Brampton Island Resort Reviews from GlobeNet Travel for Brampton Island

Thank you for your reviews of Brampton Island Resort for the benefit of fellow travellers. Included here are some of your responses and we update regularly.

• "Thanks Elisabete, The trip to Brampton Island was everything that we wanted. Yes, our rooms were side by side and that made it easier for the kids and us. Neither the kids nor my husband and I were ever bored, there is always something to do.

The resort is fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone. Thankyou for all your help, our plans ran very smoothly. I would not hesitate to recommend GlobeNet Travel to all my friends and family." Pam P., Sydney, Australia (24 Jan 06)

• "Dear Kylie, We had a fantastic holiday at Brampton Island. The room was more than superb, it was fantastic and easily the best unit in the resort, looking right out onto the ocean beach and within 50 metres of dining and the seaside pool and the water sports activities. The meals were great, a little overpowering at times and there was simply heaps to do.

We had a simply fantastic time. The weather was simply a treat , the sun shone most of the time and in total it was just a stunning retreat and we couldn't have asked for more. Thank you very much for all your attention to detail.

The plane connections were good although the connecting helicopter flight to Brampton from Mackay was not good as they informed us that we should have confirmed the helicopter flight that morning. Consequently we had to wait at the airport until the later helicopter flight was available( 1pm flight). However this was only a small, very small niggle and we soon forgot about it.

I thank you greatly for your help and for the great holiday we had." John and Elizabeth B., Sydney, Australia (22 Jan 06)

• "Hi Zoe, We had a fantastic time at Brampton Island, thank you for suggesting it. So far you have been spot on with Peppers and now Brampton. After returning home from Brampton we left 2 days later for the 10 day cruise to Vanuato and New Caledonia, I just got back today.

We only decided to go as it was a great deal $957.00 for 10 nights all meals included. However, Brampton was far better and we wished we just spent a little more and stayed there longer." Priscille B., Sydney, Australia (18 Jan 06)

• "Hello Zoe, Thank you so much for your good planning, we enjoyed every bit of the trip to Brampton Island and the Shangri La Cairns..." Gwen P., New York, USA (17 Jan 06)

• "Hello Sali, We arrived safe back home in good old, but very cold Germany from our 2 weeks trip to Australia. Your support to find an accommodation at Brampton Island on short term during the heavy booked holiday season was great and I will certainly use your service for possible future trips to Australia. Thank you very much again! Some comments regarding Brampton Island:

In general it was ok, but it was definitely not the big hit and I would not visit this island a second time. Compared to my former trips to Heron, Hayman and Lady Elliot I rank Brampton last place, although I know that this comparison is perhaps not fair with regard to price level (Heron, Hayman) and the total different situation at Lady Elliot (basic accomodation, great nature and reef snorkeling).

Positive aspects Brampton:
Transport (light aircraft) well organized
Accomodation, we had a upgrade to a seaview room without extra charge Nice salt water pool

Negative aspects Brampton:
Restaurant: Quality of provided food ok, but they seem to have a problem with organisation/management and service. Dinner menue has to be booked in advance for a fixed time which is not due to limited seats/table capacity but to limited capacity in the kitchen or limited capacity of service staff. Breakfast and lunch buffet run out of food items very often, replacement only after request and long waiting time. They need a good Restaurant Service Manager and more motivated service staff!
Poor snorkeling around the island, snorkeling boat trips to the Barrier Reef only once a week, which was unfortunately not during our stay. Beach in front of the resort not bad, but not as nice and marvelous as claimed in their advertisement No "Whitsunday Island flaire"

Sali, I do not blame you and GlobeNetTravel and, as I said before, I appreciate your great support. My personal conclusion for the future: Sali and GlobeNet Travel: Yes, Brampton Island: No I hope my feedback is of some use for your future work." Dietmar Z., Friedrichshafen, Germany (12 Jan 06)

• "Zoe, We had a ball!! Everything went very smoothly thankyou and Brampton Island was a great recommendation. The Island was beautiful, the people were great, there were heaps of activities to chose from and of course too much food and booze was had by all. Thankyou so much and I will be sure to use your services again." Terri K., Sydney, Australia (9 Jan 06)

• "Hi Sali, Our east coast island hopping was fantastic. Thank you so much for booking the accommodation, your service provided was excellent & we have already recommended GlobeNet Travel to several other people. Our trip highlight was Wilson Island, it was heaven & there was only 1 other couple there with us.

