The hotel is even in a
spectacular building.
by Kakapo2spectacular building.
The regular rate on the hotel website is from A$ 149 (as June 2008). I paid clearly under A$ 100.
The fully self-contained apartment unit was not overly huge but big enough to store the luggage, for a double bed, bedside tables, a computer desk, and a kitchenette - just microwave, no oven but all the crockery, glassware etc. you needed to prepare your breakfast. The bathroom was not big either but totally ok. Service was good, and everything neat and clean, the furniture rather new and modern.
The rooms are built around a courtyard (patio), and as we were in the second row building it was absolutely quiet when we stayed there. You would not have thought you were in such a big city at all. The only noise you might have heard was from fellow travellers. (But check Update below.)
If I remember right there were BBQ facilities at the roof garden. In the basement is an indoor swimming pool, and they also have a laundry and a business centre where you could get internet access. In the rooms you have data ports for broadband internet access. You just purchase bandwith in the business centre and can use this up during your stay. However, this was the only problem as the system was down once for several hours.
I would consider the lack of net curtains a little minus as you had to close the blinds for privacy and sat in the dark, and had to turn on the lights during the day, eg. for getting changed or whatever you did not want passersby to see you. As mentioned, the apartments are built around a courtyard, and people are walking past your window on the mezzanine floor.
The location is very good - surely not as good and spectacular as in the middle of the Rocks but the many dollars we saved it was great. It is just across the street from the park in front of the university, and about 10 walking minutes from the railway station. There is a busstop right in front of the hotel - two or three stops to the railway station, and some buses drive right down to Circular Quay. This does not take longer than about 15 minutes. But I walked down there several times. The more days I was in Sydney and the more I had walked the more often I took the bus LOL
Right across the street is the Broadway Shopping Centre with supermarket, fastfood courts and cinema, and around the hotel are some nice restaurants, so if you are not in the mood to get back down to the CBD for dinner you can get everything you need right at your doorstep.
Freephone (01800) 500 658
Update December 2008
Just lately I chatted with my travel agent about accommodation in Sydney. She said she had stayed at the Unilodge herself, and had booked in many customers there. But lately she got rather a lot of complaints because of noisy students. Obviously the Unilodge has rented many apartments on a long-term basis to students, and they seem to party on the rooftop garden. I have not verified this - just pass the info.
