Sydney Airport Hotel or CBD/The Rocks post cruise--Advice Please!

We are on a cruise arriving back to Sydney March 28. Our international flight leaves Sydney on the 29th at 11:00 am. As it is an international flight we need to check in around 8:00 am.

We will have had 5 days in Sydney pre-cruise and have the 28th as well. Is it better to stay at a hotel at the Sydney airport on the 28th or stay in The Rocks/CBD area? How long does it take to get from the city to the airport and will we traffic be an issue at that time of day?

There are 6 of us in our group and for two people it will be their only day in Sydney. Regardless of where we stay we will have to go to the hotel to drop off our luggage so we can explore for the day. Any advice is appreciated please, including hotel suggestions. ~Thanks!

We are on a cruise arriving back to Sydney March 28. Our international flight leaves Sydney on the 29th at 11:00 am. As it is an international flight we need to check in around 8:00 am.

 

 

We will have had 5 days in Sydney pre-cruise and have the 28th as well. Is it better to stay at a hotel at the Sydney airport on the 28th or stay in The Rocks/CBD area? How long does it take to get from the city to the airport and will we traffic be an issue at that time of day?

 

 

There are 6 of us in our group and for two people it will be their only day in Sydney. Regardless of where we stay we will have to go to the hotel to drop off our luggage so we can explore for the day. Any advice is appreciated please, including hotel suggestions. ~Thanks!

I would stay at a hotel in the Rocks, such as the Holiday Inn, which is walking distance to OPT, assuming your ship is berthng at the OPT. For 6 people I would book an airport shuttle.

We are on a cruise arriving back to Sydney March 28. Our international flight leaves Sydney on the 29th at 11:00 am. As it is an international flight we need to check in around 8:00 am.

One problem with Sydney airport is that there is only one on-airport hotel that's convenient for the international terminal. Given the time that it takes to transfer to the international terminal from pretty much any other hotel in the vicinity of the airport, your time saving over getting there from a CBD/Rocks hotel is pretty small - the latter is likely to take only about an extra 15 minutes or so.

Hence I second MMDown Under's advice, especially as you have a full day in Sydney on the day that you disembark from your cruise. You will waste a lot of precious Sydney time for no purpose if you stay at an airport hotel, from which you then have to haul back into town for the day - and you then still have to return to the hotel in the evening.

Hotels in The Rocks are pricier and tend to fill up early for cruise days. We stayed at The Grace Hotel on York St in the CBD a couple of weeks ago post cruise. It is easier to take a short taxi ride than hauling luggage up hill.

On return to the airport you can walk to Wynyard Station and take the train directly to the airport. It's about $10-15 less than a taxi, but factoring in the 1/4 mile walk to the station we opted for the taxi return.

They will also check your baggage until checkin time.

A bit pricey is the Four Seasons which is a short walk uphill from the pier. We were able to check in at about 9am because our room was ready. This was a luxury as we were arriving from the US. This hotel is very close the the Circular Quay, trains and the Opera House.

Good hunting.

Hotels in The Rocks are pricier and tend to fill up early for cruise days. We stayed at The Grace Hotel on York St in the CBD a couple of weeks ago post cruise. It is easier to take a short taxi ride than hauling luggage up hill.

 

On return to the airport you can walk to Wynyard Station and take the train directly to the airport. It's about $10-15 less than a taxi, but factoring in the 1/4 mile walk to the station we opted for the taxi return.

Because of the expensive airport gate charge per person for train travel, it would be cheaper to take a taxi or a shuttle to the airport, for 6 people. Rail ticket would be $17.90 (inc gate pass) x 6 passengers.

Hotels in The Rocks are pricier and tend to fill up early for cruise days. We stayed at The Grace Hotel on York St in the CBD a couple of weeks ago post cruise. It is easier to take a short taxi ride than hauling luggage up hill.

 

On return to the airport you can walk to Wynyard Station and take the train directly to the airport. It's about $10-15 less than a taxi, but factoring in the 1/4 mile walk to the station we opted for the taxi return.

We're big fans of the Grace.

Because of the expensive airport gate charge per person for train travel, it would be cheaper to take a taxi or a shuttle to the airport, for 6 people. Rail ticket would be $17.90 (inc gate pass) x 6 passengers.

Definitely a better deal for 6 to get a van rather than the taxi. I thought only 2 were traveling back the next morning, but even with 2 people the taxi is less of a hassle if you are willing to spend just a few dollars more.