Any good suggestions? This is an impromptu trip. We are ok with slightly off-the-beaten-track experiences. (Must be clean!) We realize that we may have problems booking a hotel with the Festival on.

Thanks to all those of you in the know.

Not sure if you mean you are coming for the event or it just happens to be on when you want to come.You don't say what your budget is.For a start you might want to look at a B&B in Newtown which gets good reports and is close to lots of good , reasonably priced restaurants.It is called Ardmore House and you can view it on www.ardmorehouse.com.au and in case you are wondering I have no connection with the place. Good luck!

Hi MlleParadis, yes Sydney will be buzzing and packed for the 2 week G&L Mardi Gras festival, especially the Parade along Oxford Street on 27 Feb.

Check the http://www.sydneyhotelsaccommodation...nMardiGras.htm
site for recommendations.

Alternatively, you could try my favourite site for accommodation in Sydney
http://www.stayz.com.au/accommodation/nsw/sydney
which might offer more vacancies, and a broader scope of accommodation types.

We last stayed in Newtown, with its great ‘alternative’ and bohemian vibe, in an apartment with easy access to train station and short travel into Sydney’s centre.

Whilst writing this, see PeterAlan also suggested Newtown – snap! And can second his suggestion of Ardmore House – we actually stayed there a few years ago to celebrate our daughter’s birthday, and can highly recommend it!

Good luck!

It's known as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, not "Gay Pride". The latter may be an American term.

The parade used to be picketed by a small group of Christians, led by the impenetrably stupid Rev. Fred Nile, praying for the heavens to open and pour rain (fire and brimstone being too big an ask even for Fred) on the cavorting sinners. God usually declined to get involved, and all that happened was that the Christians became an unwitting part of the show.

It seems the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence appealed to the Lord's humour more than Fred & his Order of the Thin Lipped. http://www.universaljoy.com.au/

The Mardi Gras has usually been blessed with good weather and since then, increased support from many who are not friends of Dorothy's, but even less inclined to be friends with the po-faced Fred & his raucus mob.

Apart from Newtown, the other big area in Sydney for gay nightlife is Darlinghurst/Paddington. Arts Hotel is easy walking distance from the main part of Oxford St. It is outside the section of Oxford st that's blocked for the parade:

Arts Hotel (formerly Sullivans) - www.artshotel.com.au
(near Greens Road) 21 Oxford St, Paddington - (02) 9361 0211

Another more upmarket possibility is:

Kirketon Boutique Hotel Sydney - www.kirketon.com.au
229 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst - (02) 9332 2011

This one is a bit further out in Woollhara, it's close to Oxford St, but at the other end of the Paddington shops:

Hughenden Boutique Hotel - www.hughendenhotel.com.au
14 Queen St, Woollahra - (02) 9363 4863