Just a few notes from my stay at CP Newcastle last Sat. It is possible to avoid valet parking (and the $22 fee) only on a Sat nite unless you want to get up early the next morning to feed the meter or move the car [there is free street parking on Sat evenings and all day Sunday on Hunter St (about 3-400 m from hotel). To my annoyance, the hotel automatically added the valet parking fee to my account which I had to ask to be removed:evil:.
When I checked in, I was offered a harbour view
standard room as an upgrade from my booked city view room. The executive suite mentioned in my reservations on my online PC account didn't appear to materialise!! I just looked at the girl, and didn't say a word, who sensed my disappointment, and said she could grant me executive lounge access if I kept my booked city view room...I accepted this (I was given a lounge pass but I was never asked for it, and really anyone could just walk in to the 4th floor lounge).
The room itself was nice (a little noisy tho from the traffic below) and new with 2 LCD TVs, one in the bedroom and the other in the lounge.
The lounge itself could be best described as a large space in the middle of the corridor...did have views of the harbour tho. Served drinks (530-730pm) by a very friendly waitress who managed singlehandedly to keep up with the drink orders of 25+ guests. Food wise, there were nuts, and a few nibbles brought out every 30 mins or so

. One patron complained bitterly about the lack of food, and was comparing it to the Hyatt Adelaide lounge where there a free flow of food apparently

. For 5000 pts, I was not complaining! Breakfast was pretty miserable with bread, cereal, and tea / coffee with some OJ...I overheard a lot of complains but as a 5000 pt guest, I didn't say anything!
The harbour itself is OK...too bad that I turned right (when facing the harbour), and had to walk 1-2kms to find some restaurants for dinner; If I had turned left, I would have found over 10 restaurants less than 2-300 metres from the hotel
I took a few pics if anyone is interested. Happy to post here or email....
PS...Newcastle is pretty dead on a Sat nite...well the places I went to anyway!