Sydney Hotel Tips by aussiedoug

My memory tells me that this hotel has been one of Sydney's landmark CBD hotels, located on prestigious Phillip Street, for over 30 years. It has recently undergone a $60 million makeover to join one of the world's leading luxury hotel brands, offering 5-star quality and service.
I stayed here in January 2002 so quite some time before this & it was still an undoubtedly classy place to stay.

Unique Qualities: I think what appeals to me about this hotel, apart from the class of its interior, is its location. This is the end of town I would prefer to stay in as it is an easy walk down to Circular Quay and the water. Equally, it is an easy walk across to the Botanic Gardens & again proximity to Sydney Harbour, but also the Art Gallery of NSW. (one of my favourite spots to visit).

The current rack rate for a room for two people is $410 (Australian), but though the website listed below they are offering "Hot Deals" from Dec 11 through Jan 31, 2005 (except of course for New Year's Eve) at $225.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 9230 0700
Address: 61-101 Phillip Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Directions: This is described as being in the Financial District, but I guess that's as it's close to the Stock Exchange & there are many office blocks & company headquarters around. It's about 7 minutes walk down to Circular Quay following Phillip St.
Website: www.accorhotels.com.au/sofitel/index.asp

This is another hotel I stayed at that wasn't of my own choosing, but because I wasn't paying for it & because it was hosting the conference I was co-presenting a workshop at it was ideal accommodation. If I was staying in the city with my family it would depend on why we were there to determine where we would stay. I'd stay here for the Surry Hills, Broadway, Darling Harbour & Chinatown attractions as I mention below. Mind you I think I'd still prefer to stay down near the water if I had a choice.

It's like all good quality city hotels in the respect of the facilities & amenities it provides. While it would be in the second tier of hotels in our lovely city I didn't find that anything was lacking.

Unique Qualities: This hotel is in a good location in regard to Central Station which takes you back around the City Circle Stations of Museum, St James, Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall then back up to Central & on to ultimate destinations out of the city. Some head across the bridge to nthn suburbs stations. The light rail is virtually right outside the door & services this top end of the city, being particularly helpful in getting to the Powerhouse Museum, Chinatown & Darling Harbour with the Aquarium & the Maritime Museum & of course the Star City Casino.
What I enjoyed most after a day of conferencing was to have a workout in the fully equiped gym then shower off & have a swim in the 20m heated, indoor pool then finish off with a spa, but not the sauna that was available also.

The hotel's website (within all MIrvac Sydney hotels) is showing between $150 & 185 (Australian) Breakfast will be additional, but there are cafes round about where you can get a cheaper brekkie.

Helpful Tip: Do a google search & see what internet booking sites come up & what prices you can get. Check the hotel's website below. Also talk to your own travel agent. See who gives you the best price & what you feel most comfortable with.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9213 3820
Address: 28 Albion St., , Sydney, State of New South Wales
Directions: Go to the website below & then click on Sydney. All Sydney hotels will be listed so scroll down to this one. There is a map availabe to give you some orientation to that end of town.
Website: www.mirvachotels.com.au
Other Contact: reservations@css.mirvac.com.au

I wanted to have a little family treat of staying in the city before Christmas & I was very keen to stay somewhere close to the water, maybe even with harbour views of some sort, even if limited. Expense was the biggest barrier to achieving that latter aim.

Doing a bit of searching on the net allowed me to discover the Rendezvous Stafford Hotel for $245 per night for our family of 4. The twin girls are still small enough to confortable share the single sofa bed.

This hotel complex is smallish, but the service is very good with friendly, helpful Aussies at your service. They are very responsive to requests & will help out any way they can.

It is located in a great spot in The Rocks & is only a couple of minutes walk down to Circular Quay which is the perfect spot from which to begin any exploration of Sydney.

There is a complimentary continental breakfast available in the breakfast room overlooking the pool & outdoor seating area on the ground level.

This is a 4 Star Hotel which is good value in terms of its location. There aren't many hotels around Circular Quay & The Rocks that are 4 or 5 Stars that are anywhere near this price. 5 Stars will generally cost you anything from mid 300's up to over 700 Australian $ per night.

For the above reasons I would recommend you stay here unless you can afford the 5 star luxuries & views offered by those other hotels.

We will definitely stay there again if we can get another good deal.

Unique Qualities: Great views indeed. Click on my attached photo to see our view which we enjoyed from the balcony of our room on the fourth floor - Room 410.

Now I must add here that you have to be on Floor 4 with the 400 rooms or higher on the 5th or 6th Floors to enjoy this view. There are other rooms in this little complex that are cheaper, but have street views onto Harrington Street only.Frankly there is no comparison.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9251 6711
Address: 75 Harrington Street
Website: www.rendezvoushotels.com/html/sydney/sydney_index.htm

Hope my title doesn't belittle this place, but it refers to back when the Menzies was one of the upmarket establishments in the City.

Today the lobby still reflects a lot of those times, but the rooms themselves (or at least the one I was staying in) looked as though they could do with a bit of a make over, appearing a bit tired & jaded.

I was lucky enough to pick up a good deal through the Accor Hotels website I've listed below to get a room for $147 (Australian) for the night before I was flying out to Melbourne the next morning.

Unique Qualities: It has all the facilities you would expect in one of the better hotels in the city (I wouldn't put it right in the top class of city hotels though). The rooms do also have all the inclusions you would expect.

It's not quite a good spot being only 5 minutes or so walk down to Circular Quay & The Rocks.

There is an entrance to Wynyard Station right across the road from the main entrance so you have easy access to all City Circle trains for easy getting around the city. Also gives you access to all Suburban services too.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9299 1000
Address: 14 Carrington Street, Sydney
Website: www.accorhotels.com.au
Other Contact: stay@menzies.com.au

I stayed here for one night only on March 17 after our Sydney VT Lunch & Dinner meetings as I was due to fly out the next morning at 6:40 a.m the next morning to a Workshop for school teams in Coffs Harbour.

I'd definitely recommend this Hotel as being a good value option in a good spor with easy access to the city using the Bus or the Light Rail which is about 5 mins walk from the Hotel.

Unique Qualities: It does have a really nice pool, but I didn't get to use it, getting back too late in the evening & leaving too early the next morning.

I did have quite a nice view into the City from my bedroom & it was nice looking out to see the skyline & lights of Sydney before going to bed.

I got a good rate of $ 119 from the Intenet, but would have got it for $109 if I'd booked for 3 nights instead of just one.

It offered secure, undercover parking for $15 which I took advantage. That's a lot cheaper than what a Hotel in the city itself will cost for overnight parking.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 61 2 9660 6655
Address: 196 Glebe Point Road, Sydney, NSW 1037