Aboriginal elders are hoping that this new viewing platform will offer an alternative for visitors who want more than a base view of the monolith, as well as discourage tourists from climbing the sacred rock.

Ayers Rock is the perfect place to base yourself when touring the area.  There is a variety of accommodation options from the campground through to five star luxury; apartments for families to romantic hotel suites for couples.

The Outback Pioneer Lodge is located minutes from the hub of the resort, the Town Square, which features mini-supermarket and shops.  You can stock up on essentials to cook in the fully self contained apartments which feature one or two bedrooms with separate kitchen and lounge area.

Named after the iconic sails that crown its roof, Sails in the Desert Resort is pure five-star luxury.   The interior decor focuses on the Aboriginal art, heritage and culture of the area with displays in the lobby and public areas.   Award winning dining is available from the Kuniya Restaurant, or sip cocktails and enjoy tapas-style cuisine by the pool at Rockpool.

Longitude 131 is part of the exclusive (and expensive) Luxury Lodges of Australia group and offers a uniquely Australian outback experience at around $2,500 per night.  With just fifteen luxurious, eco-sensitive and romantic tents, this resort offers the opportunity for intimate viewings of the sunrise and sunset over Uluru.   The nightly tariff includes all meals and premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; transfers and a touring program exclusive to resort guests.  Enjoy a three-course meal outdoors at Table 131, under a spectacular desert night sky twinkling with thousands of stars.

Getting to Ayers Rock or Alice Springs is easy and convenient, with flights from most major capital cities  on a range of Australian domestic airlines and bus transfers and tours from other nearby locations like Kings Kanyon

The post Take a new look at Uluru appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

With cheap airfares and regular flights, it might seem silly to resort to any other kind of transportation when travelling in Australia. But we’ve never met anyone who disliked taking a “roadie” or road trip around the country.

In fact, you’re hard pressed to find a better way to explore Australia’s beauty. Whether it’s cruising the highways, kicking up sand in the desert or hugging the coastline, a road trip offers freedom and independence.

[tweet_box]If travelling around Australia is next on your holiday agenda, check out these tips to avoid any bumps in the road.[/tweet_box]

Plan Your Route Carefully

We hate to state the obvious, but it’s best to map our your route before starting the journey. Hitting the road without a plan may seem romantic and enticing, but it can result in unexpected hassles that cut into your holiday time. Know that Australia is a vast country and, depending on where and how far you’re travelling, the distance between places can be hours. So, make a plan, it will be your saviour when you’re down to your last cheese sandwich and an almost-empty tank of petrol. And for goodness sake, don’t rely solely on your phone and Google maps. If there’s no internet in the area you’re travelling through, you’re screwed. Buy an actual road atlas or map  – you know, the old skool paper type!

Be Prepared for the Climate and Weather

If you’ve planned your route wisely, you’ll avoid travelling to certain areas of Australia at certain times. For example, it’s risky travelling through the Far North and Top End during wet season, the period from November (sometimes October) to March. Remote communities and even some major towns in Queensland and Northern Territory become isolated during these months because of excessive rains and flooding. So, plan your route according to the season and always check the forecast before departing.

Work out a Schedule

After planning your route, get down to planning a schedule of your trip. Be sure to include notes on the places of interest or amazing restaurants you want to visit on the way, so you can factor sightseeing and leisurely eating into your timetable. For short drives you can be fairly flexible, but it’s still worth checking out the best towns or areas to stop, refreshment options, petrol stations etc. In case of a long drive, it’s important to fix where you will have meals and book accommodation before you arrive. A well-planned schedule will make the trip smoother and prevent any frantic searching for open restaurants and available hotels.

Pack the Essentials

After planning the route and schedule, it’s time to get packing. Road trips should be free of the burden of extra baggage. Take only the essentials – money, maps, drivers licence and other ID, toiletries, medication, phone and travel documents. Add clothes, some light snacks, books or magazines, and music to the list. It would be good to take a few flashlights and a first-aid box to handle any emergencies. If boot space permits, you can have the luxury of taking a couple of extras like blankets and pillows.

Check Your Car

We cannot stress this enough. PLEASE check your car is running smoothly. Are you comfortable in it driving long distances? Check the oil, water in the radiator and windscreen wipers, as well as the condition of your tyres. And don’t forget the spare! You’ll also need tools for small repairs or changing a flat.

Whether taking a coastal drive or roaming around the busy cities, a “roadie” in Australia is always fun. Just remember to drive on the LEFT! Hotel.com.au can help find you accommodation anywhere in the country on any budget. Just email us at RoomService@Hotel.com.au.

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The 31 links below (some are PDF docs) will help explain current travel restrictions in Australia during the relaxing of COVID-19.

The aim of most policies is to reduce the possibility of a second wave of infection which may require a return to shutdown conditions or some other form of increasing restrictions.

The links are grouped into advice for the traveller and advice for tourism businesses in each state.

On a national level there is Australia’s 3 step plan for all business sectors to return to the ‘new normal’ after COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed.

Australia’s National Response to COVID-19

New South Wales (NSW) Response to COVID-19

Victoria’s Travel Restrictions COVID-19

Queensland’s Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 Response

Western Australia Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 response

South Australia’s Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 Response

Tasmania’s Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 Response

Northern Territory’s Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 Response

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Travel Restrictions and COVID-19 response

The post COVID-19 Travel Updates across Australia appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Provided the sugar and sleep doses were balanced correctly, everything really did fall into place. Was it me, am I the perfect aunt and tour guide? Maybe, but more likely it’s because Tasmania is the perfect place to holiday with children. Yes, its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife is impressive, but it was the little things that really brought a smile to our faces. Like the short driving distances between sites, enough to quash the infuriating “Are we there yet?” question. And hands on activities like berry picking and hiking along the muddy paths of Cradle Mountain.

