Cairns Travel Forum

Hi!

I am a student from France staying in Sydney for 4 months. I would like to go diving at the Great Barrier Reef. I went to Flight Centre and I would like to know your opinion about this pack, because, I really don't know if it is the good price and the good company to book with!

Flight Sydney-Cairns-Sydney 579$ (for 2)
2 nights at Koala Beach Resort in Cairns 140$
Pro dive live aboard adventure (3 days/2 nights) 1 160$
which makes a total of 1 879$ for 2 persons, for 4 nights.

Thank you very much for your advice!!!

Depending upon when you are going this deal looks OK. Koala Beach price is OK, Pro dive costs are OK; the real variable is the flight costs.

In May fares are about $400.00pp return so unless a special comes up on Virgin or Jetstar this is looking like a good deal.

Have a great trip

Just checked flights for August with Virgin Blue, the cheapest return trip would cost about $350. So $579 for two is really a good price. And as the dive adventure is also the price for two it looks good for me.

Thanks to you all!

I feel more sure now!

Hi Your flight Sydney Cairns return , cost is over the top

Try www.bestflights.com.au You should get a return flight much much cheaper.

Good Luck,
Mike

Those $ 579 was for two people. That is not over the top.

Hi just looked into Bestflights site and fare for 2 flying Jetstar 20th May return 27th May $530. Leave Sydney 7:05am return 7pm , carry on luggage.

Could vary for your dates.

The carry on baggage price, is it worth doing this for a few less dollars if you have to worry about your baggage total?
It sounds a good price for 2 people.
Koala Beach Resort is in a good position in the Cairns city centre.
It would be great to stay an extra day while in this area and go for a trip up to Cape Tribulation. You will see the reef while on the dive adventure, one day to check out the rainforest area is really worth it, seeing as you are visiting from France:)Reef and Rainforest is what this area is all about:)

PS...When leaving from Sydney and returning from Cairns, please make sure you are at the airport at least an hour before you have to checkin.
I say this as lately I have seen so many people being told they can;'t book in because they are a few minutes late. ( I work at the Cairns airport)
All airlines are doing this.
Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and read all the fine print on the ticket.

Have a wonderful stay in Paradise!

Anne, what's happening with domestic flights lately, for example, if you are a bit late for a connecting flight? Does the airline recognize this and alot a bit of leeway time when the pax isn't guilty of late arrival, as the previous flight was late?

Good Aussie afo to you Marianne:)

If you have connecting flights with the same airline or those affiliated with them, I am sure that they would be OK, it is their fault then, isn't it?BUT for an example, say you are supposed to leave Cairns at 6.30am, but you have a flight delay and you are delayed for 1 hour and you are supposed to catch a flight from Sydney to UK, well then you are stuffed..:)
If you have a flight delay and you are going from Cairns to Sydney and then Sydney to Melbourne I think it would be there duty to help you.
But airlines have their own rules these days, all about the dollar!!

I have never taken out insurance while travelling within Australia, but I would think about it now. It isn't that expensive and it would cover the cost of a new ticket.

When you've connecting flight with the same airline, they'll usually either wait for you or arrange another flight. I'd to take a connecting flight from Cairns to Tokyo last Dec and my flight to Brisbane was delayed for an hour, I thought I was stuffed but they actually made everyone wait for me. :D That was with Qantas.
Some credit card will offer complimentary travel insurance when you purchase your airfare with your CC.

Hi Eviltooth. I, too, had an international plane held for me, last year in Paris, when my connecting flight was late in arriving at CDG. Air France held the plane for about a half-hour while I waded my way through their terrible security area in CDG. I kept hearing my name announced on the loud-speaker! I was the last passenger on board and they slammed the door after me. The plane was taxi-ing down the runway by the time I was barely in my seat for the trans-Atlantic flight. But I think this was probably not what most airlines do lately. I'll be on Qantas in 6 weeks for a bunch of flights, so will see what happens.
(Mt. Isa? Cool. I think that's the place where I once almost had a heart-attack diving into a public pool fed by bore water -- so cold I thought I was in the Arctic!).

Hi Marianne2,

I never use the public pool in Mt Isa because some people used it as a public bath. :p

Oh dear, gross but funny!

Prices on Airfares seem good for the two of you.. Koalas are not known for quality... myself personally would not pay $70 a night for a koalas room.. you would be better of booking into a YHA (youth hoselt australia)

Cheers..