Four Points Darling Harbour (Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour Sydney)

Member Name: emmakate06

Product:	Four Points by Sheraton Darling Harbour Sydney
Date:	24/02/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location, location, location

Disadvantages: No swimming pool

I stayed at this hotel whilst on a round the world trip in October 2006. The Sheraton Darling Harbour is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour from the airport depending on traffic, we had transfers included in our holiday so im not sure how much a cab would cost, but id imagine they have set tariffs from the airport to Sydney itself.

The hotel itself is actually the largest hotel in Australia and boasts a total of 630 rooms including 45 suites. The majority of the rooms overlook Darling Harbour with the remainder having a city view which I found to be just as pleasant. It is in a great location just outside the city centre, within 5 minutes walking distance and is situated directly on darling harbour which offers fantastic views. The monorail is situated a very short walk away if you didnt fancy the 5 minute walk into the centre and this runs at regular intervals.

There are 8 different types of rooms at the hotel which vary in cost, these are:
City Side Room
Harbour View Room
Maritime Studio
Deluxe Harbour View Room
Darling Harbour Suite
City Side Suite
Spa Studio
Governer Suite

I stayed in a City Side Room which was very spacious and nicely decorated. The room featured floor to ceiling windows, climate control, safe, laundry bag, ironing board and iron, cable tv, in room movies, hairdryer and high speed internet to name a few. The bed was extremely comfortable and you have a choice of 3 types of pillows - feather, hypo allergenic and foam. There is a daily maid service and I found all staff to be courteous and polite. The bathroom was large, clean and well maintained and also featured a retractable washing line. There is no pool at this hotel which was a shame, but there is a fully equipped gym featuring all the latest equipment.

There are several bars and restaurants attached to this hotel. In the main foyer you can find the lobby lounge which is ideal for drinks and snacks, there is also the Dundee Arms, again this is ideal for drinks and lighter snacks and meals. The main restaurant is the Corn Exchange which offers all day dining and a seafood buffet. I would recommend eating out most nights at one of the many restaurants on darling harbour as I felt the hotel to be extremely overpriced. They do offer lovely meals just very pricey. We had a full english breakfast every morning at a small cafe on the harbour for nothing more than about £3.50 each and this included a drink and toast which is obviously great value.

The reception offer a postal service for those wishing to send postcards and a currency exchange facility, and there is concierge facilities to help arrange trips locally or further afield.

Darling harbour itself offers a wide range of activities from boat rides to the Sydney Aquarium and a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. The easiest way to explore Sydney is by boat which is a very fast and cost efficient way of getting around. You can buy hopper tickets which allow you to get on and off at different destinations throughout the day and they stop at most of the main local attractions such as Darling Harbour, Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo and Luna Park. The Sydney Bridge Walk is a must, it is very busy though so I would recommend booking beforehand to ensure you get a place rather than being dissapointed and missing out.

This hotel isnt the cheapest in the area though is in a fantastic location to explore. Overall I think for the price it costs to stay they could offer a few more hotel facilites, but it is well maintained and clean and I would definitely stay here again.

Summary: Pricey but nice