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Why Choose an Apartment Over Hotel When Visiting Australia?

Peace, quiet and relaxation are priceless commodities, especially on your holidays in Australia. So what should you choose? hotel or apartment?

When you want to completely relax and get far away from the crowds there’s really only one choice a private apartment or villa. With no noisy neighbors, holiday reps or room service to contend with, relaxation is total and your options unlimited.

Whether you’re in a city or the countryside, renting an apartment, house, or villa can be a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy your holiday in Australia. A short-term vacation rental is a great alternative to a hotel, especially if you plan to settle in one location for several nights. Options run the gamut, from Tuscan villas to Mansions to big-city apartments in the heart of town. Prices vary depending on the season, size, location, and quality of the accommodation. For stays longer than a few days, you can usually find a rental that’s comparable to — or even cheaper — than a hotel room with similar amenities.

Apartments and houses for rent are generally roomier than hotel rooms and come with kitchens and common areas to gather in; some have laundry facilities. Rentals can be especially cost-effective for groups. Two couples traveling together can share a two-bedroom apartment, which often ends up being less expensive than a pair of hotel rooms. Groups of backpackers find that splitting the price of a cheap apartment can cost less than paying for several bunks at a youth hostel. You can further your savings by cooking your own meals instead of going out. If you enjoy eating in restaurants, consider stocking your kitchen with breakfast food or picnic lunch supplies and saving your money for nice dinners out.

For families, an apartment is a huge benefit. Kitchens make it easier and cheaper to dine in and feed picky eaters. Laundry machines let you do the family wash. With more than one room, parents of younger children can hang out and chat while their kid's slumber (as opposed to being trapped in a hotel room with the lights out at 8 pm). If you have teenagers, you can leave them to eat dinner in the apartment while you go out to a restaurant — they’ll feel independent (perhaps enjoying a little screen time without parents), and you’ll get a night on the town with your partner.

In general, I find that if you’re staying somewhere for four nights or longer, it’s worth considering an apartment or rental house. Three nights is borderline. To me, anything less than that isn’t worth the extra effort involved in settling into an apartment (arranging key pickup, buying groceries, figuring out the neighborhood without the help of an hotelier, etc.). Plus, many apartments require minimum stays — typically three to seven nights (note that you’ll likely pay more per night if staying less than a week, and you can sometimes negotiate better deals if renting for longer). If you can work it into your itinerary, consider settling in a rental for a full week. This gives you an opportunity to really get to know the town or city and take advantage of day-trip possibilities.

Whether you want to go to Melbourne or Sydney, www.servicedhouse.com.au has this covered for you.

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Top 10 Must visit in Sydney Australia

Sydney Australia is one of the best places in the world, Here are some of the reason why you must visit Sydney at least once in your life.

Top 10 Must Visit in Sydney Australia

1.    Sydney Opera House

This World Heritage-listed building is Australia's most recognizable landmark. Visually referencing the billowing white sails of a seagoing yacht (but described by some local wags as more accurately resembling the sexual congress of turtles), it's a commanding presence on Circular Quay. The complex comprises five performance spaces where dance, concerts, opera and theatre are staged. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/sydney/attractions/sydney-opera-house/a/poi-sig/367075/362319 11/18/16

Australia's most famous man-made icon worldwide, the Sydney Opera House is a unique feat of architectural design and engineering. https://www.experienceoz.com.au/en/sydney-must-see 11/18/16

 2.   Sydney Botanic Gardens

Wrapped around Farm Cove at the edge of Sydney Harbour, the Gardens occupy one of Sydney's most spectacular positions.

From the provocative rare and threatened plants of the world to the romantic rose garden, the themed garden areas show the diverse beauty of nature. Special features include: Cadi Jam Ora - First Encounters is a garden display that remembers and acknowledges the Cadigal - the original inhabitants of Sydney's city centre - and their relationship with this land. http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/city-centre/attractions/royal-botanic-gardens-and-the-domain 11/29/16

 3.   Jenolan Caves

Australia’s Most Famous Caves, Jenolan is a magical place for a romanticgetaway or family adventure - even unique weddings or team building activities. http://www.jenolancaves.org.au/about/about-jenolan-caves/ 11/29/16

