I need help with finding a nice hotel in Sydney, Brisbane and Ayers Rock area. I think in Ayers Rock there are only a couple within the view of the Rock but if someone has been there and stayed I would love your opinion.<BR><BR>In Brisbane I would like someplace in a pretty location. It doesn't need to be close to shopping, but within walking distance to the I think it is a tram or train or something that travels throughout Brisbane and to Australia Zoo. That is one of the destinations I am going to.<BR><BR>Sydney - most of the places seem expensive near the Opera House. I again want something close to this time the water so that I can go to the zoo on the other side of Sydney. <BR><BR>I am not very familar with any of these areas so any advice would be extremely helpful.<BR><BR>Thank you!

Hi, Jenny!<BR>All the hotels around the Opera House will, indeed, be highly-priced, but there are some real bargains if you are prepared to step a few hundred metres away. Of the ones in the Rocks area (which is the best area in which to stay, and right across from the Opera House), the Mercantile would be the cheapest, but it may not be to your taste... downstairs it's noisy and full of casual drinkers. A few blocks away is the Grand in Hunter Street, which will give you a single room for under $100 a night, and a family room for $130. This seems to me to be quite a bargain, as you are only ten minutes walk from the Opera House, and right near Wynyard subway. It's also close to the main shopping area in Sydney, Pitt St Mall. Check this website: http://sydney.citysearch.com.au/E/V/SYDNE/0022/99/15/1.html<BR>One travels to Taronga Zoo by ferry, and there is a subway station right at the ferry wharf: Circular Quay Station. So, you can stay in a cheap location, i.e. around Town Hall, and still be at the ferry in ten minutes. The Park Regis near Town Hall might be worth checking out... it's also in a great place for shopping, and you can be at the subway in three minutes. Next door is the bargain-basement hotel in all of Sydney: The Criterion, on the corner of Pitt and Park. It's pretty basic (you share a bathroom and check in via the bottle shop) but you have such a great location that you can laugh at the people who are paying five times the price and have to get a taxi every time they step outside their hotel... which is the case with some of the high-pricers out the back of Darling Harbour.<BR><BR>If you decide to splurge in Sydney, take a look at the Russell... you will love the location, and the old building is just great. You can have a look at it on www.australia.travelmall.com/travelmall/hotel/Sydney+(NSW)/The+Russell+Hotel.<BR><BR>Sorry I can't advise on Brisbane and Ayer's Rock.... I think the latter is going to be expensive no matter where you stay! Brisbane is a fairly small city, so I wouldn't be too fussed about proximity to the tram... there are sure to be dozens of hotels that would suit.<BR>Good luck!

In Brisbane I would stay at the " Royal on the Park" because of its location and with its specials on www.wotif.com you should get it for about $120 per night. You will be beside the Old Botanical Gardens where you can stroll along the river.

Re Ayers Rock - all the accommodation is situated at Yulura. The best hotel is Sails in the Desert but there is a range of hotel/apartment accommodation. I don't think any will give you a direct view of the Rock.<BR>Try the NT tourist bureau for more info.

Ayers Rock is set up with all the lodging along one loop road. It's a planned resort like one of the newer ski resorts. Everyone stays in the same place, it's just a question of which building to stay in. We stayed at Sails in the Desert which was beautiful. The food and service was not exceptional. It's the most expensive. The Pioneer Inn would be a little cheaper and is pretty popular.You should look into renting an apartment which is cheaper if you're there long enough. They're right in the middle of the hotels.<BR><BR>The choices for restaurants in Ayer's Rock are pretty much limited to the hotels and not particularly good. The one meal worth splurging on is the evening buffet in the desert, Sounds of Silence, which requires advance booking.<BR><BR>The limited choices at Ayer's Rock mean you ought to book your lodging well in advance. Flights also fill up well ahead of time.<BR><BR>A note on Sidney lodging. We stayed at a beautiful hotel, the InterCotinental, across from the Sidney Museum and a couple of blocks from the Circular Quay. They had deals for $125 a night including a full breakfast, $150 for a spectacular view of the Bridge/ Harbour.

I just wanted to thank everyone for your help. I will keep checking in for more advice since I am not going until October.<BR><BR>Thank you very very much!!