Hamilton Island Resort Reviews from GlobeNet Travel for Hamilton Island

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

• "Sali, It was a wonderful holiday at Hamilton Island. I am sure my whole family has enjoyed very much and lots to remember. I attach a photo that shows my 2 kids on the catamaran." Alfred C., Sydney, Australia (24 Jan 06)

• "Hi Zoe, Thank you for recommending Hamilton Island to my family. We were upgraded at the Reef View Hotel and were very very happy with the service.

We had a great time, especially our 3 year old daughter who had her first trip to the Great Barrier Reef (although the current was too strong for us to take her snorkelling properly, plus being 6 months pregnant), she had fun on the jet skis and loved swimming the whole time we were there.

The island was beautiful and the weather - perfect! I look forward to another great holiday recommended by Globenet Travel!" Jerome, Bernadette and Ally B., Sydney, Australia (17 Jan 06)

• "Dear Zoe, It was a very pleasant stay at Hamilton Island. Everything was very nice, but it's not so complicated because the place is so wonderful.

I plan to go back to Australia next year so you can be sure that I will get in touch with you to book some resorts. Pls find enclosed some pictures of the island. Thanks again for everything." Corinne S., Shanghai, China (9 Jan 06)

• "Hey Sali, Hamilton Island was great! Heaps and heaps of fun! Everything went extremely smoothly no dramas at all, apart from the fact that everything you bought over there was pretty much double the price of what you would pay on the mainland! Just wanted to thank-you for organising everything and making it all so hassle free... " John P., Brisbane, Australia (16 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 Moniqua, Everything went very well - no hiccups and we enjoyed Hamilton island best, mainly because you could vary the food from different restaurants rather than one same menu from Long Island. We enjoyed the very relaxed atmosphere and fewer people on Long Island however their pools were too warm, however all in all we had a very good holiday and thankyou very much for all your help in such short notice.!!" Giordana P., Perth, Australia (19 Dec 05)

• "Hi Elisabete, Thanks we had an amazing time on the trip and would definitely recommend the Beach Club on Hamilton Island to others. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful and took care of all our needs. The facilities were very nice and well beyond our expectations. Everything that was described to us through the website or through yourself was accurate or better than described. We were extremely pleased with everything.

I would definitely recommend the reef trip, the Denison Star dinner cruise and Whithaven Beach to anyone that goes and a dinner at the beach club that had one of the best meals we had while there." Lloyd G., California, USA (12 Dec 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Thanks for arranging the trip for us. The properties we stayed at all had their own individual charm.

Peppers Palm Bay was lovely and relaxing, the food was pretty good, and as there is only really the one restaurant it is worth including dinner in your package. The food was fresh and there was always a choice of three items for each course. The staff were generally lovely and it was a good place to relax. I would recommend it to overseas guests as there are a lot of wallabies that graze on the lawn at dusk and all over the place on bush walks as well as a few interesting birds and geckos.... I recommend Peppers Palm Bay generally, especially for the price but don't expect anything out of the ordinary.

The Beach Club at Hamilton Island was very good. The pool was fantastic and the staff great, as was the breakfast. The chauffer driven buggy to wherever you want to go on the island 24 hours was great and all restaurants etc call the Beach Club for you to arrange your pick up. The vouchers for the sunset cruise and Beach House dinner were a waste of time and money as they were not available on any nights we were there and we had to upgrade to a dinner cruise and go to Beach Club instead at major surcharges and I really wish we had not bothered. The dinner cruise had very good food.

Beach Club is nice for food but we would have been better off doing our own thing as they did not present us with a bill and when we checked out we just had all these additional charges from our dinner despite not seeing any breakdown. It may be Ok if you are there a week as the services may be available then, but for a short stay it is just frustrating to include services which were not available, especially as we ended up spending more money than if we had done our own thing and were doing things we didn't especially want to do. Beach Club is a nice property but not really 5 star, maybe 4.

Hayman Island was lovely. We had a helicopter transfer which was brilliant and the launch transfer on the way there was pretty good too, champagne and nice snacks made the trip feel part of the holiday and we were already given keys on the launch so could go straight to our room. A very smooth check in and transfer.

The restaurants were pretty good. The Hayman pool is fantastic as is the service and facilities. There were a few too many kids but generally the place was brilliant. The buildings are a little dated but the rooms have been refurbished, the spa was fantastic, we really enjoyed sailing, their water sports were good and La Fontaine, their silver service restaurant was worth the splurge, but keep an eye on the drinks they serve you as ours were not what we ordered and were always more expensive.

