Motels and motor inns in Visual Studio .NET

Encoding UPC Symbol in Visual Studio .NET Motels and motor inns

Australia s plentiful motels are neat and clean, if often a little dated They usually have air-conditioning, telephones, color TVs, clock radios, minifridges or minibars, and self-serve tea and coffee Most have only showers, not bathtubs Some have restaurants attached, and many have swimming pools Motor inns offer a greater range of facilities and, generally, a higher standard of rooms than motels They re a great option if you re driving long distances between destinations and want somewhere affordable and basic to spend the night

Bed-and-breakfast inns (B&Bs)

B&Bs range from cheap and cheerful family homes to luxury retreats where breakfast is provided You can easily find charming rooms for under A$100 (US$80/ 40) for a double Bathroom facilities are sometimes shared, although more properties now offer private, if not always en-suite (attached), bathrooms

The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book (wwwbbbookcomau) lists more than 400 B&Bs across Australia Although the B&Bs pay to be in the book, they have to meet certain standards to be included The entire book is posted on the Web site, and in Australia, it s widely available in bookshops and newsdealers, or you can order it direct (% 02/6658 5701) for A$20 (US$16/ 8) plus A$15 (US$12/ 6) for overseas express postage What Next Productions Pty Ltd (% 0438/600 696 cell phone; www beautifulaccommodationcom) publishes a series of Beautiful Accommodation color guides listing around 500 exquisite properties in every state and territory, many in charming country areas The properties listed are rather upscale, roughly in the A$150 to A$300 (US$120 US$240/ 60 120) range Each book sells for A$30 (US$24/ 12) in Australian bookstores and can be ordered online Another good Web site is that of Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay Australia (wwwaustralianbedandbreakfastcomau), which has links to all state B&B organizations

For a truly Australian experience, and a chance to interact with families who make their living from the land, opt for a farmstay Most are farms first, tourist operations second, but for many people after years of drought diversifying into tourism has kept them going You ll find your hosts eager to share their way of life and to learn about yours Accommodations may be anything from a basic bunkhouse (ask if it s air-conditioned, because most farms are in hot areas) to rustically luxurious digs in a cottage or guesthouse Do some research on the farm many activities are seasonal, some farmers will not allow you to get involved in dangerous work because of insurance issues, not all will offer horseback riding, and farm means different things in different parts of Australia If you like green fields and dairy cows, Victoria may be the place for you If checking fences on a 500,000-hectare (200,000-acre) Outback station (ranch) sounds wildly romantic, head to Western Australia, Queensland, or the Northern Territory Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay Australia s Web site (wwwaustralian bedandbreakfastcomau) is a good place to start Another good contact is Accommodation Getaways Victoria (% 1300/132 358 in Australia, or 03/9431 5417; wwwagvnetau) Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay NT (wwwbed-and-breakfastaucom) lists about 20 Northern Territory properties in Darwin, the Top End, and the Red Centre Meals are usually included, as you re in a remote area, distant from the nearest cafe or restaurant Allow yourself a few days to get to know how rural Australia lives

The rack rate is the maximum rate that a hotel charges for a room and is what you pay if you walk in off the street without a reservation Hardly anybody pays this price, however, except in high season or on holidays, and there are many ways to lower the cost of your room Find out if there are special rates or other discounts that you may qualify for, such as corporate, student, military, senior, frequent flier, or other discounts Your hotel may also offer special rates at weekends, midweek, or other off-peak times You can save big on hotel rooms by traveling in a destination s off season or shoulder seasons, when rates typically drop, even at luxury properties When booking a room in a chain hotel, you often get a better deal by calling the individual hotel s reservation desk rather than the chain s main number Booking online can also reap rewards, as many hotels offer Internet-only discounts, or supply rooms to Priceline, Hotwire, or Expedia at rates lower than the ones you can get through the hotel itself If you re planning to stay in one place for a few days, ask about long-stay discounts Anything over about three days can attract a discount at certain resorts, especially in Queensland Many offer Stay 5, Pay 4 deals and similar for differing lengths of stay Many B&B operators also offer weekly rates as well as nightly Watch out for hidden costs Ask about local taxes and service charges, which can increase the cost of a room by 10 percent or more When you book a room, ask what s included in the room rate and what s extra If you re staying in a resort, ask if you ll be charged for beach chairs, towels, sports equipment, and other amenities Consider the pros and cons of all-inclusive packages, usually offered at resorts All-inclusive means different things at different places Many allinclusive packages include three meals daily, sports equipment, spa treatments, and other amenities; others may include most alcoholic drinks In general, you save money going the all-inclusive way as long as you use the facilities provided The downside is that your choices are limited to what the resort has to offer Sign up to a hotel chain s frequent-stay loyalty program, in which you can accumulate points or credits to earn free hotel nights, airline miles, in-room amenities, merchandise, tickets to concerts and events, and discounts on sporting facilities Many hotels operating in Australia, including Hilton and Marriott, offer rewards programs