Subject: Re: Hotel - Melbourne, Australia
Hi Candice It's very difficult to advise people on accommodation. I spent twenty years or more travelling on business, and I tired of staying in homogenised hotels. Toward the end, I would only stay in serviced appartments that at least resembled living at home. When we travel to Europe, we stay in either B& B's or appartments/villas. We have family in Melbourne, so I haven't stayed in a hotel there in 20 years. I have twice stayed at a serviced appartment in St Kilda when attending an industry conference, but that wasn't in the same league as the Windsor. If I was going to spend $aus200 a night, it would have to be the Windsor. Then again, I like nostalgic, elegant, gracious hotels.

The Blue Mountains. No trouble in filling a day just at the Blue Mountains. The Genolan Caves are pretty spectacular, and there is a wonderful old 1920's resort hotel that I believe has just been restored. Each of the large caves takes at least an hour and a half to explore, so it deserves a full day or two. Try this site for info re Blue Mountains: http://tinyurl.com/o3xn

Let me know dates and we will organise a day driving some of the Macquarie towns on the way to the mountains, on to Hartley (a town that was established in 1815 but bypassed by the railway in 1880 and has been petrified in time), Mount Victoria (streets lined with 1900's resort hotels) then take in the views on either side of Blackheath (Govett's Leap waterfall on one side and Megalong Valley the other side), The Hydro Majestic, a 1904 spa hotel, then katoomba for the Three Sisters and Leura and Wentworth Falls. Try keying these names into Google for some images. Being January and with daylight savings, we should be able to fit this in through to around 9.00 pm.

I'll summarise the Good Food Guide tomorrow. It is published by the Sydney Morning Herald, and I'm not sure if it is distributed in the U.S. through Amazon or B& N. I manage several Medical bookshops, and we stock it. Can get 30% discount which would cover postage to U.S. Let me know if you want me to send it.

Probably need to book Marque in advance. Last November it was approx. $aus110.00 per head for the degustation menu. Wine extra or BYO. Could probably manage a two course meal for around $aus.60.00 per head. Three Clicks West has just been elevated to one hat. It is three km from the CBD in Annandale. I'll check it's prices, which I expect to be a little easier on the pocket.

Gavin