6 Reasons Why Australians Travel Differently

There are some good reasons you should make sure you’re travelling with an Australian tour company, after all, we Australians are a little different…

You might think I’m being jingoistic, but there are some very practical (as well as cultural) reasons why Australians travel differently to people from other countries, and why our expectations and theirs aren’t always compatible.

1. WE GET MORE HOLIDAYS
The average American is lucky to get 2 weeks paid leave per year, so they prefer to fit in as many sights as they possibly can in a short space of time. Whereas we lucky Australians have the luxury of time and like to spend longer in each place and go beyond the tourist traps.

2. WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST BEACHES IN THE WORLD
Australians are spoilt for choice! You can go to almost any part of our enormous coastline and find spectacular sandy beaches and great surf. So, we tend to be drawn to places for their culture and history and want to spend less of our holidays lounging around on the beach.

3. WE’RE A VERY LONG WAY AWAY!
The Brits can hop over to Paris or Munich for a weekend in less time and for less money than it costs for us to get from Melbourne to Brisbane! International holidays are a big deal for Australians and we like to make sure we make the most of them. We want a really well planned itinerary, including well located hotels and informative guides.

4. WE’RE ADVENTUROUS
There seems to be a little Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee lurking beneath the civilised surface of most Australians. Whether it’s because we’re used to large creepy-crawlies, or the influence of our particularly multicultural society, most Australians have an open mind to new places and experiences. While we enjoy the benefits of travelling in a group, Australians like time to explore independently and make their own discoveries.

5. WE HAVE A UNIQUE SENSE OF HUMOUR
We’re a funny lot! Australians are generally easy going and friendly. We expect professionalism, but we also like to share a joke. Unfortunately, not everyone shares our sense of humour!

6. WE EXPECT TO BE KEPT INFORMED
Some cultures are more oriented toward the collective than the individual, and are happy to follow along, in large groups, without question. Australians on the other hand need to be kept informed and have their individual requirements considered. And we’re not ‘backward in coming forwards’ about it, which can be a little confronting for people from other backgrounds.

While it’s difficult to argue that there’s a ‘typical’ Australian, there are certainly factors and widely shared characteristics that mean we travel a bit differently, so choosing an Australian tour company to travel with is a good idea.

For more information check out our range of Small Group Tours to Europe, Egypt & the Middle East, South &Central America, Asia, and Africa.