Affordable travel guide: Saving money on travel in 2025

Welcome to Retirement Essentials annual affordable travel guide. This year we have again approached the experts for their insider tips on how to get maximum bang for your buck when you travel in 2025. We’ve left the group touring and cruising adventures aside, in favour of local experiences with hostel accommodation and holiday parks front and centre. We’ve also sought the expertise of Amy Gardener from the Seniors in Melbourne website for her insights into affordable city adventures. And for those who love road trips, we asked author and motoring expert, Lee Atkinson, how to make road trips more affordable – and unforgettable. We hope there is something for everyone in this bumper travel guide – and invite your feedback and tips so that other members of Retirement Essentials can benefit from your experience.

Don’t forget, your Pension Concession Card, your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and your state or territory-based Seniors Card can reward you with discounts and lower transport costs right across Australia. 

Holiday Parks and Resorts

Discovery Parks is the largest owner and operator of lifestyle holiday parks and resorts in Australia, with 90 destinations around the country. Located in some of Australia’s favourite tourism hotspots, these parks are an ideal holiday ‘home base’ for all types of travellers.

 Not every property offers cabins and campsites, but most of them do. Some parks offer premium campsite options, including sites with their own ensuite bathroom and deluxe sites, which feature their own firepit, festoon lighting and extra space to unwind.

Most also have powered and unpowered sites, while some parks like Discovery Resorts – Rottnest Island or El Questro Station also offer Glamping tents. 

Tips on saving at parks

We asked Jindabyne Park Manager, Gerry Kerr the best ways to save on holiday park accommodation:

“To save money, sometimes it’s worth looking beyond the most popular seasonal destinations – it’s a great way to get a deal. The Snowy Mountains are a fantastic and affordable destination during Christmas. While this region is popular in winter, it’s often overlooked in summer, making it less crowded and more budget-friendly. The area boasts plenty of free activities, from hiking and mountain biking to water sports on the Snow River. The weather is also a major plus, it remains milder, making it perfect for outdoor adventures in the summer.

“To make the most of your experience, look for accommodations that offer complementary activities and amenities, so you don’t have to spend big on entertainment. It’s also worth considering where you holiday. It’s always going to be harder and more costly to find a spot at the top summer destinations but consider locations such as the highlands or coastal towns that aren’t number one on the tourist map and you’ll be able to find a good deal. It also pays to book in advance when demand is lower to ensure you get the best rate before accommodation starts to fill up.”

Where to holiday?

 Those who like camping, caravanning and cabins will find parks in every state and territory in Australia. Discovery Parks has 19 in NSW, 16 in Queensland, nine in Victoria, and five in the Northern Territory.

typical prices across both parks and resorts for mid-week January are:

• $85 for a cabin and $34 for an unpowered site (Townsville, Qld)
• $453 for a cabin, $37 for an unpowered tent site ( Kings Canyon, NT)
• $166 for a cabin, $89 for a powered site – no unpowered (Goolwa, SA)
• $185 for a standard cabin, $35 for an unpowered site (Lake Argyle, WA)
• $190 for a standard cabin, $59 for an unpowered site (Bright, Vic)

There is so much to love about parks accommodation – perhaps best understood by the ‘old-school’ friendliness of staff and fellow travellers and swapping of tales around the BBQ as the sun goes down.

Affordable accommodation: 

Youth Hostels Australia (YHA)

Once upon a time youth hostels were only for those aged 30 or younger. Those days are long gone, now there are no age limits at all. As Damien Rodgers,  Central Reservations Manager, YHA Australia told us:

“We are seeing more and more ‘young at heart’ travellers staying with us. YHA properties are great value for money, as well as offering a level of comfort that travellers may not have seen or expected before from accommodation providers that provide both shared and private offerings. We know that travellers who chose YHA like to meet and chat with other people rather than opting to stay in a hotel room by themselves.

“Many older travellers remember when they travelled as backpacker, and we hear the stories of how memorable making lifelong friends and being a part of a community was. The good news is that they can still travel this way and have new experiences – there is so much more on offer than there was back then!

YHA accommodation offers higher quality, clean and very comfortable rooms with the bonus of the various shared spaces, like bars, kitchen and wellness rooms. This is combined with experiences being offered at the properties that make these stays great value for money as well as opportunity to stay in amazing locations and enjoy experiences with likeminded travellers from varied age groups.