Tassie is a cinch to do with kids. It’s fun and rewarding, sometimes messy but educational too… and it hasn’t put me off taking the niece and nephew on another holiday! I departed from Melbourne (read my itinerary for some ideas for your Tassie family trip) but you can fly/drive from anywhere in Australia. Happy travels!

5 Day Tassie Itinerary

Day 1 – Kids arrive in Melbourne. I take them to the Docklands Obrien Icehouse Skating Rink before departing for Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania.

Day 2 – After arriving in Devonport we walk the Bluff and visit the Tiagarra Aboriginal Culture Centre. We buy supplies for self-catering and reach Cradle Mountain by early afternoon. We do two short walks from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre (my niece wanted to find some fairies along The Enchanted Stroll track) and learn all about the intriguing Tassie Devil at Devils@Cradle sanctuary. Stay: Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village

Day 3 – A highlight of the trip, our 8km walk in the National Park takes in views of Cradle Mountain, Crater lake, waterfalls and lots of wombat sightings!

Day 4 – We’re sad to leave the peaceful surround of Cradle Mountain. We drive to Tasmazia, the world’s largest maze complex, and then it’s onto the Mole Creek Karst National Park for a tour of the majestic Marakoopa Cave with its underground streams, glow worms and cathedral style accoustics. We’re in Launceston by dinnertime. Stay: The Sebel Launceston

Day 5 – We spend the morning exploring Launceston before driving to Beauty Point to visit Platypus House & Seahorse World. The charismatic echidnas that proved to be a big hit. We finish the day in Devonport before boarding the boat home.

[UPDATE] So much more…

Tasmania has so many amazing attractions that young inquisitive minds really go for. Here are a few of our favourites:

Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) Hobart

Yes, absolutely MONA is for kids! It all starts on a ferry… with sheep sculptures the kids can sit on and a talking parrot. The first two installations you’ll see upon entering is hundreds of light bulbs that beat to your pulse and a trampoline that makes music while you bounce. Then there’s the pink fluffy hills to roll down, a table tennis table with grooves (impossible to play on!), the “fat car” and data visualisations that will have them mesmerised. Of course there’s some sexually explicit and other confronting stuff too. Just check the free printed guide which maps out the artworks suitable for kids under 15.

Mt Wellington Hobart

Bushwalking, bike riding, rock climbing… you know, all those active outdoorsy things but with the creature comforts of a city nearby. Check out the Wellington Park website.

Hastings Cave & Thermal Springs

Remember the mnemonic for stalactites and stalagmites? Well throw in some unusual helictites at Hastings Cave as well (it’s ok, we don’t know what they are either!) A 90 minute drive from Hobart, the kids will love touring this spacious cave – claustrophobics rejoice! – and splashing about in the thermal springs pool afterwards.

Hollybank Treetops Adventure

Fly over the forest! The kids will love the adrenalin rush of a high-wire canopy tour at Hollybank Treetops Adventure. Just 15 mins from Launceston, this treetop adventure will have the kids squealing with delight/fear as they zipline up to 400m between ‘cloud stations’ at a height of 30m above the forest floor. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult and weight restrictions apply.

Freycinet (inc Wineglass Bay)

The east coast of Tassie is absolutely stunning. Think sea kayaking, wildlife tours, beach camping (at The Friendly Beaches. Truly, that’s their name!), walks to suit all levels and the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste.

For a great deal on family-friendly accommodation in Tasmania, head over to Hotel.com.au.

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But maybe you’re not looking to get too far away? You enjoy nature, but don’t want to sleep outside fighting off the insects and weathering the elements? There’s no shame in that. If that’s the case, you don’t want to go camping at all. You want to go glamping.

Glamping is a combination of the words “glamour” and “camping”: it’s camping with luxury. [tweet_dis]In the Northern Territory, glamping lets you experience the majestic beauty of nature without the wild inconveniences.[/tweet_dis]

Kakadu National Park

1. Bamurru Plains – Humpty Doo

A couple of hours drive from Darwin is Kakadu National Park. It’s huge, covering over 20,000 hectares of the Australian Outback. It isn’t all desert though, as Kakadu is close enough to the coast to support thriving swathes of rainforest.

Bamurru Plains is perhaps the premier destination for glamping, just outside Kakadu. The safari bungalows at this site have high-pressure showers with glass door showers and plush beds fitted with organic cotton linen. You can see all the natural beauty around you from inside, and the floor-to-ceiling mesh screen walls will keep the bugs outside where they belong!

If you ever feel the urge to leave your five-star camp site, there are some great activities to choose from, from airboat tours, ATV safaris, river cruises and more. Graveside Gorge is worth a visit, offering stunning views of the rugged cowboy-movie landscape.

2. Wildman Wilderness Lodge

Situated in the Mary River wetlands area, halfway between Darwin and Kakadu, is the Wildman Wilderness Lodge. This is a wetlands safari experience on steroids! Choose from free standing cabins, called Habitats, or go “hardcore” in a luxury tent. Most of the Safari Tents cater for families too. The lodge offers a range of eco tours from Kakadu National Park to cruising Mary River (croc viewings guaranteed!), Airboat Safari across the wetlands, Scenic Flights or Culture Walks with expert guides and Traditional Owners.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

3. Longitude 131

What could be better than waking up to a sunrise over Ayers Rock? It’s pure nourishment for the soul. Then there’s the actual food served up at Longitude 131. Think gourmet dinners under a starry night sky, real espresso for those early morning starts and three-course lunches. Capped off with a long list of premium Australian wine. Unlike the explorers of centuries past, you won’t go hungry or thirsty during your time in the desert!

