Travel Victoria – tourism blog

Category: Accommodation

  • Caravan parks close to Spirit of Tasmania

    Caravan park
    Caravan park

    When travelling within Australia with your caravan, you need not let the waters of Bass Strait constrain your journey.

    Spirit of Tasmania, a passenger and vehicular ferry which traverses Bass Strait and links mainland Victoria with Tasmania, welcomes aboard those travelling with caravans, campervans and motorhomes.

    Between late September and Easter, Spirit of Tasmania operates a number of day sailing services which depart from both Melbourne (Station Pier at Port Melbourne) and Devonport at 9am. Check-in for those services is between 6:30am and 8:15am.  Due to the early morning check-in, those with caravans or motorhomes may find it convenient to stay in a caravan park close to the ferry terminal the night before, so that first thing in the morning they only have a short drive to board the boat.

    Caravan Parks close to Port Melbourne

    1. Discovery Parks Melbourne

    Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village
    Discovery Park Melbourne (formerly Ashley Gardens Holiday Village)
    • 13 kilometres by road north-west of ferry terminal entrance
    • The quickest driving route does not use any toll roads
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites (paved and grassed)
    • Recreation room, playground, pool, tennis court, indoor spa & sauna, camp kitchen
    • Caravan storage available
    • Woolworths supermarket is next door
    • Official website – www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/victoria/melbourne-melbourne
    • Location – 129 Ashley Street, Braybrook
    • Phone – (03) 9318 6866

    2. Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park

    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    • 16 kilometres by road north of ferry terminal entrance
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered camp sites
    • Solar heated pool, adventure playground, games room, movie room, camp kitchen
    • Caravan storage and secure luggage storage available
    • Official website – www.melbournebig4.com.au
    • Location – 265 Elizabeth Street, Coburg
    • Phone – (03) 9353 8222

    3. Honey Hush Caravan Park

    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    • 17 kilometres by road west of ferry terminal entrance
    • The quickest driving route does not use any toll roads
    • Powered sites, unpowered tent sites
    • Official website – www.honeyhush.com.au
    • Location – 6 Leakes Road, Laverton North
    • Phone – (03) 9369 2253

    Caravan parks close to East Devonport

    1. Abel Tasman Caravan Park

    Abel Tasman Caravan Park
    Abel Tasman Caravan Park
    • 900 metres by road from  ferry terminal entrance
    • Cabins, powered sites, unpowered sites
    • BBQ area, childrens playground, newly renovated amenities
    • Official website – www.abeltasmancaravanpark.com.au
    • Location – 6 Wright Street, East Devonport
    • Phone – (03) 6427 8794

    2. Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport

    Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport
    Discovery Holiday Parks Devonport
      • 1.3 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cottages, cabins, ensuite sites, powered sites
      • BBQs, kiosk, playground, movie room, waterfront location
      • Official website – www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au
      • Location – 13 Tarleton Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 8418

     3. Devonport Holiday Village

    Devonport Holiday Village
    Devonport Holiday Village
      • 1.8 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cabins, ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered sites
      • BBQs, mini-supermarket, 3 hectares of gardens and trees
      • Official website – www.devonportholidayvillage.com.au
      • Location – 20 North Caroline Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 8886

    4. Bay View Holiday Village

    Bay View Holiday Village
    Bay View Holiday Village
      • 2.1 kilometres by road from ferry terminal entrance
      • Cabins, powered ensuite sites
      • BBQ area, waterfront location
      • Official website – bookings.goldenchain.com.au
      • Location – 2 North Caroline Street, East Devonport
      • Phone – (03) 6427 0499
    Tasmania
    Caravan parks close to the Spirit of Tasmania ferry terminal in East Devonport

  • Caravan parks close to Melbourne

    A common question we get asked is where are the nearest caravan parks to the Melbourne city centre?

    While travellers towing a caravan, those with campervans, motorhomes or tents are well catered for in rural and regional Victoria, choices are limited close to the centre of Melbourne. This is mainly due to the amount of space caravan parks would occupy in areas where land is at a premium.

    We have compiled a list of all the caravan parks that are within 25 kilometres drive of Melbourne’s CBD that permit short stays, which means they are suitable for holidaymakers, travellers or casual visitors looking for somewhere to stay with their caravan or campervan.

