Online travel agency Travelscene and Qantas Vacations have teamed up with Tourism Australia to create a "Do the Math" online widget, allowing users to compare costs in Australia vs. Europe.

Published: 08 Aug 2008

Online travel agency Travelscene and Qantas Vacations have teamed up with Tourism Australia to create a "Do the Math" online widget, allowing users to compare costs in Australia vs. Europe.

The widget can be found on www.travelscene.com, www.qantasvacations.com and on the Tourism Australia site (www.australia.com/dothemath).

Referring to reasons such as "miserable exchange rate, skyrocketing hotel prices and expensive restaurants" for American travelers to re-consider their annual European vacation plans, the organisations shared that they are offering a better value for a wider range of experiences.

www.australia.com/dothemath shares that beer in Australia is less than half the price as the UK; two nights at a four star hotel in Melbourne, is $270 compared to $459 in Rome; and a Sydney Harbour Cruise, is only $56 compared to a $78 river cruise in Paris.

Besides the cost comparisons, the organisations are also offering a tongue-in-cheek top 10 list for travelers on why to they should choose Australia over Europe.

Top ten list of why American travelers choose Australia over Europe:

1. Your dollar won't shrink to 50 cents as you fly over the Pacific.

2. Lunch or a cappuccino? In Australia, you don't have to choose.

3. No need to wear a Canadian flag on your bag. Aussies like Americans. Always have.

4. You can't bungee jump from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

5. You can afford to get your mother-in-law her own room.

6. The beaches are better Downunder. And Aussie men wear their thongs on their feet.

7. Aussies speak English (sort of).

8. Let's be honest, an $80 pair of Ugg Boots, will always be more comfortable than a $600 pair of French stilettos.

9. Your waiter will welcome you with a smile, not roll his eyes if you ask a question.

10. Travelscene and Qantas Vacations offer heaps of air and land inclusive vacations to Australia and the South Pacific for under $2000.