Longitude 131 is the closest accommodation to Ayers Rock. With only 15 luxury tents onsite, each with an uninterrupted view, you’ll feel equally humbled and in awe of the enormous red rock and its ever-changing moods. Of course a luxury tent isn’t complete without oversized rain shower, complementary in-room bar, iPad with preloaded entertainment and air-conditioning. Ah the joys of combining old world with new!

Tick a Northern Territory holiday off your travel bucket list! Hotel.com.au can help organise getting there, accommodation in Darwin as well as the fun glamping part. Email us help@Hotel.com.au

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Travellers save big with a new way to book accommodation online

Price Guardian is a price robot on your side. It works by checking your hotel booking against any fluctuations in price to make sure you’ve always got the lowest price locked in.

“Let’s say you book a room for $250 but then, two weeks before you’re due to travel, the price drops to $150. Price Guardian will send an email prompting you to cancel your original booking and re-book the same room at the lower price,” explains Matthew Lawson, Managing Director of Hotel.com.au. “However, if the cost of your hotel room rises, your booking is still secure at the original rate.”

Price Guardian essentially delivers the best of both worlds – the security of making an early booking whilst still having access to savings that are often available with last minute deals. And the deal comes to you, there’s no need to keep monitoring rates yourself. The only condition is the booking must have a free cancellation period for the re-booking process to be viable. Luckily most bookings these days come with free cancellation. It makes planning ahead the way to go rather than the exception, why wait to book? If you wait too long you could basically miss out on your favourite hotel or preferred location.

Deciding when to book a hotel has always been one of the more challenging aspects of holiday planning. On the one hand, booking early allows you to have your hotel room confirmed with time on your side. On the other hand, you can sometimes snag a dreamy hotel at an even dreamier price just by holding off and waiting to see if the price drops.

Even the experts can’t quite agree when the best time to book a hotel is, and the data that is available can often be used to support both arguments. Of course, if you have you heart set on a specific hotel on a specific date, it’s absolutely the best option to just book and have it confirmed. Trying to save a percentage of the cost is not worth missing out on an experience that may be important to you. Booking early also means you won’t be stuck paying hefty room rates later, simply because the hotel is nearing capacity.

Yet there are downsides. Whilst booking a room early may bring peace of mind, you sometimes end up paying more for the privilege. If you book too early, before the best prices have been released, then you’re basically being punished for planning ahead.

Waiting for a last minute deal also poses its own problems. Smart travellers know it can pay dividends, but how can you know for certain exactly the right time to book? Late deals can save you money, but they can also add a layer of (avoidable) stress to your travel plans – especially if you have your heart set on a particular hotel that ends up selling out or prices skyrocket.

With hotel prices determined by location, events, occupancy rates and many other variables, it’s futile to try to answer ‘when is the best time to book a hotel’ in any meaningful, absolute way. The best approach is to put the power back in the traveller’s hands and make the question redundant altogether. At least, that’s the solution posed by Hotel.com.au’s Price Guardian, a tool which, when activated, offers an average saving of $110 per booking. “But there are multiple instances of savings between $400-500 on one and two night reservations for some lucky travellers,” says Matthew.

Price Guardian allows you to tap into those last minute savings without risking missing out on the hotel room you want, giving you both security and freedom when choosing a hotel deal. Then we can all get back to figuring out that other great, unanswerable question: just when is the best time to book a flight?

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What’s sew good about America? The place is overflowing with handcraft delights of course! Sorry, that one had grandma in stitches. But seriously, if you want to go exploring, rummaging and browsing through the USA for some truly unique handmade gifts and trinkets, or even learn how to whip up some marvels of your own, these US holidays might seam too good to be true.

Snuggle up to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky, filled with over 150 quilts in three galleries. Changing over a dozen times a year, the display is a range of traditional and avant-garde quilting styles, showing the skills and talent of artisans who spend hundreds of hours piecing together a masterpiece. There are even workshops in 2010 if you really want to know how to make an American quilt. In the comfy rooms of the Paducah Comfort Suites, you can test out your creation, then in the morning toddle on downstairs for a 20-item deluxe continental breakfast.

Bored of plastic mass-manufactured junk? Craft is a great way to explore your creative streak while picking up great gifts and decoration. You can stock up on inspiration and supplies at the One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale from November 26-December 6 in Toronto, Canada. There are masses of seminars, displays and handmade trinkets. If you’re in town another time, you can always try a scrapbooking workshop at Scrapbooks By Design — it’s a great way to meet fellow crafties. When you’ve had enough of fiddly work, unwind at the Pantages Suites Hotel and Spa, where you and a friend can book the BFF Package, which includes a mini mani and mini pedi for two, chick flicks, popcorn and snacks.

Before factories in China pumped out a kewpie doll every half second, toys and furniture took time and skill to make, just like in the days of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter of yore. Take a walking tour of this eclectic area, visiting shops and galleries containing unique handcrafted goods, rustic furniture and folk art. Then get physical on the tennis courts of the Hilton Del Mar Hotel San Diego.

If Tiffany and Swarovski aren’t your cup of tea, and you’d prefer something completely unique, then the Pasadena Bead and Design show is the place you want to be from 14-17 January 2010. You can lose youself amongst the 300 exhibitors, workshops and showcases of all things crafty, ranging from handmade beads to glass art and textiles. The show is held within the Hilton Pasadena, ideal as inspiration with its design motifs, handcrafted stone fountains and really, really comfy beds.

The post USA art and craft vacations – the fun way to get stitched up appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Europe is a literary lover’s slice of alphabet heaven. From the world’s coolest book clubs, wildest characters and famous settings – often put on the map by the even more notorious authors who conjured them up, it’s time to turn the page to some wonderfully words-worthy hotels and experiences.

Ever fancied yourself as a beret-wearing literary intellectual? One place you’d feel right at home is the Hotel Lutetia in Paris, where Saturday literary salons feature great lectures and courses including a specific event devoted to young readers. Situated in the ultra-cool Saint Germain district, the hotel’s Belle Epoque theme will have you talking until all hours of the night with fellow creative creatures or kicking back listening to some fellow beret-laden folk playing jazz at the bar.

Across the channel to Ireland you can explore the world of famous poet, Yeats, on a walking tour of Dublin, including Trinity College, where you’ll be astounded by one ridiculously massive single library chamber stacked with over 200,000 old books. Then ramble along to Merrion Square Park to see the statue of a very laid back Oscar Wilde. Get those creative juices flowing at the Writer’s Bar in Ireland’s oldest hotel, The Gresham with fine art, muted lighting and deep comfy sofas to recline into centuries past.

Can you imagine a book costing the equivalent of a farm? In the 15th century, a book was unattainable for most people – until the printing press was developed in the 1430s in Nuremburg. From Munich, take a tour of this city, rich with history from the Nazi era back to gothic times with churches and medieval fortifications. Enjoy the modern age at the Renaissance Munich Hotel with its jacuzzi to warm you up as you contemplate a night of poetry or prose.

He was a womaniser, gambler, officer, captive… and a writer. Find out about the Venice years of Casanova with a tour of the Doges Palace – its sumptuous design and decorations contrasting with the squalor of Casanova’s cell. The guide tells of his legendary escape, shows the torture chamber and takes you to the lavish chambers filled with artworks by Titian, Tintoretto and more. Live life like Casanova (in his dandy days) with a room overlooking the canal at the Atlanta Augustus Hotel housed in an Art Nouveau villa dating from the 1920s on the Lido of Venice (the island facing St. Mark’s square).

The post Read all about it – Europe’s finest booklover breaks appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Need a little chemistry in your world? Gaze at the stars, get physic-ly fabulous and put your sexiest organ to the test as we take off to Asia’s biggest and best science boffin destinations. We also feature four beautiful hotels that will have you drooling over your labcoat.

Hollywood may have some impressive stars on the pavement, but wait until you see what the skies of China have to offer when you tour the Ancient Observatory in Beijing, housed in a building dating back to the 15th century. It’s a chance to see water clocks, calendar calculators and ancient star maps – and learn all about Chinese astronomy. Get into the boffin spirit with a stay at the Park Plaza Beijing Science Park in China’s ‘silicon valley’, where you’ll find loads of gadgets to play with and creature comfort facilities like the sauna and massage centre.

If you’re a Captain Kirk and Spock fan, then you’ll want to beam up to the Science Museum in Osaka Japan — a Starship Enterprise-shaped building adored by Trekkies of all nations. Inside are loads of interactive exhibits, a huge domed planetarium, demonstrations and a 3D Omnimax screen. After all that excitement, you’ll need some time out to relax in the jacuzzi at the Hyatt Regency Osaka. Get ready to face the final frontiers of Osaka fun – Den Den Town for cool electronics, Big Street Shopping Mall for your Bladerunner experience and fantastic bars and restaurants tucked away.

Quick question – can you recite the periodic table of elements? If so, a bit concerning. But either way, you’ll love 850+ exhibits at the Science Center in Singapore. Apparently, if you spent 5 minutes on each exhibit you would need an entire week to experience everything. Back at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore, you can be the hippest science boffin in town as you kick back and enjoy a Singapore Sling and other experimental juices.

If the DC-3 airliner suspended from the ceiling of the Science Museum in Hong Kong gets you excited, wait until you put pedal to the metal in the advanced driving skills simulator, or check out the 500 exhibits across 18 galleries. Plus, there are loads of edge of the seat science shows, such as the Solar Paella show about converting solar energy into mechanical energy. Keep the techie theme flowing at the Cosmo Hotel, where Executive rooms, Studios and Suites are each equipped with a flat-screen personal computer.

The post Unleash your inner boffin – transcendentally brilliant Asian science holidays appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Mmmm, there’s nothing like the smell of fresh coffee in the morning, or the tantilising taste of melting chocolate… anytime! Learn the fine art of coffee making or take a tour through choccy nirvana on these New Zealand holiday breaks that are sure to leave you buzzzzing with excitement.

There’s everyday chocolate and then there’s gourmet chocolate — so rich and smooth that every taste bud swoons with delight as it melts in your mouth. If your tongue is on your keyboard, maybe it’s time to visit the Chocolate Boutique in Auckland, where you’ll discover truffles, liqueur, non liqueur, nutty rochers, and pralines in more than 100 flavours demanding your servitude. There’s even a diabetic menu, so noone gets out unscathed. Ride that sugar high on a Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Winery, part of the Hotel Langham with its three-tiered platter sandwiches, scones, and cakes, along with a range of exotic teas and fine coffees.

Making coffee is an art form, a blend of technique and creativity that bring together the right dash of flavours in a single cup. Now you can learn how to be an artiste barista at the Underground Coffee Company in Christchurch. From the grind to the milk texturising, the experts show you every step of coffee making, and you can practice your talents on their Free Trade blends. When you’ve had your fill of astounding coffee, buzz back to the Crowne Plaza Christchurch for a relaxing high tea — how dainty!

How would you fare at the Queen’s afternoon tea? Practice your pinkie posing and tea sipping from magical Martha’s Pantry in Wellington. In this pastel fairyland there are cooks in quaint aprons, vases of flowers and a teaspoon collection to drool over… or maybe that’s the cakes and gourmet sandwiches. If you get sweet tooth withdrawal, no fear, because at the Bolton Hotel, their Café Brioche is filled with friands.

Willy Wonka is sooo yesterday — get up-to-date with the latest in choccie treats on a visit to the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Dunedin. Not only will you see machines pumping out delightful delicacies, but you can drool over the five storey high chocolate fountain, and sample mouthwatering Cadbury treats at the shop. If you manage to avoid being flushed down the giant chocolate sink for misbehaving, waddle back to the Brothers Boutique Hotel to wash down some of your choccy treats with a glass of bubbly.

The post Buzzing New Zealand coffee and chocolate breaks appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Take a trip back to the 19th century with Ruth Park in her book Playing Beatie Bow, a haunting tale set in The Rocks of Sydney. This tour of the alleyways and cobbled stones makes it easy to imagine you are standing amongst the characters and street games of the time. If you go on 3 December, there’s also the final of the Australian Poetry Slam series at the Sydney Opera House. Get an authentic Rocks experience by staying at the 1887-built Russell Hotel, a peaceful haven amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.

How long do you think it would take to read 2 million books? You can make a start at the National Library of Australia in Canberra, with over 9 million items in the collection, and exhibition space that attracted over 60,000 people in the past year. On show until 31 January 2010 is the Ballets Russes in Australia 1936-40 exhibition, with photographs, drawings and paintings of dancers that inspired Australian authors. Grab a good book and settle in for a night of cocktails at the Binara One cocktail lounge at the nearby Crowne Plaza Canberra.

Once upon a time, there was a yawn. Is that what you get when you tell a story? Find out how to get people on the edge of their seats and their ears tuned to your every word with a storytelling workshop in Brisbane. The art of the spoken word goes beyond bedtime tales and into the boardroom, as the skills you learn from guru Daryll Bellingham will enable you to hold attention through voice, posture and emotion in any situation. Feel like literary legend at the Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square (formerly Rendezvous Hotel Brisbane), with its heritage styling of old world grace, well-stocked library and even better stocked Berkley’s bar.

The post Relaxing Aussie book lover holidays to stop you losing the plot appeared first on Hotel Travel Blog.

Woman Reading: Zico-C via Wikimedia Commons |
Hemingway's House: Hein Mück via Wikimedia Commons |
Mark Twain's House: Andrew Balet via Wikimedia Commons

If you love literature, writing and anything alphabetical, the thrill of a good book is almost as good as a holiday. And there’s nothing better than savoring both at the same time. Dive into a world where inspirational tales were born and see where America’s greatest writers lived and worked  – and learn more about becoming a famous author yourself.

May the ravens be a knocking, knocking on your hotel door — or not. Be spooked with a visit to the Edgar Allan Poe House in Philadelphia, a museum in the short story author’s abode. See the cellar similar to the one in ‘The Black Cat’, and browse through his personal effects in the kitchen and attic bedroom, as well as Poe’s illustrations. Come back to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel where you can read the hotel’s books or let your very own black cat avail itself to the pet room service.

Fancy the life of Huckleberry Finn? Find out how to write a character as adventurous as he at the Mark Twain Adult Writers Workshop, to be held at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, Missouri on November 14 2009. Museum director Dr Cindy Lovell uses American author Twain’s writing advice to spur inspiration as the group stirs creative juices and shares laughs and thoughts ready to write. Take a scenic drive back to the big city and stay at the Crowne Plaza St. Louis-Downtown, where you can relax in the three-storey Atrium Lounge and start tapping out your bestseller.

What a man! He was an adventurer, war correspondent, soldier and fisherman. These experiences provided Ernest Hemingway with inspiration to write well enough for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Nobel Prize for Literature. See where he lived for over 30 years at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum in Key West, Florida.  This includes the studio where he worked on his typewriter churning out ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’, stopping occasionally to puff on a Cubana. Do some poolside pondering of your own at the Ocean Key Resort, and further enhance your scribing inspirations over a sunset dinner at the stunning harbourside Cat on a Hot Tin Roof restaurant, named after Tennessee Williams’ play.

Bedtime stories are all the rage on a family visit to the 18th Annual Connecticut Children’s Book Fair in Storrs, at the University of Connecticut from November 14-15 2009. Start out with a breakfast, including guest of honour, Clifford the Big Red Dog (as entertainment not on your plate), before heading to the fair for storytelling, author and illustrator book signings and holiday shopping amongst other storybook characters. You won’t need to go far if you stay at the Nathan Hale Inn on the grounds of the university campus. There’s even a Jacuzzi so you can hide from the kids for a while amongst the bubbles with your own good read.

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Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin:  via Wikimedia Commons |
Royal Observatory: Mike Peel via Wikimedia Commons|
Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe: comakut via Wikimedia Commons |

Hey smarty-pants! Being brainy can be as fun as any wild adventure — check out exhibitions, listen to lectures, conduct experiments and get involved in science and technology on these Einstein adventures around the UK and Europe.

If one was wanting to see a water mill, brewery steam engine and plane all in one place, where would one go? Why, the Deutsches Technikmuseum in Berlin of course.  Silly us! This brilliant venue is a combination of something old and something new, industrial and scientific innovations, as well as demonstrations and interactive exhibits like making paper then printing on it. After all that technology, step back to nature at The Westin Grand with its tranquil gardens and fountains, and enjoy a tipple at The Grand Terrance.

Over 400 years ago Galileo pointed his telescope to the night’s sky and said “Oi Jesuits, come and take a look. Didn’t I tell you there were four moons orbiting Jupiter?” Today, you can take a walk around Valencia, including the City of Arts and Sciences. On the scientific side are the Oceanográfico (the largest aquarium in Europe with over 500 marine species) and Príncipe Felipe Science. For space cadets, the Space Academy exhibit takes you on a complete space journey: from preparation for the launch to flight simulator. Continue your space preparation at the nearby AC Hotel Valencia where the gym has bodybuilding equipment and a Turkish bath.

