THIS website is self-designed and maintained by me,
Peter Robinson, a professional travel writer, photographer and B&B
reviewer with 25 years experience. I live in bayside Melbourne, Australia.
In the course of my photographic and travel assignments - and my journey through the world of travel publishing - I realised I had carved an unexpected niche in tourism. As chief reviewer for luxury accommodation guide books and magazines I found I'd slept around a bit. With around 800 visits/reviews under my belt, I reckon few freelance travel writers have more experience in Australian B&Bs than me.
My first article was published in The Age travel section, a feature on the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Working hard to improve my photography and writing skills, it wasn't too long before my work was regularly featured in The Age, the Herald Sun, Sunday Sun, Travel Away, Vacations, Business Review Weekly, inflight magazines, 4WD magazines, Weekends for Two, Beautiful B&Bs and Small Hotels, amongst many others.
It was the accommodation reviewing which intrigued me most, and the realisation that the AAA STAR rating system in Australia did not seem to function well for luxury B&Bs, in the way it did for hotels and motels. Secondly, it was the way tourism promotion varied from factual and honest to misleading and downright deceptive.
I had been a victim of bad beds on many occasions - places where the hosts were unwelcoming or arguing, the chef had thrown a hissy-fit, the bedsheets were nylon, someone else's curly hairs were in the shower, the place was grubby, noisy or the food was off, or any of a hundred calamities.
I always wanted to do something complementary for the industry, and while the internet has spelled the demise of hordes of travel magazines (and this freelancer's income), it has given me the opportunity to share my Australian travel and accommodation experiences with you - and help you avoid the pitfalls.
B&Bs, cottages, apartments and small hotels come in many styles from cosy and comfy and inexpensive to super-luxury and incredibly expensive. It's come a long way from the days of 1960s motels by interstate highways but there's still the occasional B&B or cottage property that fails to deliver, for any of a number of reasons. These practices do untold damage to the entire industry.
Despite the problems and the odd shared bathroom, this upmarket sector has however taken a life of its own, distinct and separate from hotels and motels, becoming a driving force for the short-break tourist market and an integral part of Australian tourism. Certainly, the best operators deserve accolades but the undesirable ones should be weeded out. I will not consider including a property on this site which is not up to standard, and that includes hosting. I've seen how the best and most successful operate and this has become an excellent yardstick.
On my site you'll find scores of interesting places for great weekends away. I can't tell you which B&Bs not to bother with, but I can make unreserved recommendations for the finest in the land. You can rest assured that my selection of accommodation is reliably excellent and unecumbered by big dollar advertising.
I
encourage and welcome contact from B&B guests or operators and I will always
try to respond to queries promptly - without spam.
CONTACT
ME HERE
MOBILE
PHONE IN AUSTRALIA - 0407 032 613
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