Just finished two weeks in Australia and stayed at the Marriotts in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydney
Stay Length: one of two nights, one of one night
Points or Cash: points for both
Upgrade: Yes, executive level, opera view in both cases
Suite Upgrade: No
Platinum Arrival gift: Took points both times, but received chocolates from the GM both times.

Melbourne
Stay Length: five nights
Points or Cash: cash
Upgrade: Yes, executive level
Suite Upgrade: No
Platinum Arrival gift: Took points, but received, on various days, chocolates from the GM, bottle of wine from the Concierge, chocolates and a bottle of wine from the lounge staff.

As to lounges, we found, as others have, that the Sydney lounge was very crowded in the evenings and food seemed to disappear quickly. Wasn't so bad at breakfast. The printer was also broken, so we had to email things to the Concierge to get them printed; although that worked well as they did the printing and delivered it to the room straight away. The one real advantage I found in the Sydney lounge was that they cooked the sausages for breakfast with onions (yum!)

The lounge in Melbourne was much less crowded, and we thought it had better offerings. You could easily make dinner out of what was available in the evening, and it seemed to me that you had better access to the drinks over the course of the day. One thing I really liked here is that they had pistachios, walnuts and pecans out at breakfast. I like adding nuts to my cereal and this made for a nice selection (Sydney only had peanuts, which, of course, aren't really nuts). And, maybe it was because it was less crowded, we found the lounge staff in Melbourne more engaging and attentive.

Overall, we were satisfied with our stays at both hotels and will probably stay there again on future trips. But, we found Melbourne to be the nicer of the two. In fact, I sent the Melbourne GM an email thanking him for such a nice stay. Don't recall having ever done that before.

In February 2014, the waterfront Sebel Pier One Sydney will be reflagged as the Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...ph-collection/

So far, I can't tell the Marriott Rewards category.

It's a great to see the Autograph Collection growing. I like the concept of hotels with individual personalities, but tied in with Marriott's reservation system and Marriott Rewards.

Available for booking as of Feb 1st. Located in "The Rocks" section. Rates for basic room are showing $379A. As Horace mentions, no category listed yet.

If someone stays there, please do a stand-alone trip report thread to make it easier for FT search. (And of course let me know what's up w/ brekkie so I can update the exec lounge thread).

Cheers.

Any feedback regarding the Marriotts in Sydney?

This is a Category 7 hotel.

Any thoughts on how this hotel is situated for the tourist?

Was thinking about using my points to stay at the Autograph collection, but I think I'll opt for the marriot instead since I'll have 2 free nights at the hyatt on the water anyway

Here are plans for Sydney and Melbourne stays on my upcoming trip:
2 nights -hyatt Sydney -free from Credit card certificate
1 night -Intercontinental Sydney -free with IHG points
Then we're in Tas, then back to Melbourne.
1 night Melbourne Marriott with points
1 night on the great ocean road
1 night melbourne Marriott with points.
Then a bunch of nights in Darwin, kakadu, Cairns, on a boat, and Port douglas(Holiday inn in Cairns with points and Port douglas with starwood points)

Question is, I have 50k Club carlson points too, will I be happier at the radisson or the marriott in melbourne? Seems like the Marriott based on reviews, but you never know.
Hotel status I have is: Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum, Club Carlson Gold Status, and IHG Platinum status

The Radisson Blu Plaza Sydney is a beautiful property, on two stays I've been upgraded to a Studio Suite as GC gold, never stayed at the IC sydney due to their reputation of being extremely stingy with upgrades and nickel and dimming guests.

Another idea would to maybe switch the IC from Sydney to Melbourne and stay at the Radisson Blu Plaza in Sydney! The Radisson in Melbourne isn't as nice and not in a great location.

Thanks I might do that. IC melbourne didnt have the best availability for reward nights last I looked, but I'm waiting until my hyatt certs come in to make final decisions :)

Oh yeah, do you think booking a radisson room on points would affect my chances of getting an upgrade? I have never done any hotel stays with status before so this is all very new to me

It is a good location. It is more Millers Point than The Rocks imo, but you are right on the harbour and within walking distance of Circular Quay and The Rocks.

I was booked on points at the Radisson and was upgraded to the studio suite without asking on two occasions, from what I've heard your chances of any upgrade using points is virtually zero at the IC Sydney.

ok thanks :)

Comparing Marriott and Pier One
 

Can anyone comment on a comparison between the Pier One and Marriott Sydney? I'm gold, which seems more advantageous at the Marriott, with executive lounge and better views. OTOH, I'll be staying other nights at the Park Hyatt, which is closer to Pier One.

Here's a report on the Pier One.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22590636-post6.html

Cheers.