Easter is coming and that means joining the rest of the WA to make the best of the Easter break.
For West Australians, it feels like the last throw of summer before the haul of winter, and we want to make the best of it.
But this travel year is particularly busy, meaning a few extra tricks will be required to make the getaway a successful experience.
Liam Kennedy, a journalist with consumer organisation Choice, said the long weekend is one of the most popular times of the year for WA getaways.
“Wrangling accommodation, flights, hire cars and more can be stressful — particularly at a time where scams are so widespread and budgets are tight,” he said.
“But luckily there are a few things people can do to make their travels a bit easier.”
The team at Choice has put together top tips for booking travel over the Easter break, from cutting accommodation costs to protecting the holiday against problematic issues.
Top Travel Tips
- When trying to secure the best accommodation our bruised wallets can handle, take the extra time to scroll websites for bargains. “Once you find a good price, contact the hotel directly to ask if they can beat it, rather than going through the booking website,” Mr Kennedy said, “We also suggest filtering your searches when looking for accommodation to providers that offer free cancellation. Then, if something comes up or you find a better deal, your finances won’t be impacted.”
- Considering the rise of travel scams, it’s worth being wary of emails or messages from booking services, especially those containing links or attachments requesting personal or financial information. “If you receive these messages, verify what you’re being asked to do by contacting the accommodation provider directly,” Mr Kennedy advised.
- Consider travel insurance, even if you’re only going somewhere in the state or country. “If you’ve paid a lot for your holiday, are hiring a rental car, or travelling with a lot of equipment, it might be worth purchasing domestic travel insurance,” Mr Kennedy suggested. It’s always up to the traveller, but paying for the peace of mind could make the difference for a more relaxing trip.
- If you are flying somewhere for the break and your flight is cancelled, payments for accommodation, meals, transport etc are at the airline’s discretion, but Choice still recommends asking for assistance if you need it. “We recommend holding onto your receipts if you’re out of pocket due to a flight cancellation. Airlines address reimbursement claims on a case-by-case basis, so keep your spending to a minimum, as unfortunately, you may not get your money back.”
More travel tips can be found at choice.com.au/topics/easter but remember the most two most important tips – be safe and have fun.
