<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"> <channel> <title>World Travel Ambitions - Budget Travel</title> <description>Posts tagged with Budget Travel from World Travel Ambitions - Family travel blog with destinations, tips, and inspiration.</description> <link>https://worldtravelambitions.com//tags/budget-travel/</link> <language>en-US</language> <managingEditor>melissa@worldtravelambitions.com (Melissa)</managingEditor> <webMaster>melissa@worldtravelambitions.com (Melissa)</webMaster> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:13:57 GMT</lastBuildDate> <generator>Astro RSS Generator</generator> <image> <url>https://worldtravelambitions.com//images/logo.png</url> <title>World Travel Ambitions - Budget Travel</title> <link>https://worldtravelambitions.com//tags/budget-travel/</link> <width>144</width> <height>144</height> </image> <!-- Self-referencing link --> <atom:link href="https://worldtravelambitions.com//tags/budget-travel/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <!-- Additional links --> <atom:link href="https://worldtravelambitions.com//rss.xml" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="World Travel Ambitions - All Posts" /> <item> <title><![CDATA[One Month Vietnam Family Travel Itinerary (Pre-Covid)]]></title> <link>https://worldtravelambitions.com//blog/one-month-vietnam-family-travel-itinerary/</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://worldtravelambitions.com//blog/one-month-vietnam-family-travel-itinerary/</guid> <pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate> <lastBuildDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT</lastBuildDate> <description><![CDATA[]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[## A One Month Vietnam Family Travel Itinerary In February, 2020 we booked our flights out of [New Zealand](/blog/south-island-family-road-trip-itinerary-queenstown-to-picton-new-zealand/). At the time, we were planning a six week Asia adventure to meet our business class flight from Singapore to Istanbul on 13 April, 2020. In our original plan, we'd hoped to visit Turkey for ANZAC day, then head to Germany, followed by my bucket list travel adventure, the Camino across Spain. As you can probably guess, our plan did not go to plan. If you're curious, you can see our [original round the world with kids plan](/blog/our-round-the-world-with-kids/) here. I'd created an epic one month Vietnam family travel itinerary. This was the plan for our adventure through Vietnam. Below are the details of our original plan for our one month itinerary through Vietnam. **Disclosure:** _Thank you for visiting our blog. Please note that I have included affiliate links in this blog. This means we earn a commission if you make a purchase with no additional cost to you. If you have any questions about the companies or our affiliate status, please feel free to e-mail us._ ## Table of Contents - [Our One Month Vietnam Itinerary Overview](#our-one-month-vietnam-itinerary-overview) - [Week 1: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels](#week-1-ho-chi-minh-city--cu-chi-tunnels) - [Week 2: Central Vietnam - Da Nang Base](#week-2-central-vietnam---da-nang-base) - [Week 3: Hoi An & Central Coast](#week-3-hoi-an--central-coast) - [Week 4: South Central Coast & Highlands](#week-4-south-central-coast--highlands) - [What Really Happened vs Our Plan](#what-really-happened-vs-our-plan) ## Our One Month Vietnam Itinerary Overview Here's our itinerary for traveling Vietnam from Central to South: We started in Auckland, New Zealand and our flight departed at 11.55pm on 5th March 2020. I think we were very lucky to make the flight! Our kids didn't sleep on the 10.5 hour flight as we'd hoped. Let's just say, our six hour layover in Manila, with no playground, and not very good seating, was painful. We departed Manila as planned on the 6th March about mid day. It was a nice, short flight, and of course everyone slept. <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/5-march-2020-flight-auckland-ho-chi-minh-saigon.jpg" alt="Family at Auckland Airport departure board before Vietnam flight - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>We set off on our trip - as planned - March 2020</em> </div> ## Week 1: Ho Chi Minh City & Cu Chi Tunnels ### Ho Chi Minh City (Days 1-4) We arrived to Saigon on 6 March, 2020 and stayed at <a href="https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&cid=1881363&hid=2169123" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Funny Guesthouse</a> for four nights - a great family-friendly accommodation in the city center. For us, we didn't need much longer. We're just not city people. If you like cities, you can easily stay longer. **Family Activities in Ho Chi Minh City:** - **Day 1:** Arrival and settle in. If you're staying at Funny Guesthouse