My thoughts exactly! The way she described it as a "hidden cost"???
If looking at a rented property I would always assume the price is without bills unless it specifically said "all bills included". Not only does this show how sheltered she is to the real world, for someone who says she was offered a job in social media marketing the other day she sounds very unaware of how marketing works. Properties with bills included would never not specify this since it's such a perk/selling point.
It's a shame her airbnb vacation won't give her some more life experience, she's going to have a shock when she moves out properly and has to set up her own bills.
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Also talking about how short term rentals aren't as easy as they're made out to be - I looked into doing a WHV in Australia and everywhere talks about 'short term rentals' in terms of 6 months, not maybe 4 months at a push
I thought this too! I don't know why she's so surprised to find that people don't want to lease her a full apartment for 3-4 months.
Another thing I picked up on was her saying it's better to have a car if you live in the suburbs. Lived and knew of several people based in the suburbs when I was there. None of us on the WHV had cars and even some of my Australian friends didn't, because the transport links in the suburbs are as good as the city. Especially in the inner suburbs. You're never far away from a tram stop/train station and the city is a stones throw away from places like South Yarra, Richmond, Prahan (places she never mentioned).
Why doesn't she wait until she's been there for a couple of months and knows more about Melbourne before giving out advice? I just feel like she rushes to advise people based on her experience, but reality is that most backpackers will live in the suburbs if they choose to settle (yes without a car). I feel she often misinforms people with her opinions.