Planning a luxury road trip getaway
Living in the noise and grey of the suburbs? Australia, despite its tyrannical distance from most locales associated with luxury – Paris, Dubai, Singapore – is possessed by an abundance of luxury escapes that are relatively within driving distance. The Southern Highlands of New South Wales has exploded onto the tourists’ driving map in 2022, offering Mediterranean comforts without having to make the plane ride to Sicily itself.
The Barossa Valley with its quaint cottages and vineyards harkens back to the Bordeaux region; likewise, the idyllic towns of Daylesford in Victoria leave no expenses spared when it comes to pampering, fine dining, and breathtaking views. The Great Barrier Reef is also a driving holiday that has some luxe touches along the way. So how can you plan your luxury road trip getaway?
How far can you go?
Australia is a big place – all that’s really limiting you is time. By time, we also mean money. Can you afford to take two to three weeks off to trek all the way to the Pilbara from Melbourne, spending much of it in a car? A weekend escape is always preferable because as the name suggests, you can luxuriate for two uninterrupted days before it’s back to the grind.
Accommodation
In these premier towns, you can go the traditional route and book rooms and all the ancillary services they may include; or strike it out on your own and look for cottages and rustic cabins like the locals on Airbnb or Stayz. Like The Beechmont Garden Retreat in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, you could get the best of both worlds.
Getting the right car
In most cases, you will have to look for a car loan to finance a car. That means taking out a loan and paying it off. Sometimes we run into financial mishaps that can erode our credit rating. If you have less than stellar credit, you can still get car finance and use it to repair your credit over time. This all means more utility when out taking luxury driving holidays – making your holiday truly yours.
Car rental
If you don’t think your car can cut it or you don’t have a car to speak of, you can always rent a car for the duration of the holiday. However, a hire car will come with higher costs than if you bought one outright – yes, there’s a bigger upfront cost when you buy a new car, but you will gain more utility out of a car beyond just the occasional weekend away. Plus, there are fewer caveats and restrictions on your own car than that of a hire car. Also, hire cars may not be available for the time you wish to go out on the road – whereas your car is always free to use as you please.
