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Cheap Christmas holiday travel deals for 2021
You can still bag a last-minute Christmas bargain with these travel deals.
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Domestic Airlines
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With the kids on holidays and two public holidays to take advantage of you shouldn't let the last-minute rush stand between you and your holiday.
There are still ways to have a cheap Christmas getaway. Scroll down to find out how:
Don't need to travel over Christmas? You may save even more by checking out other December travel deals and January travel deals.
Luxury Escapes
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
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East Coast Car Rentals
Up to 15% off Australia rentals
Available on all rentals from February - March 2021 across Australia, including Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and more. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Booking.com
Up to 20% off Australia getaways
Available on stays from 5 January - 31 March 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
DriveNow
Campervan hire from $5/day
Available on select routes, dates and locations in Australia, including Darwin, Alice Springs, Cairns and Brisbane, and New Zealand.
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Wotif
Up to 60% off Australia stays
Available on stays until July 2021 in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sunshine Coast and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Hotels.com
Up to 63% off Australia-wide stays + Extra 8% off hotel bookings
Available on select dates until December 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
HotelsCombined
Up to 33% off Sea World Resort and Water Park stays with park entry
Available for stays until 30 April 2021 with packages available to include entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast and Paradise Country during your stay.
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P&O Cruises
$1 deposits + up to $500 credit on Australia and South Pacific cruises
Plus get up to $500 OBC on select voyages in 2021 and 2022. Destinations include Brisbane, Sydney, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
DiDi
Exclusive
Get $20 credit
Get $5 off each of your first four rides in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Perth and Newcastle. Valid on all dates for new users. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Virgin Australia
Australia-wide flights from $89 each way
Available on flights from January - September 2021 to Gold Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Townsville, Darwin and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Ballina. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Accor Hotels
Up to 30% off worldwide stays
Available on select dates when you stay a minimum of 3 nights. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Auckland, Paris, London and more. T&Cs apply.
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Qatar Airways
Up to 10% off international flights with code
Available for Mastercard holders on flights from 1 November 2020 - 30 June 2021. Valid on flights departing from Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Accor Hotels
Australia stays from $95/night + Extra 10% off for members
Available on stays up until 13 months from the booking date. Destinations include Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Uluru and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Klook
$1 wine tastings in the Hunter Valley
Available on select dates in the Hunter Valley. T&Cs apply.
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Airbnb
Refer a friend and get a $25 Airbnb credit
Give a friend $50 toward their first stay and get $25 credit for yourself toward a future booking.
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Trafalgar Tours
Up to 15% off last-minute trips
Valid for travel on select dates in 2020 and 2021. Destinations include Europe, UK, the Middle East, Argentina, India, Asia, New Zealand, Australia and Africa and more. T&Cs apply.
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Otel.com
Extra 9% off hotel bookings
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
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Rentalcars.com
Up to 20% off car hire
Compare car hire prices on Rentalcars.com and save up to 20% compared to booking direct.
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Stayz
Australia beach holidays from $82/night
Available on select stay dates in Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and more. Sample stay is in Millicent, South Australia. T&Cs apply.
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Stayz
Australia stays from $39/night
Available on select travel dates across Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Perth and more. Sample stay is in Reynella, Adelaide. T&Cs apply.
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Marriott
Up to 50% off room upgrades + free breakfast on stays
Available on upgrades to premium rooms and suites on stays until 30 April 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, New Zealand, Fiji and more.
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RedBalloon
Up to 30% off Australia experiences + Extra 10% off with code
Available on select travel dates when you buy 2 or more experiences such as sightseeing cruises, hot air balloon flights, day tours and skydives. Destinations include Brisbane, Adelaide, Hunter Valley, Gold Coast, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
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Wotif
Up to 50% off Australia getaways
Available on stay until February 2021 in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Cairns, Hobart, Sydney and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Klook
Extra 10% off NSW activities with code
Available until 28 February 2021 on all activities including hot air balloon flights, attraction passes, Tiny Homes and staycation packages. Destinations include Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and South Coast. Minimum spend of $50 required. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Get 10% off NSW car hires
Available on rentals until 28 February 2021 in Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and South Coast. Minimum spend of $50 required. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Get 7% off NSW getaways with code
Available on stays until 28 February 2021 in Sydney, Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and South Coast. Minimum spend of $100 required. T&Cs apply.
