Koala's in Cairns- my home for a month! :/

What to Expect

Basically hostels are as plain jane as accommodation comes, but with a price that reflects this from $10-$35 a night.  You can expect basic bunk beds with your standard sheets and a pillow, a common area, and a common kitchen.  When booking a hostel there are a few things you need to consider regarding what type of room you choose.  Hostel rooms aka dorms generally sleep anywhere from 4-10 people in a room, but private rooms are usually also available at a higher price.  The dorms either have bathrooms attached, which is called “ensuite” and I think is key- or bathrooms down the hall.  An option for ladies that don’t feel comfortable with random boys in your room or want a more low-key experience without the chaos and mess that guys bring, most hostels offer girl only dorms for a few dollars more and can be worth the investment.  While traveling the coast my friend actually got all her stuff pissed on by a guy in our hostel when he came home drunk one night- so ya those things do happen, but hey it could have just as easily been a girl.  More important factors for me were having air-conditioning in the rooms, internet access, proximity to the cities I was visiting, and the cleanliness of the hostel.  A lot of hostels in Australia have issues with bed bugs and this is definitely something you want to check out prior to booking.  Also you will find that many hostels have their own bars on site, which is nice but be careful about sneaking in your own booze- as they may try and confiscate it.

A great site to check out different options for various cities and reviews about hostels is Hostel World.  Also Trip Advisor has reviews on most hostels and is usually a good source.

Base Hostel on Magnetic Island- in an all girls suite! Much cleaner!

Safety

Also a lot of people, as I was, are concerned about safety of themselves and their belongings while staying in rooms with strangers.  Honestly I never had an issue or knew anyone that did but you should be careful.  Don’t leave electronics or valuables out obviously, and keep your bags closed up while not in the room.  All hostels should allow you to check your valuables ie passport, extra cash, credit cards, laptop, etc. at the front desk so you don’t have to worry about having any issues.  Just be smart about it and if you don’t feel comfortable about the room you were put in, ask to be switched.

Experience

The main reason why I would recommend staying in hostels, minus saving tons of money, is the experience it brings.  For myself, the experience of getting over sharing a room and a bathroom with complete strangers definitely was an adventure that changed me and I love that.  Also the random people that you meet at each hostel is amazing- well usually.  I still keep in touch with tons of people that I met and partied with in my hostels all the way down the East Coast of Australia.  I feel that after I first lived in a hostel for 5 weeks in Cairns and then stayed in various ones down the coast for another 3 weeks my maintenance level has definitely gone down and that’s a good thing. You have to learn to get the most out of situations that aren’t exactly ideal.  Of course I would have rather stayed in a gorgeous hotel with my own room and bath, but would I have all these crazy hostel stories to tell down the road?  Hell no.  I will never forget the stories or the crazy people that go with them, and for that I love that I’m no longer a hostel virgin!

Great group @ Koala's Cairns - French, Japanese, Americans, and English all love to party!

Just some drinking games with some new friends @ Nomads in Noosa!

Hope this entry helped ease some nerves of you hostel virgins out there and provided you with some helpful information.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns about your upcoming travels!

The lovely lagoon in Cairns

My Experience

I lived and worked in Cairns for a little over 3 months and felt completely at home.  One if the reasons I loved this city is due to the small proximity of everything.  Most bars, restaurants, and the lagoon are all walking distance which is a nice change from a big city like Sydney and their horrible public transport.  Also I found Cairns to be the cheapest city in Australia including rent, meal deals, and drinks.  While in Cairns I worked at a bar/restaurant called Rattle ‘N’ Hum and absolutely love it.  The job was very laid back and I loved the local crowd and all the new lingo I learned while serving them.  My co-workers consisted of mostly backpackers from all over the world and were pretty much all characters who loved to party.  I have to say my experience bar tending in Cairns was a lot different than the more uptight scene in Sydney and I absolutely loved working here- minus the daily hangovers!

Enjoying some beverages with my Rattle N Hum co-workers!

Where to Stay

There are options for both the classy upscale traveler and the more common backpacker trying to save some money.  For those on a budget Cairns is home to heaps of hostels of all living conditions.  Important things to look at is the proximity to the actual town as many hostels are about a 15 minute walking distance away and also the hostel reviews.  There are a lot of very dodgy hostels and hotels up there- so beware.  The place I found to be the nicest and cleanest hostel in Cairns is The Northern Greenhouse and will run you about $26 a night for a 6 share dorm with an ensuite.  For you Americans- ensuite means a bathroom that is attached to the room- and yes this is key!  Gilligan’s is very well known and is definitely a party hostel with a huge bar/club downstairs.  For those of you not on a budget there are a few nice hotels in town including a Novatel, The Shangri-La Hotel, and The Reef Hotel and Casino that are all in town.