or nearby, check out <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/M8iinDf6rUMoRzkt7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">walking street</a>. - **Day 2:** War Remnants Museum - Educational but intense, best for families with teenagers or older children. However, we did take Elijah (3 at the time) and just skipped past the more confronting parts. - **Day 3:** <a href="https://gyg.me/ZWtpD6Bm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cu Chi Tunnels</a> - A must-visit for families. Elijah was 3 during our visit and he was very excited to go down into the dark tunnels with his head light. These tunnels offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam's history during the war. - **Day 4:** Ben Thanh Market and <a href="https://gyg.me/PhyyGiTN" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saigon Skydeck</a> - Perfect for family shopping and trying local street food, plus great views of the city from the 49th floor. - **Day 5:** A tour I would recommend (but I'm yet to do myself and kick myself all the time that we didn't stay a couple of days longer to fit this in) was a <a href="https://gyg.me/ECkqecLO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mekong Delta tour</a>. It's probably worth it if you're already in Saigon! While we didn't enjoy our visit at Ben Thanh Markets, it's often a place others enjoy. Maybe it is worth trying for yourself! **Transportation:** We used Grab (Vietnam's Uber) for getting around the city with kids. <div data-gyg-href="https://widget.getyourguide.com/default/city.frame" data-gyg-location-id="272" data-gyg-locale-code="en-US" data-gyg-widget="city" data-gyg-partner-id="DHFT5GH"></div> ## Week 2: Central Vietnam - Da Nang Base ### Da Nang (Days 6-11) On the 10th March we flew to Danang. We didn't realise how lucky we were to get that flight until after we landed. Travel was about to change for next two years, and we had no idea! We opted for ten nights in <a href="/blog/danang-family-travel-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Da Nang</a>, staying at <a href="https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&cid=1881363&hid=1002443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Richico Apartments</a> because we love a beach, and we needed a bit of space. Back then we didn't know about <a href="/blog/an-bang-beach-family-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">An Bang Beach</a> in <a href="/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-to-hoi-an-the-ultimate-family-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hoi An</a>. We had hoped to get lucky find some waves for Rimaha (we didn't - and you probably won't unless you're travelling during times of storms, generally from September to February). From Da Nang, we planned to visit Hue, Ba Na Hills, Son Tra and My Son Temples. Of these, we mainly spent time at the beach, did catch Ba Na Hills, and watched the Dragon Bridge. For those looking to explore Vietnam's incredible cave systems, consider adding Phong Nha to your itinerary with our [Ultimate 7-Day Phong Nha Itinerary](/blog/ultimate-7-day-phong-nha-itinerary-caves-culture-adventure-2025/). **Family Activities from Da Nang:** - **Day 6:** Arrive, settle in and find the local spots to eat (<a href="/blog/danang-vietnam-family-food-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">link to Da Nang Family food guide</a>). Work out which day would be best to visit the Dragon Bridge and watch the dragon breathing fire and water. Shuffle days below as needed. - **Day 7:** Take a tour to Son Tra or self guided visit to Son Tra. - **Day 8:** Walk the local streets wherever you're staying and enjoy the beach / pool if you are travelling in the warm to hot seasons. - **Day 9:** Take a trip out to Ba Na Hills. Either hire a tour, or just book a Grab car. - **Day 10:** Read a book by the pool, go for a walk in the city or along the beach. - **Day 11:** If you are on a strict time frame and want to squeeze in another central Vietnam adventure, you can book a day tour to <a href="https://gyg.me/S75Nw2tr" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hue</a>. **Additional Activities:** - **Ba Na Hills** - The famous Golden Bridge and French Village (great for families) - **Marble Mountains** - Easy hiking with kids, beautiful caves to explore - **My Son Temples** - UNESCO World Heritage site, accessible for families - **Son Tra Peninsula** - Nature walks and the famous Lady Buddha statue - **Hue Day Trip** - Imperial City and Thien Mu Pagoda > **Related:** Check out our detailed [Da Nang Family Travel Guide](/blog/danang-family-travel-guide/) for more family-friendly activities and our [Da Nang Family Food Guide](/blog/danang-vietnam-family-food-guide/) for the best local eats. For cave adventures, don't miss our [Ultimate 