A remarkable cave system that ranks amongst the finest and most ancient in the world, they can be reached within a reasonable 2.5 hour drive from the heart of Sydney and are well worth the trek. https://www.experienceoz.com.au/en/sydney-must-see# 11/18/16

 4.   The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is situated within a World Heritage area offering a unique, relaxing environment for that perfect lifestyle. The region features a thriving diverse professional business community offering a standard of excellence enjoyed by locals and visitors to the region. Many Blue Mountains businesses supply products and services distributed across Sydney, nationally and around the world. http://www.bluemts.com.au/ 11/19/2016

A trip to the Blue Mountains from Sydney will give you a true escape from the negatives of city life and the rush-rush of urban atmospheres while providing a chance to experience a great combination of spectacular scenery, wildlife, plants and the clean freshness of mountain air. https://www.experienceoz.com.au/en/sydney-must-see# 11/18/16

 5.   Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is one of Australia's and the world's most famous beaches. It has a village atmosphere and very little high-rise development. The beach is roughly a kilometre long and is patrolled by lifesavers. https://www.bondivillage.com/ 11/29/2016

The sands of Bondi Beach are a popular spot for surfing lessons, beachside volleyball, yoga and community festivities, and the beach is overlooked by a stream of shops, restaurants and cafes for post-beach dining and relaxation. Picturesque coastal walks lead from Bondi over the seaside cliffs to the neighboring beaches of Clovelly and Bronte, and to the romantic Victorian cemetery overlooking the coast at Waverley. https://www.viator.com/Sydney-attractions/Bondi-Beach/d357-a297 11/29/2016

 6.    Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydneysiders adore their giant 'coathanger'.  The best way to experience the bridge is on foot – don't expect much of a view crossing by car or train.  The harbour bridge is a spookily big object – moving around town you’ll catch sight of it in the corner of your eye, sometimes in the most surprising of places.   https://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/sydney/attractions/sydney-harbour-bridge/a/poi-sig/368049/362319 11/18/16

 7.   SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Come on a journey of amazing discovery through SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s unique freshwater and marine aquatic environments and discover an incredible 13,000 animals from 700 different species. http://www.darlingharbour.com/things-to-do/sea-life-sydney-aquarium/ 11/29/16

One of the staple wildlife adventures in Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium is a great aquatic attraction that features five separate habitat exhibitions of Aussie ocean, estuarine and river creatures and also serves as one of the best things to do with your kids in Sydney to boot. https://www.experienceoz.com.au/en/sydney-must-see# 11/18/16

 8.   The Queen Victoria Building

The grand building, built in the 1890s was erected as a Municipal Market on the scale of a Cathedral. The QVB was beautifully restored and re-opened in 1986, and quickly became Sydney's most popular and prestigious shopping centre. http://www.sydney.com/destinations/sydney/sydney-city/city-centre/attractions/queen-victoria-building 11/29/16

 It was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned to employ a great number of skilled craftsmen who were out of work due to a severe recession.

The Queen Victoria Building has been described by fashion designer, Pierre Cardin as “the most beautiful shopping centre in the world”, and I have to say I think I agree! http://www.topsightseeing.com/australia/sydney/top-sights/queen-victoria-building-qvb/ 11/29/2016

 9.    Sydney Tower Eye    

Explore Sydney and its surroundings from the top of Sydney Tower Eye. A wonderful panorama awaits you, from the Blue Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, to Botany Bay. But make sure you save a bit of energy for the Skywalk, an aerial walkway that goes right around the building. http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/travel-guide/sydney/sightseeing/sydney-tower-eye-p-727ahdg90.shtml 11/29/16

Included in admission is the new 4D Experience, a groundbreaking 3D film with spectacular in-theatre effects and a breathtaking fourth dimension that gives an amazing view of the city. http://www.iventurecard.com/us/sydney/attractions/sightseeing-and-day-tours/sydney-tower-eye/ 11/29/16

 10.  The National Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum is considered one of the top maritime museums in the world and conveniently located on the shores of Darling Harbour, the Australian National Maritime Museum features exhibits on Aboriginal and European explorers, the navy, surfing, sailing and Australia’s beach culture. https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/AttractionProductDetail?product=7050ENTRY&d=258087&aidSuffix=xsell&partner=Viator 11/29/16

 One recommended travel apartments to enjoy your visit in Sydney is Serviced Houses http://www.servicedhouses.com.au/ 

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Top 10 must visit in Melbourne

When it comes to visiting one of the most popular cities in Australia you must not forget to see this Top 10 places in Melbourne that you would probably enjoy your vacation with family and friends. Here are my top 10 compiled list of places to see in Melbourne.

