Australians are finding their travel budgets stretched thinner as the Aussie dollar weakens against major currencies. This means a US holiday is becoming less appealing, prompting travellers to explore alternative destinations like Vietnam's Phu Quoc or the Cook Islands for more budget-friendly options.
Swapping Hawaii for Vietnam’s Phu Quoc: Australians can look for off-peak bargains in south-east Asia after the Aussie dollar’s slump made a holiday in the US less affordable. Going off-peak in Asia or off the beaten track in Italy might be your best bets for a bargain getaway while the dollar’s in the doldrums. The Australian dollar’s recent decline in value against major currencies has hiked the cost of overseas travel to many destinations for Australians.
The drop from a high of 69 US cents in September to a low of 62 cents on Friday makes a holiday in the US less affordable, while Japan is also becoming more expensive. The Cook Islands in the middle of the Pacific, a six-hour direct flight from Sydney, offer all the perks of a Pacific island holiday at a fraction of the price, says Charissa Hanrahan, a travel designer for MTA Travel.The islands use New Zealand’s dollar, which like the Aussie has fallen against overseas currencies, so Australian travellers have a decent exchange rate on their side, with A$1 buying NZ$1.10 on Friday.The Australian dollar kept its value in the Cook Islands and New Zealand over most of 2024 into 2025 but fell in Fiji as it slumped around the world. While flights to the Cook Islands may cost as much as a flight to Fiji, travellers could find places to stay for less than A$200 a night and buy meals for half the price, Hanrahan says.Hanrahan suggests hiring a scooter to ride around the islands or “just hop in a kayak and go out in the crystal clear water, go snorkelling, go for a walk in the forest, enjoy the food and relax on the beach”.The Aussie dollar’s strength in New Zealand means travelling across the ditch has stayed affordabl
AUSSIE DOLLAR TRAVEL COSTS DESTINATIONS BUDGET TRAVEL PACIFIC ISLANDS
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