Travel Period: 28th April 2015 - 3rd May 2015
It's hard to believe that this will be my first trip down south! Papa M had been to Australia a few times but he dont do much in planning for our trips, so its not very helpful. We decided to visit Gold Coast as we thought it will be more interesting for the kids. We are usually very free, easy and random during our trips but being the first timers in Australia, I did a little more homework than usual.
Geography
Travel Visa
Singaporeans will need a valid visa to enter Australia. As recommended by a friend, the easiest way
is to apply for the Tourist Visa (Electronic Travel Application) online. It is fast, easy, hassle free and I could get the Visa in PDF file within a day. The best thing about their service is that they checked that Papa M dont need the tourist visa as he has the APEC visa that allows him to enter Australia, which he didnt know he had! He checked with the authorities and found out the APEC visa he applied for was approved but no one informed him.
Each visa is $10 for a 1 year validity or until the expiry date of the passport. I know this because my passport is expiring in 7 months time. Since we got to cancel this trip, I will need to apply for another visa when I get my passport renewed. Wasted $10 here.
Car Rental
I booked through Hotel.com and I think I got a good deal for a full size car. I am rather picky as I feel a full size salon car is safer. I paid S$153.27 for a 4 day period and top-up S$39.60 for Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance. I had to cancelled the booking after 2 days and it was without much fuss but suffered S$13.13 through exchange rate via credit card. I had to email to Allianz to cancel the Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance which was promptly replied that refund will be made to my credit card.
Accommodation
I short-listed 5 accommodations which are all along Surfers Paradise Boulevard. To me, cleanliness and location are the 2 main things that I look for when booking for accommodation.
Location:
We decided to book Mantra Circle on Cavill, 1 bedroom Ocean Spa apartment as we have 2 young children in toll, they will want to stay in the same room with us, no point getting a 2 bedroom. Hotel.com has a stay 10 nights get 1 night free rewards program but I prefer cash discount. Discount codes can be easily searched on the Web. I found a 5% off code. 4 nights stay is S$1102.05 after discount.
Fortunately, I booked the accommodation using Hotel.com and they had a 2 day free cancellation policy. I managed to get 100% refund back into my credit card, but I lost S$17.48 on exchange rate. Cancellation was easy and no-fuss too. I love Hotel.com!
Itinerary
Day 1: 28th Apr 2015
Singapore - Gold Coast
Day 2: 29th Apr 2015
Singapore - Gold Coast
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Check in Apartment
Day 3: 30th Apr 2015
Half Day Tamborine Mountain Tour - Morning
Return to City
Day 4: 1st May 2015
Dream World
Day 5: 2nd May 2015
Sea World
Day 6: 3rd May 2015
Gold Coast - Singapore
It's hard to believe that this will be my first trip down south! Papa M had been to Australia a few times but he dont do much in planning for our trips, so its not very helpful. We decided to visit Gold Coast as we thought it will be more interesting for the kids. We are usually very free, easy and random during our trips but being the first timers in Australia, I did a little more homework than usual.
Geography
 |
| Gold Coast, Queensland (Eastern Australia) It is slightly more than half the size of Singapore and more than 8 hours of flight from Singapore |
 |
| Our area of coverage for this trip |
Air Tickets - Scoot Sale
We booked the tickets way back during a Scoot sale, the first time we booked a holiday 7 months in advance! It's only S$68 per person one way, fare only. Only 3 of the sale fare is left, so I had to split our booking to book for 3 person and the 4th person paid a higher sale fare. Better than all 4 pax pay higher fare right? We do our usual top-up for 25 kg luggage outbound, 50 kg luggage inbound, seats selection (a must for us!) and food. I paid in total S$1,727.93 for 4 pax. ($379.08 per pax for Scoot Sale, $590.68 for normal sale. Average of $431.98 each)
Then guess what? Scoot change the flight timing and we had to do a stop-over instead of a direct flight. BOO! So much for planning early. End up we got to cancel this trip as Papa M has work commitments and cant accommodate to the new flight timing. Luckily we managed to change our travel to Taiwan instead.
Then guess what? Scoot change the flight timing and we had to do a stop-over instead of a direct flight. BOO! So much for planning early. End up we got to cancel this trip as Papa M has work commitments and cant accommodate to the new flight timing. Luckily we managed to change our travel to Taiwan instead.
