Just found out last night that we may have to go to Sydney. We're hoping we can delay it until February or March (our winter), but may have to go earlier. (My husband's mother, who lives there, has some health problems and we want to see for ourselves how she is doing. She's not exactly 'forthcoming' over the phone!) <BR> <BR>We have been to Australia before. We were in Sydney in March, 1996. At that time, we stayed at her apartment in Maroubra while she was in the hospital. This time around, we will need to book some accommodation close to her apartment. Ideally we'd like something with a kitchen to keep costs down. I've just started looking at the internet, but does anyone have any recommendations? I know the Canadian dollar is worth more than the Aussie dollar - that wasn't the case in 1996 - so that helps, but given that we'll probably try to go for 3 weeks and the airfare alone is a killer, I would love to have some economical ideas. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

This may not be what you are looking for but I stayed at the Y in Sydney and loved it! It was very inexpensive and centrally located. They didn't have kitchens but did have tea making facilities etc. However, not knowing where your mother in law is and how close central (downtown) is to that, this is probably not much help. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. Maroubra is not all that close to the city centre and that seems to be where the Y is. I'd rather stay in the city myself, but I don't think it'll be practical. Thanks again.

Susan, there are a company called Medina who have serviced apartments in many suburbs of Sydney, including some close to Maroubra - their website is <BR>www.apartments.com.au. I have no idea of their cost but should be worth investigating. <BR>Also there are a couple of hotels at Coogee, which is reasonably close. One is the Coogee Bay www.coogeebayhotel.com.au, and the other is the Crowne Plaza. <BR>Hope this is helpful.

Sorry that should be www.medinaapartments.com.au

Thanks Prue. I'm hoping we won't have to go earlier, but you never know. I am wanting to do some research 'just in case'. Thanks again.