We visited Sydney in January 2004 and spent three wonderful nights staying at this 5* hotel.
Location ----------
The Sydney Four Seasons hotel is located overlooking the city's famous Rocks district. This gives you very easy access to the ferries which can take you to all the other resorts. It is also a short and pleasant stroll to the famous Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is also close to the city's shopping and business districts.
To reach the hotel from the airport there is a shuttle service for a small fee and it will take about 20-30 minutes. If you really want to make it a trip to remember the hotel can provide a limousine service.
The hotel does have on site parking.
Arrival --------
The reception area of the hotel is huge! Even though we arrived from the UK on the early morning flight they were more than happy to let us check in at 9am even though policy says that rooms are not available until 3pm. Check in is quick and efficient and the staff are extremely welcoming. In fact every time we passed this receptionist she would greet us personally.
Concierge which is located in the reception area are able to organize almost anything. On of the highlights they organized for us was a two hour tour around Sydney on the back of a Harley Davidson!
Accommodation --------------------
The hotel offers 531 en-suite rooms and suites with all the usual facilities. Views from the guest rooms afford perfect scenes of some of Sydney's most famous landmarks, ranging from the Opera House and Bridge to Darling Harbour and beyond. For something extra special the full harbour view rooms are spectacular. They have full floor to ceiling windows from which you can see both the Opera House and the Bridge.
Other rooms range from basic double or twin bedded rooms with marble bathrooms and a seating area, up to the luxurious Presidential Suite on the top floor of the hotel which has two bedrooms, an eight seater dining room and kitchen. There is a very wide range of room types available and certainly one to suit every pocket and occasion.
In room facilities include hairdryers, telephone, radio, colour cable TV, mini-bar/fridge, air-conditioning/heating and safe. 24hour room service is also available as is the option to have a full four course meal served by a personal waiter in you room. 100% cotton towels are provided and they are massive and along with bathrobes this was very welcome having spent 24 hours on a plane.
The hotel also offers and Executive Club which is located high up in the hotel. For the payment of a small fee guests can have access to a full buffet breakfast, all day drinks and snacks, evening drinks and canapés and a free pressing service. This might be worth the cost if you are here for sometime, but on a short visit you will probably be spending very little time in the hotel preferring to sample the delights of this city.
Dining --------
Breakfast can either ordered as room service, or taken in the hotel's restaurant where breakfast is a very extensive buffet offering all the usual breakfast goodies. Food ranges from the traditional English cooked breakfast to Japanese food.
The hotels premier restaurant is Kable's where lunch and dinner is served. The restaurant is located on the second floor of the hotel and can be reached via the sweeping grand staircase which dominates reception. The restaurant offers modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on seafood, shellfish and beef. Signature dishes include:
Salmon pastrami with grissini and cranberry Gnocchi of taleggio with semi dried tomato and sage
The restaurant now has a very popular chefs table where you can really get behind the scenes. This seats between 10 and 16 guests. The evening begins with canapés before moving onto a personalized five course meal followed by a tour of the kitchen including chocolate tasting in the chocolate room! To experience this you will need to book.
Hours are 6.30 - 11.00am for breakfast Monday to Friday and until 11.30am at the weekend. Lunch is served from 12.00-2.30pm, pre theatre dinner 6.00-7.00pm and dinner 6.00-11.00pm. Dress is smart casual and reservations for lunch and dinner are recommended but not required.
Whilst we did not eat here, preferring the excellent vibrant Rocks district restaurants, it always appeared to be busy and having spoken to a couple in the bar one night they did say that it was an excellent place to dine, if a little expensive.
Spa Services ----------------
The hotel offers one of the city's most luxurious spas. There are six treatment rooms and a suite designed especially for couples. Specialties are Swedish massage, salt exfoliation, aromatherapy and Japanese silk facials. The range on offer will rival even the best Health Farm resorts.
One of the best treatments on offer is the flight reviver which we booked for the morning of our arrival. We were greeted by our very friendly therapist and shown to our individual treatment rooms. The lights we dimmed and our senses and tired bodies were treated to a muscle-ease aroma spa ocean wrap which cocooned our bodies in warmth. We the had a wonderful foot hand neck and shoulder massage. Next a quick facial cleared us of the puffiness from the flight. This took almost three hours and whilst I cannot recall how much it cost is certainly was worth it as we left feeling relaxed and refreshed - ready for the delights of Sydney.
Pool -----
The hotel has Sydney's largest outdoor hotel pool - 20 metres. It is triangular in shape and it also has a separate whirlpool. Next to the pool is another of the hotels restaurants so you don't even have to leave for lunch! We could not actually sample the delights of the pool as whenever we looked it was impossible to find a free lounger. So my advice is to get up early and claim your place. The pool is open from 7am until 10pm
Fitness Centre ----------------
Not being a fitness junkie myself I cannot report on the quality of the fitness centre only on what they offer. This includes 6 upright bicycles, 3 cross trainers, 4 treadmills, 1 rower, free weights and weight training machines. There is also complementary juice and water. It has separate men's and women's locker rooms each with sauna and steam rooms. All of this is open 24 hours a day.
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