Australia (Besides Melbourne And Sydney) Master Thread

[KidOOO]

Checked AA only about 3 days with saver for Jan / Feb, I would pay AAnytime but they want 250K PP one way in J that's crazy

Would it be any different with BA or do they just have AA saver

HTI is an island and seems nicer and quieter overall from DW limited reaserch so far

[Dan]

Unless you're springing for the Qualia I don't think HTI is a must-do just because it's an island.

[KidOOO]

Unless you're springing for the Qualia I don't think HTI is a must-do just because it's an island.

What's so special about the Qualia?

Honestly I don't mind for HTI, my wife wants a quiet beach with a lagoon + without Zika

[Dan]

What's so special about the Qualia?

Honestly I don't mind for HTI, my wife wants a quiet beach with a lagoon + without Zika

Qualia seemed like a little pocket of tranquility on an island overrun by golf carts. Regretted not splurging for it.

[KidOOO]

Qualia seemed like a little pocket of tranquility on an island overrun by golf carts. Regretted not splurging for it.

Guess will do some more research before decide.

Still trying to figure out the flights

[AJK]

We're big fans of HTI, even without having stayed at Qualia.

Charming little island; love they don't allow cars; loads of activities. 

We stayed in a huge 2 floor, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with a full kitchen, living room, and den, that came with its own golf cart for the princely sum of like $200/nite.

[Dan]

We're big fans of HTI, even without having stayed at Qualia.

Charming little island; love they don't allow cars; loads of activities. 

We stayed in a huge 2 floor, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo with a full kitchen, living room, and den, that came with its own golf cart for the princely sum of like $200/nite.

Was too little for me and the overwhelming golf cart traffic irked me. Didn't help that Mimi was 2.5 months pregnant and constantly nauseous though. Or that we went in peak January season.

[mimb]

Cairns was amazing when I was there this past March. A little rainy due to the tropical season but lots of tours you can go on and obviously the GBR was unbelievable

[eandd]

I'm new to the whole credit card miles thing, and would really like to go to Australia next year January. What credit cards would be recommended to sign up for to get two free tickets (economy is fine) TIA

[mimb]

I'm new to the whole credit card miles thing, and would really like to go to Australia next year January. What credit cards would be recommended to sign up for to get two free tickets (economy is fine) TIA

Chase sapphire reserve and united Explorer. You should have 150K united miles with both of those, almost enough for 2 round trip economy on united

[eandd]

Chase sapphire reserve and united Explorer. You should have 150K united miles with both of those, almost enough for 2 round trip economy on united

Thanks!
Would signing up for the citi AAdvantage or British Airways Visa be useful for domestic flights?

[mimb]

Thanks!
Would signing up for the citi AAdvantage or British Airways Visa be useful for domestic flights?

The British Airways might help but I would check to see if there are any flights that you could use with Avios. They wasn't much availability when I was looking last march so I ended up paying for the tickets, which were actually pretty pricey

[eandd]

Has anyone flown on miles to PPP to see Whitsundays? Also, anyone used points to travel Western Australia (besides perth)? (Haven't seen any info online after a lot of research)

[Dan]

Has anyone flown on miles to PPP to see Whitsundays?

I flew to HTI on miles.

[eandd]

I flew to HTI on miles.

I want to stay in Airlie Beach where there's a Best Western I can use points for...HTI transport to Airlie Beach is expensive

[yitzyul]

Looking to book a trip to Oz and am in the very early stages  for 1.5 weeks. Im trying to arrive in 1 airport and leave from another to save time. (I definitely want to go to HTI for part of the trip) Which area should I not bother with? Meaning If I can only find availability arriving thru BNE, should I just do HTI and SYD and leave from there? Or is MEL a must?  but dont want to waist time traveling from BNE-HTI-SYD-MEL etc.

[Dan]

Why HTI over CNS?

[yitzyul]

Why HTI over CNS?

google searched best airport to barrier reef and shows HTI

[Dan]

google searched best airport to barrier reef and shows HTI

I'd venture to say that CNS or Port Douglas is better/cheaper for GBR access, but YMMV.

[yitzyul]

I'd venture to say that CNS or Port Douglas is better/cheaper for GBR access, but YMMV.

TY.
Im giving up. I spent hour and hours trying to find award availability to anywhere near OZ for Feb J or F and I cant find ANYTHING without crazy stopovers and wasting half the trip on stops. (Only thing remotely availability is Emirates but JAL not an option anymore, flew numerous times with them and spent some time in dubai.. time for a change)