My family of 5 will be in Sydney for six nights in August and we are looking for an apartment hotel with 2-bedroom apartments. Assuming for the moment that price is not a factor, any recommendations for nice ones that are conveniently located in a nice area? "Conveniently located" probably means within walking distance of Circular Quay, but I guess good mass transit access would work as well. An indoor pool would be preferable. Also, I looked at the York Apartments, where I stayed in 1991, but they will be undergoing renovations beginning in July and that makes me hesitant to go back there.

I'm not sure what the York will be doing at that time. I absolutely would email and ask. The one bedrooms have been completely renovated and are now done but you will want the two bedroom, so I would check it out. They heat the outdoor pool and I think it's lovely anytime.

Thanks. I did email them and they begin further renovations in July.

Do you believe that an outdoor heated pool will be usable in August in Sydney?

It was during the first week in August in 2004.

We stayed at the Pacific International Suites, which is just around the corner from Darling Harbor and a monorail stop. We had a studio, but you can check their website to see if they have a 2-bedroom. I don't think they have a pool, although I am not sure. They do have a self-serve laundry in the basement. www.pacificinthotels.com.au

Sorry, I just found out that Pacific International is all studios. Do you know of the Grand Mercure Apartments? Expensive, I believe but they have a pool.

There are others which I found in my brochure from "Australian Holidays"..All Seasons New Hampshire, Holiday Inn Park Suites Sydney, Medina Grand Sydney, The Waldorf Apartment Hotel. These are the closest to the centre. I have had luck googling. If "Sydney" is not in the name of the hotel add it at the end.

Good Luck.

Thanks for the names of the apartment hotels. I will google all of them.

I would also suggest if you have not already done so to check www.wotif.com.au as it will have a number of apartment hotels listed, complete with details of size etc.

You might want to look at the Quay West Apartments. They are in an excellent location at the Rocks and have one of the best indoor swimming pools around. They do have two bedroom apartments but they are pricey.

I have read about Quay West and they look great. However, their website indicates a two-bedroom is $750 per night. I am willing to pay a pretty decent amount, but that is not in the ballpark.

I hadn't checked the rates before so had no idea how expensive they were. It is still ridiculously expensive, but their all year round rate is AUD$650 direct from their own booking site. I also see that the wotif.com.au site is selling the 2 bedroom, harbour view, for AUD$480 a night at the present time. For me, that would still be way out of the ball park - for you who knows.

We live in Sydney so haven't had direct experience of the Sydney ones, but my husband has had extended stays at the Saville Park Suites in both Perth and Canberra, and been very happy. [I've had short stays at both.]The standard is consistent and the decor similar in both these, so would expect it in Syney too. There's one in the heart of the CBD [2 Bond St], a minute from Wynyard Station and a few minutes from Circuar Quay, and another at Chatswood, a short train ride away on the North Shore Line. My husband's been particualrly impressed with the friendly staff - one would hope for the same in Sydney!