Sydney-as seen from Level 23....Sheraton on-the-Park, Sydney
Written: Sep 29 '01 (Updated Feb 01 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Location on Hyde Park is unbeatable
Cons: As it is large, it lacks certain individual touches
The Bottom Line: A solid choice for business or pleasure. Good service, good rates and a great location all add up to a winner in Sydney.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Sheraton On The Park |
The Sheraton on the Park is a great, glossy pile of a building of no great architectural merit. Its merits are within.
Lobby
The lobby is one of those vast, designed-to-impress, sort of spaces that one gives a short glance and then ignores. There is the obligatory grand staircase, ascending three stories to nowhere in particular. The lobby bar is inviting, though. It is a pleasant haven for a quiet afternoon drink.
Dining
The Botanica Brasserie is a large, sun-filled room on the second level. Insist upon a table near the very large windows, so you can gaze out at the park-a beautiful green with lush trees and foliage. They will happily seat you in a dark corner, if allowed. Don't fall for the sign telling you the section is closed. We used this dining room for breakfast only, so I am unable to provide any details about other meals here. The breakfast buffet is a generous spread of everything you might expect, and quite a few items that might surprise. The local fruits are enough to keep you occupied for an hour or so. Such excess comes at a price-about $35 AD (perhaps $20 US). As the more formal dining room here had been a total flop, it was in the process of being converted to (yet another) branch of Morton's steak house while we were staying there in January. The Botanica Bar, also on the second level, offers a grand setting for your whiskey and water, Foster's or whatever. The bars in this place close early-at midnight, to be exact. You will have to find a pub (known as 'hotels' in Australia) nearby if you want to keep going.
Rooms and Suites
Our favorite thing about the Sheraton-on-the-Park was our room. One of the Terrace Suites on the 23rd floor, it was exceptionally large and had, of course, a large terrace. The view from this perch is smashing. Hyde Park and downtown Sydney unfold before you like a travel-brochure panorama. The drawing room was mostly cream colored with green and beige fabrics. The decor is neutral in a pleasing way. The view is simply so good that too much over-designing might detract. They have paid attention to the things that count. The work area is well thought out, with good lighting and a comfortable chair at the desk. The beds were very firm (even the rollaway!!) and the bath was a feast of red marble. The bath was filled with everything you could want. The robes were ready and waiting by the shower. The showers are almost powerful enough to blast you back into the northern hemisphere! Acres of storage for clothes, luggage racks with plenty of space around them and nice touches like the cloth laundry bags (I liked them so much that I must confess I took one) add to the general feeling of well-being. Overall, the quiet, good modern design made our room a refreshing place to be after a full day of,say , climbing Harbour Bridge. There are also enough plants in the room to feel as though the park has been brought indoors. The Executive Club, offers use of a top floor lounge for breakfast and a light buffet during the day. Drinks are served in the evening. Unfortunately for us, it was under renovation when we were there.
Recreation
A sensational rooftop indoor pool and health club (on 27, I think) round out the recreation options here. The pool is large enough for laps, but not so big that one gets tired getting from one end to the other. As with the rest of the hotel, the locker rooms are immaculately maintained. A forest of high-tech jogging machines and weight equipment await in the adjacent health club. Steam rooms and saunas are also well kept and fiery enough to ensure that you won't stay in too long.
General
Service here is professional, but not what one might expect at a smaller luxury hotel. Keep in mind that this is a large (557 rooms) hotel, and was built primarily for business travelers. The concierge staff know their business very well, but you could easily find yourself standing in line for a while, so bring a good book with you. It is a very good value with the present exchange rate too.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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