The top destinations and tips for travellers in 2021

Navigate your way through what the future of travel holds with the help of the Expedia 2021 Travel Trends Report. Learn all about how attitudes towards travel has changed and discover how you can make the most of your future holidays with these helpful travel hacks.

Timing is everything – top savings hacks

Getting the most out of your holiday bookings is easy when you adopt these handy travel hacks. Expedia, with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), has examined the data and discovered the following travel tips could help you find the best deal.

Ideal day to book flights

For both domestic and international flights, booking on a Sunday, not a Friday. This could save you around 25% on domestic airfares and almost 15% for international flights.

Ideal day to start your flight

For domestic flights, starting your trip on a Thursday, can save almost 20% compared to departing on a Sunday. Whereas, for international flights, start your trip on a Tuesday or Thursday, not Sunday to save nearly 20%.

When to book your hotel

For domestic holidays, the lowest average daily rate (ADR) for accommodation tends to occur on a Monday. Travellers could save almost 15% versus staying on the most expensive day, which is a Saturday. For international travel, the cheapest day falls between Sunday and Tuesday.

Top 2021 destinations

As Aussies looked to satisfy their travel needs over the past year, there was a big surge in regional and local getaways. Many explored the hidden gems in their backyard and finally ticked off that domestic bucket list.

Looking ahead, wanderlust is high on the agenda for 2021 with all-time international favourites looking to be quite popular. While we wait for international travel to restart, travellers will still be seeking a beachside escape at local hotspots. Here are the top contenders for 2021:

1. Gold Coast
2. Bali
3. Sydney
4. North Coast NSW
5. Sunshine Coast QLD
6. Fiji
7. Oahu
8. Whitsundays
9. Melbourne
10. Byron Bay

Getting the most out of your trip

• Flexibility is key: In 2021, flexibility will continue to be top of mind for travellers, with data showing Aussies booked refundable rates 10% more often this year compared to 2019. Luckily, flexibility is more affordable than ever: Expedia lodging data shows average daily rates for refundable bookings were 20% cheaper in 2020 compared to 2019.
• Health and safety advancements: In the year to come, concerns about staying safe while travelling will continue to impact every aspect of trip planning. To make it easier to find suitable options, Expedia’s new ‘Enhanced Cleaning’ filter helps narrow the search results on properties and activities taking additional steps to clean and sanitise.
• Stay up to date: Before booking and travelling, it’s important to check the latest travel and health advisories for both destination and origin. Ensure the destination is accepting travellers and if there are any quarantine periods required, this includes entry back into your own state. For more information, stay up to date with Expedia’s handy COVID-19 travel guide.