Footsteps to The Sand & Surf

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to Footsteps to The Sand & Surf on Ramsgate Avenue, I wasn’t expecting much from the name alone. It sounds a bit cheesy, right? But you know what, sometimes the places with the corniest names actually deliver, and this one absolutely does.

The thing about staying here is that you’re literally a two-minute walk from Bondi Beach, but not in that touristy Campbell Parade chaos where you can’t move for backpackers and overpriced cafes. Ramsgate Avenue sits just back from all that madness, so you get the best of both worlds – easy beach access without the constant noise of people dragging their boogie boards across concrete at 6 AM. I mean, you’ll still hear the ocean, which is actually pretty nice for falling asleep. The staff seemed genuinely surprised when I mentioned I was staying there, like they don’t get a ton of international visitors, which honestly made the whole experience feel more authentic. Check-in was smooth – no waiting around in some marble lobby, just friendly people who actually knew the neighborhood and could recommend the good coffee spots (there’s this place called Speedos Cafe that locals hit up, way better than the tourist traps).

The rooms themselves are what you’d expect from a solid four-star place, nothing fancy but everything works properly. What I really appreciated was the attention to practical stuff – decent wifi that didn’t cut out every five minutes, blackout curtains that actually block the light (crucial when you’re dealing with jet lag), and surprisingly good water pressure in the shower. The balcony views vary depending on which room you get, but even the ones facing inland give you glimpses of the water between buildings. Parking was surprisingly easy to sort out, which if you’ve ever tried to park near Bondi Beach, you’ll know is basically a miracle. The building itself has that relaxed Australian coastal vibe – not trying too hard to be glamorous, just comfortable and unpretentious.

What really sells this place though is the location knowledge you get just by being slightly off the beaten path. You’re close enough to walk to all the Bondi highlights – the Icebergs pool, the coastal walk to Coogee, the weekend markets – but you’re also perfectly positioned to explore some of the quieter beaches nearby. Tamarama is just a short stroll south, and it’s usually way less crowded than Bondi proper. The 8.7 rating makes sense to me because it’s not trying to be the flashiest place in Sydney, it’s just doing the basics really well in a spot that actually makes sense for how people want to experience this area. If you want to feel like you’re staying somewhere that locals might actually recommend rather than just another hotel that shows up first in search results, this is a solid choice.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $198. King Studio with 1 extra-large double bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Cosy! – Josephine from Australia – 6 March 2025 (8/10)

  Great location super close to the beach and walking distance to all the cafes, restaurants and shops! Super clean and a good sized space.
  
  What could be improved: The weather wasn’t very hot whilst we were there, but the sun made the room very warm. Luckily we could open a window and had the big ceiling fan.

• Great location to beach yet still quiet apartment with easy transport to CBD. – Stephanie from United Kingdom – 23 December 2024 (9/10)

  Location was amazing! Ceiling fan was massive, kitchen had everything, bathroom was good, both included basics to use which was a nice touch.
  
  What could be improved: All good

• Superb – Claire from New Zealand – 28 November 2024 (9/10)

  Best location, right on the beach and close to shops, cafes and restaurants.
  Bus stop around the corner that takes you to the city.
  
  Host was really responsive and helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Little fan available but A/C will be much better specially when it gets really hot

• Very good – Erika from Australia – 3 November 2024 (8/10)

  Great location and very responsive host. The bed was very comfortable too
  
  What could be improved: Even though it was November it was super hot and although a fan was provided, at night it would have been great to have air conditioning.

• Comfortable, clean and perfect location – Barry from South Africa – 9 January 2025 (6/10)

  Location for surfing, just walk across the road to the break
  
  What could be improved: No view, no outside shower to rinse after being in the water and sand, no air-con, no Nespresso coffee machine

• We enjoyed our stay on the whole. Ben was a great host and very responsive to any queries we had. – Fiona from Switzerland – 22 February 2025 (7/10)

  Very comfortable bed & great sized TV and the location to the beach.
  
  What could be improved: The view out the window was disappointing. Walking by the rat traps in the passage.

• Excellent séjour – Veronique from France – 4 February 2025 (8/10)

  Très bien placé . Mignon et très bien équipé.
  
  What could be improved: Il fait très chaud. La chambre est exposée plein sud et malgré le ventilateur nous avons eu très chaud la nuit

• Hermoso departamento a pasos de north bondi – Fernandez from Argentina – 30 December 2024 (10/10)

  Cercanía al mar, limpieza, equipamiento y comunicación con el dueño
  
  What could be improved: Lejos del centro

• Gern wieder – Nathalie from Switzerland – 11 October 2024 (10/10)

  Die Lage ist perfekt (direkt neben dem Strand). Die Wohnung ist sauber, komfortabel und man findet alles, was man braucht. Ich würde hier wieder übernachten.
  
  What could be improved: –

• Very good – Irma from Australia – 30 October 2024 (8/10)

  Dicht bij strand

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities