Four Points (Darling Harbour), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [Master Thread]
Has anyone got any tips for staying at the 4 Points in downtown Syd? We're flying in from Canada (for a vacation) and arriving at 07:20 and have requested an early check-in. I figure that once our bodies figure out what day/time it is it will be late in the afternoon that day. My husband & I have both been to AUZ before (but about 8 years ago) so we're looking for some cheap eats around the hotel before we start strolling around looking like tourists. How is that 4Pts btw? The rack rate on the room was outrageously high, but we got the room for SPG points... We're only in SYD befor two days before we move on..
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There isn't anything within a block of the 4Pts (except the restaurants at the hotel, good but not cheap), however a short walk takes you to Darling Harbour and the dozens of tourist-trap restaurants there (some quite good, but generally not cheap). For cheap you need to walk about a mile to chinatown.
The Sydney aquarium (very close to the hotel) is a must-see. Lots of other places in town, 2 days is not enough time to see 1/4 of them. |
Originally Posted by psandercock
The Sydney aquarium (very close to the hotel) is a must-see. Lots of other places in town, 2 days is not enough time to see 1/4 of them.
************** Chinatown- here we come! After 17 hours on a plane, I think a one mile walk to chinatown will do us good. and yes, I agree. I don't think I could 'see' SYD in less than a month! But two days it is, before we head over to NZ for two weeks. |
If your stay happens to be over the weekend, I would suggest you save those points.
Starwood is having a major sale right now and I just found the Four Points Sydney for July 21-23 and many nearby dates (through end of december) for 92 AUD/night, approximately 68 USD Bookable directly on Starwood site at http://tinyurl.com/mf6r8 |
Sydney=Harbor, the harbor cruise isn't cheap but it will give you a very nice feel for the fact that this is first and foremost a waterfront city. Chinatown is much less than a mile, and has a lot of authentic cuisine, worth a wander. You might also find it interesting to visit the fish market...
We also enjoyed walking around downtown (i.e. in the middle of town, as opposed to over by the harbor); very interesting "malls" set inside old buildings. And you might even look for some of Australia's best bargains: opals, and wine...not necessarily in that order :) |
Just walk up Market Street and you will find QVB (Queen Victoria Building). Theres an Asian foodcourt in the basement. Its a lot closer than Chinatown. Walk a little further and you will find Sydney Central Plaza which has one of the most impressive foodcourt in SYD.
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4 points at the moment is having promotional rates. For cheap eats, your best bets is to go to chinatown or use the food courts.
cheers |
Doyles (watsons bay & harbour) is also recommened if you like seafood.
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For a morning arrival, if you walk out the front door of the hotel and turn left, there is a decent deli about a half block down (actually attached to the small shopping arcade accessible through the Four Points where you can get a light breakfast or lunch. I always find a spot of raisin toast will hold me over a couple of hours until I get to where lunch will be.
If you need to get your bearings about town and "see" a lot of stuff, all of the tour companies have a lunchtime harbour cruise that departs out of Darling Harbour. Check around for what they include... the price points between them are usually only a few dollars, but some include a raw bar or drinks. The tour companies all sell an add-on tour in the afternoon that is a bus trip out to some of the further points like Bondi Beach. I did it the first time I was in Sydney and it was great to get my bearings and see stuff I wouldn't otherwise see, but otherwise not necessary. Since I was jet-lagged that day, however, it was nice to just get on a bus and doze in between stops and the tour wound up before dinner time, leaving us plenty of time to do other things later in the day. |
Just back from my third stay at the 4Points. It is probably my favorite
Starwood property in SYD, but others may feel otherwise. Have used the Westin and the Sheraton on the Park as well, and they are great properties, but I think I get more for my money (or SPG points) at the 4Points. If you have elite SPG status you can request to be upgraded to a Maritime Studio at the 4Points (or you can use some extra SPG points). This will give you a large room with a balcony and an awesome view of Darling Harbour. The higher floor the better, obviously. There is a microwave in the room and some basic utensiles, in case you want to do some in-room cooking (nah - didn't think so). On the other hand, you are only in SYD for a couple of nights so you may not care about the upgrade, unless it is complimentary. But do ask for a harbour view room, as the "city view" is directly into the building across the street. Annoyingly, on my first two visits I was charged for minibar use post- departure, in spite of not even having opened the minibar. The charges were minor (A$ 10.00 - 12.00) but incorrect. E-mails to the hotel corrected the "mistakes", but it was an unnecessary hassle. |
only spg plat members get the suites. as a spg gold member, the upgrade for me usually consists of a view change from city view to harbour view... thats all....
also this is a former nikko hotel so many rooms differ in size |
Originally Posted by trekkie
as a spg gold member, the upgrade for me usually consists of a view change from city view to harbour view... thats all....
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Originally Posted by trekkie
...also this is a former nikko hotel so many rooms differ in size
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I've stayed here alot.. Central Plaza is my choice as another person noted above. I also like to walk to the Quay and eat in the rocks.. It's a nice walk either to get breakfast or following.. On the weekend, they will also have an open air market that opens about 10 or 11 am.. It will pass the time until your room is available.. A nice thing to do is to take the ferry to Manly, which provides excellent harbor views and you end a short walk to the Atlantic Ocean. You can also go to Bondi on the bus or via the train. The train leaves from QVB which is close to the hotel. Another neat place to go for lunch is the fish market.. Great sushi and other fish.. Busy on the weekend. A short walk from the hotel.. For a nice night out, I really enjoy Wildfire which is in the Quay overlooking the opera house. You can also just go there to sit outside overlooking the opera house.. It's a fun city with plenty of neat spots to visit... Enjoy the trip..
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Originally Posted by DZMAN
I've stayed here alot.. Central Plaza is my choice as another person noted above. I also like to walk to the Quay and eat in the rocks.. It's a nice walk either to get breakfast or following.. On the weekend, they will also have an open air market that opens about 10 or 11 am.. It will pass the time until your room is available.. A nice thing to do is to take the ferry to Manly, which provides excellent harbor views and you end a short walk to the Atlantic Ocean. You can also go to Bondi on the bus or via the train. The train leaves from QVB which is close to the hotel. Another neat place to go for lunch is the fish market.. Great sushi and other fish.. Busy on the weekend. A short walk from the hotel.. For a nice night out, I really enjoy Wildfire which is in the Quay overlooking the opera house. You can also just go there to sit outside overlooking the opera house.. It's a fun city with plenty of neat spots to visit... Enjoy the trip..
walk from Manly to the Atlantic Ocean. A walk to the Pacific Ocean on the other hand is quite short from the Manly ferry terminal. |
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