Our daughter and her husband invited us to Melbourne to babysit our granddaughter whilst they attended a concert. We had stayed at Dorsett Melbourne before and enjoyed its central location.
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We spent the last three nights of our holiday in a different part of Phu Quoc. Here it was quiet and the hotel had direct access to the beach. The place rated well, was cost effective and offered great a la carte breakfasts at the nearby sailing club.
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When Typhoon Ragasa ambushed our attempt to go to The Philippines from Hong Kong, we thought we would give Phu Quoc a try. The hotel was beautiful, filled with artworks and offered an extensive buffet breakfast with sparkling wine each morning. We found the location central in a bustling part of town. Although at a higher price point for Vietnam, I would definitely stay here again. .
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As a result of our Cathay Pacific flight being delayed, we missed our connecting flight to Phu Quoc so needed somewhere last minute to spend the night. After a long flight from New York we were also tired and wanted something close by as we would be returning to the airport the following morning. This place seemed more than what we needed but it was close by and we were happy with our choice.
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Whilst in upstate New York, we drove to Norfolk and stayed in this delightful colonial home built in 1776. It had been very well restored and it was just like stepping back in time.
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After a long flight we needed somewhere to sleep the night and Staypineapple would be the place. The hotel stood out for its’s convenient location, excellent reviews and slightly lower price amongst a bunch of very overpriced accommodation.
The Blossom Hibiya, Tokyo Japan
Our first time to Tokyo and Japan, we chose to stay away from the hustle and bustle but still close to subways, shops and eateries. We also found we could get a nicer place for our money and The Blossom Hibiya turned out to be in the perfect location with stunning views, modern rooms and an amazing all you can eat breakfast.
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Residence Inn by Marriott New York JFK Airport, Jamaica NY, USA
This hotel is one of the better airport hotels we’ve found in the US. There is a free shuttle to and from the airport, the rooms are modern and breakfast, although not great, is complimentary.
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Japa Suites and Villas Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
We were in Bali for four weeks where we would be meeting up with our daughter and her husband for some of that time who were also holidaying in Indonesia. Hoping to get a good rate on four weeks of accommodation we reached out to a few places and Japa Suites and Villas came back with the best deal. So this lovely quiet retreat would become our home for the next few weeks.
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Apartamentos Tucha, Albufeira, The Algarve, Portugal
After spending a week in a noisy apartment we moved closer to Old Town to this delightful traditional Portuguese apartment, attractively renovated with all the mod cons and delightful views of the sea and the beach.
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The Paladim & Alagoamar Hotel, Albufeira, Portugal
We were excited to be spending some time in Albufeira down in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. Our first week would be at this apartment style hotel situated right in the middle of New Town (the strip) and Old Town.
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Hotel Alif Avenidas, Lisbon, Portugal
We were spending a week in Lisbon, Portugal before heading south and Hotel Alif Avenidas came out as being well reviewed, well located and affordable.
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Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Helsinki, Finland
As our tickets were booked with Finnair, our flight from New York to Lisbon involved a transit through Helsinki so I thought it would be the perfect excuse to see a bit of this charming city. We chose this hotel based on its location and as it reviewed well and was very reasonably priced, it was an easy choice.
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The Revolution Hotel, Boston Massachusetts
Boston is beautiful but like New York City, it is expensive. I searched for somewhere to stay in a reasonably good location that reviewed well and wasn’t too expensive. And so The Revolution Hotel became our accommodation for the next two nights.
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The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square North New York
This was our third hotel in as many days and definitely the best of them. We enjoyed our stay at this new and well located hotel.
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Doubletree by Hilton New York Times Square South
In a convenient part of town we spent one night at this hotel. The location was great but we felt the hotel was overpriced and showing signs of its age.
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Martinique New York on Broadway – Curio collection by Hilton
At short notice my husband booked this hotel on our flight from LA to NYC. Steeped in history, this hotel is listed on the register of Historic Hotels of America.
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Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport
We decided to spend a couple of nights in LA on our way to New York after having just flown in to LAX from Melbourne, Australia. The Hyatt Regency was very close by and was a new airport hotel so we decided to stay there.
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Mantra on View, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast QLD
We stayed at Mantra on View about three years ago and although I was keen to explore something different, the great prices being offered by this place along with its handy location made us choose this spot for a second time.
