Travel Review: Custom Australia Family Vacation, Sydney, Adelaide, Barossa Valley, Darwin, Ayers Rock, Bonza Bike Tour

Just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the great work you did for us in organizing our Australian vacation. I truly appreciate it. I also want to take a minute to give you some feedback on a couple of items on the trip – so you can fold them into future trips – I hope this is useful. 1. I wouldn’t use the AOT transport services again – or at least – warn people that this is a ‘group’ transit service – I would particularly not use it for people’s arrival in Sydney. When we arrived, we were exhausted and in need of a shower, a change of clothes and a stretch. The van service was not on time – and then after he arrived (late) he informed us that we needed to wait for the arrival of another group of travelers on another flight. This was not good. 2. The Four Seasons in Sydney (I know you didn’t organize this but just FYI) was comfortable but oh my heavens all the extras were expensive. 3. The bike tour with Bonza was TERRIFIC. Interesting, just the right amount of exercise and just long enough. Also run by really nice and helpful young people. It also gave us a great overview of a couple of places we wanted to go back to on another day. 4. The Medina in Adelaide had huge, very well provisioned hotel rooms – these were more like apartments, including full kitchens, living rooms and eating areas. Similar (although larger) than an Embassy suites room in the US. I would strongly recommend this. But the breakfast service was TERRIBLE. Took forever. And every day the same orders resulted in slightly different meals! 5. Cleland Wildlife Park in Adelaide is a great way for people with a short amount of time to directly experience Aussie wildlife. We petted a koala. We hand fed Kangaroos etc. 6. Jacob’s Creek Winery has a nice Napa-style tasting room of the old style – they will let you taste pretty much anything for no cost. 7. The Barossa Valley is beautiful and a great way to spend a day wine tasting – only about an hour out of Adelaide. 8. Darwin isn’t worth going to – my husband and his brother did the WW2 stuff but my son and I were totally bored. 9. The hotel we were in in Darwin (I’m sorry, I”ve forgotten the name – was it a Sofitel?) had that kind of oldy-moldy-airconditioner under the window feel about it that didn’t make me want to ever go back. I would not recommend it again. And the concierge (when asked for a recommendation for a fish restaurant) sent us to a Chinese all you can eat buffet restaurant. Not sure where the fish was supposed to be. UGH. Net net – not very nice all around. 10. We really enjoyed our 1 ½ days at Ayers Rock – especially the Sounds of Silence and the Kata Tjuta walking tour (where we ran into one of our neighbors!!!) The location and layout of the hotel was quite nice but WARNING – The ENTIRE PUBLIC AREA of SAILS ON THE DESERT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION – no restaurants, no lobby etc.. This was not a problem for US – we walked over to the Desert Garden for dinner (where dinner was one of the best meals we had in Australia) but probably would be for most people – I wouldn’t send anybody else there until the construction is done. Also – if people want to play tennis, tell them to take their own tennis balls – the hotel will ‘loan’ you a couple of aged ones but they won’t sell you a fresh can! 11. Hamilton Island Reef View was OUTSTANDING. I don’t know what you and AOT did, but our room, on the top floor of the hotel, was extensive, comfortable and had a terrific view. We also had absolutely personal service from a concierge, from picking us up at the airport – to giving us special recommendations for recreation options – to making our dinner reservations every night. She reached out to US as opposed to us chasing her. I would recommend this hotel to any of my friends or colleagues. 12. In terms of activities, though, I would suggest – if people can afford it – that they not use the big ‘group’ trip out the reef. The platform they have attached to the reef has clearly been there for quite some time. The reef is worn out there – it does NOT represent the beauty and diversity of the Great Barrier Reef. If there’s another more ‘private’ option, I would take it – or put a reef visit elsewhere in my trip. This was kind of sad, honestly. 13. The guys took the helicopter back from the reef to the hotel (there wasn’t enough seats for all of us ) and really enjoyed it – this trip went over the white silicon sand beach and the ‘heart’ reef. It was beautiful, apparently. 14. The Holiday Inn in Sydney is in a great location and fine for the basics (pretty good breakfast buffet) but after the Reef View………..sigh. It was a return to reality. That’s it – hope the feedback is useful.