sydney and melbourne hotels
 

can anyone suggest any hotels CENTRALLY located in sydney and melbourne. i want to be walking distance to major sites. i was thinking of the mariott sydney harbour in circular quay. any suggestions on that? i read many reviews and they seem pretty good. How about the grace? which location is better?

for melbourne i was thinking of crowne towers? any suggestions on that. is it better to stay somewhere on collins or is the southbank just as easy to walk to main sites.

thanks

The Marriott is closer to Circular Quay; the Grace closer to the shopping precinct, QVB, Darling Harbour etc. Easy walk from one to the other in 15 mins (or take a bus.)

In Melbourne, Southbank is about 20 minutes walk to the Bourke Street Mall, which is about the centre of the CBD.

Apart from the Art Gallery, shops, restaurants & the theatre at Southbank, there isn't much in the way of "sites/sights" in the immediate vicinity of Crown Towers. However, the park & river are lovely and it is a very pleasant 5 - 10 minute walk from Southbank to Federation Square.

Google has a good "get directions" function (with 3D) that I find useful in deciding on accommodation. http://g.co/maps/ce5cp

If you want to be in the CBD, there are some good options.
Have a look at www.wotif.com.au

In Sydney, if you are tossing up between the Marriott and the Grace Hotel, the Grace is an Art Deco building so it has a lot of character. I personally prefer that style of hotel over a chain.

In this vein in Melbourne, my favourite is the Lindrum: http://www.hotellindrum.com.au/ I have also stayed at the Adelphi, which I liked a lot.

In Sydney, I truly enjoyed staying at the Sir Stamford Circular Quay. It is very charming and in a nice location. Walkable to Circular Quay, the opera house, across from the botanical gardens.

does anyone have any comments about the Sebel on collins. i want to find a hotel on collins but a room that allows 3 adults and that wont break my wallet. I saw the sebel it looks decent but not sure.

I can't comment on the Sebel but if you want to be on Collins, you may also want to check out the Novotel. We had visitors in town the Christmas before last who stayed there without complaint.

We stayed at the Circular Quay Marriott and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I did book the circular quay Marriott. In Melbourne I tried Novotel but booked. The other ones don't really allow 3 ppl in a bedroom. There is a marriott on longsdale. Is this a good location??.

It's Lonsdale street and yes, very central location.
Have a look at the map on the hotel's website.
Close to Bourke Street Mall & CBD.