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Staying at the beach means a refreshing dip is only moments away. Hotels on the fringe of the CBD, especially those with harbour views, are a relaxing option for business travellers. Those with children might avoid areas around Potts Point and Darlinghurst, which necessitate walking through the red light district of Kings Cross.

It is advisable to make reservations. Book well in advance when Sydney is busiest, from mid-December until the beginning of February, during Mardi Gras in early March, and in the the first two weeks of April, July and October. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel directly or through your travel agent.

Some hotels offer significant discounts for last minute bookings and walk-ins. Hotel websites sometimes offer great rates. If you are prepared to make a non-refundable booking, you might get as much as a 50 percent discount on rooms.

Some hotels, particularly hostels, budget and boutique hotels, reward guests for lengthy stays with reduced weekly rates. Many hostels set a limit of a 14-day stay. Serviced apartments may offer incentives for stays of up to a month.

Most airline frequent flyer programmes have lists of hotels where members can accrue points. Existing points can usually be used for room upgrades or special packages. Airline bookings sometimes offer a discount.

While many hotels are situated at the water’s edge, the standard room rate usually applies to a room without a view. Expect to pay a premium of about $50–$100 above the standard rate. You might find better value in the best room of a smaller or lower-rated hotel.

Even the most basic breakfast can be expensive in the large CBD hotels, so head to a nearby café or bakery. Drinks and snacks provided in the minibar are often double their retail cost, so check the prices first. Avoid surcharges on phone calls by using a public phone in the lobby. Other services, such as late checkouts, parking, laundering, Internet access, in-house movies and receiving faxes usually incur a fee.

Children under 12 usually stay for free using existing bedding. This can be a good arrangement in twin rooms that offer a double and single bed, or in studios that include sofa beds. Where offered, there is a fee of approximately $30 for rollaway beds. Many hotels can arrange interconnecting rooms.

Regulations force larger hotels to offer rooms with full disabled access, and some hotels have as many as ten such rooms. The same rules don’t apply to small hotels and B&Bs in converted mansions or heritage buildings. It’s best to enquire about facilities when making reservations and to check that there is room to manoeuvre a wheelchair.

GST is charged on hotel rooms and on other services that hotels may provide for you. The tax is usually included in the room rate and will be clearly marked on any accounts. It is not possible to reclaim GST incurred on accommodation.