Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 239

07/3237 2333. Fax [phone]. www.accorhotels.com.au. 218 units. A$109 (US$71) double. Extra person
A$30 (US$20). Children under 16 stay free in parent's room with existing bedding. Ask about packages. AE,
DC, MC, V. Parking at Mercure Hotel Brisbane (see above) at A$10 (US$6.50) per day. Airport shuttle. Train:
Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Ferry: North Quay (CityCat and CityFerry). Amenities: Restaurant (breakfast,
dinner only); coin-op laundry and laundry service; nonsmoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV w/pay movies, fridge,
coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
INEXPENSIVE
Explorers Inn Hotel You'll be astonished to find such spruce decor and
terrific value in one place—and in the heart of the city! Each tiny room at this
former YWCA was designed by its architect owners to contain just the necessi-
ties—including a narrow desk. The front desk lends hair dryers and the friendly
staff will help with booking tours and sending e-mails. All of the rooms are non-
smoking, but there is a smokers' lounge. Downstairs is the good-value Explor-
ers Cafe restaurant and bar (p. 244). South Bank, the casino, the Roma Street
Transit Centre, and Queen Street Mall are all close by.
63 Turbot St. (near George St.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1800/623 288 in Australia, or 07/3211 3488. Fax
07/3211 3499. www.explorers.com.au. 58 units (all with shower only). A$75-A$97 (US$49-US$63) double;
A$97 (US$63) family (sleeps 4). AE, DC, MC, V. Train: Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Amenities: Restaurant;
tour desk; car-rental desk; secretarial services; coin-op laundry and laundry service; dry-cleaning; nonsmok-
ing rooms. In room:A/C, TV, fridge, coffeemaker.
Hotel George Williams It's hard to believe this smart 4-year-old hotel is
a YMCA. Rooms have vivid bedcovers, chrome chairs, and artsy bedside lamps
on chrome stands. Rooms are small, but can accommodate up to four adults.
Among the useful facilities are a 24-hour front desk, safe-deposit boxes, and a
hip cybercafe. Hair dryers are available on request. Four rooms are designed for
guests with disabilities, and there is access for those with disabilities to the gym
and elevators. The City Y health club is the largest hotel gym in Australia, and
offers free aerobics classes to guests, personal trainers, and massages.
317-325 George St. (between Turbot and Ann sts.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1800/064 858 or 07/3308 0700.
Fax [phone]. www.hgw.com.au. 55 units (most with shower only). A$92-A$96 (US$60-US$62) double;
additional person A$22 (US$14). Children 4 and under stay free. Ask about packages. AE, DC, MC, V. Free
secure covered parking. Airport shuttle. Train: Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Ferry: North Quay (CityCat and
CityFerry). Amenities: Restaurant; bar; health club; tour desk; car-rental desk; babysitting; coin-op laundry
with iron and ironing board; laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV,
fridge, coffeemaker.
Thornbury House Bed & Breakfast A 15-minute walk to Spring
Hill from the city center brings you to this 1886 Queenslander cottage on a
quiet street. Owner Michelle Bugler has decked out every room individually
with Oriental rugs, comfortable beds, bathrobes, and lovely old furniture and
knickknacks. Those without en suite bathrooms have their own pretty, clean
private bathrooms down the hall. Downstairs is a self-contained apartment with
contemporary decor. Breakfast is served in the ferny courtyard (a cool and rest-
ful place on a humid day), where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cookies,
and the newspaper any time of day.
In early 2003, Michelle opened a second B&B, Eton ( & 07/3236 0115;
www.babs.com.au/eton), in a Heritage-listed cottage at 436 Upper Roma St.,
Brisbane, not far from the Brisbane Transit Centre. It's similar in style and price
to Thornbury, with five rooms and an attic suite (sleeps three). Ask for room no.
1, at the front of the house, for its claw-foot bathtub and king-size bed. My pick
is Eton, but Thornbury's location is quieter and more residential.

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