Hotel Realm, Canberra Australia

Hotel Realm, Canberra Australia
Located in Barton 5 minutes from Canberra's CBD
Stayed 2 nights in January 2008.

Recommendation: STAY AWAY.
Best part of Stay: Going Home.


At the moment this hotel is self rated 5 star and basically this is a joke. Yes the rooms are new, but the hotel is very clinical and the rooms sparsely furnished with furniture that looks cheap and had the comfort of spending the night camping on grass. We stayed on the executive floor and this was a disappointment, the standard room did not even have a bath, the air conditioning was inconsistent and blew hard (even on the lowest setting) on your face all night, the TV picture didn't even fit on the screen, there was no place to eat, the health club closed at 5pm on a weekend and was not even part of the hotel (if your not on the executive floor you have to pay extra to use it), the room service menu was small and the food poorly cooked, the in room movie selection was hard to use and did not contain most of the latest movies, there we no porters to collect bags arrival and our newspaper did not arrive. On top of all of this the staff (except for one lovely bar staff member) were insincere, unhelpful and at times completely rude. Our room was not even cleaned by 5pm at night.

We were able to secure an upgrade to a suite on level 5 in this completely empty hotel (after complaints from our first night stay), but our experience here was no better - the upgrade was not even offered. Paint was left splattered on the bathroom floor, tiles showed marks remaining from construction, sliding doors to the balcony were not cleaned properly, the bed once again uncomfortable and our breakfast order was incomplete.

Overall, I would not recommend staying at this hotel to anyone as it does not compare to any 5 or 4 star hotels that I've stayed in Sydney and Melbourne.

Disneyland Anaheim California with Young Kids

Disneyland resort, Anaheim California USA
3 day Park hopper pass October 2007

Recommendation: Brilliant would go there again
Best Part: The fun our 4 year old and 2 year old girls had


Before leaving we were nervous about how our 2 year old and 4 year old would go at Disneyland resort, particularly aftera 13 hours flight from Australia . But to our surprise they loved it, the long hot days and continuous lines also did not seem to bother them as they knew another ride was near. Our 4 year old is tall for her age and was allowed to ride Splash Mountain, the Rapids and California Soarin (at California Adventure Land). She had a fantastic time.

Our 2 year old loved riding Dumbo, the Pan Ride, the finding Nemo ride and even the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

We were impressed with the amount of fruit available within the park and would not hesitate in taking young kids to the park again.

You hear about stories of people dragging their kids around the park, hiring prams and basically struggling. But there was so much for them to do that they forgot about being cranky and we simply spent the money to hire a Disney Pram. This was even true for when arrived at 10:00am an left at 10:00pm - nap time was a thing of the past. What a place - dreams do come true.

Small recommendation though, if you have the choice making the trip to Disney World in Orlando Florida is a better option than spending time in Anaheim.

Orlando, USA - A conference delegates view

Breakfast - Hilton Grand Vactions Club Sea World (Waffles)
Lunch - Chili's Grill & Bar (Buffalo Chicken Wings & Chili's cheesesteak sandwich)
Dinner - California Pizza Kitchen, Mall at Millenia Orlando (Mango Tandoori chicken Pizza)

Places Visited - Kenedy Space Centre Visitors Centre
Cocoa beach
Ron Jon's surf Short, Cocoa Beach
Chili's Bar & Grill, Palm Bay
Sam's Club
Walmart
Mall at Millenia



The Orlando area in Florida USA is known throughout the US as a holiday destination. There's the Disney world complex, or should I call it the Disney world city, Disney world and oh yeah Disney world. But seriously, there is the wonders of the worlds largest McDonald's, Kennedy Space Centre, Sea World and crazy buildings falling over along International drive. If its a tourist attraction - without the gambling it's in the Orlando Area.



Day 0

Finally the American Airlines flight of wonder touches down at Orlando International Airport, the 20 hours of joy has been completed. The time 12am been up since who really knows, Melbourne, LA, Dallas, Orlando - all with there own time...is it really 12am...where am I...oh yes waiting to board a train...wasn't I at an airport...oh right, now I know...this train takes me to the main terminal where I'm finally reunited with my bags...no more security checks, it's all over. We are met by our friend who had managed to keep himself awake and was eager to drive us to our hotel...but first our itinerary...it's all been planned. Day 1 - Kennedy Space Centre, Day 2 - Disney, Day 3 - Conference (there is a serious side to this paid trip), Day 4 - Conference (yet again), Day 5 - Conference (last day), Day 6 - Disney, Day 7 - Nothing (wow a break).

