My wife and I have just returned from the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, Australia. This is the second time I've been here, and I've also stayed at the Westin just a short walk away (great for mattress runs if you want to rack up your stay count). The Sheraton is centrally-located and has a taxi service for getting around as well as being close to a couple MRT stations. The airport is only 20 minutes away by train.

At check-in we were handled with courtesy, but not necessarily warmly. It seems like the staff are judgemental here depending on how you dress and carry yourself. Last time I was in a business suit, in a hurry. The staff seemed overly polite then, and gave me a nice suite. This time, I was very much dressed for vacation and had my wife with me -- while the staff was not cold, per se, they were more or less indifferent. Even so, my wife and I were given a great corner room with a view of Hyde Park and the harbor on the 21st floor.

The room was relatively large even if not a suite. The furniture seems a little dated, more like 90s modern, if that makes sense. The bathroom was black marble with lots of mirrors; most importantly, strong water pressure!

As an SPG Platinum member I was also given access to the large lounge. There are two internet-enabled PCs there as well as wifi access. Plenty of room to spread out and have a bit of privacy, which is not always the case for club lounges. Breakfast in the lounge was good with hot options like eggs and bacon. There is also afternoon tea offered and evening snacks.

Given the ample dining options in Sydney, we never ate at the hotel restaurant. In fact, across the street under the David Jones department store is a GREAT food court. Really reasonable prices and an amazing selection of food -- from Chinese wok to gourmet cheeses to pastries! More than once we would swing through there on the way back to the hotel, pick up some things to eat, and dust them off in our room. Keep in mind that they close around 6PM. I used the fitness center on the top floor once. It is well-equipped.

We called down to the desk to request a late check-out and they agreed with no problem. At check-out, there was a minibar charge on my bill which was incorrect. It was rectified without a stink. In the end, even if it is not as peaceful, I prefer the Westin, and will be back there in a couple weeks. The staff there shine brightly and the showers are terrific! But that's for another review.

Review submitted by flywithme.

Posted at August 25, 2007 1:25 PM