These are Australia’s most welcoming places

These are Australia’s most welcoming places

Booking.com has revealed the winners of its seventh annual Guest Review Awards, honouring its accommodation partners who consistently deliver great customer experiences.

759,845 properties worldwide are being given an award, with 3,394 properties receiving awards in Australia.

Based on the share of properties receiving an award in 2018, for the first time ever, Booking.com has revealed the most welcoming places in Australia according to customer reviews.

Most welcoming places in Australia

The top 10 most welcoming destinations in Australia include:

  1. Bendigo, Victoria (71 winners)
  2. Hervey Bay, Queensland (65 winners)
  3. Halls Gap, Victoria (61 winners)
  4. Ballarat, Victoria (67 winners)
  5. Townsville, Queensland (71 winners)
  6. Hobart, Tasmania (154 winners)
  7. Launceston, Tasmania (70 winners)
  8. Margaret River Town, Western Australia (88 winners)
  9. Warnambool, Victoria (65 winners)
  10. Canberra, ACT (84 winners)

This is especially relevant for nearly two-thirds of Aussie travellers  (69 per cent) that say friendly and interesting locals are one of their top considerations when selecting a destination for their next trip, based research commissioned by Booking.com.

Interestingly, the winners were all from the alternative accommodation segment including Bed and Breakfasts, ApartHotels, Motels, Apartments and Holiday Homes, highlighting travellers increasing appreciation for unique stay experiences.

For the second year in a row, apartments were the top-awarded accommodation type, making up more than a third (36 per cent) of the award-winning properties globally in 2018.

In fact, while hotels came in as the second-awarded accommodation type, nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of all the winning properties are homes, apartments and other unique places to stay, including everything from boats and igloos to homestays and country houses.

Here’s a selection of the Aussie winners for 2018:

  1. Grand Hotel and Apartments, Townsville, QLD
  2. Avenue Hotel, Canberra, ACT
  3. Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart, TAS
  4. Somerset on the Pier, Hobart, TAS
  5. Vintages Accommodation, Margaret River Town, WA
  6. Hervey Bay Colonial Lodge, Hervey Bay, QLD
  7. Salamander Bay Bed and Breakfast, Salamander Bay, NSW
  8. Southview Guest House, Wollongong, NSW
  9. The Playford Adelaide – Mgallery by Sofitel, Adelaide, SA
  10. Best Western Olde Maritime Motor Inn, Warrnambool, VIC

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