How We Stayed 13 Nights in Australia for Just $105

In March 2024, we took advantage of an incredible flight deal and extended our school spring break to embark on an incredible 13-night adventure across Australia. We managed to stay in luxurious accommodations while keeping our total lodging expenses to just $105. Here’s how we did it.

Travel Dates and Locations

Our journey spanned three key destinations:

• Business Class Flight to Sydney: 1 night

• Sydney: 5 nights

• Surfers Paradise: 3 nights

• Brisbane: 4 nights

Flights and First Night: United Polaris Business Class

We started our trip by taking a redeye flight in United Polaris business class. The lay-flat seats provided an excellent opportunity to rest comfortably and arrive in Australia refreshed. This effectively covered our first night's accommodation, setting a frugal yet luxurious tone for the rest of our journey. Our 4 year old got 11 hours of sleep on the flight and woke up happy as a clam!

Sydney: 5 Nights of Luxurious Comfort

Hyatt Regency Sydney (4 Nights)

• Accommodation: Two connecting rooms for our family of five.

• Booking Method: We used points transferred from our Chase Sapphire Preferred card to Hyatt. Redeemed 45,000 points for each room per stay.  Total of 90,000 points.

• Cost: Free (thanks to points). These points were earned from a welcome bonus from THIS card.

Hilton Sydney (1 Night)

• Accommodation: Two connecting rooms.

• Booking Method: A combination of a free night certificate and 54,732 points earned through the American Express Hilton Aspire card. This card has since increased the annual fee and changed the benefits, so while I was able to get this card and use the perks, I honestly probably wouldn't recommend this card unless you're an avid Hilton goer and would use the lounges regularly (there are very lounges in the US anyway). While I'm not discouraging you from using this card, I would say carefully weigh the options to see if the steep increased annual fee is worth it for you.

• Benefits: Access to the club lounge with complimentary breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres.  The Hilton Aspire card gives free access to club lounges because it gives you Hilton Diamond status.

• Cost: Free (thanks to points and a free night certificate).

Surfers Paradise: 3 Nights in a Beachfront Condo

Hilton Surfers Paradise

• Accommodation: A two-room condo featuring a full kitchen, living space, balcony, and ocean views.

• Booking Method: We used points  from the Hilton Aspire card welcome bonus for two nights and paid cash for the third night - our credit card included a $200 RESORT credit and this was considered a resort, so we paid a total of $105 USD for the night.

• Benefits: Access to the club lounge, providing free breakfast, evening hors d'oeuvres, and a private theater.  The Hilton Aspire card gives Hilton Diamond status which gives access to club lounges.  Huge savings on food with a family of 5.

• Cost: $105 for the third night.

Brisbane: 4 Nights at The Westin

The Westin Brisbane

• Accommodation: One room with two beds and an oversized chair for our 4-year-old.

• Booking Method: We split the stay into two separate reservations of two nights each. Each reservation used a combination of points and a free night award certificate, courtesy of the Chase Marriott Boundless card held by my husband and me.

• Cost: Free (thanks to points and free night certificates).

• Club Lounge: We asked the front desk upon arrival how much it would cost to upgrade to access the Club Lounge, we kept our same room (which was NOT on a club floor), but were given access to the lounge. It totaled $75 for our 4 day stay, which was a no-brainer for our family of 5 to get free breakfast and evening appetizers.  This significantly reduced our food costs because we loaded up on protein at breakfast and then had protein snacks we bought at the grocery store to help us during the day. (This cost is not included in our $105 for accommodations)

Food and Dining

We kept our dining expenses low by:

• Utilizing Club Lounges: Free breakfasts and evening hors d'oeuvres at the Hilton and Westin properties.

• Utilizing Grocery Stores: It’s generally easy to find grocery stores near hotels. This allowed us to stock up on fresh fruit, high protein snacks, and other goods to help us have lunches in motion. That gives us more time to explore without needing to stop to find a restaurant.

• Exploring Local Eateries: Finding budget-friendly restaurants and cafes in each city. With kids there isn’t a lot of fine dining anyway, so we save big by finding local places. We love exploring the new foods in new countries and we still feel we can always do that, even without paying a large amount.

Tips and Tricks for Keeping Costs Low

Credit Card Rewards and Points: CLICK HERE FOR REFERRAL LINKS TO OUR FAVORITE CARDS.

***While I’m not an affiliate with any of these cards, I do get referral points if you click on my links, which is greatly appreciated.

These are the cards that we used to redeem our 13 nights in Australia:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Points transferred to Hyatt for free hotel stays.

• American Express Hilton Aspire Card: Points and free night certificates for Hilton stays. This card has increased their annual fee since I opened it as well as some of their benefits that helped me offset the cost of the annual fee.  While this card was very beneficial for me at the time with the lower annual fee, it is not a card I chose to continue paying for each year. So you’ll need to analyze if it’s the right card for you and your family or not.

• Chase Marriott Boundless Card: Free night awards and points for stays at The Westin.

Strategic Booking:

• Splitting Reservations: Using separate rewards accounts to maximize the use of free night certificates.

• Redeeming Points and Certificates: Careful planning and redemption of points and certificates to cover most of the accommodation costs.

Memorable Experiences

Sydney:

• Opera House Tour: A behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Sydney Opera House.

• Bondi to Coogee Walk: A scenic coastal walk offering breathtaking views.

Surfers Paradise:

• Beach Days: Relaxing and playing at the famous Surfers Paradise Beach.

• Private Theater: Enjoying a movie night in the Hilton’s private theater.

Brisbane:

• South Bank Lagoon: Swimming in the man-made Streets Beach lagoon.

• Story Bridge Climb: Walking/climbing to the top of Story Bridge on a guided tour. You can also do this in Sydney on the Harbor bridge, but the climb in Brisbane is much less expensive and on Sunday's we were able to get a kids climb free promotion which was a signifcant cost savings!

Conclusion

Our 13-night trip to Australia was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the incredible value we achieved. Through strategic use of credit card points, free night certificates, and savvy planning, we managed to stay in luxurious accommodations while keeping our expenses minimal. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or planning your first big trip, these tips can help you explore the world without breaking the bank. We've been able to accumulate these points through strategically opening up new credit cards and receiving their sign up welcome bonuses. We open new cards a little at a time and have a very realistic approach to doing so. If you want more information please reach out via email, chasingmemories.co@gmail.com

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