Unfortunately there was a small fire the night we dined at La Fontaine (a candle/lamp was set alight) and so we ended up with ash in our drinks which were not replaced, which at $19 a glass of wine was disappointing... The degustation menu was fantastic, the staff very helpful and a great wine list. There are lots of different services including a welcome talk telling you about facilities, kitchen tours, massive cocktails at the Plantation lounge, a cinema with free popcorn and a huge pool table and nice club lounge. The chocolates are stored in a chocolate rooms and are fantastic.

Hayman was definitely the most up market, with prices to match, Peppers the most relaxed and Hamilton an island for all tastes and budgets. On the whole we had a fantastic time. The properties were far from the opulence of some of the overseas properties we have stayed at but the laid back yet professional manner of the Australian staff was good and the gorgeous reef and Whitehaven Beach made this well worth a trip." Michelle D., Melbourne, Australia (9 Dec 05)

• "Hi Tosh, As you'll see from the photos we had a great time. Hamilton Island - very nice to spend one night there - probably a little over developed for our age kids, but Koala breakfast was great, and nice pool to splash around in.

Thanks very much for organising this all for us - we had a lovely family hoiliday. We'll be in touch again next year! " Kate & Roger W., Sydney, Australia (10 Nov 05)

• "Hi Sonia, In short....we had a FABULOUS time!! Without doubt the best holiday we've taken. The arrangements for our Whitsunday experiences were flawless, so many thanks to you for sorting these out for us. The best moment.....snorkelling on the Reef. I've always wanted to go there and experience it and we were lucky to get great weather and a great group of folks running the Fantasea cruise and the Reefworld facility. For me, it was awesome!

The team at the Beach Club on Hamilton Island were great too. What a lovely atmosphere they manage to foster there - the people couldn't have been nicer and the hotel itself was everything we hoped it would be and more. A wonderful experience and loads of vivid, happy memories to keep us warm through what is forecast to be a "terrible" winter in the UK. Thanks again Sonia. " Duncan & Julia F., London, UK (25 Oct 05)

• "Hi Zoë We all had a truly wonderful time everything organised ran very smoothly, thankyou very much. Attached is our group photo taken at Whitehaven Beach after sailing there from Hamilton Island aboard the "Banjo Patterson " ex Syd to Hobart yacht. The yacht is pictured in the background. We definately will go back there again!" Janine M., Sydney, Australia (11 Oct 05)

• "Dear Tina The holiday was excellent and really enjoyed by all! We couldn't fault it. The Hamilton Island apartment was great and very suitable for us. We are highly recommending it as a holiday destination. Thankyou again for your help." Sarah F., Hobart, Australia (20 Sep 05)

• "Hi Zoe we all had a great holiday at Hamilton Island and thanks again for everything. Regards" Liz C., Sydney, Australia (10 Oct 05)

• "Hi Zoe We had a wonderful holiday. It was fabulous and the Beach Club at Hamilton Island was great. Highly recommend it. Thank you for your wonderful service. We will be recommending GlobeNet Travel to our friends and family." Trish M., Melbourne, Australia (5 Sep 05)

• "Hi Sali This is a courtesy note to thank you for organising our weekend trip to Hamilton Island. It was a very nice stay and the hotel was also great. However, we had a very bad experience with Jet Star, the flight to Hamilton which was met to be a 3hr flight ended up being 11hrs. Unfortunately, we lost a whole day on Hamilton Island due to Jet Star being very unprofessional with their approach..... and got there at around 6.30pm instead of 10.30am.

This is just to inform you not to deal with Jet Star if you don't have too, its bad for business. Avoid using them for your customers if you have to. Further investigation highlighted that this is not the first time, it had happed many other times. Anyway, just like to make sure that you understand that you did a great job organising and communicating with us. We will most definitely contact you in the near future. Keep up the good job." Juddy R., Melbourne, Australia (22 Aug 05)

• "Hi Zoe We had a great time. The Hamilton Island Apartmentwas simply the best rest we have had. Every excuse in the world to do as little as possible and really recharge and even the kids got in the 'zone'. The accom here was well appointed.... the ground floor apartment was great for the kids to explore the lawns and gardens." Gaylene & Mark N., Sydney, Australia (12 Sep 05)

• "Hi Tina, The holiday was really lovely and relaxing. We enjoyed the wedding on Hamilton Island and were impressed with The Beach Club accommodation on Hamilton Island." Sandra P., Mount Gambier, Australia (3 May 05)