Nightlife

Although Cairns is small the city is not lacking in the party department.  There are tons of bars and clubs in such a small area that is walkable and there is somewhere for all types to enjoy.  The most popular place in Cairns has to be The Woolshed and it really is somewhere you will inevitably end up and have to experience.  Upstairs you can enjoy dancing on tables and going wild to all the hottest music and classics, while downstairs The Lounge provides you with some amazing house Dj’s and you can dance you ass off or chill on one of the many couches.  Gilligan’s is another favorite for backpackers and is an absolutely huge bar and club.  On the weekends some classier options are Society Bar and Nightspot, The Attic, and a few clubs at the Reef Casino.  A great area to enjoy some drinks on a nice day or start your night out at is The Pier Complex at the Marina which includes Pier Bar, The Shangri-La Bá8 Lounge Bar, and Bella Vista.   PJ O’Briens and where I used to work Rattle ‘N’ Hum are also great places to grab a drink or some food and have daily happy hour from 5-7, which is amazing.

Just dancing on tables at The Woolshed!

What to See Around Cairns

Most people venture up to Cairns to see the numerous sites close to the city.  The most popular obviously being The Great Barrier Reef.  There are tons of companies that take you to the reef to snorkel, scuba dive, or sail and take in the scenery. You can choose from day trips or 3-5 night trips that enable you to get your scuba certification.  Also close to Cairns via a quick ferry ride are Green Island and Fitzroy Island, which can be a great place to snorkel, scuba, or just relax on the beach.  By car both Palm Cove and Port Douglas are close and cute little tourist towns with great restaurants and beaches as well.  And lastly if it’s the tropical rain forest you’re after you can take a trip up to the Mossman Gorge, The Daintree National Park, or take the Skyrail Rainforest Cabelway up to Kuranda.

Enjoying the views in Palm Cove- Just north of Cairns

View from the lookout @ the top of Port Douglas!

Enjoying the all coral beach on Fitzroy Island

I hope this blog was helpful to those of you looking to make the trek up to Cairns.  I can definitely say it’s a town to experience and you can’t beat the versatile attractions that are also close by.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or further advice about my experience in Cairns!

The Grand Hotel

The Basics

Most Australians are very serious about two things: their local pub and their booze of choice.  Being a bartender in this country gives me a sense of power and importance to the locals- plus they love my outstanding service because I am an American!  Understanding the different beers, their sizes, and the appropriate slang were all very important aspects in my success in bartending in Sydney.  It took me a few weeks to get down the lingo for their booze and my pour to perfection but I can proudly say I can pour a mean beer with the perfect amount of head.  Here are the basics for those traveling to Sydney- and throughout New South Wales- in the alcohol culture of a pub.  Keep in mind the beers, names and pours do change from state to state.

• Middy:  The smallest most ridiculous glass that holds 285 ml / 10 fl oz
• Schooner:  The standard pour in Sydney- 425 ml / 15 fl oz
• Pint:  570 ml / 20 fl oz
• Jug:  America’s “Pitchers” 1140 ml / 40 fl oz
• Nip of spirits:  Shot; Must be measured with a shot glass and is 30 ml / 1 oz- They are serious about this!!
• Wine:  100 ml pour

Keep it Simple

One of the amazing things about working a pub in Australia is the simplicity of their beverages of choice; beer, wine, or basic mixed drinks.  Typical pubs will have about 10 beers on tap that are mostly Australian- no they don’t drink Foster’s- and an additional 20 plus beers in bottles that are both local and imports.  Most stick to the Australian beer basics such as: Victoria Bitter / VB, Carlton Draught / Draught, Toohey’s New / New, and James Boag’s Draught.  Some of the more upscale favorites are Coopers Pale Ale, Hahn Super Dry, Pure Blonde, and the numerous Jame’s Squire Ales.  I’ve found that with each beer comes a typical profile of drinker, which really becomes quite obvious the more time spent in pubs.  Generally the really old school Australian men prefer VB and are quite upset when the keg is temporarily out of order.  Younger pub go-ers tend to drop that extra dollar and go for something a little less basic.  When it comes to spirits most Australian’s don’t specify their type of alcohol and since their “house” spirits are generally good quality unlike the plastic bottle booze that is typically served in the states.

