It was a brilliant trip!

“It was a brilliant trip!”

Written on: 20/06/2012 by alanmurphy3532 (1 review written)

Firstly, all your arrangements, especially airport transfers, worked like clockwork. Thanks so much for that.

There were so many highlights that it's difficult to choose the best.
However, I'll give it a go.
Ayers Rock sunset and sunrise tours highly recommended; Sounds of Silence dinner absolutely unmissable.
Outback Pioneer Hotel OK for facilities and comfort but maybe a bit of a "backpacking" hangover. Also 15/20 minutes dusty walk from "downtown".

Mercure airport hotel at Sydney was fine and just as expected. Handy for the train into the city from Wolli Creek station (15 minutes walk away); also ran a (reasonably priced) shuttle bus service to both airport terminals - that was useful.

Loved the Blue Mountains self drive tour. Oz drivers are very courteous so no problems on the road. The itinerary pack from ATS Pacific was very comprehensive. Hotels varied from motel style (Alpine Motor Inn), to unashamed luxury (HunterResort), with All Seasons Salamander at Port Stephens medium, but very acceptable, quality. All very comfortable, equipped and well located. ATS may consider extending this trip by an extra day - we could have spent more time in Hunter Valley.

Absolutely loved Hong Kong, total culture change, and would like to go back there any time - still so much more to see and do. Both hotels, Metropark and Eaton Smart very well equipped and comfortable, but the former is just that much further from the "action".

Both tours highly recommended - the 1/2 day HK tour was generously from 08:15 until 14:00. Got a good flavour of HK Island, but would like to go back and explore further. The pre-dinner sunset cruise was magic.

Our flight from SYD to HKG on 25th.March coincided with our 45th wedding anniversary. I chatted up a Qantas stewardess on boarding and she looked after us so well. I've given her a commendation on the Qantas web site.

Our return flight on BA coincided with my wife's birthday. Again I chatted up a stewardess but her attention although good, did not match that of Qantas.
Adding up a number of minor factors we are of the opinion that we'd fly Qantas rather than BA from choice (not very patriotic of us).

Time spent with the family in Mandurah and Sydney was the main purpose of our trip and that was absolutely delightful. However the "extras" as above, and the amount of varied wildlife we saw was the icing on the cake.

My wife has another cousin in RSA and if we ever plan a visit there then you shall be my first stop for putting a trip together for us. We were so pleased with all the arrangements you made for us for this one.