• "Hi Sali, Back from our holiday and had a great time. The Hamilton Island resort was great. Although the furniture etc is a bit dated the unit itself has sufficient space and was clean and tidy and met our needs. After looking at Daydream and South Molle on the way over I am pleased that we chose Hamilton - I think it suited all of our needs better and proved to be a very child friendly environment - the kids loved it. Thanks for all your help on this. " Michelle C., Auckland, New Zealand (3 May 05)

• "Hi Zoe Sending you a couple of photos from our holiday at Hamilton Island , one showing our daughter Isabella with some friends she met. The other a scenic shot from our room. We had a great time, went a bit fast however. Thanking you for your help." Domenic R., Sydney, Australia (3 Aug 05)

• "Hi Dinah, Hamilton Island was great. Thanks for your help in booking this. We had a great time, the pick-up was perfect and the stay excellent. Here's a picture of us at the lookout on One Tree Hill. As you can see everyone was having a good time. I've also included a picture of the girls - they enjoyed it immensely. " Alex D., Harbord, Australia (28 Apr 05)

• "Hi Sali, Just a short note to say many thanks for your help on our Hamilton Island holiday and all the changing of times. It was most appreciated. We had a wonderful surprise when we arrived as we were given a free upgrade to theBeach Club, right on the ocean front. It was absolutely fabulous and made our stay. I will send you a photo when I can. My husband was energetic and we climbed the 3.5kms to the top of Passage Peak. Rained when we got to the top so I look really happy in the photo!! The staff at the hotel were very helpful and attentative. Put on a cocktail party for the guests every Friday night which was lovely. They couldnt do enough for you. Once again many thanks for all your help it was very relaxing and rejuvenating. Regards," Heather T., Perth, Australia (12 Apr 05)

• "Dear Zoe, We have a wonderful time at Hamilton Island and all the arrangements were fine. The weather at the time we went was very hot and humid. We would go again when it was a bit cooler, even the water in the pools was too warm at times.

Please find attached 2 photo's of our boys Josh & Ryan. One is with the Reef View Hotel in the background and the other is when we went snorkelling at the Reef one day. One other thing, the drive was very long (as you had warned me of), I wouldn't be keen doing that again, would fly next time, thank goodness for Game Boys." Gary & Karen N., Brisbane, Australia (6 Apr 05)

• "Hello... The Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel is the most fantastic place on earth. Why go overseas for paradise. We had a wonderful time and are going back as soon as we can. Everything about the place was spot on. Thankyou for everything" Tracey N., Sydney, Australia (5 Mar 05)

• "Hi Zoe, Our trip to Hamilton Island was great especially the very well organized, fun trip to the barrier reef. The 2 bed superior villa was lovely and new with a great view. The childrens eat free vouchers meant it was more economical to eat out every night. I was disappointed that we could not swim in the ocean because of the stingers, but the pools were very nice. Overall it was a relaxing pretty island." Jenny T., Sydney, Australia (6 Feb 05)

• "Hi Zoe, The Hamilton Island holiday went very well. We were upgraded to the Reef accommodation which was a nice surprise. Not sure why but we weren't bothered by it. The service was good and we look forward to being able to return in the future. Unfortunately we don't have any photos to send you as the photographers were too busy enjoying their holiday to take photos!! Thank you for your hard work in booking our holiday and look forward to contacting you for our future holidays. Best wishes for 2005." Veronica S., Brisbane, Australia (17 Jan 05)

• "Hi Sonia Just writing from Alice Springs after visiting Sydney, Melbourne and Hamilton island to say firstly, a big thankyou. Everything has been first class, well done on all the arrangements. Hamilton Island's Reef View Hotel was an absolute dream place and we are toying with the idea of a second visit in January." Mark A., London, UK (22 Dec 04)

• "Kylie, Many many many thanks for everything you did for us EVERYTHING was excellent, the hotels, the flights, the cars - Not ONE issue...HAMILTON ISLAND Reef View Hote l!!!!! - superb, glad we upgraded to the CORAL SEA VIEW ROOMS as the view was magnificent. Will definitely be recommending yourselves to others Many thanks again" Keith & Rosemary F., Birmingham, UK (20 Dec 04)

• "Kylie, Many thanks - We just arrived home and had a great time at the Beach Club, Hamilton Island. They looked after us very well. Thanks for all your help and information. Regards," John D., London, UK (12 Dec 04)

• "Dear Sonia, Thought you'd like to know that we all had a great time on Hamilton Island. The Palm Terraces accomodation was great. it looked over the beach. The food was great. Now it's back to reality for all of us. Thank you for your prompt and efficient service. regards" Karen B., Glenda N., Jenny & Jack K., Carly & Michell, Deb & Coop, Sydney, Australia (4 Dec 04)

• "Hi Sali,We had a great trip! Hamilton Island was lovely...blue waters, great weather. The villa was everything we expected and the buggy to drive around the island was a huge hit with our little girl. The biggest decision each day was "the pool or the beach". Snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef was amazing and while a bit expensive, well worth the money. We loved that we could charge anything and everything we purchased on the island (shops, restaurants, tours, activities, etc.) to our room and never have to carry credit cards or cash.