    See the map at the end to see the location of all these caravan parks in relation to each other and Melbourne’s city centre.

     

    1. Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park

    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park
    • 11 kilometres by road north of Melbourne CBD
    • 265 Elizabeth Street, Coburg
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered camp sites
    • Solar heated pool, adventure playground, games room, movie room, camp kitchen
    • Secure luggage storage available
    • Official website – www.melbournebig4.com.au

    2. Discovery Parks BIG4 Melbourne

    Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village
    Discovery Parks BIG4 Melbourne (formerly Ashley Gardens BIG4 Holiday Village)

    3. Honey Hush Caravan Park

    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    Honey Hush Caravan Park
    • 18 kilometres by road west of Melbourne CBD
    • 6 Leakes Road, Laverton North
    • Powered sites, unpowered tent sites
    • Official website – www.honeyhush.com.au

    4. Crystal Brook Tourist Park

    Crystal Brook Tourist Park
    Crystal Brook Tourist Park
    • 24 kilometres by road north-east of Melbourne CBD
    • 182 Warrandyte Road, Doncaster East
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites, unpowered sites, tent sites
    • Games room, heated pool, playground, go karts, volleyball, Wi-Fi, bike tracks
    • Daily bird feeding
    • Storage facilities for vans, boats and luggage
    • Pet friendly
    • Official website – www.cbtp.com.au

    5. Sundowner Caravan Park

    Sundowner Caravan Park
    Sundowner Caravan Park
    • 25 kilometres by road south-east of Melbourne CBD
    • 870 Princes Highway, Springvale
    • Powered sites
    • Take away food shop at entrance
    • Official website – www.sundownercp.com

    6. Wantirna Park Caravan Park – NOW CLOSED

    Wantirna Park Caravan Park
    Wantirna Park Caravan Park
    • 25 kilometres by road east of Melbourne CBD
    • 203 Mountain Highway, Wantirna
    • Ensuite sites, powered sites
    • Pool, playground, tennis court, camp kitchen
    • Official website – www.wantirnapark.com.au

     

     

  • Environmentally friendly accommodation in Victoria

    Environmentally friendly
    We can all take steps to protect the environment when travelling or on holidays

    It’s now becoming easier when staying or holidaying in Victoria to ensure that your activities impact as little as possible on the environment. By selecting environmentally friendly accommodation, you can do your bit to reduce waste and conserve the resources of our planet.

    Ecotourism Australia provides certification for tourism operators that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. This assures travellers that the accommodation they are staying at, or the tour they are going on, is backed by a strong and well-managed commitment to sustainable practices.

    Eco certified operator
    The “eco certified” logo

    Look out for the Eco Certified logo or visit www.ecotourism.org.au to search for certified operators.

    There are several levels of certification, with the highest being Advanced Ecotourism. This is awarded to the country’s foremost and innovative operators.  In Victoria. only a small number of accommodation properties have achieved this certification, and one of them is the very special Venus Bay Eco Retreat.

    Venus Bay Eco Retreat
    Venus Bay Eco Retreat – a certified nature retreat

    Venus Bay Eco Retreat offers a truly unique experience, nestled in secluded native bushland within the Gippsland coastal community of Venus Bay.  It’s well away from the tourist crowds, yet within each reach of panoramic beaches and tranquil wetlands.

    The retreat can sleep up to 5 people and is decorated with colours which are inspired by the surrounding forest. It is well-equipped and features a kitchenette, sound system, quality linen, certified organic bathroom products, certified organic breakfast provisions stocked up on arrival, and the use of The Cobb – an eco-friendly outdoor roasting oven and BBQ.  The retreat is ideal for couples, families and small groups.

    As the Venus Bay Eco Retreat is a climate-action certified business, guests are encouraged to reduce landfill waste. Vegetable scraps can be composted and recyclable waste is collected.

    Yoga mats are provided in the retreat, while massages and organic hair and beauty treatments are available nearby and can be booked in advance for guests.

    Blue Wren
    A blue wren – one of many varieties of birds you may spy at Venus Bay Eco Retreat

    Discover nature when staying at Venus Bay Eco Retreat.  The property is home to kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, abundant bird life, echidnas, lizards and ringtail possums. You may be lucky enough to spot some unusual native creatures including as micro bats, native bees and pygmy possums.

