Wednesday, 22 July 2015

How A Tourist Can Stretch His Cash When Visiting Brisbane

When visiting Brisbane, Queensland, careful planning is necessary to make the most out of the trip.

Trips become memorable because of the unusual experiences. And these truly memorable experiences are usually just a handful per trip. Therefore, it would be wise to stretch one's money by finding good deals on the basics that are vital but do not need to be extravagant.

Typically, airfare and accommodation costs eat up most of the travel budget. Saving on these two necessary expenses will not drastically affect the overall experience of the trip. The extra cash saved can then be poured to the funds for other parts of the trip like: a taste of curds and whey ice cream, scotch egg, tickets to the Queensland Museum, and whatever the tourist likes to try.

Airlines regularly offer good deals during the off-peak season, between November and March. But it's the off-peak season for a reason. The confusing mix of intense heat and pouring rain could ruin an otherwise pleasant vacation. If the tourist is willing to gamble facing uncooperative weather, then he can go ahead and enjoy immense savings.

But even during semi-peak season, there will still be opportunities to save bundles on airfare. By booking several months ahead of one's scheduled flight, odds are in favor of the “early bird”. Plus he and his companions get to pick the seats!

Then there's the cost of staying in Brisbane. Practical travellers tend to prefer staying in motels near Brisbane Airport. The first benefit is the short travel time after coming out of the airport. Right after getting their luggage, they could get a cab and check into their motel rooms in a few minutes, rest for a bit, then they're ready for action!

Types of accommodation Brisbane Airport passengers look for vary from low-cost to luxurious, and Brisbane has both, and everything in between.

Expectedly, staying in motels near Brisbane Airport would cost less than staying in hotels. If the traveller won't stay in the room for long periods of his waking hours anyway, he won't need a fancy and expensive place just to sleep and take a shower.

With the numerous options available, all the tourist needs to do is select based on price. They say that one gets what he pays for. To a certain extent, that's true. So to help with the selection process, the tourist can check out the various hotel and motel review sites. He can look for the “bad reviews”, find out what the ranters are complaining about. If he can accept the shortcomings, for example, “I'm 6 feet 7 inches tall. I requested for bigger towels and they didn't have any. I hate it!”, then he can book a room at that motel knowing that he doesn't need a large towel anyway.

Other than ample accommodation Brisbane Airport has surrounding it, smart entrepreneurs positioned their businesses near the area to cater to the large potential market. This means practically everything the traveller needs is available within the area. How convenient!

There's so much to explore in Brisbane... and so much to spend on! There's no need to spend too much on airfare and accommodation. At the minimum, planning on these two could expand one's travel budget while he's in Brisbane.

A Quick Guide to Brisbane

Considered to be Australia’s third largest city, Brisbane is home to such tourist attractions as the Brisbane River, the Brisbane Powerhouse, the South Bank, the Cultural Centre, and the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, to name a few. That being the case, a vacation to Brisbane would mean a generally busy day, every single time.

First thing’s first. If you want to enjoy everything that the city has to offer, you need to make sure that you have book yourself in any of the hotels Brisbane airport is near to. This would save you time when you need to head home, and is also quite practical as it allows you to take a rest immediately upon landing.

Now, the city makes use of a grid system so getting around should not be much of a problem. You have to keep in mind, however, that bars and restaurants tend to get filled up easily, especially if it is a Friday. Having said that, make sure that you make a reservation before the clock hits 4:00 pm.

Talking a walk down the streets would mean knowing which areas are designated for cyclists and which lanes are made for walkers. Most locals tend to be quite serious when it comes to their exercise regimen so it can be quite common to see runners, walkers, and cyclists any time of the day.

Since Brisbane is part of Australia, it comes as no surprise that it is also home to some of the deadliest and largest spiders and reptiles. Make sure that you dress appropriately especially if you are going hiking.

Airport Motels as Best Option for Budget Travelers

Whoever said that you have to be able to shell out hundreds and even thousands of dollars in order to have a clean and comfortable room to stay the night definitely has not heard of Brisbane airport motels.Not many people may know it but the motels in this area are generally quite clean. The rooms are big enough to be comfortable and the service is superb. You can get all of these amenities and service in a price that is just right for you.

In the past, motels are known for being affordable accommodation option for motorists that is why they are situated along the road. This is also where the term “motel” came from because it was known then as motorist hotel. Due to advancement in technology, airplanes are now more convenient and less expensive. For this reason, people are now opting to fly to their destination instead of having a long ride. Of course if the trip is out of the country, you have no option but to take the plane. When you arrive at your destination, the best option for a budget traveler like you is to book in a motel near Brisbane airport.

