Aussie

Am tossing up between spending 2 nights at Burswood Casino or going to Rendezvous Observation City Hotel at Scarborough.<BR>This is before we head South for 8 days.<BR>Any one who has stayed at either ?<BR>Help would be appreciated thanks.

Nick

Have you checked out Esplanade hotel in Fremantle. Fremantle has far more charm than either Burswood Area or Scarborough. Perhaps I am biased against Observation City as it is such a monstrosity for the area and was right in line with the view from my grandmother's house. Casino Hotel is not really a place where you can just leave the hotel and have a wander around.

AussieJo

Thanks Nick,<BR>I had been told the Esplanade is not the standard as the other two, this is why I required some help. We have never been to W.A. so am unsure where to stay. We would like 5 star with something to do at night this is why i picked Burswood but if there is plenty to do in Fremantle maybe we should be there ! I'm leaving it to you experts of W.A. thanks

Travelnick

I suspect Burswood is a better quality - but reason for 9 restaurants is that its immediate location has less on offer. Scarborough is essentially a beach suburb. Its OK, but suburbs like Cottesloe (hotels there, but nothing really upmarket to my knowledge - I used to live there)are in my view much nicer. Fremantle is the port and has much more history. There are a lot of restaurants - especially Italian-. I simply think it is a lot more interesting place to stay. In Perth itself, Northbridge area also has a lot of restaurants -quite a few Italian-. Beware though, in general, people find Perth fairly sleepy - some love it for that reason, others find it just too sleepy. One other thing to do - check out Rottnest Island (easy day trip from Fremantle, or spend a night). It is an archetypal Perth thing to do. Before airfares became relatively affordable, most of Perth at some point went for a holiday every year to &quot;Rotto&quot;. No cars - everyone (except the few local residents) goes by foot or push bike.

Nicol

I would avoid Observation City as there is really nothing to do at night and it is miles from anywhere. Burswood would be good if you liked gambling, dancing etc. Also hotel is five star. If you like wandering out at night soaking up the atmosophere, maybe Fremantle, but if you have been to Europe the 'history' of Fremantle is trivial, and it isn't really that old.<BR><BR>I would not personally recommend Rottnest ISland. I have never met anybody who wasn't a native Western Australian who actually enjoyed it: Think army camp on desert island.

AussieJo

Thanks for your help Nicol, I have narrowed it down to either..<BR>Harbour Village Quest Apartments, Fremantle or Crowne Plaza Perth (only this because there is a good internet offer)<BR>Some people say Rottnest is a must do &amp; others say don't waste your time &amp; $$.<BR>We live in Southern Victoria near lovely beaches so am still tossing up on that one.<BR>Burswood I have decided against as we would spend too much $$$ at night (quite like to gamble)<BR>The reception at Harbour Village said we would not require a car to get into the main area of Fremantle &amp; to all the river boats is this correct ?<BR>Thankyou

cath

Rendezvous is nice if you like a beach view but apart from that it is too far from anything and not much happens in Scarborough!<BR>Casino is good in the fact that there are many restaurants and it is 24 hour, if you like to gamble, you will enjoy it. It is also close to the city.<BR>If you stay in Fremantle I would definitely stay at the Esplanade, the grounds are beautiful. Fremantle might offer you more in the fact that you can walk staight out your hotel room and choose between so many restaurants, bars etc. Fremantle is very cultural and always seem to has a vibe.<BR>If you were looking to stay at rendezvous and the casino previously, you would enjoy the esplanade hotel more than the Quest apartments. There are many classes of accomodation at the Esplanade, from basic rooms to as flash as u like.

Travelnick

Nicol may have a point re: Rottnest. When I was a kid accommodation in retrospect was pretty grim - ancient iron beds in the old cottages and bare cement floors in the new- but looking at the internet now, the Lodge appears to have become far more upmarket and would seem to be perfectly acceptable. Could not open other websites to check out the cottages. She is right about age of Freo, but as Victorians you can probably draw similarities to St Kilda vs downtown, but Perth's downtown can be really dead at night vs Melbourne's.

AussieJo

thanksyou for your replies, yes we do need something which will keep us busy at night as well as day time.<BR>Quest apartments appeal as they are on the water (I love water views.) but is it too far for us 52 / 53 yrs. to walk into the main area of Fremantle &amp; back again?<BR>I haven't been able to find out how far we would need to walk for the ferries either.<BR>Help Please<BR>