Hotels FAQ

Question:

We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from both places? Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) is it best doing in advance? Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome. Regards Steve

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. > What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from both > places? > Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) is > it best doing in advance? > Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome. > Regards > Steve

Put quite simply, Port Douglas is much smaller and more "upmarket" than Cairns.  Cairns caters from backpacker to 5 star standard, and you would find this reflected in the range of costs for food and accommodation. You can visit the reef from either place, you could probably wait until the night before to book a boat trip during April, as it’s not the busiest season. . I’ve stayed at the Tuna Towers on the Esplanade in Cairns, it’s a little removed from the main centre but still an easy walk. It’s good quality accommodation.  See www.tunatowers.com.au for details. Regards David Bennetts Australia

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Hi Stephen, If you want a big city type experience stay in Cairns or if you like the quieter small town then go for Port Douglas. Cairns did nothing for me, just the same as any big city, whereas Port Douglas was much friendlier. You can do all the same trips from either place. Ginger

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. > What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from both > places? > Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) is > it best doing in advance? > Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome. > Regards > Steve

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>Hi Stephen, >If you want a big city type experience stay in Cairns or if you like the >quieter small town then go for Port Douglas.

I have to disagree. Cairns is far from a big city, but perhaps we have a different reference point. We enjoyed every minute of our week there including daily trips to town market, making new friends at a local pub, and our day trips to all the beautiful areas both on land and sea. Is Cairns really quiet? No is isn’t, but it certainly isn’t a big city either. >Cairns did nothing for me, just the same as any big city, whereas Port >Douglas was much friendlier.

I guess it all depends who you meet and how you feel you’ve been treated, but I would do another week in Cairns in a heartbeat. Standard disclaimer, I’m an American so I do miss all the nuances more refined travelers are so attuned to.

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> We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef.

I’d suggest you spend the first night in Cairns and then go up to Port Douglas for the remainder. I stay at The Newport in Port Douglas they have a web site www.thenewport.com.au — Regards Tom Noosa Heads, Qld AUSTRALIA Using Gravity newsreader: http://lightning.prohosting.com/~tbates/gravity/

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Cairns is nowhere near a "big city".  Although I’d agree that Port Douglas is quieter.  Cairns if you want the night life and restaurants and bars.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Stephen, > If you want a big city type experience stay in Cairns or if you like the > quieter small town then go for Port Douglas. > Cairns did nothing for me, just the same as any big city, whereas Port > Douglas was much friendlier. > You can do all the same trips from either place. > Ginger > We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. > What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from > both > places? > Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) > is > it best doing in advance? > Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome. > Regards > Steve

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> I’d suggest you spend the first night in Cairns and then go up to Port > Douglas for the remainder.

Agreed. Port Douglas is nice and cozy, and I prefer the beach there. It has a more Daintree-ish feel to it. Beautiful drive from Cairns to PD too. Don’t spend more than a week in Port Douglas though – get to you after 2 trips to the Reef and 5 nights dining out. Cairns would suit me more as a backpacker.

Response:

> We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. > What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from both > places? > Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) is > it best doing in advance? > Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome.

Next time I think we’ll go with Port Douglas but thats just our preferences for, as has been noted, smaller town, quieter atmosphere. Also, it seems to be the point of departure for the reef so more convenient for that. Cairns as noted while not a big city is a lot more diverse. Again, just us not liking hotels but prefer self-catering arrangements found the Villa Vacluse (sp?) in Cairns quite satisfactory……Greg

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>Again, just us not >liking hotels but prefer self-catering arrangements found the Villa Vacluse >(sp?) in Cairns quite satisfactory……Greg

We stayed there also… Other than there rather insular attitude towards freephone access (maybe they have come into the 21st century by now???)  it was just a great place with a marvelous location. It’s been over a year since we made that visit but I saved the website we liked it so much.. It looks particularly nice now that we are bracing for a storm here in Southern Wisconsin. http://www.villavaucluse.com.au/

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I’d recommend Port Douglas every time.  For the reef, go with one of the smaller companies we had a wonderful day with Wavelength in Port Douglas. Brian

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Yes I would definitely recommend using one of the smaller companies.  A lot of personal attention rather that just one in several hundred on a huge boat. We snorkelled and dived, then did some fishing on the way back, and then the younger members of the group rode back in the net that they hang over the side.  I’ve forgotten what is is called.  They looked like they were having a great time. Ginger

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’d recommend Port Douglas every time.  For the reef, go with one of > the smaller companies we had a wonderful day with Wavelength in Port > Douglas. > Brian

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>Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome.

If you decide to stay in Cairns, you do not have to stay in the centre. We stayed at a great B&B near Freshwater about 15 minutes (?) drive from central Cairns. Don’t let the B&B tag put you off, we prefer the individuality compared to hotels. Anyway have a look at their website www.zanzoo.co.au.

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Cairns is a giant tourist-sausage factory….a processing centre….once it was a wonderful northern town…..it seems to have lost its identity and soul. Green Island, off cairns will show you acres of dead coral…..I did see one blue staghorn…..but then again I got lucky. Port Douglas is newer, fresher and generally more expensive. Cooktown is how Cairns once used to be. Stately and unspoilt. Cooktown would be my choice over both of the others Robert – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We are in Australia for a 2 weeks at the end of April. As part of out > itenary we are flying up to Cairns for 3 nights ( 4 days). > Should we be looking at staying in Cairns or Port Douglas? Our main reason > for flying up to That side of Australia is to visit Great Barrier Reef. > What is the difference between the 2 places? Can we visit the reef from > both > places? > Can we wait until we get there before booking boat (ie the night before) > is > it best doing in advance? > Any hotel recommendations would also be much welcome. > Next time I think we’ll go with Port Douglas but thats just our preferences > for, as has been noted, smaller town, quieter atmosphere. Also, it seems to > be the point of departure for the reef so more convenient for that. Cairns > as noted while not a big city is a lot more diverse. Again, just us not > liking hotels but prefer self-catering arrangements found the Villa Vacluse > (sp?) in Cairns quite satisfactory……Greg

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