Good thing though is that Scoot allow us to cancel the flight and gave us a full refund. (need to wait 8 weeks for the refund in voucher). On 2nd second thoughts, I should have requested to change the flights to October since we plan to do our 2nd attempt to Gold Coast then.
Travel Visa
is to apply for the Tourist Visa (Electronic Travel Application) online. It is fast, easy, hassle free and I could get the Visa in PDF file within a day. The best thing about their service is that they checked that Papa M dont need the tourist visa as he has the APEC visa that allows him to enter Australia, which he didnt know he had! He checked with the authorities and found out the APEC visa he applied for was approved but no one informed him.
Each visa is $10 for a 1 year validity or until the expiry date of the passport. I know this because my passport is expiring in 7 months time. Since we got to cancel this trip, I will need to apply for another visa when I get my passport renewed. Wasted $10 here.
Car Rental
I booked through Hotel.com and I think I got a good deal for a full size car. I am rather picky as I feel a full size salon car is safer. I paid S$153.27 for a 4 day period and top-up S$39.60 for Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance. I had to cancelled the booking after 2 days and it was without much fuss but suffered S$13.13 through exchange rate via credit card. I had to email to Allianz to cancel the Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance which was promptly replied that refund will be made to my credit card.
Accommodation
I short-listed 5 accommodations which are all along Surfers Paradise Boulevard. To me, cleanliness and location are the 2 main things that I look for when booking for accommodation.
Location:
- in City Centre, near to food and beach
- from Gold Coast (OOL) airport - 25 km, 40 mins drive
- to Sea World - 6 km, 15 mins drive
- to Dream World - 25 km, 30 mins drive
- to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary - 20 km, 30 mins drive
- to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre - 3 km, 10 mins drive
 |
| Hilton Surfers Paradise Residence Two Bedroom Deluxe Residence, Max 4 pax Average S$320 including taxes (Pictures from internet) |
 |
| Hotel Grand Chancellor Surfers Paradise Deluxe Twin Room, Max 4 pax Average S$180 including taxes (Pictures from internet) |
 |
| Mantra Circle on Cavill One Bedroom Ocean Spa Apartment, Max 4 pax Average S$280 including taxes (Pictures from internet) |
 |
| Outrigger Surfers Paradise Twin room, 4 pax Average S$180 including taxes (Pictures from internet) |
 |
| The Towers of Chevron Renaissance 2 bedroom, Max 4 pax Average S$280 including taxes (Pictures from internet) |
We decided to book Mantra Circle on Cavill, 1 bedroom Ocean Spa apartment as we have 2 young children in toll, they will want to stay in the same room with us, no point getting a 2 bedroom. Hotel.com has a stay 10 nights get 1 night free rewards program but I prefer cash discount. Discount codes can be easily searched on the Web. I found a 5% off code. 4 nights stay is S$1102.05 after discount.
Fortunately, I booked the accommodation using Hotel.com and they had a 2 day free cancellation policy. I managed to get 100% refund back into my credit card, but I lost S$17.48 on exchange rate. Cancellation was easy and no-fuss too. I love Hotel.com!
Itinerary
Day 1: 28th Apr 2015
Singapore - Gold Coast
- Take off at 10.25 pm in Singapore Changi Airport
Day 2: 29th Apr 2015
Singapore - Gold Coast
- Landing at 7.55 am in Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport
- Collect rental car
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
- 5 km, 10 mins drive from Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport
- lunch
Check in Apartment
- chill on beach
- shopping and dinner nearby
Day 3: 30th Apr 2015
Half Day Tamborine Mountain Tour - Morning
- run by Southern Cross 4WD tours
- Adult AUD$88, Child AUD$58, free for 3 years old and below
- consider to upgrade to full day tour if kids are up to it
Return to City
- Shopping at outlets / malls
- chill on beach
- shopping and dinner nearby
Day 4: 1st May 2015
Dream World
Day 5: 2nd May 2015
Sea World
Day 6: 3rd May 2015
Gold Coast - Singapore
- Return rental car
- Take off at 9.05 am in Gold Coast Coolangatta Airport
- Landing at 3.20 pm in Singapore Changi Airport
Expenditure
| Items |
Expenditure (S$)
| Remarks |
| Flight |
1,727.93
| Cancelled with refund in vouchers |
| Car Rental |
153.27
| Cancelled with S$13.13 exchange rate loss |
| Accommodation |
1,102.05
| Cancelled with S$17.48 exchange rate loss |
| Total |
2,983.25
| Actual Expenditure: S$30.61 |
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