Staycation surge: Why the traditional Aussie street journey is making a comeback

The traditional Aussie summer season street journey is making a comeback, with rising residing prices driving budget-conscious households to decide on Queensland staycations as their vacation of selection.

Trending Queensland locations similar to Sandstone Level, Broadbeach, and Alexandra Headland gave households an opportunity to discover the Sunshine State with out breaking the financial institution, in line with newest information by Airbnb.

Bookings on the worldwide short-term lodging platform revealed a surge in demand for beloved locations just like the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, the place inexpensive stays and self-catering choices helped households get monetary savings.

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The 2 Queensland tourism hotspots had been among the many nation’s prime 5 areas with the largest improve in recognition in 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr.

Melbourne, Sydney and Perth additionally made the lower.

Airbnb Nation Supervisor Susan Wheeldon stated the cost-of-living crunch had prompted many households to rethink their vacation plans, swapping expensive abroad journeys for native adventures.

Aussies had been embracing a return to easier, extra inexpensive vacation traditions moderately than forgoing time away collectively, with Queensland areas topping this yr’s bucket listing.

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“We all know affordability is prime of thoughts as a result of rising value of residing,” Ms Wheeldon stated.

“Locations similar to Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are proving standard as a result of they provide loads of alternatives to discover with pristine seashores, nationwide parks, and golf programs close by.”

In the meantime, the highest 5 booked classes this summer season by Australian friends had been {Golfing}, Seashore, Superb swimming pools, Nationwide parks and Prime cities.

Ms Wheeldon stated properties which allowed friends to avoid wasting on eating out and additional prices throughout their keep had been additionally extremely wanted.

Prime-searched facilities included swimming pools, airconditioning, free parking, Wi-Fi, and kitchens.

Gold Coast couple Sarah and Aaron Waters transformed a Sixties constructing into two spacious self-contained vacation residences often called The Villas by Bilinga Seashore Abodes.

With complete capability to sleep 12, the property is good for households and bigger teams trying to cut up prices, whereas the Villas’ retro-inspired design with pops of pastel color created, “the right vacation vacation spot”, Ms Waters stated.

“We had a number of quieter months by way of July to September, but it surely has picked up main into summer season.

“There are positively extra last-minute bookings and shorter stays in comparison with final yr.”

She stated two or three-night stays had develop into extra frequent, in comparison with intervals of as much as two or three weeks in 2023.

Whereas the cafe subsequent door was standard with friends, Ms Waters stated every villa had a totally outfitted kitchen, preferrred for households on a price range.

“It signifies that you don’t must exit to dinner each evening, and all of the enjoyable colors we’ve used make it a singular and totally different eating expertise than you’d have at dwelling.

The Villas rented for $700 an evening, with some emptiness nonetheless obtainable in January.

Sandstone Level Vacation Resort normal supervisor Julie Daniel stated Queensland travellers accounted for 66 per cent of friends to the trending Moreton Bay vacation spot, although the addition of distinctive overwater villas on the property had attracted extra interstate and abroad guests.

“Regardless of broader cost-of-living challenges, our variety of friends is at an all-time excessive,” Ms Daniel stated.

“We’ve seen a development towards shared stays, with bigger teams occupying single websites or villas, and friends bringing associates of prolonged household to share lodging prices.”

Whereas repeat guests make up a big portion of bookings, the vacation park has seen an uptick in new friends, with households typically holding out for offers to guide their getaway.

For these planning last-minute getaways, Ms Wheeldon suggested broadening their search past main vacationer hubs to uncover hidden gems close by.

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“Whereas it’s at all times greatest to guide early to keep away from disappointment round Christmas and the summer season college holidays, when you haven’t discovered time to guide but there’s nonetheless worth to be discovered,” she stated.

“When you’re reserving on the final minute, widen your Airbnb search to incorporate areas or areas moderately than particular areas.

“The clickable map may help you discover suburbs a brief drive away from standard areas you will have by no means heard of earlier than.”