Travel: Australia - Gold Coast

[vicki]

Mamo:

Just change more AUD, rate has gone up to 132.50. :moneyflies:

Darn!! Should hve bot it when it was 1.26 a mth back!

[2ppaamm]

I am not so sure about F&E without a car, because I have never gone without a car in GC. I know the bus system and train system are good, but the taxis are difficult in non touristic places. My older kids travel by bus and trains. So I guess if you are always in the tourist areas, you will be fine. I live in the suburbs, which means there is practically no cabs unless we call for one. In the city areas, you will have no problem at all.


I hope this information helps.

[2ppaamm]

vicki:

Mamo:

Just change more AUD, rate has gone up to 132.50. :moneyflies:

Darn!! Should hve bot it when it was 1.26 a mth back!

Yeah, I am upset too. Waited like crazy for Melbourne Cup day for the interest rates to go down by 0.25% but the exchange rate went up instead?! No fundamentals anymore. Aussie dollars are like metal - super strong! The rest of the world is not helping!

One more thing about exchange rates, I just used my SGD credit card just now. The exchange rate was 1.37?! So use your cash instead.

[pinky88]

vicki:

pinky88:

Hi vicki, i also booked emirates...the cheapest. I believe u'll arrive in brisbane past midnight. Did u rent a car? If yes, which agent did u book thru? Most of the car rental companies do not operate on our arrival time.

Hi pinky88,

I will be arranging for transport to the hotel (going with coachtrans). Cos I thk by the time we touch down n clear customs, it is actually very late n dark so don't want a sleepy hb to drive in such conditions.

I booked my car to be picked up the next day n will hang on to it till I return.

We took this flight back in 2009 before n then upon enquiry, only hertz had the car pickup SVC but we had to pay extra cos it's way past their opening hrs. Alternatively was to go with the smaller car co, but I didn't want to take the risk (prefer reputable car cos)! So in the end, decided to just take the transfer for that night n am glad took that option cos dh was sleeping during the drive to GoldCoast!!

When are u flying? I'm leaving on 20! Maybe we are flight mates??

Thks for ur info...vicki. Will chk out on e coachtrans. Whom did u rent e car fm?

We flying on on 29th...

[2ppaamm]

tip about car rental. The cheaper to rent from smaller companies. If you tell them what their competitors are charging, they will give you a cheaper or similar rate. Try that out.

[vicki]

pinky88:

Thks for ur info...vicki. Will chk out on e coachtrans. Whom did u rent e car fm?

We flying on on 29th...

Hi pinky88,

This time i rented from Hertz as they had a global promotion last mth (Sep) and the daily rates were very very good.

Previous time i booked from this website: http://www.discovery-carhire.com.au/

Basically, they work with the bigger car companies like Hertz/ Budget/ Avis etc. When you 'search' for a category of car, they will show you the pxs from all these companies so that you can choose the 'cheapest' one for booking. The booking is relayed to the car company so you directly pick up from them.

I booked them for my Gold Coast car (2009) n Melbourne car (Jun 2011) and so far so good.

You can try chkg their website n see if their pxs are still competitive now.

Btw - rem to get your myfun passes cos i think its cheaper to get via the net than at the door.

Are you staying at Broadbeach or Surfers? Im staying at Broadbeach cos prefer to serenity over there.

[pinky88]

vicki:

pinky88:

Thks for ur info...vicki. Will chk out on e coachtrans. Whom did u rent e car fm?

We flying on on 29th...

Hi pinky88,

This time i rented from Hertz as they had a global promotion last mth (Sep) and the daily rates were very very good.

Previous time i booked from this website: http://www.discovery-carhire.com.au/

Basically, they work with the bigger car companies like Hertz/ Budget/ Avis etc. When you 'search' for a category of car, they will show you the pxs from all these companies so that you can choose the 'cheapest' one for booking. The booking is relayed to the car company so you directly pick up from them.

I booked them for my Gold Coast car (2009) n Melbourne car (Jun 2011) and so far so good.

You can try chkg their website n see if their pxs are still competitive now.

Btw - rem to get your myfun passes cos i think its cheaper to get via the net than at the door.

Are you staying at Broadbeach or Surfers? Im staying at Broadbeach cos prefer to serenity over there.

Viki, thks so much for all e info. We r oso staying at broadbeach:)

[2ppaamm]

Wah! Somebody brought the sun from Singapore! It is super hot today!

[Puffer]

2ppaamm:

Wah! Somebody brought the sun from Singapore! It is super hot today!

What's the temperature like now in GC?

[2ppaamm]

About 24 degrees, but it was so sunny and hot, little breeze. I think I got sun burnt from sitting under the shade while waiting for my younger daughter. She took a major exam today, while I waited outside. So hot! My eyes are still seeing stars from the bright sun.