Hotel Review: Comfort Inn Bay of Isles Motel Esperance

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Tara

I chose the Comfort Inn Bay of Isles Motel Esperance mostly for its location, right smack dab in the middle of Epserance and walking distance to a reputed Rock Parrot habitat on the beach near the pier. It was also easy driving distance to other birding hotspots.

While rooms are available for 20,000 Choice Rewards points, I don’t recommend it as the rates are very high for redemptions in Australia. If one must collect Choice points, you would be better off using them in Europe where decent hotels can be had for 8000-10,000 points.

The best way to maximize a booking here is to earn airline miles by booking through Pointshound.

The rooms are fine, exactly what you would expect of a budget chain hotel – clean, free wifi, cable tv and a swimming pool.

Choose this place for the location and convenience, you’ll be fine with it as long as you aren’t expecting a wow factor.

Lodge Review: Ravensthorpe Motel

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Tara

While it is actually a motel rather than a lodge, the Ravensthorpe Motel does enjoy a good location for birders visiting Fitzgerald River National Park. Since the park itself only offers camping, there are not a lot of choices if you prefer a roof over your head! It’s a typical friendly small town country motel and more attractive than most. Prices are very reasonable and they have some tourist information brochures in the lobby.

You park in front of your room. They have free Wifi but you need to be near the reception to catch the signal.

The rooms are simply furnished but still very clean and have everything you need for an overnight stay.

I was very happy with Ravensthorpe Motel for being near enough to Fitzgerald for an early morning birding trip. There are other birding opportunities near Ravensthorpe too.

Lodge Review: Stirling Range Retreat

Posted on April 15, 2014 by Tara

Stirling Range Retreat offers air conditioned self contained accommodation, caravan and camping facilities beside Stirling Range National Park in Australia’s South West. We stayed there two nights in a rammed earth cabin and really loved it! The owners, Tony and Ayleen Sands are very friendly, knowledgeable about birds and go out of their way to help their guests.

Prices are extremely reasonable and they have a good choice to suit any budget. Directions are also on their website and it is pretty easy to find as there is only one main road through Stirling Range. Guided eco-tours are offered from mid August to October but it’s still pretty easy to find the local birds on your own so don’t be afraid to travel off-season. I do recommend avoiding school holidays if you prefer a quieter atmosphere……………which most birders do!

The Bluff Knoll Cafe is currently closed but they have BBQ meat and some frozen dinners for sale at reception. I do recommend a shopping trip at a larger supermarket before you travel to the park for better variety and prices. You can also pick up some good leaflets with maps for hikers and bird watchers in reception.

The rammed earth cabins are in 2 clusters of 4 cabins with parking just outside.

Inside, there are 2 beds, an ensuite and a fully equipped kitchen.

My husband made good use of the BBQ!

They don’t feed the wild birds but they do offer bird baths (and drinking water) to attract the many beautiful birds in the area to come in up close. It would have been pretty hard to get this shot of an Elegant Parrot otherwise! More photos of the birds we saw will be on a separate post.

Lodge Review: Bella’s Country Place, Narrogin, Western Australia

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Tara

Bella’s Country Place is a fairly new bed & breakfast in the town of Narrogin near Dryandra Woodland. It has all the charm you could hope for in a small town B&B and Lizette, the friendly, cheerful owner goes out of her way to make her guests feel welcome.

I wish I had gotten more photos but I was so distracted by all the birds in the area, I had completely forgotten to get photos of the rooms! There are some pics on their website, some rooms are ensuite and some have shared bathrooms.

What I really liked is that the house is far enough from town so there is a lot of birdlife nearby but it’s close enough for quick trips into town for meals or shopping. There is also a well-equipped kitchen if you choose to self-cater and some washing machines and a clothesline which is great news for birders on a budget.

Breakfast is included in the very reasonable rates and Lizette is happy to prepare packed picnic breakfasts if you are making an early start to Dryandra for birding.

I really enjoyed my stay at Bella’s Country Place and am happy to recommend that birders heading to Dryandra Woodland and Foxes Lair stay here!

Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Eco Stays For 2014 (Or Beyond)

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Tara

Lonely Planet’s top 10 eco stays for 2014 is a spectacular list of some amazing places – one of which I have decided to work into my 2016 trip to South America. Several of these eco-lodges are in prime birding destinations and are worth checking out.

COSTA RICA – This one would def be on my list if we go back there, wish I had seen this article before last August!

The owners of Lapa Rios (www.laparios.com) named their eco-lodge after watching a family of scarlet macaws fly across a backdrop of jungle. The flock of macaws (lapa in Costa Rican) created a river (rio) of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Witness this spectacle for yourself at Lapa Rios, which looks out over the Golfo Dulce, a tropical fjord where whales and dolphins nurse their young in nutrient-rich, Crayola-blue waters.

