3. SETTLE YOURSELF IN AUSTRALIA

Find accommodation

You've made it! What a nice 24-hour flight… when else will you get the chance to see 6 movies back-to-back? You now have to find a place to sleep. If you are traveling cheaply, hostels are the way to go. Australians are seasoned backpackers, and backpacking hotels (or "backpackers") are very common.

If you've never stayed in a youth hostel, here's what to expect: If you want the cheapest accommodation available, you will bunk down in a room with five or six similarly sexed people. You will pay between $8-12 a night for this privilege, and may be asked to do some very easy housekeeping chores. You will usually be asked to rent sheets (which is a comforting way of assuring a healthy distance from the last bed occupant) for between $1-2 a night. If you want to save more money, you can make yourself a sleepsheet by folding an ordinary sheet in half lengthwise and sewing it up like a sleeping bag. Hostels usually have a secured area for storing your valuables, although it is probably best to sleep wearing your money and passport in your fanny pack. Some hostels do offer private rooms for families and couples, although these will be more expensive.

Hostels are also an excellent way to meet other travelers. Although the quality of hostels differs depending on where you are staying, those in Sydney (that backpacker's haven) are known to be quite competitive and offer such amenities as swimming pools and free weekly barbecues. For a list of hostels in Australia, check out:

Also check out The Australian Backpacker's Connection, which offers such cool services for backpackers as message service to and from the folks back home.

If you did the dorm thing in college and can't bear the thought of snoring along with a group of other smelly people, then you can stay in a moderately priced hotel.

Yet another way to accommodate yourself in Australia is to simply go camping. It will be expensive to get your equipment over there, and camping in some parts of Australia (e.g., the Outback) is nowhere near as pleasant as anywhere back home. Still, if you are a hardcore camper, it's much cheaper than any sort of indoor accommodation. For a list of places to legally pitch your tent, check out http://www.camping.com.au/ or http://www.auscamps.asn.au/.

Wherever you stay, you should be fortunate enough to have electricity. Australia is on a 220-240v system (unlike North America's 110v system). If you can't travel without your Hair Frizzer 3000 or some other electric aid, make sure to bring both an adapter (which converts the plug shape) and a converter (which converts the voltage). Both can be purchased at larger hardware stores and should be bought ahead of time.

Get around

You can walk. This is probably the best way to take in the sites and meet new people. As elsewhere on the planet, Australia's cities have many other ways to get you to places where they can take your tourist dollars:

If you're feeling rich and antisocial, you can always rent a car. Remember that Australians drive on the left side of the road. You are allowed to drive in Australia with a valid, current driver's license from your home country, but you may have problems renting a vehicle without an International Driver's License. While most roads in Australia are paved and well maintained, those in the Outback can offer quite a different experience than the urban driver is used to. If going alone in the Outback, make sure to rent a Four Wheel Drive vehicle. Be sure to have all the necessary safety equipment (water, flashlights, jack, spare tire, extra oil etc.) as you can expect a long wait before any help will/might show up. If you don't know basic car maintenance, like how to change a tire, learn. Make sure you leave your itinerary with someone at both ends of your destination before heading out into the outback.

Know what to do in an emergency

Australia is a wonderful country full of splendid mates, but like anywhere else, bad things can happen. So it is vital that you use your common sense. For example, don't brag loudly in public places about the stack of traveler's checks you just converted. If you find yourself in any situation where you need fire, police, or medical help, dial 000 as a free call on any phone.

It's also a good idea to let your national embassy or consulate, as well as the Australian Embassy, know how to get a hold of you in Australia (in case there's an emergency back home). Check out the Australian Embassy Homepage to find one.

For other travel safety information in Australia, go to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.