Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 3 . SYDNEY
Taxes Australia has a 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on most goods
and most services. The GST applies to most travel-related goods and services,
including transport, hotels, tours, and restaurants. By law, the tax has
to be included in the advertised price of the product, though it doesn’t
have to be displayed independently of the pre-tax price.
Taxis See “Getting Around” earlier in this chapter.
Telephones Sydney’s public phone boxes take coins (A40¢/US25¢ for local
calls), while many also take credit cards and A$10 (US$6.50) phonecards
available from newsagents.
Transit Information Call the Infoline at & 13 15 00 (daily 6am–10pm).
Useful Telephone Numbers For news, dial & 1199; for the time, & 1194;
for Sydney entertainment, & 11 688; for directory assistance, & 12 455;
for Travelers Aid Society, & 02/9211 2469.
Weather For the local forecast call & 1196.
3 Accommodations You Can Afford
There are hundreds of places to stay in Sydney for the frugal traveler, from great
hotels to top-rate backpacker places. Although you’re unlikely to find the city’s
hotels completely booked if you just turn up and start looking for a bed for the
night, it’s probably wise to reserve rooms in advance. A good idea is to check the
Internet to find which hotels from the list below are promoting special deals
around the time you want to stay. At any time, though, booking over the Net
can be cheaper than paying at the front door. Most rooms are also cheaper when
bought as part of a package (see “Packages for the Independent Traveler” in
chapter 2). Most of the larger hotels also do special deals on weekends—when
their corporate clients are hopefully home with the family—so don’t be afraid to
check them out to see if a deal suits your budget.
Serviced apartments are worth considering because they mean big savings on
meals, and you can eat what you want. Many also have free laundry facilities.
Another option is a YHA youth hostel. Most hostels in Australia have basic
double or family rooms that can work out significantly cheaper than hotels. All
ages stay here, too.
The websites www.wotif.com.au and www.lastminute.com.au offer substantial
discounts year-round.
DECIDING WHERE TO STAY The choice location for lodging in Sydney is
in The Rocks and around Circular Quay—a short stroll from the Sydney Opera
House, the Harbour Bridge, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the ferry terminals.
Hotels around Darling Harbour offer good access to the local facilities,
including museums, the Sydney Aquarium, and the Star City casino. Most Darling
Harbour hotels are a 10- to 15-minute walk, or a short monorail or light
rail trip, from Town Hall and the central shopping district in and around Centerpoint
Tower and Pitt Street Mall.
More hotels are grouped around Kings Cross, Sydney’s red-light district. While
some of the hotels here are among the city’s best, you’ll also find a range of cheaper
lodgings, including several backpacker hostels. Kings Cross can be unnerving at
any time, but especially on Friday and Saturday nights when the area’s strip joints
and nightclubs are jumping. Staying here does have its advantages: You get a real