PERU – Not sure if we are going to Machu Picchu again as we went there in 2007 but we are going to Manu & Tambopata.

Jose Koechlin von Stein is a pioneer of eco-tourism in Peru; Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (www.inkaterra.com/inkaterra/inkaterra-machu-picchu-pueblo-hotel) may just be his crowning achievement.

CHILE – The one I have my eye on (check out this bird list – Austral Parakeet & Slender-billed Parakeet)! I would use Avios to get an award ticket from Santiago to Puerto Montt – only 4500 Avios for the 569 mile flight.

EcoLodge Chepu Adventures, Chiloé, Chile

A stay in the wilds of Chile, powered by solar panels. Image courtesy of Ecolodge Chepu Adventures.

Tucked away down a seldom trampled dirt road some 38km from the next nearest anything, the tiny hamlet of Chepu sits in the northern sector of Parque Nacional Chiloé. Perched on an overlook peering out to the confluence of three rivers and 140 sq km of fascinating sunken forest – a result of the devastating 1960 earthquake – is EcoLodge Chepu Adventures (www.chepu.cl). The owners have designed everything at this eco-fierce property with the end goal of complete self-sufficiency, from infrared solar showers to wind-generated electricity to wood-alternative fibre construction. Fernando and Amory, two lovely souls who fled Santiago years ago in search of an off-the-grid life, wine and dine green-conscious travellers, who cannot get enough of the mystical kayak trips at dawn, the views and the BBQs.

“Besides being consummate hosts, Fernando and Amory’s dedication to the vision blew me away; and the view of the sunken forest, a phenomenon I had never even heard of, elicited an audible gasp: the dead tree-strewn Río Punta is one of the most amazing things I’ve seen over my travels to 78 countries and counting.” – Kevin Raub

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Perth City Centre

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Tara

No matter where you stay in Perth, you are likely to get sticker shock from the prices. This is where having a free night certificate from the Chase IHG Visa comes in very handy! At the time we stayed, room rates were over $300! Not a bad deal for a $49 annual fee! Of course you can always use 35,000 points for a free room as well.

The location is excellent – right downtown and walking distance to almost everything. What you can’t walk to, you can get to using the free CAT buses. There are plenty of restaurants in all price categories nearby and we enjoyed our dinner of Mexican takeaway from across the street. If you aren’t up for a taxi fare, bus # 37 will drop you a couple blocks away. The Rottnest Ferry terminal is also only a few blocks away.

1 – Mexican Takeaway
2 – Bus 37 from airport
3 – Rottnest Ferry

The staff were very friendly and happy to show us things like where to catch a CAT bus or how to get to Hertz and the Coles Supermarket so we could stock up for the trip. Rooms are pretty much cookie-cutter Holiday Inn, clean, reliable and free internet for IHG Rewards members.

The one criticism I have is the cost of parking. They offer $20 self-parking nearby or $35 valet under the hotel, both of which I thought were too expensive. The cheapest I could find was the Wilson garage at 517 Hay Street. If you know your rego number (unlikely if you are renting a car) you can book online for $7. Otherwise there is a night rate of $10 if you only park between 1700-0600.

I also have a full guide to using Perth as a gateway city to Western Australia and a guide on how to get to Australia using airline miles.

Lodge Review: Martin’s Simple Lodge, Sinharaja

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Tara

This review is a bit unusual as we didn’t actually stay there. We just made a visit for a mid-morning snack & cold drink and I really wanted to see the property. I was pretty upset to learn that contrary to what a Sri Lankan tour operator (Red Dot) told me, he did have room – more than one room actually.

Martin’s is the closest lodge to Sinharaja Forest Reserve and you can get here with a Central Asian award to Colombo, then taxi or bus to Kudawa. Martin is a very friendly man and although his lodge is indeed simple, you can’t beat the location a few minutes down the road from the entrance.

Sit here and watch the birds fly by!

If they had been selling this t-shirt I would have bought one!

To book this lodge, you really need to call Martin. He speaks English but he doesn’t have email or internet access. His rates are probably the lowest in the area and tour operators prefer to steer you to more expensive accommodations. Call Martin on 045 568 1864.

For me, I think the perfect combination is to spend your time here due to proximity to the reserve except for the last night. Then move to the Rock View Motel for the sweeping views over the valley which bring different birds into the mix. You can also easily catch a bus to Kalawana from in front of the Rock View.

Lodge Review: Rock View Motel, Weddegala (Sinharaja), Sri Lanka

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Tara

It was disappointing to arrive at the Rock View Motel after dark but it was my own fault for taking the wrong bus! Although the map on their website isn’t much better! You can’t book this lodge through any portals so just email them using the contact on their website. Rates are pretty reasonable, Double Half Board – Rs. 8,500.00 and you must pay in cash so be prepared. Reviews are mixed – yes the rooms are basic but the views more than make up for it! If you are there for the birds, you will see plenty from the balcony!

