HotelChatter

Australia Hotels

Is Australia's Emma Gorge Resort Gorgeous?

March 23, 2007 at 8:53 AM | 0 Comments

Not every traveler Down Under makes it as far into the outback as the Kimberley region in the north-eastern tip of Western Australia, but everyone who does has the experience of a lifetime. And if you're going to explore one of the most isolated patches of the globe, why not do it in style? Our tip is the Emma Gorge Resort in the El Questro Wilderness Park.

Located one hour from the nearest town, Kununurra (unless the road's closed in the wet season), Emma Gorge Resort is luxury in tents. To be precise, you sleep in what they call Tented Cabins, because they:

allow you to stay in comfort and style, while still remaining close to nature, in complete harmony with the surrounding landscape. The raised roofs of the Tented Cabins allow the tropical sounds and scents to filter through, as you drift off to sleep.

We also rather like it that the restaurant has a "retractable roof for star-gazing during dinner". While you're staying there, a number of wonders of nature are within striking distance, like the Zebedee Thermal Springs and the Cockburn Ranges, or a cruise through the Chamberlain Gorge. One recent guest called Emma Gorge Resort the luxury within nature, and said that they've left the real world unspoiled. If you're an outback fan, then this desert surprise might suit you. But if you'd rather catch the city lights, stay south.

[Photo: Rosky]

Related Stories:
· Emma Gorge Resort reviews [TripAdvisor]
· When Camping Turns Luxury Down Under [HotelChatter]

Australia Hotels

Cubicle Dreamin': Longitude 131 at Ayers Rock

December 27, 2006 at 9:25 AM | 0 Comments

Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.

In this episode, Hotel Maven Amanda K lets us know where she would go in her homeland of Australia. Enjoy.

Take me right into the dead center of Australia, where you have to be careful of heat, snakes and thirst so that you don't end up dead yourself, and then give me luxury. Put me in front of the totally enchanting Uluru (Ayers Rock) and this'd be heaven. That's why I spend wintry nights dreaming of staying at Longitude 131 luxury Australian outback experience.

With a maximum of 30 guests, and no children under 15 allowed, a full window on the rock side of your luxury tent-shaped room gives you a sunrise view of Uluru without leaving the air-conditioning. You can eat in the restaurant or take the typical Uluru "eat under the stars" exerience to a new level of luxury. Add the swimming pool, 24-hour bar and even a library and you have heaven for me, even before I read this:

As far from anywhere else as you can be. As close as possible to serenity. Rejuvenation for the body. Stimulation for the mind. Liberation for the spirit.

I know it's advertising, but I believe it, and I really, really want to go!

[Photo: iPhotograph]

Related Stories:
· Longitude 131 reviews [TripAdvisor]

Google Earth Hotels

Google Earth Views: Al Maha Desert Plunge Pools & Dry Heat

October 12, 2006 at 11:11 AM | 0 Comments

Each of the 40 Bedouin-style suites at the Al Maha Desert Resort comes complete with plunge pool and 180 degree views of the dunes.  The kind of place Luke Skywalker and his moisture-farming family would have developed on Tatooine if the Rebels paid him well for all his hard work.

Oh, and according to a tipster, it is a dry heat:

We went during at the hottest time of year, however the humidity is far less than it is in the city and beach and with your own infinity pool to cool off in during the heat of the day and a buggy that will pick you up from your suite and take you anywhere you want to go the 44 degrees heat seemed strangely bearable!

This tipster must be from Phoenix.  Those Arizona folks are always talking about this mysterious dry heat.

Check out Al Maha on Google Maps below, walking home drunk from Dubai center doesn't look like an option.

Related Stories:
· Al Maha Desert Resort [Google Maps]
· Al Maha Desert Reviews [TripAdvisor]