Breakfast in bed? A night in a swish hotel? Pampering in a day spa? How about all of the above?  Write yourself into the good books this Mother’s Day.  Most Mums would appreciate a great night out, a bit of relaxation and some time out.

The InterContinental Perth Burswood is Perth’s leading luxury hotel, located beside the Swan River and set on 100 hectares of landscaped gardens and parklands. The Complex includes 7 Restaurants, 9 Bars, 24-hr Casino, nightclub, theatre, heated indoor pool, tropical outdoor pools, health & fitness centre with sauna, spa and steam rooms, tennis courts, day spa, hairdresser, boutique shops and a world-class 18-hole golf course.  Book your Mum a night in a Club Intercontinental Room (around AU$400 per night) so she can retreat to her sanctuary of all day refreshments, evening cocktails, canapes, continental breakfast and valet parking. 

The Langham Melbourne is located in Southbank amid a variety of cafes, restaurants, shops and the Melbourne Arts Precinct. This elegant hotel features a grand marble staircase, cascading fountains and twinkling chandeliers. The renowned Chuan Spa is the ultimate venue to revive your mind, body and soul.  With up to 40% discount, Mum would love to be pampered in a Club Classic Room (now around AU$420 per night) including complimentary breakfast, tea and coffee throughout the day and evening drinks with hors d’oeuvres served in the Langham Club.

Book a room for Mum at the Radisson Plaza Sydney and save yourself 56% off their standard rate for the Club room – now just AU$290 per night.  This intimate, 5-star boutique hotel is housed within a stunning heritage listed building in the heart of the city. The Radisson Plaza Club Lounge is a split level area on the 10th floor serving deluxe hot buffet breakfast, refreshments throughout the day and evening cocktails with canapes.  Mum can take the night off ironing by taking advantage of the pressing service for 2 items, before heading out for a night on the town.

Adelaide’s Stamford Plaza is conveniently located on North Terrace opposite the Convention Centre and SkyCity Casino.  The hotel features three restaurants and two bars with regular live entertainment, rooftop heated pool, spa, sauna and gymnasium. Book Mum into a Park View Room on the Executive Floor, save yourself 65% on the standard rate (now from AU$225 per night), and she can enjoy a hot and cold buffet breakfast, all day refreshments and evening drinks with canapes in the Executive Lounge.

With so many great savings on hotel deals, check out our range of last minute discount hotel rates and find a great deal on a hotel for Mum – she deserves a night off!

Fortunately for the travel industry, the Easter Bilby has not become the latest victim of the current economic downturn.  Domestic travel within Australia and short international breaks are proving popular Easter holiday options, especially as the break co-incides with most states’ school holidays!   Many airlines are offering fantastic deals on airfares, especially within Australia and across the Pacific to New Zealand and USA.  Here are some egg-cellent ideas for your Easter egg-scape!

Eggs-hilaration, egg-citement, egg-cercise, eggs-treme adreneline!  Take the Cairns Biggest Adventure Day Out with unlimited bungy jumping ad Minjin jungle swing.  AJ Hackett’s Cairns tower straddles a clear and natural jungle pool, adorned by a series of sparkling waterfalls and surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. The view from the top is breathtaking and spectacular, it takes in the magnificent Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef.  This package allows unlimited jumping between 10:00am and 3:30pm, on the same day. It has been designed specifically for the more adventurous thrill seeker.   Why not go white-water rafting on the Barron River or  diving in the Great Barrier Reef.  Save around 65% off the nightly accommodation rate at Rydges Tradewinds Hotel Cairns by booking an oceanvew room, plus pay just $1 more to have breakfast included.

Feeling eggs-asperated, eggs-hausted, need to egg-scape?  Head to the Hunter Valley and NSW Wine Country.  Whilst the area is famous for its great wines, there are also a number of other activities to discover and enjoy – from beautiful art galleries, gardens, bicycle tours & hot air ballooning.    Wake up early one morning and take a Hot Air Balloon flight over the Hunter Valley.  Gently float across the skies and view the spectacular scenery from a totally different perspective.  The Sebel Kirkton Park Hunter Valley is set within a 100 hectare estate and offers superb accommodation, indoor pool & tennis court.  Stay in a Heritage Room and relax out on the verandah with table & chair for two, soak up the views of manicured gardens, through to valley views with the Brokenback ranges in the background.   It’s eggs-actly what the doctor ordered. 

Avoid eggs-horbitent hotel rates by checking out our range of last minute hotel deals for bookings inside 28days.  Some of the hotel deals will egg-ceed your eggs-pectations.