Me enjoying my favorite Australian beer- a Pure Blonde!

Some Tips

~Don’t order a “light beer” unless you want a low percentage- 2%- alcohol beer- If you want low-carb stick to Pure Blonde.

~They refer to Sprite as lemonade while our lemonade is their lemon squash.

~When you order a single shot drink- expect that.  Free-pouring is illegal in Australia and damn is it hard to get a buzz from spirits!

~When ordering a shot don’t expect it to be shaken and chilled or for them to be familiar with most common shots.  Stick to the basics, expect it to be room temperature, and in a standard small ass 30 ml shot glass.

~Watch your behavior in the pub- they are very strict about cutting off customers and kicking them out of the pub if they are being obnoxious or seem intoxicated.

~There generally aren’t seats at the bar so don’t pull one up unless the bartender is keen.

~Don’t bother asking for a wine from any other region in the world- most pubs only carry wines from Australia and New Zealand.

Gambling in Pubs?

One aspect of the Australian pub culture that came as a shock to me was the Australians obsession with gambling.  All traditional pubs have a separate room with “pokie machines” aka slot machines in them, which seem to be constantly occupied.  In addition to the pokies a lot of pubs have a Tab Sports Bet inside as well, which allows people to bet on pretty much anything their little hearts desire.  Try to stay away from these if you can- drunken gambling is never a good idea.

The Crowd

Obviously all pubs do tend to draw a different type of crowd to some extent, but after working in one for months and frequenting many other pubs in Sydney there are a few generalizations that I have drawn.  The main one that is most apparent is the ratio of guys to girls, which tends to range around 10 men to 1 woman.  Ouch.  Not the best odds for the men in these pubs, but oddly enough the Australian men don’t seem to care.  Unlike some cultures- cougggh the USA- the men here aren’t about constantly chasing girls and being surrounded by them.  They simply enjoy having some schooners with their friends and nothing more.  The attire of pub-goers also tends to vary depending on the time of day, but is generally quite laid back.

There are hundreds of pubs in Sydney so you definitely have your options depending on what you’re looking for and what area of town you’re in.  Some of my favorites are The Local, The Grand, The Beauchamp, and Beach Road Hotel. I’ve obviously been to and enjoyed dozens more pubs in Sydney but for some reason their names seemed to have slipped my mind.   If you have any questions concerning working in a pub, recommendations, or just general questions please comment or contact me!

A typical store window advertising all the parties coming up on the island

When to Go and Where to Stay

To have the true Ibiza experience you need to go when it’s the clubbing season.  It begins when the first large clubs open around the beginning of June and ends around the end of September.  It’s important to be there during this window because that’s when all the clubs are open and the weather is warm enough to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and beach parties.  I’ve heard many people say that it’s way too hot and too busy in August which leads to inflated prices for everything and longer lines.

Playa d'en Bossa on a cold day; normally this beach is packed with people partying all day!

To make your Ibiza experience the best and not have to deal with hundreds of Euros in cab fares, make sure you stay Ibiza Town.  We stayed at the Tropical Garden Apartments in this area and the room was just what we needed: cheap, simple and clean with a little kitchen.  It’s right by Playa d’en Bossa which a great area with gorgeous beaches and a lot of action.  Bora Bora hosts a great beach party here after 4 pm daily.  There is also a strip of bars close by and this is a great area to start the evening with a few drinks before heading to the clubs.  It really doesn’t matter what hotel you stay in since you spend the least amount of time actually sleeping in your room, the area of town is the most important.  Do make sure that your hotel room does have air conditioning because it tends to get very hot and steamy on this crazy island.  Ibiza Spotlight has put together a nice list of hotels that would be ideal for you clubbers.  At some point definitely make sure to venture over to San Antonio to catch a sunset at Cafe del Mar or Cafe Mambo.

Our Room at The Tropical Garden Apartments....It got the job done!