    Live simply with respect for nature and stay at eco-friendly accommodation!

    Discover more environmentally-friendly accommodation options when staying in Victoria.

  • Holiday Great Ocean Road & www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com false billing scam

    Accommodation businesses operating within the Great Ocean Road region in Victoria have been on the receiving end of a false billing scam. It has been operating since 2012, resulting in bills being sent out for unauthorised advertising on a tourism website.

    Invoices are being sent out by Holiday Great Ocean Road for advertising on the www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com website.  A sample of a typical invoice they post out in the mail is shown below.

    Invoice - Holiday Great Ocean Road - www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com
    An example of an invoice sent out by Holiday Great Ocean Road – www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com (recipient’s details blanked out)

    Note the key characteristics of this invoice:

    1. It originates from a company titled Special Days Pty Ltd which is based in Sydney
    2. The company’s ABN is 37 086 159 211
    3. Their postal address is PO Box 4050 Parramatta NSW 2124
    4. Their billing enquiry phone number is 1300 656 789
    5. Their FAX number is 1800 198 388
    6. The invoice amount is $108.90 (i.e. $99 plus GST)
    7. The advertising commencement date, conclusion date or duration is not stated
    8. In order to convince the recipient of its authenticity, the “reference” box states the name of who has apparently authorised the listing, usually without a surname

    Most people who receive an invoice like this never actually signed up for a listing with Holiday Great Ocean Road.  The first they find out about it is when a bill arrives in the mail. If they ignore the bill, they may receive more of the same invoices in the future.

    Despite the fact an advertisement on Holiday Great Ocean Road has usually never been ordered by the recipient of the invoice, a cover letter is included which includes the following claims:

    1. “I emailed you several times and phoned your business but I was unable to get a  response.”  This statement is generally false as most accommodation providers have never been contacted by phone or email prior to the invoice arriving in the post.
    2. “Once the listing is deleted you can lose your ranking on holidaygreatoceanroad.com for key words as well as your Google ranking as the site is optimized for your establishment.”  This is a very misleading claim. Firstly, the www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com website receives so few visitors (not even Alexa.com has any data for it at the moment) so it is unlikely that a listing, or lack of one, will make any difference to a business. Secondly, because www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com is so poorly ranked in Google, there is only minuscule Google ranking value provided in the form of a link to an accommodation provider’s own website.

    Accommodation listings on the Holiday Great Ocean Road website are typically created by copying information, including wording and photos, found on other websites that an accommodation provider is listed on.  This process may be automated which means vast numbers of listings can be created with very little time and effort. If this data collection process occurred a long time ago, it may mean information they are displaying can be quite out of date. This may negatively impact upon your business or mislead people who do happen to view your listing on the Holiday Great Ocean Road website.

    Unfortunately, some accommodation providers have paid the invoice for advertising they never ordered due to confusion over business names. The Holiday Great Ocean Road / www.holidaygreatoceanroad.com name and website address may be confused with a well-established business with exactly the same name but different website address – Holiday Great Ocean Road / www.holidaygor.com.au. It must be stated that the latter (www.holidaygor.com.au) is an award-winning and reputable accommodation booking service which has operated with the utmost of integrity since its commencement in 2002.

    It is extremely important that accommodation providers keep current list of all organisations they are advertising their accommodation with to ensure that any false bills, particularly those with similar names to reputable businesses, are quickly identified. Should there is any doubt about the authenticity of a bill, contact the sender and ask for proof of authorisation.

    For more information refer to the false billing scams information page on the ScamWatch website which has been set-up by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    If you’ve unintentionally paid money to Holiday Great Ocean Road, or even if you just receive one of their unauthorised bills in the mail, you can lodge a report with the ACCC by visiting their report a scam page.  Specify “false billing” as the scam type in your report.

  • VIC Tourism & www.victourism.com.au false billing scam

    A new false billing scam is actively targeting those who manage accommodation properties in Victoria. Bills are being posted out for unauthorised advertising on a website which bears a name very similar to Tourism Victoria – Victoria’s official tourism body.

    Unauthorised bills are being sent out by VIC Tourism for advertising on the www.victourism.com.au website.  Below is a sample of an invoice they post out in the mail to many accommodation businesses.

