October/November 2007 issue
Australian
Places bed & breakfast news forum
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take a moment to leave your own comments or news items relating
to luxury B&Bs, cottages and small hotels in Australia. For
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and operators.
Your faithful reviewer has returned from Tasmania after a week's touring and re-establishing some old B&B contacts in the Island State. For those who haven't taken a peek yet, I've started building a page of recommended accommodation in Tassie, and I'll soon return to review properties that I haven't seen for a few years - and check out new ones. (see best places in Tasmania).
Tassie has some teriffic touring. I travelled on the ferry to Devonport and drove south through the Great Lake region where it was snowing heavily. Incredibly picturesque. From Hobart I went to Cygnet and stayed at Bellabunka country accommodation (see review on Tassie page), using it as a very comfortable base for exploring the far south. Tahune Air Walk and Hastings Caves were on the agenda, as well as travelling as far south as possible by road in Australia - Cockle Creek.
Hobart's waterfront is lovely - the fishing fleet, historic sailing vessels, Mures for good food, Salamanca Market (has gotta be the best market in Oz), Battery Point and the museum were on the agenda. I stayed at the Lenna in Battery Point, great location; my room was comfortable enough but the bathroom needed upgrading.
For those who are thinking of heading over Bass Strait by ferry, I can tell you honestly that the night crossing is best. You can have a meal, a (very small) cabin and a sleep before arriving at Devonport, where you retrieve your car and hit Tassie roads. note: be sure to remember the ship's deck level and stair colour for return to your car, it is confusing. Return fares of $870 (for two) worked out about the same price as travelling by air, taxis to airport, and hiring a car for a few days.
Welcome to six new full-review properties:
Marwood, luxury villas for couples in the Grampians
Ti Tree Village, 23 cottages for couples and families at Ocean Grove
Bemersyde, a luxury three bedroom s/c house in Beechworth
Tuki Retreat, stone cottages, trout lakes atop a volcano at Smeaton,
Shearwater Haven, two B&B rooms in guest wing of house at Port Campbell
Bellabunka Country Accommodation at Cygnet, Tas, private 2 b/rm suite, B&B
TOP TIPS for operators:
be contactable at all times - divert your landline to your mobile when off-premises, guests often want to book direct. Message bank is only barely good enough, and an early call back is essential.
consider discounting room rates for multiple nights - especially mid-week. Remember, a direct Australian Places booking has no commission payable.
check out the noise level of your rooms - traffic noise, toilet flushing, spa use, thin walls between guestrooms, door slamming. Why do people slam doors??? Rubber door-jamb padding can help reduce this bane of sleeping guests.
a small giveaway for guests arriving after booking from Australian Places - perhaps a bottle of regional wine?
Website links back to Australian Places work for the benefit of all properties listed, especially those with full reviews. Please spend a few minutes to create one now.
Publicity:
The Pantry, much favoured by the "in" crowd of Brighton, has re-launched its little magazine. This issue has a feature on Daylesford and giveaway prize at the Lake House that I contributed. The next issue will feature Phillip Island and a giveaway at Glen Isla House. Great publicity for Australian Places.
Local newspaper Bayside Leader will review Australian Places website in the next week or two.
Full
page B&B reviews have proven successful on the Australian
Places website. Properties say they have received booking enquiries
from my site when they've opted for the full page review. It's only $110 for this - a bargain, although the basic listing is still free.
Australian
Traveller magazine (October) featured my articles and photos on mountain bike riding in Victoria's High Country and the Cathedral Ranges.
Site optimisation:
Australian Places ranks extremely well on Google searches - first page on at least 18 search criteria now. Over 40 pages fully indexed. This is fantastic!!!
B&B specials - these Australian Places have special
deals:
Holmwood Guesthouse, Phillip Island. Excellent B&B in Cowes. Stay three nights B&B for the price of two, Sunday to Thursday ph (03)5952 3082
Merton Manor, Warrnambool. Apart from excellent rates for suites, receive a free bottle of wine from a local winery with your 2-night stay. ph (03)5562 0720
The Bank Restaurant & Mews,
Beechworth. Weekend package of two nights accommodation, breakfast, chocolates, port and 1/2 hour massage, three course dinner for two (excluding beverages) for total of $520.00 (03)5728 2223
Ti Tree Village, Ocean Grove, loft spa cottage 2 night weekend with one dinner and cooked breakfast, bubbly, $697 per couple. (03)5255 4433
Emeu Inn, Heathcote, 2 nights in a spa suite, French champagne and afternoon tea on arrival, a 2-course restaurant dinner for 2. Fr $485 per couple (03)5433 2668
The Moorings at Metung 3 night escape package, 2 tickets aboard cruise boat, $50 voucher to Metung Hotel, cooked brekky provisions - $480 in one bedrm apartment (2&3 bedrm avail). School holiday package also avail. Gippsland Lakes (03)5156 2750.
To access these deals please mention Australian Places when booking.
2007 newsletter archive: April/May June/July Aug/Sept
If you would
like your B&B reviewed for possible inclusion on this site,
need professional photography, or guidance on how to achieve success
in the B&B business, just contact me.
For the past
25 years Peter Robinson has travelled far and wide but Australia,
being home, is his first love. As an experienced travel writer
and professional photographer, his wealth of knowledge is revealed
in travel and accommodation reviews that have freelance integrity
and honesty. The main focus of this site is to present brief reviews
of a select group of places to stay for the weekend. Each place
has been visited at least once and evaluated for high standards
before inclusion - and after reviewing over 600 places Peter has
done the hard work so you can enjoy Great
Weekends Away.