Brisbane airport motels have all the basic service and amenities that a high-end hotel have. They have room accommodations of your liking. You have the option of a single bed, double beds or queen size, depending on your needs. Some motels also offer meals at less the price of that in a regular hotel. In a motel near Brisbane airport, the rooms are also equipped with their own toilet and bath. Inside the rooms, you have your basic convenience such as a telephone, writing desk and television. Some motels even have gym facilities and swimming pool as added service for their guests.

The main perk of staying in an airport motel is that it is located just a stone throw away from the airport. This means that not only will you be able to spend less on your accommodation; you can also spend very little to nothing at all when it comes to your airport transfer. You can literally walk from the airport going to your airport hotel. If the motel is several blocks away from the airport and walking is not an option due to road blocks or due to bad weather, the fare on your cab or your car for hire is significantly less compare to having to drive all the way to your motel in the main city.

Before you decide on which airport motel to stay in, it is important to do a little bit of research. Go online and check the website of the motels of your choice. Look at the picture of the rooms, the lobby and all the extra amenities. Take a look also at guest feedbacks. It is vital to take time and read the feedbacks so you know how well the service of the motel is. If there is a page for the promos, it will be wise to inspect it as well. They may be offering discounts allowing you to save a few bucks more.

Airport Hotel: A Must for Business Travelers


When you are on a business trip, it is not all glitz and glamour. Business trips are not the time to meet new friends, go out with new ones, mingle with the locals or even go sightseeing. More often than not, during a business trip would mean you only get to see three places: the airport, the meeting place and the hotel. After this, you go back home and report to the office the following business day. There really is no downtime when you are a business trip as you need to make every penny spend by the company count.

When you have to fly to another destination and you only have a little time to do your business meetings, you definitely have to book your stay on a Brisbane airport hotel or a Brisbane airport motel, whatever suits your budget and preference. The number one advantage of an airport hotel is that it is located just beside or just a few walks away from the airport. You do not have to wait for a cab or hire a car in order to go to your hotel upon arrival and rush to the airport when it is time to leave. Not only does this mean less cost for the company, it also means more time on your hand. Other Brisbane airport hotel is a few blocks away from the airport but the airport transfer is often times part of the service so you do not need to worry about that.

Traffic can be unpredictable no matter what state or country you are in. If you are booked in a Brisbane airport motel, you do not have to worry about being late on your flight back home. A few more hours of sleep should also be a piece of cake because the airport is just your next door neighbor. After your business meeting, you might just be able to squeeze in a few drinks to cap the night and check out the local scene because you do not have to hurry the next day for your flight.

You might be thinking that because of the convenience and the advantages of booking in an airport hotel that this type of accommodation may be hard on the budget. This is where you got it wrong. The price of airport hotels is now more competitive. You can get a one star accommodation up to a five star hotel accommodation if you want. It will all depend on your budget, or the budget that is given to you by your company.

You can ask your travel agency regarding the best Brisbane airport hotel you would like to book in. If you want to do a little bit more research on the amenities and the rooms of the Brisbane airport motel you are eyeing, then you can always check out their website. Aside from browsing the website of the hotel, there are other hotel reservations sites you should check out in order to compare rates and promos. There are even other reservations sites that lets you accumulate points, which you can use on your next reservation.

A Day in Brisbane

Traveling to Brisbane is one good way to wind down from the usual hustle and bustle of the city life. This is only possible, however, if you were able to plan everything ahead of time. One important area that you would need to pay particular attention to would be where you would be staying.

While it can be quite tempting to just jump at the first airport hotel that comes your way, this might not be the best idea especially if you want to really enjoy your vacation. That being the case, you need to make sure that you consider a number of things even if you are only choosing among different Brisbane airport hotels.

1.    Rating

In today’s world, it can be quite easy to rig one’s online rating. This does not, however, mean that you should not take it into consideration. In most cases, a good airport hotel would have lots of reviews, majority of which are 4 stars and above. Those are the kinds of hotel that you should be gunning for,

2.    Location

Although, as the name suggests, most airport hotels are located within the vicinity of the airport, there are also those that can be found a few miles away. While the former allows you to get to the airport fast, the latter gives you access to a wider range of restaurants and tourist spots.

3.    Parking


This is particularly important if you would be making use of a car rental. While most hotels provide a parking space, some do not have enough for all the guests in the hotel. When this happens, you need to make sure that there are available parking spaces nearby.