After that in depth discussion, with the trip planned..oh we're driving in an all American V8 truck..we arrive at our hotel..it's like 1:30 am Orlando time now...where's that bed.

Problem, the hotel 'Hilton Vacations Club, Sea World' doesn't have our reservation...2 people, 2 rooms...the travel agent said it was booked...mental note, never trust a travel agent...anyway after about half an hour, the reservation staff find us two rooms...in a so called booked out hotel..and we're off.

Time to prepare myself for day 1...woke up feeling fantastic..time for a shower...oh what is that smell...it's the water...wow how can water smell so bad, will it clean me...well time to find out, apparently it is normal for water in Orlando to small bad.

I venture out of the room...or should it be stumble out of my room to breakfast...pool side. The setting is fantastic..huge swimming pools and waterfalls..now for my first taste of American food...breakfast....remember a scene from Shrek..'I'm having waffles!!!' comes to mind..so that's what I order...oh and a Starbucks coffee..does anyone else make coffee in the US, at this stage I think not.

Breakfast arrives..two huge waffles covered in syrup and surrounded by crispy, over cooked looking bacon..I did in..oh this tastes, well disgusting...I only manage to force down less than half of my classic American breakfast...what a start to the trip.. Mental note, where's the supermarket I'm sticking to cereal for the rest of the trip!!!!

Breakfast was followed by a drive out to Cape Canaveral..but first a stop a Sam's Club for some water...hmm Sam's club what is it??? For those not in the now Sam's club is essentially a bulk buy Wal Mart (well actually it is owned by Walmart) - we managed to pickup 48 bottles of water each for next to nothing...now that was fun...life how American see it..mind you a lot is explained by the fact you can buy what looks like hundreds of bagels in one go or the size of the hot dog trays...wow!!! Seeing the size of the breakfast cereals we'll wait to an expedition to Wal Mart..hey this is exciting, all these classic American brands and I get to see them....don't laugh supermarket shopping can be fun...really....

Travelling down the Bee line expressway, wow the Florida road builders really know how to build an expressway...this road is straight..no wonder everyone has a big engine in their car...any way we finally arrive at Cape Canaveral, what this it's 1:30pm...with all that driving I'm hungry and we've just about missed the last bus..oh well we grab our tickets for next week end and head out in search of a feed...Hmm food..Still driving...hmm food...still driving...there really is not much to look out around here...hmm food..still driving...ah our driver has found it a Chill's Bar & Grill in Palm Beach...anything will do really..We settle down for some Buffalo wings and I order the Chili's cheese steak sandwich (without the cheese). Basically the wings were so bad I had to stop eating after one bite...Americans actually like this stuff...hmmm, explains allot....The sandwich without the oozing cheese was well boring...tasted like some pieces of steak BBQ and thrown into a bread roll that was a couple days old...oh well, American food is pleasing...

We head back to Orlando, via Ron Jon's Surf shop at Cocoa beach, this place is massive and the product range was spectacular..I pick up a large beach blanket and leave it at that, if I didn't have to travel back to Australia more would have been purchased. Now it's back to Orlando..Well except for a photo op at Cocoa Beach...The beach was ordinary, well compared
Australian standards (no bias)...it was small.

Now back in Orlando, we head to Wal Mart..the American retailing icon awaits us...remembering the breakfast from hell, I spend ages making sure the breakfast is right. This place is amazing all the food you can thing of, clothes, pharmacy and oh yeh a McDonalds, all under one roof...wow we do miss out in Australia!!! Next stop my hotel where we unload and ready ourselves for Mall @ Millenia and dinner...


Stay tuned for part 2 of my adventures in Orlando

The American Airlines Experience

As one does from down here in Australia, you receive your American Airlines ticket.....and keep your fingers crossed....After a 14 hour flight from Melbourne Australia to Los Angeles' LAX airport, what better thing could I do but board a plane that would squeeze me in like a sardine for a flight to Dallas and then onto Orlando Florida...I had just experienced first class...now economy class beckons...back to the real world.

I had a layover for what seemed like an eternity...Time for some LA sight seeing...oh no, my plan from Australia was 2.5hrs late into LA...my sight seeing now comprised of tour around LAXs perimeter and onto a Starbucks for some real coffee...We'll Starbucks would have me think so...Is Starbucks Coffee real coffee...Hmm a question for another day.

