Lois

Can anyone tell me if the Sydney Marriott on College St. is in a good location for sight seeing and public transportation? Also, is there a weekly pass for public transportation?

Prue

Lois,<BR>The Sydney Marriott is in the CBD and looks out over Hyde Park, but it would not be as convenient for sightseeing as some of the many hotels in the Darling Harbour or Circular Quay areas.<BR>However, it is close to several bus stops, and within walking distance of the rail network.<BR>The Hotel itself is pleasant and rooms are typical of the chain.

Alan

Hi, Lois!<BR><BR>The Marriott is in a pretty good location, and the views of the park opposite might be pleasant.... certainly I would prefer it to the hotels around Darling Harbour, and it's infinitely better-located than Star City Casino. However, the ones around the Rocks -- such as the Russell and the Holiday Inn-- are better-located again. Luckily, Sydney is a compact little city which can be "walked" from any of these places without difficulty, so don't get too worried over the differences between the locations of these hotels... if they're in the CBD, you're safe. Just don't let them send you out to one of the satellite suburbs, like Parramatta!<BR>There are two kinds of discount passes on public transport: if you want to travel to several destinations in one sector over a period of a few days, you can buy a rail "weekly" between your base and the furthest destination. It costs about the same as four single-day tickets, lasts seven days, and you can use it as often as you want and get off at intermediate stations. The second ticket is called a Day Rover, and lasts, as you will guess, just a day. But you can use it anywhere in the metropolitan area, and it's good for all three types of government transport... trains, buses (but not all buses are government buses!) and ferries. It costs around $13 for the day, and if you want to do a lot of travelling over the course of a day, it's cheaper than buying each sector separately. Otheriwse, remember that on all trains, prices for return day tickets come DOWN to around 60% at exactly 9 a.m. Hope that is of some help!

Lois

Thanks for the information. I wish I had asked before booking. I'm using a free week with Marriott, so it must be a Marriott affiliate. I suspect the Renaissance would have been a better choice in retrospect, but it didn't occur to me to ask online, and I had no clue. I am relieved to hear that it's a safe section and that there is transportation available. I'm interested in using the ferries as well. Are they included in the pass? Also, if anyone has a suggestion on itineraries for day trips, I'd appreciate it. I will be at this location for a week next Jan. Thaks again!

pj

For a day trip the Hunter Valley is wine country adn only 1-2 hours away. For a REALLY easy day trip, take a harbor cruise and go to the zoo or get off in Manly and walk around.

mary

The Marriot is in a nice position and the underground is very very close. Buses also are all around and they too are covered by the pass. Its only a couple of underground stations to Circular Quay where you get the ferries and when it boils down to it there is nothing much in it compared with the Renaissance where you would have to walk to the Quay anyway, albeit only 2 blocks. <BR>Most of Sydney is safe. I probably wouldn't go walking in the parks at night alone or be in Kings Cross after midnight.<BR>At least from the Marriott you are not far from the skyrail thing which takes you to Darling Harbour <BR>I have stayed in the Renaissance and thought it was quite a lot more boring than most other hotels. Can't put my finger on why but it was.

Alan

Yes, Lois, the ferries are included in the DayRover pass. However, if you are just taking a ferry trip for a half-day -- and you should take several of these, especially in January, when the weather will be great on the water (take a hat!)-- you will find that just buying a round trip ticket is usually cheaper. The best trip is the Manly ferry; you will want to get off and wander around for a couple of hours, maybe to Fairy Bower. Also try Watson's Bay (you might like to get off and have lunch at Doyle's which is right where the ferry berths), Taronga Zoo (that's a day in itself, although the ferry ride is only fifteen minutes), Parramatta (by Rivercat), and maybe Balmain or Woolwich.<BR>I don't think you should fret because the Renaissance is closer to the water than the Marriott; a walk across Hyde Park (not late at night, though!) will take you to St James subway station, and from there you are at the water's edge in a couple of minutes. The Marriott is close to a couple of convenience stores, and also if you walk up Oxford St to the area around Taylor Square you will find several great restaurants. The Marriott is also within walking distance of the Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW, and the heritage buildings of MacQuarie Street. In fact, a great walk for your first day would be to head from the Marriott past the Museum and the Cathedral to MacQuarie Street, down the hill past the Conservatorium of Music, and then through the Botanical Gardens to the Opera House. And there you are at the water, having seen some of the very best of Sydney. The only thing the Renaissance is near is the Basement Jazz Club... the rest of the neighbourhood is offices which shut up shop at 5 p.m., after which time the street is dead and semi-deserted.