The Clownfish Club for kids was well run, but is a bit limited in the fact that they only let kids come 1 session per day which wasn't really advertised. This wasn't a big deal as we only used it some of the days and there was only one day that our daughter asked to go both sessions. As you know we also considered Lindeman Island and I'm really glad we did not make that choice. I would and have highly recommended Hamilton Island and your company. The reservation process was simple, your advice was very helpful and everything was as, or better than, expected. Thanks again for all the help!" Betsy H., Melbourne, Australia (8 Nov 04)

• "Thanks Gayle, Hamilton Island offers much more choice for accommodation, eating, shopping, activities etc. compared to Daydream Island. The Whitsunday Apartments were very spacious and comfortable. Also good to have a kitchen for the odd home cooked meal when you want a break from eating out.

The only negative I could think of was that there were plenty of people using the pools which made finding a deck chair difficult. All the rest was great. The golf buggy transport is novel too, although you don't need it if you can put up with a little walking. I would recommend to anyone a trip to the Whitsundays. It is a little expensive compared to some overseas destinations, but it is well worth it. Especially when you do a day trip to the reef and see what the fuss is all about" Brett S., Melbourne, Australia (1 Nov 04)

• "Dear Zoe, Thanks for the arrangements you did for me for our holiday to Hamilton Island. Everything went really smoothly and we did have a really great time. It definitely was worth having the superior room at the Whitsunday Apartments - very roomy and the divan worked well for our 2 year old. Overall first impressions of the Apartment were good, but on closer inspection several fittings are quite dated.

We did have some difficulties with getting the room serviced in the morning (it is done between 2pm - 5pm). The need to have our room free for our son to have the afternoon sleep meant that occasionally we did miss out on the service and when we asked for the cleaning to be done in the morning they did not seem to be capable of going outside the routine to meet our particular needs. By our last full day there we did finally succeed in getting morning cleaning! Possibly not being parents themselves they did not understand the importance of this sleep time! We would definitely stay again though and would recommend Globenet to anyone wanting to book online. Thanks again" Helen B., Melbourne, Australia (19 Oct 04)

• "Dear Zoe, We had a fantastic break - not long enough. Never are! Thank you for all you help. Only glitch we had was the Shute Harbour transfer had not been told that our flight was delayed from Sydney, so the last ferry had already left. But they quickly organized for an extended trip on another. So all was fine.

Hamilton Island was great. Just for feed back, the only staff who I found lacking were the reception staff. None seemed happy to be there, and with probably only one exception, none were happy to help you. You may want to pass that on. But other wise it was fabulous and again, Thanks. PS. The Whitsunday Apartments room was fine- even for an Interior Designer, sometimes its good not to be in that mind set." Anna D., Woolloomooloo, Australia (16 Oct 04)

• "Tina, just a quick note at last! Firstly, Hamilton Island was not great - the accommodation & restaurants there are really tired and in need of a good clean , especially the Toucan Tango! Yeugh !! We asked to be moved from the Whitsunday Apartment s as they were really grubby - the bedclothes were threadbare and there were too many cob-webs about for our liking ! We moved next door to the Reef View Hotel which was the same price but a lot better. On the other hand Outriggers at Palm Cove was just out of this world - absolutely beautiful . Unfortunately I doubt that we will able to afford to go back to Oz for quite a while - but if we do it will definitely not be during your winter ! Thanks for all your help" Briege J., Leeds, UK (5 Oct 04)

• "Gayle, It was a vacation of a lifetime! We had a great time in each of the three venues: Sydney, Hamilton Island and the Gold Coast. Hamilton Island was our favorite. The weather was great, even for winter. The villa was beautiful and had a magnificent view that we just didn't want to leave! I've attached a picture that I took from the veranda of a sail boat that wandered by one morning. We appreciate all of your help in getting our arrangements setup. It made for an easy trip to a foreign country.

