dgolds: for the past three yrs i've gone to mardi gras, and the past two years i've found accomodations last minute at only one place; the downtown hilton on pitt st. it's right in the center of the shopping district, one block from the park, a 5 min walk to the action, and best of all AVAILABLE FOR 50% OFF WITH AN AA HOTEL CERTIFICATE. brings the cost of a room down to about $170AUS, which we know is a steal!!!

beside, last year, i saw about seven new hotels that had just been finished. capacity in sydney is going to be about double what it was pre-olympics. you probably would have been ok.

[This message has been edited by lonman (edited 10-20-1999).]