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Trip.com
Extra $50 off Queensland getaways
Plus get up to 19% off stays from 6 January - 30 June 2021 when you spend a minimum of $250. Destinations include Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Whitsundays, Townsville and more. Exclusive for Trip.com members. Membership is free. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
G Adventures
Up to 30% off Australia and New Zealand tours
Lock your tour with $1 deposit plus get an extra 21% off when you choose My Own Room. Available on select travel dates in 2021. Destinations include Cairns, Uluru, Sydney, Brisbane, Wellington and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Europcar
Exclusive
$20 off $200 car hires
Available on rentals until 30 April 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Groupon
Up to 30% off site-wide
Available on select purchases including getaways, spas, dining experiences, skydiving, linens, online courses, electronics, accessories and more. T&Cs apply.
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Coupon code ends
Airbnb
Australia stays from $13 per night
Available on stays until 2021 in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and more. Sample fare is for a private room in Victoria. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Europcar
Up to 20% off base rate
Available on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday pick up dates until 11 December 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Auckland and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Europcar
$1/day one-way car hire in Australia
Valid on select dates for select car hire in Australia. Destinations updated regularly.
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TourRadar
Up to 75% off worldwide trips
Available on select travel dates in 2021 and 2022. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Egypt, Turkey, India, USA and more.
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Deal ends
Kayak
Australia-wide flights from $89 return
Available on select flights until May 2021. Destinations include Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Perth, Broome and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Melbourne with Jetstar. Other airlines include Virgin Australia from $146 and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Accor Hotels
Up to 25% off Australia stays
Available for travel until 31 December 2021 when you book for 2 nights or more. Prepayment required. Destinations include Sydney, Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Trafalgar Tours
Up to 18% off worldwide tours
Available on select travel dates from 2021-2022. Destinations include Britain, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Morocco, USA, Croatia and more. T&Cs apply.
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Lastminute.com.au
Up to 50% off tropical getaways
Available on select stay dates in 2021 in Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville and more. T&Cs apply.
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Deal ends
Lastminute.com.au
Up to 43% off domestic getaways
Available on select stay dates in 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Canberra and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Trafalgar Tours
Up to 15% off Australia tours
Available on select dates in 2021. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Broome, Uluru and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular Travel coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2021 | Up to 15% off Australia rentals | HOL**** |
| 14 Dec 2020 | Get $20 credit | FIN**** |
| 2 Dec 2020 | Up to 10% off international flights with code | MAS**** |
| 23 Oct 2020 | $1 wine tastings in the Hunter Valley | WIN**** |
| 22 May 2020 | Extra 9% off hotel bookings | AUT**** |
Popular Flights coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 2020 | Up to 10% off international flights with code | MAS**** |
| 12 Jan 2021 | Up to USD$100 off business class flights | BC1**** |
| 12 Jan 2021 | Up to USD$20 off flights | JAN**** |
| 12 Jan 2021 | Up to USD$30 off flight booking fees | HOL**** |
| 12 Jan 2021 | Up to USD$10 off flight fees | LOV**** |
Otel.com
Extra 9% off hotel bookings
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
Last verified
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Otel.com
Extra 8% off hotel bookings
Valid on hotel stays worldwide on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Last verified
Popular Hotels coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2020 | Extra 9% off hotel bookings | AUT**** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Extra 10% off NSW activities with code | LOV**** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Get 7% off NSW getaways with code | LOV**** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Extra $50 off Queensland getaways | QLD**** |
| 15 Jan 2021 | Up to 30% off site-wide | CUR**** |