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Byron Springs Guest House
We were here in Byron Bay to celebrate hubby’s Birthday before heading off to the Gold Coast to continue the rest of our week away. We loved this adorable Guest House and can’t wait to one day return.
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Seabreeze Beach Hotel, South West Rocks NSW
On our way back from Queensland we stopped off at a town that was very special to us called South West Rocks where we had previously camped on a couple of occasions. As it was already late and we would be leaving the following morning, we were after a place that was cheap and where we could park the truck we were driving. Above the pub would be where we spent the night.
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Grafton Lodge Motel, Grafton NSW Australia
We were passing through Grafton on the way up to Queensland and needed somewhere cheap and cheerful to stay the night before continuing our drive first thing the following morning. The Grafton Lodge Motel fitted the bill nicely and on hearing about our ordeal getting there, the lovely owner upgraded us to a Queen suite. The highway had been blocked due to the bushfires so we were forced onto a narrow back road that not only added a fair bit of time to our trip, but was quite scary to drive on.
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The Hilton Kuala Lumpur photographed from Perdana Botanical Gardens
I had a good feeling about this place even before we arrived. The reviews I read online were great and the customer service I received from Hilton leading up to our stay when I contacted them was excellent. Turns out our expectations were not just met but surpassed.
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Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur
I chose the Grand Millenium as one of our places to stay in KL due to a Youtuber’s recommendation as well as the fact it was well priced and reviewed pretty well too. Its best attributes were its location, attractive lobby and great buffet breakfast.
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The Aerotel Hotel at KLI2 Airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We were being met at the airport the next morning and driven to our Luxury Escapes accommodation at Pangkor Laut. So we needed a hotel for the night after our flight from Canberra, Australia and the two year old Aerotel seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
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Marriott Park Motel Nowra
For our overnight stay in Nowra with hubby’s parents we wanted something cheap, well located and that reviewed well. The Marriott Park Motel happened to fit all these criteria and it turned out to be a good choice.
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Mohonk Mountain House, New York
Mohonk Mountain House is the ideal place to celebrate any special occasion. We were fortunate enough to be given the opportunity of spending a night here thanks to an invitation to celebrate a couple of Birthdays.
Oval Motel Bendigo
Hubby and I drove to Bendigo to go see the Little House Festival the town was putting on. Therefore we were just after a cheap night’s accommodation for one night. Our only requirements were that it was clean and we had our own room and bathroom. The oval motel fitted the bill perfectly offering a great rate and a few extras we weren’t expecting.
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We were in Sydney for a concert so just needed one night’s accommodation not too far from the venue to keep us happy. Rydges Parramatta was probably more than we needed but this was the hotel we booked for our family of four.
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We wanted a place close to the city where we could walk to the shops, eateries, attractions and train station whilst keeping the cost down. We also wanted something not too old and which received good reviews. Oaks Southbank appeared to fit the bill nicely.
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Mantra on View, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast QLD
This was our first time staying at a Mantra hotel. We were given a room on the 18th floor with views of the Pacific Ocean. At under $200 a night for the three of us including full buffet breakfast, this well located hotel was a good find.
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The Westin New York Grand Central
The Westin New York Grand Central was where we chose to stay after our long haul flight from Australia. This modern hotel was well located and gave us the perfect opportunity to explore Grand Central Station properly. It was also a Trip Advisor 2017 Certificate of Excellence winner.