St Pauls Cathedral Melbourne’s Anglican St. Paul’s Cathedral is located on the corner of Flinders and Swanston Street opposite Fed Square. http://www.visitacity.com/en/melbourne/attractions/st-pauls-cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral has been an integral part of Christian Melbourne since the city’s foundation: it stands on the site where the first public Christian services in Melbourne were led by Dr. Alexander Thomson in 1836. cathedral.org.au The church has a wonderful pipe organ constructed by T.C. Lewis and Co in England and was first played in the church in 1891. The church is strongly associated with music, not only because of the organ but also because of their well-known choir. www.visitacity.com

The Ian Potter Center The Ian Potter Center houses one of two branches of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. It is located on Fed Square, in the heart of the city. www.visitacity.com The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is the world’s first major gallery dedicated exclusively to Australian art. It is a spectacular showcase comprising over 20 galleries housed within a landmark architectural complex. fedsquare.com

Federation square Fed Square is in the heart of Melbourne at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets. Fed Square is built on a level above busy railway lines. The area is made up of St. Paul’s Court and The Square which are open squares as well as the covered Atrium. www.visitacity.com Fed Square has seen more than 100 million visits and has recently been named the 6th Best Public Square of the World in a list of 10 international icons including Naghsh-e Jahaan Square in Iran and Red Square (Krasnaya ploshchad) in Moscow, Russia. www.fedsquare.com

National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) is the oldest and most visited gallery in Australia. Situated over two magnificent buildings — NGV International and NGV Australia — the Gallery hosts a wide range of international and local artists, exhibitions, programs and events. www.ngv.vic.gov.au

EUREKA TOWER Eureka Tower is a Melbourne skyscraper in the Southbank precinct on the southern bank of the Yarra River. www.visitacity.com Eureka Skydeck 88 is the highest public vantage point in the Southern Hemisphere. The top of the Tower can flex up to 600mm in high winds and The glass on Eureka’s top 10 levels is 24 carat gold plated www.eurekaskydeck.com.au

Royal Botanic Gardens Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in the conservation of plant through biodiversity research, programs to protect rare and threatened plants, and the study of habitats. This work is supported by education and visitor programs about the importance of plants to life. www.rbg.vic.gov.au The plant collection has two locations, the historic Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and the bush land and native Australian garden in the Melbourne suburb of Cranbourne. www.visitacity.com

Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria’s way of honoring those who have served in the country’s armed forces during war time and peace time. www.visitacity.com

Melbourne Aquarium Home to over 10,000 animals, including one of the world’s largest Saltwater Crocodiles in the state-of-the-art Croc Lair exhibit. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is completely undercover so even if it is raining you can still have a fantastic time! We are also completely air conditioned so SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is the perfect place to visit when it’s hot. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is open from 9:30am to 6:00pm every day, with last admissions 1 hour prior to closing time. Located on King Street is the Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium. www.melbourneaquarium.com.au

IMAX Melbourne Museum IMAX Melbourne is home to the second largest screen in the world. IMAX provides the most immersive cinematic experience in the world. IMAX Melbourne Museum has attracted over 5 million visitors who have experienced everything from visually stunning IMAX 3D documentaries to the biggest Hollywood blockbusters. museumvictoria.com.au

Melbourne Zoo The Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens also known as The Melbourne Zoo  is located in the city center and is home to more than 300 species from across the globe. Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo and was modeled on London Zoo. Some of the zoo highlights include the Growing Wild exhibit. The zoo is also the site of the Zoological Gardens, a lush treasure trove of Victoria’s indigenous plants and trees. Other sections of the zoo include the Australian Outback where you can see Australian animals. www.visitacity.com , en.wikipedia.org

I recommend you visit this website I found for Melbourne accommodations for your family or group of friends wwwservicedhouses.com.au