So I decided to stay in the Fitzroy area after some advice from people on this board. I did an online booking with the Nunnery and sent them several emails asking about check-in, etc. I have not heard back from them about my reservation or in response to my email inquiries. Seems like poor customer service before I even arrive!

Has anyone else had such problems? Any advice on how I can cancel my reservation if they are not responding to email?

Did you book with The Nunnery direct or use a booking service. Their direct email is [email protected]. Telephone: +61 3 9419 8637 Facsimile: +61 3 9417 7736. If there is no reply to emails then I would suggest sending a fax, making sure you have proof of sending it, just in case it is needed later.

Incidentally, just wanted to make sure you are not confusing Fitzroy Street, St. Kilda with the suburb of Fitzroy. Nothing wrong with staying in the suburb of Fitzroy it is quite bohemian, it was just that you mentioned going with the advice on the board and that pointed more to St. Kilda.

Oops. You're right. I did confuse the two.

I did a direct booking through their website. I've tried [email protected] and [email protected] and no response.

Sending a fax from the U.S. is expensive, but I might have to resort to that. I don't know if it would help if they are not responding, though.

Because I might cancel my reservation, would you tell me what the difference is between the Fitzroy and the St. Kilda suburbs? I am going by myself, so I'd like to stay where I can meet people.

The suburb of Fitzroy is an inner city suburb (10 mins from CBD) to the north-east of town. It was once a fairly run down area but has been reinvented over the last 10 years or so and has become quite trendy. It it is well known for its clothing shops and ethnic restaurants and is rather bohemian in character. Parts of it are still not the greatest but the main streets should be fine I would think.

St. Kilda is another inner city suburb which is right on the beach and is also 10 minutes from town, this time heading south. For years it has been the place to go for nightlife, restaurants (upscale and downscale), clubs etc. There are markets along the beach on a Sunday, restaurants overlooking the water, and always something happening day and night. It was also known as the red light district of Mebourne but since legalised brothels were introduced some years ago, I don't know if that really applies much any more. Accommodation ranges from backpacker to expensive. St. Kilda is generally considered to be more touristy than Fitzroy. Just to make things more difficult, the main street of St. Kilda is called Fitzroy Street which is no doubt why you are confused.

Hope this answers your questions and may be someone who is much nearer your age than me (and stills goes out for a nightlife) will respond as well with more up to date info.

Also hope you work out your problems with the Nunnnery. I wouldn't be impressed with a place that didn't respond to my emails. I think I would be giving them the flick.

Legalized brothels!?!

Where the bloody hell are you,eh

Andrew David

AndrewDavid, I was sure that you must have checked out this fascinating part of Australian tourism whilst you were here. May be they could include it as part of the "Where the bloody hell are you" campaign and raise its profile even more. XX country has banned the ad for mentioning brothels!!

Victoria has had a few legalized brothels for approx 15 years. I know ACT and New South Wales do as well and probably some of the other states.

My husband is a very conservative lawyer and was asked to give legal advice to one of the big banks about their financing of the first legal brothel in Melbourne. The story of the bank being the financer of a brothel subsequently made the newspapers here. In the article it said the well known brothel lawyer Mr. XX advised the bank on this matter. The paper got his name wrong, using the firm name rather than his actual name. My husband was left wondering should he complain that his name was incorrect or be known as a "brothel lawyer". He decided that he would much rather remain anonymous. Being called a specialist in brothel law didn't quite fit in with his image!

Still and all, shandy, it's an age of specialisation, isn't it?

I thought that prostitution was now legal in all Australian jurisdictions, but I could be wrong there. Here in Canberra the problem of local residents' objections has been solved neatly by locating all brothels in light industrial suburbs where nobody resides - along with the porn video businesses. The ACT is the only jurisdiction which allows X-rated videos, which has spawned a thriving mail-order industry.

Firealloy, I use 10 10 987 when dialing Australia from the US because it is so incredibly cheap. I think you can do it with a fax machine as well. I think it is 39 cents to connect then 3 cents a minute. Chat with a pal in Sydney relatively regularly. You might try that.

Firealloy.
Just read your entry and I dialled The Nunnery (I live in Melbourne) to glean the address for you. The address is 116 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy. Their email is as a Fodor member listed above.
For information, I asked the cost of rooms - which is:
Dorm .... $26 Aust. dollars
Single .... $65 Aust. dollars
Double room .. $85 Aust. dollars
Hope this segment is of help to you, and happy holiday ahead in Melbourne. Jay