Ricki and Lenka are lovely people. They greeted us warmly and made us feel at home right away. We didn’t see much of each other because they work during the day and we were out every night. But when our paths did cross, they were quick to invite us to join them for dinner or for a drink.
The apartment and our room were nice and clean. The bed was very comfortable. No air conditioning, but a large overhead fan was able to cool our room down adequately in 30C weather. Small window allowed for some circulation of air (but no cross breeze). The building itself could definitely use some upgrading. The paint outside is peeling and it’s in a very worn-out looking state. When you first walk into the building, there is a very strong mildewy/moldy smell on the ground floor which diminishes slightly as you climb the stairs to the apartment. The apartment is on the 3rd floor so not recommended for anyone with mobility issues or large, heavy suitcases.
The apartment is in a great location: right across from Bondi Beach. There is indeed a rooftop terrace with a lovely view of the beach, but it’s basically a rooftop with a tar paper covering. There is no furniture so if you want to sit up there, you need to take furniture from the apartment, up a flight of stairs. Also, if you sit down, you lose the view of the beach because of a brick wall which surrounds the terrace. It’s a shame that the building’s owners haven’t done more with the terrace because it has tremendous potential to be an outstanding feature of the building.
To get to Sydney, it’s a short bus ride and train ride (maybe 30 minutes). MUST-DO’s while here:
Sydney Harbour tour. We chose The Australian Cruise Group and were thoroughly impressed with the boat, the 2 hour tour and the price ($35). Spend the extra $5 and go for the Meze platter with bottle of sparking wine: Deal of the century!
Visit The Rocks neighbourhood and Newtown in Sydney.
Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach coastal walk with stunning views!
Breakfast at Speedo’s café: best food around with gorgeous views of the beach and surfers.
Bottom line: this room is a good, no-frills place to stay and the hosts are extremely friendly. Recommended if you are on a budget.