July 22, 2010
Hey folks! It’s Georgia, the blogger for the Furnished Property website. I’ve just come back from a week in Melbourne, and I had an absolute blast! So I thought I’d let you guys know where are the best places to go with some friends, flatmates, or that special someone to have a great time.
WARNING: This article is super-long, but chock-full of great tips. Stay with us!
January 13, 2010
Go ahead and toss out those old calling cards. Skype makes expensive phone calls to friends and family back home a thing of the past. Actually, it makes paying for phone calls at all out of the question.
If you have ever found yourself in an internet cafe listening to someone with a headset talk to the computer screen, you have more than likely already encountered a Skype call in action, but the real benefit is making one yourself. All it takes is an internet connection and a free Skype account to take advantage of the no-cost Skype-to-Skype calls.
With that being the case, why is it that so many Furnished Property tenants have not yet tried it out? Nearly half of the tenants polled had said they never used Skype and typically relied on email and phone calls to keep in touch.
One Furnished Property tenant from Ireland stated, “I mostly use email, and I ring them once a week. I sometimes use MSN Messenger.”
Skype has been loved by backpackers since 2003, the year it was released, because it helped the budget traveller keep in touch with less impact on their travel funds. Seems like anyone concerned with a few extra dollars here and there, such as working holiday visa holders and international students, should jump at the opportunity to cut out extra costs. However, that does not appear to be happening.
And, it is not the case that they had never heard of Skype before. Of those same tenants polled, all of them knew what Skype was, but half had just not gotten around to trying it out.
“No, I’m a bad backpacker,” a Swedish tenant replied when she was asked if she had ever used Skype before. “I think about Skype, but mostly stay with calls and some emails.”
Here’s how it works:
Install the Skype software on your computer by visiting the website. Create a user name and search for friends already online. When this process has been completed, Skype can be used as an instant messaging program, much like MSN Chat or Yahoo Messenger.
Attach a headset to the computer, or just use your computer’s built-in microphone and speakers, and the program can now be used to make internet phone calls to other Skype users that are also logged on. What this means is if your family and friends back home also install the program and sign on, you can talk as long as you want – FOR FREE!
To take Skype to the next level, you can add in a webcam. That’s right, not only can you talk for free, but you can also see each other in the process. The world won’t feel so small to loved ones on the other side of the world anymore when you can both sit down and have face-to-face chats.
September 23, 2009
We all know that backpacker accommodation in Sydney is an awesome way to find a temporary home on a short trip to Sydney. But, when you’re coming to Sydney for studying, a working holiday, or an extended visit, is Furnished Property’s short-term accommodation in Sydney a better option?
We certainly like to think so, and to prove our point, we have decided to put together this post on why our short-term accommodation options are so much better than backpacker accommodation in Sydney.
Costs Less – The amount of money you spend per week on a small, hostel bed in a crowded dorm room downtown Sydney can end up costing you more than you think. It can even cost you more money than some of our great, spacious and fully furnished rooms!
More Privacy – In a guest house, or shared house, with Furnished Property, you have the option to share with one or two other people, or get a room by yourself! Did you need a little more privacy than that 10 bed dorm in downtown Sydney? Or, were you looking for more sleep without others constantly disrupting it? If so, our short-term accommodation in Sydney will be just what you need!
Fewer People – Along with having fewer people in your sleeping area, our short-term accommodation options around Sydney can get you more space in the kitchens, bathrooms and common areas! Don’t you hate when you want to cook dinner, but you either have to dance around people, or wait for them to just finish their own meals?
Not only that, but while in backpacker accommodation around Sydney you may have to deal with people partying any night of the week. Now, we’re definitely not saying that there won’t be parties in our shared accommodation options, but you will find that you will be surrounded by more like-minded individuals. Most of our tenants are those here on working holiday and student visas, so if you’re needing a place to study or get a good night’s before work, then we will have a place that suits you!
