HotelChatter

Longitude 131, part of Voyages Hotels & Resorts, is modeled after a luxury Botswana safari camp, and cost $15 million Australian dollars to build.

Thirty-three full-time staff members serve a maximum of 30 guests. So as you can imagine, the service is excellent.

THE ROOMS:All 15 rooms (tents) are named after famous Australian explorers. The rooms have basically the same layout, but contain different artifacts of each explorer. I was in Ernest Giles’ room. The rooms are so incredible that I had to say "Wow" when I opened the door. And when the bellboy said, "Welcome to your tent" I replied, "Now this is my kind of camping!"

Each tent has mesmerizing views of Uluru. They can be enjoyed through an enormous glass wall that comes complete with a sliding glass door, and a screen for fresh air. Inside the room I didn’t feel like I was in the Outback at all. There were marble floors, a very comfortable king-size bed, a desk, air conditioning, a large shower (with firm water pressure), and a mini-bar that was free for raiding (everything at the hotel is included in the price, except Champagne).

Best of all, there were no bugs! Little touches included the bathroom mirrors, which slid to the side so I could stare out at Uluru while shaving or in the shower.

And next to the bed, the light switch featured a remote control for the blinds. That meant each morning, when my dawn wake-up call arrived (so I could watch the sunrise), I didn’t have to get out of bed. I just flipped the switch, opened the curtains -- and stared in awe.

DUNE HOUSE: The main building, the Dune House, is where the front desk is located, along with the dining hall, a 24/7 open bar with a good selection of Australia beer and wine, couches, chairs, and a computer with free but slow internet access (no wireless yet).

Just in front of the Dune House is a small pool. Most guests come out to the Red Center for either two or three nights. Longitude 131 primarily attracts visitors from North America and Europe.

However, I met a few Australian couples celebrating a significant birthday or anniversary. What’s great about Longitude 131 is that everyone meets each other, because all the guests go on tours together and all three meals are communal. There is no room service.

DINING: At breakfast (6:15 to 10 a.m.) and lunch (12 to 2:30 p.m.), the dining room tables are split into threes. At dinner (usually around 8:15 p.m.), the tables are pushed together to make one gigantic seating. Before dinner the staff serves sunset drinks and h’ors d’oeuvres, either outside on the dune top or in the Dune House.

If you’re lucky and the weather cooperates one night (it is offered every other night), you can dine at table 131 -- outside under the stars. Unfortunately, the wind kicked up and I ate inside both nights.

The food is excellent, and I enjoyed every meal. That’s saying something, for a finicky eater like me. After dinner, a staff member well-versed in astronomy gives lessons on the Southern night sky.

TOURS: Visitors can participate in a number of tours and activities. Guests staying at Longitude 131 don’t have to worry about pre-booking or coordinating anything; it’s all been arranged, and included in the rate.

Everyone is free to participate in all or none of the tours. There are usually two tours a day (morning and afternoon). You don’t want to miss them. They are either to Uluru or Kata Tjuta, the two places you came to explore.

The guides provide cold water and fly nets; they also bring snacks and/or serve Champagne.

RATES: Both Uluru and Longitude 131 can’t really be described, only experienced. So the next time you make it to Australia, be sure to include a trip out to the Red Center. Longitude 131: rates $1,000 AUS per tent per night (minimum two-night stay); includes all meals, beverages, touring and airport transfers. Tel.: 61-8-8957-7121.

Go here for more pictures from Johnny Jet's stay at Longitude 131.

Check out where our other VIP Hotel Reviewers have stayed.

Tags: VIP Hotel Reviewer Series / Johnny Jet / Luxury Tents / Luxury Camping

by johnnyjet