Hi,
We are a family of four planning a 2 week vacation in Australia. 3
days Melbourne, 4 days Sydney and 5 days in Cairns.
Do you have any recommendations for family accomodation, service
apartments preferably (around 100 Aus dollars)? Is it tourist season
time -May end-first week of June?
We have two kids one 15 and another 8. Also, do they charge for kids
separately, is breakfast normally included with the rate? Which is the
best way to book and when should we do this?
We will be flying from Melbourne to Sydney to cairns. Please advise.
Regards
Rama

#1. End of May, first week of June is clear of school holidays etc.
#2. $100 per night is available in Cairns; I haven't been to Melbourne or
Sydney in paid accommodation for some time - but it should be OK. The rate
is for the apartment - no extra unless extra bedding is required - which if
you rent a 2 br apartment (unit in Austr English) you would not need!
#3. Breakfast is usually not available in holiday units. They are normally
self catering, tho' some have continental breakfast packs available.
#4. Where to look. Try:
http://www.wotif.com/?country=1


Good Luck!


"Rama" <srama@satyam.net.in> wrote in message
news:b4b8875b.0403030449.19c8b28d@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
> We are a family of four planning a 2 week vacation in Australia. 3
> days Melbourne, 4 days Sydney and 5 days in Cairns.
> Do you have any recommendations for family accomodation, service
> apartments preferably (around 100 Aus dollars)? Is it tourist season
> time -May end-first week of June?
> We have two kids one 15 and another 8. Also, do they charge for kids
> separately, is breakfast normally included with the rate? Which is the
> best way to book and when should we do this?
> We will be flying from Melbourne to Sydney to cairns. Please advise.
> Regards
> Rama

Melbourne - Bayside Easystay; St Kilda beach - Family Room - $101.00
Sydney - Y on Park; Hyde Park City - Budget Quad Room - $124.00
Cairns - Queens Court Motel, City Centre - Family Room - $110.00

This is total prices for the family - does not include breakfast
Budget 2-Bedroom Apartments are normally around the $200.00
Cheaper Motel style places are not right in city centre and not ideal for
short stay

More info see www.honatravel.com / Hotels (book online)


"Rama" <srama@satyam.net.in> wrote in message
news:b4b8875b.0403030449.19c8b28d@posting.google.c om...
> Hi,
> We are a family of four planning a 2 week vacation in Australia. 3
> days Melbourne, 4 days Sydney and 5 days in Cairns.
> Do you have any recommendations for family accomodation, service
> apartments preferably (around 100 Aus dollars)? Is it tourist season
> time -May end-first week of June?
> We have two kids one 15 and another 8. Also, do they charge for kids
> separately, is breakfast normally included with the rate? Which is the
> best way to book and when should we do this?
> We will be flying from Melbourne to Sydney to cairns. Please advise.
> Regards
> Rama

Many thanks to both of you. I did check with "y on the park" for end
may for a family room. They seem to be full. I will try Melbourne and
cairns.
Can any one comment about Jenolan caves? Is it possible to do a day's
trip from Sydney(we have only four days in Sydney) ?
Regards
Rama

"Robin Nash" <ozgolf@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message news:<LVu1c.108$Co3.1330@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au>...
> Melbourne - Bayside Easystay; St Kilda beach - Family Room - $101.00
> Sydney - Y on Park; Hyde Park City - Budget Quad Room - $124.00
> Cairns - Queens Court Motel, City Centre - Family Room - $110.00
>
> This is total prices for the family - does not include breakfast
> Budget 2-Bedroom Apartments are normally around the $200.00
> Cheaper Motel style places are not right in city centre and not ideal for
> short stay
>
> More info see www.honatravel.com / Hotels (book online)
>
>
> "

Rama,

I've been to Jenolan Caves a few times and it's well worth while. There are
quite a few different cave tours to choose from. As far as making it a day
trip, I have just checked out www.travelmate.com.au where they have a very
useful Smart Trip section. It says it's a two and a half hour drive from
Sydney and distance is 165 kilometres. It would be a long day but I think
quite feasible.

Regards,
Karen


"Rama" <srama@satyam.net.in> wrote in message
news:b4b8875b.0403040720.397194a@posting.google.co m...
> Many thanks to both of you. I did check with "y on the park" for end
> may for a family room. They seem to be full. I will try Melbourne and
> cairns.
> Can any one comment about Jenolan caves? Is it possible to do a day's
> trip from Sydney(we have only four days in Sydney) ?
> Regards
> Rama
>
> "Robin Nash" <ozgolf@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:<LVu1c.108$Co3.1330@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au>...
> > Melbourne - Bayside Easystay; St Kilda beach - Family Room - $101.00
> > Sydney - Y on Park; Hyde Park City - Budget Quad Room - $124.00
> > Cairns - Queens Court Motel, City Centre - Family Room - $110.00
> >
> > This is total prices for the family - does not include breakfast
> > Budget 2-Bedroom Apartments are normally around the $200.00
> > Cheaper Motel style places are not right in city centre and not ideal
for
> > short stay
> >
> > More info see www.honatravel.com / Hotels (book online)
> >
> >
> > "

in article b4b8875b.0403040720.397194a@posting.google.com, Rama at
> Can any one comment about Jenolan caves? Is it possible to do a day's
> trip from Sydney(we have only four days in Sydney) ?
> Regards

Yes - a hint, get there early before the masses arrive. The road from the
turnoff to the caves themselves is very narrow and has a number of hairpin
turns, and the tour busses and other large vehicles make it a bit of a drama
to drive.

in article 404761a4$0$212$fa0fcedb@lovejoy.zen.co.uk, Karen Foster at none
wrote on 3/4/04 1:04 PM:

> Rama,
>
> I've been to Jenolan Caves a few times and it's well worth while. There are
> quite a few different cave tours to choose from. As far as making it a day
> trip, I have just checked out www.travelmate.com.au where they have a very
> useful Smart Trip section. It says it's a two and a half hour drive from
> Sydney and distance is 165 kilometres. It would be a long day but I think
> quite feasible.
>
> Regards,
> Karen

Yes - avoid the flow of traffic during the SYD rush hour. I vividly recall
driving into Sydney from the Blue Mountains on a Friday afternoon - we had
clear sailing but the bumper-to-bumper OUT of the city stretched for miles.

Better than a long day trip - spend overnight in Katoomba or Leura. Very
pretty towns and well worth a poke around.

Rama, Jenolan caves are 2.5-3 hrs by car from Sydney. A day trip
should be possible but not ideal. AAT Kings do day trips from Sydney
to the caves. The caves are seen by guided tour only so you'll have to
time your arrival/departure according to the tour schedule. See:
http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/main.html

We drove to Jenolan Caves a couple of years ago, stayed overnight.
They are indeed very impressive. Some lovely scenery on the drive out
there - it would well worth your while stopping for a quick look at
the Govet's Leap Lookout near Blackheath. Sublime Point and the Three
Sisters in Katoomba are beautiful too, but that area's a bit too
touristy for my liking.

Ralph R, CT, USA



srama@satyam.net.in (Rama) wrote in message news:<b4b8875b.0403040720.397194a@posting.google.c om>...
> Many thanks to both of you. I did check with "y on the park" for end
> may for a family room. They seem to be full. I will try Melbourne and
> cairns.
> Can any one comment about Jenolan caves? Is it possible to do a day's
> trip from Sydney(we have only four days in Sydney) ?
> Regards
> Rama