A combination of golden beaches, a green mountain hinterland and the most varied theme attractions in Australia, make Queensland's Gold Coast the nation's most popular holiday playground.

Sixty-five kilometres south east of Brisbane is a tourist mecca - the Gold Coast. The region's 42km coastline stretches from Southport to Coolangatta and basks in more than 300 days of sunshine each year.

The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest island on earth and the smallest continent. It also boasts to being one of the most progressive nations in the world with one of the oldest civilizations. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, including tropical rain forests, the deserts of the outback, snow-capped mountains, rolling expanses of pastoral land and magnificent beaches.

That's why every year millions of tourists from all over the world decide to spend their holidays in Australia. Many of them surf the web looking for information about places to visit, lodgings and accommodations, flights and tours.

What you are about to read... will save you loads of money !

Many families get quite a shock when they calculate what it will cost them to have a Walt Disney World holiday.

You'll need flights, accommodation, car hire/driving costs, food, passes to Walt Disney World, (they are expensive - children are classed as ages 3-9 years old and costs not much lower than adult prices), entertainment, and more...

The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest island on earth and the smallest continent. It also boasts to being one of the most progressive nations in the world with one of the oldest civilizations. It is made up of a variety of landscapes, including tropical rain forests, the deserts of the outback, snow-capped mountains, rolling expanses of pastoral land and magnificent beaches.

That's why every year millions of tourists from all over the world decide to spend their holidays in Australia. Many of them surf the web looking for information about places to visit, lodgings and accommodations, flights and tours.

Mauritius has successfully managed to position itself as an exotic beach destination. With beach destinations so plentiful, this has been sustained not by mere hype, but by the substance there is to this claim. Visitors are drawn to Mauritius by the reputation of its 140 km of white sand beaches, and the superb opportunities for water sports. Swimming, beach combing, sailing, surfing, kayaking, diving and deep-sea fishing - there is a sport for almost everyone.

For the fortunate few, life isn’t complete without a backpacking trip through Europe. This right of passage is believed to further the maturation process of college students, according to sociologists. Of course, others have opined that copious amounts of alcohol, sun and Amsterdam have something to do with it. Regardless of your purpose, you still have to figure out what to take.

Backpack – Getting In Touch With Your Inner Mule

Obviously, the first critical item is your backpack. While one doesn’t need to buy the $10,000 Himalaya Turbo Pack, you should also avoid the $12 blue light special. So, how do you pick a happy middle ground?

The best method for picking a backpack involves three phone books. Select/swipe/borrow three yellow page books from neighbors/friends/enemies and hit your local sporting goods store. With the books, head to the backpackapalozza section of the store and pick out a few sturdy/cool/outrageous rigs. Stuff the phone books in, adjust the straps and go for a walk. Now break out into a run to simulate future dashes for trains/ ferries/ toilets and make the sales people nervous. These steps should quickly reveal the perfect pack.

The Ghan is a living legend in Australian history and offers the ultimate journey through the heart of the Australian continent. Named after Afghan cameleers who originally helped open up the desert interior of Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Ghan is at once a luxury railway train and a 3000 kilometre railway journey that meanders from the fertile Adelaide countryside through the rusty red hues of Central Australia to the tropical splendour of the Top End.

The railway line began its colourful life as the Northern Railway in 1878, at the height of a national railway boom, in the hope of developing the pastoral and mining potential of the Australian interior. Soon becoming known affectionately as The Ghan, by 1891 the line reached from Port Augusta to the outback town of Oodnadatta in northern South Australia. Oodnadatta remained the end of the line for the next forty years.

The key to budget travel is to plan ahead. When it comes to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new places we have never been before, the reality of cost and budgeting is always in the back of our minds.

Planning and spending our travel dollar wisely is a priority for most families. Curbing spending and costs, while still enjoying your vacation to its fullest, is the key to guaranteed success and fiscal responsibility. Your pocketbook and family will thank you!

The reasoning behind saving money while traveling is simple: Even if your personal budget is extremely tight, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead!

Also remembering that while traveling, whether on a budget or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a large vacation or travel bill!