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When Charles Darwin first described Hobart town on the Australian island state of Tasmania, he wrote in terms of a sparsely populated rural landscape. That was 1836 as part of the famous Beagle Expedition. Less than 50 years later Hobart, by now a city, was a booming urban center and the River Derwent, on which the city was built, was recognized as the finest deep water port in Australia. Still a major port today, the city has retained some natural wonders too but what it also has is a rich cultural identity and a plethora of business and leisure opportunities, with a great many Hobart hotel options for visitors keen to take advantage of them.
The landscape of the city is dominated by Mount Wellington which rises some 1300 meters above the city port. As well as providing an ever present and dynamic landmark, it provides for many outdoor activities, such as walking and hiking on the slopes through the the woodland areas of Fern Tree and for climbing the mountain itself. The port, once home to whaling and sealing ships, is now used as the base camp for French and Australian research vessels bound for Antarctic Expeditions. There are many cruise ships too and opportunities for all manner of sailing and other water sports. Any Hobart hotel will likely have a wealth of visitor information on hand for excursions and other outdoor activities.
As the capital of Tasmania, Hobart contains most of the island's civic, commercial, industrial and business interests and as a result in many a Hobart hotel business comes first. There is often no obvious difference between a great hotel and a great business hotel but those which cater predominantly for corporate travelers will generally feature a range of business-oriented facilities and services. These may include hotel business centers with print, fax, copy and other secretarial services. There may also be meeting and boardrooms for hire as well as executive services such as airport transfers and express check-in.
For other visitors it will be the leisure opportunities in the city which from the major draw and the majority of Hobart hotel establishments will offer convenient access to the city's most popular cultural and historic attractions. The historic inner city streets which formed the genesis of the city retain all their visual appeal and hide within them a wealth of charms for the visitor, most notably some great and varied shopping, particularly during the Saturday morning Salamanca market. The city is renowned too for the quality of its restaurants and for the locally produced wine. A Hobart hotel restaurant is likely to combine both these assets to great effect.
As well as the weekly market, Salamanca Place is home to most of the bars and clubs which form the basis of a very lively nightlife culture. Other popular areas for social gatherings include the Waterfront and Sandy Bay but great pubs and entertainment venues can be found throughout the city and it is a major center for many different and highly successful genres of live music, ranging from jazz and folk to hip-hop electro and rock. There is a highly regarded symphony orchestra too and various festivals which celebrate the city's artistic, seafaring and cultural heritage.
Those wishing to live the high life in the city will certainly find luxury hotels to their liking. These types of establishment generally cater equally well for corporate or leisure travelers and will display all the grand elements of hospitality, service and style which defines a luxury hotel status. In this respect the rooms and suites will be impeccably styled and equipped with the finest furnishings and the latest in digital entertainment and telecommunications systems. Other features such as air conditioning and 24 room service will come as standard and there is usually dedicated concierge, travel and information services to allow guests to make the best possible use of their time in the city.
While many luxury Hobart hotel options will be of a grand scale with many leisure and business features, others are very much in the boutique hotel style, particularly within the more traditional properties. These hotels will trade extensive facilities for an individual style and character, often most evident within superb dining and lounge environments and in the special touches such as fresh flowers in the room or entertainment technologies like iPod docking stations. Most of the top hotels in the city will have internet access available, either hard wired, WiFi or both.
For those with rather more modest accommodation options in mind there are plenty of mid-range travel hotels and motels and even for those on the tightest budget there are options which will offer a comfortable no-frills stay close to all the attractions. A budget Hobart hotel is certainly the preferred choice of the many backpackers and other travelers who want to use the city as a base from which to explore the island, and they will generally meet all the basic requirements for comfort and amenity, often having shared facilities and sometimes WiFi zones to stay in touch with friends and family.
The first western visitors to Hobart were there against their will, staying at what was then a penal colony. The city has come a long way since then and while visitors today flock willingly to the city in anticipation of its many charms and attractions, when they experience the warm hospitality on offer ultimately they might find it hard to leave too.
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