If you are looking for an Accor Plus Guide you are at the right place. We have been platinum Accor Plus members and based on personal experience, we cannot fault the program, it is a fantastic extension to the already great Accor Live Limitless (“ALL”) loyalty program.
The typical stay will include complimentary room upgrades, welcome drinks, handwritten notes from the property manager and the occasional bottle of wine and/or treats in your room. The benefits are not because we are travel influencers, sure we receive some perks here and there, but we are a relatively normal family with regular jobs and use money and annual leave to travel and explore the world. The benefits I mentioned above, and will expand on below, are purely related to being a loyal Accor Plus member.
Accor Plus Guide
Accor Plus is Asia Pacific’s most expansive travel, dining and lifestyle program with properties in 20 countries and more than 1,000 properties where you will receive discounts on drinks and food.
Membership includes the extensive range of Accor Live Limitless (“ALL”) benefits including a complimentary night (“Stay Plus Benefit”) for Explorer and Discovery membership levels, as well as accommodation and dining discounts. Joining the Accor Plus program also immediately provides you with a Silver ALL membership status, invitations to exclusive member experiences and much more.
Is the Accor Plus membership fee worth it?
The Accor Plus membership starts at AUD $399 per year up to AUD $495 for the Discovery membership level. Whilst this may initially appear expensive, you should continue reading to see if the Accor Plus membership fee is worth it for you!
Accor Plus benefits at a glance:
- The Discovery membership costs $495, however you automatically earn $500 Discovery Dollar credit upon joining and up to $2,000 off the best available fares on cruise lines and $1,500 off best available fares on tour experiences in addition to the usual Accor Plus benefits.
From our perspective, the Accor Plus benefits which we value, and ultimately rely upon to offset the cost of membership include:
- Stay Plus Benefit, being a complimentary night at participating hotels
- Restaurant discounts of up to 50% off your bill at 1,400 restaurants
- 15% off your drinks bill
Click here to read how much we have saved over a 12 month period with our membership.
Accor Plus Stay Plus benefit
The Stay Plus benefit, being a complimentary night is for a standard room in a participating property. There are over 1,000 hotels in 20 countries throughout Asia Pacific where the Stay Plus benefit can be redeemed.
It goes without saying that the Stay Plus benefit provides the best value when used at luxury properties which helps to offset that Accor Plus membership fee.
Accor Plus may not appreciate me saying this, but you really should not be using the Stay Plus benefit at an economy brand such as the Ibis as the value you receive is significantly lower.
Tip: you are able to upgrade from the complimentary standard room to the room of your choice without losing the value of the standard room.
Which countries are included in the Accor Plus program?
Accor Plus benefits can be enjoyed at participating Accor hotels in the following destinations:
- Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Which Accor Brands participate in the Accor Plus program?
The following Accor hotel brands participate in the Accor Plus program:
- Banyan Tree, Sofitel Legend, Fairmont, SO/, Sofitel, MGallery, Art Series, Pullman, Swissôtel, Angsana, Grand Mercure, Quay West, Peppers, The Sebel, Mantra, Cassia, Novotel, Mercure, BreakFree, Ibis, Ibis Styles and Ibis Budget.
Accor Plus benefits are not available at Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Orient Express and Ibis Budget
Accor Plus – Stay Plus and Dining exclusions
There are some exclusions to the Accor Plus program, for example the Stay Plus benefit may be excluded, or require a supplemental fee, or a minimum number of consecutive nights.
- The list of exclusions are subject to change, rather than providing a list here, the exclusions can be found here.
Accor Plus dining benefits are not accepted on certain days of the year (e.g. public holidays) and certain restaurants to do provide the standard Accor Plus dining benefits.
- The list of dining exclusions can be found here.
Accor Plus – “Red Hot Room” promotions
The Red Hot Room sales provide you with deals where you can book rooms with up to a 50% discount on the usual price. I quickly logged onto my account and while there were a significant number of offers, these were the first three on the page:
The Red Hot Rooms will give you 10% off the Best Available Rate even when there isn’t a sale, better than nothing, but clearly, the 50% discount is much better value!
