Five Star Hotel in Sydney

[Rizzo]

Hi all,

I would like your comments on the following hotels in Sydney for those who have been to these hotels. Any and all commentary will be good. I will be in Sydney with SWMBO for a 5* getaway in September 09 and need help in my choice of hotel (oh please help). Other hotels will be OK also if you would like to post. I travel a lot for work so the usual corporate room does not do it for me these days

1) Sir Stamford at Circular Quay.
2) The Observatory Hotel

 

[Homer]

I can't comment on the Sir Stamford Circular Quay but the Observatory Hotel is nice and quaint. Both are very well located. However my pick in Sydney for a romantic getaway in a 5 star hotel would be the Park Hyatt.

 

[Grooba]

Hi all,

I would like your comments on the following hotels in Sydney for those who have been to these hotels. Any and all commentary will be good. I will be in Sydney with SWMBO for a 5* getaway in September 09 and need help in my choice of hotel (oh please help). Other hotels will be OK also if you would like to post. I travel a lot for work so the usual corporate room does not do it for me these days

1) Sir Stamford at Circular Quay.
2) The Observatory Hotel

Observatory beats SSCQ easily.
The rooms at OBS are nice and roomy, location is great and the service is supurb. SSCQ is just not in the same league IMHO.

 

[BAM1748]

The Observatory is the pick.

It's part of the VSOE group, i.e. Orient Express.

 

[Grooba]

The Observatory is the pick.

It's part of the VSOE group, i.e. Orient Express.

Correct. The other property they have in NSW is Lilianfels in the Blue Mountains.

Lilianfels Blue Mountains Hotel, Blue Mountains accommodation, Blue Mountains Getaways, Katoomba Hotel - Luxury Resort & Spa - Wellbeing programs - Restaurant - Fine Dining

 

[markis10]

The Sir Stamford has limited views, the next door Intercontinental is much better, especially if you get club access. Both are in very quiet areas on the weekend, the Old Sydney Holiday Inn is not 5 star but its location is 5 star and often a good weekend alternative IMHO, it all depends on budget!

 

[moa999]

For a non corportate room would also consider Blue Sydney (Taj Hotels), the former W down at Wolloomooloo

 

[Svenc]

Hi,
I would agree with the earlier recommendation of the Interconti. I ahve stayed there several times and access to the Intercontinental Club floor is simply outstanding. Great views, great service, love the free drinks and Chefs tasting plate" 5:30-7:30pm daily. I have never had a bad experience there. I have actually stayed at the Old Holiday Inn also - good view from the rooftop pool, but you need the front rooms - especially the executive room on level 5 for good views over the roofs to Circular Quay and Opera House.

 

[Fifa]

Hi,
I would agree with the earlier recommendation of the Interconti. I ahve stayed there several times and access to the Intercontinental Club floor is simply outstanding. Great views, great service, love the free drinks and Chefs tasting plate" 5:30-7:30pm daily. I have never had a bad experience there. I have actually stayed at the Old Holiday Inn also - good view from the rooftop pool, but you need the front rooms - especially the executive room on level 5 for good views over the roofs to Circular Quay and Opera House.

I agree 100% with the IC in a club room. In fact I'm going for a little luxury this weekend!

 

[Rizzo]

Hi all, thanks for the great input. The Intercontinental Club Room looks to be good . A quick look on the net and found the price a bit rich at $370-$430 a night ! in September 09. Any tips on decent websites to get prices. Seems that a bunch of sites have sprung up when getting quotes and not sure how reliable some may be.

 

[NYCguy]

I don't care for the décor at the Observatory - the 'traditional elegance' thing does nothing for me. Looks like it was decorated by Ivana Trump.

The décor at the Park Hyatt is much more my speed, but it's not a 'cheap' hotel by any stretch of the imagination.

The Interconti is good middle ground, and the club rooms represent excellent value, as they do at most hotels that offer them.

 

[Diesellife]

I don't care for the décor at the Observatory - the 'traditional elegance' thing does nothing for me. Looks like it was decorated by Ivana Trump.

The décor at the Park Hyatt is much more my speed, but it's not a 'cheap' hotel by any stretch of the imagination.

The Interconti is good middle ground, and the club rooms represent excellent value, as they do at most hotels that offer them.

Couldn't agree more. I personally don't enjoy the Classic decor in Observatory, and much prefer the comtemporary style.

Four seasons' room quality has improved drastically after the recent renovation and I don't mind it. Of course, it is still rated under the ordinary worldwide Four Seasons standard, but then again, Australia's hotels are generally worse off compared to other countries...

 

[Fifa]

Hi all, thanks for the great input. The Intercontinental Club Room looks to be good . A quick look on the net and found the price a bit rich at $370-$430 a night ! in September 09. Any tips on decent websites to get prices. Seems that a bunch of sites have sprung up when getting quotes and not sure how reliable some may be.

You could always join the IC Ambassador program (US$150) and you get a 'buy one get one night free' certificate plus every time you stay at Intercontinental hotels worldwide a guaranteed room ugrade, fruit and water plus free movie per stay

 

[markis10]

You could always join the IC Ambassador program (US$150) and you get a 'buy one get one night free' certificate plus every time you stay at Intercontinental hotels worldwide a guaranteed room ugrade, fruit and water plus free movie per stay

The priority privilege program is around the same price and offers better value, including buy two get one free night vouchers x 2, free breakfast voucher etc, so its good vlaue if the weekend away if going to be a repeat at some time later in the year at another Intercontinental/Holiday Inn or Crowne Plaza.

