Let the Concierge Decide

words by alex robertson

If you’re lucky enough to live in Bondi you will already be well aware of what’s on offer. You’ll have your standout favourites that you can’t live without like your Porch morning coffee, Vida Acai Bowl or Harry’s Hotcakes. And every time your buddies from out of town come to visit the Bondi Bubble you’ll preach your favs till your blue in the face.

This is what I have the pleasure of doing every single day – making plans for our guests so they can experience Bondi like a local. Pointing them in the direction of the best coffee, food, cocktails, shopping and experiences Bondi has to offer. Seeing as though I would never recommend anything I haven’t tried myself, this makes my job a whole lot of fun!

When we first swung our doors open here at QT Bondi in 2015 I had only been living in Bondi for about a year. You would think in the space on a year you would have tried most places but Bondi is such a wonderland of cafes, bars, restaurants, fitness centres and beautiful landmarks that it takes a lot longer than you think to explore it all. So I was on a mission to find the best of everything and that I did.

Most hotels have a concierge; typically they stand at a little desk in the lobby surrounded by dated, tacky tour pamphlets that you will find in every hotel in Sydney. QT likes to do things a little different. When you’re a local, you obviously have got a lot more time to find the gold in a big city but when you only have a few days you need someone to tell you where it is or you end up spending your whole holiday on the hunt!

That’s where I come in. Guests can reach out to the hotel prior to their arrival and we can plan their stay from the moment they walk in, to the moment they leave. If you’re more of an explorer and like to discover things yourself we can just give you a push in the right direction. Another useful tool we have at QT is our Concierge App; an easy to use app that has all the information you need to experience Bondi in a way that only someone who has lived here usually would.

Now as much as we aren’t a fan of the generic tours, we understand that if you’re travelling from OS you need to see all that Sydney’s famous for. We have a couple of tours up our sleeve that will show you the sites of Sydney from a whole different angle.

Shelby’s Sidecar Tours is my favourite Sydney Tour on offer. Choose from a bunch of different tailored tours of the Eastern Suburbs, The northern Beaches or the City all while riding in the coolest ride in town. Marcus and his team of experienced riders know all the secret spots and have all the local knowledge you need whilst exploring our beautiful city.

@shelbys_sidecar_tours were kind enough to lend us one of their sidecars. Any of our guests can book a tour while staying in the hotel through our Concierge or Reception team. Even if you aren't a guest but want to see Sydney in a rad sidecar then head to the link in their bio. This snap is @ste7ense7en and co. just being legends! #QTlife

A post shared by QT Bondi (@qtbondi) on Feb 1, 2017 at 5:25pm PST

Another one of my favourite tour companies is Splendour Tailored Tours. A little more on the pricey side but if you’re not into the whole “bus tour thing” this is definitely for you. Choose from a wide range of tours that will take you throughout Sydney and way beyond. My favourite tour on offer is the ‘South Coast Seduction’ – this includes your own private chauffeur who will escort you to some of the best wineries, oyster farms and coastal lookouts the South Coast has to offer. You will also be treated to lunch at Wharf Rd Restaurant where you can indulge in an Australian feast created by Head Chef David Campbell.