MACDONALDO67

I usually tip people in the UK not to eat yellow snow but somehow that isn't going to cut it in Oz.

Brilliant thread for those thinking about emigrating or right in the middle of it with doubts already. :biglaugh: Should make this a sticky for all the newbies. "Please read before you ask silly questions" :biglaugh:

Just watching that first new episode of WDU. The family from Glasgow. "You would have to pay me to live here. It's depressing" :frown: The only redeeming feature is the pool. My God! "It's a dump" :huh: O how I cringed. That's someone's home, someone's pride and joy, what they worked hard for. As Roy Walker says..... "Say what you see".

Will do. Skyscanners is one site and flight supermarket the other.

The book early advice seems to be the majority and therefore........ Thanks for the vote and your experiences. Cheers

OK is there a knack to this? Holiday venue at Bondi now confirmed so just need to book flights for December 2013 / January 2014. Is it best to book as soon as they are released or wait until offers appear later in the year? I'm expecting the flights to come out within the next couple of months and I'm unsure if to jump straight in or sit back and wait. So used to booking flights for European venues but Long Haul to Sydney is a first for me. Also discounts? Any sites for voucher codes that could shave a small % off the bill would be much appreciated. It will be Quantas, Emirates or Singapore Airlines I reckon although I'm finding Quantas just that wee bit more expensive than the others in price comparison at this time of year. Any tips will be much appreciated. Regards.

Thank you for the replies. I have something on a back burner but we are shopping around still so suggestions much appeciated. Things are getting snapped up already with that bloody cricket though :biglaugh:

Believe it or not that was the best price I could get to be near Bondi. Other locations nearby were coming up $3800 to $4200 to can't complain at $3000. Translated to English money it's £1961. Just dying to go Oz. I'm 45, never been, got to do it. It's one of my dreams on my ticklist.

Right I have managed a booking for 12 nights, deposit to be paid before January 7th, for an apartment at the "Ultimate Apartments @ Bondi Beach" for $3000 (or £1961 in English money). Just the flights to sort which will be between £3000 and £4000 so it's looking good. These apartments are on O'Brien Street which is only 7 minutes walk to the beach. Bust stop to the city right outside and a short walk to Bondi Jct Railway station.

What I will say is that if I haven't secured a job within the next two years then I'm hiring a bloody boat and I'm coming in !!! :jimlad:

That paper is probably equivalent to the Daily Mail in the UK. I used to read that paper and although I don't dispute some of the stories had an element of truth, a lot of it was beefed up to wind people up. I had to stop reading the paper because although I know things go on over here, it was affecting me. So now I don't buy any papers and haven't bought one for over two years now. There are just too many fiddles going on from the church to politicians and from corporate business to Starbucks that I tend to try and concentrate on what resources I have and what I can provide for me and my family. But reading some of the lines about "I can come over there and get free money" was or may have been translated from "we don't have two pennies to rub together and any help the Australian people can give to help us will be appreciated". I know what goes on. I'm not naive but I prefer to believe it first hand when I hear/see it for myself.

Very clever journalism to get the blood boiling there. A lot of hard core Aussie's won't like that. I've been trying to get a job over there and even I cannot get into Australia. These refugees have more chance than what I do on that script. :biglaugh:

And here was me thinking to just walk down one of the roads at the river bank of Port Jackson and watch :twitcy:

PEAK SEASON: 15 Dec to 4 January :: $359 per weeknight, $399 per weekend night (fri/sat), $2400 per week (7 nights) HIGH SEASON: 10 - 15 Dec/ 5-18 Jan :: $349 per weeknight, $379 per weekend night (fri/sat), $2300 per week (7 nights) MID SEASON: 15 Nov - 10 Dec/ 19 Jan - 28 Feb :: $279 per weeknight, $299 per weekend night (fri/sat), $1900 per week (7 nights) LOW SEASON: 1-21 Sept/ 8-14 Nov/ 1 March-12 April :: $239 per weeknight, $259 per weekend night, $1650 per week (7 nights) WINTER RATES: 30 April - 31 August :: $189 per weeknight, $199 per weekend night, $1300 per week (7 nights) Every booking incurs a $70 linen hire and $150 departure clean fee. It's an apartment on Bondi and if it was £1000 cheaper then I probably would have pushed the boat out. Taking into account flights will be £3000-£4000 and then food money and transport costs on top i have just hit the earth with a bump. So yes 7 is too short and if I could have done longer with it being a one off then I would have.