The only thing that we would advise others is that JetStar has a strict baggage limit, which is less than all other airlines. We had to pay a substantial fee for the additional luggage we had when we flew from Sydney to Hamilton Island. The Qantas flights within Australia allowed us to bring more pieces of luggage and heavier luggage. Thanks again for your help in making our trip a fantastic one! Jan " Jan W., Nevada, USA (31 Aug 04)

• "Hello Jo, All arrangements you made for us were great. They knew we were coming and everything was in order. The apartment was very clean and luxurious and the breakfast starter hamper very generous. I know that there were a number of emails that went back and forth between us to find the accommodation that suited us, and your efficiency and helpfulness was much appreciated. Thank you for all help in making our stay at Hamilton Island such a memorable one. " Jo and Peter S., Perth, Australia (11 Aug 04)

• "Hi Zoe, I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for us in planning and booking our holiday to Hamilton Island. Everything went off without a hitch and your planning and organising left nothing out of place. My wife, our kids and I had an absolutely great time and the weather was fantastic also. I have recommended you personally to friends of ours that are considering travelling, possibly to Hamilton Island also, over the next 6 months or so. I am sure they will give you a call if they decide to take holidays as planned. I would have no hesitation in utilising your services again when we choose to take a holiday. Many thanks again and I will send a photo or two when I have a chance.

There is only criticism I have regarding the trip but it has nothing to do with you or GlobeNet Travel. The idea of Jet and their non-allocated seating is a real problem. It is only a matter of time until there is a real problem caused by irate passengers trying to get a suitable seat. It is absolute chaos trying to load passengers without allocated seating. Maybe you can pass this information on through your company to JetStar. I will be sending a letter off to them this week to complain. From our point of view we will not travel with JetStar again until they introduce allocated seating. If Virgin Blue can offer allocated seating then JetStar should also. It will be their absolute downfall if they don't. Kind Regards," Terry L., (4 Aug 04)

• "Hi Zoe We had a great holiday and the accommodation etc was exactly what we wanted, we were very impressed with Hamilton Island, the choices, food, service and facilities were all above our expectations, trully a great getaway island.

Hayman was an experience and one that didn't live up to the expectations that we had, I think the service was a little slack on a few occasions. Other than that, we will keep you in mind next year, when we decide to take another break (off to USA and Italy in September this year). Kind regards" Debbie G., Wellington, New Zealand (30 Jun 04)

• "Dear Zoe, everthing was absoluely o.k., I had no trouble at all. Here's a picture of my kids, taken at Hamilton Island which I would recommend to everyone. Thanks a lot, " Robert H., Budapest, Hungary (17 Apr 04)

• "Zoe, We had a great time. Our only disappointment was the quality and price of the food on Hamilton Island. It is a long time since I have seen food murdered so completely and at higher than average Sydney prices. I have owned 2 cafes and know how easy it is to make fresh food taste good and cost less. For other travellers to Hamilton and anywhere where you are required to wait 3 hours before booking in, can I suggest you tell the travellers to carry their costumes and towels in their hand luggage. We could have swum when we first arrived and filled in the time without being so hot and bored. Thank you for your service." Amanda D., Sydney, Australia (27 Apr 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 Mar 04)

• "Elisabete, Whoo - What a great break ! I would have to say that last week topped the holiday's I have taken in the past 12 years. 2 main reason's - dealing with yourself and your company was great and spending a full week with my family at Hamilton Island. Below is a quick pic of myself and daughter (Kate) sailing, my wife (Ros) Kate at Whitehaven beach and the view with some local fauna... Again thanks" Jason A., Sydney, Australia (23 Feb 04)

• "Hi Jo. In Brisbane after a wonderful trip to the Palm Terraces on Hamilton Island. Thanks again for all of your help. " Susan G., Los Angeles, USA (17 Feb 04)

• "Thanks Zoe The holiday was great and I was very impressed with how child-friendly Hamilton Island was. The service at the Whitsunday Apartments was also extremely good. thank you for your wonderful service." Debbie S., Belconnen, Australia (17 Feb 04)

• "Hi Mary I have been meaning to write to you for some time since we returned from our trip to Australia and NZ via Hong Kong and Singapore. Everything you organised for us at Hamilton Island Resort and the Harbour Rocks Hotel Sydney went exactly to plan and we much appreciate all your efforts. Trips like this take a lot of organising and your help was invaluable.

