Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Intercontinental Sydney, Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, or Sheraton Four Points?

Which hotel is best? I was thinking of booking either the Intercontinental Sydney for 40k Priority Club points, the Crowne Plaza for 25k points, or the Sheraton Four Points for 7k points. One is right by the Circular Quay train stop and the other is by Town Hall stop. Not sure if Darling Harbour or Circular Quay location is better (and I assume the Intercontinental is nicer than the Crowne).

Also, for another part of my stay in Sydney, we are booking a Marriott and I think there is a Harbor Marriott, Circular Quay, and one in Hyde Park. Any preferences?

IC Sydney is the best hotel out of the 3 you listed, by far.

Be careful with the Marriotts you mention, the "real" Marriott in Sydney is the Sydney Harbour Marriott on Pitt Street, the other one is the Sydney Marriott Hotel on College Street - this one is actually owned/managed by Mirvac and is not in the same league.

IC Sydney is the best hotel out of the 3 you listed, by far.

Be careful with the Marriotts you mention, the "real" Marriott in Sydney is the Sydney Harbour Marriott on Pitt Street, the other one is the Sydney Marriott Hotel on College Street - this one is actually owned/managed by Mirvac and is not in the same league.

In other words Pitt St = Marriott Circular Quay

College St = Hyde Park

How "Not in the same league" is the Sydney Marriott by Hyde Park? The reason I ask is that it can be booked for $76/nt US (~$90 AUD) per night via Priceline. All it needs to be is clean and secure and moderately well run to be a bargain at that rate.

The College St / Hyde Park Marriott is actually VERY nice, quiet and elegant, lovely staff, some of us prefer it to the hustle and bustle of the Harbour Marriott.

How "Not in the same league" is the Sydney Marriott by Hyde Park? The reason I ask is that it can be booked for $76/nt US (~$90 AUD) per night via Priceline. All it needs to be is clean and secure and moderately well run to be a bargain at that rate.

I think the Marriott on Pitt is a better quality hotel. Although I have not stayed in either so can't give a comparison on rooms, from what I have seen the Pitt St property is nicer. That's not to say that the College St property is bad, just maybe 80% of Pitt St.

As far as location goes, assuming two hotels that are exactly equal, I would take the Pitt St property. The College Street location does have a good location to the restaurants of Stanley Street and the nightlife of Oxford Street, but as a first time visitor Pitt Street puts you 2 minutes from Circular Quay, The Rocks and the Opera House.

I think the Marriott on Pitt is a better quality hotel. Although I have not stayed in either so can't give a comparison on rooms, from what I have seen the Pitt St property is nicer. That's not to say that the College St property is bad, just maybe 80% of Pitt St.

As far as location goes, assuming two hotels that are exactly equal, I would take the Pitt St property. The College Street location does have a good location to the restaurants of Stanley Street and the nightlife of Oxford Street, but as a first time visitor Pitt Street puts you 2 minutes from Circular Quay, The Rocks and the Opera House.

The reality is, the Marriott on College Street is available for a FAR lower price - The one on Pitt St. costs around 60% more per night. I was really just looking for a pleasant room in location near lots of dining and nightlife and public transportation. As a result, I was happy to book the College Street Marriott on College for $76 a night US on Priceline for my trip in October. Including taxes and PL fees, it came out to $88 a night. The Harbor Marriott on Pitt would have been at least $138/night including taxes and fees on Priceline

How do Priority Club points compare to Starwood points? The IC Sydney is the best hotel of your point options, but it is not 6x as good as the Four Points if they are roughly equivalent point values.

How do Priority Club points compare to Starwood points? The IC Sydney is the best hotel of your point options, but it is not 6x as good as the Four Points if they are roughly equivalent point values.

I find that PC points are incredibly easy to earn.

As far as location goes, assuming two hotels that are exactly equal, I would take the Pitt St property. The College Street location does have a good location to the restaurants of Stanley Street and the nightlife of Oxford Street, but as a first time visitor Pitt Street puts you 2 minutes from Circular Quay, The Rocks and the Opera House.

In my opinion, Sydney is all about the harbour and if you have the chance to stay there and spend more time hanging around that area/taking ferries that's what makes Sydney special. Hyde Park is convenient to shops and restaurants that you'd find anywhere in the world.

Though I guess the IC is close enough if you wanted to do something different..

I would book the IC without hesitation but pay the extra $$$ for a club room. The views from the club lounge on the top level over Sydney harbour are fantastic, not to mention breakfast, afternoon tea and evening drinks and canapes.

In fact I am staying there next week for leisure and am really looking forward to it. :)

On a related question, I am trying to decide between the IC and the Hilton. I have ambassador status with IC, but am trying to get to Gold with Hilton before the end of the year.

I've been staying @ the Hilton a lot lately - great location, good staff, the roomservice menu has tripled in both scope and quality in the past 6 months, it has a pool, and I'm en route to Diamond with Hilton by the end of the year. Sofitel Wentworth is lagging behind thanks to no pool and the appalling A-Club....thingy.

Even as a HH Gold I get upgraded to a club room or suite better than 50% of the time - on the cheapest rate. Noice.

I used to be a hard-core PC loyalist many years ago, but the hotel locations didn't suit and I kind of went off the style, so I haven't stayed @ the IC in Sydney for a few years - bear that in mind when I say the Hilton gets my vote.

We weren't impressed with the IC Sydney. Fancy hotel but no personality, no lounge access, view was pretty good, and everything at the hotel was pricey.

I know when you stay at a 4 or 5 star place everything is going to be pricier and you should be able to afford it, but when there is less included customer service it makes you wonder how they can charge a premium - ie a $50/person afternoon tea or way too much for a travel adapter.

We liked the Marriott CQ better but that's probably due to location and use of the lounge