Anyone Been to Australian OPen????

[i am a tennis freak]

I would like to go next year. Has anyone been to the Aussie Open.....How about getting tickets/ lodging/ getting around melbourne........If anyone has been there- please tell me all about your experience...........Looks like this could be the best tennis tourney for the fans...............

 

[West Coast Ace]

Went in '00 for the 6 days, day and night sessions. Had a great time. Airfares on Qantas are very high and seats sell out fast. I did it with one of the tour companies that do entire packages - air, hotel, and tickets - they even set up an afternoon of play at Kooyong - the old AO site (unfortunately it rained so we had to play on the fake red clay courts, not the grass). I used Grand Slam Tennis Tours - there are others that advertise in Tennis Magazine. Transportation around town is easy - you don't need a car because you can walk from CBD (central business district - downtown - where most hotels are) to Melbourne Park - or take a trolley.

Was also able to play tennis in the mornings on the local courts.

 

[i am a tennis freak]

thanks for reply west coast......................
I just checked out Grand Slam tours website....wow very expensive..........Looks like this tourney and australia is pretty cool.........i am going to try to get tickets when they go on sale next year .......and plan it all myself.........might be work but i figure would save many thousands......
How are the seats at Vodafone and Rod Laver...Looks like there isn't a bad seat in the house from TV.........Those Melbourne commercials that ESPN is showing during this open makes one wanna " go down under". ...Beautiful city and country..................

 

[West Coast Ace]

....wow very expensive

Wait about 30 days then go to Qantas.com's site (you can only buy tickets 330 days in advance on most airlines) - the airfare from the US to AU in January is very expensive - almost $2k for coach. United is an option - unless you're a OneWorld member like me...

How are the seats at Vodafone and Rod Laver...

Grand Slam gets (or did when I went) seats in the first two rows on the side - almost directly behind the players chair - some blocking from the Ump's perch - but really close to the action. I agree about the 'not a bad seat in the house' comment. They didn't make the stadiums too large - no one in the upper levels seemed unhappy - and they've sold them out for years now.

....Beautiful city and country..................

Sydney is probably my favorite city (when not here in So Cal) - although I've been to Hong Kong a lot recently and like it a lot too. And Melbourne is in the top 5.