How short is our short term accommodation in Sydney?
Glad you asked! The shortest stay is only a 1 month commitment in one of our shared houses / guest houses. If you are looking for residential options, the minimum stay is only 3 months! Besides this, all accommodation is fully furnished and ready to go. Just give us a call and we’ll help you get sorted.
What are your thoughts, Furnished Property tenants? Do you think our short term accommodation options are better than backpacker accommodation in Sydney, or not?
September 3, 2009
Why did you decide to leave London and come to Australia?
A – “I wanted to do it for a long time. Aussies do the opposite and come to England to work, and I loved the carefree attitude they all seemed to have.”
M – “I also wanted to do it for a long time.”
Do you wish now you had given yourselves longer than 2 months to prepare?
Both – “No, not really.”
M – Since it was so rushed, we didn’t have any expectations, so there have been no disappointments.”
Were you nervous?
Both – “Yes.”
M – “I was nervous just it being us and being away from all our friends and family. One year is a long time.”
A – “I was a bit more sheltered. I still lived at home, so coming here was a big step.”
What do you do here?
M – “I work at Hurricane’s in Darling Harbour as a waiter. It is more than enough work for me. I easily work 5 days a week, and the money is pretty good.”
A – “I work as a stylist at Noddy’s on King in Newtown.”
*You might be surprised to know that not only do both Michael and Ashley have great jobs, they both got said jobs on the very first day they went looking! Yes, they are quite lucky.
What has been the most surprising, shocking or funny aspect – culturally – about moving to Australia?
M – I don’t understand how people walk around barefoot everywhere.”
A – “Yeah. When I see someone walking down the street barefoot, I have to wonder, ‘Are they homeless?’”
M – “The slang.. tipping is bad.”
A – “Tipping is poor at the salon, too.”
What has been your favourite part of Sydney, or favourite part of living in Sydney?
M – “My favourite area in Sydney is definitely Surry Hills. I think it’s a very nice area, central, full of bars and shops, close to Oxford St, Newtown.”
A – “I like the weather. I like the sunny mornings because we’re limited with sunshine in London. So, every day is a treat for me.”
Why did you choose to live in one of Furnished Property’s residences?
M – “A couple of our friends in the hostel were moving out with Furnished Property, and they told us about them. We didn’t want to live in a hostel anymore. It’s so easy when you’re a traveller because their places are fully furnished.”
What has been the best part of living in a Furnished Property?
A – “You know where you stand. We had friends go on Gumtree to find a place and a few weeks or months into it, they got evicted. They had no contracts.”
M – “They [Furnished Property] have been really helpful. I don’t even know how many times they drove us around to look at places. When our last contract ran out, we went to Thailand for two weeks and got a new place immediately when we got back.”
Do you plan on travelling around Australia?
M – “We plan to leave in November and travel north to the Gold Coast, Cairns.”
A – “We want to get out of the city.”
Have you ever travelled to Third World countries?
Both – “Thailand?”
Do you want to?
A – “I like luxury. As shallow as it sounds, I don’t really want to slum it.”
M – “Kind of the same.”
A – “Well, maybe Peru.”
M – “Africa just for a safari.”
Would you consider yourselves backpackers?
M – “We’re not backpackers. It was a bit hard to start off.”
A – “Yeah, we’re learning to… slum it.” [laughs]
Do you think you’ll want to extend your visa for another year?
M – “It’s hard to say right now…”
A – “It’s been a great trip, but I think we’ll be ready to go home.”
M – “There are other places we want to see… New Zealand… I want to go to Canada. He wants to go to America.”
A – “It’s made us feel appreciative for what we have back home. It’s so isolated here.”
I would just like to thank Michael and Ashley for taking the time to share their experiences with us. We wish you luck on your future travels whenever and wherever they may happen!
If you would like to be a featured tenant in next month’s newsletter, get in touch by using the contact form on this blog.