Great Keppel - lovely beaches & rugged island, accommodation/cleanliness very average....but I think they are trying to improve it, however it was cheap.

Dunk Island - we love everything about Dunk, jungle walks, quiet beaches, afternoon storms, excellent service & luxury accomm.

Brampton Island - we loved it almost as much as Dunk, unfortunately the staff weren't as efficient, we think the reception staff were not cut out for their job.

Hamilton Island - We had a spare night, so we popped in, it felt like the Gold Coast on an island after being on the other islands.

Heron Island - birds & birds & more birds...lots of international guests.

Wilson, our dream island, wonderful host couple, amazing wildlife pristine beaches, a very special place. All the islands had their own point of difference, it was interesting to compare them.

We had a fantastic 4 weeks, everything ran very smoothly, next year we are doing central australia..although tempted to go back to some of those islands first chance we get... Thanks again Sali" Christina & Rod L., Melbourne, Australia (27 Dec 05)

• "Dear Sali, All went very well. In fact it turned out to be a surprise wedding! No one was more surprised than we were. Brampton Island is a great resort and everyone enjoyed their time there." Bev & Keith S., Sydney, Australia (12 Dec 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Thank you for organising our trip to Brampton Island. Everything went well. The Island View Room you booked was in a great location. I appreciate the advice you provided me in choosing the destination. I look forward to contacting you for my next trip and am referring your details to anyone that is considering a holiday." George T., Melbourne, Australia (6 Dec 05)

• "Zoe, Thanks again for organising a great trip to Brampton Island ! " Mary S., Sydney, Australia (5 Dec 05)

• "Hi Gayle, Thank you very much for your assistance in organizing our trip to Brampton Island. We were met on arrival and were pleased with the staff who were very efficient the whole time. The accomodation was excellent. The food and service was also first class.

The photo which we have sent you was on departure, the couple in the Middle we met in Brampton Island Craig and Cathy, Myself and Valerie my wife are at either end. Thanks once again for your assistance and we would book our next trip through you" Ken H., Canberra, Australia (18 Nov 05)

• "Hi Elisabete, Firstly, both Tanya and myself would like to thank you dearly for all your effort into making our Brampton Island holiday as memorable as it turned out to be. We had an absolutely fantastic time. Your advice was paramount in the type of room we had, close to all the action but still quite private with picturesque views.

If anything, we would probably stay upstairs rather than downstairs on our return trip in the future. The island experience in itself was phenomenal. The water was warm and crystal clear and the weather was great apart from the 15 minute downpour we had one particular night.

The Brampton experience is great. You can do as much as you want with a wide range of tours and activities or as little as you want and just sit by the water. The choice was indeed a pleasant problem to have. The snorkelling in general off the island itself was great. The "fish bowl" as they call it (in between Brampton and Carlisle Island) was the place to snorkel with a wide array of fish, turtles and even the odd, harmless reef shark. The Romance Package was well worth it. The massage almost put me to sleep as it was so relaxing.

We didn't end up going on the sunset cruise as it was cancelled due to rough seas, however the manager exchanged this for the Sea Salt dining experience which was definitely one of the highlights. This is where about 7 couples dine at night around the pool to a 5 course meal while watching the sunset and then the stars. It was truly a beautiful experience. And finally the staff in general were so co-operative and friendly. There are too many to name but there were all great.

Once again Elisabete, thankyou so much for everything and we definately recommended your web site to some friends who were interested. we have attached a couple of photos, one of us after a hot walk up to the peak of the island and another enjoying a drink before the Sea Salt dining experience. All the best and we will be in touch again, hopefully for our next trip to Brampton!!" Steve & Tanya Y., NSW, Australia (3 Nov 05)

• "Hi Jo... We had a great time on Brampton, great weather and far too much food to pig out on. Snorkeled the safe 'fish bowl' to see heaps of fish and turtles but not much coral. To see coral, needed to take the special trips to outer reef.