Imagine inviting Mozart and Einstein over for dinner? All chatting away like old friends over a curry and a few pints. Actually, you’d probably never get a word in with those two. So maybe you should just head along to the Festival of Time & Space in Greenwich from 26 October – 21 November 2009. In this year of Astronomy, The Trinity College of Music and the Royal Observatory celebrate the wonders of the cosmos with lectures, sound installations and musical theatre. And if you happen to be a bit of a Trekkie, where else would you want to be beamed up at the end of the day than a room at the modern, stylish and quirky Enterprise Hotel.

Could you be the next Da Vinci or Dyson? Suss out the competition and get ideas for your next brainiac invention at Brussels Innova from 19-21 November 2009. This is the place to find some financial backing for the gadget in your garage and meet minds who like to dabble with the diodes too. Grab a pen and paper or sketch on a napkin in the bar at Hotel Floris Louise with a Belgian beer and snacks.

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Remote Control Cars: Masterboy via Wikimedia Commons |
Foosball Table:  Luke Rathbone via Wikimedia Commons |
Toy Fair: Roland Berger via Wikimedia Commons

Buy a Ferrari, pilot your own plane, or deck out your pad in the Toy Forest. No, we haven’t been sniffing old printer cartridges, we’re talking toy and hobby holidays for kids of all ages. Experience the laughs, awe and thrills – without the hefty price tag – at some of the biggest and best toy museums, stores and fairs across Asia.

There’s no stern looks or laser alarms when you play with the exhibits at the Tokyo Toy Museum. This old school has been transformed into floors of toys from days gone by and far away lands. In the Toy Forest, you can play with a large abacus and life-size doll house. Or hit the Games Room and play foosball with up to 8 players. Best of all is the Toy Hospital, where you can take a broken toy and the experts will do their best to fix it. Then grab stitched up Ted and head back to the Park Hyatt where rooms are decked out with toys for big kids such as bathrooms with surround sound, warm toilet seats and a slide show of cherry trees.

Be Santa Claus for the day and check out the latest toys at the Times Kidz World event in Bangalore, India from December 17-20 2009. Play with the latest toys, sample food products and snacks and read through the large range of educational books. Be wowed at demonstrations, enter prize draws and catch up on the latest goss with guest appearances. Take your new rubber ducky to the rooftop pool at the Iris Business Hotel, splash about and relax under the stars.

We’ve all seen the labels on toys, but do you ever wonder about the factory that built them? Find out with a tour of the world famous Bangkok Doll Factory and Museum, which exhibits a collection of over 100 Thai and local dolls made on location. Watch the staff hand-make each doll, including drawing the face and wiring the fingers to adjust posture. With your doll safely wrapped up, treat yourself at the Four Seasons Bangkok with a routine in their dance studio followed by a spin in the whirlpool.

Live out your racing driver/pilot dreams and stock up on the latest in radio controlled toys at Toykar in Singapore. These guys are the sole distributor for Kyosho products in Singapore (the guys who make the coolest remote control everything). Talk to the staff who also specialise in organising activities and demonstrations ideal for parties and company functions — it’s all one big vroom! They know all the lingo to get you first over the finish line or just to tinker in the backyard. Live it up like Lewis, be just like Jensen and relax like Rubens at the Marina Mandarin Singapore, right on the Formula One Grand Prix circuit where they run the only night race of the season.

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Bellydancing: via Wikimedia Commons | 

Kiwis are nocturnal birds, and you can be too on a New Zealand hen’s holiday party before the Big Day. Whether it involves poles, bellies, touring, pampering or clubbing, most of these adventures have three common ingredients – dancing, wine and bubbly – the perfect blend of fun for dainty ladies and daredevilesses alike.

It may not be 24 carat gold with a diamond, but this bit of metal is far more versatile. Book a private group lesson at Pole RevolutioNZ in Auckland. Your experienced instructor will blend dances moves with Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates to train you in a routine that’ll blow hubby’s socks off. After the giggles and limbering workout, toast some champers at the Lobby Bar of the Hyatt Regency, or visit their boutique spa for a massage to unwind those kinks.

Polar opposite is the sensual slinking of belly dancing in a special bride-to-be session at Kashmir’s Studio in Christchurch. The veils, jangly hip belts and sparkles are but a whirl as experienced instructor Kashmir (sounds a bit more authentic than Zoe or Brook) takes you and your gals through an hour of shaking and twisting good times. Bonding continues back at the secluded Chateau on the Park where you can settle into the Den Bar for an evening of fun.

There’s no better way for a posse of princesses to enjoy fine wines and stunning views than on a Central Otago tour of four or five premier vineyards. They offer a choice of Gourmet or Boutique tours that each require you to perform excessively laborous chores such as quaffing wine, devouring gourmet lunch platters and nibbling on scrumptuous cheeses, all the while burdened with views of old goldfields, Lake Dunstan and Kawarau Gorge. After such a stately date, it’s time to venture into party capital Queenstown to visit the local bars and nightclubs before grabbing a few hours sleep at the Sofitel Hotel & Spa. After breakfast the next day, rejuvenate at the hotel’s ‘LeSpa’ with its Hammam steam room, traditional Maori rituals and European-style massages.

Escape from the big city at sunset on a Twilight Tour of Wellington. You’ll be driven to the beach to run about on the sand and fossick among the shells before heading up through the Greenbelt for fantastic 360 degree views over the city lights and more from Mount Victoria. Experience a glow worm walk by torch light and finish at the Cable Car that takes you back down. Return to the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor for a slumber party with room service and in-room movies. Of course, you could pop out for just one drink first…

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The best time to visit Vietnam will depend on what areas you are interested in seeing, and when you are available to travel.  It is so much more than just a beach destination.   The climate in the North (Hanoi, Halong Bay) is cool from October to April while the South (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta) is sub-tropical and enjoys its best weather at this time.  The central regions of Hoi An and Hue experience their best weather between March and August, and is prone to flooding in late October and November.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and features a blend of Chinese and French influences.  Explore art galleries in the Old Quarter, soak up the atmosphere of the French Quarter and relax at the Hoan Kiem Lake area.  The InterContinental Westlake Hanoi is an extremely affordable five star luxury hotel located in the heart of Hanoi.