Accor Plus – “More Sensations” restaurant discounts of up to 50% and up to 15% off drinks
The heading says it all, you get up to 50% off your food bill, breakfast, lunch or dinner, and best of all … you do not even need to be staying at the property to receive the benefit.
The program does have a tiered structure, clearly, you cannot take your team at work to lunch and assume for a group of 10 that you would receive a 50% discount.
Below is the current discount structure:
- 25% off – 1 member
- 50% off – 1 member and 1 guest
- 33% off – 1 member and 2 guests
- 25% off – 1 member and 3 guests
Multiple Accor Plus cards can be used per table.
Accor Plus – Silver status with Le Club Accor Hotels
The Accor Plus membership entitles you to a Silver status with the Accor Live Limitless (“ALL”) program. This is usually only available after 10 nights or 2,000 status points. Silver provides you with a number of benefits which I outlined within our Accor Live Limitless (“ALL”) Status benefits post.
Read our Accor Live Limitless (“ALL”) loyalty program guide for information on earning points, status levels and redeeming those valuable reward points.
Accor Plus – partner benefits
Discounts on car rental, booking special events, to transferring points to participating airlines, however, in my opinion, the partner benefits shouldn’t be relied upon when considering the value of the Accor Plus membership.
The value from the partner benefits will vary greatly and be much more specific on the type of holiday and any other membership programs you might already have.
Is the Accor Plus membership fee worth it?
Wait, is this the same heading as before? Yes it is, but this is where you’ll find my answer:
Yes, the Accor Plus membership is worth it based on our travel preferences and personal experience!
Click here to read how much we have saved over a 12 month period with our membership.
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
This place is called Friendly Beaches, but chances are you won’t see anyone to be friendly to! The only thing you’ll find here is a beautiful remote beach for you to enjoy.
In fact, the only reason we went to Friendly beaches, was because both the hotel reception as well as our pilot from our scenic flight told us to visit Friendly Beaches. The lookout on the maps is a bit deceiving though, you should absolutely drive past this a bit further down towards the camp site and wander around the beach down there.
Some helpful information can be found on the Tasmania Parks Website.
- 5 minutes to 5 hours depending on how long you feel like walking
- From highway A3, take road C302 and then the turn-off to the Friendly Beaches. See map
- Park entry fees apply.
- Bush toilets near car park
- Level 2
Let’s just say it was worth the walk! Again, we were virtually the only people there and it was a nice walk over the rocks enjoying the waves. On our way back to the car, we were entertained by the wildlife wandering around the camp site – it was pretty cool!
Here is a series of photos for you to enjoy. We particularly liked the storm rolling in!!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
For more Tasmania posts, check out the below posts and keep an eye on our Tasmania page for future posts!
- Wineglass Bay Lookout
- Hotel Review: Freycinet Lodge
- Friendly Beaches
- Cape Tourville Lookout and Lighthouse
- Honeymoon Bay
- Sleepy Bay & Little Gravelly Beach
- Renting a car in Tasmania
- Scenic Flight over Freycinet National Park
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
If you’re planning a trip to Tasmania, there is a good chance you’ve got Wineglass Bay on your list of things to see and it should be.
Where is the Wineglass Bay Lookout?
Wineglass Bay lookout is located in Freycinet National Park – simply type in Wineglass Bay Lookout into Google Maps and the GPS will take you to the car park!
What you need to enter Freycinet National Park
Every vehicle needs a permit to drive in the national park. You can buy these from the information centre in the Park, or speak with your hotel reception. We picked one up from our hotel in Cradle Mountain and chose the 8-week pass for $60 which includes access to all national parks in Tasmania – this is the more cost-effective way to do it if you’re spending a few days in the parks. Click here for the latest prices.
Wineglass Bay Lookout Hike
The walk is only 1.5km each way, but is quite steep and involves a lot of steps.
We walked up one afternoon and were lucky enough to only share the path with a handful of people!
The path itself is well constructed, although I would recommend wearing decent walking or hiking boots.
When you get to the lookout, there is a spectacular view over Wineglass Bay. Here are some of our snaps.
