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!

Welcome to my paradise/my home! Bondi Beach

The Basics

Bondi Beach is located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and is about 7 km from the center of the city.  Getting there via public transport will take you about 45 minutes and is kind of a pain in the ass but worth the journey.  In addition to having an amazing beach to lie on during the day, there is always something special going on in addition to the numerous attractions and things to do in the area.  Read my blog “The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: Gorgeous Views and Spectacular Beaches,” which is a must while in the area.

Lexy and I loving us some Bondi on a gorgeous day!

Beach Life

I can’t tell you how impressed I am with Australia’s beaches.  I’m normally quite a beach snob and I haven’t been to many that impress me other than the Caribbean: not California, not the Mediterranean, and definitely not the beaches on the East Coast of the US.  Australia’s beaches impress me in all aspects and Bondi is one of them.  The sand is unbelievably soft and cleared of seaweed, while the water is refreshing and doesn’t leave you gasping for air, and the beautiful people that inhabit Bondi don’t hurt the situation one bit.  Bondi Beach is less than a 5 minutes walk from my apartment and I have to admit I’ve been pretty much every day since I moved to this area.  Tanning has been my part-time job and damn have I excelled at it.  The beach is about a kilometer long, which is a little over a half mile, and has 3 main areas.  The north of the beach is usually where it’s the most calm and safest to swim, which is indicated by the yellow and red flags.  The south of the beach is quite dangerous due to the waves and rip current and is usually where you can find the surfers catching some waves.  From experience I would recommend to be super careful and definitely swim between the flags.  The currents are super strong and are very easy to get caught in, especially if you’re hungover, so be careful.  Be sure to check signs for warnings regarding jellyfish or any other dangerous aspects.  Also don’t be shocked to see beach goers showing some skin since many women lay out topless to optimize their tan as guys try and show off their bods by wearing extremely small shorts or Speedos!

A beautiful view of North Bondi!

And a beautiful view of South Bondi!

A rare moment on Bondi with no one around! So peaceful!

Where to Enjoy Some Drinks

The scene in Bondi is super laid back regardless of it being day or night.  Instead of pretentious clubs with everyone dressed to the 9′s and dropping a lot of money, Bondi’s just about being carefree and enjoying some drinks with friends.  It’s amazing to go to a local bar in sandals and a casual outfit and not look like an outcast.  I love the laid back vibe of the local bars and it’s a nice change of pace from getting all dolled up and making the trek to the city.  Beach Road Hotel is my “local” as its just down the street from me and has a great beer garden in the back that’s perfect on a sunny afternoon.  Ravesi’s has a nice vibe but be sure to get their early because their lock-out is usually around 11.  Hotel Bondi is typically the last resort pub and what I like to call the “Black Hole,” but is open late and there are always some characters present.  The Swiss Grand Hotel has 2 bars to offer, White Revolver is good on certain nights, mainly Wednesdays, while Cream Tangerine is ideal for weekend day drinking with a great view.  Bar Bondi or BB’s, Bungabar, and The Bavarian Bier Cafe are also laid back places to get a few drinks and something to munch on.  Most bars do close early in Bondi so if you want a late night I suggest you head to King’s Cross to keep the party going.

Irene and I @ Hotel Bondi!

Bondi Hotel & Swiss Grand right on Campbell Parade

Although Bondi Beach happens to attract a lot of tourists, it still manages to keep its charm of a small beach town in Australia.  I would definitely recommend taking some time to escape the city and come out to enjoy the beach and have a real laid back Aussie day!  Check out my Flickr account for heaps of pictures of Bondi focusing on the beaches, the people and the local hot spots!  Please let me know if you have any questions since I’m kind of an expert about the area!

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!

Bars

Chiringuitos are little cabana bars that are located along the beaches.  These bars have great music, food, and spectacular freshly made drinks.  I experienced one of the best mojitos at one of these bars and what a better atmosphere to enjoy it than on the beach with great music.  At night most have DJ’s and some have lights to allow those interested to take a night swim.

My girls and I enjoying a delicious mojito @ an amazing chiringuito!

Chupito means shot in Spanish.  There are a few of these bars around town that feature the most ridiculous shots imaginable.  Pick from a list of hundreds of specialty shots,  from the wall and get drunk for about €4 a shot! These places get busy early on so make this your first stop off of the night.  Espit Chupitos is located on Calle d´Aribau 77 in Plaza Universitat, part of the Eixemple area of the city.

A Flaming s'mores shot AKA ridiculous and delicious!

The Champainaria is pretty much a match made in heaven for those that love bocadillos (Spanish Sandwiches) or tapas and Cava (Spanish Champagne.) This is because with each purchase of tapas or a sandwich they give you a free bottle of their own cava, yeah an entire bottle! Great place to start the night off at cheaply, about €5, and you need to get here early cause it gets busy and it’s kinda small! It’s located near Port Vell @ 7 Carrer de la Reina Cristina.

Clubs aka Discotecas

So there are so many clubs in Barcelona, but I will just go into detail about a few of my faves. Clubs usually get busy around 2ish and stay open late, so expect the see the sun when you finally emerge after dancing your ass off. Two tips for those of you who want to have a good night and not blow the bank. First off, pre-drink!! Drinks in the club are around €10 and that adds up. Second, try and snag a promo card from one of the promoters for either free entry or a free drink to save some money!

Lexy and I taking in a Vodka Limon @ Opium Mar!

There is a group of clubs down by Paseo Marítimo, which is right under the big fish, by the two towers. Catwalk, Shoko, CDLC, and Opium Mar are all right here on the beach and are all awesome.  Just down from these clubs is a bunch of bars at Port Olympic, please don’t waste your time down here unless you’re into obnoxious promoters with whistles and watered down alcohol.

Dinner and drinks at CDLC...great atmosphere!

Other clubs that you can get to via metro or cab that are my favorites include, City Hall, Up & Down, Sala Bikini, and La Terrazza. Join Facebook groups for invites, free entry, and to get the scoop on what kinds of music will be played. Many of these clubs will feature latino, hip hop, and techno djs or bands. Also many clubs have multiple rooms / floors to satisfy all types of clubbers.

Enjoy the nightlife in Barcelona! Have one for me and let me know what bars/clubs you enjoyed!! I can’t wait to go back and dance my little booty off at some of my fav spots!

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