KST Airport Shuttle, Sydney
 

Is anyone out there familiar with the KST Airport Shuttle?

How do you make arrangements for the shuttle? Can it be done online?

Does it take you directly to your hotel or drop you off at a central location?

Would a tip would be expected? If so, what is reasonable in Australia?

We have never been to Sydney and would like to do as much advance planning as possible.

KST Airport Shuttle is a reputable company and full details of their service, both in Sydney and Melbourne, can be found on their web site: www.kst.com.au

Tipping shuttle drivers is not expected or appropriate in Australia, any more than public bus drivers. Some people tip in restaurants, not more than 10%, but it's not expected. Tipping taxi drivers and bar staff isn't customary.

We recently used the shuttle in Sydney. We also used it on our last trip in 2004. We booked it when we landed at the airport. It is the cheapest alternative to getting to your hotel in Sydney, but is not the fastest nor the most comfortable. I decided that if we ever go back to Sydney (God willing) we will take a cab because the shuttle takes FOREVER to get you to your place or from your place to the airport. They wait until have a full van, some even have a trailer for luggage so they can fit more people in. They have the air conditioner running but it doesn't do any good so everyone has their windows open. That's OK if the weather is coolish, but it is vastly uncomfortable if it is hot out. Also you might be lucky to be the first to be dropped off (they take you to your hotel), but you might be like us who were staying in the Rocks and the last to be dropped off--that took over an hour of circling around and around jammed together on uncomfortable seats. Can you tell I hated it? The taxi would have cost about $40 each way and the shuttle was $20 each round trip, so about half for a couple. SPEND THE TWENTY DOLLARS (unless you are on a very tight budget--and if that is so, well, maybe this isn't the best time for you to go to Australia if you are American. People from other countries with stronger currencies, disregard.) I don't think we tipped the shuttle person, and it wasn't expected. In restaurants we did, but not as much as in the States.
Sally in Seattle
p.s. We loved Sydney and have about a million pictures of the Opera House to prove it! I know you will have a great time there, and great food, too.

Thanks for the great information. We are really looking forward to Sydney, but know we will be exhausted after such a long flight. A taxi sounds great!

Agree totally with SnRSeattle. We used KST to/from the airport and to/from the hotel. While they were very reliable, neither trip was a good beginning or ending to a wonderful trip. We felt like sardines in the van (both ways), and both trips took forever as we waited at the airport for the van to fill; on the return to the airport we waited and waited and waited for people to exit their hotels or apartments to meet the van; we waited 20 minutes for a group of three young women. Just thinking about the experience (a year later) elevates my (normally low) blood pressure.

While in Sydney, we flew out of the airport for an internal trip to the GBR. For that trip, we took the train to/from the airport and were satisfied with that option, despite the crazy pricing practice.