Central location and easy access to transport and sightseeing spots have already made the Marque Hotel a decent choice for reasonably-priced hotels in sometimes expensive Sydney--but don't head back to stay there until the current renovations are finished, due to be completed by the end of August 2008.
But if you are in Sydney before then it might be worth heading to the Marque for dinner, because they've just opened the Script restaurant adjacent to the lobby.
All right, we've found our ultimate hotel getaway: but now we need a million dollars. The Sydney Hilton has started up a Million Dollar Package which, just like it sounds, is a hotel package costing a million dollars. (A million Australian dollars, that is--which is just US$960,000 at the moment, if that makes you feel any better).
The Million Dollar Package is one of those ultimate luxury deals, with a few rather expensive surprises. Yet we're not quite sure who would book it other than Montgomery Brewster who needs to spend $30 million in 30 days.
Popular Sydney hotel, the Park Hyatt Sydney, might face a few changes in the future. It has just been sold to a private Japanese investor for a record price for the Australian market.
The final price for this posh hotel was A$201.6 million (almost US$190 million), which works out at almost US$1.2 million per room, the highest per-room price ever paid for a hotel in Australia. We're glad the per night rates translate to being a bit cheaper (although at around $730 a night, we probably shouldn't use the word cheap).
No word yet on whether the new owner has plans for any alterations--though since it's running pretty successfully at the moment, we'd tend to adopt the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto. Some are saying, though, that it's the beginning of another round of increased Japanese investment in Australian hotels.
Easter's coming early this year, and in Sydney as well as hunting for chocolate Easter eggs or greeting the Easter bilby (the Australian animal version of the Easter bunny), they'll be celebrating the Darling Harbour Hoopla Festival as well.
Hoopla is a circus and acrobatic festival that will see performers juggling, busking, abseiling and doing aerial stunts and slapstick comedy routines at many locations around the Darling Harbour precinct, all for free, and it sounds like a good laugh and a lot of fun.
We've already figured out that the Observatory Hotel in Sydney well deserves its spot on Travel+Leisure's list as the best hotel in Australia. So we just wanted to give you one more reason to try it out. This time, it's because they've combined an environmentally respectful event with a great meal in their Galileo Restaurant.
The deal all takes place on March 29, 2008, when Earth Hour strikes. Earth Hour is a green movement started in Sydney last year, when private individuals and businesses agree to turn off their lights and other appliances for one hour. This year it's between 8pm and 9pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus a bunch of other cities including Chicago, Toronto and Copehnhagen.
At the Observatory Hotel, as well as encouraging guests to turn off the lights and air conditioners in their rooms, the restaurant will have no lights too. Instead, they're offering a special candle-lit dinner, with the seven-course `Dine in the Dark' degustation menu with matching wines, for A$155 (US$140).
No menu selections required, it's all been chosen for you by their chef and sommelier, so a lack of light won't matter too much. Presumably they'll still be using electricity in the kitchen, or your meal would come out a bit cold.
It's a while back that we first heard about the Hilton Sydney's special deal known as the Provocateur package, but somehow we let this intriguing package slip our mind. This week a Sydney Morning Herald journo tried it out and reported back on what exactly is involved in being provocateurs for the night, and it all sounds rather tasteful and a lot of fun.
Apparently, the Hilton says, Australians are "desperate" to spice up their sex lives, and that's why the Provocateur package is becoming a big success. Of course, the Sydney Hilton needed some spicing up too, and after extensive renovations and additions like this package, it finally seems to be back on track.
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
While the number 1 position of the Four Seasons Sydney Hotel on the Travel + Leisure world's best list might be in dispute, you can't dispute the fact that there are rooms in the Four Seasons with truly spectacular views.
If being able to take in the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and magnificent Sydney Harbour itself doesn't qualify as a killer view, then nothing ever would. Stroll the historic Rocks area, walk to the city center and shops, or just gaze out your window at the best views of Sydney--the choice is yours.
Nightly rates at the Four Seasons Sydney start from A$295 (US$260) per night on the weekend, including breakfast, or you can go for a "Stay Longer" package at A$350 (US$300) per night (room only), where you'll get the fourth night free. Which means more time for gazing over the harbour.
This week, we're looking at some of the best places around the world to spend New Year's Eve. Got a suggestion for ringing in 2008, let us know.
If you're considering the Jaunted suggestion of spending New Year's Eve in Sydney--especially because the time difference means you get to celebrate sooner--then we have a hotel package that might suit.
The Novotel Darling Harbour is well-located with fantastic harbour views (that means fireworks views, check-out this daytime view above.) and they've got a few special things happening on New Year's Eve.
The most delicious-sounding part is their massive Seafood Buffet meal. Starting from 8.00pm on New Year's Eve, you can get a buffet dinner including King prawns, Sydney rock oysters, lemon coriander black mussels, chilli lime baby octopus and blue swimmer crabs, and the list just goes on and on.
Local beers, house wines and soft drinks are included, although we reckon you'd need to eat and drink quite a lot to get A$199 (US$175) value from it--but of course you're also paying for the location, and it is New Year's Eve.
Accommodation and dinner packages aren't available--you'll have to book into the hotel separately--but be aware that during this peak season (it's summer in Australia, as well as the holiday season) there is a minimum booking requirement of three nights. Rooms start at A$229 (US$200) including breakfast, but you'll have to pay more if you want your room to have a harbor view.
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by amandak