What to take with you
We would highly recommend you wear some mosquito spray before you head up, mozzies are around and aren’t afraid to bite you! Also, remember to wear sunscreen, hat and take a bottle of water – you’ll need that when you get to the top!
Why is it called Wineglass Bay?
Many believe it was given its name due to the shape of the bay and that it looks like a wine glass. However, this hasn’t always been the case.
Back in the 1820’s, whalers came to Wineglass Bay and to cut a long story short, the name was given because of all the blood that filled the bay from the whaling – it looked liked red wine, hence the name Wineglass Bay!
Take a look at this video for a sneak peek of what to expect from the hike!
PS. if you like the beast of a 4×4 at the end of that video, this was through Hertz (who were fantastic). Click here to read about our experience with them.
Seeing Wineglass Bay from above!
For a view like this, you need to jump on a scenic flight! Click here for info on the flight and for a short video!
PPS. Whilst not as high, on a less overcast day, the Wineglass Bay Lookout would have had water closer to our scenic flight shot (which might I add, was also on an overcast day as you can tell from the photo).
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
For more Tasmania posts, check out the below posts and keep an eye on our Tasmania page for future posts!
- Wineglass Bay Lookout
- Hotel Review: Freycinet Lodge
- Friendly Beaches
- Cape Tourville Lookout and Lighthouse
- Honeymoon Bay
- Sleepy Bay & Little Gravelly Beach
- Renting a car in Tasmania
- Scenic Flight over Freycinet National Park
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
What do you get when you combine a zoo and a safari? A Zoofari of course!
Imagine waking up to the sounds of birds chirping, only to look outside and see giraffes roaming the fields directly outside your lodge.
If you’re wanting a safari experience without the long haul flight to Africa, then the Zoofari experience at Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo is perfect.
Where is Taronga Western Plains Zoo?
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is located in Dubbo, central west New South Wales Australia. It is about a 5-hour drive from Sydney.
Zoofari Lodge accommodation
Style: Glamping
Location: Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Room: Zoofari Lodge
Perfect for: Romantic getaway and African style safari experience
Category: Luxury
What’s included in your accommodation package
You get so much included in your package, we were impressed! Not only do you get some incredible accommodation, but you also get the following included in the room rate.
- Two-day admission to the zoo
- Behind the scenes tours with a Zoofari guide – one evening tour and one morning tour
- African style canapés, a banquet dinner and dessert
- Full buffet breakfast
- Bicycle hire for the two days
- Plus you get 10% off at the souvenir shop, cafe and all additional animal encounters
Our welcome experience…
We arrived at the visitor’s information centre at the zoo to check in. The process was quick and simple and the staff very helpful. We had pre arranged an animal encounter as well so we picked up the paperwork for that to save time the next day. We picked up a couple of bikes and explored the zoo. Or, you could hire a cart to get around with!
We were provided with maps of the zoo as well as directions on how to get to the Zoofari Lodge.
The Room…
We were shown to our lodge by the zoofari guide, Emma, and were explained the safety rules and where everything was. We were given the Giraffe lodge (Giraffes happen to be Jenna’s favourite animal so this was perfect!).
When you walk up to your lodge, open the doors and see the room… you have that ‘wow’ moment. It was spectacular. The lodge is a giant heavy duty tent built with extreme luxury in mind, air conditioning, sliding glass doors and fly screens.
The bedroom was spacious with a king bed and a sofa along with a wardrobe (with additional pillows, ironing board, robes and slippers), a mini bar and some complimentary water.
The bed had a mosquito net which you could pull down of an evening if you wanted to, we didn’t have any issues with actual mosquito’s inside, but it certainly added to the atmosphere.
Behind the bed are bi-fold mirrors which are open to the bathroom. Given you’re in a tent, the bathroom is out of this world!
The spacious bathroom included a giant tub a separate shower and two sinks. It was incredibly spacious.
You also have your own private patio with a lounge, table and two chairs overlooking the Giraffe enclosure. It was nothing short of spectacular, to be able to watch the sun go down while enjoying watching the giraffes have their dinner so close to you and all from the comfort of your own lodge.
Take a look for a walk inside of the lodge.
Meals and the Main House…
After check in and enjoying a relaxing bath, it was time for us to head to the Main House veranda for some more relaxation. We picked up a couple of cocktails and played some chess. Canapés were served which consisted of some cheese, crackers and buffalo (which was delicious!!).
In the wintertime, it would be perfect to sit in front of the fire pit!
After canapés were served, there was complementary wine tasting before dinner.
All meals were prepared by Chef Nan who has been with Taronga Zoo for many years and has recently been awarded the Taronga Zoo’s highest honour, the Directors Award.
Dinner included a variety of different dishes each shared amongst your table. We had the following:
- Home made pumpkin damper
- Salmon
- Organic chicken thighs
- Garden salad
- Lamb
- Ostrich
Each of the meats was served with vegetables or other side dishes such as cous cous.
Dessert was a choice between a chocolate torte and panna cotta.
The menu does change daily but it is safe to say there is something for everyone on the menu! The meal is complimented with an excellent range of wines as well as full bar service.
Following an early rise for the spectacular morning tour, a tasty full buffet breakfast awaits. Breakfast included a variety of juice, yoghurt, muesli plus the usual hot breakfast goodies.
Evening Tour…
Our evening tour started after dinner. We met at the zoofari lodge bus stop and hopped on board.
Our first stop was with Cuddles. Cuddles is 46 and is the only African Elephant at the Zoo. She hears the bus coming and she starts walking down through her enclosure to meet us for some treats! It is really quite spectacular watching her come all the way down. Emma gave us a lot of information on Cuddles, it was good to get to know Cuddles.
We then popped on over to the hippos, they were enjoying a snooze on the cool concrete area.
Then we moved to the incredible 2.5-tonne white rhino. No photo did him justice! He was massive and you get to stand very close to him.
Another interesting animal we saw on the evening tour was the Bongo. He has such interesting markings on his back and also loved to use the tree as a scratching board
Morning Tour…
The morning tour kicked off with what Jenna would say was the best part of her trip! Feeding of the giraffes.
It was amazing! Two beautiful giraffes came over to the fence, we could then take two carrots each and feed these guys. We were lucky enough to have left over carrots so we got a second go!
Here is a close up of these guys being fed!
Then we were off to see the Black Rhino. Much smaller than the white Rhino, we got to know this guy and watched him eat his breakfast. Such a beautiful creature!
These guys are the smallest little things, they scurry around and then stand on their hind legs like they own the place! They are very entertaining to watch!
Across from the Meerkats are the Wild Dogs (not Hyena’s!). They had quite a big litter recently so there were a few pups around!
We watched Emma feed the Lemurs. There were two of them in their area which is an island near the information centre. They love their banana!
Across from the Lemurs were the White Handed Gibbon. They were enjoying the morning sun!
Our last stop on the morning tour was behind the scenes at the elephant enclosure. We watched as the keepers hosed down one of the elephants and checked his feet. These guys are adorable and very well trained! It was nice to see what happens each morning and how they go about keeping these guys clean and check on their health etc.
At the time we visited the zoo, they had a 3-week old Asian Elephant, although we didn’t see him as part of this morning tour, we enjoyed watching him in the zoo grounds. If you want to see a baby elephant run, check this video out!!
Good to know…
Although the staff has mosquito repellent for the evening tour, it might be worth taking some with you and applying it before you leave for the evening tour!
Checking out…
Checking out was quick and easy. Your bill is left on your table at breakfast time and you can settle it before you leave the guest house.
Additional Information
There is a pool outside the guest house and is a perfect way to cool off after exploring the zoo in the summertime.
Also, there are barrows available to help transport your bags to and from the carpark – these come in pretty handy!
Above and beyond…
Our Zoofari guide, Emma was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful throughout our stay from checking in to checking out.
The not so good…
Nothing to report in this section! There was nothing I could fault!
The verdict…
We absolutely loved our stay at the Zoofari Lodge. While I have been to Africa and Jenna hasn’t, this was a great sampler! Waking up to birds chirping and the giraffes grazing is absolutely magical and highly recommended!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
Take a look at our short video…
“I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.” – Lillian Smith
Did you know that Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle was inspired by one of the most visited castles in Germany? Neuschwanstein Castle… pronounced ‘New Swanstone’, is nothing short of a fairytale.
We spent a weekend in Munich and took a day trip out to Neuschwanstein Castle in the area of Bavaria. If you’re not sure if it’s worth it, let me tell you right now – it is 100% worth it and the long day trip to get there.
Located in the Alps in Bavaria the views are nothing but spectacular as the castle is nestled on a hill.
A bit of history about Neuschwanstein Castle
The fairytale castle was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II of Bavaria who was also known as the Fairytale King. The castle was built at a time when castles no longer had defensive and strategical purposes. Despite being built in the 19th century, the castle had toilets with automatic flushing systems on each floor as well as air heating systems for the entire castle!
Construction of Neuschwanstein began in 1869 and was only supposed to take three years to build.. but Ludwig II wanted it to be just perfect.. so the castle was not finished by the time Ludwig died in 1886 and it is in fact not finished to this day!
Getting to Neuschwanstein
We booked the Royal Castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Day Tour from Munich through Viator. I am so glad we did! The bus that took us out was probably the most comfortable bus I’ve ever been on. It was a double decker, nice comfortable chairs, curtains over the windows and overall a very smooth ride. Jenna was recovering from the flu so she took advantage of the comfortable chairs and had a bit of a snooze en-route to our first stop for the day.
The tour…
The 10.5-hour tour from Munich is filled with seeing some incredible castles and learning about the interesting history behind them.
Even though the highlight of the tour, and reason for booking the tour, is Neuschwanstein castle, the rest of the tour is absolutely worth it and a great way to both fill up and break up the journey from Munich.
The included stops were Linderhof castle and the towns of Oberammergau as well as Hohenschwangau.
Linderhof Castle
Built by King Ludwig II in the 19th century, it was built for the purpose of a hunting lodge. The tour allows for a 1 hour stop at the castle and you can opt for group tour through the castle, which I would recommend.
The castle was a lot smaller than I thought it would be… more like an over the top country lodge than a castle, but that doesn’t mean it was any less impressive. The castle and surrounding gardens were beautiful. The guide took us throughout and provided excellent stories about why each room was quirky designed the way it was with meticulous detail specifically suited to King Ludwig II.
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos of the inside so you will have to go and see for yourself!
Spoiler Alert: The table was installed so that King Ludwig could dine alone. However, the staff had to set the table for at least four people because it was rumoured that he used to talk to imaginary people while he was eating!
Here are a few snaps of Linderhof.
Oberammergau
After our stop in Linderhof Castle, it was time to stop in at Oberammergau. This adorable city is world-famous for its woodcarvers amongst other things. We had some time to wonder around and do a bit of shopping. For us, we were on the hunt for the perfect Christmas decoration (we collect a Christmas decoration in every city we visit!).
Neuschwanstein Castle
Now, for the star attraction of the day… Neuschwanstein Castle!
As you approach the town of Hohenschwangau, you start to notice this spectacular castle nestled up on the mountain and you quickly realise how massive it is. It is a neo-Romanesque style castle also designed by King Ludwig II.
I should start off by saying, be prepared for a steep incline and lots of steps… Don’t let me put you off because it is 100% worth the time and effort (there are food and drink kiosks on the way up if you need a pit stop).
We kept following the path up and around the castle until we reached Marienbrücke bridge (which I believe was for Queen Mary and is translates to Mary’s bridge). Jenna wasn’t too sure – the bridge was fairly narrow and quite high up. But, the views are totally worth it!
From the bridge, it was time to head back to the castle to begin our optional tour of the castle. It was fascinating to walk through the castle and listen to the history.
I was amazed at the size of the kitchen, I think it’s just about the size of our Sydney apartment!
The tours for the castle are staggered and you’re given an allocated time for your group. Don’t be late because they don’t wait for you and the groups are all full so the chances of getting on another group are slim to none.
Hohenschwangau
After an exhausting couple of hours exploring the Sleeping Beauty castle, we’d worked up an appetite so we wandered down to the little town at the base of the castle called Hohenschwangau and grabbed a bite to eat and an ice cream before our long journey back to Munich.
It was then time for the long journey back to Munich. You can either enjoy the scenery if it’s summertime and you have daylight, or if you’re exhausted then you can always have a nap on the way back!
This castle is truly a fairytale! It is a must if you’re in Munich.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever – Walt Disney
Melbourne, Australia… known to many as the city that has a lot of culture, art, food and scenery. It has all of that and more!
If you’re heading to Melbourne for a weekend in the city, this has you covered. But, there is so much more to Melbourne than the city itself. There is the Australian Open Tennis, Formula One, the world famous Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island.
If you’re heading to Melbourne around Christmas time, expect plenty of festivities going on around you!
Getting to Melbourne
There are two airports… Tullamarine Airport, which is the main airport used by the full-service airlines and there is also Avalon airport which the low-cost airlines utilise.
If you’re basing yourself in the city then Tullamarine is more suitable. However, if you’re flying in and heading to the Great Ocean Road then Avalon would be more convenient.
Getting from Tullamarine Airport to the city
The most cost effective way to get to and from the airport is by SkyBus. You can purchase your ticket online which makes it easy as you can do it before you arrive.
What to see in Melbourne CBD
There are plenty of things to see and do in Melbourne city. These are a few highlights of thing we did.
Firstly, you should go along to a free walking tour of Melbourne operated by I’m Free. They run twice a day every day, no matter the weather and last for around 2.5 – 3 hours.
Federation Square: To the locals, it’s called Fed Square. It is a cultural precinct in the centre of Melbourne. It is always busy and there is always something going on. For us, at Christmas time it was filled with Christmas lego exhibits!
Street Art: Melbourne is famous for the street art. Opposite Federation Square, you will see the laneways filled with street art and most likely see some locals down there adding their bit (legally!).
City Circle Tram: The inner city trams are FREE! Yep, free.. so why not jump on one! Particularly the city circle tram – it’s a great way to explore the city.
St Kilda: A trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without jumping on a tram down to St Kilda for a few hours. There is a beach, a long foreshore and plenty to keep you busy.
Botanical Gardens: A perfect way to spend a couple of hours relaxing or just enjoying the greenery!
Bourke Street: If you’re looking to do a spot of shopping, head to Bourke Street and you you will be set!
Melbourne Town Hall: A beautiful piece of architecture which happened to be decorated for Christmas!
Luna Park: Located in St Kilda, it is free to enter, you just pay for what rides you want! We chose the oldest roller coaster going around. It was fun and actually gave you great views over St Kilda!
Yarra River: Enjoy taking a walk up and down the Yarra River. The whole Southbank area has been redeveloped and is filled with lovely restaurants and places to sit along the river.
Crown Casino: The Crown Casino is a lovely casino and worth a visit (although I can’t say I’ve left with more money than going in with!).
Coming soon…
Watch this space for information on the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island Penguin Tour and the Australian Open.
Where to stay in Melbourne
We stayed at two separate hotels during our time in Melbourne.
We spend the first couple of nights at the Grand Hotel Melbourne MGallery by Sofitel. The hotel felt like an old palace, so grand and spacious. It was very close to the tram line down to St Kilda and into other parts of the city as well as the bus stop to get to and from the airport.
I then went on to stay at the Novotel Melbourne on Collins. It was being renovated while I was there and the look and feel of the hotel was much more modern than the Grand Hotel MGallery so it depends on what you’re looking for. The bathroom was spacious with a large separate bath and the room also spacious. The Novotel was more central in terms of things to see and do in the CBD.
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch
If you’re looking at skiing in Europe, there is a good chance you will need to stop over in one of the spectacular Swiss cities beforehand. For us, on our way to St Anton, Austria we flew into Zürich, Switzerland for two nights before heading to the slopes.
It was our first European winter and it is safe to say neither of us were prepared for how cold it would actually be! Jenna chose to wear wellies, which look great but actually do not keep your feet warm! Lesson learnt there.
So, if you have a day or two in Zürich here are a few ideas!
