turtlemichael

For the last three nights, December 24, 25 and 26, it has been packed out with lines for hot food and drinks and with it difficult to find a seat.. It has been an unpleasant experience which we have left soon after arriving. The staff have however been excellent and coped well. Hopefully it is less busy when you stay.

ozztraveller

I always thought it would be quite around the 24-25 but did stay once on the 26 and vowed to avoid it in the future. As I am only staying one night I was very lucky to receive a relax room for tomorrow night so I am lucky to have a nice room to go back to if the lounge is busy.

turtlemichael

If you see us at breakfast in the morning say hello. I am quite identifiable with a bandage on my cheek. Long story!

FLYMSY

kirkwoodj

ozztraveller

Lifts require room key to access but if your room is not available front desk will give you a key. I use to check in via lounge but now go via front desk, plus have had better luck with being offered an upgrade although tis time of year would be next to impossible without paying extra.

FLYMSY

FLYMSY

ozztraveller

The restaurant is really aimed at business not tourist so it closes every year this time and gets a spring clean.

FLYMSY

moa999

And while not as nice a space (views to Pitt St rather than QVB and George St), you get the same options, and arguably much more room in the conference room setup, the restuarant is rather compact for breakfast dining

moa999

You can also get the Opal card at the train station itself (with minimum topup of $35 which basically covers a return - put in place to stop a rort of putting cards into negative balance - something that will stop at the airport in early Jan)
However as of early December 2018, if only wanting to take the train - you can just tap on and off with any contactless Mastercard, Visa or Amex (although recognise some US banks are a bit behind on this front) for the same price as a trip using Opal.

Still worth getting the Opal if you plan on taking buses in Sydney (contactless rollout still a few months away) as there are a few more transfer and weekly cap benefits available.

Airport gate fee is a function of funding. When built in the late 90s prior to the Olympics the two airport station (and two regular stations) were privately funded under a 30-year concession. Some talk of it being reduced, but the line itself is at capacity at peak periods so there is some reluctance to induce more demand. (Can be avoided if you've got a bit of time by taking the 400 or 420 bus to Mascot / Rockdale stations instead and transferring to train)

As for the lounges over holiday period - always packed, the ratio of leisure - business travellers changes, so the usage of lounges increases substantially, even if the same number of rooms that notionally have access.
Definitely recommended to get to the lounge before 6 and stake out a table, or after 7 when the rush subsides somewhat.

sbiddle

I'm curious how they're planning to stop this? Not letting you tag off at the airport stations if you go into a negative balance?

While I understand the reasons for the fee it is a rort - and it's supid for the simple reason if there are 2 or more people traveling together it's cheaper to catch a train to Mascott or Wolli Creek and catch an Uber!

Red259

I was looking to use points at this property for a trip in April but on a 4 night stay every single night has a different point requirement. Is it a situation where I should book it ahead of time on points because the price in points will only go up? If I book it now on points and the price in points does go down in the future can I just cancel and rebook at that time?

ozztraveller

There some pretty good sale rates available from the 21st if your dates are set. You can cancel point bookings and rebook once they are back in your account if you do not have enough for a second booking.