Optus has announced a partnership with worldwide accommodation leader Airbnb. This partnership will enable overseas travellers to stay connected no matter how far from home they roam.

From the humble selfie to the routine check-in with the family, mobile connectivity enables overseas travellers to feel like a local from the moment they leave the airport.

Optus customers new to Airbnb can redeem one $50AUD voucher for any booking over $100AUD. The voucher is available from today and Optus customers will be notified via social media, an email campaign and in-store catalogues. Customers simply visit the webpage to generate a code which can be taken to the Airbnb website for redemption when booking a property.

Australian guests new to Airbnb can score a free $30AUD Prepaid SIM to use on international roaming when they book one of Airbnb’s 1.5 million overseas properties, located in 34,000 cities around the world. Simply book a property and a link to the redemption page will be embedded in the booking confirmation email from Airbnb. Prepaid SIM cards can be redeemed online or via a local Yes Optus Store.

Rohan Ganeson, managing director, customer, Optus, said, “Providing travellers with a little extra credit before they take off will give them one less thing to worry about. Travel is so exciting but untangling an overseas mobile plan can be a frustrating experience. We partnered with Airbnb to take down this barrier and help travellers feel like a local as soon as they land.”

Airbnb general manager Sam McDonagh said, “This news will be a welcome bonus to Aussies heading overseas this Christmas with Airbnb. Next week alone, more than 25,000 locals will use Airbnb to book their accommodation somewhere in the world. This fabulous partnership will let both Optus and Airbnb customers land on their feet as soon as they touchdown anywhere in the world.”

Optus customers and Airbnb guests will experience the immediate benefits of this partnership with ambitious offers soon to be released for the partnership leading into 2016.