Back to the flight...it's now boarding...oh I did manage to consume a sandwich from Starbucks and a bottle of water while I waited...cost me like $12, I thought the USA had cheap food..American airlines terminal at LAX was definitely on the cheap side...is it because they are bankrupt...do they still maintain the planes???? Well that was about to be answered for me...hmmmm...."Ladies and Gentlemen" thank you for allowing us to practically throw you to this 757-200 this afternoon, now it's time to get off...our radio has become unusable and we cannot fly - please recheck in onto the new plane we will find you"...Ahhh they really don't maintain these planes...

On the positive side, I don't need to get through security again...Yahh, my boarding pass had the dreaded 'SSSS' imprint...Security Search Silly Sausage - is that what it means...could be something else.....If you are luck enough to receive the 'SSSS' t means you will be scanned 4 times, your bag, your shoes, your body...yes another pat down...I'm becoming an expert at this....your belongings...anything that can contain traces of explosives....

Back to the flights a new plane arrived 2hrs later...They towed it from the other side....I also managed to consume another bottle of water...$3 down the drain...This plane takes off...I was told to expect a night on American Airlines in Dallas as my connection to Orlando was long gone...Ah travel in America has started well....Plane lands...I must admit the in flight entertainment product - oh and the service were fantastic!!!! Not...Do they have customer service training??? Or are the crew given training on how to be rude and throw the precious can of coke at you????

Finally...Decent into Dallas it's now about 8pm...I'm starving and looking forward to a night in Dallas...But wait we need to get booked in...Where do I go....There is a train running up on the second floor...do I take that...Oh no I get to exit out of security and visit the check in counter....here we go again...Ahh there is another flight to Orlando...I'm met by someone friendly...I'm booked on to a flight leaving in 45 minutes to Orlando...Yes tonight...Time for some dinner...No security checks this time...Yah...

What to get for dinner...I know a hot dog wrapped in a pretzel...mmmmm..Dinner another $10...But now its time to board the plane and get on with the holiday...Thanks for a great trip American Airlines.....Orlando here I come.....

Qantas, Flight 107 Melbourne Australia to Los Angeles USA

Class traveled: First
Airline: Qantas
Destination: LA USA

What a privilege after a poor nights sleep, I'm ready to board my first a probable last international flight as a first class passenger. But first lets check out the first class lounge that Qantas as especially set up for us first passengers.

The Lounge: Looks like a airport lounge all of the drinks and food, nothing really special though other than the free wireless internet access and less passengers that the lucky ones in economy.

The flight: First impression of the Qantas first class, drab and boring and in need of a complete refresh. The entertainment system on this flight was so hold it wasn't even the on demand version and was outright annoying. The best part, before we took off we were given Moet Champagne, more Moet Champagne, and even more Champagne. I was even a little drunk before the plane left the ground. Lucky they gave me pajama's and a full amenity kit that included everything you could have ever needed, even male moisturizer.

The menu on the flight was even better, the food was glorious - some of the best I have ever tasted and yes this made first class worth the effort. The other advantage, the full size bed complete the the aircrew member to tuck me in. Wow first class sure is a world away from Economy - you don't even get the old retiree looking staff.

Overall impression:

Service: Great - only problem was that the big red beast that we flew in was 2 hours late from Los Angeles, but for the most part everything was worthy of first class. Problem though no one famous was on the flight.

Best Western Ciloms Airport Lodge, Melboure Australia

Hotel location: Melbourn Australia - close the Melbourne Airport
My rating for this hotel: Avoid it unless you really have no other option.

Benefit: The free shuttle from Melbourne Airport - this is the only benefit I found
Staff: Less than helpful.
The Room: Terrible

Overall, I was reluctant to stay at this 3 star hotel but I had no other choice. The service was terrible (even the mini van driver on the airport shuttle was rude, scruffy and totally unhelpful). You walk into the reception area and struggle to find the reception, that it's next to the bar. The cleanliness of the room was fair, there was rust in the spa bath (yes I manage to score myself their top of the range room. The bed was uncomfortable at best and the pillow felt like a foam brick. No internet access in the room unless your happy with dial up.

The lasting memory of this Best Western hotel, no wake up call despite a pending international flight - they missed it. Won't be staying there again.