flyer121

I would like a good place based on best tourist location in each city. Thank you for your help

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AA - GOLD
DELTA - SM
UAL - PE
HILTON - GOLD
STARWOOD - GOLD

number_6

All of the starwoods have an excellent location, it all depends on what you want. The 2 Westins are the most centrally located so are a safe choice, but really every single hotel has some advantage for choosing it. You'll have to do your own research (or specify what you mean by best).

Ken hAAmer

In Sydney, the Four Points Darling Harbour. (Yes, that's right, the Four Points.)

robertw477

The Westin Sydney is in a great location. 5 min walk to Circular Quay. Great hotel. Also close to subways and city buses. I got one of the Heritage rooms.

Rob

tinkybelle

I do love the Westin but the Sheraton on the park seems to upgrade to a suite a lot more and the spread at night is really exceptional now.
And the staff are really friendly and accommodating and the free internet is a real plus.
And the SOTP is much cheaper,
they have a 3 day rate with full breakky and valet park for $699.

jchand

Yes I agree with Ken. I tried the W , The Westin & the 4 points , and $ for $ the 4 points was my best experience ( as plat). Shame there is no club lounge, but kids are not allowed in the Westin lounge in the evening any way.

PresRDC

The showers in the Westin Sydney stole my heart on my last stay there. Whenever in SYD, this is my hotel, if for no other reason, the showers.

Doc Fraud

The 4 pts used to be a Nikko before it was rebranded as a *wood property, so it is truly appointed like a top notch hotel. As others have mentioned it is really a terrific value especially if you get any room facing the harbour as the view is excellent.

One caveat about this property is that the phone system is not great for a modem connection, and they do not have hi-speed yet. It wasn't always bad because I have gotten modem speed in the mid 40's but in the last couple of years I'd get 28.8K on a good day? No biggie if you are on R&R, but if you are working and expect to exchange a lot of e-mail traffic that might contain large attachments, another property might be in order.

Still I've stayed there many times and I'll stay there again, unless I'm expecting to be sending large contracts back and forth.

DF


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....airline economics: The only industry where the value of a perishable goes up as the best before date approaches....

Miles8

Is Darling Harbor close to any of the touristy spots? Or is Sheraton on the Park more convenient for a tourist?

jchand

I would say Darling Harbor is a better location.

iggyv

The Darling Harbor 4pts is not far from touristy spots and considering there is quick ferry transport between Darling Harbor and Circular Quay, you're not far from there either.

In addition, we just stayed at the Sheraton Southgate in MEL and it was a fantastic experience. I hadn't yet gotten my Gold credential, so I showed them my *wood Plat card and received a corner room with spectacular views of downtown and the Yarra River and access to the club lounge offering nice European-style breakfasts, coffee/cappucino/tea and pasteries throughout the day, afternoon tea at 2:30pm and complementary bar from 5:30 to 7:30 each evening with a good selection of hors d'ouveres. The bedding was superb with feather pillows and smooth, high threadcount sheets.

We walked over to the Westin and the lobby looked very nice. However, the Southgate is located in an area that has lots of mall shops and sidewalk cafe restaurants as well as a casino very close if that's something of interest. There's a pedestrian bridge from one side of the Yarra River to the other right at the hotel, so access to the trains and downtown Melbourne's commercial areas on the other side is very easy.

number_6

Darling Harbor is the touristy spot (it was purpose built to be a tourist trap). But not too obnoxious, and convenient to Chinatown. For people new to Sydney (and don't know their way around) it is probably the best location for their first stay.
A word of warning about the 4Points: it was originally built as a Nikko, this means the rooms are in the Japanese hotel style. Specifically the smallest room is 1/3 the size of the largest room. Guests with SPG status get the largest rooms, and think the rooms are spacious. Those who aren't Plat or Gold get the smaller rooms, and think that the hotel is really cramped and sub-standard. No other SPG property has such a wide range of room sizes and quality as this one (and never will). Bottom line is that half the rooms are great, the other half are crummy (and the hotel itself is the best 4Pts in the world, it is really run to Sheraton standard). The seafood buffet served in the lobby is remarkably good.

room service

I agree on four points. It has the best buffet and as a Plat they upgraded me to a huge suite overlooking the harbor.

under the clocks

Would agree with all comments regarding the 4Points. Have stayed there on 15 occasions in the past 2 years, and as a Plat member have had a corner suite with harbour views. Well located for touring, and a short stroll to excellent dining in Chinatown. Westin Sydney is excellent, located in the heart of the CBD. Frequented by a large number of senior corporate types, so upgrades are less frequent. Like all W's the Sydney version is funky, but IMO overpriced. Great spot, but a litlle isolated in terms of immediate access to the commercial attractions. 4Points has it on value and treatment of SPG members.

shortfinals

4pts for me definitely. As plat, never failed to get an upgrade to a suite, and the suites have been progressively getting better all the time to boot, with the last one being a Governor suite. The operations director even came up to my room and introduced himself. Fantastic property with great location. Not only is it on darling harbour, it's also a short walk up the hill to the QVB and Pitt st Mall. Circular Quay and the Opera House/Harbour Brigde are a little further away, but not unwalkable. IMHO, close to a perfect blend of price/location/SPG recognition.