    Invoice - VIC Tourism – www.victourism.au
    An example of an invoice sent out by VIC Tourism – www.victourism.com.au (recipient’s details blanked out)

    Note the key characteristics of this invoice:

    1. It originates from a company titled Accommodation Find which trades as QLDTourism.com and is located in Queensland
    2. The company’s ABN is 18 086 159 195
    3. Their postal address is PO Box 1601 Oxenford QLD 4210
    4. Their billing enquiry phone number is 1800 199 863
    5. The invoice amount is $95.00
    6. The advertising period is not specified, just the vague mention of a “12 month subscription”
    7. In order to convince the recipient of its authenticity, there is a box titled “authorisation name” that specifies the name of who has supposedly authorised the listing, usually without a surname

    To ensure that in the eyes of the law this tax invoice is regarded an optional invitation to advertise, there is wording on the invoice which states “this invoice is only payable if you wish to subscribe or renew your existing subscription for the product”.

    Most people who receive an invoice like this never actually signed up for a listing with VIC Tourism.  The first they find out about it is when a bill arrives in the mail. If they ignore the bill, they may receive subsequent invoices at regular intervals in the future.

    Accommodation listings on the VIC Tourism website are typically created by copying information, including wording and photos, found on other websites that an accommodation provider is listed on.  This process may be automated which means vast numbers of listings can be created with very little time and effort. If this data collection process occurred a long time ago, it may mean information they are displaying can be quite out of date. This may negatively impact upon your business or mislead people who do happen to view your listing on the VIC Tourism website.

    Leigh Harry, CEO of Tourism Victoria
    Leigh Harry, CEO of Tourism Victoria, urges all Victorian businesses not to fall for the ‘VIC Tourism’ false billing scam.

    The way the advertising bills have been sent out has convinced some accommodation providers into thinking that VIC Tourism is the Victorian government’s official tourism organisation Tourism Victoria. This has resulted in some people paying the bill because they believe they are registering their accommodation for world-wide exposure and endorsement through the state’s official tourism body.

    The chief executive officer of Tourism Victoria, Leigh Harry, has issued a strong warning through several media outlets to all businesses in Victoria to be on the look out for what he describes as “a dodgy letter and invoice” which seeks payment for an unsolicited 12-month listing on the unofficial and low-traffic Vic Tourism website.  Mr Harry has warned that the letters and invoices being sent out by Vic Tourism are “a scam”, and they are not related in any way whatsoever to Victoria’s official tourism organisation.

    It is critically important that all accommodation providers keep an accurate list of all organisations they advertise their accommodation with. This ensures that any false bills, particularly those with names very similar to official organisations, are quickly identified. If there is any doubt about the authenticity of a bill, contact the issuer immediately and ask for proof of authorisation.

    For further information, refer to the false billing scams information page on the ScamWatch website which has been set-up by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    If you have inadvertently paid money to VIC Tourism, or even if you just receive one of their unauthorised bills in the mail, you can lodge a report with the ACCC by visiting their report a scam page.  Specify “false billing” as the scam type in your report.

  • Accommodation VIC & www.accommodationvic.com.au false billing scam

    A false billing scam which began in 2010 is still targeting accommodation providers in Victoria. It involves sending out bills for unauthorised advertising on a travel website.

    The unauthorised bills are sent out by Accommodation VIC for advertising on the www.accommodationvic.com.au website.  Refer below to a sample of the invoices they post out in the mail to accommodation businesses.

    Invoice - Accommodation VIC - www.accommodationvic.com.au
    An example of an invoice sent out by Accommodation VIC – www.accommodationvic.com.au (recipient’s details blanked out)

    Note the key characteristics of this invoice:

    1. It originates from a company titled Special Days Pty Ltd which is based in Sydney
    2. The company’s ABN is 37 086 159 211
    3. Their postal address is PO Box 4050 Parramatta NSW 2124
    4. Their billing enquiry phone number is 1300 656 789
    5. Their FAX number is 1800 198 388
    6. The invoice amount is $99.00
    7. The advertising period is not stated, just a mention of an “annual website listing”
    8. In order to convince the recipient of its authenticity, the “reference” box lists the name of the person who has apparently authorised the listing, usually without a surname

    In order to legally disguise this tax invoice as an optional invitation to advertise, there is wording on the invoice which states “this invoice is only payable if you wish to subscribe or renew your existing subscription for the product”.

