 | Alice Springs Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 41 |  |
I was only in Alice Springs for a couple of nights. I usually choose 3-star accomodation but this time I wanted to be a little adventurous so I booked a single room in the Melanka Backpackers. I had heard that hostels were cheap and clean places to stay so I wasn't too worried about it until I got to this place.
To get to my room I had to pass a courtyard which needed a good clean (there were empty beer cans and even a pair of knickers :-). The sheets and pillows looked dirty so I asked the receptionist to change them and she pulled out some 'clean' ones which looked just a bad. The airconditioning was noisy and there was no way I was going to use the showers in the hostel...water everywhere on the floor...a nightmare. It was the first time in my entire solo travelling life that I used a personal alarm attached to my bed during the night. If it wasn't so late I would've been out of there in a couple of minutes and got myself into a five star hotel!
Another thing which made me feel unsettled was the very poor security. To go on a tour I had to leave my suitcase behind and it was placed in their luggage room which is locked but the key is available to anyone...people can just walk in and take what they want!
I hope they've brushed up their accomodation since my visit. The Melanka is more suitable for young backpackers looking for cheap stay in a dormitory and lively place during the night.
The only good thing about the place is the friendly bar staff. Leave a Comment
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 | |  |  | Desert Palms Resort Alice Springs: A friendly and accomodating oasis in Alice Springs
Tip Rating:    Satisfaction:   |  |  | |  |
The Desert Palms resort is comfortable, accomodating and well-placed in Alice Springs. Seeing as we planned to spend most of our time in Alice OUTSIDE of our hotel room, we were simply looking for reasonable accommodation. The Desert Palms is that, and so much more...
This is one of those places where every party has their own individual little "chalet" or "cabin". They're funky little a-frame looking places that are surprisingly large and comfortable on the inside. They have pitched-pine ceilings and very, shall we say different, color schemes inside. Each chalet has a nice deck as well.
And, one other great feature of the Desert Palms is its connection with many of the tour operators in the area. Almost any activity that you'll be participating in will feature a pickup at the Desert Palms.
Last and certainly not least, we have the management. FRIENDLY. HELPFUL. They'll do just about anything to help you have a wonderful stay. One night, we were VERY late (14 hours, to be exact) in returning from Ayers Rock (Uluru). We had the folks at Ayers phone ahead to warn the Desert Palms that we'd be late getting in, well after the desk closed. When we arrived, there was a note instructing us to go to particular chalet. And as I'd mentioned we had a hot air balloon trip scheduled for the next day, they also had taken the liberty of scheduling a wakeup call for us. : )
Comfortable rooms, each with two double beds.
Reverse control A/C and heat. (And in the winter, you NEED the heat)
Laundry facilities, including dryers AND clotheslines. Clothes dry very fast in the desert. :)
A small convenience/grocery shop attached to the desk, where you can buy all sorts of prepared meals for microwaving, if you get a late munch attack.
Lots of nice hot water in the bathrooms. And, a shower head that gives you a LOT of water. I hate wimpy showers.....I always end up getting soap in my eyes. : (
A very nice pool, which was being cleaned during our visit. No matter, it was a bit cold outside.
They also have a 1/2 sized tennis court. Not sure about playing on a 1/2 size court for tennis. Nothing like a killer serve getting to you twice as fast. But if the wind ever dies down, you could play the world's biggest ping pong tournament.
And, if you're into gambling, it's only about 700 meters down Barrett Road to the Casino! Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 74 Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, NT 0871Phone: 08/8952 5977Directions: Coming into town from the airport, turn right on south Terrace, and then go right across the river bed at Stephens. The first left is Barrett. The Desert Palms is about 1 km up the road, on the right.Website: www.desertpalms.com.au Other Contact: 08/8953 4176 FAX
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| | | | Crowne Plaza Alice Springs (82 Barrett Drive 0870 Alice Springs): The place next door to where we stayed. ; )
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If you've read my previous entries for the Desert Palms Resort, you already know that we were very happy at THAT hotel. But, I did have occasion to stroll into the next-door Crowne Plaza a few times during my time in Alice. The folks at the desk were very very nice, kindly giving me change for phones and washing machines. (The folks at the Desert Palms would do so as well, but on this particular morning, they'd not "been to the bank" yet.) I also used the public phone over at the Crowne Plaza as it took coins.....my preferred way to make cheap and desperate calls to loved ones back in America. : )
Anyway, the Crowne Plaza seems like a very nice place. So if the Desert Palms is full, or if you want to get frequent flyer miles of some kind, or you're just itching to spend a few extra A$, then the Plaza would be a fine choice. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 82 Barrett Drive 0870 Alice SpringsPhone: 08/ 8950 8000Directions: Coming in from the airport, turn right at South Terrace and then turn right across the river bed at Stephens. Then, a quick left turn onto Barrett Drive. The Crowne Plaza is about 0.8 km up Barrett, on the right.
