Sydney Accommodation
Choosing a Hotel
Where to stay in Sydney is an important question. The City rates high for convenience, but the nearby Rocks area outdoes it in terms of street life. Both areas, however, are expensive. Darling Harbour is ideal if you only have a couple of days with the family, and want to see some of the major attractions.
The urbane Kings Cross area is the best location for young, childless travellers (both budget and other), while the resort suburbs of Manly and Bondi make good choices for those who want to combine a city and seaside holiday. Double Bay is an exclusive little corner of the world - a boutique-sized urban village, for those who are fussy about their street life.
Some six percent of international visitors to Sydney are backpackers. They cluster in certain areas, predominantly Kings Cross and the City, and the beachside suburbs of Bondi, Coogee and Manly. There are many establishments where financially challenged travellers can unload their packs for under A$20 a night, yet be assured of clean and comfortable facilities.
The ever-reliable Youth Hostel Association has a giant city complex with rooftop swimming pool, while the Y on the Park offers accommodation ranging from dormitories (single-sex and mixed) to apartments. Other budget options include the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and the Hotel Bondi, a local landmark with some fairly impressive views across one of the world's most famous beaches.
Those with a little more cash to spare should focus on the burgeoning boutique market. The majority of these hotels are former homes, often of some historic or architectural value, converted into intimate tourist accommodation. Top of the range is the Regents Court Hotel - sleekly styled apartments set in a 1920s gentleman's boarding house. The tiny L'Otel, also in Kings Cross, is determinedly European, with its rooms designed in many different styles, a restaurant, fashionable bar, and windows overlooking the café strip of Victoria Street.
Other favourites include Simpsons of Potts Point, housed in an 1892 former family home with wonderful stained-glass windows, and The Russell, offering a tranquil 19th-century retreat and a rooftop garden at the heart of The Rocks. Ravesi's in Bondi has the perfect holiday location: with ocean views, good food and an appealing seaside atmosphere. A disadvantage of boutique hotels is their size - many offer only a few rooms so book ahead.
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