How much do hostels cost?

YHA Australia is the largest network of low-cost, youth style accommodation in Australia totalling 37 in the network and operates in every state and territory (apart from the ACT)

Typical Prices for mid-week January are:

• YHA Syd Central Private Room (Queen ensuite): from $189 per room nightly, 1x bed in a 6 share female or 5 share mix: from $68.70
• YHA Grampians Eco – Double or Twin Private room: $95.90, 1x bed in a 4 bed share dorm: from $47.60
• YHA Brisbane City – King River View Ensuite: from $169 per room nightly, bed in 6 share mix or female from $63.40

How to make most of your YHA stay

• Embrace the co-living experience by using the common areas to meet fellow travellers
• Buy local produce and use the communal kitchens to prepare on-the go lunches
• Sign up to experiences offered by the property to meet other guests and learn from local guides

Saving money in capital cities:

Seniors in Melbourne

Amy Gardener is a woman on a mission, a tourism communications consultant who owns and runs the website Seniors in Melbourne. She has made it her mission to inspire retirees to get out and explore the city, build confidence in seeking new travel experiences, and connect with others. She spreads her insights through a regular newsletter (which includes the offer of downloading an exclusive Victorian Seniors Discount Guide):  

Amy was motivated by a few factors:

“I wanted to build something for the tourism industry that supports our older community, who I know are often under-catered to. I also wanted to spend more time with my retired parents and having them involved has been delightfully inspiring. Each week, we head out together to explore and try something new, then write about it to help inspire others to do the same.”

What about other cities?

We asked Amy how Retirement Essentials members could make the most of all other Australian capital cities, regional cities and towns. She had four top tips:

1. Book a local experience or tour that’s run by volunteers. These guys are passionate, know their stuff, and are full of great stories. (Often they are free, too).
2. Find a free self-guided public walking tour map. Head out and explore!
3. Look up galleries, libraries, and museums. Especially if it’s your home city, be open to discovering new and exciting things right there in your own backyard.
4. Use public transport! The discounts for seniors card holders are significant nation-wide. Many provide 50% off on day fares or higher.

How to find discounts? 

Says Amy:

“Discounts are sometimes displayed the old-fashioned way, on a handwritten sign or chalkboard out the front of a shop. This isn’t ideal for planning a visit in advance. It’s worth doing some research online as many places are now reaching out on Facebook and through online directories to promote seniors card discounts.

Many attractions and venues offer a seniors card discount under their concession rate, without specifically mentioning this or promoting it. There are over 15 attractions in Melbourne offering a 20% discount or higher for seniors Card holders, which is well worth accessing.”

Are there certain days of the week better to travel than others?

Amy advises that, generally, off-peak times for tourism businesses are during the day midweek. This is a perfect marriage-up for both the industry and retirees. Make the most of places like hotels and restaurants offering off-peak discounts to fill their bookings. As a bonus, it’s less crowded!

Affordable motoring 2025

Everything feels like it’s more expensive these days, including road tripping, but there are ways to make your money go a little further while on the road. The following information was provided by Lee Atkinson, author and travel writer and highly experienced road tripper.

Says Lee:

Make sure your vehicle has had a service before you head off. And when you’re on the road keeping your tires properly inflated, and maintaining a steady speed, helps with fuel economy.

Take your time and spend less time driving from A to B and more time exploring along the way. If you’re towing a van unhitching and leaving it in the park while you head out and explore the region on day trips means you’ll use a lot less fuel and be able to get into places that a big van can’t go.  And think about heading off the beaten track to smaller towns and regional cities where accommodation and attractions are often cheaper, rather than the popular (and sometimes overpriced) tourist towns and capital cities. 

Caravan parks – often called holiday parks these days – are a great way to save money. You don’t have to be towing a van or camping to enjoy the benefits either, because most have cabins with ensuites and cooking facilities and being able to self-cater really helps keep costs down. An added bonus is that many caravan parks have resort-style facilities like swimming pools and are often on the best beachfront or riverside real estate in town. 

If you are planning on spending more than a few days or nights in national parks, buying a parks pass will save you money. 