Just one disappointing point... We arrived on a Wednesday and did a beeline to book in massage to release years of tension but they were booked out until after we were to leave on the Sunday morning. After some complaining we eventually had a combined 30 min session. Seems that people ring and book BEFORE they even arrive on the island Each daily activity sheet advertised their massage services BUT... Thanks again for your great service" Kevin F., Brisbane, Australia (10 Oct 05)

• "Hi Tina, Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know we had a ball on Brampton Island. Absolutely loved it! All the flights and connections worked like clockwork and the island is spectacular. Perfect for us. Just so that you know, the facilities and accommodation have been substantially refurbished but not entirely. The room interiors are lovely, as are the pools and surrounding areas. The reception and restaurant could do with a facelift but the food was lovely. Thanks for your help." Carol O'B., Brisbane, Australia (31 May 05)

• "Sali, Brampton Island was fantastic and Natalie and I enjoyed our stay on the reef. The whole resort staff were pleasant, helpful and fun to be around. The activities were just right and the weather (even for that time of year) was great. Locals told us they have been visiting the different resorts for years and this was the best of all of them. Thanks for the suggestions and the help. The helicopter IS the only way to go. " Bill L., USA (24 May 05)

• "Hi Elisabete, We had a wonderful time on Brampton Island and would recommend it to anyone wanting a holiday away from the rat race. This was a perfect destination for my husband and myself as a last "couples holiday" before we have our first baby later this year. Even though we had some high winds and rain most days, there was still plenty to do and it was warm enough to still go for walks in the rain! The food was superb and included healthy and not-so-healthy options. The staff were professional and friendly, but never intrusive.

We asked to move rooms as our first allocated room was right outside the watersports centre, so had a lot of passing traffic. We were delighted to be moved to another, quieter beachfront room, which suited us perfectly. There was never any hassle and the staff always did their best to accommodate us and our wishes. The picnic lunch we took one day was excellent and the walking trails are great for fitness fanataics. I have attached a photo of a view from our room and one of Turtle Bay. Thank you for your help and advice and I look forward to booking through you in the future (and hopefully returning to Brampton)." Suzanne M., Sydney, Australia (5 May 05)

• "Dear Zoe, Everything went off like clockwork. Weather was great, Brampton Island super and we are already recommending B as a perfect couples getaway. It proved very expensive getting from Brampton to the outer reef - $340 per person since a plane flight to Hamilton was required.

Thank you for getting us out of a spot when Virgin dumped our original flight. You then proceeded to save us $600 on the Brampton stay! Attached pictures show Carlisle Island across the channel next to Brampton " Ed and Gill D., Arcadia, Australia (2 May 05)

• "Hi Sali, Jon and I had a wonderful time in Brampton Island. The room was lovely, the food was great and nothing had really changed since we were there last four years ago. We found they didn't restock room supplies very well and the jet ski tour was way overpriced, but we noted these things on their feedback form when we left. We would love to go back there again one day. The service you provided has been fantastic so... Thanks again for your help. " Melanie H., Brisbane, Australia (19 Apr 05)

• "Trisha, Thanx so much for helping us with our stay at Brampton Island... it truly was very memorable....awesome time, no hiccups at all...PERFECT." Chris & Leigh W., Sydney, Australia (4 Apr 05)

• "Hi Elisabete, Your advise was spot on, we really had the time of our lives, Brampton Island was perfect for us. I have been recommending everyone to go.... and to use you as well. Thanks again." Hayley C., Sydney, Australia (14 Feb 05)

• "Hello, My wife and I stayed on Brampton Island with a couple of Aussie friends of ours, and we can honestly say that for the whole week we stayed we thoroughly enjoyed every minute. We arrived by private jet, and within an hour we were swimming in the 'warm' sea. We enjoyed many activities during our stay, including tennis, beach volleyball, swimming and... Sumo wrestling!! We also managed to video half a dozen black tipped reef sharks swimming beside our feet. Unfortunately there always seems to be a down side, and for us it was the realisation that we soon had to leave... far, far too soon." Bryan and Mary D., London, UK (25 Jan 05)

• "Hi Tina, Thank you for the room we got at Brampton Island. Last year when I booked directlly with P& O we got a room with no view. This year our room had a view of the water which was lovely. I feel that you helped with this as you understood the layout of the resort and the rooms. It was lovely to sit on the balcony and have a drink looking the water. I kept saying I must thank Tina for this. Thanks again. " Kim W., Sydney, Australia (12 Jan 05)

