Looking for accommodation suggestions for a last minute, first time, holiday to Sydney. 4 nights.
Due to the Gold Coast flooding we are considering switching locations to Sydney but wouldn't have a clue where to stay.
We can hire a car.
We want to do tourist things. like seeing the bridge and the opera house. So looking for suggestions as well.
We would like to go to Bondi.
Just don't have a clue about accommodation locations.
I would be grateful for any help.
Thanks for the link will check it out.
IMO the opera house and bridge are overrated. Maybe if you did that bridge climb it might be worth it.
As someone always highly critical of my own town (and there's plenty to be critical of) - hard disagree. The Opera House never stops amazing and is aging beautifully. When I look at the Opera House i feel like a Roman looking at the Colloseum. Depends what you're interested in I guess. Maybe too last minute for OP but if you're interested in it and wanna take it in then try seeing a show inside it too.
We love the arts! Thanks for your comment.
I will have a look and see if there are any performances on when we are there.
Do you have any suggestions on areas we could stay? That would give us easy access to places?
Hi. Not sure what total scope you include in the arts but there are lots of options. For visual arts a couple of often overlooked places are Brett Whitely Studio in Surry Hills, and Normal Linsday Gallery as part of a day trip in the Blue Mountains, maybe even spend a night up that way, lots of smaller galleries in the Mountains too. The Art Gallery of NSW is always a great way to spend an afternoon or more, lots of green space around for a lazy picnic with a skyline backdrop, or further down in the Botanic Gardens for harbour views. Paddington and Newtown areas are close to the CBD and full of lots of smaller galleries with local artists. If you want live entertainment there are lots of smaller theatres too - maybe check https://www.theurbanlist.com/sydney/a-list/sydney-theatre-sh… for an intro. There are always plenty of bands and smaller shows to see in various places. I've heard the current Rameses exhibition at the Australian Museum is great - I plan to see this myself in the next week. (But otherwise the Aus Museum is not that crash hot IMO). But a show at the Opera House, and coming out for a night cap overlooking the harbour to discuss the good bits and the failings of the show - yeah, I can't think of anything more Sydney. I sometimes wonder why I still live in this cesspool of so many things gone wrong but seeing the Sydney Opera House, particularly at night, always provides an instant relief.
To stay at I'm not so sure. I don't rate Sydney's CBD much. The Ovolo at Wooloomooloo is up there in price but a beautiful place to stay, close to the CBD and many other interests, a bit different from the (IMO cookie cutter) hotels. Just saw your comment below and had a quick look at the Ovolo website - lots of bargains ATM, pretty sure you will find something good there in your budget.
Various coastal walks are pretty spectacular too - if you are going to Bondi (get ready to be somewhat disappointed!) it's a starting point for a couple.
Enjoy your stay. IMO take it easy - there's lots of walking to be done if you want to see everything but a slower paced holiday with a few points of interest and punctuated with lazy stops for a bite or drink would be my suggestion for a fun time.
Lakemba.
Fooly
are you able to suggest any other areas?
Don't stay in Lakemba.
Dont go near Lebkemba at all…
Nah, I hate Sydney (and most cities) but someone said Lakemba was a really nice place to stay.
We are flying to Brisbane from another state and have 4 nights to spare before we fly back home from Brisbane. We just don't know where in Sydney to stay.
Adelaide.
No floods.
:+)
That is on our list for next year :)
Why not do it this year instead?
Factor in 2 days lost for driving from Brisbane to Sydney return.
we will be flying.
Just put your dates and budget into a hotel comparison website and start from there. We can recommend you stay at hotels in the CBD but they might be out of your budget as you haven't said how much you want to spend.
At this stage, I'll pay up to $2500 for the 4 nights but I just don't know what area to stay in.
Either stay in the city ($$$$$) or at least go anywhere that's walking distance to the train station
Somewhere in or near Sydney CBD(eg Darling Harbour, Circular Quay). Stick to a public transport for the bridge, Opera House, and Bondi.
Rent a car for day or two depending on what else you want to do.
Figure out what you want and what you're doing. Do you want convience? You driving?
Otherwise, do a eiiny minnie miney moo
If you can increase your budget for the 4 nights, I suggest trying Sydney's newer 5-star hotels. W Sydney, Capella Sydney, Crown Towers Sydney, Sofitel Darling Harbour (from newest to oldest). Park Hyatt is fine but it's old; stay away from Four Seasons Sydney, it's in desperate need of a total refresh.
I'll pay up to $2500 for the 4 nights
WTF?
??
@angywoo: Intercontinental in Sydney is just a short walk from Circular Quay and probably fits your budget.
If you grab a map and go to Sydney cbd then draw a circle from Pyrmont to Surry hills to darlighhurst/elizabeth bay and then up to the southern end of the harbour bridge* and then to pyrmont. Anywhere within that circle will be super convenient, walkable to most Sydney city attractions. Be warned it will be expensive.
FYI Kent St near town hall station has a bunch of backpacker places. It’s not that bad though because Sydney cbd is busy and Sydney locals are generally worse than backpackers
Don’t get a car in Sydney unless you’re planning a day trip out of it. Parking in Sydney city is expensive and public transport will be faster.
If you go to Bondi expect disappointment, it really is a terrible beach. Sydney’s better beaches are the northern beaches. But it’s a tourist right of passage to go to Bondi and wonder WTF the fuss is about.