When we finally did arrive, the friendly staff had been wondering where we were and showed us quickly to a corner room with a stunning view over the valley.

We were starving as we had skipped lunch thinking we would arrive in plenty of time. They made us dinner pretty quickly and we arranged for the included breakfast to be packed so we could take it with us to Sinharaja the next morning.

A Red-vented Bulbul kept us company while we waited for the rickshaw.

He arrived a couple minutes later and we were off for a day of exploring Sinharaja National Park.

Lodge Review: Kithulgala Resthouse

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Tara

Sometimes you just have to go with your instincts. With not a lot of time to prepare and research, and a worry of rooms selling out for this beautiful eco-tourism escape from the city of Colombo I had to do a quick look around and book something fast.

Kithulgala Resthouse came up in several searches – Google, Trip Advisor, Booking.com and Agoda. The photos were stunning and reviews were mixed but although some people found the rooms out-dated; all I cared about was the view and the birding! I also loved the historical aspect – it was the location used for filming of The Bridge over the River Kwai and the crew stayed there during filming. Evreward turned up a deal using AAdvantage’s click-thru mall to Booking.com so that sealed my decision.

There really is no need to use Colombo as a gateway. There is only 1 hour of travel time difference between the airport and Kithulgala & the airport and Colombo. Also, you won’t get stuck in traffic on the Kithulgala road. The airport is the big red dot.

I was not to be disappointed. The grounds were gorgeous and I could hear birds as we drove in. The restaurant overlooked the river with more birds flying overhead and it had that historical feel to it.

They have both fan rooms and AC rooms, I had chosen a fan room overlooking the river. Yes, if you are used to Park Hyatts and Sheratons you will probably find the room simple and “dated” but that is exactly what I love in a room – character!

A White-throated Kingfisher was there to greet us!

Laundromat!

Nice patios to sit and watch birds.

It was fun to watch the locals rowing across the river.

A beautiful young wedding couple showed up a bit later.

Watching birds from our patio.

I loved the artwork around the property! Unfortunately, it wasn’t for sale.

The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Since there weren’t many people there they didn’t do a buffet, we ordered off the menu. They cooked from scratch so service was slow by Western standards but I didn’t care as there were plenty of birds to watch from the restaurant balcony, even Layard’s Parakeets! The food was good and they will tone down spiciness for those who don’t care for it. I do wish they had a gift shop though as I really wanted some of that art! We hung around the lodge and birded the grounds the first day, then had the manager book us a guide for the next morning……………but that’s another post! I loved this place and highly recommend it for birders!

Hotel Review: Park Plaza, Bangalore

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Tara

The Park Plaza, Bangalore is a very nice hotel in a very inconvenient location. It looks deceptively near the centre on a Google map, but never underestimate the traffic in Bangalore! It took almost an hour to get there in a taxi from Shanthinagar bus stand at 7pm.

Once you do get there, it’s a beautiful hotel with great facilities and views over the city from the pool. Of course my reason to choose this hotel was to use my Club Carlson points. I have a pretty good stash from promos in prior years and after the devaluation last year I am wary of hoarding hotel points. The only thing I didn’t like was the glass vanity area in the bathrom which could be hazardous if one slipped and fell and happened to grab it. I’m not a fan of glass in bathrooms over all anyways.

The view from our rooms wasn’t so great, the view from the pool side was better.

A standard room here costs 38,000 points and as a Club Carlson Visa holder, I could have had an extra night for free but I choose to spend more time birding instead. Even on a point stay, we got a free breakfast buffet and free internet which I was up to 2am using after being off the grid for almost a week! We did check out the spa hoping for a massage but found it too expensive so relegated ourselves to the sauna in the restrooms which was free to guests.

The location is the main downside to this hotel. There is nothing interesting in the area for tourists. The main landmark that taxis will know (if they don’t know the hotel) is the Innovative Complex cinemas. Luckily I have a friend in Bangalore who came to pick us up and take us to a local wildlife sanctuary, otherwise we would have been bored with the area. I think this hotel probably appeals more to business travelers as there are a lot of companies around here and Bangalore is the techie capital of India.

One other thing to note if you are paying your incidentals with a Club Carlson Visa. The hotel bills as “Charishma Hotels”, not Park Plaza or Carlson Rezidor or anything he system recognizes as triggering the extra points for using the card at a Club Carlson property. I did finally get the points as a manual transaction from Club Carlson. Also be aware that you don’t get points for incidentals on award stays. I am used to IHG where you do get points for incidentals and didn’t look at the T&Cs too closely for this program. I would have gotten some points for the dinner we had in the Indian restaurant if it had been a cash & points stay.

Miles To The Wild

Create unforgettable eco-tourism and birding adventures using miles & points!

Category Archives: Accommodation