Need hotel area recommendations in Sydney

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Sydney accomodation?

How we going Lyle?

This is the ANZ forums holiday not yours and I’m thinking a serviced apartment for you.

It will have a kitchen and supermarkets near by and you can catch the street car (light rail) to the sydney fish market for some good Local seafood 

We will just book Lyle into the Peoples Palace or Salvation Army Hostel around Central Railway, lol.

[NSWP]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

@Blackduck59

Google Sydney fish markets, it’s the second biggest Market in the world next to Tokyo.

It can get a bit smelly but for me as a ex fisherman it brings back memories.

When I was a professional fisherman based In cairns my cat used to eat seafood I can only dream of now.
 

here’s a couple of photos of me 40 years ago.o 

Crikey what age are you now? 49 ? You were only a sprog in the pics. Lol.

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by NSWP

[NSWP]

On 3/13/2021 at 8:17 PM, lyndarra said:

Some of the posts here may need translating for the OP. There are strange words they may not have come across before.😉

e.g. The rissole!

Rissole....RSL..Returned soldiers Club.  Bowlo, bowling club. Rubbity dub, pub.

[Chiliburn]

8 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Crikey what age are you now? 49 ? You were only a sprog in the pics. Lol.

 

 

 

Im 60 ,going on to 12 years old.

Do you like the one with the mud crab?

 It was pretty staged,the other crew were ready to grad it.

It was on a island in Princess charlotte bay , half way up cape York.

 

Big adventures for a young fellow.

[OzKiwiJJ]

The pub at Lakes Entrance is very nice. Good food, and if you get there early you can get a table on the verandah with a view.

[NSWP]

5 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

The pub at Lakes Entrance is very nice. Good food, and if you get there early you can get a table on the verandah with a view.

Yes, a popular pub. Safe travels up the coast tomorrow, back to the Premier State, I will be the man in the red shirt at the club.

[Chiliburn]

@Blackduck59

Have a look at these walks Lyle.Some are very good,along the waterfront.

 

https://www.sydney.com/things-to-do/nature-and-parks/walks/best-walks

[Chiliburn]

On 3/14/2021 at 12:05 AM, floridababa said:

Thank you lyndarra being from the U.S. there are words I don't understand. What I am curious about is the lunches at the club's. Are there any by the rocks area?

@Blackduck59

 

So if you folks like seafood,Sydney fish markets is a place to go. 
They have seafood from all over Australia and they cook it there.

 I was there 2 weeks ago and got a mixed seafood for $16 and I had trouble eating it all.

 

 

 

[SEA DOGY]

On 3/12/2021 at 3:32 PM, NSWP said:

As I said, Doyles or the pub.  Last time I went to Doyles with my wife, they had a seniors lunch on, chowder, fish and chips and glass of house white, $35, that is reasonable. But sure if you hit the main menu, can cost $50 for a plate of fish and $150 for the sea food platter.

Kinda high. Is this in USD?

[frantic36]

9 minutes ago, SEA DOGY said:

Kinda high. Is this in USD?

 

This is Australian dollars.

[Chiliburn]

13 hours ago, SEA DOGY said:

Kinda high. Is this in USD?

$A ,it’s a lot cheaper now .China has blocked some export.

[OzKiwiJJ]

15 hours ago, SEA DOGY said:

Kinda high. Is this in USD?

 

15 hours ago, frantic36 said:

 

This is Australian dollars.

Also that price is all you pay. No added taxes, no gratuities required. Some restaurants do add small credit card surcharges though.

[By The Bay]

2 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

$A ,it’s a lot cheaper now .China has blocked some export.

The USD has become a lot cheaper for Australian's to buy, the opposite for our USA visitors.

[Chiliburn]

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

 

Also that price is all you pay. No added taxes, no gratuities required. Some restaurants do add small credit card surcharges though.

Those prices would be scary if you add tax and gratuity.

But if you go a kilometre to the east,say Barangaroo or the rocks you can double or triple the price.

[NSWP]

20 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

 

Also that price is all you pay. No added taxes, no gratuities required. Some restaurants do add small credit card surcharges though.

I have been to restaurants in Australia where the bill has provision for a gratuity, but not marked..tick the box... 15%, 20%, 25% like it was in Waikiki a couple of years ago, OTT there.

[lyndarra]

3 hours ago, NSWP said:

I have been to restaurants in Australia where the bill has provision for a gratuity, but not marked..tick the box... 15%, 20%, 25% like it was in Waikiki a couple of years ago, OTT there.

Was it the Hard Rock Cafe that tried that stunt in Sydney a few years ago? Got howled down quick smart IIRC.

[lyndarra]

3 hours ago, NSWP said:

I have been to restaurants in Australia where the bill has provision for a gratuity, but not marked..tick the box... 15%, 20%, 25% like it was in Waikiki a couple of years ago, OTT there.

Similar in Canada from my experience, plus add on liquor tax and PST. I can't remember if GST is included in prices.

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 hours ago, NSWP said:

I have been to restaurants in Australia where the bill has provision for a gratuity, but not marked..tick the box... 15%, 20%, 25% like it was in Waikiki a couple of years ago, OTT there.

Yes, often restaurants do have the gratuity provision but it's easily ignored.

 

The US is just crazy with it's tipping culture. I find it annoying having to remember to tip for almost everything.

[Blackduck59]

2 hours ago, lyndarra said:

Similar in Canada from my experience, plus add on liquor tax and PST. I can't remember if GST is included in prices.

 

The liquor tax is included in the price of the drink the bill may show how much that was but it isn't charged on top. The GST (Goods and Services Tax) is charged on top as is the PST (not all provinces have PST) and the expectations of the tip are really getting ridiculous. I don't mind giving a good tip for prompt polite and friendly service, but when the service is sloppy and rude? not so much.

[By The Bay]

1 minute ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

The liquor tax is included in the price of the drink the bill may show how much that was but it isn't charged on top. The GST (Goods and Services Tax) is charged on top as is the PST (not all provinces have PST) and the expectations of the tip are really getting ridiculous. I don't mind giving a good tip for prompt polite and friendly service, but when the service is sloppy and rude? not so much.

Lyle, are the Canadian hospitality workers on low wages, like US of A, and need the tips to top up their income or are they on a reasonable income?

[Blackduck59]

32 minutes ago, By The Bay said:

Lyle, are the Canadian hospitality workers on low wages, like US of A, and need the tips to top up their income or are they on a reasonable income?

 

In BC the minimum wage is $14.60 per hour and will raise to $15.20 per hour in June. I think some places pay more, the whole gratuity thing is getting out of hand, even the most basic of service level expects at least 15% and the POS systems have options of 15, 20 and 25% or enter a dollar amount. We will tip very well for very good service and we have also done no tip but very rarely. Most restaurants pool the tips and they are distributed to the whole staff.

Funny thing we don't really think of tipping at take out or fast food places. When there were buffet restaurants I never really think about tipping I am serving myself.

[By The Bay]

31 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

In BC the minimum wage is $14.60 per hour and will raise to $15.20 per hour in June. I think some places pay more, the whole gratuity thing is getting out of hand, even the most basic of service level expects at least 15% and the POS systems have options of 15, 20 and 25% or enter a dollar amount. We will tip very well for very good service and we have also done no tip but very rarely. Most restaurants pool the tips and they are distributed to the whole staff.

Funny thing we don't really think of tipping at take out or fast food places. When there were buffet restaurants I never really think about tipping I am serving myself.

With the minimum wage in your southern cousins being around CAN$9, I can understand why tips are necessary. Here in Oz the minimum wage is approx AUD$20 (USD$15.50).

[Docker123]

Tipping in the US is very problematic for many workers. 
 

Firstly, the rate of pay can be very low. Second, there is an income tax determination based on assumed tips earned

 

It is built into the system at all levels.

 

When I lived there, the pay for wait staff was only about $2 per hour. The tax assessment assumed that, plus 8% of sales for tips.

 

While tips were usually above 8%, the wait staff were typically required to contribute to a pool that spread some of the money to kitchen staff, bar, and other employees.

 

This is the model, of course, used on cruise ships that charge a gratuity.

 

 

[Chiliburn]

That gives some discrepancies for their tax.

 

A friend was a waitress in Oklahoma and was working in a casino ,she was only getting $6 a hour. Real starvation pay.

She got a boob job ,with these big ridiculous plastic things. Claimed it on tax I was told.

And earnings increased a lot.

 

Is that what you want you’re children to go through.

For me the whole tipping scheme is degrading. You get this waitress doing a song and dance so they can get a few extra bucks.

 

Let them just throw the food on the table and say eat it all just like your mother said.

[NSWP]

I wonder how many restaurant owners/managers pocket the gratuities when paid with the bill and not distribute them? A few I bet.