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Galare Guest House, Chiang Mai Thailand
For our fourth place to stay on this Thailand holiday we wanted somewhere cheap to stay with markets nearby and the Chiang Mai train station not too far away for our trip back to Bangkok. This place fit the bill just fine. Continue reading
Joy’s House Chiang Mai, Thailand
We chose Joy’s House due to its excellent ratings on tripadvisor and for the Children’s shelter the owners founded just up the road that provides a home, education and training to 45 underprivileged children from the hill tribe villages of Northern Thailand and Burma. Continue reading
Arun Residences, Bangkok Thailand
Just up the street from our previous accommodation, Arun Residences would be our home for the next night allowing us to see more of the nearby attractions and in easy reach of the Hua Lamphong Train Station where we would be catching the overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai. Continue reading
Sala Arun Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
This holiday I left choosing and booking the accommodation up to hubby as it was usually me who did all that. So it would be interesting to see what he came up with. The Sala Arun Hotel, despite being close to a number of attractions was situated in a less touristy part of town on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and with the most glorious views of Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Continue reading
Club Quarters Hotel, World Trade Center, NY
We needed somewhere to stay for the night before heading out of the city the following day and this place was well priced and well located. Whilst it seemed it was designed for longer stays in mind, it provided the perfect place for just the one night too. Continue reading
North Sydney Harbourview Hotel, Sydney NSW, Australia
As its name suggests, this place will give you some great views of the harbour and Sydney Harbour Bridge if you choose a harbour view room. We’ve stayed here a few times over the years and the view from the window never disappoints. Continue reading
Seaview House, Queenscliff, Victoria
Although no longer a B&B, this 1875 Queenscliff guest house has a tonne of character and old world charm. Formerly a green grocer and then the Seaview Coffee Palace, it was later converted to a Guest House with fourteen guest rooms each individually unique from each other. Continue reading
The Hilton Garden Inn, NYC
Situated on West 35th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, this modern Midtown Manhattan hotel built in 2009 is in an ideal location. Close to the Empire State Building, Macy’s at Herald Square, Times Square, Madison Square Garden and Fifth Avenue shopping there is plenty to see and do in the area. And with just a short walk to Penn Station, it’s easy to get to places further away. Continue reading
lower section of the Lucerne, New York, USA
The Lucerne, built in 1904 is a grand old building situated on the upper west side of New York. Bell Boys are waiting by the large doors to open and close them at the ready. Recently renovated, it has an old world charm combined with the usual range of modern amenities such as complimentary WiFi, spa services and a fitness centre. Continue reading
Regal Airport Hotel, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong – photo credit Regal Airport Hotel
Recognised as the World’s Best Airport Hotel by Business Traveller Magazine for nine years running, this hotel is directly connected to the passenger terminal of the International airport, just a short three minute walk away. Continue reading
Royal Plaza Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong
This luxury 5 star hotel is situated in Mong Kok in the heart of Kowloon. Boasting 699 guest rooms over 18 floors, there are some spectacular views to be had. The Royal Plaza Hotel is attached to the famous seven storied shopping centre known as Moko Mall. The bottom level has an MTR that connects to Mong Kok East Station. Continue reading
Ayung Resort Ubud
I was excited to be returning to one of our favourite resorts, this time with our two daughters 15 and 17. On arrival you are given a warm welcome which comes as a blessing after the hour and a quarter taxi ride from the airport combined with the hot and humid weather. Continue reading
Sky RIder Motor Inn, Katoomba, Blue Mountains
Room Reviews Rating
We spent three nights here and chose this place based on its positive reviews along with the fact it was ranked No. 1 in Katoomba on TripAdvisor . It was also fairly well priced at $160/night for our family of four. Continue reading
We chose to stay the week in Hobart in a cabin which not only kept the cost down but meant the in-laws who were travelling with us could stay in one next door which made seeing each other nice and convenient. The cabin was located close to the airport although there was not a lot of air traffic and the windows were double glazed so it was never a problem. Continue reading
Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel
This four and half star hotel is situated in Sydney Airport’s International terminal which is extremely convenient if you have an early morning flight to catch as it is literally just across the road. Continue reading
Amana Villas Seminyak Bali Equilibria Hotel
On arriving we checked in and were taken to our pool villa which had our own private pool. In the lounge adjoined to our room, there was a table set up with cold drinks, refresher towels and a piece of cake each. We were introduced to our private butler and told how to order breakfast. Continue reading
reception area at Ayung Resort, Bali
This was truly one of the best accommodation experiences I’ve ever had. The Ayung Resort is located approximately 20 minutes out of Ubud town but there are free shuttle buses that take guests into town daily.
