Save both your annual leave and your cash with these deals for a long weekend escape.
Only once a year do two public holidays sit on a consecutive Friday and Monday. It's like a "free holiday", letting you get in four-days off without having to take any annual leave. Take full advantage of it by sneaking in a getaway, and play your cards right so your bank account barely notices the difference.
We’ve found a host of travel deals that are valid over the 2018 long weekend from 30 March - 2 April.
Top Easter travel deals:
Groupon
Up to 15% off parking at Australia airports
Valid for use on select dates until 30 October 2018. Destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Ballina, Gold Coast, Cairns, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart. T&C's apply.
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Deal expires
Holiday Inn
20% off best flexible rate
Available for select hotels only. T&Cs apply.
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Deal expires
Topdeck
Up to 30% off last-minute deals
Valid on select last-minute departures. Destinations vary, but include China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Bali. T&C's apply.
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Medina
Up to 20% off stays
Valid for stays until 30 December 2018 at in North Ryde and Canberra.
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Adina
Up to 20% off stays 2+ nights
Valid for stays on select dates from 13 September 2017 - 31 December 2018. Minimum of a 2-night stay to redeem offer. T&C's apply.
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Lastminute.com.au
Extra 10% off or more
Get extra 10% or more off select hotels when you sign up now at Lastminute.com.au. See site for more details.
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Rendezvous
15% off Perth stay + 2 for 1 breakfast
Valid for stays on select dates at Rendezvous Hotel Perth Central. T&C's apply.
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Travelodge Australia
15% off Perth stay + 2 for 1 breakfast
Valid for stays on select dates at Travelodge Hotel Perth. T&C's apply.
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Rendezvous
15% off Perth stay + 2 for 1 breakfast
Valid for stays on select dates at Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough. T&C's apply.
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Airbnb
Refer a friend and get $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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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.
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DriveNow
Campervan hire from $5/day
Offers and validity dates updated daily. Available on select routes in Australia and New Zealand.
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RedBalloon
2-for-1 experiences and activities
Buy one get one free on a range of experiences across Australia. Offers change regularly, but often include sightseeing cruises, abseiling, dining, hot air ballooning, quadbiking, jet boating, scenic flights, helicopter rides, flying lessons, classic car hire, driving and rally car experiences and more.
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5 tips that will help you get the best Easter travel deals
It might not cost you any annual leave, but it's hard to have a holiday without spending a cent, although camping can come very close. Take some tips for saving, and you can get more of a vacation for less.
- Drive on the cheap. Unless you're walking, there are going to be some travel expenses. If you haven't already, it's worth considering how much it costs to rent a car without forgetting to add the discounts. You can get free upgrades, free rental days or simply flat discounts of 20% off, or more. The price tag you see on the rental car website isn't necessarily the price you have to pay.
- Fly for less. Check for Easter weekend discounts and tips for flying cheaply to see if there are ways to save. The cardinal rule of cheap flights, however, is generally to book as soon as possible to keep costs down. To make it happen for less, you need to start planning sooner rather than later and lock down deals while you can.
- Don't overspend on accommodation. Depending on where you're doing, you can get pretty reasonable accommodation for remarkably low prices. Remember to consider more than just the initial price per night though, and remember to think about what you'll be getting when you stay. A lot of the seemingly pricier stays offer free meals, freebies for kids and other additions. If you can take advantage of it, you might as well take full advantage.
- Book online. There's a reason businesses are moving online. It's often quicker and easier to process online bookings and other arrangements, which lets them keep costs down. To make it worthwhile, you can often pay less simply by booking online. A lot of other discounts, are also only available online and won't even cross your path if you book over the phone.
