You can expect our services to change for the best.

  For any questions and information feel free to contact reception.

  We, at Planet Inn, wish you an enjoyable stay.

  Your hostess, the always friendly Martina and Joe

We at Planet Inn recognise that a lot of people out there are finding things tough at the moment!

As a result of the ‘Global Financial Crisis’, tourism has been hit hard and people who may have intended to travel have held off because of cut-backs and job losses in other countries.

Those who have still come to Australia seem to not have as much cash available to spend and are seeking work sooner than in previous years.

So how are we at Planet Inn Backpackers responding to this ‘global crisis’ to help our customers?

We have held off the price increases that we normally apply at this time of year, which is usually our peak season.

Instead we are offering prospective and current guests “Recession Buster” Prices – Dorm Rates that would normally be around $27 to $28 per night are available for just $20 per night,

In addition to this we have been making steady improvements and refurbishements to our premises to make things more comfortable and more convenient for our customers.

From Monday 23rd November, we will be offering a ‘Complimentary Breakfast’ between 8am and 10am.

In response to customer requests, we can now offer our guests free WIFI (wireless internet connection) for your laptops.

Our bar prices include customer-friendly “Happy Hours” in accordance with the local regulations.

We offer a free pick up service from Airports, Bus and Train Stations (min 2 ‘guest nights’ stay – ie one person for two nights or two people for one night).

We have found that a lot of travellers on Working Holiday Visas are asking us for work as soon as they arrive in Perth.

So we have responded by reactivating the Planet Inn Job Club. Anyone who stays with us can register at no cost for assistance in finding work.

Of course we cannot guarantee you a job, but we have helped thousands of backpackers to successfully find work.

The recent trend has been that more and more employers are starting to call us looking for staff and on some occasions we have had more jobs than people available to work.

Our ‘Promotional Planner’ offers discounted food, drinks and nightclub deals to keep more money in your pocket.

Fiona the Birthday Girl

One of the things we love at Planet Inn Backpackers is to help our guests feel like it is their ‘home away from home’.

This was certainly the case for Fiona O’Sullivan from Kenmare in Ireland, who thought that she would be spending her 21st birthday quietly with just her boyfriend, Ger, and possibly regretting being in Australia away from her friends and family.

Thanks to the determined efforts of our other Irish lasses, Dee, Aiofe and Ciara, we resolved to dedicate our party night to helping Fiona to celebrate her birthday in style with many of her backpacking friends, who have effectively become her surrogate family.

Fiona was kept in the dark about the surprise party and her movements were carefully engineered so as to ensure maximum impact!

While Fiona was out, a whole team of helpers put in their efforts to decorate the bar lounge with balloons, streamers and disco fever accessories. Every member of staff was involved in some way and Tony invited other friends along to swell the party revellers.

Fiona returned home to find it looking completely different and to be greeted with a large crowd, shouting “Surprise!”

Fiona and her support crew

Sam did a great job as DJ and Wayne found a new role as a ‘chocolate crackle maker’.

The craic was mighty, as the Irish like to say, and the karaoke certainly provided some extremes in entertainment standards!

Fiona also enjoyed the traditional 21 kiss salute from all the boys!

One of Tony’s dive buddies, Britney, dropped in with some friends and brought in some of the American sailors from their visiting ship – the USS George Washington, making Fiona’s 21st birthday a truly international event, which we hope she will remember fondly for many years to come.

The full image gallery for the evening appears on this Planet Inn website on the Photos 2009 page.

Although we had a slightly delayed start to the quiz, the multi-cultural teams got into the spirit of things and it was very keenly contested!

Well that is, until Maddy came home from work…

After a spell of intense brain straining, the teams dispersed for a ‘half-time’ break, while Tony set up the guitar and PA system ready for a post quiz music session.

That was all it took…

The Generation Y (short concentration span) people quickly lost interest in the quiz and wanted to grab the microphone.

Kiwis doing a dance routine called 'the haka'

Before we knew it, the Kiwi boys started doing the ‘Haka’, which is a dance routine performed by New Zealanders prior to rugby matches (Ok, before they hunt me down – it’s actually a Maori War Dance designed to intimidate opposing warriors, but it’s obviously nowhere near as stirring as ‘Waltzing Matilda’).

Tony played a few songs on the guitar, then welcomed Maddy Ralls onto the stage.

What followed could be described as a defining moment in Planet Inn’s history – a star was born!

Maddy delighted the crowd with renditions of songs by artists such as Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette, along with some amazing originals with captivating lyrics.

Maddy Ralls live at Planet Inn

A few other guitarists made very enjoyable contributions, such as Tony, Jamie and Martin, but Maddy enthralled the audience with a blues voice that gave you goosebumps.

The quiz was quickly forgotten (postponed), the drinking began in earnest and the singing continued through the night.

We are confident that we will be hearing some more about this young star from Bristol!

Check out the full photo gallery on the Planet Inn Photos 2009 gallery on this website.

Tony and his crayfish!

