By Don Nadeau, on June 9, 2009, in Travel
If visiting Sydney—and I believe that you should definitely visit Sydney this year with airfares so low and with such a favorable U.S. dollar exchange rate—seriously consider buying a Sydney Pass.
With the Sydney Pass, you can explore all of the main sightseeing attractions of Sydney in a convenient way.
The pass includes
• All Sydney buses, including routes to as far away as Palm Beach, one of the nicest in Australia
• CityRail trains within Sydney and its close in suburbs
• All Sydney Harbour ferry services to reach places like famed Manley Beach
• Airport Link roundtrip rail transfers to and from either the main domestic or the international terminal of Sydney Airport. Your transfer from the airport to a CityRail station in the city center or Kings Cross can take place prior to starting the validity of your pass. The return transfer from one of these same stations can happen anytime within two months from the date you first use your pass.
Perhaps best of all, your Sydney Pass includes unlimited rides on Sydney Explorer and Bondi Explorer tour buses. These offer a hop on, hop off service between all major Sydney attractions, with commentary. On the Bondi ones, you'll travel along some of Sydney’s most scenic shoreline.
With your pass, you won’t have to worry about having correct change and you’ll have access to express buses that do not take cash.
Moreover, you need not have a frenzy of activity to make the pass worthwhile. You can buy 3-, 5-, or 7-day versions valid anytime within an 8-day period (not counting the longer validity of the airport transfers).
There are adult, children, and family (two adults plus any number of kids from same family) passes available.
Check current prices in Australian dollars. You can buy upon arrival at the airport or at other locations around Sydney.
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By Don Nadeau, on June 6, 2009, in Hotel Tips, Travel
President Obama's implication that you can't have a serious business conference in places like Las Vegas and Orlando has severely hurt Las Vegas convention business. This has caused meetings to be moved to other cities, often significantly more expensive ones, because CEOs want to avoid potential criticism.
These cancellations mean that Las Vegas first class and deluxe hotels--especially those near the convention center such as the Las Vegas Hilton--are hurting for business. That means incrediable potential values for you.
Actually, the number of visitors to Las Vegas remains rather stable per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, with fewer arriving by air but more by car, yet without the convention business, the prices they are paying are incredibly low.
Using a link like
Last-Minute Hotel Deals at Expedia.com, check weeknight prices at the Las Vegas Hilton and others. Last I checked, $39 plus tax per night for the Hilton--and this is not even a "name your own price" rate.
The Convention Center area puts you close to most Las Vegas attractions and has two stations on the monorail at the Convention Center and at the Las Vegas Hilton.
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By Don Nadeau, on June 6, 2009, in Hotel Tips, Travel
Merely choosing a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is not sufficient. How much you enjoy your time in Las Vegas may depend heavily on exactly where you position yourself on the Strip.
The Strip varies greatly by location.
If you’re “naming your own price” for a 4- or 5-star hotel in either the north or south Strip areas, you’ll be in a good location. However, if you’re bidding on a lower-star hotel, you’re more likely be satisfied with what you win on the South Strip.
Generally, the blocks between Steve Wynn’s Encore and the Mandalay Bay are considered best. The Encore and Wynn Las Vegas, both great hotels, banked on the area north of these to be quickly redeveloped, which hasn’t happened.
Walking between the Encore and the venerable Sahara Hotel and Casino may make some feel uncomfortable especially at night. Much of this area has been cleared for condo and other projects halted by the economic downturn, but what remains is often quite seedy.
Hotels in this “no person land” include the Circus Circus, Riviera Hotel Casino, and Hilton Grand Vacations, not to be confused with the Las Vegas Hilton. The aptly named Stratosphere, just north of these, exists among seediness, but the crowds that jam the Strip around it bring comfort.
The Sahara, where Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack once partied, transcends its location by having a direct connection to the Las Vegas Monorail. Its retro vibe and usually cheap rates bring repeat business, in spite of its seen better days rooms.
