{"id":10440,"date":"2012-06-04T12:04:22","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T02:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=10440"},"modified":"2015-03-19T13:52:01","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T03:52:01","slug":"long-weekend-insider-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/long-weekend-insider-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Long weekend insider tips"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"phlml\"><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Haven\u2019t booked your June long weekend accommodation yet? Don\u2019t stress! It\u2019s not too late to score yourself a great getaway. <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\nHere are our top three tips for nabbing yourself a deal at the last minute:<br \/>\n<strong>1. Be flexible<\/strong> \u2013 Your favourite hotel might already be booked out but why not try a different one in the same area or try a new location all together?<br \/>\n<strong>2. Don\u2019t be afraid to be a little daring!<\/strong> \u2013 If you know the location you want to stay but aren\u2019t too fussed about the actual hotel, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/hotels\/secret-hotels?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Secret Hotels\u00ae<\/a> deal could be your new best friend. Offerings savings of up to 70% per night, these deals are super low and offer accommodation to suit champagne taste on a beer budget.<br \/>\n<strong>3. Think outside the square<\/strong> &#8211; Why not go away with your best mates or another couple? Bargains can often be found with two or three bedroom apartments or penthouses.<br \/>\nOur team of hotel experts have kindly given us their hot tips for accommodation in their regions for the long weekend.<br \/>\nIf you\u2019re not lucky enough to be scoring this particular public holiday (sorry WA!) or if other commitments are getting in the way of you getting out of town, keep these babies in mind for your next escape.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Top pick from Neal, our Melbourne hotels expert<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Which hotel would you recommend for the June long weekend? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/clarion-suites-gateway\/W194?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Clarion Suites Gateway<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Why is this hotel your pick? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The location is awesome: circle tram on your doorstep, it\u2019s right on the river and opposite the Crown Entertainment Centre so you can see the famous fire show from your apartment at night. And it\u2019s a great spot for discovering the trendy laneways of Melbourne. The super friendly staff are also a major drawcard.<br \/>\n<strong>What\u2019s your number one insider tip for travellers here? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Make sure you visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nakedforsatan.com.au\/?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Naked for Satan<\/a> in Brunswick, just a short cab ride from the Clarion Suites.<br \/>\nHead here for a cider, wine, boutique beer or of course, the famous house infused vodka.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Clarion Suites\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/194\/prop-img-full-h6d2kxwo-1252ne74wpla8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The evening view from The Riverview room at Clarion Suites Gateway<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"pageLinksCont\">\n<div class=\"pageLinks\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/melbourne?cid=lmau_blog_post\">For more Melbourne hotel inspiration click here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Top pick from Chris, our Sydney hotels expert<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Which hotel would you recommend for the June long weekend? <\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/swiss%C3%B4tel-sydney\/W1904?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Swissotel Sydney<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Why is this hotel your pick? <\/strong><br \/>\nWith generous rooms, a sensational location and unbelievable staff, the Swissotel Sydney is the perfect place to spend a long weekend in Sydney! Stroll down to the bars and restaurants of Darling Harbour or take in some culture with a selection of the <a href=\"http:\/\/sff.org.au\/?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Sydney Film Festival<\/a> films showing in the State Theatre just across the road.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Classic king room\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/1904\/prop-img-full-f88pur8n-7g1z1eywqtj4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Classic king room<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your number one insider tip for travellers here? <\/strong><br \/>\nMake the most of Swissotel\u2019s location just around the corner from Pitt Street Mall and shop \u2018til you drop in Zara, DKNY, Guess and hundreds more. And once you\u2019ve worked up an appetite, you can\u2019t go past <a href=\"http:\/\/www.phoenixrestaurants.com.au\/sky-phoenix\/yum-cha?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Sky Phoenix<\/a>, located in the Westfield complex, for some yum cha action.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pageLinksCont\">\n<div class=\"pageLinks\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/sydney?cid=lmau_blog_post\">For more Sydney hotel inspiration click here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Top pick from Kate, our SA hotels expert <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Which hotel would you recommend for the June long weekend? <\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/abbotsford-country-house-barossa-valley\/W5198?search=Abbotsford%20Country%20House%20-%20Barossa%20Valley%20%28Lyndoch%2C%20Australia%29&amp;url?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Abbotsford Country House \u2013 Barossa Valley<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/5198\/prop-img-full-eqv9i8ap-15eswnnh6m2gw.jpg\" alt=\"Abbotsford main homestead\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Abbotsford main homestead<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why is this hotel your pick? <\/strong><br \/>\nThis is a magnificent traditional hosted B&amp;B country retreat. It sits on a hillside in the Barossa Valley, surrounded by lovely vineyards, rose gardens and a 50 acre working cattle farm. The rooms are extremely luxurious and the breakfasts are delicious, using regional produce sourced from the Barossa. The hosts are also very passionate about the region and can give great tips on the best wineries to visit.