Australian hotels (II)

Our paid accommodation so far this trip can best be described as “quirky.” I’ve already written about the cramped, YMCA stylings of the Pensione hotel Sydney, but it’s probably worth mentioning its unique setup. See if you can spot the security problems.

The front entrance is on George St., Sydney’s main drag and a lot like Toronto’s Yonge St. You can get to reception by taking the elevator or stairs to the first floor: it’s through the door and down the hall. After 10 p.m. you need a code to get in, but any time before then, anyone can walk off the street and get to anywhere in the hotel without passing the reception desk.

My favourite quirk is that you need your pass card to take the elevator anywhere but the first floor, or you can just walk up the stairs.

With those features, you can chalk down our decision to move on from the guesthouse to the Melbourne branch of the Pensione Hotel to morbid curiosity or an extreme preference for low prices. Thankfully, I am happy to report that the Pensione Melbourne has a “traditional” reception area, and its rooms are roomier (you could easily fit a bunk bed in here), with a comfortable queen bed, a 30-inch plasma TV, and in-room Internet. This hotel feels much more boutique-y than the Pensione Sydney.

But who designed the bathroom? (Check out Natasha's photos below.) It would be fine if it were simply small (which it is), but it feels like it was designed by some alien totally unfamiliar with how earth humans use bathrooms.

The sliding frosted glass door is a nice touch; too bad it’s designed not to close all the way or to keep the bathroom light from flooding a darkened room at 2 a.m. If the light doesn’t wake your partner up, the sounds we try to keep behind closed doors will.

There’s a fancy-looking small rectangular sink, which, again, would be pleasant enough, if the overhanging shelf didn’t completely cover it. Result: it’s hard to shave or brush your teeth without getting water everywhere.

And what is it with Australians and their aversion to shower curtains? The shower, like the Pensione Sydney’s, is only partly enclosed by glass, which means that you can’t help but flood the entire bathroom every time you shower. That might account for the drain in the middle of the bathroom floor.

We’re leaving tomorrow for Cairns. Can’t wait to see what the rooms are like there.