sally

I am going to Sydney in February for 11 nights. I have narrowed my choice of hotels down to Maestri Towers (corner of Sussex and Bathurst), a 5-star suite hotel; and Pentura on Pitt, a 4-star hotel on Pitt between Liverpool and Bathurst. Both are in the Central Business District and very conveniently located. Has anyone stayed at either of these hotels? Do you recommend them? Maestri Towers is available for about $73 US, which is extremely reasonable for a 5-star hotel--almost too reasonable, so I am a little suspicious! Pentura is available for about $60 US. Thank you for your help.

Lucy

I'm a bit surprised that Maestri Towers is being advertised as a 5 star hotel as it is I believe a new residential apartment building (which may explain the good price). If I was coming to sydney on holiday I personally would prefer to stay at a more northern end of the CBD closer to Circular Quay & the Rocks but the price you are getting does seem very good (I don't know anything about the Pentura so can't comment about it). I just looked up a web site with some details about the place(http://www.theoaksrhm.com.au/pages/maestri.html) & just be aware the '10 minute walk' to the Rocks & CQ is definitely an exageration - its closer to 20.

Alan

Hi Sally!<BR>I had never until this minute heard of Maestri Towers, but the area is only &quot;conveniently located&quot; if your main interest in Sydney is Darling Harbour. Otherwise, you're just at the bottom of a hill in a rather seedy district, and it's a bus or train ride (but walk up the hill for three or four blocks first) to get to the water. The hotel itself may be five-star, but when you step outside, it's two-star wherever you look.<BR>The Pentura on Pitt is, frankly, overpriced at $US60. I have never been inside the hotel, but I have seen it from the street, and it is in a very seedy part of Pitt Street indeed... only a block or two from the George Street entertainment strip, but at night you could be a world away... a bit like those side streets in New York which are only two minutes walk from Broadway, but still you don't feel all that safe. You could do better by walking a block back towards the &quot;nice&quot; part of Sydney and getting a room at the Park Regis, which is no great shakes, either, but which is, if memory serves, similar in age and class to the Pentura and is in a much more pleasant area. Better still, try the Grand in Hunter Street.... easily as nice as the Pintura, in a far better area than either of your choices, only seven minutes walk from the harbour, and very close to convenience shops.<BR>If you do choose the Pintura, be aware that the Monorail goes right past it. Don't let them put you in a room that looks straight onto the track!<BR>Frankly, I think I would prefer to stay at the &quot;Y&quot; at Whitlam Square than go for either of your two budget choices... but, then again, if the Maestri really IS a five-star hotel, then this would probably change my mind. Let us know how you get on... maybe I will need to add the Maestri to my list of recommendations (I doubt if the Pentura will ever make it there!)

sally

Thanks very much to both of you for your opinions and insights--I really appreciate it. Originally, I was going to reserve all 11 nights at either Maestri Towers or Pentura on Pitt. However, based on your input, I am now going to make a 3-night reservation at the Maestri, check out some other hotels first-hand once I arrive in Sydney, and then make a decision as to where to stay for the next 8 nights. By the way, this will be my 3rd trip to Sydney in the last 4 years. The first time I was with a tour group and we stayed 3 nights in Kings Cross. Last February I came alone and stayed at the Goldspear at Capitol Square. I liked the hotel and enjoyed my daily walk up George Street to Circular Quay. Since Sydney is such a great city with a wide range of accommodations, I wanted to try a different hotel this time. I am traveling solo again and although I want to stay in the CBD, I don't mind walking several blocks to get to Circular Quay. So Alan and Lucy,thank you once again for the information and I am looking forward to my trip!

Lucy

No problem Sally! Have a fantastic trip &amp; Happy New Year!

Alan

Hi, again, Sally!<BR>Your new plan sounds like a good idea... since you have already stayed down the Chinatown end of Sydney, and are now staying near the Darling Harbour area, may I suggest that for your last eight nights you look at somehere on the north side towards Circular Quay and the Rocks? The Grand in Hunter Street is a bargain-basement choice, at $90 for a single room; the Mercantile in the Rocks would probably be around the same price, and it's a great location, almost under the Bridge, but, since it's mainly a drinking hotel, you might find it a bit noisy downstairs (and you can't go far upstairs, as it's only about three storeys high!) It does, however, have lots of atmosphere... an Irish pub.<BR>Another choice would be the Australian up near the entrance to the Bridge Climb... a very old, traditional hotel that offers bed-and-breakfast. A little more expensive, but probably worth the extra, is the Lord Nelson Brewery. A recent poster here (see the Sydney Report just below this post) scored a room here for $120 a night, even though the rate they quoted me was $180. It's a great location, very quiet and historic... it's the oldest hotel in Sydney. And it is right near the Madison, where you can get a view of the Bridge for $118 a night... another &quot;historic&quot; building, but be warned that it's no oil painting, and even though it would probably be my first choice were I staying in Sydney, I seldom recommmend it, because, well, my tastes are a bit different from the norm... I actually like run-down old places which haven't changed the furniture or even the wallpaper since 1920. (just don't look too closely at the fire escape!)<BR>Have a great time!

Alan

All those prices above are in Australian dollars... and it's the AUSTRALIA trip report, below, not the Sydney trip report, which tells you about the Lord Nelson Brewery.

Alan

I tell you, I'm getting too old for this kind of work... or maybe it's just the effects of the New Year's Eve celebrations.... that hotel isn't the Madison, it's the Palisade! The Madison is up near Central Station (and is also quite a good choice). The Palisade is like nothing you have ever seen (and has its own website on www.palisadehotel.com. It's the one with the view of the Bridge on one side and of Darling Harbour on the other, but it's still a budget choice! Sorry for the confusion!

Julie

Hi Sally, are you still there? I'm just wondering whether your final decision is still 3 nights at the Maestri Towers. I had similar thoughts to yours, after seeing the pictures of the lovely rooms: &quot;why is this so cheap compared with some other hotels/apts.?&quot; and &quot;if it's a seedy area, why would they build a new hotel there?&quot; Thanks also to Alan for all your advice; I've seen your postings before, and I think they will be very helpful in arranging our upcoming trip to OZ (March/April). We haven't booked a hotel in Sydney yet, but don't see the point of spending hundreds$$$ every night when we don't intend to spend a lot of time in the room. It seems that the bus and ferry system is quite good, no matter where one stays. Anyway, I'm still interested in hearing suggestions, and am really looking forward to the trip, and getting away from the frozen north!!!<BR>Julie <BR><BR>

Sally

Julie,<BR><BR>Yes, I'm still here and yes, I plan to book the first 3 nights at the Maestri. Of course, the cost per night is greater when you book for less than 7 nights, but that's OK. I would rather pay a few extra dollars than stay for 11 nights at a hotel I really dislike. <BR>I have a short list of hotels I'm considering, and I will spend my first jet-lagged day checking them out. They are all in the same general area, so it shouldn't be too bad. Like you, I don't need a high-priced room or lavish amenities, but I don't want to be stuck in a hovel either. I am greatly looking forward to my trip to Sydney and I'm sure you are, too.