• "Dear Tina, Thank you so much for all your amazing effort to make our Brampton Island trip the success it was. We had the best time it was everything we hoped for and more. Our room was great with a lovely view of the ocean, the resort is beautiful and you can not fault the staff, they are so friendly and lots of fun. We tried to do everything the island had to offer including taking a jet ski for a burn, that would have to be one of my favourites, even though our instructor was trying to show my husband moves to throw me off!! (I have to add he did not succeed and it was all in good fun) We spent a lot of time snorkling, saw some beautiful fish, Kris swam with a turtle on the first day.

The rest of our time was spent swimming, playing golf, archery (we both hit the coconut), walks around the island, fishing trip, sunset cruise and heaps more. The food was amazing, Kris put on 8 kilos, which he needed to put on and enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was great, only a small amount of drizzle one day and sunshine the rest of the time. To top off a beautiful holiday we were upgraded to a charter plane for our return trip to Mackay and had the most beautiful views of the island. We will definitely be going back and will also recommend it to all our friends and will also be recommending GlobeNet Travel and yourself to everyone. Thank you again and I promise to send a few pics over the next week. Cheers " Amanda J., Darwin, Australia (13 Jan 05)

• "Hi Tosh, Both Jo-Anne and I had a great time, not that we extended ouselves too much. The trip to Brampton Island was smooth sailing all the way and when we got there we decided to have lunch first before we booked in. It was a great surprise when booking in to be informed of a room upgrade, this was fantastic and everything else was more and more on top.

Jo had her first drive of a jetski and is hooked now, and after a solid run on that we had our massage the following morning and Jo enjoyed hers so much she went back for more. I had a special gift for Jo on our aniversary night (17th) and all the restaurant staff were wonderful in keeping the special gift safe and secure and Jo knew nothing of it until they brought it out after our main coarse. She was surprised to say the least. To sum it up FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

I would like to say that your hand in this was major and I would like to thank you personally for going the extra mile to make this very memorable for both of us. If this is your attitude to your clients then I think Globenet Travel is blessed to have you on board. I really can't say thanks enough. King regards" Shane J., Brisbane, Australia (7 Dec 04)

•"Hello Zoe, Can't tell you how lovely our holiday was at Brampton Island, we actually met there on a day trip 32 years ago, and as this was my 50th birthday, it was lovely to return there. everything was superb. The food, meeting us at the airport, Graham arranged for a lovely tea for the night of my birthday and they bought a cake and sang for me, then every day one of the girls there, Jill, asked me how I enjoyed my birthday, the cocktails were lovely, weather, it was a shame we had to come home, never mind we will definitely return there some time in the future, thanks for everything," Pam D., Sydney, Australia (4 Sep 04)

•"Dear Sali, I have received the e-documents re our itinerary to Brampton Island. Everything looks good. I want to thank you for all your help and your professionalism. You have been prompt in your resonses and given me all the information I have needed to help plan this trip. I am sure we will be in touch for other trips we take in the future, " Emily O., Melbourne, Australia (2 Sep 04)

•"Dear Zoe, finally we arrived home after driving over 5000km. Brampton Island was fantastic, our room what you can see in the photo was in the best position on the island.

The food was excellent and the walks and scenary were breathtaking.

I can highly recommend it for your next holiday. We were also very lucky with the weather. We had clear skies, and 23/24 degrees everyday. Water temperature: 20 degrees, which was quite pleasant.

Thank you very much for looking after our booking, we'll keep in touch. Regards," Stephen H., Melbourne, Australia (3 Aug 04)

• "Hello Zoe, Both Tania and I had a great holiday, thankfully the weather was fantastic. Brampton Island was a wonderful resort, which allowed us to relax, and also provided ample activities to enjoy when we felt like being a bit more active. I have stayed on Hamilton Island six times, and whilst I loved every visit their too, I would probably recommend Brampton to couples who just want to relax, and have everything provided for them.