The Clubs and Party Scene

In Ibiza everything goes…I mean everything.  Be prepared to see a few things / people that stop you in your tracks and make you think, “What is that person on or thinking?” haha There are 8 main clubs on the island and each place usually has a specific night that it’s the best regarding their featured DJ’s, types of music, and special parties.  Many of the clubs are multiple stories, have numerous rooms with different music, and are absolutely huge and complete with gorgeous go-go dancers, performances, and crazy laser light shows.  Most of the clubs open up around midnight and close around 6 am, but there are many places that specialize in after-parties like Hotel Es Vive.  Privilege is actually the world’s largest nightclub with a capacity of 10,000 people and is also where world famous Dj Tiesto has residency and plays weekly during the summer.  Amnesia is also a must see especially on Thursdays where they host Cream Ibiza.  Space is actually the most famous club in the world and features a large open-air terrace.  It opens daily at 8am to welcome those still partying from the night before, which isn’t uncommon, and is the best on Sundays.  Pacha, which is the only club that is open year-around, features four rooms and is a very authentic Spanish clubbing experience.  Eden, DC-10, Es Paradis, and El Divino are the other big clubs on the island that must be experienced as well.  For more information about getting to these clubs, specific parties, and prices check out Love Ibiza’s Club Guide.

Pacha

Pacha

Money Saving Tips

To save some money try and buy your tickets to the clubs ahead of time at local bars, stores, or promoters who usually have passes for different clubs every night.  Make sure to get out to the club before the time on the ticket or they will make you pay.  Typical entry for a club is around €40 and sometimes includes one beverage.  Once you’re in the club drinks / waters are about €15.  Ibiza is not the cheapest city but you’re paying for the amazing DJs, ridiculous clubs, and there is never a dull moment when it comes to people watching.  To get from club to club there is the Disco Bus that picks up at numerous locations about every 30 minutes.  It is much cheaper and is about €3 compared to a taxi costing you €40.  Also to save some money buy a bottle or two at the local convenience stores to pre-drink in your room at night or take to the beach during the day.

Lexy and I enjoying the sunshine on our last day in Ibiza

Well this really is just the tip of things to talk about regarding Ibiza.  Please contact me if you have any questions or want any advice about planning your adventure.  One more tip is to make sure and buy a couple of the annual cds that the clubs put out; these cds are some of the best I’ve ever come across!  Check out my Flickr for tons more pictures and videos from my amazing adventure in Ibiza!!

Just a few Americans enjoying some beverages responsibly!

Taxes

Everything is expensive in Sydney, but alcohol is sooo expensive it’s seriously disgusting.  At bars, clubs, restaurants, and in the “Bottle Shops” the amount they charge for booze here should be illegal! For example, if one were to buy a bottle of Smirnoff here it would cost about $40, in the US $12, and a good bottle like Grey Goose will cost you $90, in the US $40. Ew. Right?  Plus who even drinks Smirnoff?  Even a 6 pack of Corona’s or other import can cost you $20 at a local bottle shop in Bondi.  Wine is the one alcohol that you can get at a decent price.  Most younger Aussies and backpackers drink “Goon” which is boxed wine, that is disgusting, but for $10 you can get around 3 liters.  The origin of goon comes from the Aboriginal translation, which means pillow, because the Aborigines would drink the goon wine and then blow up the bag for a pillow.  Classy huh?  I’m hooked on a great $10 Rosé that I discovered at my local bottle shop on Beach Rd, and my most recent obsession, thanks to my fellow American Liz, is Passion Pop, which is a $6 bottle of sparkling goodness that does the job.

A classy box of Goon Wine chillin' on my balcony

Laws

In addition to placing ridiculous amounts of taxes on of their booze, they also have tons of laws and rules they have put into place.  RSA class or Responsiblity for Serving Alcohol, is a mandatory class for anyone that plans to serve alcohol for a job.  It was a 6 hour lecture about the dangers of drinking, binge drinking, “drink” driving, and the laws surrounding serving alcohol.  It was not a fun day and of course I went straight to the pub after for a beer.  Also the fines for serving minors or over-serving someone can cost you up to $11,000.  Alcohol can only be purchased in bottle shops aka liquor stores, and is usually not for sale after 10pm.  Most bars highly monitor who they’re letting in and will ask you how many drinks you’ve had, and if your answer is more than 2 they usually will deny you entry and tell you to come back later, which you then just head to another club.  Drinking on the streets and in public places is not illegal unless stated on a a sign, so that’s nice.  Finally the limits that they have imposed at sporting events, such as cricket, are horrible and you aren’t even able to get a full strength beer.

