Wife and I will be in Sydney 12/20-12/23 and are trying to decide on best hotel to stay in. Although price is a factor , we want nice and convenient to popilar places. Don't want to pay more than $125 per night US or about AUD 165. We have narroed it down to the following: Southern Cross Suites, Harbor (can get for $120 US); Park regis Hotel, Sydney ($92US); The Sydney Boulevard $125 US); Crown Plaza Hotel, Darling Harbor ($124 US); and Old Sydney Holiday Inn (about AUD 165)

The Old Sydney Holiday Inn is way ahead of the others on location.In the rocks and very close to the heart of tourist sydney.

In my opinion you can do better than the Park Regis, which although is situated right in the centre of the CBD - is very noisy and the rooms are tiny.

If you want to snare a bargain, you could always wait until 2 weeks before, and check out www.wotif.com.au

There are usually 30 or more top hotels with drastically reduced hotel rooms going cheap, as they prefer to sell them cheaply rather than have empty rooms. Or you could actaully book a room just in case, then if you find a cheaper room in a better hotel, cancel the first one. Why not have a look at the site now just to see what sort of discounts are offered. we've used them countless times and never failed to get a good hotel room cheaper than any where else.

Hi, jaydh42!

Normally I would eagerly second the idea of waiting until two weeks before you need the rooms and then checking wotif.com; however, in Christmas week this may be a bit tricky, and I don't think I'd risk being disappointed. So let's take your choices one at a time:

The Boulevard is the first to discard. It's in a unpleasant area which has seen a lot of roadwork and tunnel construction lately.

The Southern-Cross-on-Harbour and the Crown Plaza are both in a part of Sydney called Darling Harbour, which is not one of my favourite areas. Normally I would chop those out, though I must admit that in December and January there are a lot of activities happening down there, mostly of a family nature.

The Park Regis is an oldish hotel in a very good location near the main shopping areas and the Town Hall. It is not near the water, but you would certainly find everything convenient to you, including a subway that will whisk you to the water in four minutes. Price-wise, it's the front-runner; the smallness of the rooms, which I have heard mentioned once before on this forum, wouldn't bother me, as I only go to my room to sleep, but if it is a factor in your choice, it is probably best to discard this one, too (I think, however, that I'd save the $AUD45 per day on the "best" choice and go for it).

The Holiday Inn is just a Holiday Inn, but the location is so good, right in the heart of the most picturesque part of Sydney, and close to the ferry wharves, that it would probably have to win the prize as the most-desirable of your choices, even with that rather-high price. You will certainly spend a lot of time patting yourself on the back over your clever choice, if your aim is to see Sydney from the water: you will be just a short walk from the Opera House, the Bridge, and the main Tourist Information Bureau. If price is no object, go for it; otherwise, do the Park Regis.

Thank you all so very much for taking time to answer and especially you Alan for your ideas. Although my options are still open and I can cancel at any time, I made a reservation for the Internet price (the best) at Clarion Suites Southern cross Harbor AUD 164.50 per night or US $119.86. I went directly through Clarion and found this to be a better price than what Hotels.com, Sidestep, Expedia, etc. was asking. The hotels are definitely getting into the game and they would rather not pay out those commission fees if they don't have to. Alan, it looks like the Southern Cross Harbor is only about 2 blocks or so away from the Holiday Inn Darling Harbor. The best rate there would have been about $104 per night US. Any further thoughts welcomed ! To take this a little further, let me say that wife and I will be on a 14 day cruise out of Sydney and we are flying in three days early to see what we can see. What are top, must see sights to see in 3 days. We are definitely taking a day to go on the Blue Mountain tour with Activity tours.com Will be a ten hour day and include lunch, wildlife park (Featherdale),river cruise, and national park entrance. About $63 per person US for internet price. What other things must we get in? Aquarium? Thanks again for replies.

Hi

I think the Holiday Inn that Alan was referring to is in "The Rocks" and it is probably the most convenient of all areas to be in. You can easily walk to the the Opera House, the Wharf, and the "Bridge". As other suggested you might keep this reservation and try later to get a cheaper price using Wotif or Needitnow. They both offer last-minute cheaper hotel rates.

What to see in Sydney - go down to the wharf and get a ticket and tour the waterway - head over to Manly Beach for lunch and to see their beautiful beach - very cheap fares.

Take the "Bridge Walk" you're quite safe as they secure you pretty well and you get the most spectacular views of Sydney.

Take a walk across the bridge on the lower level to North Sydney - that is also magnificient.

