Sydney Hotel Tips by cjg1

I have now stayed here twice, first in 2004 and also in 2006. Both times the room was purchased blindly through Priceline. This of course is a fantastic hotel win on Priceline and I was happy both times with it.

During the 2004 trip I was in two rooms during the five day trip. The first day when I arrived about 830 am I was still alone and they set me up in a king room. It did not have much of a view as it was in the back of the hotel but was a nice room where I was able to relax a couple hours and shower before heading out for the 1130am meet up that would take me on my way to Watson’s Bay. The next day when Eric arrived we were moved into a two bed room. This one was on a lower floor but had a partial view on the side to see the bridge. We paid $75 US per night for this trip.

When coming back here in 2006 I went to Priceline hoping to win this hotel. I got it but it was $143 per night US. Inflation of hotel prices has really happened in the past couple years in Sydney.

When we arrived again about 830am they did not have a room ready for us. So we asked about upgrading. She originally offered us an upgrade at 200 AUD per night. We declined that but took her second offer of 150 per night. This got us an excellent room up on the 30th floor just down the hall from the executive lounge.

Unique Qualities: The room had a large Jacuzzi tub, separate stand-alone shower, double sink counter, a separate toilet in the main bathroom off of the bedroom. The bedroom had a massively comfortable king bed with a dresser and TV. The living room was quite spacious with a couple of chairs and a couch as long as yet another TV and work desk. This is where the wired internet was. They charged $29.95 AUD per night here for it and we did buy one day as I needed to do a little work. But holy damn Batman…. Then of course off of the living room was a separate half bath.

Down the hall was the Executive lounge. Here they do a fine spread for breakfast with awesome views of the bridge on the left side and the opera house and Circular Quay on the right. In the evenings they go ahead and provide the evening snacks and drinks for an amazing four hours each night.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: 30 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Directions: On Pitts 2 blocks from Circular Quay

This was one of my best ever hotel stays, perhaps because it is not your typical hotel. Set up with several rooms that they call suites each is quite unique and individual. We were in the Cloud Suite which consisted of the main bedroom with queen sized bed and also a bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and stand alone shower.

Check in was a breeze in that there really is no check in. We arrived and rang from the front door to Damien that we were there. He buzzed us in and came out to meet us. Showed us around a little which really meant the living/sitting room then up to our room. This was on the 1st floor (2nd in America) facing the street. Here he left us to ourselves, and left the registration card for us to “bring down in the morning at breakfast, no rush.”

The room itself was quite amazing. I did not measure the size but would say that it is about 14 by 21 feet or so. From the door facing the window and street you have the wardrobe and TV along the left wall. Inside the wardrobe we found a full ironing board, iron and hair dryer as well as extra blankets and pillows and room to hang our clothes. Under the TV you find the refrigerator with mini bar and also a DVD player with a fairly large selection of DVDs. In front of the window is the couch and in the right side corner the chair. The bed is on the right wall and is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever been in.

The bathroom is to the right on the wall that the main door is on. It opens with the toilet behind the door and the sink to your left. Stand alone shower by the window and a large Jacuzzi tub.

Each morning they give a light breakfast of breads, cereal, and canned fruits and some fresh fruit along with juice and tea/coffee. This is given in the solarium in the back down stairs. Their main office is just off of this too where they are very happy to give ideas and help you out with what ever it is you possibly need. The service and the people are the best parts of this place and trust me the room was amazing.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: +61 (2) 9356 2199
Address: 8 Challis Avenue Potts Point NSW 2011
Website: www.simpsonshotel.com
Other Contact: Fax +61 (2) 9356 4476

When we booked to come down here I was still in need of an SPG stay. So we booked into the Sheraton on the Park as I felt the “Park View upgrade at check-in” rate I got was the best of the three SPG hotels for that time period. Even though the needs changed before we arrived we stuck with it for the originally booked first two nights of the trip.

The location is right by the St James train station on Elizabeth Street right next to Hyde Park. This proved to be a very good location to start exploring each morning. As we were still adjusting to the time zone we would be awake at sun up and were able to go explore the park while the “attractions” of town were still closed.

Check in was very nice. The man helping us went to some extremes to find us the upgrade and also get us a room soon. As it turned out there was not a room ready unless we’d settle for a smoking room, which I will not do. So he called up housekeeping and asked them to clean the room he wanted to assign to us. They said it would be an hour or two and being that even at two hours would still be before noon we said we’d be back and left our bags. When we came back to check in after touring town the same man helped us and informed me that our bags had been delivered to the room for us. A nice touch.

Upon entering the room I must say I was quite pleasantly surprised. The room was very well appointed as you can see in the pics above and the bathroom was amazing. The door is on the left side of the room rectangle so the wall and closet are on the left and the bathroom on the right as you enter. Then flowing into the bed on the right as you walk straight in. I really liked the pictures and mirror behind the bed and the work area was sufficient. The TV had a rather wide range of channels for Australia and we were able to watch weather when we needed.

Unique Qualities: And that brings us to the bathroom. This was one of the nicest I’ve seen in an SPG hotel. It is behind two pocket doors that put you in the center of the bathroom wall. Big two person tub on the left and stand up shower on the right. The entire wall in front of you is a mirror with only a single sink (minor downer) and counter in front of it and the toilet on the right. Then if you turn around at the sink and look back out the doors the far wall is again a mirror. This really makes it feel big and gives you a great feeling.

As much as I liked this hotel I will probably not use it again unless I am in town for only a night or can’t get a room at Simpson’s. Nothing against this hotel as I was very happy but just the way it is.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61-2-92866000
Address: 161 Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW, 2000, AU