Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Options if one lands in Sydney in the morning;hotel room/resort unit ready much later

Some people in our party will land in Sydney around 8 AM and 9 AM - from a 15 hr flight on Air Canada from Vancouver.

If the hotel/resort does not have the room/unit ready by the time we potentially arrive at there, what are our options. We would like a nap/shower before the check-in time of 4 PM. I understand that there are no showers or arrival lounges at the Sydney airport.

Are there any airport hotels allowing for day only stay, either airside or landside?

As far as I know, there is no hotel airside. However, many airport hotels around Sydney Airport would do a day rate. I can't recall which ones do, but often they do offer a day rate even if the rate does not come up on their online booking system, so it is worth calling them to find out.

The day rate is often higher than the priceline or wotif rate (however unless you have late checkout priviliges booking for the previous night doesn't help too much). There really is no solution for this except to book you main hotel for the day before you arrive which guarantees that the room is available for your early morning arrival. Some hotels will check you in before noon if rooms are free, but often the more desirable rooms are taken and not available until later.

There really is no solution for this except to book you main hotel for the day before you arrive which guarantees that the room is available for your early morning arrival. If you really must have the room, this is your best option Some hotels will check you in before noon if rooms are free, but often the more desirable rooms are taken and not available until later.If your hotel is not full you might be able to check in early or even by 12 noon.

With all due respect, why do want to have a nap (I can understand shower)? If room was not available, i would leave bags there and would try and stay awake, walk around the bridge / opera house area i.e Circular Quay (if this is your first trip to Sydney;)), have an early dinner and retire early to try and beat the jet lag and time difference....it will be difficult but will help your body adjust ASAP:)

A 15 hour flight might seem a lot to you, but those of us who live in Oz are used to flights taking >24 hours. Last year it took me 32 hours to get to Glasgow from Sydney, got there in the mid am, hotel wouldn't give me a room till 2 pm, so left my bags there, went for a walk in the city, had an early dinner and went to bed by 9pm:o

Get some Ambien (generic name Zolpidem), or whatever works for you, to sleep on the plane. (Ambien requires a prescription in the States, don't know for Canada.) Then follow kpc's advice above. Much more effective use of your time in both places. (There's a Starbucks near Circular Quay if all else fails. Cross the street from the train station heading away from the docks, turn right, it's about a block down on the far corner of Pitt Street on your left. Of course, there are lots of other coffee options in the area as well.)

Starbucks is of course the worst coffee you will find anywhere in Australia. Almost every other coffee place serves something superior to Starbucks. What keeps Starbucks going are their comfy chairs -- great for napping -- and not the quaiity of coffee in Sydney. If you must use a chain, try Gloria Jeans, much better in Australia than Starbucks.

Good point about the shower. Some hotels will let you shower in their gym even if they cannot check you into a room at the time. So that is another option (sort of a do it yourself arrivals lounge). Worst case you can buy a daypass to many fitness clubs, easy to find in CBD.

Westin has a great gym and pool for example, and after a swim you can do some sightseeing or shopping until the room is ready. The bellmen can hold your bags, that is what they are there for.

Having done a similar journey (most NA arrivals are early), I would also recommend not taking a nap! Drop your bags off at the hotel, by then it should be 10-11 am. There should be some rooms available, but if you cannot check-in, take a stroll around the city. Grab a bite to eat. Hopefully it's a nice day.

A shower is a nice option if you can get it, but a nap is bad news for keeping jet lag alive.

Having done a similar journey (most NA arrivals are early), I would also recommend not taking a nap! Drop your bags off at the hotel, by then it should be 10-11 am. There should be some rooms available, but if you cannot check-in, take a stroll around the city. Grab a bite to eat. Hopefully it's a nice day.

A shower is a nice option if you can get it, but a nap is bad news for keeping jet lag alive.

CPMaverick is absolutely correct! No naps! When you drop off your bags at the hotel, go to Circular Quay and take a ferry to Manly and back. The combination of the exercise, fresh air and sunshine will help you stay awake. Then have an early dinner and get to bed after that, or a little longer if you can stay awake. You will feel much better in the morning.

Starbucks is of course the worst coffee you will find anywhere in Australia...Not disagreeing with you ... I saw the trans-pac flight as originating at YVR and thought they might like it. Since the OP is from Ottawa, and I really don't know where the other pax are from, just have whatever coffee you like. The general point remains the same: don't sleep, stay active, there's lots to see, get to bed early that evening.

(Keep in mind, since you'll have just arrived and will be tired: they drive on the left in Australia. Look both ways before stepping into the street!)

It looks like there are free showers in Terminal 1. I think I remember they are located fairly close to the exit from international arrivals. The drawback, if I read correctly, is that you have to bring your own towel.

Showers (http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/Sacl/T1-Services-and-Amenities.html)

I agree with other posters who have said to stay up and get into the local time right away. You'll be brain-dead, but I can't think of a better city to just walk around than Sydney!

FYI, I have never had a problem checking in mid-morning at any number of hotels in the CBD.

It looks like there are free showers in Terminal 1. I think I remember they are located fairly close to the exit from international arrivals. The drawback, if I read correctly, is that you have to bring your own towel.

Showers (http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/Sacl/T1-Services-and-Amenities.html)...

Looks like they need Vince (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4mnmNBk1Y) to open up a shop at the airport.

Onedog