Returned from Sydney: Lessons Learned and Why I’ll Ignore Travel Tips on Social Media

My spending habits completely fell apart in Sydney, and I need help! After saving for months, my boyfriend and I were totally taken advantage of.
Despite our thorough research beforehand, the online guides didn’t quite match up with reality, and there were some new scams that were nearly impossible to avoid 😤
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➡ Through this experience of falling into traps, I’ve put together a practical guide for traveling in Sydney, complete with itinerary planning.

I hope it can help everyone!
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✅ Essential Travel Apps
1⃣ Google Maps: Accurate navigation and real-time bus schedules
2⃣ Uber/DiDi: Convenient ride-hailing for flexible travel
3⃣ Uber Eats/EASI: Food delivery services offering a mix of Chinese and Western cuisines to tantalize your taste buds
4⃣ Yelp: The Australian version of “Dianping,” an indispensable tool for discovering local eateries
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✅ [A Sydney travel route without pitfalls]
🔻 D1: Explore downtown landmarks on a CityWalk
🔻 D2: Visit the zoo and the stunning Blue Mountains National Park
🔻 D3: Enjoy a day out at Port Stephens
🔻 D4: Take in the scenic views of Hunter Valley
🔻 D5: Walk along the coastal scenic pathway
🔻 D6: Discover artistic and vintage shopping districts
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✅ Must-try authentic Sydney foods
1⃣ Meat pies (Australian meat pie)
2⃣ Lobster (Australian lobster)
3⃣ BBQ (Australian barbecue)
4⃣ Vegemite (Toast spread)
5⃣ Barramundi (Barramundi fish)
6⃣ Lamington (Lamington cake)
7⃣ Chicken parmigiana (Parmesan chicken)
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✅ Affordable hotels to stay in Sydney
Shangri-La Hotel Sydney – 999 RMB for 3 nights
Park Hyatt Sydney – 2588 RMB for 3 nights
Four Seasons Hotel Sydney – 1388 RMB for 3 nights
Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park – 999 RMB for 3 nights
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour – 1088 RMB for 3 nights
MGallery by Sofitel Sydney – 799 RMB for 3 nights
W Sydney – 1390 RMB for 3 nights
InterContinental Sydney – 1800 RMB for 4 nights
The Langham, Sydney – 1750 RMB for 3 nights
Capella Sydney – 4999 RMB for 3 nights
Hyatt Regency Sydney – 1250 RMB for 3 nights

‼ Prices are per night! The number of daily special rooms is limited.
♥➕⭐, leave the code [888] to get a discount
💯 Pay at the front desk for a reliable and comfortable stay