Another alternative is the family and friends program mentioned in the Intercontinental Hotels forum at Flyertalk, no points, no frills:

Friends and Family discount at all IHG Hotels - FlyerTalk Forums

A quick check for a weekend in September got these results:

King club City View $265 per night

This would be my pick:


$366.38 AUD
Average Nightly Rate 1 KING CLUB HARBOUR EXECUTIVE SUITE

 

[Svenc]

My secret - I am an Amabssador - at US$150/Tr it is the price of cheaper room at Intercontinentals. However, apart from the Amabassadoe Benefits, you get a buy one get one free voucher for a weekend night. I redemed my last one on a $1300 suite - yes, I paid one night but stayed two, so I saved way more than the cost of Ambassador, plus my wife was hugely impressed with the suite - worth plenty of brownie points there alone !!
I also belong to Priority Privelege which gives discounts at restaurants in ICH,Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. It also inlcudes a free night voucher redeemable at any of these hotels, and if used wisely can again put you in front. Then the eating discounts are all further bonuses !!:idea:

 

[markis10]

My secret - I am an Amabssador - at US$150/Tr it is the price of cheaper room at Intercontinentals. However, apart from the Amabassadoe Benefits, you get a buy one get one free voucher for a weekend night. I redemed my last one on a $1300 suite - yes, I paid one night but stayed two, so I saved way more than the cost of Ambassador, plus my wife was hugely impressed with the suite - worth plenty of brownie points there alone !!
I also belong to Priority Privelege which gives discounts at restaurants in ICH,Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn. It also inlcudes a free night voucher redeemable at any of these hotels, and if used wisely can again put you in front. Then the eating discounts are all further bonuses !!:idea:

Please note the Ambassador BOGO cannot be used for Suites now, the PP one can, another benefit of the PP sheme is their monthly specials where you can get a BOGO without using the cert at many hotels.

 

[Myrna]

Hi all, thanks for the great input. The Intercontinental Club Room looks to be good . A quick look on the net and found the price a bit rich at $370-$430 a night ! in September 09. Any tips on decent websites to get prices. Seems that a bunch of sites have sprung up when getting quotes and not sure how reliable some may be.

You could join the Priority Privilege (PP) membership priorityprivilege.com - cost about $300 a year, but if you join through littlenomads.com - sign up for their emails and they send you the link which you can join PP for 25% off. With the PP membership you can use the stay2pay1 certificate to stay at Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney and up to 50% off breakfasts, lunches and dinners (no drinks discount, only food) - and there are other benefits at Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels. Plus, each month you get an email (although they have dropped me off their mailing list of late) for various special offers.

When I joined up last year, they also gave me a 2for1 transferable certificate and I booked 2 nights at the Intercontinental in Sydney for some relatives - a room with the bridge / harbour view. They loved it. However, I understand from this forum that you used to be able to book the club room under the 2for1 deal, but Intercontinental has taken this off - and only allows standard room.

 

[Commuter]

Hi,
I would agree with the earlier recommendation of the Interconti. I ahve stayed there several times and access to the Intercontinental Club floor is simply outstanding. Great views, great service, love the free drinks and Chefs tasting plate" 5:30-7:30pm daily. I have never had a bad experience there.

I've got to agree about the IC Club Floor. It was rather nice (and relatively inexpensive, compared to Park Hyatt), and the views were great.

If it weren't for my love of Starwood, I'd stay at IC Sydney's club room every time I'm there (I'm an Amb and PP) as I think it represents pretty good value.

 

[Commuter]

The priority privilege program is around the same price and offers better value, including buy two get one free night vouchers x 2, free breakfast voucher etc

Or get both Ambassador and Priority Privilege, especially if you travel outside of Asia Pacific areas. PP only works in a limited number of countries, whereas Amb works worldwide. I get rather nice upgrades through it (you can combine the Amb and PP benefits).

PP sometimes offers 'no voucher required' two-for-one promos as well.

 

[markis10]

Or get both Ambassador and Priority Privilege, especially if you travel outside of Asia Pacific areas. PP only works in a limited number of countries, whereas Amb works worldwide. I get rather nice upgrades through it (you can combine the Amb and PP benefits).

PP sometimes offers 'no voucher required' two-for-one promos as well.

The OP indicated most of their travel was self funded so purchasing both would be an expensive exercise for a single leisure trip, the priority privilege program would be more beneficial as the dining benefits dont require a stay, whilst the ambassador program is only useful at three hotels in Australia, so its coverage is limited.

Also note that the ambassador benefits and priority privilege benefits cannot be combined at some hotels, IC Rialto is one that has this policy, as a RA I have had a long discussion with ICHG about this recently as aside from the BOGO, there is no stipulation that benefits cannot be combined with other offers or discounts in either programs T and C's. ICHG have told me this is being reviewed with a formal policy to be released soon, the localisation of the PP program to limited APAC countries has kept the issue below the radar until now. These discussions were only initiated by me when I was refused a room upgrade/free minibar or late checkout because I was using a PP BOGO in Melbourne by the night clerk on checkin.