Dukey1

My disclaimer: I absolutely HATE these "is it worth it?" posts and here I am posting one!

We are in process of a hotel reservation in Sydney for a period encompassing NYE this December 2015. Today I got an e-mail and the hotel wants me to send them a credit card charge authorization form along with a picture of the front and back of the credit card and some sort of picture identification document <B>no later than 5 February</B> so they can charge my credit card.

This is a reservation which is supposedly non-refundable <B>already</B>.

Called central reservations: they cannot modify it so I am going to call Sydney later today (when they get out of bed) to see if I can e-mail this info to them (and I am not real comfortable with that).

Every other hotel site (which still shows availability) will charge my CC for the full amount and be done with it but not the Radisson Blu hotel for whatever reason.

I am beginning to wonder if it is worth all this hassle to see some fireworks shot off a bridge!

Just a vent. Perhaps we should be in Melbourne instead!!!!

Dukey1

UPDATE:

I decided to scan the required documentation with my android phone and also used it to send the scan to the hotel in Sydney via email. They were kind enough to reply immediately and assured me everything is in order. So worth it or not we will BE there for those bridge fireworks.

Bokhara2

The million or so who come to be here to see & experience NYE in Sydney every year do.

No idea whether you would or not.

I'll tell you something though - sitting & watching our "bunch of fireworks off a bridge" on a balmy Summer night beats the hell out of freezing your wotzits off for hours standing in Times Square to see a ball drop down a tower.

Geordie

Sydney's fireworks are without doubt the finest nye display, after saying that I can't stand the hanging around, my recommendation would be to find a party at say Fort Denison, on a boat or the Opera house / bar. It'll be expensive but we'll worth it, also they have a no alcohol policy at all of the main viewing areas

Peteralan

" to see some fireworks shot off a bridge " so sells short the experience. You won't see the like elsewhere and the best idea is to take Geordie's advice. If that is all " too much of a hassle " then perhaps you would be better off in Melbourne.

rje

Personally, I would love to be in Sydney to see the fireworks. There is something about the juxtaposition with the bridge and the beautiful harbor that makes it look amazing.

And I speak as a resident of New York City, where in our harbor (and away from tacky Times Square) we have a pretty good New Years firework display ourselves.

Disclaimer: I have been to Sydney, but it was around Christmas, and I had to leave before New Years. But I did see the fireworks on TV!

Dukey1

Well, I see some folks did wake up and I appreciate the comments. I'll be sure and <B>actually complete</B> a trip report after the whole thing is over. When I do I suspect a couple of you will feel quite self-satisfied.

Bokhara2

Settle, petal. We don't actually care much what you think.

Millions of other visitors think it's worth it, which is why prices are sky high for 31/12 ( and BTW, you'll need to get used to writing dates here dd/mm/yyyy - or write the month in words ). But, being the kind & generous people we are, we hope you do enjoy it & will do our best to help you to do so. Or help you get to Melbourne, instead.

We'll be watching from our verandahs, boats, favourite spots - or doing something else, having seen it before.

Peteralan

Dukey, with or without the firewoks, come and enjoy our city. Its a good time to be here.

CounterClifton

I'd love to get up to Sydney for NYE celebrations some day. Just seeing them on TV makes them look pretty stunning. Having a focal point seems like a good idea. (Similarly, we used to see fireworks under the Arch in St. Louis and the centerpiece helped) Whereas, I'm not that wowed by Melbourne's fireworks from the various rooftops.

I'd have to think a person who *liked* coming out into the crowds for big firework displays and such would like one that so many people rate so highly. And someone who didn't enjoy such things anyway wouldn't like them any better because the display was bigger or launched from an icon like the Harbour Bridge.

cathies

Dukey1 try to pick a vantage spot on the east (harbour) side of the bridge. Occasionally if a southerly breeze blows in, smoke from the fireworks can block the view of the bridge from the western side of the bridge. Also do you know that there are 9pm fireworks as well as the midnight spectacular? Lots of families with young children head home after the 9pm fireworks.

sassy_cat

Dukey, good friends of ours from the UK were in Sydney for 1/1/15.
They loved the fireworks and spent the evening at the Opera Bar. No hotel necessary for them as they stayed with friends in the area.

Em89

If it makes you feel a little better, the fireworks in Sydney are MUCH better than those in Melbourne. And I don't really like fireworks.

Dukey1

I am happy to see people so passionate about something. Sounds like all those New York folks who jam Times Square but aren't afraid of the cold weather.

We are looking forward to our time in Australia and I finally found what I think is a good place to stay in Perth when we first arrive. Excited about taking the Indian-Pacific as well as spending time in and around Sydney before our cruise departure.

Hope all is well and appreciate the helpful comments about the best place to view the fireworks on NYE.

Melnq8

Where are you staying in Perth, Dukey?

Dukey1

I originally had booked into the Hyatt. One reason for that is we tend to like the amenities so-called "business" hotels offer. I looked at the Hilton and a couple of others and I also looked at the Richardson and I was a bit put off that place because of the location.

It is all relative and I've been ruminating about this choice for months. I did not like some of the Hyatt reviews on TripAdvisor; the ones I thought were actually pertinent to our situation. IOW, the one by some "senior" (who is a lot younger than we are) whining about having to walk from their car and these subjective comments about how "dated" the rooms are, and so forth.

I had also looked at the Terrace Hotel and didn't at first realize exactly where it is located and had kind of dismissed it (and no, I am not, like some people "absolutely amazed" that something is a "Best Western" (I have no love for hotel snobs and I have spent literally thousands a night for some hotel rooms and not because M adonna "stays there" either).

Anyway, I cancelled the Hyatt and we are now in The Terrace.

Does location matter? Who knows since we will have arrived on Christmas Day after flying from Miami to Los Angeles and then from LAX to Auckland and then from there to Perth. At least we will have been in flatbed seats but am sure we will be bombed out and the downtown will be dead.

As long as we can get something to eat we'll be happy.

Now, after all of this rambling, what was it you asked me???? LOL

Melnq8

<<At least we will have been in flatbed seats but am sure we will be bombed out and the downtown will be dead.>>

You got that right.

Dukey1

Well, regardless, this is where we are staying, this is the trip we are making, and given some of the comments on this thread I suspect I'll probably not bother with a trip report, either. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was in any way, shape, or form, trashing their country, what they do, what they say, or how they look.

october_fun

Dukey does your hotel have room service? Most restaurants either close on Xmas day or have special Xmas lunches/dinners that are booked out weeks or months in advance. Small cafes and eateries usually close for this day.

northie

Personally I can't stand all the hype about the Sydney fireworks on NYE. its our family joke "oh a celebration Sydney will have fireworks again" . Yep it's sour grapes but we reckon Melbourne NYE fireworks are fabulous - both the 9.30 for families and the midnight ones.
Hotel rooms in Melbourne have to be paid in full for NYE too.