All the different "Standard Drinks" here in Oz

Hot Messes

Everyone knows Aussies are big drinkers and they know how to have a good time, and I love them for that.  I thought I was prepared for this but I was sorely mistaken.  Since I’ve been in Sydney I’ve learned the hard way that there is absolutely no way I can keep up with the Aussies.  I don’t know how they do it.  They will drink all day, while at a barbie or whatever it is they do, and just continue into the nighttime not even phased.  Well I mean they are usually wasted, or pissed as they say, but somehow keep it together.  I can’t do it, I’m one or the other: day drinking or night drinking.  Also a new term I’ve learned is to “skull” a beer, which would be like “pound” or “chug” in the American culture.  Oh yes all these life lessons the Aussies are teaching me.

A typical Aussie fridge in a bottle shop

Getting Around It

If you’re coming to Australia for a holiday or to move I would recommend buying the maximum amount of booze at the duty free store in the airport to save yourself some money.  These bottles will come in handy for your pre-drinking activities and your new best friend in Oz, your flask.  In the bars here a cocktail will literally be one shot, which is 30 ml aka about an ounce.  This caught me by surprise since I’m used to the states where normally your single cocktail will end up being a at least a double.  It’s actually sobering to drink single drinks here and is super expensive.  This has turned me into more of a beer girl and of course I am still enjoying my wine.

Don’t let this article leave a bad taste in your mouth about Australia.  It is unfortunate but believe me there are tons of things that make up for it in this country.  Hope this was useful information and gives you a better idea about what it’s like to drink Down Under.  It really hasn’t slowed me down, in fact Australia has made me much more of a lush but everything in moderation right?  Please comment and give me some feedback regarding topics you would like to know more about while living in Australia! Thanks!

The Fearsome Foursome enjoying our gorgeous beach!

Accommodation

The girls and I stayed at the Park Royal, which was pretty nice and we got upgraded to the 2 bedroom suite with a balcony and hot tub at check in, so we couldn’t complain! Yet another example of Ballin’ on a Budget in my travels!  The best decision I made for the group was to book a hotel that was all-inclusive.  This means all your food, drinks and room amenities were included in the price of the package.  Of course the food wasn’t great and a buffet isn’t exactly my idea of “fine dining” but when you’re on spring break your main concern is getting some food in your stomach to soak up all that alcohol.  Also the booze isn’t exactly top shelf, but once again it’s spring break and everyone has the same goal in common, whether you’re sipping Grey Goose or vodka out of a plastic bottle.

Lexy and I enjoying some day drinking @ The Park Royal!

Pre drinking in the hotel lobby with the girls!

Location Location Location

Location is very important aspect of your trip and varies depending on what your priorities are while in Cancun.  Our priority was a nice hotel on a nice beach and we hit the jackpot.  Make sure to read reviews about the hotels and beaches since there was a bad hurricane a few years ago many were destroyed and in poor condition. We were about 15 minutes by car from downtown, or a cheap taxi ride, which is where all the clubs are located.  We spent our days nursing our hangovers on the beach and not spending a dime while taking full advantage of the all-inclusive aspect at the bar and restaurants.  Some people want to be in the middle of the party 24/7 and for that I would recommend the Oasis Cancun.

Not too shabby of a view from our balcony!

Party Party

Obviously most people head to spring break for the insane clubs and ridiculous parties they throw.  There really is nothing like spring break in Cancun, trust me.  We were lucky enough to have promoters come to our hotel, which I’m sure most do, and let us in on some deals for the party scene in Cancun.  For about $20-40 each we were transported to the given club and received free entry and bottles at table for the group from our hotel.  This was amazing because it was much cheaper and we had a great group of crazy randoms at our hotel to hit the clubs with.  Also having a table at these clubs is great because they are so packed, it’s hard to really enjoy yourself.  Some of my favorites were The City, Daddy O’s, The Bulldog, Daddy Rock, and the world famous Coco Bongo.  All these clubs are located within walking distance in the downtown area along with tons of other bars and clubs.  Also check out the concert schedules in Cancun before planning your nights because they tend to have a lot of big performers such as Tiesto, Akon, etc., this time of year.  One more tip: the clubs get SO hot inside, so dress accordingly and prepare to get a lil sweaty while dancing your booty off!

One of my favorite clubs The City - Yes it was like 4 stories!

Hope this was helpful to either persuade you to hit up Cancun for Spring Break this year or help you plan your trip.  Please respond with any questions or your favorite Spring Break destination! Don’t forget to be safe down in Cancun, it is still MEXICO!   Also check out my Flickr account for a lot more pics of Spring Break fun!!