Christkindlimarkt (Christmas Market)
A visit to Zürich at Christmas time is not complete without visiting the incredible Christkindlimarkt.
Held at the main train station in Zürich, it is one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe! Even if you’re not that into Christmas Markets, you should go just for the experience of it all. It features 150 stalls, and you wonder around enjoying what’s on offer while sipping on a mulled wine. The most amazing part is of course the 50 foot tall Christmas tree which is decorated with thousands of sparking Swarovski crystals.
Grossmünster (The Grand Church)
Who doesn’t like to see a city from above? From Grossmünster you can. The church is a major landmark in Zürich with the two towers, which you can walk up (all 187 steps) for view across the entire city.
Altstadt (Old town)
Zürich is a beautiful quaint city with the narrow streets and colourful houses.
Because it was Christmas time, the atmosphere was contagious. There were impromptu singers on in the old town singing Christmas carols – it was absolutely amazing.
Take a look at our short video of the street singers!
Lake Zürich
Of course Zürich is divided by a beautiful lake! Take some time to just relax and enjoy the scenery!
Enjoy the Christmas celebrations
The streets are filled with Christmas spirit – it’s hard not to get involved!
Here is a short video of the streets of Zürich in the evening at Christmas time.
Lindenhof
“Lindenhof is an oasis at the heart of the city that looks back on a moving history”
For spectacular views over Zürich (and for free) you should definitely visit Lindenhof. We walked up there both during the day and the evening – both providing stunning views.
Where to stay
We chose to stay at the Hotel Continental Zurich – MGallery by Sofitel. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from the main train station and also very close to the Swiss National Museum and other main tourist sights.
The rooms were beautiful and the beauty of staying at an MGallery is that they have the turn down service in the evening which of course means chocolates on the pillows 🙂 Also, the lovely hand written notes go a long way for us!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
If you’re looking for some of the best cronuts in Sydney, then Brewtown Newtown is the place to be!
A cronut is a croissant-doughnut pastry invented by New York City pasty chef, Dominique Ansel. The pastry is made by frying a laminated dough in grape seed oil and then sugared, filled and glazed.
Newtown has a bit of a name for itself, some even suggest it is ‘the’ food and culture hub with plenty of cafe’s and quaint spots to grab a bite to eat. Now, being from Surry Hills ourselves, we certainly didn’t need, nor want to head too far from home but our friend twisted our arm with the idea of great coffee and even better cronuts, and, am I glad he did! This place didn’t disappoint!
The actual cafe is set in a 19th-century warehouse and has been there since 2013.
Breakfast at Brewtown
We popped over for breakfast and were seated immediately. However, 10 minutes later the line up was about 30 people – it is very popular (so if you know you’re going – why not try and book ahead!). Their menu is different to other cafes, everything has a little twist. I ended up having an off-menu special which was pulled beef and poached eggs, and it worked!
Menu as at August 2016 attached below if anyone is keen!
Brewtown’s Cronuts
After breakfast, it was time to see what all the fuss is about and get a cronut (or two). We picked up an original glazed and a banoffee. It left us wanting more!!
After breaky, you can pop up to the shop on level 1 where they have the cronut bakery (the smell up there is scrumptious) and also OConnell Street Merchants where you can select from some stylish pieces.
Brewtown Newtown is well worth the trip if you love your coffee and trying new spots for brunch!
“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” -Ernestine Ulmer
Honestly, the stark contrast between a Christmas in summer or winter is exactly that, extreme and obvious!
Growing up in South Africa, Jenna in Australia meant that Christmas time was warm, no, hot and sunny with the day generally spent by the water with a few cold drinks and having a BBQ. So, when we packed up and moved to London in October 2013, we were very much looking forward to a cold Christmas. After all, Christmas carols generally do not involve having a BBQ by the water!
After being in London for only a month, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland was an absolute must for us! Christmas is Jenna’s favourite time of year without a doubt so we were off to the shops to buy some Christmas jumpers to get into the spirit of things.
We visited Winter Wonderland both years we were in London and it was exactly that, a wonderland, a magical wonderland.
Where is Winter Wonderland?