    Most people who receive an invoice of this type have never signed up for a listing with Accommodation VIC.  The first they find out about it is when a bill arrives in the mail. If they ignore the bill, they will typically receive another one sometime in the future, despite the fact wording on the letter attached to the bill states that the listing “automatically expires if unpaid”.

    It has been reported that at least one business who actually did end up paying the $99 annual listing fee then received another bill in the mail only 6 months later for another $99. As there are no starting and ending dates for the listing period specified on the invoice, just vague wording of an “annual website listing”, it is unclear exactly what period the listing fee covers.

    Accommodation listings on the Accommodation VIC website are typically created by copying information, including wording and photos, found on other websites that an accommodation provider is listed on.  This process may be automated which means vast numbers of listings can be created with very little time and effort. If this data collection process occurred a long time ago, it may mean information they are displaying can be quite out of date. This may negatively impact upon your business or mislead people who do happen to come across your listing on the Accommodation VIC website.

    Some people simply pay the bill they receive because:

    1. They have recently taken over the business. When the bill arrives, they assume the advertising must have been ordered in the past by the previous owners and therefore the listing is effective and good value.
    2. The website name is similar to one that they currently list with.  In the confusion, they simply pay it, wrongly assuming it’s their authorised advertiser.
    3. They are too busy to spend much time investigating it.  Given that the bill is for a relatively small sum, they decide it is more cost-effective just to pay it and get it out of the way rather than conduct an extensive assessment of it.
    4. Competition with other accommodation listed. If other accommodation in their local area is displayed on the www.accommodationvic.com.au website, they may feel pressured to keep the listing.  However it is important to realise that not only are many of listings on Accommodation VIC unauthorised, but that website receives only a small number of visitors compared to other similar websites.

    It is important that accommodation providers keep an up to date list of all organisations they have advertised their accommodation with to ensure that any unauthorised bills are quickly detected. If there is any doubt about the authenticity of a bill, simply contact the issuer and ask for proof of authorisation.

    For more information refer to the false billing scams information page on the ScamWatch website which has been set-up by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    If you’ve unintentionally paid money to Accommodation VIC, or even if you just receive one of their unauthorised bills in the mail, you can lodge a report with the ACCC by visiting their report a scam page.  Specify “false billing” as the scam type in your report.

  • Off the beaten path in Melbourne & Victoria

    Melbourne and Victoria offer a wondrous number of destinations ripe for exploration and enjoyment. While the city of Melbourne holds many different popular attractions, research the possibilities of going off the beaten path. Journey through the countryside and visit unique locations and experience once-in-a lifetime adventures.

    THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD

    Great Ocean Road
    The 12 Apostles rock formation on the stunning Great Ocean Road

    Considered one of the most scenic areas in southern Australia, the Great Ocean Road lies south-west of Melbourne along the coast. Driving on the road, visitors see an array of unusual rock formations jutting out of the shoreline or out of the water. One of those not be missed are the famous Twelve Apostles – although due to wave erosion, there are only 8 of these limestone stacks left standing. The area has sandy beaches and camp sites where holiday makers enjoy canoeing and kayaking or just exploring and photographing the landscape. Venture to the Great Otway National Park and hike through gorges while witnessing cascading waterfalls and encounter a series of caves. The park also serves as home to a myriad of wildlife including kangaroos and koalas.

    Great Ocean Road tours & activities

    HANGING ROCK

    Hanging Rock
    The view from Morgan’s Lookout near the summit of Hanging Rock

    The Hanging Rock Recreation Reserve lies in the middle of the Macedon Ranges, east of Woodend. This unique rock formation rises 718 meters above sea level and features a massive boulder suspended between other massive structures. A pathway leads into the expansive cavern beneath the hanging rock. The location remains a favourite destination for climbing and gaining a bird’s eye view over the landscape. The park also has a forest, creek and picnic grounds along with an interpretation centre and cafe. While hiking around the park, guests often see eagles, koalas and kookaburras along with possums and wallabies. The local Hanging Rock Winery welcomes visitors to sample a number of locally produced wines while enjoying the view of the Macedon Ranges and lush green rolling hills.

