Anyone stayed there? It seems quite reasonable but as a first time Sydney visitor I really don't know whether Darling Harbour is an okay area. I have read that the old Holiday Inn in the Rocks is great for location but budget is very important to us and the Old Holiday Inn is quite a lot more than the Darling Harbour HI.

Any remarks or advice will be much appreciated!

Can't help with the Holiday Inn because we didn't stay there. But, we've been to Sydney on several occassions and have spent a great deal of time in Darling Harbour. A lovely place with a variety of things to do and see. Harbour cruises, an IMAX theater, shops, and numerous restaurants. If you're on a budget, DH has an international food court that serves up excellent cuisine at reasonable prices.
Not to worry, DH is an ok area.
John

You're right about the prices at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn, down in the Rocks -- in fact, as soon as you start talking the Rocks area, the tariff goes WAY up. The location of the Darling Harbour Holiday Inn isn't, of course, as good as the other branch, but take heart: it's not by any means bad, and, anyway, while it's down NEAR Darling Harbour, to call it 'Darling Harbour' is a bit of a fudge (they just want you to think of water, which you won't see much of from that Holiday Inn!): actually, it's in Chinatown opposite the incredibly-ugly Entertainment Centre. Nothing much to look at, but a quick walk through Chinatown will have you in the middle of the Town Hall shopping area in seven minutes. That's a lot better than the REAL Darling Harbour hotels, which are on the other side of the estuary!

My main point in writing, however, was to suggest that you don't give up on the Old Sydney Holiday Inn just yet. A few weeks ago, a poster on one of the travel sites (either here or Tripadvisor) scored a double room through an internet booking site for around $AUD170, which is quite a bargain-basement rate for a hotel of this quality and in the heart of the Rocks. It might just be worth looking at this site to see if you can do likewise, maybe at around the price you are being asked to pay at the Chinatown hotel. The URL is http://hotels.airline-network.co.uk/hotels/index.asp. All prices are, I think, quoted in British pounds.

Another good deal can, it seems, often be had through Priceline at the 'almost-in-the-Rocks' Marriott Harbour. Someone got a room in this upmarket hotel for $US90 by specifying the area and price exactly (you can't ask for a hotel by name). If you do a search above you may be able to turn up that post.

Good luck!

Hi Joanne,
Alan's made some good suggestions.
You might give these a try, too.

www.wotif.com.au
www.lastminute.com.au

Enjoy your trip and don't worry - even if you don't get anything else, Sydney's a very easy place to get around. Once you're in the city, everything is only a few minutes walk/bus trip away.

Just for fun, I had a look at the airline-network site: the Old Sydney Holiday Inn is 52 British pounds, as opposed to the Darling Harbour Holiday Inn at 33 pounds. So there's quite a difference.... but, of course, I don't know the price you're being asked to pay at the Darling Harbour hotel (if it's more than 33 English pounds, then browse down the list on airline-network; you may find a bargain ot two).

Thanks guys. I have tried the site Airline Network and there is quite a differance as you say between the two hotels. I am going to try Priceline and see what comes up.

Thanks again!!