We even ended up sharing the Radisson Gold Coast resort with the England Rugby Team although I don't suppose that name brings any happy memories to you as it does for us, c'est la vie! Thanks again." Mike and Maggie L., London, UK (26 Jan 04)

• "Hi Zoe, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for helping to organize my husband and myself's recent holiday to Hamilton Island for our honeymoon. It was so awesome and we have a magnificent time. Our room was perfect and everything was great. We wanted to say thank you for all of your organization and help, it was much appreciated in helping us have a perfect honeymoon. Thank you again" Meredith & Daniel H., Oxford Falls, Australia (19 Jan 04)

• "Hi Rene, Thank you so much for all your help and assistance. Our Hamilton Island holiday was absolutely perfect, we loved it. I appreciated your superb service greatly - we enquired through a lot of travel agencies and Globenet Travel was by far the most efficient with without a doubt the best online service we have ever experienced. Thank you again Rene you are a credit to the company. Kind Regards" Jade and Marcus T., Sydney, Australia (2 Jan 04)

• "Hello Zoe, Thank you so much for all of your help with our first trip to Australia! All the accomodations were wonderful and we had a great time! The Beach Club on Hamilton Island was outstanding." Holly P., USA (17 Dec 03)

• "Gayle, Thanks. Here's us on Hamilton Island.....All went well on the GBR....off to Perth later today. Cheers," David & Serena W., USA (2 Dec 03)

• "Hi Gayle - The trip went well and I can definitely recommend the 2 bedroom apartment at Hamilton Island that we stayed in (Lagoon 004). It was modern and in great condition, furniture, fittings etc. Hamilton Island caters for families - no doubts about it from the childcare centre to some of the resort restaurants, with the kids eat free a definite bonus. There is a lot to see and do if you want to, but it is also a wonderful place to unwind and just sit by the pool or beach. For families with small children I would recommend timing flights with check-in and check-out times just to make it easier. Cheers," Anita S., Sydney, Australia (23 Oct 03)

• "Hey, thanks for sorting out all that madness. When we arrived in Hamilton Island, our tickets were in some other terminal but they reissued them with no hassle. I was so glad to have you as a contact person in Oz! I will recommend you to all my traveling friends… thanks again." Gialisa G., USA (15 Oct 03)

• "Dear Tina, I sit here wearing my Globenet hat remembering the best vacation last year. You all helped me organize the best trip ever for me and my family. We are thinking of experiencing another one of your trips. Last year we traveled to Sydney, Hamilton Island and then Cairns. This time we are thinking of another island for a week. What would you suggest. We are a family of 5 (kids are 15,17,21) we totally loved Hamilton island as it had something for each of us. What other islands would you suggest. We look forward to your response." Barbara G., Mission Viejo, USA (11 Sep 03)

• "Hi Mary, I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you that we had a great time at Hamilton Island and on our entire trip. I snorkeled at the reef while we were staying on Hamilton Island; it was thrilling. Thank you for your work and your assistance after we arrived, I truly appreciate it." Richard H., Florida, USA (3 Jul 03)

• "Hi Jo, Back in Sydney and back to the grind! Just a quick note fo thanks for all your help with that getaway. The Beach Club on Hamilton Island was all you said it would be. Lovely weather, great R&R. Cheers," Nic Y., Sydney, Australia (23 Jun 03)

• "Hi Tosh, We had an amazing time at Palm Cove and on Hamilton Island. Thanks so much for all you help in making our Honeymoon so enjoyable." Robert S., Hong Kong, China (23 Apr 03)

• "Dear Gayle, The four girls had a terrific time in Hamilton Island. All you arrangements went flawlessly! Thanks for your efforts and I will remember you they next time we travel to Australia. Thanks again," Armand M., Tustin, USA (22 Apr 03)

• "Dear Zoe, just wanted to say thanks for all your arrangements for our holiday in Hamilton Island. First Class. Will not hold you responsible for cyclone Benny which added some excitement but did us out of visiting Barrier Reef. Will now have to come again and will try to see more of Queensland this time." A. C., London, UK (16 Apr 03)

• "Dear Zoe, Thanks for all of your help regarding our vacation. We had a great time. The Beach Club at Hamilton Island was very special. We were picked up personally at the airport, our luggage was transfered from the plane directely to our room, we had welcome cocktails, and the staff was very happy to help in any way. I would highly recommend it to everyone.

The San Moritz was very nice, a bit rustic. It would have been uncomfortable if the weather had not cooled off because there was no air conditioning. I have told my fiends about your service and I will definitely let you know when were plan to visit again. Thanks," Maria C., Atlanta, USA (17 Feb 03)

• "Hi Jo, Thanks, we had an absolutely great time, Hamilton Island was fantastic, thanks for arranging everything. A few pics attached if of any interest," Rick F., London, UK (28 Jan 03)

• "Greetings, Gayle! We're back from our wonderful month in Australia and wanted to let you know just how perfect the trip went. I know that Globenet has a site that allows clients to compliment their travel consultants and I will be sending a write-up about your excellent service.

