Living in Sydney for a month
As our family planned to stay in Sydney, Australia for the month of January, one of the things we agonized over the most was choosing our accommodation. Since the language school was located in the city center of Sydney, it was important to find a place in an area that was as close as possible, yet convenient for daily living. So we decided to focus our search for accommodation on areas with convenient transportation and well-equipped amenities.
Before moving in here, we stayed at YHA Central for two days. YHA Central is a cost-effective accommodation with convenient transportation, making it a great opportunity to experience downtown Sydney in advance. While staying there, we learned how to use public transportation and were able to check the distance to the language school ahead of time.
Comparing several options for our accommodation, we finally narrowed down our candidate areas to near Kent Street and Darling Harbour. These areas are located in the Sydney Central Business District (CBD), so we could walk to the language school in 5 minutes, and using public transportation was also convenient. In addition, we judged that they were suitable for a family stay because facilities necessary for daily life such as shopping malls, supermarkets, and restaurants were close by.
We booked our accommodation through Airbnb. It was much more economical and practical when considering a long-term stay, because the space is larger than a hotel and there are kitchen facilities so we could cook our own meals. We compared several accommodations and set the following criteria.
- Distance to language school: within a 5-10 minute walk
- Nearby amenities: accessibility to supermarkets, cafes, and public transportation
- Accommodation facilities: clean environment, availability of a kitchen, presence of a washer and dryer
- Suitability for family stay: number of bedrooms and ample space
After reviewing several accommodations based on these criteria, we chose a place located on Kent Street. It had a modern interior with a spacious living room and kitchen, providing enough space for our family to stay together. Moreover, the view of downtown Sydney through the window was wonderful, making it perfect for enjoying both travel and study.
After completing the accommodation booking, our life in Sydney began to feel much more real. Now all that's left is to pack our bags and depart! I am looking forward to our month-long life in Sydney.