More On Choosing An Eco-Lodge

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Tara

When I first started this blog, I wrote a post on how to choose an eco-lodge. Looking back, I still agree with everything I said back then. But there was one element I forgot to mention until I saw this post by an award-winning travel writer and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler magazine, Mr Costas Christ. In his outstanding article, he talks about how the lodge should reflect the culture of the country its in. The Tambopata Research Centre looks like its in Peru. Selva Verde looks like its in Costa Rica. Hornbill Camp looks like its in India. And these as well as many other I have blogged about make a point of employing local people and contributing to the local economy. I could go on, but this is one very important factor that sets a fantastic eco-lodge apart from just a good eco-lodge.

Tambopata Research Centre

Hotel Review – Customs House Waterfront Hotel

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Tara

Location and history make the Customs House Waterfront Hotel a unique experience in Hobart. Built on Hobart’s waterfront for Charles Gaylor and licenced in 1846 it derived its name from the fact that the then Custom House (now Parliament House) is opposite. Mr. Gaylor was one of Hobart’s early settlers and his name is cut deep in the front coping stone of the building. When I was planning this trip, I chose this hotel for its proximity to birding areas such as the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens and the history. I was very happy with it but if you prefer modern luxury this won’t suit your needs. Look for deals on Pointshound or Rocketmiles to earn miles for your stay. Aussies can also get Virgin Velocity points for staying here.

Old and new architecture side by side in Hobart.

Rooms are clean, simply furnished and come with a delicious pub breakfast. There is a pub downstairs so it could get noisy on the weekends. We stayed on a Thursday night and were not disturbed.

The hotel is just a short stroll from the popular shopping and nightlife district of Salamanca. Unfortunately we arrived after all the shops were closed.

Shopping to support Orange-bellied Parrots! I wish this store would have been open!

There was some kind of street festival going on (early March 2014) so we stopped in for dinner and to listen to the music.

Lodge Review: BIG4 Iluka Freycinet Holiday Park

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Tara

BIG4 Iluka on Freycinet sits opposite Muirs Beach at Coles Bay on the beautiful East Coast of Tasmania. It’s an ideal location from which to explore world renowned Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay. The area is rich in stunning natural beauty, great walks and history. Birds are all over the area but by the time we got there we only got a few fly-bys as they headed back to their roosting grounds.

I thought the cabin was great, just a short walk from a small hill where I could see various birds flying past but too far away to identify. Blowing up the photos, I couldn’t see any colour. The cabin can hold up to 4 people in the usual double room and bunk bedded room. You can either cook in the well-equipped kitchen or walk to a cafe nearby.

Hotel Review: Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden – Tenerife

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Tara

Hotel Botánico, one of the Leading Hotels of the World is where the welcome cocktail and the gala dinner of the Convention takes place. There is a huge advantage to staying here because they offer a welcome desk for convention attendees and free transportation to the venue of the Convention. Even without the convention, the grounds are stunning, wild feral parrots such as Quakers, Amazons and Indian Ringnecks can be seen in the trees and the views from the rooms are amazing. They offered unbeatable value for accommodation to the participants of the 2014 Convention and there was no way I was passing this up. Fortunately, since we used miles to get to Tenerife, we could splurge here. I also wanted to make sure my husband could enjoy his holiday while I was attending the convention and the pool/spa area is amazing! The breakfast buffet has a huge variety and we never needed a full lunch while we were here, just a snack around mid-day. We also stayed here for the 2010 conference and expect to be back in 2018!

DOUBLE ROOM: 128,00€* per night (3 to 6 nights)

118,00€* per night (starting from 7 nights)

DOUBLE ROOM (SINGLE USE): 98,00€* per night (3 to 6 nights)

88,00€* per night (starting from 7 nights)

This special offer includes an excellent breakfast buffet, exclusive access to “The Oriental Spa Garden” (minimum age 16) and free Wi-Fi.

*excl. 7% of taxes. These prices are only valid for the participants of the VIII International Parrot Convention and their companions.

The hotel has a free shuttle to a shopping centre downtown where you can walk 2 blocks to where the Loro Parque train picks you up. Even without the shuttle, just about anyplace in town can be reached for under 5 Euros by taxi. It was fantastic to be able to relax in the hot spa pools after the conference every day! I felt so spoiled!

HOTEL ENTRANCE – Watch the trees for wild parrots!

OUR ROOM – Love the artwork!

AMAZING VIEWS FROM THE ROOM

SHUTTLE TO SHOPPING CENTRE

SUNSET FROM THE BALCONY

SPA & POOL AREA

FLAMENCO SHOW IN THE LOBBY BAR – Wonderful dancers, don’t miss it!

