penegal

When?

I believe that the Marriott is still mid-renovation (still open to guests), so probably best avoided during this time unless you enjoy construction noise.

SoTP is a good property.

margarita girl

Do you have status???

As a platinum, I have stayed at both. Got a suite both times at SOTP. Stayed at Marriott Circular Quay in Nov. Front desk said I was upgraded to a room with a view of the bridge. Room was about 200 sq ft and if I pushed my face against the window and looked off to the right, I could glimpse the Sydney bridge. In front of us, nothing but office buildings. YMMV.

NYCtraveler

Just stayed at the Sheraton on the Park for Mardi Gras! Great hotel, comfortable rooms and beds....huge black marble bathrooms in each room. Upgrades to suites are hit and miss as they often lower the prices of suites to sell them for only $100 more then regular rooms depending on occupancy levels.....

Their club lounge is one of the best I have ever been to....Though they tend to aggressively sell it and Weekends are packed. Sometimes they send you down the breakfast buffet or to another lounge if they are too busy. Many people eat like they haven't seen food in weeks! Trying to save money on dinner I guess.

Overall unless you have the money or points for the Park Hyatt, this is the best game in town IMHO.

Cheers!

spellbound2

Thanks for the ^^ for SOP. We'll look into staying there since we're Platinum. Do our benefits change when the programs fully merge and do you know when this is supposed to happen? We're going to Australia, Tasmania, Northern Thailand, and Laos so I'm hoping to have some breakfasts with our stays. The Park Hyatt is sold-out or we definitely would stay there after reading all the great reviews. Thanks for your help.

bj27

Howard, we were charged this when we checked in. The agents were very unwilling to budge.

I had a big issue with this because we booked our stay on points (for double occupancy), and then called the hotel to inquire about a rollaway. We must have reached a junior agent as she looked up the reservation and mentioned a rollaway is no charge. We had three people.

Indeed, in the terms and conditions of the booking, the rollaway clearly shows as "No charge."

I reached out to SPG and they confirmed that the extra person charge is $110 AUD, but this does not actually show when you are making the booking. I think it's because the rooms do not allow you to set the occupancy above 2.

Either way, we forked up the $110 AUD a night (since it was over the New Year period), but we were not happy about it because I would have booked at the Hilton or somewhere else instead.

My issue was not that the charge exists, but that the T&Cs of the booking say "no charge," so it's confusing for people trying to make a booking.

Extra person charge aside, I believe since the hotel was so packed over this period (since it's over the peakest of the peak period), the hotel was very busy policing its guests. Examples include:

- Staffing a team member outside the lounge to double check lounge access (and # of guests)
- Trying to upsell guests to a $2000 AUD/night suite (like the FD agent June tried to do to us at check-in), even though we booked the basic room type
- Not being allowed to grab your own drinks in the Club lounge (you need to request a staff member to do this), meaning you cannot even retrieve your own glass of water or cup of coffee

I understand all of these, but my family and I sort of felt like prisoners with the attitude the staff presented us.

I wouldn't stay here again.

m0hamed

Serving you drinks is what makes this lounge what it is (vs the disgusting way that Hilton SYD) has a line of people waiting to be served. It is also to comply with RSA legislation.

nikkoap92

Was there last Sunday and wrote a very long complaint. The way the serve alcohol is like at uni cafeteria.

Sorry I'm new here but did you compared to Sydney hotels. I found the lounge is pretty bad as I usually stayed in Asia where I usually have full lunch and dinner at the lounge.

jpdx

Just received an email advising lounge closure for refurbishment from 7/16 through 9/30. It says the hotel has "arranged alternative venues for you to enjoy your Sheraton Club benefits" -- anyone have an idea what these alternative venues are?

m0hamed

Standard procedure is a function room. It probably won't be the bar as they will still want to serve paying in house and external guests.

Pretty crap, we have a reservation in August.

jpdx

I was hoping for reports from someone who stayed after the 16th, or who has contacted the hotel to clarify. I've experienced closed lounges in various hotels, and the alternative arrangements I've seen range from (a) nothing to (b) breakfast in the hotel restaurant (and nothing else) to (c) breakfast plus some drink chits to (d) (as you describe) a function room or roped off part of the lobby used to replicate the lounge offerings to (e) breakfast and full dinner at the hotel's restaurant. As you say, it's likely that this hotel will opt for (d), but on the off chance that they offer (a)-(c), I'd book elsewhere.

m0hamed

There's nothing on the website. I would call or email them.

remymartin

So long, oysters.

m0hamed

I called the property. Breakfast will be in Times of the Park, from memory Level 1 open function area with views of Elizabeth Street. (I would ask for vouchers for the restaurant which they have generally offered if you ask nicely).

Evening canapés and cocktail will be in the Gallery Tea Lounge, the coffee shop on the ground floor on the opposite side to reception and concierge, again with windows overlooking Elizabeth Street.

It will be sad to lose the views out to the heads of the Harbour which you won't see unless you're allocated floors above 19 or use the gym.

Dudemiller

I also sent an email to inquire, below is the reply from the assistant manager:
" Breakfast will primarily be in Feast Restaurant on Level 1 and Pre- dinner drinks & canapés will primarily be in The Gallery on Lobby Level"
I wonder if we will have free wi-fi in room
Best

m0hamed

I would believe the email over the operator then.

SPG offers free wifi to all members now.