Last summer it was somewhat depressing looking for travel “deals” because prices on even the cheapest things were WAY higher than normal due to the sick fuel prices, but this year it’s all the opposite. I just came across this deal on Air New Zealand where you can fly from the US to most of the major cities in Australia for $619 roundtrip, plus about $100 or so in taxes. This sale is for the first half of November, but that means you’ll get there in late spring in the Southern Hemisphere, which isn’t a bad place to be in November.

Seriously, prices on these flights have been starting around $1,100 out of Los Angeles and only to Sydney for the last few years, and last summer it was closer to $1,500 roundtrip. Australia isn’t too expensive once you get there, and there is a ton of interesting stuff to do, so even if you weren’t thinking about going soon you really should consider it.

Most people fly into Sydney, which is fabulous, but you might also consider flying into Brisbane or Cairns, which are on the northern east coast. Brisbane is a large and vibrant city near the beach, and Cairns is smaller and more touristy, but it’s also the launching point for trips to the Great Barrier Reef. Fortunately, there is plenty of fun to have in either one. If your budget is low and you like to imbibe a bit on your vacation you can choose from the Cairns party hostels or Brisbane party hostels to save money and reduce the chances of being arrested late at night.