Really the only decision you have to make on Brampton is what time you want to eat. There weren't any problems with any of the bookings you made for us, which always makes it easier to relax on your holiday, so thankyou very much for that. I must admit feeling a little anxious about all the bookings having made them over the Internet, so now I have a lot more faith.

One suggestion I do have is to strongly recommend to customers to pay the extra dollars and get the helicopter to and from Brampton Island. We travelled to the island by boat, and returned by helicopter, and would have preferred to use the helicopter both ways. Other people on the island said the same thing after taking the boat. Other than that, there's nothing else I'd say really other than it was a fantastic week. Thanks again," Mick and Tania D., Brisbane, Australia (7 Jul 04)

Brampton Island Wedding
Click to enlarge

• "Dear Tina Here are the wedding photos (Anna and Peter, married Wednesday 16 June 2004 at Brampton Island ).

We had a wonderful day - ceremony followed by seafood platter lunch on the balcony, followed by snorkelling (after a rest to digest the food!), walking up to the peak to see the magnificent sunset and then we dressed again for a beautiful dinner (wedding table set up) in the restaurant.

A marvellous, stress-free wedding day that I can thoroughly recommend! Thanks for your help in making it all happen." Sandy K., Melbourne, Australia (1 Jul 04)

• "Hi Zoe, Chris and I had a great time. Unfortunately we didn't get married on the intended day though. We were supposed to get married on Thursday the 29th of April, but it absolutely poured with rain, and Anne and Wayne were unable to fly to Brampton Island Resort.

So it all ended up happening on the 30th. It turned out to be a beautiful day. We all had a ball. There was so much to do, and the staff really did a lot to help us out. We were thinking about having our 1st anniversary there but we'll have to see what we're doing. Hope you like the pictures. " Chanelle W., Sydney, Australia (23 Jun 04)

• "Hi Rene, The trip up to Brampton Island was great. Thank you for faxing over the confirmation information for the transfers. Since the weather didn't co-operate when we arrived we have to take a helicopter ride over to the island which was fantastic and then a small plane ride back which was incredible.

The staff at Brampton made our stay very enjoyable and the room and accommodations were top notch. Thank you very much. I'm not sure if you had anything to do with this but our room was upgraded, we had a bottle of sparkling wine and two 1 hour massages given to us when we arrived. It was great. Thank you if that was from you. If and when we are back in Australia or if any of our friends are there and would like to take an extra vacation, I will definitely recommend your company and you! Thank you very much!" Brian & Kristin McK., Sydney, Australia (10 Mar 04)

• "Thanks Zoe, We had a great time at Brampton Island. If you hear of any good specials could you please let me know we are planning a holiday for us two and the four children next year some where in Australia on a child friendly island. Thank you so much for your help Zoe " Kathy M., Sydney, Australia (28 May 04)

• "Hi, Gayle! We had an absolute gorgeous trip! It went without a glitch! All arrangements were orchestrated to a tee!!.... Brampton Island is utterly fabulous - breathtaking. We loved Sydney Harbour!! And took a ferry to Manly; what a great little village! We intend to pass your name on to our friends; you did an excellent job. Many thanks again." Tom & Annie, USA (15 Dec 03)

• "Hi Rene - Thanks for your welcome home (we wish our holiday could have been longer!!). All flights and connections were made. We hope that Qantas will soon fly from Newcastle to Brisbane or Mackay or Cairns direct as we would like to get up that way again. The only trip we didn't enjoy was the boat coming back from Brampton Island to Mackay - rather rocky and Joanne was a bit woosey, considering she had a banana cocktail before we left! If we go again we might take a helicopter or small plane. Oh well you live and learn. I don't mind sailing though.

We really loved Brampton and the staff at the resort were fabulous. We found there to be a lot of activities in which we could join in and be sociable, but also if we didn't want to we could be alone and romantic - we exchanged rings while we were there! It is a beautiful part of the reef. Snorkelling was good.

The food and service was really good, our favourite was the seafood smorgasboard on Saturday night - it's so fresh!! We got dropped off at a secluded beach one morning where it was out of the wind and calm - we saw a lot of turtles out there and that was just beautiful as I have an afinity towards turtles. The natural scenery and bushwalks were easy. We had a lot of fun enjoying the dreamlike surrounds. Best wishes and thanks for your help." Barbara M., Sydney, Australia (5 Nov 03)

• "Hi Globenet, I would just like to tell you about the absolutely amazing service that Tina gave us arranging our accommodation on Brampton Island, this was our first visit to Australia and we wanted our stay in the Whitsunday islands to be very special and Tina certainly pulled all the stops out and arranged the most perfect accommodation we could have wished for!.

