January 10, 2024 | View Online | Sign Up
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Sydney might steal the limelight when it comes to Australia. But frankly, that’s a good thing for Melbourne (and you). With half the volume of tourists, you’ll have a bit more of it to yourself.
A permanent fixture on the list of the world’s most livable cities, Melbourne shines as an Aussie coastal cultural hub, plying its inhabitants with world-class coffee, one of the best sports scenes on the planet, and a vast array of art, music, and food.
The weather might not be as reliable as its northerly rival, but it’ll make up for that in character. So, pick a side.
Welcome to Melbourne, mate!
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| EAT, SLEEP, DO
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Your Guide to the Best of Melbourne
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⛱️ What to do
Melbourne is awash with show-stealing itinerary additions, from Aussie Rules Football to Victorian architecture, and street art to beach markets. It’s also home to an outstanding music scene, so be sure to catch a show while you’re there. Here’s a huge list of the best things to do in Melbourne.
🍴 What to eat
It’s no hyperbole to call Melbourne’s food scene one of the greatest on the planet. The city is inundated with tremendous restaurants fueled by a dynamic immigrant population and built to satisfy an Aussie demographic that demands high-quality food. (And we haven’t even mentioned the coffee.) You won’t even scratch the surface, but here are the best restaurants in Melbourne.
🛌 Where to stay
Australia has a tendency to gift its visitors with too much to choose from, and Melbourne’s hotel scene is no different. Its accommodation spans spectacular Victorian buildings to modern eco-conscious projects, trailblazing a new path for hoteliers around the world. Here are just a few of the most exciting hotels in Melbourne.
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| TRAVEL PLANNING WITH CONCIERGE
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Did you know one of the most common reasons people don’t use up their PTO is due to planning fatigue? It’s understandable. Planning a trip can be overwhelming and time-consuming but we don’t believe in letting PTO go to waste. That’s why we’ve rolled out Concierge.
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☀️ 10 days of beach hopping in the Australia
🏄♀️ 7-day surfing adventure in Costa Rica
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🌍 The destination is up to you & the options are endless!
Concierge is valued at $2,850, but we are offering Next Stop readers lifetime access for just $199. Get a lifetime of expertly planned adventures for only $199 today.
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| MONEY MOVES
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How to Get to Melbourne Using Points and Miles
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Australia is a long way away. In fact, Melbourne is almost 8,000 miles from L.A. For a traveler, that usually means one thing: It’s gonna be expensive to get there.
And while our writer, Steven, pulled it off for $450 roundtrip, he had to spend Christmas Day alone.
There is an easier way to get there than by ruining Christmas and it's by using points. Whatever credit cards you have, we’ve put together a guide to get you from the US to Melbourne for as little as possible.
Check it out here.
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| MELBOURNE FAST FACTS
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🎾 Jock town: Melbourne is known as Australia’s sporting capital. This is owing to the vast amount of major events held there, including the Australian Open (tennis), the Aussie Grand Prix (F1), and the Aussie Rules Football League final. It was also the first city outside of North America and Europe to host the Olympics back in 1954.
🇦🇺 A colorful city: Melbourne’s diversity is spectacular. As much as 50% of the population has at least one parent born overseas, and over 200 nationalities live in the city.
👣 A different level of walkable: Melbourne is a walkable place, but the respite offered by the city is unmatched. It has the highest ratio of benches to people in the world.
🌏 Indigenous and inseparable: Melbourne might not feel like an old city, but the indigenous Aboriginal people have lived in the area for 40 thousand years.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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It’s Not a Weekend City
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You might be tempted to add Melbourne to your itinerary as a quick weekend visit, but it’s not a city truly conducive to that. Sure, you could hit the main tourist attractions in a couple of days, but the joy of Melbourne is in the atmosphere of its distinct neighborhoods.
This is one of the reasons Sydney gets so much more attention. With a ton of heavyweight attractions for tourists, a short stop there may seem to blow Melbourne out of the water.
But this city is worth some extra time, even if you’re not operating on a set itinerary. It might be the best way to fall in love with the place and firmly put you on Team Melbourne.
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Prepare for Four Seasons in One Day
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Melbourne is known for its flaky weather and even inspired the Crowded House song “Four Seasons in One Day” back in the 90s.
Before we go any further, remember Australia is in the Southern hemisphere. That means Winter is June, July, and August, while the hot summer months are December, January, and February.
With that said, Melbourne is known for having some temperamental weather. Summers will soar to well over 100 degrees and sunny, then drastically switch to thunderstorms before evening back out to a pleasant 85. The same goes in the winter, where things hover a few degrees above freezing. Look out your window in the morning, and you’ll have overcast drizzle, but a few hours later, you’ll be basking in a fantastic sunny day.
Pack layers and anticipate any and all weather patterns.
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Quick Tips for Melbourne
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Here's some bonus tips to keep you on top Down Under.
The airport is a long way from the city. Grab the SkyBus or take public transport as ataxi will be exorbitant.
Tipping isn’t expected, but there will be surcharges
You’ll never pay more than $10 for a day of public transport
It’s a safe place, but the emergency number is 000, not 911
A lot of the city’s museums and galleries are free
If you want surfing, you’ll not find any waves here
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN MELBOURNE
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*This link is sponsored.
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