|
 |
|
Details and links to some of our favourite
places to eat, sleep and other useful services are listed below.
Our recomendations are mixed. Some are for budget travellers
and in context were for us excellent service and real value
for money (not necessarily the luxury you may find at home)
some are very luxurious like some of the palaces we stayed in
India. We have also listed a few good places to burn digital
photos on CDs.
|
 |
|
|
HONG KONG
|
 |
|
Hong Kong
The Salisbury - YMCA
41 Salisbury Road,
Kowloon, Hong-Kong, PRC
Telephone: (852) 2268 7000
Online booking possible
We keep a fond memory of the YMCA, mainly
because we booked a standard room and got upgraded to a suite.
That said, the location is great, just over the road from the
harbour, and the rooms are very comfortable. This is a great
mid-range hotel.
|
|
|
|
VIETNAM
|
 |
|
Hanoi
Prince Hotel
Add: 51 Lng Ngc Quyn St,
Hanoi, Vietnam
Telephone: (84-4) 8280155 / 9287138
www.hanoiprincehotel.com
Online booking possible
Recommended to us by the French guide "Le
Routard", this little hotel in old Hanoi is simple and
clean. The receptionnists speak good english, they have an airport
service, some excursions and breakfast is included, just what
you need in Hanoi.
|
| |
|
|
Dalat
Easy Riders
Truong Phuoc Tien (tintin)
French and English speaking easyrider
Telephone: 063 816 159
(After 7:30 every evening)
The 'Easy Riders' offer bespoke motorcycle
tours and are very friendly and well worth meeting. Had a great
day on the back of their motobikes and we recommend them highly.
A welcome change from the usual official guides.
|
| |
| |
|
Dalat
Easy Riders
Nguyen Huu Hong (Ross)
English speaking
Telephone: 063 836015
Mobile: 0918 564 831
From 8am to 11pm everyday
|
| |
 |
|
Saigon
Hotel 64
64 Bui Vien
St Distr. 1, Saigon
Telephone: 84-8-8365073
This hotel is clean and well located but also has a nice family atmosphere.
The receptionist speaks good english and they offer great breakfast and drinks for free during the day.
|
|
|
|
CAMBODIA
|
 |
|
Siem Reap
Home Sweet Home
Number 0111 Wat Bo Village
Salakamroek commune
Siem Reap, Cambodia
www.catgen.com/sweethome
It took us a while to find the right place
to stay in Siem Reap despite the recommendations in our guidebooks.
In the end, we found this lovely hotel by ourselves. It was
a couple of dollars more but well worth it with AC, TV and brand
new.
|
|
|
|
THAILAND
|
| |
|
Bangkok
Restaurant (Shanti Lodge)
37 Sri Ayuthuya road,
Soi 16, Si Sou Tewet
Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: 66 –2 281 2497
This place is just like a tree house, very
laid back, shared bathrooms and bamboo walls. Not too keen on
the cold showers and mosquitos but the food here is really excellent.
|
|
|
|
INDIA
|
| |
|
Agra
Taj view
Taj Ganj
Fatehbad road
Agra, 282 001
This is a proper chic hotel. The furniture
is carefully chosen, the bathrooms offer lovely samples and
the breakfast is out of this world and the view is the Taj Mahal.
Aah!
|
| |
 |
|
Samode
Hotel Samode Palace
Samode
Rajasthan 303806
This heritage hotel has been featured in
all the gossy deco magazines. Each room is different and it
really feels like staying in a Maharadjah's palace. The photo
is one of the poshest suites, (yes we got upgraded again).
|
| |
| |
|
Jaisalmer
Hotel Fort Rajwada
1 -Hotel Complex
Jodhpur - Barmer Link road
Jaisalmer 345 001
Tel : 91 - 2992 - 253233
This hotel is outside Jaisalmer fortress
and doesn't qualify as a backpacker place either. It's beautiful, nicely decorated
and has a lovely swimming pool.
|
| |
 |
|
Narlai
Hotel Rawla Narlai
Narlai, near Desuri
District Palli, Rajasthan
tel: 02934 - 282 425, 282 143
Tucked away in the little village of Narlai,
this palace is beautiful and peaceful. Nothing to do there apart
from getting henna tatoos and enjoying opium tea with the local
farmers.
|
| |
 |
|
Ranakpur
Fatebagh
Ranakpur
Just finished. We were some of their first
customers. The owner and is wife had the mammoth task of moving
the entire palace 50km stone by stone and transforming it into
a hotel. Each room as a theme and has fantastic attention to
detail.
|
|
|
|
CHINA
|
| |
|
Shanghai
Nan Jing hotel
200 Shan Xi Road
South Shanghai
China 200001
tel: 86 21 63222888
This is a classic business hotel. Nothing special we felt but an excellent location in Shangai.
|
| |
| |
|
Beijing
Harmony hotel
Youtong Street
(no 59 Suzhou Hutong)
Dong Cheng District
Beijing PRC
tel: (010)6528 5566
Again this is a typical business hotel but the location is excellent and worth the
extra RMB compared to a YHA especially if you can be several to share a room. They do great chinese and western buffet breakfast too
|
| |
 |
|
Beijing
Dumpling house
This is THE place to eat dumplings in Beijing.