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Yulara Resort is great for the view it gives you of Ayers Rock, for the little bit of civilisation out in the desert.
The Four Seasons Hotel is a nice resort hotel of a very good standard (sorry I can't remember anything else about it, least of all the prices now, as I was there over a decade ago)
My No 1 would be the swimming pool! Great after a dusty day out in the Desert visiting the attractions. Leave a Comment Theme: MotelComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Yulara Resort
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we only had one night here, and after 20 hours on a train we were practically comatose, so the comfortable bed was very welcome. the room was clean and the showers and toilets were close by
there is a comfortable sitting area and there is internet access [ charge applies ]
the swimming pool is rather small
the most unique thing would be the pet kangaroo, she does let you approach her but shes rather shy Leave a Comment Theme: HostelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 18 Warburton St, , Alice Springs, Northern TerritoPhone: 08 8952 2308
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| | | | Desert Palms Resort Alice Springs: A few more words about the Desert Palms Resort
Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
I wanted to add a few more words about the Desert Palms resort. While there are certainly a few hotels more closely situated to the Todd Mall in the center of Alice, none appear to offer the same great comfort at a great value as the Desert Palms. You can easily walk to downtown Alice from the DP, it's not more than 2 km or so.
And again, Australians were very very friendly all over the country. But, I don't think I've found too many places where the staff, top to bottom, was any happier that you'd chosen their establishment.
You WILL feel welcome. Very much so. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 74 Barrett Drive, , Alice Springs, NT 0871Phone: 08/8952 5977Directions: Coming in from the airport, turn right at South Terrace and then turn right across the river bed at Stephens. Then, a quick left turn onto Barrett Drive. The Desert Palms is about 1 km up Barrett, on the right.Website: www.desertpalms.com.au Other Contact: 08/8953 4176 (FAX)
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If you are looking for hostel accomodation and arriving by train look out for the guys with the boards ! tourism is BIG in Alice Springs and there is plenty of choice
alternatively if you fly in look out for the information and accommodation boards at the airport Leave a Comment Theme: Hostel
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I stayed in Annie's Place because I chose Mulgas' Adventure. The tour was great, the hostel was nice. I could write down my travel notes under the tree while naughty guys jumpped into the swimming pool, that's ok, the yard was big enough.
I had my greatest memory from Mulgas' Adventure, met the best friends from here. Theme: HostelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: Traeger Avenue, , Alice Springs, Northern TerritorPhone: 08 89521545
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Kings Creek Station is a working cattle and camel station with nowadays facilities for camping, accommodation and an opportunity to experience the outback either by quad , helicopter or camel. It is located 35 km’s from the car park at King’s Canyon along Luritja Road.
We had a kind of a tent: a permanent canvas cabin constructed of steel frames with normal (twin) beds, light and power and a fan. We had to use shared facilities like toilets and showers, which were absolutely clean. Staying only with one other couple we almost had our own private facilities, just a couple of metres outside our cabin.
There is also a shared kitchen with bbq facilities, but we had our diner in the café/restaurant. Which was custom made for us: fish (in the middle of the desert), chips and salad with an Australian wine and a lot of water.
A Bushman’s style breakfast next morning was included in the price.
Perhaps the most impressive moment was when we walked back to our cabin and saw the thousands of stars in the sky and were surrounded by the silence of this part of the Australian desert.
Kings Creek Station has also a campground and a (very) small swimming pool, a shop for basic supplies and a petrol station.
Adventurous alternative for an expensive lodging in Kings Canyon Resort. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: US$20-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Kings Creek Station, Luritja Road, Alice Springs.Phone: +61 (08) 8956 7474Website: www.kingscreekstation.com.au Other Contact: info@kingscreekstation.com.au
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This is an Inn that also provides some forms of hostel facilities, though it is more catered for folks traveling in cars. Service is all right, sufficiently warm and courteous. I have no problems booking my tours and getting answers to my queries. The hostel rooms are small, smell a little musty and has really old (but working) electronic items. The TV in the room was from the 60s. The rooms has a plastic wall ensuite for bathing but it is weird to have curtains only on one side leaving all the other sides transparent. Security is good though as the main gates were closed after 7pm but it also mean that the room for laundry would be closed after 7pm too when staffs retire for the evening. Across the road is a fast food joint (Red Rooster) though and Coles is just about 10-15 minutes walk away.
Just a room for a night. Leave a Comment
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