A few months ago I won a night for two at the Sydney Harbour Marriott (thanks to the girls at Klick Communications). It was a brilliant prize and I couldn’t think of a better time to use it than my birthday weekend.
The Sydney Harbour Marriott is located in one of the most stunning spots in Sydney. It is located less than a minute’s walk from Circular Quay, less than five minutes from QVB and overlooks one of Australia’s most beautiful sights – Sydney Harbour including The Opera House.
The staff were lovely and efficient and within a few minutes of arriving at the front desk, we were in the lift on our way to our room. I was busting with excitement – I really, really, really love staying in hotels!
The Opera Suite was spacious, modern and had killer views. As we entered the room, we walked into a lounge area with a small dining table, a very comfy looking chair (with matching ottoman) and huge windows overlooking the city and Sydney Harbour. Connected to the lounge was a very large bedroom and ensuite complete with a king-sized bed, robe and slippers. As Beau checked out the pillow menu, I was already swapping the heels for slippers (many of my readers would know that I have an obsession with hotel slippers) and sat by the window taking in the sight of beautiful Sydney Harbour.
A few hours later we really had to force ourselves to get up and get ready for dinner out at a local restaurant. It would have been lush just lying in bed watching the Olympics with some room service but we pushed on and ended up having a lovely dinner at one of the many, many restaurants within walking distance to the hotel.
On our return to the hotel room we had a lovely little surprise waiting for us, a note from the Manager and a dessert platter filled with chocolates, strawberries and macarons. This dessert platter was the perfect end to a fantastic day.
After a very restful sleep I threw open the curtains and was blown away by the view. I was born in Sydney and have lived here most of my life and I don’t think I will ever get sick of looking at Sydney Harbour.
I chucked on my new birthday present (Nike’s) and hit the pavement for a walk around the Opera House and Mrs Macquarie’s chair. I think it’s a must-do for anyone staying at the Marriott, whether you’re a tourist new to the city, visiting from another state or having a romantic weekend getaway, go and take in the sights of the beautiful city.
After my walk I went and checked out the rest of the hotel’s facilities including the health club and indoor pool. Disappointed that I didn’t bring my togs, but my patrons are thanking their lucky stars… middle of winter my skin can reflect some serious glare!
I think that hotel stays have to be totally indulgent, so Beau and I made a rule long ago that when it comes to booking a hotel, the hotel has to have a buffet breakfast for us to pig out on.
We have been to a few buffets in our time and this one was pretty good. There were lots of options available and all empty dishes were promptly replaced. What I loved most about the Marriott’s breakfast was that they provided a chef who cooked made-to-order eggs, omelette’s, pancakes and waffles. The omelette was delicious, one of the best I’ve had in a while.
It was depressing leaving our room, those views and the buffet breakfasts, but it was back to reality for us and my new hotel slippers.
After my stay I interviewed Marriott General Manager Jennifer Brown about her hotel.
What can hotel guests expect when they stay at Sydney Harbour Marriott?
Guests staying at the Sydney Harbour Marriott can expect genuine caring service from our associates who will always go the extra mile to create an exceptional Australian experience and meet the individual needs of each guest whether travelling for business or pleasure.
How does the Marriott go above and beyond to ensure guests have a great stay?
“Hosting” our guests is an integral part of our Marriott Service Philosophy, we want our guests to feel as though the hotel is their home and anticipating and exceeding each individual guest needs is very important. For example, recently a guest was in the elevator one morning coming back from a morning walk around the Opera House and Gardens, an associate was in the elevator and greeted the guest and enquired as to the purpose of their visit to Sydney. On discovering that it was the guests birthday weekend with her family and was running the “City to Surf” for the first time, the associate immediately arranged a birthday card and cake to be delivered to the guest with a “good luck” message for the big race. However, our associate didn’t’ stop there, she took it upon herself to make the experience special for the guest, the following morning after the race, she obtained a copy of the local Sydney newspaper which prints all participants in the race with their ranking and time of the race. She then proceeded to cut out the article and place it in a frame and deliver it to the guest as a memento of her first “City to Surf” race. This is a great example of how we strive to make every guest stay a personalized experience.
Who’s the Marriott’s typical visitor?
Sydney is such a global destination and a gateway city therefore The Sydney Harbour Marriott is perfectly situated for both business and leisure guests. Located within footsteps of both the central business district offers not only a modern and hi-tech experience for the business traveller who needs easy access to the city, however allows our business travellers to take advantage of our unique location to maximize down time and explore the harbour and icons of Sydney. Leisure travellers can explore the harbour side icons such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge located only a stone’s throw away from the hotel and with Circular Quay on the doorstep allows leisure guests easy access to explore the harbour, beaches and transportation networks in and around Sydney.
So whether you’re visiting Sydney from another country or another state, or you’re just looking for a night away from home, the Sydney Harbour Marriott is the perfect hotel for you!
To book in your stay or for more information, visit their website here.
What do you like most about hotels?
Disclaimer: Although this hotel stay was won as a prize, the post was written in an unbiased and objective manner