During the frequent emails between myself and Tina, I gave her some very special requirements including Helicopter transfer and Flowers, Champagne and Chocolates for my wife on arrival, and Tina took care of every last detail making our holiday not only amazing but also very romantic and extra special, I simply can not praise Tina enough for her professionalism and expertise.

We are planning to return to Australia for 3 months in 2005 and I will be contacting Tina to arrange all our accommodation for the whole period. Kind regards." Nigel B., London, UK (29 Jun 03)

• "Hi Tina, We are now back from our recent holiday in Australia and I can not thank you enough for the accommodation you arranged for us on Brampton Island, it was absolutely amazing and we had the most wonderful time we could ever wish for.

The room was perfect!, and had everything that I asked you for, they flew a bouquet of red roses in from the mainland for my wife, and also put the chocolates, fresh fruit and champagne in the room, nothing was too much trouble for the staff on Brampton, they even flew in some Cigars for me as they did not sell them on the island.

We will be returning to Australia in 2005 for 3 months and I will certainly be contacting you and asking if you can arrange all the accommodation for our whole trip. p.s the helicopter to and from Brampton was amazing!! Best wishes," Nigel B., London, UK (29 Jul 03)

• "Hello Mary, Just to say thank you for organising a great holiday for the 4 of us to Brampton Island. The flight connections were marvellous, only about half an hour between them both ways. Accommodation was just as requested. Overall, a very enjoyable holiday. Again many thanks and congratulations. Here's to next time," Bruce A., Castle Cove, Australia (28 Jul 03)

• "Hi Kylie, Ross and I got home yesterday from our six night holiday on Brampton Island. We had an absolutely wonderful time. Car storage was smooth and hassle-free with the car waiting for us at the Marina on our return.

Weather on the island was perfect for the first two days but strong winds blew for most of the week (although it still remained sunny). Luckily the main beach was sheltered with the south easterly winds blowing up the channel between Brampton and Carlisle Island.

We did all of the bushwalks (ran the 8.7 circuit before breakfast most days) and we did one if not two of the organized activities each day. We found the staff excellent, friendly and helpful. Boat trip over was calm but unfortunately with the big winds it was very rough on the way back. (I was not the only one with my head buried in the white paper bag!) Thanks for you all your assistance in arranging this holiday for us. (Might try Dunk next time) Regards," Leonie G., Brisbane, Australia (24 Jan 03)

• "Hi Mary, Well we're back. I hope Kylie received my thanks for getting my jewellery to me at the Stamford Plaza. We were totally jet lagged when we left the Palazzo Versace, and I didn't even realise I had left it all there. When Kylie rang we were fast asleep at the Regal in Port Douglas, and I didn't know whether I was coming or going. Would you please pass on my sincere thanks to Kylie, we really appreciate her efforts.

What can I say Mary, we had such a wonderful time. The hotels were great. The Versace was out of this world, and although we were jet lagged, we still managed to appreciate it. We had a truly fabulous stay, and an excellent meal on the 8th April for Chris's birthday, also at the Versace. Everybody there was so helpful and professional.

Port Douglas was also great. The Regal only had a minor problem, in that they had no lift, and we had to carry very heavy luggage up several flights of stairs, and I have a knee injury, so that's worth noting. The room was great however, and we loved the area. Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef was superb!!!

We fell in love with Brampton Island, and hope to return (as we do the Versace). Our Ocean View Room was definitely worth the money. We loved the kangaroos and lorikeets on the island, not to forget the migrating butterflies. We swam with beautiful fish and turtles, literally just outside our room. Unbelievable!!!

We then spent a night in the Stamford Plaza in Brisbane, which was magnificant. We ate in Siggis Restaurant, one of the best meals ever. Totally loved the experience, and will definitely return. We felt like King and Queen sipping our sparkling wine, in our huge white robes, overlooking the Brisbane river.