Halong Bay is one of the most popular beach areas offering magnificent views of the bay with its thousands of limestone islands rising from the ocean.  Explore the hidden caves and secret lagoons by kayak.  Take an overnight junk boat cruise on Halong Bay and view this spectacular UN World Heritage Listed site.

Hue is the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam.    The city has been regocnised as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site.  Packed with cultural and historical monuments and architecture.  Visit the ancient citadel and imperial palace.   The adventurous can hire motorbikes to ride out and explore the surrounding scenery.

The charming, old-world atmosphere of Hoi An is preserved in the car-free area of Old Town.  The city is also known for its architecture, cheap tailors and quaint restaurants along the town’s river.    The beach is short ride away and there are some amazing resort hotels, so it is easy to shuttle between the city and beach.  The shopping here is excellent – you can have shoes and clothing hand made.  The Hoi An Beach Resort is located between the De Vong River and Cua Dai Beach.  The accommodation offers ocean views across to the Cham Islands or hillside views across the De Vong River to the lush green rice paddy fields.

Phan Thiet is accessible by a four hour drive north of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), but is a beautiful southern beach area and worth the effort to get to.  A long, wide stretch of beach is lined with boutique hotels and restaurants.  Slide down the bright red sand dunes on cardboard toboggans.  The afternoons can get windy and is the best time for surfing – board, wind or kite!

Nha Trang is a bustling city and one of the busiest beach resorts, packed with bars and nightlife.  The area is known for great snorkelling and diving and there are a variety of boat trips on offer.  For total over the top indulgence, stay at the Six Senses at Ninh Van.   This five star resort is accessible only by boat, through the Cam Ranh Airport.   The property is beautifully located on the unique and dramatic Ninh Van Bay.

Ho Chi Minh city (Saigon) is the commercial centre of Vietnam.  Hire a bicycle and ride along the Saigon River exploring the myriads of rivers and canals.  Take a tour towards the Cambodian border and explore the Cu Chi tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War (known in Vietnam as the American War!)

Most international flights arrive and depart daily from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi.  There are smaller airports in Danang, Hue, Nha Trang and domestic flights within Vietnam are quite cheap.   You can access Vietnam by flight from most Asian cities – Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur etc.  The Reunification Express railway runs from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and is also known as the Vietnam North-South Railway.    History, culture, shopping, meeting friendly locals and relaxing on the beach are all highlights of a trip to Vietnam.

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Yoga: Joseph RENGER via Wikimedia Commons | Combi Van: Marshall Astor via Wikimedia Commons |
 Tea: Vassia Atanassova via Wikimedia Commons

Are you feelin’ groovy? Emotional wellbeing is tied to physical and spiritual health, and being in tune with yourself can be music to your ears. Explore the psychic realm, learn where the tarots say you’re headed, and gain some expert advice on holidays that revamp your body, mind and spirit.

Get on your daisy chain and roll in the grass with a visit to Woodstock, New York—well, the land of Bethel Woods where 40 years ago, over 400,000 people, who don’t remember a lot about the occasion, gathered for a music festival that shook the cultural foundations of the sixties. Fast forward to the end of the noughties and in their place is a museum with multimedia displays, artefacts and audio personal stories that relive those heady days. Cruise back to Brooklyn and chill out at Nu Hotel, with its eco-friendly rooms like the urban suite with a swaying hammock.

Discover the powers of your mind and harness healthy thoughts at the Mind Body Spirit Expo in Valley Forge Philadelphia, running October 23-25, 2009. You can float around the 150 exhibitors, 65 lectures, and great workshops with renowned authors and specialists. Check out Dr Dossey and his theory of the nonlocal mind, and how we can cultivate premonitions. And at the end of the day there’s no need to stress out in traffic. Just wander over to the convention centre’s Valley Forge Scanticon hotel with its well-equipped health and fitness centre.

While in possibly the most stressful job on the planet (apart from being a mum), what did Bill Clinton do to keep his mind at peace? No, not what you’re thinking! He actually read the sage words of bestselling author Deepak Chopra. You can go one better with a visit to The Chopra Center in Carlsbad California, which runs classes in Yoga, Ayurvedic Cooking and Primordial Sound Meditation. What’s that all mean? In simple terms, you recite a mantra created just for you to block out the noise of the world. Then after a dash of laughing meditation to liven your spirit, tune up your body at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort Spa where you can also satiate all kinds of cravings at the Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar, where they serve organic, freshly grown produce… and mighty fine cocktails.

There’s no such thing as card games when it comes to Tarot reading. This centuries-old practice is used by experts around the world to predict a person’s future and guide them with decisions. You can learn how it all works at the Tarot School in New York City, who also offer private parties if you just want a reading. And if you are looking to spoil yourself, we predict you’ll find the W Hotel New York irresistable with its Anti-Oxidant Tea Bar and 10,000 square foot health club complete with spin classes, Pilates, yoga, and personal training programs.

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What’s more fun than a wedding? A bachelorette party with your posse of gal pals in Europe of course. Go clubbing until all hours of the morning, pamper yourselves from head to toe and hang out in classy cocktail bars like the princesses you are, before being crowned queen.

Whether you flamenco or fling, get your dancing shoes on for a night of bar hopping in Valencia’s Carmen area on a tour that includes a 3-course dinner, champagne and VIP entry to the best bars in town. One of the highlights is La Indiana, where you hit the dancefloor and outshine the podium dancers, kick back in the chillout zone and flirt your booty off at a very swanky bar until it’s time to be dropped off back at the delicious Hotel Zenit.