Set alongside the Ayung River, the resort is situated on eight hectares of lush tropical rainforest surrounded by picturesque rice paddies. Continue reading
The Arthaus, Hackney, London
As I was travelling with my parents, we thought an apartment with a couple of bedrooms and bathrooms would be more suitable than a hotel room or two. Airbnb had a new complex in the heart of Hackney, London that was perfect. The Arthaus was to be our accommodation for the time we were in London. Continue reading
Dubai International Hotel – photo courtesy of hotel’s website
Also known as Dubai International Airport Terminal Hotel, this modern hotel boasting 530 guest rooms is situated smack bang inside terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport. After a 14 hour flight from Sydney, a night at this conveniently located hotel provided a great night’s sleep and a refreshing break before our continued journey on to London early the following morning. Continue reading
Vogue Resort & Spa, Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
We booked a Deluxe Room including breakfast for seven nights which cost us an amazing $557 for the two of us. Located about 40 minutes from the Krabi airport, the resort was well situated, in easy walk of shops and restaurants. Continue reading
Espace Elastique, Tai-O, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Located on the western side of Lantau Island, this fishing village is like what Hong Kong used to be like before the days of expensive shopping malls and high rise apartments. Continue reading
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
This place was magical from the moment you arrived. Described as a lavish Victorian palace nestled along the shores of the south china sea, a trip to Disneyland is not complete without a stay here. Continue reading
YMCA Salisbury Hong Kong

I have to start by saying this place is not what I expected from a YMCA. The foyer can be mistaken for that of a typical five star resort and the commanding views of the harbour and excellent proximity to the hustle and bustle of the city make this place worthwhile.
Now this resort stands out as something really special and is probably the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. Indigo Pearl was renamed The Slate in 2016. They have won a number of well deserved awards over the years including winner of the best luxury beach resort in Thailand and winner of Asia’s leading design hotel. And it was not hard to see why. Continue reading
Pacific Club Resort, Karon, Phuket, Thailand
We chose this place due it’s great ratings on Tripadvisor and also because of how well priced it was. We stayed for seven nights with breakfast included. Unfortunately, things didn’t get off to a great start. Continue reading
Double Tree by Hilton, The Espanade, Darwin – photo courtesy of Double Tree by Hilton website
I was keen to to take hubby and the kids to Darwin where I was born and spent seven years of my childhood growing up to show them my old home town. And Double Tree by Hilton (then Holiday Inn) seemed like a good choice. Continue reading
Villa 360, Phi Phi Island, Thailand
Villa 360 is built into the side of the hill. To get here, we caught the resort’s speedboat from over at the Pier at Ton Sai Bay at Phi Phi Village. Continue reading
Dewa Phuket Resort Nai Yang Beach, Thailand
The Dewa is located just five minutes from the airport beside Nai Yang Beach and 30 minutes from Phuket city. The resort has a mix of pool villas and junior and family suites. On arrival we were told we had been upgraded to a villa with a private plunge pool. Things were off to a good start. Continue reading
Quay West Bunker Bay Resort
Whilst in Perth with my parents and my brother’s family to celebrate my Nanna’s 90th Birthday and my Aunt’s 70th, we decided to extend our stay by a couple of nights and drive south to Bunker Bay resort. It looked like a lovely place to base ourselves to relax and explore a bit of Cape Naturaliste and the Margaret River wine region. Continue reading
Holiday Inn San Francisco Golden Gateway, SF, USA – photo credit Holiday Inn
Situated near eateries and public transport, this Holiday Inn provided heavenly views over San Francisco’s bay or city. Here kids twelve and under can stay and eat for free. With 26 floors, all 496 rooms are non-smoking. Pets are allowed to stay at this hotel. Continue reading
Four Points by Sheraton, (was Holiday Inn) San Diego, California, USA
At the time we stayed here it was a Holiday Inn hotel but in 2012 was taken over by Four Points by Sheraton. The hotel offers 360 degree views of San Diego Bay and Downtown. It is located close to the airport with complimentary shuttle buses. Continue reading
Embassy Suites by Hilton, Arcadia, California
The Embassy Suites in Arcadia are located in a quiet and attractive part of Los Angeles county, close to Monrovia and Pasadena. Santa Anita shopping mall is just up the road and the Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are both nearby.
overwater bungalows at the Holiday Inn Resort, Port Villa, Vanuatu
Holiday Inn Resort in Vanuatu has had a number of name changes from when it originally opened in 1975 as an Intercontinental Hotel. When we stayed it was Le Meridian before it then changed name again to Palms Resort and Casino and finally Holiday Inn Resort.
Radisson Tree Tops Resort & Spa – now Ramada Resort Port Douglas
We stayed at this same resort with the kids when they were little back in 2001 and decided that when they were a bit older hubby and I would return for a few days on our own to explore the area a bit more thoroughly. So in 2005 the Girls went to stay with their Grandparents and we went back to Port Douglas. Continue reading
Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa
Our flight had us turn up late at Nadi airport and even later by the time we reached our resort on Yanuka Island. After check-in we were taken to our room which smelt really bad and I was beginning to wonder if I’d made the wrong decision in coming here. Continue reading