Do something to egg-cite the kids – check out an eggs-hibition, take them on an eggs-cursion, anything to get them out of the house before you eggs-plode!  They will need to burn off all the sugar from the chocolate eggs and Easter buns.  Check out our egg-cellent range of tours here.

As an Eggs-clusive Easter Bonus for our customers, www.Hotel.com.au are offering a $50 Easter Cashback for eligible hotel bookings – view all the conditions here.

It happens every year, we say we are going to get organised and book early, but again, we leave things to the last minute.  It seems that planning for New Years’ Eve is no exception.  Many hotels are already fully booked, some will bump up their peak season rates or enforce a minimum stay.  Thankfully the www.Hotel.com.au website has a listing of available hotels with last minute deals.

Happy New Year - Last Minute Hotel Deals

NYE in Melbourne will feature 2 free fireworks shows and 6 party sites along the Yarra River.  All precints are alcohol free zones.  Alexandra Gardens - family fun with children’s entertainment, family music and movies;  Birrarung Marr – home to the young, with up and coming battle of the bands talent and movies;  Federation Square – live bands including headlining funk and reggae band Bomba;  Southgate – has a Masquerade theme, with roving performers and acrobats;  NewQuay – Latin dancers and music on the promenade, along with a spectacular light show and  Waterfront City – will also present free family entertainment and rock bands.

More than a million people line the Sydney Harbour area on NYE for the annual fireworks display.  But you WILL have to plan early to get a good spot (for the super-keen, even a day in advance), with prized city-side positions including Circular Quay, the Opera House steps and The Rocks, and hot North Shore spots including the Kirribilli and Milsons Point foreshores.

In Queensland, head to Mackay for an old fashioned NYE Street Party.  Family-focused entertainment starts early evening on the City Heart roundabout.  There will be amusement rides, face painting, novelty balloons, glow lights and a mid-evening fireworks display. Later, the fun gets funky with live bands taking you through to see the New Year in with a fireworks spectacular on the Pioneer River.  Caloundra will also host a street party with FREE fun, movies & entertainment. There will be a jumping castle, merry-go-round, clowns, face painters, stilt walkers, magicians, balloon twisting, snow cones. Fireworks at Kings Beach Rolling Surf Resort.

The City of Adelaide is hosting a 2008/2009 Fireworks Spectacular - a fantastic family night of free entertainment and music. Sing along to classic kids songs with Aussie icon Peter Combe and the Juicy Juicy Green Grass Band then the boogie to the popular children’s group, the ever-energetic Casio Brothers. Family fireworks display at 9.00pm followed by party band Mr Buzzy who’ll get you grooving til the biggest fireworks display in SA at midnight.

The skies of Hobart will come alive with a family fireworks display in Sullivans Cove at 9.30pm and a grand fireworks display on the waterfront at midnight.  There will be a DJ zone in the City Forecourt and street dancing along the waterfront. Sideshow Alley will provide face painting and entertainers for the family.

Even celebrations in Canberra go off with a bang!  New Year’s Eve in the City is a great family event, with live entertainment and two spectacular fireworks shows at 9pm and Midnight, delicious food and drink and all in the city centre!   

Whether its Fireworks, Harbour and River Cruises, Clubs and Bars, outdoor family festivals or just a quiet evening with friends, book a hotel for the night.  Forget the stress of standing in the never-ending taxi queue or the middle of the night traffic jams.  Stay Safe!

With a Public Holiday long weekend coming up in most Australian states, it’s a great time to check out some of our great last minute hotel deals. 

You don’t have to travel too far, why not head into your nearest capital city or regional area.  Do some fun activities with the family – check out the zoo, cruise on the local ferry, go to the movies or just walk around the local parks and gardens.

I think we might head for the Goldfields area of Victoria – I have been waiting to check out the facilities at the new Novotel Forest Resort in Creswick.  It is located partway between Daylesford and Ballarat and less than a 90 minute drive out of the city of Melbourne.  A beautiful new 4 and a half star resort on 150 acres in Victoria’s Spa Country complete with Robert Allenby designed championship golf course; tennis courts; fitness centre and outdoor children’s playground.  All the rooms have balconies and spa baths and chic, modern furnishings. 

The kids will love Ballarat and the Underground Goldmine Adventure Tour.  I can head to my favourite retreat at Hepburn Springs for my ‘Revival Pamper’ – a 20 minute aroma spa, 45 minute massage followed by a 45 minute facial. Hepburn Springs Tours and spa packages.

I wonder what you might plan for the next long weekend?