Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 5 . BRISBANE
friendly staff will help with booking tours and sending e-mails. Downstairs is the
good-value Explorers Café restaurant and bar (see “Great Deals on Dining”
below). South Bank, the casino, the Roma Street Transit Centre, and Queen
Street Mall are all close by.
63 Turbot St. (near George St.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1800/623 288 in Australia, or 07/3211 3488. Fax
07/3211 3499. www.explorers.com.au. 58 units (all with shower only). A$75–A$97 (US$49–US$63) double;
A$97 (US$63) family (sleeps 4). AE, DC, MC, V. Train: Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Amenities: Restaurant;
tour desk; car-rental desk; secretarial services; coin-op laundry; laundry and dry-cleaning service; all rooms
are nonsmoking, but there is a smokers’ lounge. In room: A/C, TV, fridge, coffeemaker.
Hotel George Williams It’s hard to believe this smart 4-year-old hotel is
a YMCA. Each room has vivid bedcovers, chrome chairs, and artsy bedside
lamps on chrome stands. Rooms are small, but can accommodate up to four
adults. Among the useful facilities are a 24-hour front desk, safe-deposit boxes,
and a hip cybercafe. Hair dryers are available on request. Four rooms are
designed for guests with disabilities, and there is access for those with disabilities
to the gym and lifts. The City Y health club is the largest hotel gym in Australia,
and offers free aerobics classes to guests, personal trainers, and massages.
317–325 George St. (between Turbot and Ann sts.), Brisbane, QLD 4000.& 1800/064 858 or 07/3308 0700.
Fax 07/3308 0733. www.hgw.com.au. 55 units (most with shower only). A$92–A$96 (US$60–US$62) double;
additional person A$22 (US$14). Children 4 and under stay free. Ask about packages. AE, DC, MC, V.
Free undercover secure parking. Airport shuttle. Train: Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Ferry: North Quay
(CityCat and CityFerry). Amenities: Restaurant; bar; health club; tour desk; car-rental desk; babysitting; coinop
laundry with iron and ironing board, and valet laundry service; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms.
In room: A/C, TV, fridge, coffeemaker.
Hotel Ibis Brisbane What you get is what you pay for at this three-star sister
property to the Mercure, around the corner (see below). In this case, it is
basically a room, with few amenities you might expect in a large hotel. But if
you don’t mind doing without river views, porters, pool, or other small luxuries,
this could be the place for you. Rebuilt inside an office building in 1998, the
hotel has rooms furnished in a contemporary decor with sizable work desks and
small but smart bathrooms.
27–35 Turbot St. (between North Quay and George St.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1300/656 565 in Australia,
or 800/221-4542 in the U.S. and Canada, 020/8283 4500 in the U.K., 0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or
07/3237 2333. Fax 07/3237 2444. www.accorhotels.com.au. 218 units. A$109 (US$71) double. Extra person
A$30 (US$20). Children under 16 stay free in parent’s room with existing bedding. Ask about packages.
AE, DC, MC,V. Parking at Mercure Hotel Brisbane (see below) at A$10 (US$6.50) per day.Airport shuttle.Train:
Roma St. Bus: Downtown Loop. Ferry: North Quay (CityCat and CityFerry). Amenities: Restaurant (breakfast,
dinner only); coin-op laundry and laundry service; nonsmoking rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, fridge,
coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Mercure Hotel Brisbane Sweeping views of the Brisbane River come
with many rooms at this bright 14-story four-star hotel across the water from
South Bank. An A$3 million (US$1.9 million) refurbishment of all rooms in
late 2002 has given them a fresh, contemporary look in red, cream, and latte.
The four suites have river views, and the standard rooms are comfortable and
unassuming. Rooms without water views have nice city views. Roma Street
Transit Centre, Queen Street Mall, South Bank Parklands, and the Queensland
Cultural Centre are a short walk away.
85–87 North Quay (between Ann and Turbot sts.), Brisbane, QLD 4000. & 1300/65 6565 in Australia, or
800/221-4542 in the U.S. and Canada, 020/8283 4500 in the U.K., 0800/44 4422 in New Zealand, or 07/3236
3300. Fax 07/3236 1035. www.mercurebrisbane.com.au. 194 units. A$137–A$226 (US$89–US$147) double;