My husband and I will be traveling to Sydney for 10 days in mid October. We will be staying at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Bondi Bay. Does anyone have any feedback about this hotel and it's location? I heard there are problems with sewage in the water in the area and would like to determine if that information is true. Thank you for your help!

Make that Bondi Beach, not Bay!

Hi Christine <BR> <BR>Your reference to sewage in the water probably comes from the initial building work on the beach for the Olympic Beach Volleyball stadium - this is not a permanent structure but a temporary one being built for the Olympics. They did have some problems with the groundwater being contaminated when they first started digging, but it seems to have been sorted out. Personally I have never understood the "buzz" surrounding Bondi Beach. As far as East Coast Australian beaches go, it's pretty ordinary. There are lots of prettier beaches in the Sydney area, such as Cronulla (down south) or the Northern Beaches (just north of Manly - there's a bus route that goes from the City all the way up to Palm Beach on the north shore). Then again, I grew up in Newcastle (1 1/2 to 2 hrs north of Sydney) and we have some of the best beaches in the world! I think they still mine the sand at Redhead Beach to send to Hawaii!

Bondi Beach is Sydney's most famous beach. Its very popular with tourists but there are far better smaller beaches around. Bondi Beach is fairly convenient to the city, although there is no direct train connection (yet). About 15 minutes by taxi or 30 mins by bus. The Swiss Grand is a top hotel and in a good location - overlooking the beach. <BR>The water is clean for swimming but maybe a little cold in October. <BR>If you're after a beachside stay, you could also try the Holiday Inn at Coogee, which is a few beaches south of Bondi. Its quieter than Bondi, has a better atmostphere and is about the same distance from the city.

In regards to the water, it's very clean. Bondi's reputation for poor water quality was earned about 15 years ago, now it's simply not a reality. <BR> <BR>The volleyball stadium is being built right in the middle of the beach and apparently is a real visual and physical obstacle. <BR> <BR>A lot of people expect Bondi to be better than other beaches because its so famous. It's not neseccarily better, just different.

<BR>Hi Christine <BR> <BR>Bondi Beach is a great location and it's a great place to swim and enjoy. We are lanching an exclusive <BR>'Sydney 2000' page on our website www.bluestarconcierge.com very soon and Bondi will be our major topic. There were a few issues with high tides recently interfering with the construction, but its 'A' okay. Bondi will be the place to be. <BR> <BR>Best Regards <BR>Nicholas