Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 2 . PLANNING AN AFFORDABLE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA
and eat one dish first, then order a
second if you need it.
38. In cities, head to an Italian sidewalk
cafe for tasty pasta and stylish sandwiches.
A focaccia sandwich with
salami, provolone cheese, sun-dried
tomatoes, and arugula will set you
back around A$8 (US$5.20) and
keep you going ’til dinner.
39. Backpacker lodges, youth hostels,
and universities almost always
have restaurants or cafes attached,
which serve up big portions of
tasty, healthy food for not much
money.
40. Tipping is not necessary, although
it is common to tip 5% to 10% in
restaurants and round cab fares up
to the nearest A$1 (US65¢).
Plenty of Aussies don’t tip, so
don’t feel embarrassed about
hanging on to your coins.
41. If you are traveling by car, keep a
box of cereal and long-life milk in
the trunk and use the hotel coffee
cups as bowls. It beats paying
A$10 (US$6.50) for the same
thing in the hotel restaurant.
42. RSL (Returned and Services
League) clubs and League clubs
(as in Rugby League football) serve
hearty meals—along the roast,
chicken Kiev, and steak lines, with
vegetables or salad, and bread and
potato included—for around
A$10 (US$6.50). You will have to
sign in before you enter the club
and put up with their uniquely
lurid brand of neon-lit decor, but
that’s part of the fun. Kids’ meals
are about A$5 (US$3.25).
TOURS & SIGHTSEEING
43. Australian city councils are big on
providing free entertainment—for
example, Sydney has free dance
performances or concerts at Darling
Harbour many weekends,
and free lunchtime concerts in
Martin Place most days; Brisbane
has street performers at South
Bank Parklands most weekends;
and Darwin has free Sunday Jazz
by the sea at the MGM Grand
Casino in Dry Season. Check
local newspapers for details.
44. You can often get half-price theater
tickets on the day of the
performance. We’ve listed halfprice
ticket agencies in the “After
Dark” sections of each chapter,
where relevant. Matinees are often
around A$8 (US$5.20), cheaper
than evening shows.
45. Walking tours can be half the
price of bus tours, and they give
you a good close-up view of the
city and sights.
SHOPPING
46. Skincare products, cosmetics, perfume,
electronics, imported
designer accessories, liquor, cigarettes,
and other luxury items
attract high duty in Australia. If
you need to buy these products,
get them in duty-free stores,
which can be found in capital
cities and major tourist destinations.
You will need to show your
airline ticket and passport to buy.
47. If you buy anything expensive—
jewelry, for example—ask if there
is a tax-free price for international
travelers. Most non-duty-free
stores selling high-ticket items
offer tax-free prices to international
travelers who show their
airline ticket and passport.
48. Aboriginal artifacts make great souvenirs
and gifts, but look for the
shops just a block or two away
from the center of town, which sell
the same items a good bit cheaper
than the ones on the main streets.
NIGHTLIFE
49. There are no cover charges at
pubs, and drinks are cheaper than
in nightclubs. Some have live
entertainment, pool, and sports
video screens.
50. Aussies love beer any time, but it
never tastes better than during