Tried to post a message and it went into the ether, so I hope this one gets through OK. Or else, knowing my luck, there'll be 2 messages!<BR><BR>My partner and I just had a lovely week's holiday at Manly - best of both worlds, surfing and sunbaking in the mornings, then on the ferry into the city for shopping and shows later in the day.<BR><BR>We found some good food at reasonable prices - both in cafes and tiny food bars and delis - everything from Japanese noodle bars, to vegetarian cafes to spice bars to fish shops. <BR><BR>So if anyone is intending visiting Manly during their visit to Sydney, I'd be happy to give details of where you can find a wide range of inexpensive food, only a few steps away from the junk food joints along the Corso.

Hi, Daisy!<BR>I, for one, would be interested to hear where you stayed. I often think that your chosen &quot;option&quot;... staying near the beach and travelling in and back by ferry to the city (great trip, isn't it? I often think that if they charged $60 instead of $6, people would take the trip if they knew exactly where it went, past the Bridge and the Opera House) is a very desirable one, but, I confess, I know little about the hotels there, except for one very expensive one and the YHA Backpackers, so I don't often &quot;follow-through&quot;. Your recommendations would be most helpful for the future. Thanks!

&quot;seven miles from sydney and a thousand miles from care&quot;

Hi Alan,<BR><BR>We got a self-catering unit through an agency - I'd have to go through our material to check the agency's name. We found them on the web. I think they call themselves &quot;Manly Holidays&quot;.<BR><BR>The unit itself was very nice - refurbished in the past six months. It was on the 9th floor of a building one block back from the beach. So we got a terrific view towards Shelly Beach. <BR><BR>It only had one bedroom, and they only rent it to couples, as it's not very large. But we were very happy with it.<BR><BR>The building itself is not very appealing - definitely seen better days. It's the &quot;Manly National&quot;. If you go direct through them, I think they charge about $550 or something a week for a unit. I think the other units are OK, but not in the luxury class. We paid more than that - I don't know why - and our unit is managed by a separate agency.<BR><BR>While we were there, I went around the neighbouring hotels researching tariffs but they want a FORTUNE for their rooms. Other than that, it's only backpacker places, unfortunately.<BR><BR>But as you say, it's a great option if you can find the right unit.

Daisy, thanks for all that information, which I will store away for the future. I think a lot of people would be very happy with an apartment with a view of the beach for $AUD550 per week... I hear of people paying that for a day at some of the &quot;classier&quot; places in Sydney!<BR>I hope you visit us again sometime!