5 R&R getaway ideas on a budget

5 R&R getaway ideas to recharge your batteries without breaking the bank

  • 23 March 2023

    We all need a little getaway to recharge the batteries, and if you’re a hard working health professional doing long hours – and a lot of miles - on the ward from week-to-week, you definitely deserve it.

    When you’re so busy taking care of others it can be easy to forget to take time out for yourself. And with cost of living on the rise, a weekend away to recharge the batteries can feel like a luxury on a nurse or midwife’s pay packet.

    A black and white photo of a woman relaxing in a chair in an open field.

    But we’re here to help you make it happen with some simple budget-conscious getaway ideas.

    So leave the kids, your cat or other-half behind and treat yourself to a weekend recharge that won’t break the bank. 

    1. Take a glamping mini-break

    Want to get away from it all but without the hassle and (let’s face it) the getting down and dirty of actual camping? Glamping is one way to immerse yourself in nature far from the glare of fluoros and screens, but with a touch of glam and – hello – plumbing! Well – maybe not always but glamping and drop toilets generally don’t go hand in hand.

    Glamping in the rainforest, by the beach or in the coastal hinterlands can give you the best of both worlds – restorative time in nature minus the leaky tent, two-hour pack-down and pricey camping kit.

    Tip: Like all things, there’s Glamping and then there’s Glamping – some of the unique and truly top-notch glamping experiences come with a luxury price-tag - so make sure you filter your options by budget and throw the search net wider than the luxury glamping options that might top your search engine results.

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    2. Beach camping near amenities

    Restorative beach and ocean swims on a budget? If you’re okay with pitching a tent or swag and you’ve already got your own gear (or you can borrow the basics) - why not opt for a beach camping spot that gives you a little of column A and a little of column B? Beach camping grounds that are close to the ocean and amenities can be a great budget getaway option without the inconvenience (and prep) that can come with more isolated camping adventures. If you can getaway outside of school holidays to avoid the crowds and premium camping fees, even better!

    Look for beach camping spots that have toilet and shower facilities as well as good coffee, food and cafes nearby so you don’t need to do a whole lot of prep or pack the kitchen sink - just your snorkel, your swimmers and a sweet read - slip slop slap!

    Tip: Ask friends and workmates for recommendations or tap into camping communities on your socials to get the low-down on the spots that give you beach camping, but with good coffee, food options and hot showers.

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    3. Bushwalking and forest cabin getaway

    Explore affordable cabin accommodation in or near national parks for an inspiring nature retreat on a budget that can be as active (or laid back) as you want it to be.

    National parks like Lamington in Queensland, the Otways in Victoria and Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales often have affordable lodge or cabin accommodation – either within camping grounds or at other sites near the national park. This is an R&R option that gives you the added perk of having walking trails and natural wonders right at your doorstep – so park the wheels for a few days and immerse yourself in a cosy rainforest or mountain cabin.

    Tip: Think about how far you want to travel from home as well as the kind of national park experience you want - coastal, rugged, rainforest, iconic landmarks, hiking or riding - then go from there.

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    4. House sit or swap for a change of scenery

    House-sitting or swapping can be a great low-budget way to enjoy a change of scenery without the cost of accommodation. It also gives you the added benefit (and affordability) of self-catering. What’s there not to love?

    Keep your eye out on social media for friends or acquaintances looking for house or pet sitters while they’re away. You can also sign up to online house-sitting and swapping sites (though some charge to become a member), or, post in the Facebook communities groups of places you’re interested in visiting to let locals know that you’re available to house-sit or swap – and when.

    Plan ahead so you can work your getaway around opportunities that come your way. You might even be able to line up an annual house-sit or swap with a friend or trusted other.

    Tip: There are some house swap groups on Facebook specifically for health professionals – search to see if there’s already something in your state, or consider starting one of your own.

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    5. Hotel deal staycation and pampering

    If hotel bedsheets and room-service are more your jam than the great outdoors, give yourself a break in your own backyard with a hotel staycation.

    Sounds expensive? Not necessarily. If you can be flexible with your travel dates and use the technology on offer to monitor prices for you, you can land some great hotel deals to make that me-time staycation happen.

    Be on the look-out for hotel deals on price comparison and deal websites like Wotif, Kayak, Trivago and more. But be aware that the lowest listed prices on sites like these might not actually be the best deal available in market at any given time, or, they may not have all available rooms listed for a particular hotel. So once you’ve wish-listed some options, make sure you call hotels directly to get their best price before you hit ‘book’.

    When hotel deal-hunting, let the tech do the work for you. Enable the ‘price tracking’ function on travel deal websites to get automatic notifications in your inbox when prices go up or down for your favourite hotel, location and date searches. That way you can jump on any deals that drop, or lock in your booking before prices start to rise.

    Tip: Got some favourite or wish-list stays? Consider subscribing to their newsletter or following their socials to make sure you don’t miss any future deals, offers or competitions. Don’t forget to consider independent hotels or chains too - they might not trump those ‘top-of-mind’ brands when it comes to all the bells and whistles, but still offer the creature comforts, service and central location without the blue-chip price tag.

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