    HEALESVILLE SANCTUARY

    Koala
    A koala at the Healesville Sanctuary

    Unlike conventional zoos, the Healesville Sanctuary strives to defeat species extinction through a number of breeding programs. Set in a rural bush setting on the outskirts of Healesville, the sanctuary features animals native to Australia that range from cassowaries to Tasmanian Devils. The park offers various live demonstrations and feedings throughout the day to the delight of guests. Watch the abilities of the birds of prey or cuddle a koala. The facility hospital also provides an opportunity for viewing the newest park residents.

    TRAVELLING THROUGH VICTORIA

    Rather than flying to Melbourne or another location in Victoria, staying in a hotel and relying on public transport or tours for seeing the sights, consider creating a holiday while driving a campervan. Having a personal vehicle provides greater freedom to leisurely come and go wherever desired. Enjoy the great outdoors and spectacular scenery while staying in and exploring the many national parks around the area. Save money and calories while indulging in a home-made BBQ in the fireplaces provided at the camp sites. Caravanning also offers privacy. Sleep in without awakening from the noise created by other hotel guests. Conversely, when staying in rural locations, families or groups of friends need not worry about disturbing other guests. Take a road adventure in a caravan and make lasting memories.

    Campervan hire is a great way to explore Melbourne and Victoria. When thinking of campervan hire in Melbourne and Victoria, also take into consideration the state has quality camping parks with convenient facilities where people can rent a space for the night.

    Campervan
    Create the ideal holiday experience in Victoria by hiring a campervan

  • Careful with adding TripAdvisor widgets on your accommodation website

    TripAdvisor website
    Adding TripAdvisor widgets to your website? Think carefully.

    TripAdvisor is one of the most popular and influential travel websites. Many accommodation  managers have embraced the TripAdvisor concept, and actively monitor reviews that guests post. This allows them to view feedback and provide a “management response” to any reviews that deserve another point of view, so that prospective guests can make an informed decision.

    TripAdvisor allows you to implant “live” widgets on your website. There are a range of different types – some simply show that the accommodation is featured on TripAdvisor, while others go into more specifics, such as showing how many travellers gave a 5/5 rating.  The one you really need to watch out for is the “review snippets” widgets as it shows the last (5 by default) recent reviews.

    One of our clients has embedded the “review snippets” widget by TripAdvisor on their website. They are an acclaimed B&B – one of the top ranked their area. 90% of their reviewers have given them an overall “excellent” or “very good” rating. However, at this exact moment in time, this is what their “live” TripAdvisor widget is showing:

    TripAdvisor widget
    TripAdvisor review snippets live widget

    That widget is displayed prominently on every single page on their website for everyone to see.  2 out of the last 5 reviews are unfavourable.  After seeing the phrases “didn’t live up to expectations” and “terrible and over priced”, you can imagine some people won’t spend a second longer to delve any deeper, and they will simply look elsewhere. That means lost bookings.

    The problem here is those reviews have been taken out of context. While 2 out of 5 bad reviews are showing there, if you look at the bigger picture, that accommodation establishment has a total of 30 positive reviews out of a total of 33. In fact, half the reviewers gave the accommodation the highest possible score of 5 out of 5. Now that’s a pretty impressive achievement. Delve a little deeper, and each unfavourable rating has been followed up with a management response which casts significant doubt on the version of events described by the guests in question.

    It’s a big risk implanting the TripAdvisor recent review snippets widget on your website. Any bad reviews from the 5 most recent really stand out and contain no explanation other than some derogatory catch phrase which is sure to put some people off, no matter how good all the others are.  If you want to implant a TripAdvisor widget on your website, you’d be much wiser to choose one of the safer ones that don’t show the leading catch-phrase of guest reviews up-front. That way, if people want to see your reviews on TripAdivsor, they can go in and see the whole picture.

  • Travelling with your dog when on holidays

    On holiday with your dog
    Why not share your holiday with your dog instead of leaving them at home?

    In the past, dog owners who wanted to go on holidays had little choice but to either leave their pet at home with someone, take their dog to a boarding kennel, or leave it at a friend’s house.

