Travel tips: Visiting Melbourne, Australia, on a budget
Travellers with a strict budget face a challenge right from the start when landing at Melbourne International Airport, which is located around 45 mins away from the city centre, in the suburb of Tullamarine. Don’t be tempted by the taxi rank standing right outside the exit – the cheapest way to get into town is via Skybus, which will set you back $AUD12, as opposed to up to $AUD50 for a taxi. The Skybus will drop you at Spencer Street Station, one of the two main stations, located at the west end of the city grid known as the CBD.
Taxis are available outside the station, but the more budget-conscious traveller may want to make use of the great tram system running through Melbourne. A daily ticket costs around $AUD6 (make sure you have change for the ticket machine) and will get you on trains and buses as well.
You may already have your hotel sorted, but for those who like to go with the moment your next decision is which part of town you stay in.
The most popular area for backpackers is St Kilda – which can be accessed via the 96, 112 or 16 trams. The words you need to know are Acland Street’: this street is the centre of activity in St Kilda, with pubs, cafs and shops as well as backpacker hostels nearby. Acland Street is one block away from the beach, just behind the giant face of Melbourne’s Luna Park and the famous Palais theatre and nightclub. A stroll along The Esplanade will give you more pubs and the caf strip of Fitzroy Street, the other major street in the area.
More intrepid explorers may wish to investigate Fitzroy and its surrounds. On the northern side of the city, Fitzroy, Carlton and Collingwood are the cultural hub of the city. Carlton, home to the University of Melbourne, also houses the Italian cuisine strip of Lygon Street. Brunswick and Smith Streets, running in parallel just a few blocks over, feature yet more cafs, where at all times of day locals grab a coffee, dig out a newspaper and watch the world go by. It is also easier to find cheap places to eat in these suburbs, as fewer tourists venture there.
Staying near the CBD in Richmond, home to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and magnificent Victorian architecture, is a costly venture. However, exploring this area doesn’t have to break the budget in any way – particularly with Victoria Street, which is the city’s centre for Vietnamese cuisine. Here, you can grab a tasty bowl of noodle soup for $6 or less, and other hot meals for between $4 – $6.
South Yarra, sitting proudly on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River, is the focal point of fashion in the city. This area is ideal for walking around and admiring, but believe me when I say you DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MONEY HERE. Come prepared with a sandwich. Chapel Street, which stretches the entire length of the suburb and beyond, is the place to go to get the first word in Australian fashion at a price. The CBD’s
Southbank is another place to view the finer side of life, with boutique shops, restaurants and bars offering a sample of the high life as estimated by the Melbourne elite. This is a great place to grab a cup of coffee ($3) and take a break from gritty backpacking.Travelling on a budget can be difficult without preparation, but don’t be afraid to explore. Melbourne is a city with a great range of entertainments and cultures just waiting for you to discover – and in a city where it’s relatively safe to venture down dark alleys, it’s a shame to miss it.
Changing Face of Hostels and Budget Accommodation
Changing Face of Hostels and Cheap Accommodation
The youth and budget travel market demands more today than ever, the travellers are street wise and globally savvy, they know what they want and at what price. If you ask any young person what they want to do in life they probably wouldn’t give you any sensible answer, but one thing they definitely know is they want to Travel the World and Visit as many places as possible before they settle down.
There is a Can Do Travel attitude in the Youth of today, they want to travel from Sydney to Beijing, from New York to London and Prague, From Lagos to Cape Town then possibly new Delhi, all on a shoe string budget, this attitude has been inspired by the Boom of Budget Airlines and Cheap Air Travel this has also brought about the boom in Budget Accommodation, which is the fastest growing sector in the Accommodation and Tourism.
Time has been a friend to Hostels and the people who stay in them. Only a few years ago if you stayed in a Hostel it may not have been the best experience, but now things have definitely changed for the better. Some people in America used to refer to Hostels as Toilet because of the poor standards, outright neglect and lack of customer care.
The prices of Hostels and Cheap Hotels are still the most competitive in the Market for Inexpensive Holiday Accommodation, but the Quality of the accommodation and service given by the staff has improved 10 fold.
Some of these changes have been brought about by the emergence of the Internet and online Hostel Booking sites Like Hostels247.com, which use a rating system and demand high standards from the operator, this lets backpackers and Budget travellers know what type of Hostels and Cheap Accommodations they are booking before they get there. Also after staying in the Accommodation they can send in their feedback and Rating of the accommodation to the online booking site.
This type of online booking allows the traveller know what they are getting into before they confirm their booking. This gives the traveller the opportunity to know what type of Facilities there are, full description and Photo’s, Directions and much more.
You can now find Hostels in many Cities around the World with Private Single, Double and Triple Rooms with en-suite Facilities, Free Internet access and WiFi Hot spots, there are many Hostels with full Guest Kitchens, Meeting Facilities and some with Gyms and Swimming Pools, things which you would only expect from Expensive Hotels and Private Apartments.
Even if you prefer to stay in the Classic Dorm style rooms these have also been transformed, with ingenious things that make your stay more enjoyable, like Free In room Security Lockers, En-suite Facilities, Reading lights for each Bunk and Privacy Curtains.
Hostels today are run like a business that care for its customers and not half way houses for delinquents.
The Quality and variety of Facilities provided in many Hostels and budget Hotels make you think you are staying in a far more expensive Hotel, it is good to know you have found a great deal.
It must be said that a lot of Hostels have improved dramatically, and by online booking sites insisting on best standards this has forced even the most scrupulous operators to get their act together, there will always be exceptions, but as a whole, if you have never stayed in a Hostel before there is no better time than Now, to take the Plunge and save yourself some serious money. You will be pleasantly surprised, and you might even be converted into a Hosteller.
To Know More Go To http://www.hostels247.com/