Fraser Island was mad at Easter, but we enjoyed visiting the island, hugely fascinating and beautiful.

Then came Sydney, wow. The ANA Harbour was well worth the money. They didn't have us booked in which was odd, but we were upgraded to a Junior Suite, great. Fabulous place. Couldn't believe our eyes when we were shown to our table on the 36th Floor of the ANA, the Japanese Restaurant, on our first evening, and Sydney Harbour was there as far as the eye could see, the bridge, the Opera House and the fabulous view.

We had a wonderful time in Sydney, doing as much as possible. Didn't get to the Blue Mountains, but we have to return shortly to do that. We found the Australians so friendly and helpful, everyone, not just people working with tourists. Australia was everything and more than we could have hoped for. Wonderful weather, people, scenery and atmosphere!!

We have far more we want to do in Australia mind you, so we are saving frantically to get us back over there. We still haven't fully recovered from the jet lag, and I'm celebrating my 40th birthday tomorrow, so much going on.

Thank you so much for all your suggestions Mary, you helped us to have a truly wonderful, memorable holiday, most certainly the best holiday of our lives so far. Let's hope there will be many more!!! All the best." Jan and Chris J., Illinois, USA (7 May 03)

• "Hi Gayle: I had a wonderful trip, with much of the credit going to you for you your valuable assistance. To benefit future clients, I'd like to give you some feedback.

Grand Medina Sydney: Location was adequate, but not excellent. Easy walk to Darling Harbour, which was a plus, though the immediate neighborhood is not great. Room was adequate, but nothing special; I probably would've been happier paying a bit more.

Brampton Island: All air and helicopter connections were perfect, and the fun of taking the helicopter more than justified the extra cost. the resort is pleasant and the beaches are very pretty. Island hiking is very nice. Snorkling a little disappointing--I expect it's better further north. Resort's fitness center is woefully outdated and underequipped; I pointed this out to management. Dinners are top restaurant quality; breakfast and lunch pretty ordinary. Resort is very couples/family-oriented. Good value.

Stamford Plaza Double Bay: location and hotel excellent. Double Bay very pleasant and accessible, though ferry is currently out of service due to construction. Hotel accomodations and public rooms very nice and concierge service was excellent. Fitness center is tiny and poorly equipped, with some of the equipment out of order the entire week; as you may recall, I moved to this hotel because of on-site fitness center. I pointed this out to management. On balance, the hotel is an unusually good value and location. Didn't go to Blue Mountains, but braved a rental car and took a day at Hunter Valley, which was very enjoyable.

Again, thanks for your help. Hope this information is helpful to you in planning for others. Regards," Alan G., Washington DC, USA (6 May 03)

• "Hi Tina Very many thanks for all the arrangements you kindly organised. Brampton Island room upgrade was just right...literally on the ocean on the ground floor with just one palm tree under which to shade!. The lunches (which I don't do) were an irresistible temptation... but such is life! The rest of the arrangements simply faultless. It has been a real joy to have had all the itinerary sorted and without a single hitch!

Booking the Commodore hire car for the Bruce Highway was just right, and the courtesy extended by the Highway Patrol - who let his presence be known but without penalty, I guess is just another fond recollection of the very many we have brought home with us of a wonderful country and wonderful people. The reality of returning to winter is quite shocking... iced up roads, sub zero north east winds and as I write to you I see no turquoise sea or golden sands glistening in the sun just a snow blizzard battering at the window...(it is a novelty as we haven't had such snow for years)...but there are newer novelties...I can already look forward to my return trip.

If there was an Internet poll for the best Leisure Travel organiser, you get my vote! Once again my sincere thanks and very best wishes for 2003.," A.R., London, UK (9 Jan 03)

• "Hi Tina We had a wonderful time and everything went completely smoothly. The Brampton Island Resort is glorious, the room was comfortable and relaxing, and the staff there are sensational! We ate like pigs, drank huge numbers of exotic cocktails, snorkelled everyday around the island's 7 beaches, went catamaran-ing, jetski-ing....really lived it up! Your service is wonderful. I will definitely use GlobeNet again... Thanks so much for your help Tina! Cheers," K.&K. P., Sydney, Australia (15 Oct 02)

• "Hi Shelley Thanks for your note. We finally got back to the UK yesterday after a fantastic trip. Everything you booked went very smoothly - the only hitch was Coconut Rain Forest Resort in Cape Tribulation - what a complete dump!! If you are booking anyone else there in the next few months, I would recommend that you investigate how far they have got with refurbishments - everything looked great on their website when I asked you to book it, so I am sure other people will be in for just as much of a surprise!

