We're doing our Big Trip to Oz in October, and after much debate, decided we wanted to see Uluru while we're there. Question is, where to stay? After reading the pretty off-putting reviews on TripAdvisor and other sources, seems as if the best compromise would be the Desert Gardens Hotel. What do you think?

By the way I've now read enough to know that yes, it will be overpriced because it's a monopoly (bad idea) and yes, there will probably be flies. And other bugs. If I'm wrong, so much the better!!

We stayed at the Pioneer Outback Hotel, I think.

It was pretty basic, and expensive, but we managed. Some of the apartments may be cheaper, as you can prepare your own meals.

You pay according to the level of luxury you need.

Thanks Margo -- I liked the sound of the cook-your-own barbie at the Pioneer. Did you try that?

I would say we're on a mid-level budget -- not backpackers, but not Sails in the Desert either!

We've stayed at both the Outback Pioneer Hotel and the Emu Run Apartments. The Outback Pioneer was basic, but comfortable, and suited us just fine. On our second visit, we stayed at Emu Run since we were a group of 5 people. It's a good choice for a group or family as they offer separate bedrooms and a fully-equipped kitchen.
You probably will be spending little time in your accomodations, so I'd choose whatever fits your budget.

I visited Yulara a while ago when I pedalled around Australia.
Extracted from my kind of trip report:

Yulara is a tourist destination, pure and simple, for we Europeans anyway. It's home to the Aboriginal population, though.

I checked into the backpacker place, and then headed off to the five star Sails in the Desert hotel for a drink. I thought that I really ought to experience both ends of the tourist spectrum, a gin and tonic beside the swimming pool. The backpacker place does these patriotic barbecues, you buy meat and cook it yourself. The patriotic flavour comes from the choice of protein. One can eat all of our nation icons, crocodile (tastes like chicken), emu (tastes like tougher chicken), camel (really tough, and tastes, well, like chicken, I suppose), kangaroo, water buffalo, and beef too, none of which taste like chicken. Oh, and chicken for the vegetarians. A rock band plays while one cooks.

There is a variety of tourists. I was yarning with a bus driver and an Irish tourist, and the Irish guy said, “Well, if my Mum could see me now. She'd be amazed”. The driver whipped out his mobile phone and said, “Give her a call”. “But she's in Dublin”. “Yairs, give her a call”. Which he did, shouting into the phone, as Dublin's a long way from Central Aus. Then we all said Hello to his Mum – he was most touched, as was she. We made the world a little smaller, I suppose.

To say nothing of the tourist – I think maybe Austrian or German, as I can't tell the languages apart – dressed in Desert Garb. Dark John Lennon sun glasses on a string around his neck, a powder blue safari suit, short sleeves, button down pockets, epaulettes, long trousers, founded on powder blue sneakers, topped with a powder blue canvas hat, drawstring hauled taught in case the wind took his hat, indoors at 9:00 PM. Most fetching - particularly on a bloke. Eat your heart out, Bruno.

I didn't know Austrians spoke a different language from Germans.

I stayed at the Pioneer ages ago (1999) and the place was just fine, and the Desert Inn and Sails in the Desert both existed then (and were both FAR more expensive). As long as the bed doesn't collapse and the room isn't dirty, the hotel quality is adequate because its use to you will be a place to drop off your stuff and to coordinate day trips (which the concierges will all do very well -- tourism is the lifeblood of the area).

www.booking.com/city/au/ayers-rock.en.html

honest recent rewiews here ok hotels at best expensive too

Pioneer for budget Desert Gardens or Sails better not cheap

Hi, SB,
We stayed at Pioneer Outback for two nights last year. While it didn't look anything like the website photos, it was comfortable and very clean. As previous posters have mentioned, it is really only a place to put your case, and your head at night as there is much to do during the day. We had fish'n'chips one night from a little place just past the barbecue place in the alleyway, and the other night bought cold meat, bread rolls and salad items from the supermarket at the town centre.
Enjoy Uluru - we did, and would like to return.

Hi SB,

You'll have a wonderful time at Uluru - it's one of my favourite places on Earth.

But just to put the price of things into perspective - you are almost bang smack in the middle of nowhere. So you just have to appreciate/understand that these facilities are provided at a big cost - water, sanitation, food, etc etc etc. It's just not on the way to somewhere else.

You'll get what I mean once you get there. Last trip out there for me was in a campertrailer and I can't tell you how grateful I was to have beautiful amenities blocks, with lovely hot showers and flushing toilets. As well as camp kitchens etc. Paid a bit more than usual? Yep! But worth it IMHO.

Hope you have a fabulous trip to Australia!