Lodge Review – Discovery Holiday Parks – Cradle Mountain

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Tara

Holiday Parks in Australia do a great job of offering something for everyone at a reasonable price and the one at Cradle Mountain is no exception. They have camping, caravan spaces and fully contained cabins and excellent communal facilities for cooking and laundry. The setting is in the bush and you are likely to encounter wild animals walking to and from the cooking hut! While they have a small shop if you forget to bring something I recommend buying your groceries in Hobart for better choice and prices.

Shared cooking facilities are also excellent! Cabins have a variety of bedding available and can accommodate couples or families.

Lodge Review: Strahan Wilderness Lodge

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Tara

When researching accommodation options in Strahan, all I had to see was this sentence on the Strahan Wilderness Lodge website and I knew I had the right choice!

In the Lodge, you may join old or new friends in the lounge and enjoy breakfast overlooking the gardens and the fishing fleet anchored in Mill Bay; take a stroll to Smugglers Cove or the Harbour View terrace en route maybe catching a glimpse of some of Tasmania’s rarest birds which frequent the grounds.

I emailed them to make sure they were referring to Eastern Ground Parrots and was assured they were indeed!

The location was good, in the bush but near enough the town to drive in for meals.

AAlthough Trip Advisor reviews are mixed, I think the people who weren’t happy here kind of missed the point of staying in a wilderness lodge. The focus is on Tassie charm and the natural environment. I loved it!

Rooms are very reasonably priced, include breakfast and have access to a shared bathroom.

In the end, it’s all about the birds!

Lodge Review: Captain Cook Caravan Park

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Tara

Captain Cook Caravan Park has something for everyone whether you just need space for a tent or caravan or want to relax in a fully equipped cabin. Prices are pretty good so we went for the cabins and really enjoyed them! Of course the biggest draw was the fact that Captain Cook’s is known for having Swift Parrots hanging around the grounds!

There’s a good variety of cabins, some have 1 or 2 bedrooms, some have full kitchens and some have views of the beach.

Kitchen and dining area

Master bedroom

Extra bedroom with bunk beds

Bathroom Green Rosella near our cabin

Swift Parrot flying swiftly through the grounds.

Hotel Review: Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tara

If you have a Melalueca day trip booked to see the Orange-bellied Parrots, the Travelodge Hotel Hobart Airport is the closest hotel to the airfield. If you arrive before 6pm, you can use the free shuttle from Hobart Airport to the hotel, otherwise you would have to get a taxi or independent shuttle for the short drive. The hotel shuttle will also drop you at the Cambridge Airport in the morning for your Par Avion trip.

The rooms are fine, nothing anyone would get excited about but clean and comfortable. You only get 30 minutes free internet included with the room.

For people on a budget, there is a petrol station with a Subway inside with all the usual sandwich options just opposite the hotel.

In the large grassy area between the caravan park and the hotel you can enjoy the antics of Galahs, Eastern Rosellas, Cockatoos and several other birds!

Hotel Review: Intercontinental Resort Tahiti

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Tara

Sadly our trip to French Polynesia was over. We had seen some amazing birds on Ua Huka and Rimatara and now we were heading home. Our flight left at 7:30am so we needed a hotel near the airport and preferably available on points. The Intercontinental Tahiti Resort fit the bill perfectly. Rooms cost 40,000 points which is a decent value and this is a pretty spectacular “airport hotel”!

It is easily reachable from downtown or the airport on any Outamaoro bus. They drop you right at the driveway and you just walk down to the entrance.

My platinum status (courtesy Chase IHG Mastercard) got us upgraded to an ocean view room!

Small turtle pond in the garden

Overwater bungalows. I didn’t seek an upgrade to these as it was only an overnight stay with check out at 4:30am.

Lagoon and overwater bungalows

Watching the sunset by the swimming pool

Happy hour!

Planes coming in to land

Cabana boy with conch shell

The next morning we were up at 4:00am and checked out around 4:30-ish. The one thing I don’t like about visiting French Polynesia is the uber-early morning flights! We walked out to the main road, prepared to walk with our backpacks to the airport. A bus came along and we flagged it down. No need to pay $25 for a taxi to go a couple kilometers! Check-in wasn’t too crowded so we quickly checked in and passed security.

We were in economy so no lounge for us, the main terminal is pretty comfortable anyway. Goodbye French Polynesia and keep looking after your birds!

Hotel Review: Intercontinental Moorea Resort & Spa

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Tara

Since we had two days to kill before our flight home, I really wanted to check out the Intercontinental Moorea Resort & Spa. I had enough points to get us a freebie and booked the usual room offered for awards, a lanai room.

I was very pleased to see that my platinum status (courtesy of the Chase Mastercard) got us upgraded to a Garden Pool room! I’d say this was an excellent use of points!