7-Day Phong Nha Itinerary](/blog/ultimate-7-day-phong-nha-itinerary-caves-culture-adventure-2025/). <div data-gyg-href="https://widget.getyourguide.com/default/activities.frame" data-gyg-locale-code="en-US" data-gyg-widget="activities" data-gyg-number-of-items="3" data-gyg-partner-id="DHFT5GH" data-gyg-tour-ids="469551,875514,224118"><span>Powered by <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored" href="https://www.getyourguide.com/da-nang-l939/">GetYourGuide</a></span></div> ## Week 3: Central Vietnam - Hoi An ### Hoi An (Days 12-20) On the 19th March we travelled down to Hoi An. At this stage, countries were beginning to shut down, left right and centre. We realized that the rest of our travel plan was going out the window pretty quickly. Our plan had been to walk through the old town, visit some of the markets and perhaps spend a day on An Bang Beach. **Family Activities in Hoi An:** - **Day 12:** Pack up a Grab Car (or book <a href="https://wa.me/84905140488" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Same, Same, But Better transport</a>) and head to An Bang Beach. Stop at Marble Mountain on the way down! - **Day 13:** Relax at the beach. Almost everywhere near the beach has good food, but if you want my local recommendations, you can find them in my <a href="/blog/an-bang-beach-family-food-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">An Bang Family Food Guide</a>. - **Day 14:** Take a very early in the morning tour to <a href="https://gyg.me/aWe1xidz" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">My Son temples</a> if you haven't already done this from Da Nang. - **Day 15:** It's always a good day to visit <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/GY1ag3PwcUDCZqR56" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Basket Boat Cafe</a> for brunch and a basket boat ride. - **Day 16:** Take a tour to <a href="https://gyg.me/ZddHHMU6" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cham Islands</a>. You can even stay a couple of nights if you have enough time in Hoi An! - **Day 17:** Take a <a href="https://gyg.me/DK1vHPyp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">lantern making workshop or class</a>. After your lantern workshop, you could also try out a <a href="https://gyg.me/kfTr2WuJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">coffee making class</a>. There's nothing quite like a coconut coffee!! - **Day 18:** Check out the <a href="https://gyg.me/RVxvdy55" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hoi An Memories show</a>. My oldest son visited this show during 2023 and says it was great. I still need to do this. I guess I really settled in to the point I avoid old town all the time these days!! - **Day 19:** You can either relax by the beach, or head out to the markets. I recommend checking out the morning markets locally at An Bang Market, or if you're closer to town, Ba Le Market. If you'd like a guided tour and to throw in a cooking class, you could take a look at this <a href="https://gyg.me/xCWIc8E7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">guided tour and cooking class</a>. - **Day 20:** I generally don't recommend staying in the Old Town itself. Most people don't enjoy the busy, touristy and noisy experience. I do recommend staying near town, maybe 2-4 days of your stay could be around Cam Chau or Cam Thanh, and the rest by the beach. One day you can set aside to ride bicycles through the rice fields. If you're taking toddlers, make sure to check out <a href="/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-to-hoi-an-the-ultimate-family-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">everything-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-to-hoi-an-the-ultimate-family-guide</a> for tips on bike safety that could save your childs foot / leg. <div data-gyg-href="https://widget.getyourguide.com/default/city.frame" data-gyg-location-id="831" data-gyg-locale-code="en-US" data-gyg-widget="city" data-gyg-partner-id="DHFT5GH"></div> ### Additional Activities - **Old Town Walking Tour** - Easy to navigate with kids, beautiful architecture - **An Bang Beach** - Perfect family beach with calm waters - **Tra Que Vegetable Village** - Kids loved learning about organic farming - **Lantern Making Workshop** - Fun family activity - **Bike Rides Through Rice Fields** - Safe and scenic for families > **Related:** For detailed information, check our [Ultimate Hoi An Family Guide](/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-travelling-to-hoi-an-the-ultimate-family-guide/), [Best Family Stays in Hoi An](/blog/best-family-stays-in-hoi-an-vietnam/), and [Hoi An Family Food Guide](/blog/the-ultimate-hoi-an-family-food-guide/). <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/hoi-an-during-covid-2020-optimized.jpg" alt="Family