Property: Sofitel Sydney Wentworth
Status: Accor Plus Platinum
Room booked: Superior Room, 1 King Bed
Room upgraded/type: No
Rate: Accor+ Extend Summer Promotion - 20% off - $239.40/night
Free internet: Yes
Free Breakfast? Yes
Early check in/late out: 2 PM Late Check out
Welcome drink: Yes, 2x vouchers used at lounge for take away coffee
Welcome gift: Bottle of wine
Decided to make a last minute booking at the Sofitel during the Easter long weekend and noticed that there was a generous cashback offer from Accor too. Ended up booking the Sofitel Wentworth as Darling Harbour harbour was an extra $100/night and although I did enjoy the hotel, I did not enjoy it that much and heard that the Wentworth has recently completed rennovation of the rooms.
Arrived at the hotel at 1:30 PM and looked for the Club Millesime reception for check in. Aparently lounge is closed (more on that in a moment) and so normal check in had to be done. No room was available when we arrived so they took our bags and told us they'd send an SMS once the room is ready. Sure enough around 2:30 PM I receive a text that the room is ready, head back to the hotel get the keys and head up to the room:
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Room seemed to come from this century but did seem a bit basic (i.e. I've stayed at Mercure hotels in Queensland that were similarly appointed). The bathroom was also fairly basic including the much dreaded shub:
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Upon looking at the welcome flyer in the room, it would seem that rennovations are still underway and that the hotel is slated to be fully rennovated (including its own lounge) in late 2024:
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Speaking of the lounge, it is temporary located in the restaurant area (Soiree bar) in the lobby. So certainly not the most private or exclusive area, and no views to speak of. However, they do continue the Sofitel tradition of providing afternoon tea and evening crepes. The afternoon tea consisted of a high tea tray consisting of hot buns, finger sandwiches, and cakes. There was also a small buffet area serving a decent selection of finger food:
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The gym at the hotel was closed so we were given the option of using either the Virgin Active on Bligh street from 05:30 to 21:00 Monday - Thursday, Friday from 05:30 to 20:00 or the Virgin Active Pitt Street from 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and 10:00 to 16:00 on Sundays. Notwithstanding what some may think of Virgin Active, this was a downgrade for me since I like the convenience of not being tied down to a gym's schedule to get some exercise in and appreciate the privacy a hotel gym offers over a health club.
In terms of breakfast, this was offered in the breakfast lounge as they call it (i.e. no lounge option). A ballroom with a large number of seating options. The breakfast was buffet style with some options you wouldn't ordinarily find at an ibis or Mercure. There was also the option to have the chef make you some options off the menu (I think omlettes were one such example):
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Would I stay here again? Certainy not at this price! Given it was a holiday and I wanted to try something new I didn't mind spending a little extra for the Sofitel experience. However, it hasn't really hit the mark when it comes to what you expect staying at a Sofitel in terms of ammenities, room quality and service. The staff are trying their best, but the state of the hotel right now, it's hard for them to deliver the service customers expect. What I do look forward to is staying here next year once all the rennovations have been completed and hopefully everything is up to scratch. But as it stands now, I probably wouldn't stay here unless the rate was in the $100-$150 level as there are Accor hotels in that range that offer a better location (i.e. ibis Sydney Darling Harbour) or more ammenities.
-RooFlyer88