The Strip isn’t your only choice. Off-Strip places like the Hard Rock and Palms (one of my favorites) pull in the party hardy, and the Green Valley Resort offers some of the best rooms I’ve seen in Las Vegas and presents these at a moderate price.
Use this link to find
Las Vegas hotel neighborhoods discussed in detail.
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By Don Nadeau, on June 5, 2009, in Travel
Was thrilled to visit Santa Barbara once again several days ago.
In spite of fires, Santa Barbara remains, without question in my opinion, the most beautiful large city in California—and one of the most enjoyable to experience in the United States.
Although the Jesusita fire during May, one of many to hit California, destroyed some 80 homes plus other structures, burnt 8,733 acres in the mountains directly in back of Santa Barbara, and swept down canyons into the upper reaches of the city itself, the many signs posted in yards and on businesses thanking firefighters are the sole indictors of the fire that you will probably notice.
The one exception is the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, which was severely impacted by the fire. Its main section remains open and undamaged (with the cacti all in bloom), but you’re surrounded by burnt vegetation and the strong smell of a recent fire. It’s frankly heartbreaking.
Happily, most of the trees in the garden that lost their leaves due to heat are expected to survive. Because this garden features plants native to California, much other vegetation is also expected to snap back quickly. Heavy rains that create flash floods next winter are the main threat now.
Otherwise, Santa Barbara remains Santa Barbara. Its beaches, its wonderful Mediterranean-style downtown, the mission area, and flowers and trees seemingly everywhere in bloom are all exactly as they were before.
Once again on this trip, I drove most of Santa Barbara’s famed marked scenic drive along the beaches and through the city’s beautiful residential areas. Except for one section perhaps closed for fire restoration, this drive too is as before.
How was Santa Barbara before? Absolutely awesome!
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By Don Nadeau, on May 21, 2009, in Travel
You’ll get awesome advice from the
Lonely Planet Sydney City Guide in part because of the great urban walks it suggests.
Exploring the historic predominately residential neighborhoods of Erskineville, Glebe, and Newtown in Sydney last December was especially enjoyable. These are off the usual tourist circuit, but provide a fascinating glimpse into Australian lives.
Newtown, one of the most vibrant urban neighborhoods imaginable, in particular caught my attention.
Made fun of by a few Sydney residents in the way some Americans make fun of Californians, Newtown delivers a rich urban experience in a way Venice Beach does in Los Angeles. By this, I do not mean that Newtown's appearance will remind you of Venice Beach, just that its residents live and think differently from the norm.
Imagine a somewhat multicultural neighborhood populated by interesting and lively mostly younger people just back from a G8 Summit protest and you have Newtown.
Walking along Newtown’s King Street shopping district, I found just one store vacant, in contrast to many Sydney neighborhoods impacted by malls. “Big box” stores may not be welcome in Newtown, but small box ones are doing fine. People walk in Newtown, and King Street was jammed.
Newtown’s shopping and dining choices are phenomenal. Its restaurants must serve as a focal point for Sydney’s vegans and vegetarian community.
The Lonely Planet route takes you through one of Australia’s most historic cemeteries filled with graves of the British who first settled here.
You’ll also pass though the University of Sydney campus and Victoria Park, which has an attractive outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool. In good weather, you may want to be prepared for this. The campus has some attractive areas, but several of its buildings, such as its chemistry one, are the least appealing university structures I’ve ever seen.
The Glebe is also interesting and a bit more upscale than the others.
You can easily access this Lonely Planet walk via Sydney CityRail’s Erskineville Station. Check
CityRail schedules, as its service to Erskineville is not as frequent as expected this close to the city center.
At the end of your walk in the Glebe, hop on any bus that says “Railway Square,” a major bus hub adjacent to CityRail’s Central Station hub, or other downtown destination. Buses run frequently toward Railway Square and the center city.
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By Don Nadeau, on May 21, 2009, in Travel
There is much to like about Sydney, but best of all is its natural setting, which makes walking within the city a joy.
The most spectacular hike within Sydney takes you from Bondi Beach southward along the rugged coast. Being on the Sydney Explorer “on and off” tour bus route, as well as on regular city bus routes, this walk is also one of the most convenient to access.
