9 Things you should know before you go... Australia
AUSTRALIA IS EXPENSIVE: The average taxi costs about $30.00 for somewhere around 9 km., Average Beer $10.00, Parking a car on Sydney street per month $500.00, Parking hourly can be as much as $40.00 for 2 hrs., Average steak dinner $45.00, Gym for a month $95.00, and Cigarettes are $27.00 a pack with tax increases scheduled to be more than $40.00 per pack by 2020 ( that will help you quit), of course you can find less expensive or more expensive. These are just the average prices I ran into while traveling in Australia.
YOU WILL NEED A VISA: For sure if you are from the US. The Visa is easy to obtain and you can get it online for $20 USD, do not wait and get it at the airport they charge double or more for the same thing you can get online. When I left Singapore they wanted $65 for the Visa at the Airport, 3 times the price because they know you have to have it! Here is the link:
https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAS3/etas?locale=en&tab=&submit=applyTIPPING IS NOT COMMON PRACTICE: The pay in Australia is excellent, and tipping is not a common practice. Don't worry nobody will be offended that you didn't leave a tip. Even low level jobs pay upwards of $17.00hr. Of course if you feel the service was over and above, and you would like to leave a tip I am sure no one is going to complain!
BE PREPARED FOR THE SUN: The sun is really strong here, so stock up on sunscreen. You will probably burn a lot quicker than you do back home so keep that in mind. I started to turn red after about 15 minutes of not wearing sunscreen, good thing I put sunscreen on!
SIM CARD: Get a sim card for your phone and make sure it has plenty of internet GB, GB, so you can keep up with your Steemit account! Its easiest to pick these up at the airport, if you shop around you can get a good deal. I got one month with pretty much unlimited everything for about $40. This included 1000 minutes international calling, well at least to the US. You will have to check for the specific country you would like to call.
BOOK IN ADVANCE: Make sure to book your accommodations in advance, airbnb will usually save you some $$. Many times I wait until the last minute to book my rooms, and I am able to get a good deal. Almost year round hotels sell out in Sydney, and the surrounding beaches so make sure you book in advance. It only gets more expensive as you get closer to your travel date.
RENT A CAR. It is an adventure if you've never driven on the other side of the car/road, but taxis, grab, and Uber are expensive here. An Uber from the airport to Bronte beach cost around $49.00 (11 miles). I was able to rent a car for $200.00 per week, which is inexpensive in comparison.
TAKE A BUS TO THE CITY: If you are going to spend a day in the city, take a bus. I know I just told you to rent a car, but unless you want to pay $50-80 to park that car per day, leave it home when you go to the city! The car is great for going to the beaches, general shopping, and site seeing but downtown parking is expensive. The bus is more cost effective and a lot less stressful than driving downtown.
http://domaincarpark.com.au/rates-a-times.html
Casual Parking Rates - Monday to Friday
0 - 0.5 Hour $4.00
0.5 - 1 Hour $9.00
1 - 2 Hours $22.00
2 - 3 Hours $36.00
3 - 4 hours $48.00
Lost Ticket (Maximum Daily Rate) $48.00
Overnight fee (In addition to any daily parking charges, Exit by 10:00am next day) $10.00
9.RESEARCH, AND PLAN BEFORE YOU TRAVEL. Many things are automated here to make life easier but end up making things more difficult for the unprepared. Some notes, if you want to take a bus most times you will have to have a fair card prior to getting on the bus. You can not just pay on the bus, so make sure you get your pass at the airport or prior to embarking on your journey. Its not hot year round, there are seasons so make sure you do your research, probably wont want to be going to the beach in the middle of winter when it is cold (50 degrees or less)!
Here are a few pictures from the trip I would like to share with my fellow Steemians
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