Holiday Inn Darling Harbour (68 Harbour Street Sydney Nsw 2000)

The hotel is in a wonderful location which is its key selling point. The room I stayed in is slightly small for 3 star standard and was tired. The major issues I had related to hotel administration. Not only are costs for internet excessive you need to take care with the security deposit. The hotel held my security deposit for over 14 days and it was only released after several phone calls which was a very frustrating experience as no one seemd to want to accept responsibility for the problem. I regularly stay at Holilday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels in Australia and overseas and enjoy the experience but this location has the poorest administration by far.

Unique Quality: Centrally located to Darling Harbour and the city centre it is a great location.

Directions: Close to Darling Harbour and Sydney CBD.

ROOMS:
The rooms are clean, spacious, though decor-wise just average, mostly with just the basics. My room had two single beds (I tried getting a double, but they apperently don't have much of that). The amenities are complete, and I especially appreciate the fact that they supply the room with an ironing board for pressing clothes. Toiletries are from RED EARTH, which make very good shampoos, but the soap just leaves skin dry. Unfortunately, my room has the backroom view of Chinatown and was not very pleasant. But for those who are fortunate to get a room facing the Sydney Entertainment Center, that view is excellent because the vista extends to the harbour.

STAFF:
The concierge guys are extremely helpful, especially in assisting us in getting maps, how to ride the monorail, where to shop, etc. One guy actually sat down with us to help plot out how to spend our free days. Also, I checked out and forgot my cellphone. When I went back to see if it's still there, they immediately handed it to me. Very trust-worthy!

LOCATION:
Right in front of Sydney Entertainment Center. After watching a musical, all you have to do is cross the street to get home.
Near Chinatown and Paddy's Market. You know those UGs and other Australian souvenirs, they're half the price here!
Walking distance to Harbourside, Sydney Aquarium, Chinese Garden, etc.

INTERNET:
Holiday inn charges A$27 per day for the internet. That's steep. There's no free wifi anywhere. My advice is to get a Telstra or Optus wifi card and just hang around the lobby to get the signal.

As a business traveller my stays at the HI Darling Harbour have always been smooth. The HI no muss, no fuss attitude suits a business traveller to a tee. The location is handy, albeit a little removed from the CBD to walk (otherwise a 5 minute taxi ride). Service can be a little hit and miss, the huge benefit of the hotel is the multilingual ability of the staff.

Rooms are large and clean, and the bathroom amenities are excellent. Stay in the executive rooms for an "enhanced" amenities kit (includes bath bomb). Guestrooms have tea/coffee and the standard mini-bar (be sure to check your mini-bar when you check in and tell the front desk should something be amiss).

A business centre is available on the 1st floor. I didn't appreciate the welcome sign in the foyer though (they welcome their arriving guests by name on this sign for all to see - not really private). There is a small gym, spa and sauna for guest use. The gym has modern equipment. There are two restaurants and a bar (your standard hotel restaurant fare here).

For business travel I'd have to recommend some of the hotels closer to the CBD before I'd recommend the HI. For family travel I'd recommend the suites as they are spacious and clean.

We stayed here mainly for a respite and stop over from travel overseas. The superior suite we had was just what we needed. We did not have breakfast inlcuded so cannot comment.
Bathroom was ample for our needs and the bed extremely comfortable- to the point we actually had a sleep mid afternoon!!

Unique Quality: Most outstanding quality for us was the location - a street back from Chinatown and we could walk easily to downtown Sydney! On the corner opposite was a large shopping centre containing a very large Asian supermarket and other shops. Across the road was an ugly conference centre so you would not stay for the views!!

Directions: Close to Chinatown and Sydney CBD

The Holiday Inn Darling Harbour is very, very good. This is becoming quite unusual in the bland, tedious worl of chain hotels, but - to be honest - Holiday Inns are becoming a cut above the rest. [I have absolutely no connection with them or IC hotels!!].

The HI Darling Harbour is in a converted warehouse down by the harbour, so the rooms are quite spacious, although they can feel a little gloomy (because there are no huge picture glass windows).

The location is great, just around the corner from Chinatown and close to the rail station and all the sights of old Sydney.

The room has the usual....TV, coffee/tea making, excellent shower and bathrooom, and very comfortable beds.

I liked this hotel as it was near the monorail for transportation. Across the street from Mcdonalds(good for breakfast). 5 mins walk from Darling Harbour. 2 mins walk from China Town.

Unique Quality: Good internet access. This hotel has a gym and sauna too.