Camping can be a fun and inexpensive vacation option, but it’s not for everyone.
Julie Jones’ son has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, which limits travel options for his family.
“Camping is difficult for us because my son tends to be a poor sleeper so we really need the closed walls of a cabin rather than a tent for him. And being in confined quarters would be difficult for us because we travel with a lot of equipment. “
Even on a personal level, she’s “more of a glamping girl or person inside the accommodation anyway.”
But she says even without camping, there are still plenty of ways to travel within your budget.
Holiday villages
Travel agent Liz Ellis offers cabins in trailer parks as an affordable alternative to camping.
“Most of the time you will find that they have a lot of facilities, just as much as the big hotels,” she explains.
“You can have water theme parks, fun activities and movie nights.
“It’s a good way to spend a decent vacation, in a very nice resort setting, without blowing the budget.”
For Julie, they offer the added benefit of being a wheelchair friendly option.
“Holiday parks have very good accessible accommodations and are getting more and more accessible over time, which is fantastic.”
She says some of them have “really exceptional facilities. [not just] within their cabins but also leisure activities, such as swimming pools with access ramps or a freight elevator. So we were really impressed “.
Hostels
Hostels are of course an affordable travel classic, but they’re not just for young people and backpackers.
Mary, 41, from Canberra, says she enjoys staying in family rooms at hostels in Sydney with her family.
“Thanks to the kitchen facilities, you do not have to eat all the time in the restaurant and [they’ve] was very welcoming to children in our experience, and also to assistance dogs. “
She travels with her mother and 10 year old daughter and stays at a hostel in the heart of the city, which means they can walk everywhere.
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“[Staying in a hostel] gives you that opportunity to be in a place that you could never afford in an upscale hotel otherwise. “
Julie says she has also found many accessible hostels and loves to socialize in the common areas.
“You get that real camaraderie with other travelers because you’re all together in the main areas, but you have a private bedroom with a real accessible bathroom.”
Home care
For Ruth, 34, of Perth, household is her travel destination.
While that usually means looking after pets and being flexible on dates, she says it’s a more authentic way to experience a new city because you live like a local.
“I’d much rather live in a house than in a hotel, and pets are a really interesting part because I’ve never had permanent pets, I just traveled.”
Ruth has been cleaning intermittently for the past nine years and finding opportunities through websites, Facebook groups, and word of mouth, but started out cleaning for friends.
She usually takes care of the cats as they are usually low maintenance, but says you should do your research before agreeing to sit down.
“Find out as much as possible in advance about the animal’s habits. Each pet owner has their own requirements, so it’s a great thing to establish before you sit down to decide if this is right for you. or not. . “
Her home is free in vacation destinations she already wants to visit, but she charges for pet sitting when in her own town.
A slice of history
Chris Zeiher of Lonely Planet says not wanting to camp is no excuse for a boring budget vacation.
“Australia has an abundance of truly unique accommodation options.
“There are shearers quarters, there are these hidden cabins, there are lighthouse keepers’ cottages, you can even stay in old train cars. There is so much there.”
Many national parks offer camping alternatives on their websites. While these may come at the additional cost of paying for a park pass, they’re usually a budget option.
“The one I remember doing as a kid was at a lighthouse keeper’s cottage in Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island, which is still available. [and] was one of the areas of the island that was not affected by the bushfires.
“It was a pretty cool experience because you wake up with the lighthouse by one of the windows and the whole area is full of some really beautiful wildlife.”
The converted shearers quarters can be found in the country’s national parks, and in Tasmania you can stay in the World Heritage-listed prison, which originally housed convicts.
Another park in South Australia offers accommodation in an abandoned mining town, with cabin options including the old post office or the town gatehouse.
Mr. Zeiher says that staying “in a slightly alternative place can really shape your understanding of the experience and really give you that historical context.”
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