The Reef House in Palm Cove was fantastic - a really lovely end to our holiday in Australia. We had a gorgeous room and the staff were all really friendly.

We really enjoyed Brampton Island as well... I would definitely recommend Brampton - I thought we got really good quality and service for quite a reasonable price.

Port Douglas was lovely - just for future reference though, I wouldn't rush back to Bay Villas - they were nice apartments, very well equipped and only about 5 or 6 minutes walk from the main street, but they are built quite closely around a small central courtyard and are really noisy - you can hear everything going on in the apartments above and below even when the doors are all closed. We particularly enjoyed the family downstairs who were all learning to play the didgeridoo! Hmmm. We actually went back to Port Douglas and stayed at a place called "Verandahs ", which was great. It's a really lovely apartment-hotel with gorgeous trendy apartments and right behind the main street - if anyone is asking you about accommodation in Port Douglas, I would definitely recommend it.

Another place (which we booked ourselves) I would really recommend is the Alexander Apartments at Hervey Bay - definitely the best place in town and no more expensive than their competition... Thanks again for all your help - if any of our friends are heading your way, I will tell them to get in touch. With best wishes" J.D. London, UK (4 Sep 02)

• "Dear Joanne, Thank you for all the arrangements you made to make our vacation so wonderful. We loved Sydney and did cram a lot of sightseeing into our short visit. We were able to see the zoo, the aquarium and Featherdale Park. The ANA was superb and so centrally located we really felt like we were able to see and do a lot. The islands were wonderful! We enjoyed Hamilton and the Beach Club was fantastic! It was definitely a place to be spoiled! Our room was beautiful with breathtaking views!....

The charter flight was great and we were at Brampton in no time without any worries! We really enjoyed the beaches, the snorkeling and all the activities Brampton has to offer. We even played golf with all the kangaroos! Everything you arranged for us couldn't have been nicer!

Thank you so much for all that you did to make our trip so incredibly wonderful! Please do keep us informed of any "Specials"! We definitely want to see more of your beautiful country. One of the greatest things we will always remember was how friendly and outgoing the Australian people were that we met! So thank you again..." C.K., Colorado, USA. (4 Apr 02)

• "Hi Kylie, The trip was great! Sooooooo relaxing and the best thing was, it didn't feel like it rocketed past. Seven days was just perfect. And the water was excellent.

Brampton Island and the activities offered were really good, but... Over all we'd give Brampton a B+. We'd go back, but there are other islands we'd do first.

Heron Island looks great after the refurbishment, so Annette and I will be keeping our eyes open for special deals. The change to our flight itinery was great, saved us a lot of sitting around in airports. Annette just hated all the landing and taking off. She doesn't like flying much.

Thanks for letting us know the changes, some people we were with didn't even know they'd been changed until they tried to book in their luggage early and the guy said "You're on the flight that leaves in a few minutes" (Flight Centre). Thanks for your help Kylie, it was much appreciated. I hope this info is helpful."C. & A.B (2 Apr 02)

• "Hello Zoe: We just got back from a fabulous 2 weeks in Australia. The weather on Brampton was perfect, and the island even more so. Melbourne and Sydney were great. We did everything we had hoped to do, and more. All the flights and accommodations went absolutely smoothly. Not a single hitch. Thanks again for all your help. I'm sure it wouldn't have worked out as well without your assistance. Sincerely, "S.M., Los Angeles, USA. (4 Mar 02)

• "Jean & Tosh, Thanks so much for your follow up e-mail. We had a delightful week at Brampton... right on the beach, close to all the activities, which was great. We thought the week went far too quickly, usually a good sign of a great holiday. Thank you so much for looking after us. If you have anything that looks good value for money, please do let me know, we are always on the lookout for another break away. Thanks again, for your first class attention. Regards" J.O., Sydney, Australia. (17 Aug 01)