One of the advantages of travelling in retirement is that you no longer have to holiday at the same time as everyone else, so avoid peak season when accommodation costs are at their highest. Here in Australia that means Christmas and Easter holidays and long weekends. Travelling in shoulder or low season not only means you’ll save money, but you’ll also escape the crowds. 

If you’re a member of an auto club like RACV or NRMA keep your membership card handy because many motels, caravan parks, fuel outlets and attractions offer member discounts. 

Lee’s three favourite 5-day drives in Australia (from capital cities):

The Eyre Peninsula in South Australia is one of my all-time favourite road trips. It rarely gets crowded, the beaches are beautiful, campsites and caravan parks almost always come with a waterfront view and it’s home to some of the world’s best seafood: Coffin Bay oysters anyone? 

Victoria’s goldfields – the region around Bendigo, Ballarat and Castlemaine – are only a couple of hours drive from Melbourne. The goldrush of the 1850s has left a rich legacy of grand streetscapes and impressive architecture, expansive public gardens and historic villages full of art galleries, antique emporiums and cosy cafes. It’s the perfect place to spend a few days exploring the backroads.

My favourite road trip from Sydney is the Bucketts Way which winds through the hinterland of the NSW mid-north coast between Newcastle and Port Macquarie, via Gloucester and the Barrington Tops. A great way to avoid traffic on the Pacific Hwy. highlights include World Heritage-listed rainforests, national parks full of old growth forests and charming riverside country towns big on heritage and artisan food. 

Next we asked Lee how retirees can save money while on road trips overseas:

If you’re planning a road trip overseas, the earlier you book your hire car the cheaper the price. Picking up from the airport is always more expensive; it can be much cheaper to catch a shuttle to the city and collect your vehicle from there. Getting behind the wheel on the wrong side of the road in a strange city after a long-haul flight is never a good idea. Think twice before accepting a ‘free’ upgrade to a larger car, which can cost more in fuel. Before signing up for extra insurance, check to see if you’re already covered by your travel insurance.

If you are planning a longer driving trip around Europe that includes France consider leasing a car rather than hiring. The Citroen Drive Europe Scheme is a car leasing scheme where you lease a brand new car from Citroen, (Renault and Peugeot have similar schemes).  It’s only available to non-European residents.  If you’re intending to spend a month or more on the road it’s cheaper than car hire, includes unlimited kilometres, comprehensive insurance and roadside assistance and you can drive it, and drop it off, anywhere within the EU. See driveaway.com.au. 

Freeways and expressways are a fast way to travel long distances but expect to pay plenty of tolls along the way. And just like here at home, travelling outside of peak season can save you heaps when it comes to accommodation costs. 

Any further tips on enjoying road adventures?

Having your own set of wheels on holiday is the ultimate ticket to freedom, the difference between following the crowd and travelling beyond the tourist traps and really getting to know a place and meeting the locals. And these days with google maps and translation apps it’s a whole lot easier than it used to be, even if you don’t speak the language. 

My idea of the ultimate road trip is a drive that’s fun. A trip that’s easy to do on holiday, where the driving is enjoyable because of the places the road takes you, rather than the thrill of having made it to the end of the road in one piece or a test of endurance to see how far you can get in the shortest time. 

I try to avoid driving at night: in country areas, particularly in Australia, the risk of colliding with wildlife is high, and what’s the point if you can’t enjoy the landscape because it’s dark? My favourite drives also tend to be in the countryside, meandering between villages and regional towns rather than linking capital cities, because as far as I’m concerned holidays are too short to waste looking for somewhere to park.  

Even with a sat nav the most memorable road trips invariably involve getting lost and discovering somewhere new.  So if I have one tip for a successful road trip it’s to stay flexible and be ready to change your plans whenever you need to, whether it’s because you’ve taken a unexpected detour or because the weather has changed. It’s what makes road tripping so much fun.  Oh… and carry a paper map as well, because sometimes you need to see the bigger picture. 

Lee Atkinson’s latest book, Ultimate Road Trips (published by Hardie Grant Explore, RRP, $45), is on sale now at all good bookshops and online retailers. 

Discount and health cards

Read more on the Pension Concession Card here. Check if you are entitled to a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card for free. Find out more about Seniors Cards here.

Now it’s over to you. 

Where have you travelled recently that you would recommend? 
Is there an affordable way for others to do so as well?