Although I have been scuba diving for over three years now and have qualified to the level of PADI Recue Diver, I have only recently experienced the joy of diving for crayfish.
Some of my friends have been engaging in this ‘cat and mouse’ game for a while now, while I have always preferred to leave marine life undisturbed, and instead take copious amounts of photographs with which I can bore anyone willing to look at them for hours on end!
Recently though, I took the plunge (excuse the pun) at Rottnest Island and in the company of the infamous “Welshie” and my girlfriend Jo, we went hunting for our dinner.
The event was a Dive Club trip organized by Neil Clarke at Perth Dive Locker and he provided the loops. I provided the venue at Planet Inn and our versatile Chef, Mel was primed ready to cook up a feast.
I have to report that it is amazingly difficult! The little rock lobsters just don’t want to be caught and will not co-operate very much.
They hide under ledges and they always have an escape route planned. When you see their antennae poking out, you have to dive down close and poke your head under the ledge. Then you ever so carefully slide a long rod past the cray as he appears to be weighing you up. On the end of your rod is a spring loaded loop which you open up so that it’s larger than him.
If you are lucky, as you bring the loop forwards towards his tail, he will panic and walk backwards into your loop which you quickly close around him. It may sound easy enough but these things are lightning fast and very adept at sidestepping the loop.

Cray Diving at Rottnest

Out of about four that I tried to catch, I succeeded only once – on the first attempt, and what a thrilling moment that was.
Between us we caught five crays that day, though one was deemed to be undersize and was thrown back. By the way, you need a “Rock Lobster Licence” from the Fisheries Department and there are stringent rules so as to protect the species from over-fishing.
I can highly recommend them cooked with garlic and lemon! Ask Mel for the special recipe.
 If you want to have a go at cray diving, just experience a trial dive or actually complete a “Learn to Dive” Course, please contact our staff at Planet Inn who will help you with all the necessary information and book it for you.
Tonaldo the “Inn Man”
23rd March, 2009

Many young travelers miss their pets and even some of the most committed ‘dog people’ say that they have taken a shine to our ever so chilled out hostel cats.

Our two remaining cats, ‘Bourbon’ and ‘Champagne’ are on the payroll working conscientiously in the pest control and purring departments.

Aside from me, “Bourbon’ is in fact the longest serving member of staff. She was a kitten in our house before we took over the hostel in March 1996. She had a sister named ‘Coke’ who was unfortunately run over.

After the coke went flat, we enlisted ‘Tihsa’ (spell it backwards), but she went the same way.

Several other incumbents joined the ranks : ‘Guiness’ (ran over), ‘Keg’ (ran away), Stolli (moved in with an old lady after the girls gave him a hard time) and ‘Malibu’ (adopted by former staff Keef and Shaz.).

Champagne and Malibu were both rescued from the cat haven and have enjoyed happy lives ever since.

There was once a dog, named ‘Rusty’, before my time, but he was alas run over and died in Lesley’s arms.

Why cats?

They clean themselves, they bury their droppings (mostly!) and don’t need taking for walks. They have been trained not to climb on tables but are frequently seen nearby, and pretending that no-one ever feeds them when backpackers are eating.

I too was a ‘dog person’. Now I’m both a ‘cat and dog’ person.

2½ years later, on March 1st 1996, I took over the hostel, which many of you knew as Redbackpackers, then Club Red Backpackers, and now Planet Inn.

The party was a fantastic occasion with a huge turnout and brought back many familiar faces to their old stomping ground.

Former staff attended, such as Big Dan and Annika, Little Dan, Andy & Tor, Keef and Shaz, Josh, plus a very pregnant Deonne with hubby Dave and their lovely girl, Molly. I was hoping we might have celebrated the first actual birth on the premises but she kept her legs crossed tightly!

Needless to say, the bar did a lively trade and there were a few blurry-eyed faces and slow-moving people the next day.

Special thanks must go to Mel and her backyard blitz team. We did a big cleanup job on the beer garden in preparation for the party, with new plants, fence repairs, furniture painting, mulching and the restoration of the ‘beach’ area. Mel and I were still grubby from shoveling mulch and sand half an hour before the guests arrived! Talk about cutting it fine!

So, if you didn’t make it to this party, don’t worry – parties are a regular event at Planet Inn!

Cheers,

We’re having a beach theme party to celebrate 13 years in business at our backpackers hostel. If you are able to join us for a drink or 3 and some nibbles, then we’d love to see you . Partners, friends and family are welcome too.

The party is on Sat 7th March 7 pm onwards.

We’d love to see you if you can make it. No byo but drinks cheap. Please notify us if you have any special needs.

Kim & Tony at Planet Inn

I was particularly touched by the kindness of this firefighter from the Country Fire Authority of Victoria, who gave this koala bear some much needed refreshment. The spirit of endurance of these communities has been inspirational. Many of the residents not only lost friends and loved ones, but in many cases everything they had worked for throughout their lives.

At Planet Inn we have a collection tin for those wishing to make donations to help those in need.

If you wish to monetary donation directly please: Post a cheque or money order to:

CFA Donations PO Box 701 Mount Waverley VICTORIA 3149 AUSTRALIA

Or deposit funds directly into:

Name: Country Fire Authority Public Fund Bank: Commonwealth Bank of Australia BSB: 063225 Account: 1022 2326

To request a receipt please email your name, date of deposit, amount and address to: cfapromotions@cfa.vic.gov.au

Thanks for your support. It is greatly appreciated.

For an update on the situation see : http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/

We extend our sympathies to those people who have suffered losses.

Tonaldo 12th March, 2009

N.B. Pictures courtesy of the CFA of Victoria