cycling through rice fields in Hoi An during Covid-19 - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Cycling through the rice fields in Hoi An during Covid-19 restrictions - May 2020</em> </div> ## Week 4: South Central Coast & Highlands ### Quy Nhon (Days 20-25) We'd planned to head back to Da Nang for a train to Quy Nhon on 22nd March 2020. By that time, we'd made a decision to work out how we could stay longer to wait and see what would happen. We knew flights were being cancelled and people were getting stuck in airports. It seemed a pretty bad time to travel. We opted to extend our stay in Hoi An and chose a month at <a href="/blog/best-family-stays-in-hoi-an-vietnam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CIC Boutique Villa Hoi An</a>. Then moved out to <a href="/blog/best-family-stays-in-an-bang-beach-vietnam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">An Bang Beach</a> for another six weeks. Here's what we would've done (and still need to do) if we had continued as planned: A friend of mine recommended Quy Nhon as a more authentic location compared with Nha Trang. We had no plans for this stop, just hang out on the beach for six nights and possibly write some blog content. **Why Quy Nhon is perfect for families:** - **Less touristy** than Nha Trang - more authentic Vietnamese experience - **Beautiful beaches** with calm waters perfect for families - **Great seafood** and local cuisine - **Relaxed pace** - perfect for unwinding after busy weeks - **Cultural sites** - ancient Cham towers and historical landmarks - **Affordable accommodation** - great value for families **Family Activities in Quy Nhon:** - **Ky Co Beach** - stunning white sand beach with pristine waters - **Eo Gio** - dramatic coastal cliffs and rock formations with stunning views - **Bai Xep Beach** - quiet, family-friendly beach with calm waters - **Thap Doi Cham Towers** - ancient Cham architecture - **Quy Nhon Market** - local food and shopping for authentic Vietnamese culture - **Hon Kho Island** - day trip to beautiful island <div data-gyg-href="https://widget.getyourguide.com/default/activities.frame" data-gyg-locale-code="en-US" data-gyg-widget="activities" data-gyg-number-of-items="3" data-gyg-partner-id="DHFT5GH" data-gyg-tour-ids="1075786,1069951,1075788"><span>Powered by <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored" href="https://www.getyourguide.com/qui-nhon-l159513/">GetYourGuide</a></span></div> ### Da Lat (Days 25-30) We keep hearing why Da Lat is amazing for families: - **Cool mountain climate** - relief from Vietnam's heat - **Beautiful scenery** - lakes, waterfalls, and flower gardens - **Family-friendly activities** - cable cars, gardens, and outdoor adventures - **Unique architecture** - French colonial buildings and quirky "Crazy House" **Family Activities in Da Lat:** - **Cable Car to Robin Hill** - stunning views and fun for kids - **Datanla Waterfall** - easy hiking with beautiful waterfall - **Valley of Love** - beautiful gardens and lake activities - **Crazy House (Hang Nga Guesthouse)** - unique, maze-like architecture kids love - **Flower Gardens** - colorful and fragrant gardens - **Elephant Waterfall** - impressive waterfall with easy access <div data-gyg-href="https://widget.getyourguide.com/default/activities.frame" data-gyg-location-id="167015" data-gyg-locale-code="en-US" data-gyg-widget="activities" data-gyg-number-of-items="3" data-gyg-partner-id="DHFT5GH"><span>Powered by <a target="_blank" rel="sponsored" href="https://www.getyourguide.com/tuyen-lam-lake-da-lat-l167015/">GetYourGuide</a></span></div> ### Return to Ho Chi Minh City (Days 31-32) To wrap up our one month Vietnam family travel itinerary, we planned to fly back to Ho Chi Minh on the 2nd April as our one month e-visas ended on 4th April, 2020. In our final couple of days, we planned to travel back to Saigon, likely by rail and then planned to head overland to Cambodia. Instead, we remained in Vietnam until August 2021! **Transportation between cities:** - **Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang:** Flight (1.5 hours) - **Da Nang to Hoi An:** Private car or bus (45 minutes) - **Hoi An to Quy Nhon:** Train or bus (4-5 hours) - **Quy Nhon to Da Lat:** Bus (6-7 hours) or flight - **Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City:** Flight (1 hour) or bus (6-7 hours) ## One Month Vietnam Family Travel Plan vs Reality: What Really Happened? Covid-19 hit the world after only a week in Vietnam. We made the decision to stay and see the country during this different time. Here are some of our [posts from Vietnam](/tags/vietnam/).]]