John

Lois - check out the website for info on a Sydney Pass. http://www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au/sb.pass.html It's good for unlimited access to all buses, ferries and central area rail service.<BR><BR>John in Miami

Lois

Thanks to everyone for all your input! I'm relieved to hear that the location will be fine, and I'm really looking forward to the trip. I definitely intend to take some ferry excursions. I also plan to do a little shopping. Any suggestions on where to shop for black opals? My daughter tells me this is the thing to get there.

honest

Black opals are everywhere but you need someone who knows something about them. I would either look at the Estate Jewellery shops ( you get things without the massive tax and at a discount price) or I would try buying them from the miners themselves in Australia from the Ebay.com.au site under gemstones and from someone with an address from Lightening Ridge, which is the only place in Australia that black opals come from. OR you can go into a tourist shop and pay about 50 times extra and help the economy

Prue

Lois,<BR>There are several very reputable jewellery stores in Sydney which would all stock black opals and are not in business solely for the tourist trade.<BR>However, they will all be expensive, and as the previous poster has said it is important to have some knowledge of what you are looking for.<BR>These stores are Hardy Brothers, Percy Marks, Fairfax & Roberts and perhaps Angus & Coote. They are all located in the CBD and easy to get to from the Mariott.

Rick

I stayed at Renaissance Hotel, instead of Marriott Hotel. I could use either location with marriott reward points. Outside of Marriott looked nice. I never saw the rooms. Renaissance is a much better location, close to Circular Quay, ferries, bus tour stops, jet cats, etc. I asked for and got a high floor (27th) with a view of the Harbor Bridge. Room was very nice but not spectacular. As it turns out, the general manager happened to go to high school with me 27 years ago. I happened to see his unusual name in the hotel directory. He mentioned that the Renaissance would be undergoing some major renovations in the future. If you opt to stay there, ask the hotel staff first of the expected dates of renovation and if all the floors would be effected. Get the Sydney 7-day pass ($140.00 AU) at the airport. Covers virtually all transportation and tour needs (airport transfers to city, narrated Bondi beach and bay explorer, narrated Sydney City Explorer, city buses, trains, monorails, ferries, night cruise, daytime cruise, etc. You can also buy a 3 or 5 day pass for a bit less, and you only have to use it either any 3 or 5 of the 7 days after you buy it. Need not be consecutive days. You can ride as many forms of transportation as you desire on any given day. I preferred the non-narrated jet cats and ferries to the narrated cruises.

Mary Ann

Hi<BR>Consider asking them for the concierge floor. We were there on a week reward also in 2000 and then the concierge was about $17 a day for two. For that you received continental breakfast for two (hard boiled eggs, fruits, cold cuts, cereal, beverages, breads) while watching CNN (we were there during the presidential election problem), Then the waiter gave us each a bottle of water for the day, then they have cocktail hour at about 5-7 which included wine, beer, caesar salad, fruits, cheeses and good company from the other guests, who by the way talked us into the bridge climb.<BR><BR>It is a great place. Enjoy!

Lois

Thanks for the input. When I read that the Renaissance overlooks the Harbour bridge, I was a little dissappointed that I couldn't get in there. They don't have openings for when I am going, and they did when I first made the reservation. Due to the amt. of travel we did this last year [mostly following our daughter around in her last year playing college volleyball] and with Marriott offering double points and double nights, we are Platinum level -- which will NEVER happen again! But, I am looking forward to a year of consierge floor for no additional charge [among other perks]<BR>Rick, your advice about the 7 day pass was very helpful. I didn't realize it convered that much. <BR>MaryAnn, no matter how many drinks I had in the consierge lounge, no one could talk me into the bridge climb! [I'm afraid of heights] My daughter did it a couple years ago and said it was fun, and nothing to be afraid of.<BR> Thanks again for the info.

Alan

Hi, Lois!<BR><BR>You have received a great deal of good advice from the people on this forum, and I would second Rick's preference for the non-narrated harbour cruises over the over-priced ones which do the same trip as the commuter ferries but tell you stuff you can get from any guide book. Rick is wrong about one thing, however: he has overstated the validity of the 7-day pass. There's a lot it doesn't cover, such as train trips out of a very limited area and (contrary to Rick's claim) monorail trips. That doesn't mean it's not good value.... it will probably cost you more, in the long run, than the single-day passes, but you may find the convenience of a single ticket worth the expense. Anyway, it's best to do the research yourself so that you're correctly informed: the web-site you need to look at is www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au/sb.pass.html