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular Cruises coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 2021 | $1 deposits + up to $500 credit on Australia and South Pacific cruises | ******** |
| 6 Jan 2021 | Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages | ******** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Up to 10% off 2022 cruises | ******** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Up to 30% off 2021 river cruises | ******** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Up to 30% off 2021 river cruises | ******** |
Klook
Up to 60% off activities, experiences and things to do
Valid on select dates including holidays like Christmas, New Year's and more depending on the destination. Destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka, Taipei, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Paris, New York and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Viator
Berlin Christmas Market tours from $33
Available on select 2020 dates. Sample price is for a walking tour. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Klook
7% off Bali tours and attractions
Save on snorkelling tours, Waterbom entry, whitewater rafting, Mount Batur hiking tours especially on holidays like Christmas, New Year's and more. Sample discount is for a day tour in Bali. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular Tourist Attractions & Experiences coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct 2020 | $1 wine tastings in the Hunter Valley | WIN**** |
| 20 Jan 2021 | Extra 10% off NSW activities with code | LOV**** |
| 15 Jan 2021 | Up to 30% off site-wide | CUR**** |
| 6 Nov 2020 | Up to 10% off Hunter Valley activities | TIM**** |
| 6 Mar 2020 | Extra 10% off Las Vegas attractions | GO1**** |
Otel.com
Extra 9% off hotel bookings
Valid on select hotel stays worldwide like Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, USA, Europe and more on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Some restrictions apply.
Last verified
Luxury Escapes
Up to 61% off domestic holiday packages
Available on select dates until December 2021, including over Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Adelaide, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Hunter Valley and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Klook
Up to 60% off activities, experiences and things to do
Valid on select dates including holidays like Christmas, New Year's and more depending on the destination. Destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka, Taipei, Dubai, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Paris, New York and more. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Otel.com
Extra 8% off hotel bookings
Valid on hotel stays worldwide on all dates, including over holidays like Easter, Christmas and New Year's Eve.
Last verified
Viator
Berlin Christmas Market tours from $33
Available on select 2020 dates. Sample price is for a walking tour. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Klook
7% off Bali tours and attractions
Save on snorkelling tours, Waterbom entry, whitewater rafting, Mount Batur hiking tours especially on holidays like Christmas, New Year's and more. Sample discount is for a day tour in Bali. T&Cs apply.
Last verified
Popular Travel coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 2021 | Up to 15% off Australia rentals | HOL**** |
| 14 Dec 2020 | Get $20 credit | FIN**** |
| 2 Dec 2020 | Up to 10% off international flights with code | MAS**** |
| 23 Oct 2020 | $1 wine tastings in the Hunter Valley | WIN**** |
| 22 May 2020 | Extra 9% off hotel bookings | AUT**** |
Looking for more travel deals over Christmas? Check out all of our promo codes and discounts.
11 tips to get the cheapest Christmas flights and holidays
1. Fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and/or New Year’s Day
Flights during the week before Christmas Day tend to be the most expensive for the month as everyone who's searching for a Christmas getaway will want to be at their destination on the 25th. If you’re not that picky, fly ON Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
If you're travelling somewhere that's only an hour or two away, you may still be able to get to your celebrations before lunch.
It may not be the best thing celebration-wise but it could save you hundreds.
Just be wary of transport to your hotel when you arrive as some cities shut down or limit public transport on Christmas Day (eg, London) or charge a public holiday surcharge.
2. Fly back mid-January
Those people flying out before Christmas Day will most likely be flying back just after New Year’s.
So try to avoid flights in the week following New Year’s Day to cash in on the cheaper fares that follow.
3. Holiday in a country that doesn't celebrate Christmas
Where there will be Christmas celebrations, tourists will flock, so choose places that don't really celebrate such as China, Cambodia, Japan and Morocco and you might find less of a fluctuation in airfares compared to other destinations.