If you want a cheaper accommodation options Strathfield is very convenient to get to the city because it has loads of express trains. It’s an okay area but not as a tourist. Personally I would take the hit and stay closer to town.
*there are places on the north side of the bridge but as someone who lives on the south side I rarely go that way 😉 However similar to my Strathfield recommendation, North Sydney and chastwood may be cheaper and convenient but I would just stay in that inner city area I mentioned In my first paragraph
Sydney's northern beaches are just as bad, if not worse.
I recommend Potts Point. It's a lovely residential area with many nice old Art Deco buildings, lots of restaurants and bars. You can walk to the Art Gallery of NSW, Mrs Macquaries Chair, the Boy Charlton Pool, and the CBD. You can even walk to the Opera House via the Botanic Gardens. Well serviced by public transport. If you want a luxe stay, Simpsons of Potts Point is a luxury b&b, or you could try Ovolo in nearby Woolloomooloo. There are cheaper options under $200/night in Potts Point, the Maisonnette, Hotel Challis etc.
Seems Simpsons has closed, but Spicers is highly rated. Other fun CBD places to stay are QT, Old Clare, Pier One.
Whenever we are in Sydney ,we stay at the Great Southern Hotel near Central Station.
Easy walk to everything
It's clean and comfortable,breakfast is good ,under $150 per night for a couple
Is it noisy, being in a pub?
Consider going just across the way and looking at accommodation options around Mosman etc. So long as you can get a ferry. Sure, it's not as cheap as the train but it's better than staying out west.
Just to add, lots of posh hotels in CBD, but that area tends to be pretty dead at night.
The Grand Highett is nice. Don't bother hiring a car unless you're looking to get out of town. Public transport is much better within the city. Take a trip on the ferry to Manley, the zoo and Parramatta. Climb the bridge if you're adventurous.
You could stay near Mascot and get the train into the City which is 2 stops away to Central and would be much cheaper too and can be easier to get to airport if you are flying in / out.
Otherwise North Sydney is much cheaper and only a train ride away to City.
Mascot, north Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie park are all cheaper options.
Discovery Parks at Lane Cove is nice and close to the Metro, self contained cabin in the national park. It is under a flight path but do get used to it.
/ affiliated
Otherwise anything at Chatswood, Macquarie Centre, if it's is close to the speedy Metro service it is a quick trip into the city
Been to Sydney twice last year (2 trips off 4 nights) and loved the Swissotel Sydney in the CBD. Right smack in the CBD on top of Westfield, with easy access to public transport and close to both Circular Quay and Darling Harbour.
We did the Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, China Town, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Circular Quay and Manly during our visits. I don’t feel that renting a car is necessary in Sydney unless you are going further out, as we found public transport to be very efficient. We were also very fascinated with being able to travel around in their ferries. If renting a car bear in mind that parking in the CBD is very expensive. We took Uber/Taxi for airport transfers and the occasional Uber when we were lazy to walk back.
Have you considered Air BnB as well? You might get a bit more space for your money.
I love riding around on the ferries and looking at the scenery. Public transport in Sydney is pretty good.
I don’t know your dates but beware of places being shut for part of January. I would recommend Flour and Stone as a bakery but it is closed until the 18th of January. The carrot cake is amazing.
The only time we hired a car for Sydney was when we went to the Blue Mountains. It is worth considering.
Have a fun holiday.
Ok, so here is the insiders guide to a 4 day Sydney trip.
Any goods hotels in Chinatown?
I like the idea to come back from tours in the evening, have shower and just stroll to find dinners.
Hi,
I have previously stayed at Pensione Hotel Sydney renamed as 1831 and now https://ume.com.au/location/haymarket/
The best part of this is guests once checked in (in the know) have a rear direct lift at the Chinatown or Sussex Street entrance/exit.
If you want to stay in the CBD look at the northern end, between the Rocks and Elizabeth St.
It’s much better than around Central station end.
The suburbs on the north side of the harbour are nice but it’s a bit more commuter and suburban. I wouldn’t recommend it for a tourist unless you can get a harbour view
Deffo not the western suburbs, people saying Lakemba are joking, Strathfield does have a good train link but don’t do it. On your budget there’s no need to go out that way.
Darlinghurst and Paddington are good locations close to city
There’s Meriton at Bondi Junction, harbour views, on top of train station and 10 minutes to city or beach and shopping but not good for bars and restaurants
I wouldn’t recommend Pyrmont Or Mascot either, concrete villages but great access to city
You are better off not having a car in Sydney, traffic and parking is always problematic if you don’t know the city
The best areas to eat and drink are not the best areas to stay.
Most Sydney residents hate the CBD and avoid it.
All Sydney residents are biased towards their own area, eastern suburbs, north shore, inner west etc
I’d say just try and stay within 10 mins on a train or walking to wherever or whatever you want to do
Between The Rocks and Liverpool Street not Elizabeth
Jump on Luxury Escapes and just pick something. Don't hire a car. It will be easier to jump on PT or just grab an Uber. What sort of vibe are you going for? Do you have kids?
Try the Old Clare Hotel, Chippendale. Heaps of eateries nearby and short walk to Central Station, Chinatown, Darling Square & Darling Harbour.
Milsons Point or Balmain. Aim for harbour views and close to ferry.
Shitney is flammin expensive… I'd look elsewhere
https://www.visitacity.com/en/sydney/activities/all-activiti…