You have booked your flights, sorted out your accommodation but have no means of transportation. Now you have to have a look at renting a car. Most of the bigger car rental companies operate in Melbourne, so you have enough choices. We have found that the larger ones, also have larger prices. LOOK AT SPECIALS. There are a lot of specials every week. Also find out if your air carrier have discounts when booking flights. Personally I think it is more expensive. Again have look at Google!
There are two companies that are very popular and inside most budgets. Thrifty, has good weekly rates and you get a lot of km free. Thrifty start at under $40 per day and is situated at the airport.
Rent-a-bomb is a second choice. Don't let the name fool you. They have a vast array of vehicles and are accredited by the RACV (AA in South Africa) You can also rent a GPS for an extra $5 per day. The best $5 dollars you will ever spend. Rates start at $35. Bigger vehicles will attract higher rates. This rates are for smaller sedans and correct on this date.
You need to have a credit card, international drivers license and passport to pick up your car.
August 30, 2011
A place to stay
Finding a place to stay while still paying in South African Rand is difficult. The exchange rate means accommodations at $200 per night adds up to R1400+ per night. If you have to wait for a week or more to find a place, it can cost you up to R10 000. The fact of the matter is that you will have to stay somewhere.
There are a few options. Without being area specific I would like to give you a few pointers. Driving round in Melbourne, we came across a lot of Motels and furnished apartments. That could be your starting point. Motels range from $95 per night up to $500 per night. If you do not have an idea where you will be living, make sure that you rather go for cheaper accommodation outside the city centre. You may find cheap accommodation in the centre of town but have a think about parking etc.
We are living in the eastern suburbs about 15 - 20 minutes by car to the city, and most of the Northern suburb areas. There are a lot of Motels in the area. Thanks to Google, you can find a lot of listed Motels or Motor Inns. Research the accommodation and area with Google Earth if you are not sure. If you choose the Eastern suburb Motels you will find you will get value for your money. Do not expect five star luxury. It is a comfortable place to sleep, not a resort. When you have decided on your accommodation try and negotiate long stay rates. If it is out of school holidays you will get good rates.
Do not book your first night at the Motel. The long flight, the unknown and trying to find your place can be daunting. Try and sleep near the airport on the first night. It will make it easier to have a rest and then move to your temporary accommodation the next day. You can have your breakfast and do not have to buy groceries to carry around all day.
You can also have a look at furnished apartments, there are an array of them and also will provide good value for money. We found them more expensive than Motor Inns. Some people try to find a holiday home to rent, that can be less expensive if there is out of season.
Research is the best weapon. One tends to think that if a place is cheap it is not of very high standard. Most of the accommodation in the Eastern Suburbs are of very high standard, where you get what you pay for. A clean room, bedding etc. When you negotiate with the place, find out as much as you can. Look at the photos and ask for references from previous guest. I would not worry too much about the standard and the choice in the area, because it will only be temporary.
You can also contact me if you need someone to inspect it for you. I am in the process to negotiate a good rate etc with a few of the places and will publish it as soon as I have more info.
There are a few options. Without being area specific I would like to give you a few pointers. Driving round in Melbourne, we came across a lot of Motels and furnished apartments. That could be your starting point. Motels range from $95 per night up to $500 per night. If you do not have an idea where you will be living, make sure that you rather go for cheaper accommodation outside the city centre. You may find cheap accommodation in the centre of town but have a think about parking etc.
We are living in the eastern suburbs about 15 - 20 minutes by car to the city, and most of the Northern suburb areas. There are a lot of Motels in the area. Thanks to Google, you can find a lot of listed Motels or Motor Inns. Research the accommodation and area with Google Earth if you are not sure. If you choose the Eastern suburb Motels you will find you will get value for your money. Do not expect five star luxury. It is a comfortable place to sleep, not a resort. When you have decided on your accommodation try and negotiate long stay rates. If it is out of school holidays you will get good rates.
Do not book your first night at the Motel. The long flight, the unknown and trying to find your place can be daunting. Try and sleep near the airport on the first night. It will make it easier to have a rest and then move to your temporary accommodation the next day. You can have your breakfast and do not have to buy groceries to carry around all day.
You can also have a look at furnished apartments, there are an array of them and also will provide good value for money. We found them more expensive than Motor Inns. Some people try to find a holiday home to rent, that can be less expensive if there is out of season.
Research is the best weapon. One tends to think that if a place is cheap it is not of very high standard. Most of the accommodation in the Eastern Suburbs are of very high standard, where you get what you pay for. A clean room, bedding etc. When you negotiate with the place, find out as much as you can. Look at the photos and ask for references from previous guest. I would not worry too much about the standard and the choice in the area, because it will only be temporary.