4. Pick destinations that are generally more affordable
Shave costs by choosing destinations that are either closer to home or are more affordable.
While places like Southeast Asia are cheap anytime and will be a bit more expensive during the holidays, prices won't bloat as much as big cities or pricier destinations.
5. Stay in destinations that have price drops over the silly season
We know what you're thinking: nowhere has price drops over Christmas!
Contrary to popular belief there are some destinations where you can score a bargain over Christmas. According to Expedia, last year Belfast in Ireland was almost 30% cheaper to stay in over the peak season (20 December 2018 - 8 January 2019), based on the average daily room rate, compared to the average for the year. This was followed by Toronto and Seattle, which were both 25% cheaper.
For somewhere more local, Expedia found Broome in Western Australia 20% cheaper over Christmas, Wellington and El Nido, Philippines 10% cheaper and Adelaide 5% cheaper.
Bear in mind that weather conditions may be playing a part in these drops with Belfast, Toronto and Seattle experiencing cold winters and Broome a hot summer. However, December in El Nido is the start of the dry season and Adelaide is typically quite pleasant running temperatures in the mid-20s.
6. Keep it local
Don't rule out short flights within your own country for a Christmas break. It's still a break after all and you won’t have to worry about passports, visas and currency exchanges to boot.
We took a look to see how much a return flight over the holiday period using Skyscanner's fly everywhere tool. We chose flights departing Tuesday 24 December and returning 2 January 2020 and here are some sample fares we found:
- Sydney t0 Melbourne for $170 return (Jetstar)
- Gold Coast to Newcastle for $209 return (Jetstar)
- Gold Coast to Sydney for $250 return (Jetstar and Virgin Australia)
- Townsville to Brisbane return for $270 return (Jetstar)
These prices are accurate as at 18 November 2019.
Check out what other flights are available here.
7. Ditch the flight altogether and take a road trip
If you're keeping it local, why not make it a road trip instead? Big families can benefit from this most as you’ll only have to pay a set price for the car hire instead of purchasing separate seats for each member of the brood on the plane.
According to our car hire tool, hiring a car from Sydney CBD for 24 December 2019 to 2 January 2020 (9-day trip) starts at $878.74, which is less than $88 a day.
You can cheapen this by picking up your vehicle from a less central local. For example car hire from Croydon for the same dates starts at $356.04.
Key in your dates below for a quote.
8. Once you arrive, don't stay in hotels
We don't have to tell you twice that booking through a short term or vacation rental service like Airbnb or Vrbo can save you heaps.
Christmas is no exception.
Prices are set by the renters and accommodation can vary from anything from a room in an apartment to a whole house. If in doubt, you can compare it against current hotel prices via Hotels Finder below.
9. Camp it
Bring down the holiday splurge a little more by opting to go camp instead of booking accommodation. Family tents can be found for less than $300 and can be reused on your next trip.
Sites are much cheaper than hotels or Airbnb-style accommodation and are sometimes even free if you're willing to forfeit facilities.
For an idea of where to go, check out our top picks of campervan sites in Australia.
10. Opt for a package
Bundled packages which include flights, accommodation and sometimes activities can be a godsend during the peak period. To be fair, prices per package do go up according to the season but with everything sorted for you it's a time-saver – especially for the budget savvy of us who have to research and compare every different option.
Check out the packages sections of sites like Flight Centre or My Queensland to see just how much you can save on your holiday.
11. Fly without extras
If you're not having any luck with the price of your actual flight, consider forgoing extras like checked baggage (or share luggage to cut costs in half), in-flight meals and drinks.
We find these perks on budget airlines significantly increase the price of your flight - sometimes even doubling it. It may not seem like much, but if you're travelling with a family of four, these extras can easily add up to an extra night's hotel stay. Think of it as bonus vacation.
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