Since the Ross River Resort is closed for the year, the only other option is the Arltunga Bush Hotel. I called them to check availabilities, rates, and facilities.
Bad news again. Their pub/hotel is closed for the year. All they have is a campground (for which they don't accept reservations).
So that means there are no fixed accomodations available to us anywhere in the East Macdonnells. Nowhere.
So what can we do?
1) Scrap this Eastern Lobe trip, and try a modified Western Lobe
2) After we return from the Southern Lobe, exchange a truck for a larger camper, and take that out to the East MacDonnells for the three-day trip.
3) Get some camping gear and tough it out for two nights.
I'm not very keen on #1. We'll really miss out on some of the cool 4wd'g, industrial archeology, and desolation. A western lobe trip would be little more than visiting several scenic gorges. It doesn't suit our tastes.
I'm suggesting #3 is the best option -- two nights should be tolerable. It's a campground anyway, so there'll be showers, so it shouldn't be to gross for those that care.
Finally, not having tied-in reservations means we can be extra flexibile about how we take the last four, five days of the trip.
I think the threat of "no reservations" is utterly toothless. The pub isn't open because there are no tourists. No tourists means no problem finding a site.
I don't think there is a quality-of-life improvment provided by bringing along a camper rather than a 4x4 & tent. And it will be more expensive. And it will make the 4wd exploration more difficult.
Thoughts?
====
Sidenote:
*The calculus of 'no reservations' is beyond me. I can only think that they lose business from it. What are the risks?
RISK: "I make a booking, but never show up"
risk-to-campground: potentially turn away a customer because you are holding a spot for the no-show. Value: 15$ or whatever a campsite rents for. Furthermore this is making the extreme condition where there is absolutely no room whatsoever to squeeze in that last walkin ANYWHERE in your site.
RISK: "I can't make a booking, so I just hope to be able to find something"
risk-to-vacationer: big expensive vacation I've planned for is all fucked up because we can't find a place to stay anywhere Value: 100$ 300$?
There is so little downside for the place to give reservations that it's just ludicrous to refuse them.
Posted by Nils Blutig at July 18, 2003 02:03 PM | TrackBack