Perth in 3 days - help please.

[Britdragonlady]

I'm arriving in Perth for a three night stay ( it was supposed to be longer but my friend there has blown me out and is not going to be about!) . I've never been to Perth so have no idea where to stay / do I need to hire a car/ what to see etc ?
I've also no idea whether to book a cab or take a shuttle from the airport to wherever I end up staying ( I won't want to pick up a car as will have had a few drinks on the flight from HKG ) ? Two of us travelling ( husband and I - both allegedly now " middle aged :shock:").
Thanks in advance
BDL

 

[craven morehead]

Are you a member of any Hotel loyalty program ?

 

[Cynicor]

Stay somewhere walking distance to a train line and taxi from the airport.

The hilton is ok if in your price range. Crown is the casino and the train line is slightly unsavoury.

Fremantle is a common place for people to visit.

Also Cottesmore beach and possibly rottnest. Hillarys boat harbour is an ok place to have a drink and maybe some food.

Bear in mind food/eating out in Perth is expensive, worse than the east coast and Switzerland.

 

[Britdragonlady]

Thanks both- I'm Accor Plat, SPG Gold, Hyatt Gold, Club Carlsson Gold .Had looked at the Hilton but no exec lounge that I can see. Australia hasn't been brilliant previously in acknowledging my Accor Plat status ( unlike Hilton when I was Gold with them). All of Australia seems expensive these days :shock:
BDL

 

[straitman]

There are a free AFFers in Perth so you should be able to catch up with a few of them for a dinner or two.
Cove & Bundy Bear are just a couple of the reprobates you could run into.

 

[zig]

Australia hasn't been brilliant previously in acknowledging my Accor Plat status ( unlike Hilton when I was Gold with them). All of Australia seems expensive these days :shock:
BDL

Accor are not great at acknowledging Plat status in Australia unfortunately. There is a thread which you might find helpful, although I think most of the posts relate to the east coast, not the west. How does Accor treat you an an Elite guest? Perth accommodation can be expensive.

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Definitely hire a car but since you will both be drinking on the plane maybe a taxi to your hotel and then collect a car the following day.

Perth is a great place (I'm biased I guess since I live here!!)

1. Swan valley tour. Mash brewery for lunch, Margaret river chocolate factory for morning tea (it's along west swan road) you can also stop in at some of the wineries, cheese factories. Basically just drive along west swan road until the end where you will reach great northern highway set of lights and then turn right and come back down south along great northern highway.

2. Breakfast along cottesloe and a walk along the beach is great. Dinner at Hillaries boat harbour is also quite nice (Hippo Creek being my favourite for steak otherwise fish and chips from sharkys is great)

3. If here on a weekend, breakfast at the Beaufort street merchant is great, Fremantle markets, drive up he Coast along west coast highway from Scarborough to Hillaries, walk along the south perth foreshore after getting a coffee from mends street,

I could go on and on...

What dates are you here so I can let you know if anything is on while you are here.

 

[puppysparkes]

Without knowing your flight details etc I would suggest a taxi to your hotel is the best option. Hire a car the following day. Buses are available if you can be bothered. Search the hotel thread if you're stuck for accommodation. A few AFF members have been disappointed with the major chains. Sorry I can't comment on hotels as I've only ever transited thought WA.

 

[casanovawa]

I'm sure you will survive hear in Perth without going bankrupt...

Few good ideas here, depends what you are into and what your budget is...

 

[Britdragonlady]

I'm sure you will survive hear in Perth without going bankrupt...

LOL I won't be bankrupt when I get to Perth but I may be bankrupt when I leave MEL three weks later :shock::shock:! Again thanks for all the ideas.
Currently looking at the Hyatt/ Duxton/ Hilton/ Rydges who all seem much of a muchness ( and who all charge exorbitant rates for parking......).

Thoughts ?
BDL

 

[Britdragonlady]

What dates are you here so I can let you know if anything is on while you are here.

Arriving late on the 22nd Jan ( CX from HKG) and dparting on the 25th for Canberra ( to celebrate Australia day with one of my oldest friends).