    But did you know that many dogs enjoy holidays too, sometimes even more than their owners? So why not take your pet with you?

    These days, accommodation providers have become very sensitive to the needs of those who wish to bring their pet with them.  Some have provided designated rooms or cottages where owners can stay inside with their dog, while others have ensured that their property is securely fenced areas to safely contain pets. Some accommodation managers may not let your pet come inside, but they may provide a kennel on the verandah for your pet to sleep in.

    If you’re travelling within Victoria with your dog and are looking for accommodation, take a look at the Dogs On Holidays website. You will find:

    What is the most dog-friendly area of Victoria? Based on the number of accommodation listings on the Dogs On Holidays website, that region is Gippsland. Visitors to Gippsland simply love the pristine beaches – some are so secluded, you literally have them all to yourself. Then there’s the wide open spaces, mountains, forests and rivers – all things that most dogs will love when holidaying with their owners. That’s why there’s plenty of dog-friendly accommodation for both you and your pet when staying in Gippsland.

    In which town or city in Victoria can you find the highest concentration of dog-friendly places to stay? Tallying up the accommodation listings on the Dogs On Holidays website reveals that Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula, is where you and your dog will be spoilt for choice. At Rye, there are beaches where dogs are permitted to run around leash-free year-round at certain times of the day, ensuring your dog can have plenty of fun and exercise during your beach holiday.

    So with many accommodation providers now catering for pets, there’s now no excuse to leave your dog at home when you next have a on holiday!

    On the beach with your dog
    Dogs enjoy holidays too, so take your pet with you!

  • Will booking your accommodation directly with the property give you the best deal?

    booking
    Should you book your accommodation directly or via a third party?

    When booking accommodation, you can either book directly with the property, or choose to go through a third-party booking service, such as Wotif, Expedia or Agoda.  So which gives you the best deal?  Let’s put this to the test with a real-life example.

    Let’s consider the Bairnsdale Motel which is located at Bairnsdale, in eastern Victoria.  We are after a 3 night stay, checking in on Sunday 24th March and out on Wednesday 27th March, in their cheapest room.

    1. Direct booking. If you go to this motel’s website, you’ll discover their direct online booking system.  Nightly stays in their “superior queen” room are listed at $155, but they offer a 3 night rate of just $132 per night. Thus booking directly with the hotel will cost $396.00.
    2. Booking through Wotif.  This motel distributes their accommodation through Wotif, however you will not find any of their special 3 night deals, so we are forced to pay $155 per night for 3 nights. To make matters worse, Wotif charges a non-refundable $5.50 fee for each booking, thus booking through Wotif will cost $470.50.
    3. Booking through Agoda. The nightly rates are identical to Wotif, however because Agoda doesn’t charge a booking fee, the total cost will be $465.00.

    So book directly with the motel for $396, go through Agoda and pay $69 extra for exactly the same room, or choose Wotif and pay even more – $74.50 or 18% extra.

    But you can’t just look at the room rate only. What if, due to unforeseen circumstances, you need to change or cancel your booking?  How does each booking method deal with that?

    1. Direct booking. You deal with the motel directly and you can simply email or phone them to change or cancel your booking, subject to their change/cancellation policy.
    2. Booking through Wotif. A $25 administration charge applies to any booking change or cancellation. This is because you have to contact Wotif, who then have to deal with the motel to cancel or change your booking. Don’t forget the non-refundable $5.50 fee still applies even if you cancel your booking.  You will also still be bound by the motel’s own change/cancellation policy.
    3. Agoda.com don’t charge fees for changing or cancelling bookings, but if you do cancel, it can take up to 10 days for them to refund your money. Like with Wotif, you will also be bound by the motel’s own change/cancellation policy.

    Booking directly with the accommodation provider means you avoid third-party booking fees and you get full access to all their room types and offers. If you need to change or cancel your booking, and you didn’t book directly, your request needs to go through multiple organisations, some of which charge hefty fees in addition to the restrictions imposed by the accommodation property itself.

    A good technique for locating accommodation is to use websites like Wotif, Expedia or Agoda to see what’s available, and then when you are ready to book, simply book directly with your chosen accommodation provider, either their own online booking system or by phone. As well as getting the best rates, things are much simpler if you need to modify or cancel your booking.