But I did want to pass on some observations. We stayed in the Goldsbrough Apartment Hotel on Darling Harbour and I highly recommend it. It was a perfect location, a minute walk to the actual Darling Harbour area and while we did head into the Sydney Harbour and into the city centre, we actually preferred being away from the hustle and the bustle. I also sense that it was a good value too, as Sydney overall is an expensive city!

We wished we had stayed longer in Melbourne (that's a well rounded city: sports, culture, gardens, good shopping and a GREAT transportation system - loved those trams!). We did like staying in the St. Kilda area, but in retrospect I would have probably taken your first recommendation of staying more centrally. You had suggested the Novotel Melbourne on Collins, and we did hang around that area quite a bit, so maybe staying there and going into the St. Kilda area to sights might have been a plan. While the Quest St. Kilda Bayside was in a good location, the accommodations themselves were a little tired looking. Also, I would argue that the St. Kilda area is more suited for young couples or couples without children.

As it was close to Christmas, I think there were lots of office parties and celebrations and it was quite "active"! Erika, our nine-year-old, got knocked over by a young fellow who was very 'merry' and it scared her. However, the restaurants were incredible and tons of choices! For some strange reason, the girls' favorite memory of Melbourne was going to see the old Melbourne Gaol. I think it was really neat too, and the Ned Kelly story is quite fascinating. Melbourne does have something for everyone!

Hamilton Island was just perfect for Christmas time. The Whitsunday Holiday Apartments were really pretty, nice layout, great views from the balcony. I would also highly recommend it. The overall ambiance of the resort was suitable for all groups - families, young couples, older adults with no kids anymore, teenagers, you name it. We were sad to leave! Pleasant service - lots of uni students on their break, so energy level was high! Hamilton Island was just an easy place to be!

We stayed with friends in Brisbane so didn't require accommodations there. Loved your city, Gayle! It has a comfortable, yet competent air to it. Clearly, it's a city that is comfortable in its own skin! Full of intelligent people! Did a little sightseeing on a River Cat, and enjoyed your Art Gallery and Museum. We then headed to the Gold Coast, and feel in love with the ocean there. We stayed in a place called Oceanside Resort. If you are looking for a great place to send clients, this is it! It is in the Bilinga/Coolangatta area, and is just a really nice place with great management. Apparently it is very popular and hard to get a booking?!

After a week, we headed back to Brisbane and then spent a few days in Noosa, which has a classy, yet casual air to it. Had to go see the Australia Zoo, which I think has a bigger following in North America than in Australia itself! Another highlight for the girls, and Steve Irwin himself was doing the crocodile feeding the day we were there, so that made them delirious!

Anyway, I could go on, but I wanted to thank you again for your work in making our vacation go so very smoothly. The trip was a year in the making and went by too quickly, but the memories remain. We plan to return to Australia as soon as we can. The girls have told us that they plan to work in Australia when they are university students themselves, so that will give me an another excuse to visit!

Thank you again - it was a pleasure to meet you (via email) and to benefit from your obvious talents. A friend of mine, Joan C., will be taking her family to Australia for Christmas 2003, and I have passed your name on to her. She will be in good hands! All the best! " Karen C., Calgary, Canada (28 Jan 03)

• "Hi Kylie Had a great time at Hayman Island and everything went smoothly even managed to get the faster connection to Perth via Sydney from Hamilton island. Had a great time in Perth also catching up with friends and family - I really miss the Indian Ocean sunsets!" D.O., USA (12 Jan 03)

• "Hello Tina, I just wanted to write a short email to thank you SO MUCH for recommending that Gavin and I go to Hamilton Island Beach Club. We had an absolutely wonderful time there and were very sad to come home. After eating at some of the "family restaurants" and swimming in the communal pools a couple of times I found myself saying "I am so glad we didn't go to Club Med!"

It was really nice to be able to escape the screaming families and enjoy the peace and quiet at Beach Club. We felt so special having our own pool and cushioned lounges on the beach. I look forward to booking my next trip away with you hopefully in the not too distant future. Thanks again " S.Z., Melbourne, Australia (17 Dec 02)

• "Dear Kylie, We had a lovely trip and all your arrangements were excellent... We particularly liked Mt. Lofty House. The Piccadilly Restaurant there is outstanding, as are the people who work there. We had fabulous meals at "1918 " in Tanunda and at Vintner's Bar & Grill (in a little town near Tanunda). The Barossa Valley exceeded all expectations. What a lovely place! And the wines!!! We shipped back two cases.