You can also contact me if you need someone to inspect it for you. I am in the process to negotiate a good rate etc with a few of the places and will publish it as soon as I have more info.
August 17, 2011
Truths and Lies (Houses)
We spent hours looking at houses on the Internet. The two main websites are domain.com.au and realestate.com.au. We choose houses in our budget to rent and had a look at them in Google Earth. There are a few things to understand that is important to your budget and to make your choices easier.
Houses are advertised with a weekly rent. It also stipulates a bond amount. The bond is the monthly rate. If the house is $300 per week, the bond may be $1250. This is for the month and if you pay monthly that will be the rate you are paying. This bond is also the deposit you have to pay to get the house, with the first months rent. For this example $2500. Please keep this in consideration when you work out your budget.
If you want to rent there is a few obstacles that may be very pricey. You can not rent a house without seeing it. Yes, you can not rent a house over the Internet, The estate agents would not allow that. If you have somebody in Melbourne that can do it on your behalve, its fine. Secondly the house viewings are at specified times and very short. Thirty minutes at a time. You can not view houses at any other time that is occupied. Empty houses viewed accompanied by the estate agent. Do not think that you will arrive in Melbourne, rent a house the next day and move in the next day. Everything takes time.
When you view a house, you do it with all other interested people. You can obtain lists of all the houses that will be on show on a specific day and the drive around looking at them from the street. Decide on those that you want to see and then visit them when they are open for inspection. BUY A GPS OR IF YOU HAVE ONE GET AN UPDATED AUSTRALIAN MAP OR RENT ONE AT THE AIRPORT. It is difficult to find, view and drive to all the properties, because as soon as one closes the other one opens for 30 minutes. When you decide on a property, you apply at the estate agent. You need to supply your passport, visa, proof of income, bank account and references. I will discuss references and bank accounts later. It is not first come, first serve. All applications goes to the owner to decide. Most of the viewing are on Saturdays so expect a delay. If you are successful the paperwork is done and you have to pay the deposit and first months rent. As soon as everything is signed and the estate agent has inspected the property you can move in.
This may take up to week. In the mean time you have to stay somewhere. That is where your budget comes in. We will look at accommodation later. Research for accommodation and find out about discounts for weekly or fortnightly stays. Negotiate rates. We have found a lot of Motels and furnished complexes that are cheap and clean and give you a bed to sleep on. I will provide a list in further articles.
Result: When you plan to rent, allow ample time and money in your budget to stay while you are waiting to move into your house. That is also applicable to your car, rent smart to allow time to have a car while you are looking for your new house and car.
Houses are advertised with a weekly rent. It also stipulates a bond amount. The bond is the monthly rate. If the house is $300 per week, the bond may be $1250. This is for the month and if you pay monthly that will be the rate you are paying. This bond is also the deposit you have to pay to get the house, with the first months rent. For this example $2500. Please keep this in consideration when you work out your budget.
If you want to rent there is a few obstacles that may be very pricey. You can not rent a house without seeing it. Yes, you can not rent a house over the Internet, The estate agents would not allow that. If you have somebody in Melbourne that can do it on your behalve, its fine. Secondly the house viewings are at specified times and very short. Thirty minutes at a time. You can not view houses at any other time that is occupied. Empty houses viewed accompanied by the estate agent. Do not think that you will arrive in Melbourne, rent a house the next day and move in the next day. Everything takes time.
When you view a house, you do it with all other interested people. You can obtain lists of all the houses that will be on show on a specific day and the drive around looking at them from the street. Decide on those that you want to see and then visit them when they are open for inspection. BUY A GPS OR IF YOU HAVE ONE GET AN UPDATED AUSTRALIAN MAP OR RENT ONE AT THE AIRPORT. It is difficult to find, view and drive to all the properties, because as soon as one closes the other one opens for 30 minutes. When you decide on a property, you apply at the estate agent. You need to supply your passport, visa, proof of income, bank account and references. I will discuss references and bank accounts later. It is not first come, first serve. All applications goes to the owner to decide. Most of the viewing are on Saturdays so expect a delay. If you are successful the paperwork is done and you have to pay the deposit and first months rent. As soon as everything is signed and the estate agent has inspected the property you can move in.
This may take up to week. In the mean time you have to stay somewhere. That is where your budget comes in. We will look at accommodation later. Research for accommodation and find out about discounts for weekly or fortnightly stays. Negotiate rates. We have found a lot of Motels and furnished complexes that are cheap and clean and give you a bed to sleep on. I will provide a list in further articles.
Result: When you plan to rent, allow ample time and money in your budget to stay while you are waiting to move into your house. That is also applicable to your car, rent smart to allow time to have a car while you are looking for your new house and car.
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