></content:encoded> <author>melissa@worldtravelambitions.com (Melissa)</author> <category>asia</category> <category>itineraries</category> <category>vietnam</category> <category>family-travel</category> <category>travel-itinerary</category> <category>family-travel-guide</category> <category>budget-travel</category> <category>long-term-travel</category> <category>south-east-asia</category> <enclosure url="https://worldtravelambitions.com//images/one-month-vietnam-itinerary-optimized.webp" type="image/jpeg" /> </item> <item> <title><![CDATA[Cheap or Free Family Snow Holidays in NSW, Australia]]></title> <link>https://worldtravelambitions.com//blog/cheap-or-free-family-snow-holidays-in-nsw-australia/</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://worldtravelambitions.com//blog/cheap-or-free-family-snow-holidays-in-nsw-australia/</guid> <pubDate>Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT</lastBuildDate> <description><![CDATA[Cheap or Free Family Snow Holidays in NSW, Australia]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[# Cheap or Free Family Snow Holidays in NSW, Australia ## Dreaming of an Affordable Snow Holiday? _Dreaming of an Australian Family Snowy Mountains Holiday, but think it's too expensive??_ Well you've struck gold because I've discovered a way to make your holiday awesome and affordable. A few weeks back our family was blessed with an opportunity to go to the snow. I needed to stick to a budget of under $1500 for four nights (we need to keep our savings in the saving account for our world adventures). We did ok, but we would've had a way better time if I had known then what I know now. While I was at the snow, I learned a lot about the ski fields, so I've got a few tips on how you can ski for free, and some absolutely vital info for those mamas (or papas) who like to ski with their littlies in a front / back pack... _That's Elijah, first time skiing with mum at age 1 - August 2017_ Now get ready to design your wonderful Family Snowy Mountains adventure that won't break your bank. ## Accommodation (is not cheap) Accommodation is not cheap. We had originally planned to be in a house share with my sister in Jindabyne (Jindabyne is the small lakeside town about 30 mins from Perisher and Thredbo ski fields). However due to a bit of miscommunication the bedding arrangements, it didn't work out. <div class="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-6"> <div class="lg:col-span-2"> <p>We didn't want to overcrowd, so we chose a little cheapy (The High Country Motel) in Cooma (which to be honest isn't actually that much of a mission). Cooma actually turned out to be a blessing, cheap take out and supermarkets are handy to have nearby when adventuring with kids. The downside is being a bit further from the snow. 30 mins extra travel time each way doesn't bother me but might be something for you to consider.</p> <p>We stayed at The High Country Motel in Cooma, which was budget-friendly and had good amenities nearby. The location worked well for our family, though it does add about 30 minutes to the drive to the ski fields.</p> <p>Have a look at hotel pricing for your dates by <a href="https://www.agoda.com/partners/partnersearch.aspx?pcs=1&cid=1881363&hid=288550" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clicking here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="lg:col-span-1"> <div id="adgshp-176674634"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn0.agoda.net/images/sherpa/js/sherpa_init1_08.min.js" onload="initAgodaWidget()"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> {` function initAgodaWidget() { if (typeof AgdSherpa !== 'undefined') { var stg = new Object(); stg.crt="2952350656253"; stg.version="1.04"; stg.id=stg.name="adgshp-176674634"; stg.width="320px"; stg.height="420px"; stg.ReferenceKey="ijwLCSeXw13SwoXrwL8f7g=="; stg.Layout="SquareCalendar"; stg.Language="en-us"; stg.Cid="1881363"; stg.Hid="288550"; stg.DestinationName="High Country Motel, Cooma, Australia"; stg.OverideConf=false; new AgdSherpa(stg).initialize(); } else { // Fallback: try again after a short delay setTimeout(initAgodaWidget, 100); } } // Initialize immediately if script is already loaded if (typeof AgdSherpa !== 'undefined') { initAgodaWidget(); } `} </script> </div> </div> ## Essential Preparation Tips ### Practice with Winter Gear If you are taking little people, practice with gloves and beanies before you get there. We bought our baby mittens at the snow, and well, to be honest, he hated them. He pretty much screamed his head off, full roaring tanty, when we tried putting them on. It was a nightmare. His snowsuit had a built in hood which he tolerated, but he's not a fan of hats and beanies, so if it wasn't for that hood, we would've had an interesting time! _Elijah was more upset by wearing mittens than playing in the cold snow - August 2017_ <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/happy-elijah-ski-perisher-on-a-family-budget.jpeg" alt="Happy Elijah playing in the snow at Perisher - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Happy Elijah playing in the snow at Perisher - August 2017</em> </div> ### Pack the Right Socks Invest in heaps of woollen socks. I learned that cotton holds moisture and is cold against the skin, whereas wool will retain the water, however warms against the skin. So if the socks get wet, wool won't be so bad. But cotton will be downright awful. So have a sweet as trip and pack lots of socks and don't forget to take a few pairs on the mountain so your day will last longer. My kids changed socks on various days and our spare set in the boot came in handy on one of our days. <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/cold-feet-at-perisher-skiing-nsw-australia-optimized.webp" alt="Cold feet at Perisher skiing NSW Australia - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Cold feet at Perisher skiing NSW Australia - August 2017</em> </div> ### Plan for the Car Journey As usual, I'm sure you'll pack for a long car ride. If you want it to be enjoyable, please consider the little guys and girls in the back seat, and stop when needed. Take plenty of snacks, and failing that, technology. We are super lucky to have our little guy, who loves car trips (NOT). So we planned for an adventure (about six hours driving or more each way), however he actually surprised us and travelled brilliantly (winning yippee). ## Ski Resorts and the Mountains I tried to be a really awesome mum and do my research about taking my kids to Perisher (this was the field we were able to get some discounts on through my sister!). So I looked around their website and found next to no information about travelling with small people. So here are my suggestions for you to have an AMAZING time without spending a fortune. ## Our First Days (and Mistakes - Don't Do What We Did!) We didn't do enough research (clearly) and spent our first day at the Ski Tube car park trying out the gentle slopes with the snow falling. Our strategy was to get the kids acquainted with the snow before we got to our paid day. **Don't do what we did. Go and toboggan free at Thredbo!** <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/toboggan-perisher-budget-family-skiing-australia-travel-optimized.webp" alt="Toboggan at Perisher budget family skiing Australia travel - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Toboggan at Perisher budget family skiing Australia travel - August 2017</em> </div> Prior to this trip, we had only taken kids to an indoor snow field in Auckland, this was their first trip to the real snow. I don't know about your kids, but mine are painfully shy at times. When we took them to the indoor snow park last year, it took them over an hour to be comfortable to go and play in the snow. Maybe a lil weird, but hey. ## Ski for FREE on the Mountain! So what we discovered was that you can go on the mountain for FREE. It is literally free to go on the ski fields. However, if you want to use any lifts or carpet runs etc, then you'll need a pass. What this means, is you can spend your first two, three, four days playing on the snow and ski fields (or the entire time if you like), and if your kids simply want to go tobogganing, they can. They can also go down the slow learner areas for free (they just have to walk themselves up the hill)... We discovered the carpet runs were terribly slow anyway, so my kids wouldn't have cared! ## Thredbo for FREE (ish) Give Thredbo a go (To access Thredbo, you will need to enter and pay the [National Park fee](https://web.archive.org/web/20170911211405/http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/thredbo-perisher-area)). Let the kids play in the snow, go tobogganing on a tobogganing field and let them run up and down the hill until they are tired! I'd suggest you drive through the town and see if you can pick up a sneaky car park. We got lucky and parked right in front of the playground! Thredbo has a playground, skateboard park, and trampolines (however we were there during the great snow, so everything was covered!) There is also a leisure centre, and childcare, pretty much anything you'd need in a cute little resort town with a bakery... <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/thredbo-cheap-ski-family-holiday-nsw-australia-optimized.webp" alt="Thredbo cheap ski family holiday NSW Australia - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Thredbo is a great little town for families - August 2017</em> </div> ### The Best Hot Chocolate in Thredbo If you like hot chocolate, check out the bakery! They sell a Premium Hot Chocolate (I didn't think it was overpriced, but can't remember what I paid), and it could be the best Hot Chocolate I've ever had... <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/best-hot-chocolate-in-nsw-budget-family-ski-holiday-optimized.webp" alt="Best hot chocolate in NSW budget family ski holiday - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Quite possibly the best hot chocolate I've ever had (minus the Cherries I already ate before thinking I needed to take the photo).