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Schoolies Travel Beyond Australia To Celebrate

Announcement posted by Switched on Media 19 Nov 2010

SCHOOLIES are taking off to Fiji and Bali this year to celebrate the end-of-exams, while next year’s graduates are already planning breaks in Vanuatu.
SCHOOLIES are taking off to Fiji and Bali this year to celebrate the end-of-exams, while next year’s graduates are already planning breaks in Vanuatu.

Although the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast remain hot favourites for schoolies week, more teens are considering an overseas holiday in the South Pacific with fellow school leavers.

Student Flights, in conjunction with Unleashed Travel, have been offering dedicated schoolies packages at resorts in Fiji, Bali and soon Vanuatu, for the past three years.

Student Flights' marketing manager Phil Hancox said the company had seen rapid growth in bookings since 2007, which proved that students were definitely interested in alternatives to the traditional schoolies destinations.

“This year, hundreds of kids from Queensland, News South Wales and Victoria will be packing their bags for Fiji, while school leavers from Western Australia and South Australia are headed for Bali,” said Phil.

“These destinations offer a warm climate and a party vibe, so it is easy to see why they are appealing to schoolies. Resorts go all the way to make sure the kids have a good time in a safe environment, with themed nights, DJs and extra security recruited for the week.”

Phil said affordability and accessibility were contributing factors, with Fiji only a four-hour flight from Australia’s east coast and return flights from around $400.

Cheap airfares and a stronger Australian dollar have made overseas travel a more realistic option for parents, with many considering it to be a worthwhile graduation gift to their school leavers.”

Unleashed Travel director Jot Lynas said the group, which was formed in 2006, identified that there was a gap in the market for school leavers who want to travel overseas, but had no real idea how to organise it.

“This year, we are taking across more than 1650 schoolies to Fiji and Bali, plus next year we bring Vanuatu into the mix and predict up to 3000 kids.

All schoolies packages for 2011 can be booked at Student Flights.
Phone Student Flights on 1300 019 130 or see www.studentflights.com.au for details.