The location of Winter Wonderland couldn’t get better. It’s in the heart of London in the famous Hyde Park. The park is transformed into the most magical winter wonderland.
How long does Winter Wonderland run for?
This festive event runs for 6 weeks. Plenty of time to get there either after work or on a weekend!
How much does it cost?
It’s FREE!!! Yep, that’s right, entry is free and you only pay for the food, drinks or rides you want. This also means you can visit as many times as you like!
What there is on offer…
The atmosphere is festive, there are German style Christmas markets lining the walkways selling Christmas ornaments, souvenirs and other festive bit and pieces, along with plenty of food stalls, including the must havNutellala crêpe and chocolate waffles!
As you walk down the market lined streets, you hear Christmas carols playing, the smell of chestnuts roasting, and as you look around most people are wearing a Christmas jumper and well into the spirit of things. It is like a novelty, growing up in a hot country, to be able to finally own a coat, gloves, beanie and scarf. It’s fun to get dressed up but it is also a necessity as it’s pretty cold!
If that’s not enough for you, there are over 100 rides and attractions suitable for both little kids and big kids, the magical ice kingdom and ice skating.
There is something for everyone and a great place to go as a couple, or with a group of friends.
Here are a few snaps from our two visits to Winter Wonderland.
“Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg
We spent a week in Queenstown and can’t wait to come back and explore more of what Queenstown (and the rest of NZ) has to offer!
Here are our recommendations, but I am sure this will continue to get bigger the more times we explore this wonderful part of the world!
Skiing in Queenstown
There is a good variety of skiing in Queenstown. Given this was our first trip over, we stuck to the usual two that most tourists go to… The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. The reason being is that they are the two closest to Queenstown
To read more about skiing at The Remarkables & Coronet Peak, click here.
What to do in and around Queenstown
Queenstown City: The city itself is tiny! It feels like you’re in a European town, there are no high-rise buildings, there are small laneways and plenty of fire places (for the winter time!). It is really such a beautiful city!
Lake Wakatipu: Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand and is shaped like a lightning bolt! Even if you only have an hour or so free in Queenstown, it is worth wandering down the shore of the lake and taking in the beauty that surrounds you!
Shotover Jet: Now, most people when they visit Queenstown hear about the famous Shotover Jet. Well, we did it and it was awesome. For heaps more info, photos and a short video, click here. This is simply something you must see when visiting Queenstown.
Game Over: If you’re unlucky like us and have some pretty heavy rain, you will quickly discover there isn’t much going on in and around Queenstown in the rain… So, after asking a few of the local shop keepers what we can do, it was off to Game Over which is an indoor go karting place at the airport. They have a deal with the green taxis from the city centre to the go karting place for around $30 NZD. The actual Go Karting cost us around $39 NZD per person and for that, you get 14 laps. In case there was any hesitation, I, of course, came first, Luke (aka thewelltravelledrider) came second and Jenna (aka thewelltravelledwoman) came third (of three… but who’s counting?!).
It is a really fun course, with fast turns and a hill as well. It is a great way to kill a few hours in the rain.
Queenstown Gardens: If you have an hour or two free, then taking a walk through the Queenstown Gardens is worth the time. It’s situated right next to Queenstown and has plenty to offer, including disc golf! Yep, we weren’t sure either. It’s basically golf but using a frisbee instead.
Quad Biking: If you like to have a bit of fun, we highly recommend quad biking!!! Click here to read our full review, photos and a short video and our recommended company!
Queenstown Skyline Gondola & Luge: Don’t underestimate how much fun the Luge will be!! Click here to read our full review, check out some photos and a short video. It is a must when you visit Queenstown!
Where to eat
For some recommendations on where we at in Queenstown, click here.
Where to stay
Travelling around NZ?
To see our other posts on NZ, click here!
Do you have travel insurance?
Before travelling, make sure you get a travel insurance policy – you never know when you might need it! Click here for information on travel insurance, what company we recommend and a link to get an instant quote.
Alternative accommodation
If you’re looking for alternative accommodation to either save some money or share with friends or family, click here for information on Air B&B ($50 discount on your first booking), hotel price comparison websites etc.
“Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
