Chic and cheerful

Enterprising hostels are casting off the dingy tag with cool decor and features.

Travel tips

All the buzz on a budget

From Hobart to Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Groundwater picks the new year's best affordable breaks.

Sydney

Unearth some hip digs

Sydney Harbour YHA offers comfy beds and a whole lot of history, writes Louise Schwartzkoff.

Sydney

Camping out, by degrees

Seeking a city bolt-hole, Megan Johnston and friends give student accommodation the old college try.

Airlines

Tiger Airways: not so vicious after all

Belinda Merhab Gasps of horror followed whenever I mentioned the airline getting me to my Gold Coast getaway.

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Sydney

Shout from the rooftop

Barry Divola returns to hostel accommodation and finds champagne views at twilight on a beer budget.

Australia

Ultimate budget holiday: the staycation

Money tight? Why not replace the expensive vacation with a holiday where you stay home? It's fun, cheap and hassle-free.

Tips

Beyond frequent flyer points

You save up your frequent flyer points and hand over your card at the supermarket - but when it comes to travel perks you might be only scratching the surface.

Skiing

Frugal freestyling

There are some seriously cheap deals to be had if you share the love this ski season.

Motorhomes

Wheel adventure on the cheap

Cruising interstate in a motorised palace is the only way to drive your dollar, writes Dan Goldberg.

Sydney

The best of Sydney on a budget

In Sydney some of the best things to do and see are free, or nearly so.

Staycations

Australia's best home-grown holidays

Now is a great time for a 'staycation'. Lee Atkinson has some home-grown alternatives to going overseas.