Rock your world with some Hard Rock Café fun in the action-packed Ku’damm area of Berlin surrounded by lively beer halls, coffee houses and opera. There’s no official closing hours, so you can feast and party long into the night, checking out the rock memorabilia such as a patent leather bra signed by Madonna. Then gather the gals for re-invigoration at the La Prairie Spa inside the Ritz-Carlton Berlin, with its sparkling pool under a crystal ceiling.

Want to watch hubby’s jaw hit the floor on your wedding night? Pick up a few moves from  the Moulin Rouge girls in Paris. Start your tour with some champagne glass clinking as you dine at the 58 Tour Eiffel Tower restaurant on its first floor, mesmerised by the glittering lights below. Then it’s time for a Seine river cruise before turning up the party mood with a cabaret show at the world’s most famous music hall. Spend the next day shopping up a storm and then lounging back at the guests-only bar in Hotel Lancaster, renowned for glam era hotel regulars Garbo and Dietrich.

Before beginning you life as a wife, enjoy one last spree on your own plastic with a bargain price shopping tour of Italian designers in Florence. Prowl around Prada for some chic sunnies, then bound around Balenciaga, Valentino, Ferragamo and co in a whirlwind of the finest wares. Give those heels a break in the calm surrounds of Monsignor Della Casa Country Resort, with its wellness centre, sauna and Turkish bath to restore your nerves for the big day.

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Pole Dancing: Starrgrrrl via Wikimedia Commons | Ladyboys: via Wikimedia Commons

Getting hitched is the perfect excuse to party without the groom (of course!). Grab some of the gals and have one last pamper and party before hubby holidays become the norm. Start off with shopping, continue with cocktails and paint the town red at Asia’s best party hotspots.

Spin up a storm with a revolving restaurant dinner and cruise in Hong Kong. This tour takes you to one of the tallest buildings in the city for 360-degree panoramic views while you nibble your way through a buffet dinner, followed by a spot of shopping at the Kowloon night market, and then a harbour cruise with unlimited drinks. The dazzling lights will swirl you into a mood for partying. Your ideal launching pad is the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel, part of Harbour City with over 700 restaurants and shops.

Wear stilettos without getting blisters on a hop-on hop-off party bus tour of Singapore. Strut your stuff to the front of the line for VIP access, free drinks and discounted food rates at the hottest spots in town, such as Zirca, Loof and The Arena (the biggest R&B Hip Hop Club in Singapore where some of the bigest acts in the world regularly hit the stage). After a night on the tiles, reward those throbbing feet (and heads) at the stunning Grand Hyatt Singapore Damai Spa. Ready for another night of action you can frolic just a lift ride from your room at the in-house nightclub and martini bar.

Work out and unleash your sexy side at the Pole Dance Studio Art Flow in Tokyo. Hire the space with your galpals and learn from expert pole dancers as they take you through the whirls and twirls. Whether you flopped or flew around the pole, it’s then time to unwind your muscles in a different way with a treatment at the Peninsula Spa inside the Peninsula Hotel Tokyo. The perfect remedy? A Keihatsu enlightenment massage that includes heated stones, sea kelp foot bath and essential oils to sooth away any pre-wedding jitters.

Tom, Dick and Harry are soooo boring. What about Tamara, Delia and Harriet instead? Yes, we’re talking about the true masters/mistresses of cross-dressing: Thai Ladyboys. Be wowed, dazzled and hysterically entertained by the singing, dancing and comedy of performers who live for glamour. If you’re into something more manly, grab some ringside seats at the Thai boxing where flexing muscles, primal grunts and testosterone rule. Once you’ve had your fill of male entertainment, chill out back at a restaurant and bar, savoring finger foods and edible art on the rooftop of Le Fenix Sukhumvit.

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Scything: Hollanmatej via Wikimedia Commons

Get down and dirty! You’ll be on your knees getting back to nature with tips for weeding, sowing and growing all things green in New Zealand’s springtime. From visits to botanic gardens to learning new ways to cut grass, there’s a green getaway for all!

You’ll see giant 1000-year-old kauri trees in an untouched rainforest park on an eco tour of the West Coast, near Auckland. The local guides walk you through the majestic local flora — 70% is unique to New Zealand — before a stroll along black sand for a picnic lunch. Arrive back in town to experience another style of nature at the Rendezvous Hotel, with its Japanese rooftop garden to enjoy the serenity of Auckland from up high.

Now for something completely different – mowing the lawn on your hols. No, not the huffing and puffing surrounded by fumes, but enjoying the fresh spring air learning the Art of Scything on 6-7 November 2009 in Taupo. Find out how to hold the handle properly, mow Tai Chi style, and maintain your scythe. Your arms will look buff in no time. Relax after your day of toil at the Karaka Tree Motel Taupo, where each room has a private geothermal mineral fresh water hot pool.

Imagine sitting back with a cold drink on a warm summer’s day, admirng your lovely garden as you slip off to sleep under dappled sunlight. It doesn’t have to be a pipedream. Learn how to create your own little garden of Eden on a trip to the Rotorua Home and Garden Show from October 30 – November 1. Amble through the exhibits and ask experts how they get their grass green on both sides. Be inspired by the exhibition gardens and try your luck in the competitions. Keep the lush theme alive at the Novotel Lakeside Rotorua, set in a park nearby a golf course.

You’ll be green with envy once you experience the gardens of Christchurch on a half day tour. See what all the award-winning fuss is about as you stroll the internationally renowned private and public gardens. Spring in the botanic gardens of Christchurch is an amazing time, with over 21 hectares of garden art conservatories and seasonal gems, such as the Daffodil Woodland and Fragrant garden, to dazzle your senses. You can soak up a little more of the good life at the antique furnished Gunyah’s Country Lodge, set at the foothills of the Southern Alps near Christchurch.

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