The Reef View on Hamilton Island was a beach hotel set up for the masses, but that's what we expected. Next time I'll spring for Hayman. Reefworld was a once in a lifetime experience. We went late in the day and had the place almost all to ourselves (about 3 other people there).

You were very right sending us to Brighton Beach Novotel - perfect place to stay in order to go to the airport next morning. We love Australia, the people, food, wine, everything. If our son's visa didn't run out in December, I think he'd stay. Thank you for all your help and conscientious service. I will certainly recommend Kylie Howard to anyone who asks me about a travel agent in Australia. Best regards," S.S., Michigan, USA (17 Oct 02)

• "Hi Tina, It truly was the best holiday we have ever had! Our accommodations were terrific. Sydney was beautiful, Hamilton Island was terrific and Cairns was a blast! Thank you for everything," B.G., California, USA (16 Oct 02)

• "Shelly, Our trip was fantastic. Thanks for all you and your company did to help. When we arrived on Hamilton Island we were told they were upgrading us to the Reef View Hotel. Very nice. Thanks again," H.P. Witchita, USA (10 Jul 02)

• "Dear Jo Many thanks... We had the most fantastic time in Hamilton Island and only wish that we could have stayed longer. Coming from the English winter it was a tropical paradise! Your arrangements were absolutely perfect... we enjoyed staying at the Reef View Hotel... You can be assured that I will recommend you to friends and family. We both said that we also found your customer service fantastic... So many thanks for everything that you did. Kind regards" Alice and Matt M.N., London, UK (20 Apr 02)

• "Tim, We wanted to express our appreciation for the wonderful job you did on the reservations for our trip. We had a terrific time and all the arrangements you made went so smoothly. The hotels/apartments were beyond what we expected, especially the Mercure in Darling Harbor. We had more fun using the ferries and the monorail but the best part was waking up at 3AM Sydney time and looking out at all the lights of Sydney. It was fantastic.

The same could be said of our rooms at the Stamford Inn and on Hamilton Island. We would like to employ your services for any future traveling to Australia and will gladly recommend you to any who wish to travel there. Again, thank you for help." D.&K. M., San Francisco, USA. (6 Apr 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 Island 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 Sonia... this is a much belated 'Thank you' from the D... clan for the wonderful holiday (December- January) which we all had. The arrangements which you made for us all were seamless; everything slotted into place beautifully. Flights, transfers, hotels and trips worked very well. I am sure that I speak for my son and daughter-in-law too when I say how much we enjoyed our tours and trips. My husband and I particularly enjoyed being away from some pretty awful weather around Christmas at home.

Christmas Day found us lazing under palm trees at the beach on Hamilton Island. It was Gin and Tonics and the like served to our lounger's side. Then we fell into the pools to cool off. Just what the doctor ordered!!!! Once again Thank You from the D... clan. " J.D., Saudi Arabia & Los Angeles, USA. (23 Feb 02)

• "Sonia...I want to personally thank you for everything you did to help us have the best vacation of our lives. We loved it. Sydney (A-) was terrific. We loved the Waldorf (A) and its location. Plenty to do and lots to see and visit. The Captain Cook Harbour Cruise (A-) was a great start for a wonderful vacation. The Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb (A+) was enjoyed by all of us. Hamilton Island (A++) was incredible. We want to go back.

There is so much to do there. Brisbane (B) was also good but not as good as Hamilton Island or Sydney. The Bridgewater Quest (B+) was fine. We liked its location although our room was a little run down. The Day Tour (C-) to Standbroke Island was not very interesting. We should have stayed on the Gold Coast like you suggested. Still our holiday was awesome and the entire family loved every minute. All of our transportation air and land (A) was terrific." T.K.. C., Osaka, Japan. (6 Jan 02)

• "Hi Zoe... I would like to thank you for the splendid job you did on our travel arrangements to Hamilton Island and Port Douglas. Everything went like clockwork and we had a marvellous time.

We really enjoyed the cruise to the Barrier Reef and the tour of the rainforest and the Daintree River. Port Douglas was a lovely place to spend a few days and we only wished that we could have had longer. It was a pleasure dealing with you and everything was so painless and efficient. We will be sure to recommend you to any of our friends and relatives going to Australia. Thanks a million.." I.R. & J. R., Vancouver, Canada. (10 Dec 01)