What is the best (cheapest) way to get to CBD from the airport? Last time we were in Sydney we took a cab because it was late. I'm sure it was over $25 so we must have been given a scenic tour! We didn't use the expressway. Is this a common problem with cabbies? Would the airport bus be preferrable?

There is a hotel shuttle that goes around the hotels dropping people off and the last time I used it it was $7AU for the trip. Its a little bus.<BR>Taxis use the route that ends up at the part of town you are wanting to go to *generally*. If you use a taxi pretend you know where you are going. It is unfortunate that in Australia, and in Sydney in particular, that being a taxi driver does not come with strict codes of practice and entry into the job i.e the ability to converse in very, very good English and a complete and thorough knowledge of the road system, names of streets etc of the city as they seem to do in London for instance. Again in London, for instance, there is a test that drivers have to take to show that they know just about every street and route in the city. It could only improve the image of Sydney if the same was applied to its taxi drivers. <BR>

Thanks Liz,<BR>Tio your knowledge does the hotel shuttle stop at specific hotels or will it stop at any hotel? Is it outside the arrivals near the cabs, buses etc?<BR>

It stops at whatever hotel people are going to or it will stop at the Central Railway station and other places as well if you ask nicely. <BR>There is a stand outside the International terminal but I don't know whether there is a counter inside. I know exactly where the one is for the domestic terminal is but I am unsure about the International. Anyone should know if you ask though OR check the signs outside the arrivals hall. You can get your hotel to request a pick up as well when you leave.<BR>For what its worth!!!!!! I was waiting with a couple from the USA for a taxi at Central Station once, they were going to board a cruise ship and therefore had a bit of luggage. We went through 15 Taxis before one could a/ speak English properly and b/ did not want to rip these people off for the fare to the rocks area and $1 for each item of luggage. I was furious that in our major tourist city this could be allowed to happen. It is my opinion that at major taxi stands the approximate route and fare should be highlighted so that this attempted rip-off cannot happen. Mind you Australia is not on its own with this but that does not make it right.

Liz,<BR>It really surprised me that we would have to worry about being ripped off by a taxi driver in Sydney! It doesn't seem like the kind of place that this would be a concern. Wonder if it happens in Toronto too? It is something I have never really thought about. I know that Toronto has made it mandatory for drivers to communicate adequately in English as we too have a very multicultural city. It is disconcerting to think that as a tourist you can't take a taxi from the airport to the CBD without worrying about being ripped off. Paying the going rate is one thing but extortion is another!!

Hi, Lin!<BR>While Sydney is not one of those cities where you have to worry at every turn about being ripped off, it certainly does happen, and it happens with taxi drivers who service the airport. Some American friends of mine paid the meter rate plus tip on arriving at their hotel, and then were actually followed into the hotel by the driver, who "explained" to them that there was actaully a surcharge, and that they would have to pay something like double the meter rate!<BR>The absolutely cheapest way to get to Sydney from the airport is to catch the public (blue and white) bus to Bondi Junction (it departs every twenty minutes or so from the same area as the green and gold airport shuttle), and, from Bondi Junction station, take a train to whichever subway is closest to your hotel. This method will cost you between five and six dollars, but it does involve a bit of bag hauling at the interchange..... so most people prefer to pay the bit extra and go by green-and-gold. If you are coming with a family, however, the savings on the government blue-and-white bus are considerable, as on all government transport in Sydney you pay only for the first child: others ride free. Also, if you plan to do a lot of sightseeing by ferry on your first day, this method can be extremely economical, as you buy a Dayrover Pass for $13.40 (half for that first child), and then simply flash this as you get on any trains, ferries, or government buses. The Dayrover Pass is a great way to see Sydney without spending a lot of money (the ferries show you the best areas the city has to offer), and many people don't realise that they can use it at the end of their day to go back to the airport, as long as they catch one of the blue-and-white buses that services the terminals.

just came back from sydney last week. the airporter as its called is a minibus/van it seats 9-10 and costs $8 per person. its great. round trip is $13 australian.

Hi Lin!<BR>Check out www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au<BR>If you scroll down to the "Airport Express" it will show you destinations as well as maps of where the bus will go... Also ferries, city buses...<BR>Everything! Cool, huh!<BR>Enjoy your trip...<BR>Ilse

My Sydney taxi story:<BR>On our arrival in Sydney the chinese taxi driver "couldn't find" our B&B, despite the fact that I had a map and told him it was right next door to the main entrance of the ANA hotel. He drove in circles all around the Rocks pretending to look for it ( We later found it was hard to miss as the ANA towers above everything else). Finally, I told him we were getting out and speaking with a policeman if he didn't get us to the ANA in 3 minutes. Voila! He turned the corner and there it was. We gave him the amount our B&B had said it should cost ($21) vs the $30 or so inflated amount on the meter. I'm sure this happens everywhere in the world, but this was so blatant I couldn't let it pass!

Thanks for all the advice. Think a bus, in some form is the way to go on principal. Sydney is an amazing city. We used the ferries and Bondi explorer last visit. We stayed in the CBD so walked a lot. Think I'll avoid the taxis though!