Very busy and popular, you choose your type of dumplings from
a menu (they have some english translation) and indicate how
many you want. Yum.
|
| |
| |
|
Suzhou
Dumpling house
Yang Yang Shui Jiao Guan
144 Shi Quan Jie
Suzhou
tel:651 927 28
Recommended by the Lonely Planet, this is one of the best dumpling places
we found outside Beijing. New, cheap and clean restaurant.
|
|
|
|
AUSTRALIA
|
| |
|
Brisbane
George Seafood
150 Boundary St, West End
Brisbane, Australia
Telephone: 3844 4100
This is a recommendation from Jason. If you are english and love a good
fish and chips, then this one qualifies.
|
| |
| |
|
Alice Springs
Red Rock Cafe
60 Todd Mall
Alice Springs NT 0870
This one is a recommendation from Sarah. Fantastic pain au chocolat
croissants and coffee. Who would have expected that from Alice Springs ?!
|
| |
 |
|
Coober Pedy
Ranaka's downunder Dugout Motel & Backpackers
www.radekadownunder.com.au
tel: (08) 8672 5223
For the real underground experience for a
decent price, excellent friendly service, videos, free tea and
coffee: this is the place.
|
| |
| |
|
Car Rental
No frills
or Melbourne Snappy Car rental
This is just to reassure people who would
wonder - like us - about using a local rental company instead
of the big names. No frills in Adelaide gave us a reasonable
price and a great car. |
| |
| |
|
Sydney
Eva's backpackers
www.evasbackpackers.com.au
We really enjoyed the nice atmosphere and
quality of this backpackers place in Sydney. Nice kitchen, bathroom
and free internet. Really good service, breakfast included,
clean and comfortable rooms.
|
|
|
|
NEW ZEALAND
|
| |
|
Te Anau
YHA Te Anau
Out of all the YHA and backpackers places
we visited in Oz and NZ, this one remains in our mind one of
the nicest. The communal rooms, the overall layout of the building
and location are great.
|
| |
| |
|
Dunedin
Chalet Backpackers
296 High Street, Dunedin
Tel: (03) 479 2075
This was just a blessing after lots of cold
backpakers places (we were in NZ in Winter). The chalet is warm,
really nicely furnished, comfy and well priced. Better than
the YHA nearby.
|
| |
| |
|
Rorotua
Kiwi Packa YHA
tel: 347 0931
In the heart of Rotorua, this YHA is motel
like. Thanks to the geothermal natural wonders of Rotorua, the
YHA will always be a warm place and have lots of hot water.
The rooms and the services are good.
|
| |
| |
|
Christchurch
Digital Station Ltd
3/140 Gloucester Street
Christchurch
643 374 5360
If you need the internet or a get a photo
CD burned in Christchuch this place is the best. There are lots
of internet cafes in town but most are a bit overpriced. A charming
guy called Serguey has all the set up to burn CDs at a reasonnable
prices and he is very friendly.
|
|
|
|
CHILE
|
| |
|
Santiago
Almacen y Cafeteria "la Rosa"
Merced 291, near Plaza Italia
Santiago Centro
If you are ever bored of 'Completos' and
'Baros jarpa', this place offers lovely cappucinos and croissants
just like a French bakery. Not recommended in any guide, it's
one of the best places for a nice breakfast we found. Not far
from Parque Forrestal.
|
| |
| |
|
Santiago
Café Torés
Av. Libertador Bernardo O´Higgins 2113
Santiago Centro
688 4328
A really helpful and charming guy called
Martin has just opened this nice new cafe and internet place.
He speaks english and really understands the business. We hope
he will get plenty more customers.
|
| |
| |
|
Santiago
Domino chain
This is a popular chain for Completos and
fruit juices. A great selection of hot dogs, sandwiches and
breakfasts. Not the cheapest in town but worth the experience.
It's always full. Just sit at the
counter and munch away.
|
| |
| |
|
La Serena
Alejandro's colonial house
Alejandro Munoz,
Brazil 720
La Serena
tel: 09 0865 132 (mobile)
Alejandro picked us up at the bus station
and shared with us his passion for France. He knows everything
about France and french culture but also speaks english and
sing along his CD of Chicago (the musical). He enjoys chatting
and gave us tip for visits around La Serena.
|
| |
| |
|
San Pedro de l'Atacama
Cactus Cafe
Caracoles 295 B
San Pedro is said to be the most cosmopolitan
place in Chile. It's very touristy and most cafes are really
cool but very expensive. This place dosn't look great but its
cheap, very clean and the breakfasts are great.
|
|
|
|
PERU
|
| |
|
Lima
Hostal Iquique
Jr Iquique 758
Brena
Lima
(511) 423 3699
This backpackers hotel is close to the historic
centre so you can easily walk and see the sights. It's a well
organised hostal with clean rooms, cable TV and ensuite bathrooms.
|
| |
| |
|
Lima
Panko's Bakery
Garcilaso de la Vega 1296
Lima
424 9079
The Lonely Planet recommened this place and
they were spot on. Really nice cakes, croissants and all sorts
of goodies at very good prices. Coffee and tea's are all served
sweet. A very popular bakery with seating inside and always
busy.
|
| |
| |
|
Cusco
Buon Pastore Bakery
Cuesta San Blas 575
Cusco
24 3062
If you fancy a coffee and a cake in Cusco,
this is the perfect alibi as the proceeds go to a charity for
young local women. We liked it very much. Bon Apetit!
|
|
|
|
USA
|
 |
|
San Francisco
Hotel Astoria
510 Bush St
San Francisco
CA 94108 USA
(415) 434 8889
www.hotelastoria-sf.com
Centrally located and at the low end of the hotel
prices in SF. If you are not into doing the Backpacking hostel thing in SF, then this is a good option. Clean
and comfortable and nice service.
|
| |
|
|