How to Choose the Best Airport Hotel

As in any type of decision making process, you should choose the option that is suitable to your needs and your preference. This is also the case in finding the best airport hotel Brisbanehas.

First off, you should decide what type of hotel or motel grade you can afford. Now, the emphasis here is on afford and not the hotel grade that you want for obvious reason. Everybody wants a five star hotel. However, not everybody can afford or not every company will give you the budget to stay in a luxury hotel, if the travel is for business and paid by the company. Once you know your budget, then you can narrow down your options.

Do you want to have breakfast at the hotel or are you going out in the morning for a meeting or to meet someone or just to check out the local breakfast nook? Decide this matter so you know if you are availing of the hotel breakfast or not. If the airport hotel Brisbane has of your choice already has complimentary breakfast, then it is a win-win situation. Decide also if you will be needing meals in the hotel ahead of time for some airport motel Brisbane has gives discounts if you check-in and dine in their establishment.
Check the airport hotels and motels in the area of your destination and inquire about their airport transfer fees. Some hotels already add this as a bonus to their service while others charge a minimal fee. Of course nothing beats a free ride. If the ride is free, make sure you check their transfer schedule so as not to miss your flight.

A big factor when it comes to choosing an airport hotel is when you are traveling with children. When you travel with adults, everybody can take care of themselves so you just have to worry about yourself. When you travel with kids, on the other hand, you better make sure that things are in order so there will be fewer tantrums. Check the airport hotel of your choice if the kids can sleep in the room for free or if not, how much is the additional charge? Do kids eat for free or are they charged 50% less the normal rate?
If you are travelling with the whole family or with a bunch of friends, get an airport hotel that fits your rooming needs. There are airport hotels and motels that can accommodate 5 to 7 people at a time. Also, make sure that the airport transfer you get will be able to accommodate everybody. Get two to three cars if you are in a big group. Better yet, hire a coaster.

Before you book your airport hotel, check out first their website. Look into the photos so you know what to expect when it comes to their rooms and their amenities. There are also online sites that give feedbacks on these hotels. Browse on the feedbacks so you know how well the airport hotel was received by past clients.

Tipping Tips for Frequent Flyers

One of the most common problems frequent travelers have to deal with is figuring out who to tip and how much tip to give. If you are one of them, you might want to keep in mind a few things. For example, if you are going on a cruise, you should expect the tip to be automatically added to your bill. This tends to be the common practice for Caribbean cruises. There are some cruises, however, where you would be given a guide on how much tip you can give to staff you had direct contact with. Having said that, make sure that you check first with the cruise line what their policy is when it comes to tipping.

Now, while the common practice in most countries to give about 15% of the total bill when you eat out as your tip, this is not always the case. In Denmark and New Zealand, for example, tipping is not expected. In Norway, on the other hand, the tip typically comes in the form of the service charge. This service charge is usually divided among the staff equally.

No matter if you are staying in an airport hotel Brisbane has, or you are booked in a 5-star one, you would soon learn that tipping bell boys can become quite complicated. While some people would think that you should tip everyone you come in contact with when you check in, the most practical way is to just tip the one who brought your bags to your room.

Lastly, the van drivers. If you are using the service of car rentals in order to get from and to your hotel from and to the airport, you can opt to give tip when you reach your destination. There’s not exact amount on this one although most people would give no more two dollars.

Enjoying Brisbane With Your Family

Enjoying your vacation in Brisbane is not that hard to do especially if you are traveling by yourself. It, however, becomes a different story if you would be bringing your family with you. That being the case, your best move would be to ensure that you have everything planned form the get-go.

1.    How to Get There


Traveling by air can be quite different from traveling on land. If you would be flying, you need to make sure that the airline has something to keep your kids occupied no matter how long the flight might be. You might also need to make sure that your kids are bundled up nicely so that they do not become uncomfortable during the flight. Now, if you would be traveling via land, you need to make sure that you have a few stopovers every now and then, especially if it is a long drive. This would allow for potty breaks as well as a few hours of nap not just for the little ones but for you as well.

2.    Where to Stay


If you are after reaching the airport in the least amount of time, getting an accommodation near Brisbane Airport should be your primary goal.  Of course, you also need to make sure that the accommodation you would be getting has the right facilities for children.

3.    Your Itinerary

Make sure that you already have a plan of how you and your family are going to spend the day. Map out which places you would be going to first, where you would be eating, and how you would travel from point A to point B. Keep in mind that your children could become bored easily so target those places where they could participate in the activities.