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"One of the gorgeous rooms at Abbotsford Country House\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/5198\/prop-img-full-gdd1ylw8-6ggomtydtc74.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of the gorgeous rooms at Abbotsford Country House<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your number one insider tip for travellers here? <\/strong><br \/>\nA must do in the Barossa is to visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.maggiebeer.com.au\/?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Maggie Beers\u2019 Farm Shop<\/a> where you can pick up some of her goodies to take home and enjoy her all day \u2018picnic fare\u2019 eating. I highly recommend purchasing some of her \u2018Verjuice\u2019 and checking out the daily 2pm cooking demonstration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pageLinksCont\">\n<div class=\"pageLinks\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/sa?cid=lmau_blog_post\">For more South Australian hotel inspiration click here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Top pick from Tori, our QLD hotels expert <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Which hotel would you recommend for the June long weekend? <\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/hilton-surfers-paradise-hotel\/W136402?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel<\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Relaxation Room with spectacular Ocean Views\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/136402\/prop-img-full-h83w2z00-1b0rbv071ge0w.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Relaxation Room with spectacular Ocean Views<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why is this hotel your pick? <\/strong><br \/>\nThis is the Gold Coast\u2019s newest luxury hotel and ideal for a luxurious getaway. You just can\u2019t beat those gorgeous views over the iconic Surfers Paradise beach.<br \/>\nIts central location \u2013 a short walk from the beachfront esplanade and Cavill Mall \u2013 means everything is at your fingertips.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Have a pre-dinner drink at the Hiltons Fix Bar\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/136402\/prop-img-full-h65qezwh-gacxh9mft5hc.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Have a pre-dinner drink at the Hiltons Fix Bar<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your number one insider tip for travellers here? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll probably find it tough to drag yourself away from the hotel! You must have a meal at celebrity chef Luke Mangan\u2019s on site restaurant; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.saltgrill.com\/?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Salt grill<\/a>. The stylish cocktail bar, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hiltonsurfersparadise.com.au\/restaurant-fix?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Fix<\/a> is definitely worth a visit and for a dose of pampering, the <a href=\"http:\/\/hiltonsurfersparadise.com.au\/eforea-spa?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Eforea Spa<\/a> has you covered.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pageLinksCont\">\n<div class=\"pageLinks\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/qld?cid=lmau_blog_post\">For more Queensland hotel inspiration click here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><strong>Top pick from Karly, our Regional NSW hotels expert<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Which hotel would you recommend for the June long weekend? <\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/terrigal-hinterland-bed-and-breakfast\/W50183?cid=lmau_blog_post\">Terrigal Hinterland Bed and Breakfast <\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Enjoy your stay in a Joy suite!\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/external\/whi\/50183\/prop-img-full-fhlav2kv-dbcimbgaptkw.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Enjoy your stay in a Joy suite!<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Why is this hotel your pick? <\/strong><br \/>\nIf an indulgent getaway is what you\u2019re after, look no further.<br \/>\nThis couples only property provides boutique accommodation with relaxation in mind. The five-star retreat is secluded, thanks to its location in the peaceful hinterland. You\u2019re only a few minutes drive from the ocean and popular cafe and shopping strip so you can have the best of both worlds.<br \/>\nThey also do a scrumptious a la carte breakfast included in your deal. Bliss!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10550\" style=\"width: 510px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/long-weekend-insider-tips\/img_1538\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-10550\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10550\" class=\"wp-image-10550 size-full\" title=\"IMG_1538\" src=\"https:\/\/images.trvl-media.com\/media\/content\/expaus\/images\/last-minute\/blog\/uploads\/2012\/06\/IMG_1538-e1338773876673.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"373\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-10550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Beachside at Terrigal<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your number one insider tip for travellers here? <\/strong><br \/>\nThe Central Coast is known for its beautiful beaches. Why not catch some rays and enjoy a winter stroll along Avoca, Copacabana or Killcare beaches.<br \/>\nOr hit the shops and treat yourself to some retail therapy at Crowne Plaza Terrigal. There are over a dozen boutiques and cafes to suit any taste.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pageLinksCont\">\n<div class=\"pageLinks\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/accommodation\/australia\/nsw?cid=lmau_blog_post\">For more Regional NSW hotel inspiration click here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Haven\u2019t booked your June long weekend accommodation yet? Don\u2019t stress! It\u2019s not too late to score yourself a great getaway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":39852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94,9,11],"tags":[1390,1391,853,1392,1393,1394,1395,1396,1397,97,1398],"acf":{"credits":[{"name":"","label":"","full_url":""}],"enable_review_score":false},"posts_api_cpm_point":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10440"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10440"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39853,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10440\/revisions\/39853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}