I found a bargain rt from PHL to SYD. I used Amtrak to Philadelphia and a commuter train to get to the PHL airport. My air itinerary: PHL-ATL-LAX-SYD-LAX-ATL-PHL. I spend five hotel nights in Sydney. Three at the Holiday Inn Potts Point (Kings Cross). My last two nights were the Holiday Inn Darling Harbor. My outbound journey was difficult. Our flight was estimated to take 14 hours and six minutes. We arrived a few minutes early. The return flight seemed to go by faster. I was so bent out of shape that my first day was a total loss which I kind of expected. I purchased a transit pass for getting around including an excursion by ferry to Manley Beach. Temps were still a bit cool; however, about a dozen polar bears were in the water.
My return to PHL was late as scheduled so I spent the night in an Aloft Hotel near the airport. I rode Amtrak back to D.C. the next day. Not ready to repeat such a long trip anytime soon but I do like Australia and would like to see more of it and New Zeeland too.