Holiday parks and a car of course. Thanks. Yes that figure was in £. It was $2400 for 7 nights and $359 per night and $399 at Weekends. The linen was $150 (£100) and it looks just a little too much. The place looking right on to Bondi so for the view it was brilliant but with a cost. Dam it!!! So yes I'm looking at other options and Holiday park next up.

Noted. Thanks. It was the new year thing and my roster has fallen right for time off. You're right about the 7 days lark not being worth it so I'm going to have to try another option. Thanks.

Yes it may be cheaper coming inland. That's another job for me to look at tonight. Had my heart set on Bondi but I may have to compromise here. It's being at the bridge for the fireworks that is the priority so back to the drawing board. Thanks.

Cheers for info. May have reduce the days from 12 to 7 but it's a bloody shame. Going that far for 7 nights I really wanted to make it worthwhile.

OK after some ideas here if anyone can help please? Looking at trying to get over to Sydney for December 2013 for the 2014 New Year. Thing is.... the cost. Been trying to get quotes for an Apartment, B&B, Hotel and for two adults and two kids and it costs a fortune. We are trying to locate near to Bondi with a view of travelling in to the city on the 31st for the bridge fireworks but our main stay is to be somewhere near the beach. A quote for 12 nights, room only, is coming to £2754 and that doesn't take into account the cost for bed linen and clean sweep after we leave, which is another $150. On top of this are the flights and spend whilst there.:frown: I sent an email to the Swiss Grand Resort and Spa on Bondi Beach and the manager there replied that they will be permanently cosed from 27th April 2013 ????? Anyone heard about this? This is an Accor Hotel chain so are they selling up to some other chain. I did send a reply asking about this and any other suggestions but no response???? I am trying to avoid a package holiday and booking somethging directly myself but it appears to be dearer?? Thanks for any assistance you can give.

I Wish I could share your enthusiasm and opportunity but I CANNOT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET A JOB OVER THERE. :wacko:

EW just as a matter of interest what does your partner think of the shopping choice between Australia and the UK? Does he prefer Australia for the shopping or the UK? You're right ASDA does rock.

I've not been to Oz or appear to be going there anytime soon in the immediate future so my knowledge of shopping there, apart from Coles and Woolworths, is non existant. However, reading threads and comments by others that have been there, or are there now, does send me a signal that we have far more choice here in the UK. I get so many good deals here in the UK on beer and wine that when I compare the price to that in Oz I think "My god the price of that". Is that a trap that people fall into when they get to Australia in comparison to wages? Comparing the price of an item to what you would pick it up for in the UK? When I go to Spain each year I can't help myself comparing and converting prices to see if it is cheaper or dearer and I wonder if people that go to Oz get wrapped up in this to a point comparing becomes an obsession. Not a good start for new migrants if a downside is painted. I know I would fall into this category but may be able to off set that comparison on the wages earned.

You tried it, didn't like it and now you are heading back home. It's a shame really because you have done all the hard work getting there only to return. Sorry it didn't work out for you. Just wish I could give it a go. Been trying since 2008 and so nearly got that job last March but it didn't come off. So may people's threads I read about coming back and I just can't get that opportiunity, that lucky break, to get over there. Everything for a reason, Amor Fati !!

That's what I am having trouble with. I had an interview in March for a railway job in Perth. Was unfortunate not to get it but there were 8 positions and 16 applicants. Two of my collegues managed to get picked, I missed out. They have both just completed their employer checks and are now awaiting a 475 visa. Had I just managed to get in we would have been going in October. Gutted !!! Anyway I'm applying but the bait I am using isn't working so I have to be patient. That interview was the closest I came to going. Thing is the employer was under the impression that I had to be under 45 and I was trying to explain that for a 475 visa there was no age limit. Something went against me but my two colleagues will see what they can do for me when they get over there and settled in. Might be another year or two yet. BHP Billiton have my aplication under review but its been under review since March. Connex, QR, and Rio said thanks but no thanks and ARTC and Geelong&Wyoming didn't even reply to my application. Amor Fati, if it happens then it was meant to be, everything for a reason just don't know what that bloody reason is though.

And this is what I cannot get my head around. This is a small minority that behave this way in a land whose democracy is there to protect these people in a British and free way of life. If they don't like it as Perthbum has quite rightly pointed out ...... but I don't think they will somehow. Wherever I go in the world I will fit in with that culture, their rules, it's disrespectful not to. Anyway if the UK had the same all year round climate as Perth, WA, AU then I don't think I would ever want to leave and I would put up with the crap. Beaches aren't very good round here though.:biglaugh: