Sydney and Melbourne hotel recommendations please
Discussion
In Sydney IMHO the four seasons can't be beaten. Shangri La is OK but not in the same league, Intercontinental is good, and the Marriott at circular quay is OK. My experience of the sofitel was very poor and the Sir Stamford seems to be for the over 70s. The observatory is supposed to be very good but I haven't stayed there,similarly the Hyatt.
Melbourne? The Intercontinental, despite being an ex-prison, is very good as is the Sofitel - far better than the one in Sydney in my experience.
Melbourne? The Intercontinental, despite being an ex-prison, is very good as is the Sofitel - far better than the one in Sydney in my experience.
shambolic said:
Stayed At the Shangri la in Sydney great hotel cracking view of opera house and Harbour bridge from room
Also stayed in the hotel the Lillian Fells hotel in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney. Great hotel cracking place.
He he think you went on the same holiday as me. Certainly agree with both of these. If you can stretch to a Horizon Club room at the Shangri La it's definitely worth it - free food and drink in the evenings. Can save on going out to eat. Also stayed in the hotel the Lillian Fells hotel in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney. Great hotel cracking place.
As a regular traveller to Sydney with a bit more time to respond...
Four Seasons - my favourite in an excellent position by Circular Quay. Habour side rooms have a great view and the service is excellent. If you have an Amex card book through them for late checkout etc. Rooms can be on the smaller side but have everything you need and great quality.
Intercontinental - Also good, set slightly back from Circular Quay but good views over the botanic gardens.
Observatory - I've heard very good things about it, particularly for the price. The location is slightly iffy, it's still up near the Rocks but a bit in amongst the roads leading out to the bridge. I've not stayed there because I've heard that it didn't have internet connectivity in the rooms, may be fixed now but that is essential to me.
Marriott Circular Quay - Good, slightly set back from Circular Quay, not great for views but decent rooms etc.
Shangri La - Good but not great, set higher than the Four Seasons so many rooms with decent views but a bit further away and uphill from Circular Quay. It seems a bit more touristy than most and it doesn't somehow have the same classy feel as the Four Seasons. Whether you stay there or not the restaurant on the top floor is worth a visit but book in advance (quite a long time in advance if you want a window seat, and you do).
Sir Stamford - never been in, comes across as being for older guests (and I'm 51)
Sofitel - Not a fan at all, only stayed there once and both my colleague and I had problems with the small, smelly rooms they put us in initially. We left after one night.
Westin - further into the CBD, nice if you like modern, sort of part of a shopping centre
Hilton - further into the CBD near the town hall, again very modern but nice
Sheraton on the Park - also more into the CBD but also pretty good.
Park Hyatt - at the Rocks, expensive but very good if your budget stretches to it.
Alternatively there's the Quay Grand and Quay West Suites if you want more of an apartment than pure hotel, both good in good locations and you get lounge, kitchen etc. and are very good quality.
It's worth noting that the general standard of hotels in Australia isn't great, OK it depends what you expect but five star there isn't quite what five star means in London, New York, Hong Kong etc. Sydney does have most of the best hotels though.
There's also the Blue at Woolamaloo, a converted quay reputedly where Russell Crow spent umpty million on an apartment. Good if slightly weird and not in a great position by the naval base a bay or two over from Circular Quay.
Then there's the option of staying somewhere like Manly and getting the ferry into the CBP when you want to go there. Personally I've never 'got' Manly, it's a bit too tourist/beachy for me and those big sewage pipes going across the beach out to sea are a bit of a turn off for me! (OK they are probably land drainage, but even so...)
Four Seasons - my favourite in an excellent position by Circular Quay. Habour side rooms have a great view and the service is excellent. If you have an Amex card book through them for late checkout etc. Rooms can be on the smaller side but have everything you need and great quality.
Intercontinental - Also good, set slightly back from Circular Quay but good views over the botanic gardens.
Observatory - I've heard very good things about it, particularly for the price. The location is slightly iffy, it's still up near the Rocks but a bit in amongst the roads leading out to the bridge. I've not stayed there because I've heard that it didn't have internet connectivity in the rooms, may be fixed now but that is essential to me.
Marriott Circular Quay - Good, slightly set back from Circular Quay, not great for views but decent rooms etc.
Shangri La - Good but not great, set higher than the Four Seasons so many rooms with decent views but a bit further away and uphill from Circular Quay. It seems a bit more touristy than most and it doesn't somehow have the same classy feel as the Four Seasons. Whether you stay there or not the restaurant on the top floor is worth a visit but book in advance (quite a long time in advance if you want a window seat, and you do).
Sir Stamford - never been in, comes across as being for older guests (and I'm 51)
Sofitel - Not a fan at all, only stayed there once and both my colleague and I had problems with the small, smelly rooms they put us in initially. We left after one night.
Westin - further into the CBD, nice if you like modern, sort of part of a shopping centre
Hilton - further into the CBD near the town hall, again very modern but nice
Sheraton on the Park - also more into the CBD but also pretty good.
Park Hyatt - at the Rocks, expensive but very good if your budget stretches to it.
Alternatively there's the Quay Grand and Quay West Suites if you want more of an apartment than pure hotel, both good in good locations and you get lounge, kitchen etc. and are very good quality.
It's worth noting that the general standard of hotels in Australia isn't great, OK it depends what you expect but five star there isn't quite what five star means in London, New York, Hong Kong etc. Sydney does have most of the best hotels though.
There's also the Blue at Woolamaloo, a converted quay reputedly where Russell Crow spent umpty million on an apartment. Good if slightly weird and not in a great position by the naval base a bay or two over from Circular Quay.
Then there's the option of staying somewhere like Manly and getting the ferry into the CBP when you want to go there. Personally I've never 'got' Manly, it's a bit too tourist/beachy for me and those big sewage pipes going across the beach out to sea are a bit of a turn off for me! (OK they are probably land drainage, but even so...)
WhereamI said:
There's also the Blue at Woolamaloo, a converted quay reputedly where Russell Crow spent umpty million on an apartment. Good if slightly weird and not in a great position by the naval base a bay or two over from Circular Quay.
Good one, and the pie shop outside is awesome.DoctorX said:
WhereamI said:
There's also the Blue at Woolamaloo, a converted quay reputedly where Russell Crow spent umpty million on an apartment. Good if slightly weird and not in a great position by the naval base a bay or two over from Circular Quay.
Good one, and the pie shop outside is awesome.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff