Sydney has many hotels and hostels but they can get very busy, especially around peak times (November-April) so it is strongly recommended to book in advance. If you wait until you get here, you may find it difficult to find a comfortable room.
Where to stay
This really depends on what you will spend most of your time doing in Sydney. If you will spend most of your time sight-seeing and shopping, then accommodation around the CBD and Darling Harbour would be ideal. There are several expensive hotels in this region but there are also a large number of backpacker hostels, varying in quality.
If you’re a beach bum it is best to find accommodation close to the eastern suburbs (Bondi, Coogee) as travelling from the CBD to the beach can take about 20-40 minutes and the transport costs can start to add up. These areas also have budget accommodation and also come with a more chilled out environment.
If you are after all night partying then head for Kings Cross. There are lots of backpacker hostels located around this area but be prepared for the sleaze the area has to offer.
If you are intending to stay in Sydney for a while, or are looking for more for your money, then look for accommodation on the North Shore, Glebe or Newtown. These areas are quieter and have a more down-to-earth feel about them.
If you are looking for something different, Manly is only 30 minutes away from the CBD by ferry and has both harbour and ocean beaches.
Hotels
Luxurious five-star hotel located on the edge of the CBD. Some of the best views of the harbour, as you would expect it doesn’t come cheap. Expect to pay $400 per night.
www.shangri-la.com
Located in a residential area of Potts Point (10 minute walk from the CBD), this restored Victorian house has a very intimate feel. Prices range from about $175 up to $330 or more depending on the time of year.
www.simpsonshotel.com
This boutique hotel (intimate and a bit quirky) is located a few minutes from King Cross and is probably one of the cheapest hotel experiences in Sydney. Past guests have included Madonna and The Rolling Stones so if its good enough for them… Prices average at about $120 per night.
www.altamont.com.au
Hostles
Located on Railway Square on the outskirts of the CBD, 1 minute walk away from Central Station (one of Sydney’s transportation hubs) and a 10 minute walk to Chinatown and Darling Harbour. You may even get to stay in one of their converted railway carriage rooms. Prices range from about $30 to $110 per night.
www.yha.com.au
A wide variety of rooms ranging from approx $30 for a dorm (10 sharing) to about $140 for a double ensuite. Located on the outskirts of the CBD, about a 30 minute walk from Sydney Harbour but only a 10 minute walk from Darling Harbour.
www.wakeup.com.au
Located on the edge of the CBD (about a minute away for the Wake Up! hostel). Rooms range from approx $35 to about $125.
www.yha.com.au
Located in the centre of the CBD, very close to Darling Harbour. They provide a “sanctuary” section of the hostel which is meant for girls only. Prices range from about $26 up to $110.
www.stayatbase.com
Rooms ranging from approx $25 for a dorm to about $70 for a single room. Located in the middle of the CBD but can get noisy at night due to the high frequency of pubs/bars close by.
www.sydneybackpackers.com
Located in the centre of the CBD, this place (in my humble opinion) should be your last resort. Rooms are tiny, dim and have no electrical sockets. Bathrooms tend to be shared among about 50 other people, so get very dirty, in fact – the whole place is quite dirty. People staying there were always depressed, walking around like zombies. That being said, if you are a single person just looking to party in Sydney, this place is probably ideal seeing as you will rarely be there and the rooms are cheap. Prices range from about $25 up to $75.
www.mazebackpackers.com
Located metres from Bondi Beach. The hostel has a distinctive ocean painting on the outside of the building. Rooms with a beach view are available. Prices vary depending on the time of year and range from about $22 to $85.
www.noahsbondibeach.com
Located a few minutes away from Bondi Beach (and therefore close to a few other beaches also). Prices range from about $30 to $75.
www.yha.com.au
Longer Term Stay (1 month+)
If you intend to stay in Sydney for more than a few weeks, renting an apartment can often be a cheaper solution than staying in a hotel/hostel. There is lots of demand for apartments in Sydney so don’t be surprised if it takes a couple of weeks to find what you are looking for. Also, don’t be surprised if agents/landlords are not willing to deal with you unless you are actually in Sydney. The strong accommodation demand means while you may be abroad just enquiring about a property, there is probably already someone currently in Sydney willing to rent the apartment.
Don’t worry though, once here there are plenty of opportunities to view and decide upon a property (just know that you probably wont be the only one viewing them!). A common thing to do in Sydney is to share a house, usually with other travellers. This lets you have your own space while making new friends and keeping costs down. An average house share costs around $150 per week. An average apartment in Sydney close to the CBD costs from about $200-250 upwards per week. Obviously, the further away from the CBD you look, the lower the cost.
Domain is one of the main real estate websites in Australia and most travellers I know use this website to find apartments.
Be aware though that more and more landlords are only offering a minimum contract of either 3 or 6 months. This is ok if you plan to stay for 6-12 months but for others this is not ideal. Another matter to consider is that most landlords will require a “bond” (like a deposit) of some sort up front, this will normally be refunded when you leave the property (if you leave it how you found it!). Expect the bond to be a maximum of 6 weeks rent but you may also find landlords willing to accept 4 or even 2 weeks rent.
www.domain.com.au
If you are only looking to stay for a couple of months and/or you don’t want to pay a bond of 6 weeks rent, there is a website (quite well known among Aussie travellers) called Gumtree. This website is less formal than Domain but just as creditable when it comes to finding accommodation. Also, due to the more relaxed style of the landlords that advertise here, there is usually more flexibility when it comes to minimum stay contracts and bond charge.
www.gumtree.com.au
You may also see paper posters advertising rooms stuck on lamp-posts and signs. While these are worth looking at be aware that these offers tend to be for a much more ‘informal’ set-up. I have heard many horror stories where people have responded to these ads only to see that the room as actually the main living room with 6 or 7 mattresses on the floor - which in most cases is also illegal!