 

[The Rok]

Eh? Personally I would go for the holiday inn on hay street just for the location.

All Perth hotels are a joke at best. The big chain "premium" brands take the pis5....

Remortgage your house and you can just about afford KFC

I second Hippo Creek though, or else Tony Roma's on hay street for the ribs...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Arriving late on the 22nd Jan ( CX from HKG) and dparting on the 25th for Canberra ( to celebrate Australia day with one of my oldest friends).

Rendezvous at Scarborough is showing 3 nights for the dates you want (20% off) starting at $175/nite or club room for $279 which includes B/fast, canapés and parking. I stayed there early last year and it was the best value of all the hotels (IMHO) and the hotel has been recently refurbished. If you didn't want the club, there's a great breakfast eatery just a short walk south (great breakfast, but I can't remember the name...some locals might be able to help out) and there's a supermarket and bottle shop just across the road (make your own happy hour ). Hillarys is just up the road a bit and the hotel is right on the beach. They also appear to be affiliated with TFE Hotels which is new, so I haven't looked to see if there are any loyalty perks to be had.

In my opinion, in Perth you need a hire car. I'd hate to pay a cab fare to go down to Freemantle and that's a must see. Three days will fly by so enjoy!

EDIT: Nearly forgot, if you don't want a hotel, I've also used Stayz to book apartments. I've found some great value there (although more so when travelling with family of 5)

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

Arriving late on the 22nd Jan ( CX from HKG) and dparting on the 25th for Canberra ( to celebrate Australia day with one of my oldest friends).

Oh you just miss Australia Day in Perth. It's quite big here as we usually have around 300,000 people go around the foreshore and we have 30 mins of fireworks all done to an Aussie day soundtrack. I'm pretty sure we are the only state that does it.

Since you will be here at the hottest time of the year, then staying around Scarborough is probably the best bet.

I would also head across to Rotto (Rottnest Island) for the day as well. Just make sure you book your tickets from Fremantle as they are cheaper and just drive to the ferry terminal and park

 

[Britdragonlady]

Just a quick update- I liked the look of the Rendezvous but was worried it was too far out. A great rate ( and it was a great rate) appeared today for a Club room at the Pan Pacific which was just too good to turn down so I booked it PDQ before it disappeared.The parking charges are eye watering but this seems to be the norm for Perth. I may even try and manage without a car
:shock:.
Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.

 

[stoneman]

Rendevous is a long way out being in Scarborough..

A suggestion is a brand new hotel in Ascot ( suburb next to Dom airport ) called ' International on the water'. Absolute luxury on the swan river. Makes the other 5 star hotels look ordinary. It is however built in a unique little area of the horse racing industry and you will see people riding and leading horses around the streets..

You will definitely need a car in Perth, the trains are dangerous at the best of times, the buses are erratic and the taxis very expensive compared to the rest of the country. A 4min ride from the Domestic airport to my house in Ascot is $20.

The best deal on car hire ( not using the usual majors) is a company called Bayswater Care Hire- No birds! Cars are near brand new and very good rates - google them.

 

[UP4014]

Eh? Personally I would go for the holiday inn on hay street just for the location.

All Perth hotels are a joke at best. The big chain "premium" brands take the pis5....

I can only agree with this 100%. My last couple of stays have been at the Sebel East Perth and whoa, who would expect mould and poor service at their rates.

Holiday Inn Hay street will do the job and you might get away without needing a car.

Matt

 

[Kiwi]

I lived in Perth 2 yrs and have visited many times.

I think staying in City better unless really into beach at Scarborough. I agee that may not need car.

Accomdation not that cheap. I was a bit surprised that could get ensuite room at an old pub in the city at the Melbourne for $110 a night. I think a pint of beer is something like $12 there. I might stay there a couple of nights Oct to see what it is like.

I will be in Perth 11-13 Oct. Have spoken to Bundy Bear about meeting up in Fremantle and would be keen to meet other AFFers when in Perth at that time.