Tour the "Opera House" - it's quite a marvel - see a show while there - there's about 5 theatres there with varying prices.

Meet the people (especially on the ferries - they are quite easy to talk to, friendly, we enjoyed them immensely.

Hi, again, jaydh42!

The Holiday Inn at Darling Harbour (actually in Chinatown) is, of course, not the same as the Old Sydney Holiday Inn; yes, it is very close indeed to the Southern Cross, so there's little to choose between them. I haven't stayed at either, but purely from the outside appearance I think I'd stay with the Southern Cross. However, I must add that I do not approve of the Southern Cross because I think its full title ("Southern Cross On Harbour&quot is sneaky and misleading advertising. While it doeasn't say "THE" Harbour, and it doesn't promise that its anywhere near Sydney Harbour (it isn't, either), I think most people booking it site unseen would see that title and assume that the "harbour" referred to was Sydney Harbour, with its blue waters and white sailboats. Darling Harbour, is, I am afraid, nothing like that. I think that a really honest hotel wouldn't leave out that important little word, "Darling", if it wasn't trying to mislead. However, the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is almost as misleading; it ought to be called the "Holiday Inn, Chinatown".

Must do's in Sydney in Christmas week? I think if it were me I would spend a day on the ferries. Buy a $15 ticket called a Daytripper, and just get on and off whenever you like, all day. You'll get a great look at Sydney Harbour -- past the Opera House, under the Bridge, up the river to Parramatta, across the harbour to Manly. You will also get a chance to step off at some nice little places such as Balmain, Rose Bay, Mosman, Cremorne, and, most of all, Manly.

Around the Darling Harbour area are the Aquarium, the Poergouse Museum, and the Maritime Museum, all worth a visit; just across from your hotel are the Chinese Gardens, also quite pretty. Be warned, however, that all these places will be crammed full of children on school holidays.

Since you haven't got a great deal of time left in Sydney after a day in the Mountains and a day on the ferries, I think that to plan more would be too much: just go walking! Around the Opera House to the Botanical Gardens -- up to Macquarie Street and the Conservatorium of Music to the Old Mint and the Art Gallery; along to Hyde Park, with a look at St Mary's Cathedral; down Park Street to the Town Hall and Queen Victoria Building. From there (Town Hall Subway) catch a train across the Bridge to Milson's Point, and then walk back across the Bridge to the Rocks, where you will find lots of pleasant eateries with great outlooks and nineteenth-century ambience.
Have a wonderful time!

If you have any time left over, it would be nice to get away from tourist land for a morning and go to Bondi Beach, do the Bondi to Bronte walk along the cliff face, have breakfast at one of the delightful Bronte cafes, and then walk back to Bondi. From there, catch a cab or bus to Watson's Bay for a quick walk along the Rocks at the Gap (wonderful view), maybe lunch at Doyle's on the Beach, then catch the Ferry back to Circular Quay.

You are all so kind and informative and I value all your suggestions. Let me ask one more (for now). Does anyone know how far the cruise ship dock for the mega, Sapphire Princess , is from the Clarion Suites Southern cross Harbor at corner of Harbor St and Goulburn St-Darling Harbor area. Although i don't know, I would guess that it's not more than 1-2 miles or so away- a short cab ride away, I hope.

Also, our cruise comes to an end in Auckland, NZ, early on January 6, 2005 and we plan to spend about 2 days (nights) there before flying home to Los Angeles. Having spent a ton of money up to this point and not wanting to spend too much more I came up with the Flag Suites, New president in downtown Auckland. A room with King bed goes for an internet price of $68.88 US. Seems like a nice high rise. Any thoughts about this hotel and what is a must for one having two days to snoop around and get a somewhat tentative feel for the place. Thanks again for all your comments and suggestions. This is Jay in Granada Hills, California where it is 90 degrees F. today.

Hi, again!

There are several places where liners dock in Sydney, but the mega ones and the first-class ones usually dock at the pier at the Rocks, right opposite the bay from the Opera House. This is because the other, cheaper docks are all on the other side of the Bridge, and sometimes the megaliners are too tall to pass under.

The Rocks is a fair hike from your hotel, so a taxi is recommended -- alternatively, there is a ferry which goes from Circular Quay (right near where the liner docks) to Darling Harbour Aquarium, which isn't too far (500 metres) from your hotel. But it still involves walking which you may not be prepared to do with a mountain of luggage. You could get a bus from the terminal and cut your walk down to 300 metres, but our buses are not very luggage-friendly. Much as I hate to say it, the taxi is the way to go, even if it does crawl through the most congested part of the city.