Unlike the Sydney Harbour walk described earlier, the surf is very rough here, which creates wonderful photo opportunities.
Start your walk at Bondi Beach, Australia’s most famous. Go around the swimming pool at its south end, and then take the paved walkway next to the mostly rugged shoreline. This should be a fairly easy walk for most fitness levels. Lonely Planet's Sydney City Guide describes the walk in detail.
At the halfway point, Bronte Beach, or at the end of the walk at Coogee Beach, you can access the Sydney Explorer or regular city buses to reach the city center.
On the other hand, you may wish to hike back to Bondi. The views are worth it.
In contrast to Bondi with all its tourists, pleasant Coogee Beach is “in” with seemingly locals only. I enjoyed its atmosphere very much and returned several times.
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By Don Nadeau, on May 17, 2009, in Airfares, Travel
Couples flying off on their honeymoons have often faced the hassle of the lady's last name on the reservation not matching the last name still on her government-issued photo id.
Effective immediately, we all will have to be more careful about the names we use. TSR airport security now requires us to use the full name on our government id for airline reservations. That means the exact first name (Judith not Judy) and FULL middle name, as well as the same last name.
Then effective August 15, 2009, we will also need to give our date of birth and gender when making air reservations. These changes stem from recommendations by the 9/11 Commission.
For more information, see
TSA’s Secure Flight Enters First Public Phase
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By Don Nadeau, on May 15, 2009, in Airfares, Travel
Subject to final government approvals, Lufthansa Airlines becomes the new owner of Austrian Airlines.
Austrian has been a feisty little airline that served places other airlines did not wish to go--in some cases perhaps feared to go--such as the Kurd area of northern Iraq.
We're sorry to see airlines like Austrian lose their independence, but its competitive position was too very difficult.
An airline like KLM can thrive in a small country like the Netherlands by booking connections, but Austrian's Vienna hub involved too much backtracking to countries in the western portion of Europe for this strategy to be successful.
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By Don Nadeau, on May 14, 2009, in Travel
Got off my bum and totally enjoyed three Lonely Planet
Sydney City Guide
walks last year.
Exhilarating and wildly uplifting are too mild to describe the four-hour (at a normal pace) North Shore walk. This takes you along a stunningly beautiful portion of Sydney Harbor.
Only between Chowder Bay and Balmoral Park are you out of sight of the harbor for more than a few moments. Much of the time, you’ll walk through parks and even a national park along the shore.
The walk starts with a ferry from Circular Quay near the Opera House to the nature reserve at Cremorne Point and ends up at a little gem of a beach at Balmoral Park. From Balmoral, there’s bus service to the Taronga Zoo ferry landing, with connecting ferry service to Circular Quay.
Don’t forget sun block! In order not to be dependant on tea and snack places being open, bring lots of water. On warm days, you’ll also want swimming gear for the many coves along the way.
You need not do the entire walk in one day. You can easily break it by using the ferry to and from Taronga Zoo.
Most of the path is fairly flat, but there are a few steep spots. Unfortunately, portions are not suitable for the physically challenged. The four hours I needed for the walk did not include the ferry and bus time needed to access it.
I highly recommend this walk.
Next: The Bondi Beach to Coogee walk.
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By Don Nadeau, on May 11, 2009, in Priceline General
On May 11, 2009, Priceline reported another great financial quarter, in spite (or likely in part because of) the current recession. This "Name your own price" outlet may be benefiting greatly from consumers placing increased emphasis on spending wisely.
Profits were up 43% from a year ago, well above Wall Street estimates, in part because of a hefty boost in European and U.S. travel bookings. Sales rose 14.6%.
For 10 straight quarters, Priceline has exceeded financial firm profit estimates by at least 10 cents a share.
Moreover, a weak travel environment actually helps Priceline in another way. With more hotel rooms and rental cars available at rock bottom prices, a greater percentage of "Name your own price" bids get accepted.
Priceline proves that you can make money with bargain prices, in spite of unstable energy prices and a weak economy.
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