trend towards longer trips abroad has also had a positive effect on stopover destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Singapore,” it said.
“Travellers are making the most of their layovers and taking more time to explore what these places have to offer.”
London is the hot destination this year, largely because of the Olympics but also because Australians are taking advantage of the strong dollar, Flight Centre says.
Hong Kong is also popular due to the 2012 Hong Kong Summer Spectacular, a city-wide program of events and activities, it said.
Creative Holidays says Hawaii is making a comeback as another hotspot this year because it offers excellent value for money, plenty of shopping opportunities, natural beauty and cheap flights.
Trafalgar says South America is also a destination that is continuing to grow in popularity, due to its vibrant cities, cultural delights and natural wonders.
The launch of Qantas direct flights from Sydney to Santiago in Chile has also made it a more accessible destination for Australians, Trafalgar says.
Thailand, Bali and Fiji, perennial favourites with Australian travellers, are also expected to do well this year, travel agencies say.
“Flights to Bali and Thailand have increased by 131 per cent and 152 per cent respectively compared to this time last year,” Travel.com.au says.
New Zealand is also expected to remain top of the list for Aussie travellers over the coming months.
“New Zealand never fails to prove popular with Aussies,” Travel.com.au says.
“With the snow season just around the corner, there are a growing amount of great ski deals in NZ’s South Island.”
In preparation for our upcoming trip to Paris together, my boyfriend and I spent one January night watching Midnight in Paris. Since this was going to be my third trip to Paris, and his first, I took it upon myself to point out what every single sight in the opening montage was. 