FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Please post your IHG Rewards Experiences 2023
Old Dec 1, 2023 | 11:13 pm
  #165  
:D!
1M
50 Countries Visited
100 Nights
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW London and NW Sydney
Programs: BA Diamond, Hilton Bronze, A3 Diamond, IHG *G
Posts: 7,133
Holiday Inn St Mary's (Greater Sydney, Australia)

Holiday Inn St Mary's (Greater Sydney, Australia)

What is your Priority Club status?

Diamond

Were you (or for multi-stayers are you generally) happy with the hotel/stay?
Yes

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
King - no upgrade
All rooms allow at least 3 adults, including the room with 2 singles (not sure how that works).
We have a child who can sleep in the same bed, so we were able to add him to the booking instead of just booking for 2 adults and hoping for the best (to be fair it has only been a problem at one hotel and they didn't charge extra in the end).

How are the rooms?
A normal modular HI room. Modern and clean, quite spacious. Good air con, windows not openable. Comfortable bed. Wide table, very large bathroom, very large shower area and sink. Many power points, good wifi. Fridge with a small carton of UHT milk. Free bottled water.

Kettle was dirty. There was no light in the middle of the ceiling, only various lamps so the room was quite dark at night.

How is the exec. lounge?
No lounge

What was good and what was bad?
All staff were excellent.
Large car park with no restrictions.
Computer/printer in lobby.
No restaurant/bar in the hotel building itself. The adjacent building (20 seconds walk, covered) is the local RSL club with food and entertainment, no charging to room available and need to show ID to enter in the afternoon/evening.

Received welcome points as well as diamond breakfast. I believe the club is used exclusively for hotel breakfast in the morning 0630-0930.

Not much bad to say except that the location is not great if you aim to visit Sydney city, however it might be good for someone visiting the Blue Mountains.
There isn't anything else walkable except the club. If driving to/from Sydney city you are likely to encounter commuting traffic from/until the Blacktown area.
It is possible to access by public transport, two buses run half-hourly on weekdays to St Marys station as well as Mt Druitt/Penrith (restricted services at other times).

The breakfast buffet is a bit limited and only average quality, but there was still some variety. Standard English breakfast items, cereals, yoghurt, warmed pastries, many different types of milk. One morning the staff offered poached/fried eggs (only powdered scrambled available on buffet). Hot drinks were served to table.

Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
The usual advance purchase rate is A$160-170 but this stops being available around 2 days before.
As I wasn't able to book that early, I used 19k points instead.
I would recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to be based in this area or doesn't mind the location.

Photos of room here
Spoiler
 

Last edited by :D!; Dec 2, 2023 at 2:43 pm Reason: trying out spoiler tag
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