What you need to know when hiring a car?

If you come to visit Perth, I'm sure one of the most important tool that you need is definitely a car. Your journey here in Perth would be easier, from one destination to another with a car. Yes, you can still rely on public transportation here as it is very reliable, but your visit here would be such a pleasure especially if travelling with children.

There are many options for car rental here in Perth. You can either book one as soon as you arrive at the airport or you can take the car in the city centre. In my opinion, it would be easier if you book from the airport as normally you have to return the car to the original place where you first get it. Some do offer other places for return, but it is with prior arrangements and some might incur costs. Please enquire first when you take the car if you choose to return at their other branch.

As for us, we choose to take from the city centre, near our apartments because we are not returning back in the near future. It would be a hassle to go back to the airport, just to return the car.

One important reminder is that please please check the condition of the car before you go and start your journey WITH the staff. I really mean it. The one that we have was just gave us the car key and a receipt; where they stated here and here that have minor scratch or marks. How on earth to we know, whether the car seat is originally black or brown leather etc. You'll never know and did not expect what they will claim on you when you return the car.

Choose whichever suits your budget and don't forget to read reviews on them just to be on the safe side.

Short-stay apartment

We stayed in an apartment in West Perth upon arrival. We've booked for about 3 weeks, hoping that we'll managed to secure a reasonable house for us later after that. Why we did that? It's quite difficult actually to secure a house from overseas (i.e. Malaysia) unless you've known somebody here to secure a house for you. But I guess, you would want to have a look of the house first before hand..

There are many options for short stay accommodation available, depends on which is suitable and convenient for you. If you come alone and on a very tight budget, you might want to consider to stay in a bulk hostel, backpackers or even rent a room in a shared house. That would costs approximately AUD30 per night or even lower. Common websites that may help you in your search would be here or even here. If you opt for a bit comfortable place, you might have to consider spending a bit higher which is about AUD85-AUD200 per night. Since the budget is higher, there would not be a big problem as there are plenty of choices to choose from. You may opt for hotels, bed-and-breakfast or even fully furnished apartments. The one that we had was the latter, more or less like a studio apartment. A double bed, a kitchen and a toilet complete with all the utensils that you've think of! You may put this apartment in one of your choices =)

The one that we stayed is quite convenient - very near to the Perth CBD, free buses around town. Since it is located nearby the city, you can have anything just within 5 kms - easy to register your bank account, shopping, medicare and centrelink registration or even car hire company. All that you need! =)

Fly to Aussie

After you've settled with your visa, you definitely need an airline ticket. From Malaysia, you have plenty to choose from. But the most commonly known amongst Malaysian are either MAS or Air Asia. If you opt for a cheaper one, Air Asia is definitely your choice. If you are lucky enough, you might be able to get their cheapest fare during their sales or offer; which is normally difficult to get one. You can register to get the latest offer from them if you want here so that you wouldn't miss their offer via their newletter direct to your email address.

As for us, we bought ours during their airline flight ticket offer online. Managed to get about RM520 one way per adult. Not sure whether this is consider cheap or not as the previous ticket that we bought in 2008 was about RM1000+ return per adult. More or less the same isn't it? Oh, mind you that those includes meals on board, allowance baggage of 20kg, insurance and also booking seats.

Journey with AirAsia was great. Not bad. Quite smooth, I would say. Meals on board was okay. As expected, malaysian meals that we had was nasi lemak while kids meal for our girl was mushroom pizza, which she enjoyed eating it very much. Inclusive in the kids meal was a pack of oreo biscuits, a packet of ribena, small packet of kitkat and also a small jigsaw puzzle of airasia aircraft. That costs us RM15.

We arrived earlier that ETA about half an hour early. Departed about 12 midnight and safely landed at 5 in the morning at Perth International Airport.

Oh yes, for AirAsia; there are several other stops for you depends on where you are heading to in Australia. You may opt for Gold Coast or even Melbourne besides Perth.