With Easter only nine weeks away, many Australians are looking to take advantage of a holiday hack that turns three days of annual leave into a 10-day vacation over Easter and ANZAC Day.
However, according to Skyscanner, the all-in-one travel app, flights over the Easter period are projected to be 24% more expensive than travelling during the rest of the year.
To help Aussies bag a bargain during this pricey period, Skyscanner has today revealed some destinations to book over this Easter break that could still see travellers save up to 29% on airfare.
Hunt no more: money-saving destinations to explore this Easter
The annual holiday periods are notorious for being expensive when it comes to travel, and Easter is no exception. However, Skyscanner’s data has revealed that there are still some great international destinations to consider that are surprisingly cheaper over the Easter break compared to the rest of the year.
The Philippines capital, Manila, has topped the list, with savings more than $200 (29%) if travelled from Sydney over Easter compared to the rest of the year. This is good news for Aussie travellers, as it recently featured amongst the top 10 destinations of the year in Skyscanner’s Trends Report 2018.
Taipei, the Taiwan capital renowned for friendly, social culture and its bustling night markets, offers similar savings of more than $200, making it 15% cheaper than during other points of the year.
By crunching 2 years’ worth of data, Skyscanner has revealed the top destinations to visit to save a buck when travelling from Sydney:
| Value destinations to visit
this Easter holiday |
Estimated savings on airfare |
| Manila | 29% |
| Beijing | 19% |
| Shanghai | 18% |
| Kathmandu | 18% |
| Taipei | 15% |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 7% |
| Bangkok | 6% |
| Kuala Lumpur | 5% |
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Note: The destinations in the table above has been highlighted as they have been consistently more affordable to travel to over Easter as compared to other points of the year, based on an analysis of more than 2 years’ worth of historic data, of which other departure cities are available on request. The estimated savings shown are based on return flights departing from Sydney for an adult. For latest airfares and deals to these destinations, please visit Skyscanner.com.au.
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Emily Cairns, Travel Expert for Skyscanner Australia commented: “Easter is naturally one of the most popular times of the year to get away. But due to school holidays and many choosing to take annual leave, prices are expectedly higher than other times of the year.
“However, our data shows that there’s still some great deals to be taken advantage of, including to Aussie favourites like Bangkok and Manila.
“There are many reasons why these destinations could be cheaper at Easter, and one may be that most Australians avoid long haul travel over this period due to it being a traditionally shorter break. But with a holiday hack this year that extends this period from only three leave days to a whopping ten, Easter 2019 is a great opportunity to explore longer haul destinations, all the while saving money!”
To encourage Aussies to make the most of the time that’s left to book in that long weekend getaway, Skyscanner has pulled together a comprehensive list of the best Easter flight deals to take advantage of. Including Sydney to Los Angeles via Fiji Airways from $819 return, and Melbourne to Auckland via Virgin Australia from $399 return, there is something for everyone.
Hop off: destinations to avoid paying a premium
While travel costs to most destinations tend to increase during Easter, Skyscanner’s data also revealed that there are certain hotspots that see significant price hikes, which could lead to Aussies forking out up to 30% more than other travel periods.
The biggest airfare surges tend to be for New Zealand and interstate travel, with key culprits being Christchurch, Queenstown and Hamilton Island, all seeing more than 15% in travel hikes.
Australian staple, Bali, is another repeat offender over this period, with airfare to the Indonesian Island increasing by almost a third (30%) if travelled from Adelaide, and more than 10% from both Melbourne and Perth respectively.
Skyscanner highlights some of the popular destinations where travellers can expect to pay a premium, from Sydney:
| Pricey destinations to visit
this Easter holiday |
Estimated hike in airfare |
| Christchurch | +20% |
| Queenstown | +17% |
| Hamilton Island | +16% |
| Ballina | +13% |
| Port Vila | +10% |
| Gold Coast | +10% |
| Tokyo | +6% |
| Hobart | +5% |
| Cairns | +4% |
| Perth | +3% |
| Sunshine Coast | +3% |
| Note: The destinations in the table above has been highlighted as they have been consistently more expensive to travel to over Easter as compared to other points of the year, based on an analysis of more than 2 years’ worth of historic data, of which other departure cities are available on request. The estimated price hike shown are based on return flights departing from Sydney for an adult. For latest airfares and deals to these destinations, please visit Skyscanner.com.au. | |
Emily Cairns continued: “It’s not surprising to see prices rise for interstate and New Zealand trips, particularly as many Australians will likely be choosing short-haul travel or travelling domestically to visit family.
“There may be no avoiding these influxes if you are tied to visiting a particular destination that is popular. However, if you have the luxury of considering alternative destinations, then there are some other great options where you could even save a buck!”
Another hot tip: book in advance
To save money on travel, it’s not only important to consider where to book for Easter travel this year, but also when to book. With less than nine weeks to Easter, Skyscanner reveals that booking now can still result in savings of up to 10% on average – meaning more spending money when on holidays!
For more information or to book your next holiday, visit www.skyscanner.com.au.
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