</em> </div> ## Tips for Perisher So we found out (after picking up our hire and checking our stuff into lockers) that Perisher Valley is not the place to go for first timers (unless you are paying for ski school - however we were on a budget, and I like teaching my kids stuff, so it wasn't for us). The dumb thing for us was, we left our stuff at Perisher Valley, to go to Blue Cow. It's only one stop away on the Ski Tube. But when you are travelling with babies who like formula etc, it is always best to keep the belongings with you. This impacted the quality of our day as we had to travel back to Perisher Valley early when our not so baby wanted his bottle! ### Ski Free at Blue Cow Blue Cow has a really easy run for the first timers and is not closed off for ski schools use. The area is perfect for kids to try out, and it is easy enough (and faster) for them to run back up the hill. The carpet run was slow as! <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/learn-to-ski-free-blue-cow-nsw-australia-optimized.webp" alt="Learn to ski free Blue Cow NSW Australia - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>Learn to ski free - You don't have to spend as much as you think - August 2017</em> </div> We could have happily spent the entire day parked up here. If I were to do it again on a budget, we would've hired the gear out of town and parked at Blue Cow for two days and skied free. This discovery was awesome, so what you are about to read is brilliance! ## The Ultimate Budget Ski Strategy Ok, so most people who plan to go to the snow plan to pay LOTS of money. I get it. But what if you can have the skiing without the spending? After recognising a few things, namely, 1. The ski tube car park is at the 'base' of Perisher. 2. Perisher valley is a stop on the way up the mountain and, 3. Blue Cow is technically higher than Perisher Valley, I came to the realisation you can ski almost for free by either - Park at Ski Tube car park, pay for a pass on the Ski Tube, and ride up to Blue Cow, or - Drive to Blue Cow (you'll need to pay the National Park fee) then ski down to Perisher Valley. There is a beginner run, so if you've skied a little and feel comfortable it can be done. There are flat bits which might be a bit annoying, I didn't look at the full terrain, I didn't get the chance to do it myself because we only worked it out in the afternoon, shortly before we were leaving. From Perisher Valley you can catch the Ski Tube free up to Blue Cow (go between Perisher Valley and Blue Cow as often as you like), or make sure you have your pass handy to travel back to the Ski Tube car park... ## Important Tips for Parents Skiing with Babies So I learned the interesting way. After teaching my 10 year old to ski on the learner field, I travelled up the carpet run on skis with my baby in my Ergobaby carrier. After a few trips up, I was told I couldn't do it anymore, and I was not allowed on any lifts anywhere on the mountain with a baby attached. However, they don't prevent you from travelling on the ski tube with the baby attached! <div class="blog-image-personal"> <img src="/images/Ski-with-baby-World-Travel-Ambitions-optimized.webp" alt="Ski with baby World Travel Ambitions - World Travel Ambitions" loading="lazy" /> </div> <div class="blog-image-personal-caption"> <em>You need to be careful of other people, but if you're confident, you can do anything with a baby carrier - August 2017</em> </div> If you are super confident / keen, you could try my tip above (I'd suggest doing it solo first) and then if you are comfortable and it works for you, ski between Blue Cow and Perisher! Ok I didn't try it, so please give it a go on your own first... Have you done it before? Is it doable? I'm sure other readers would love to know, so don't hold back - I literally just followed lines on a map! ## Conclusion So there you have it, you can ski on a budget, you don't have to spend your entire holiday savings on a ski trip! Yippee!!! I'd love to know if you found this helpful, so please comment below if you did.]]></content:encoded> <author>melissa@worldtravelambitions.com (Melissa)</author> <category>oceania</category> <category>australia</category> <category>nsw</category> <category>perisher</category> <category>budget-travel</category> <category>thredbo</category> <category>family-ski-holiday</category> <category>budget-travel</category> <category>winter-holiday</category> <category>family-travel</category> <enclosure url="https://worldtravelambitions.com//images/snow-holiday-nsw-australia-optimized.webp" type="image/jpeg" /> </item> </channel> </rss>