Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dial E for Easy
For quick directions on how to call Australia, see the “Telephone” listing
in the “Fast Facts” section at the end of this chapter or check out the
“Telephone Tips” on the inside front cover of the topic.
Tips
way—as long as you use the facil-
ities provided. The down side is
that your choices are limited and
you're stuck eating and playing in
one place for the duration of your
vacation.
•
Book an efficiency.
A room with
a kitchenette allows you to shop
for groceries and cook your own
meals. This is a big money saver,
especially for families on long
stays.
LANDING THE BEST ROOM
Somebody has to get the best room in
the house. It might as well be you. You
can start by joining the hotel's fre-
quent-guest program, which may
make you eligible for upgrades. Always
ask about a corner room. They're often
larger and quieter, with more windows
and light, and they often cost the same
as standard rooms. When you make
your reservation, ask if the hotel is ren-
ovating; if it is, request a room away
from the construction. Ask about non-
smoking rooms, rooms with views,
rooms with twin, queen- or king-size
beds. If you're a light sleeper, request a
quiet room away from vending
machines, elevators, restaurants, bars,
and discos. Ask for one of the rooms
that have been most recently renovated
or redecorated.
If you aren't happy with your room
when you arrive, say so. If another
room is available, most lodgings will
be willing to accommodate you.
In resort areas, particularly in warm
climates, ask the following questions
before you book a room:
• What's the view like? Cost-con-
scious travelers may be willing to
pay less for a back room facing the
parking lot, especially if they don't
plan to spend much time in their
room.
• Does the room have air-condi-
tioning or ceiling fans? Do the
windows open? If they do, and the
nighttime entertainment takes
place alfresco, you may want to
find out when show time is over.
• What's included in the price? Your
room may be moderately priced,
but if you're charged for beach
chairs, towels, sports equipment,
and other amenities, you could
end up spending more than you
bargained for.
• How far is the room from the
beach and other amenities? If it's
far, is there transportation to and
from the beach?
17 Recommended Books & Films
Australian literature has come a long
way since the days when the bush
poets A. B. “Banjo” Paterson and
Henry Lawson penned their odes to a
way of life now largely lost. The best
known of these is Patterson's epic
The
Man from Snowy River
(Buccaneer
Books, 1996), which hit the bestseller
list in 1895 and was made into a film.
But the literary scene has always been
lively, and Australia has a wealth of
classics, many of them with the Out-
back at their heart.
Miles Franklin wrote
My Brilliant
Career
(HarperCollins, 2001) in
1901, the story of a young woman
faced with the dilemma of choosing
between marriage and a career;
