mkpiry

Just found out the World Rugby Tournament will be going on in Sydney at the same time as our honeymooning so I want to book our accommodations quickly. Travel agent suggested the Sydney Boulevard Hotel. Plan on doing the bridge climb, sightseeing around the quay, taking in the gardens&zoo (can't remember the name as I type this.)
Wondering if the hotel be appropriately located for these activities and more. Will be in Sydney 3-4 days.

prue

Sorry, I had not scrolled down far enough when I replied to your other post about the Boulevard Hotel - my comments still stand - however, the World Cup obviously makes finding somewhere else more difficult. If I were you I would take whatever booking you can get and keep an eye on the other chains etc. I have a feeling that closer to the time vacancies will appear - as people jack up at the triple/quadruple rates/ minimum stays they are trying to lock us into at present.
We live in rural Australia and plan on being in Sydney for a number of the Cup games - I have some bookings locked in, but need more and intend keeping an eye on things, especially closer to the time.
To get back to the Boulevard it is located on William Street which is the main road between the Cross and the CBD, good bus service and a 15/ 20 minute walk to city. Ask for room on high floor as view is spectacular.

mkpiry

Thanks for the info, Prue, I have been doing a little searching and think I have some recommendations closer to the Rocks/Quay to give the travel agent. I think we can do better, especially for the first leg of our 'romatic' getaway

Daneille

I just looked up this hotel - it is actually at the top end of the city, more Darlinghurst and closer to Kings Cross (Sydney's red light district) than the sites that you will be visiting. The Zoo (Taronga) is a ferry ride from Circular Quay as is the ferry to Manly. The Harbour Bridge, Opera House, The Rocks and the Botanical Gardens are all in the Quay area as well. The Boulevard is not far from the Museum, Art Gallery, St Mary's Cathedral or Hyde Park but the restaurant areas are mostly around the Rocks and Darling Harbour. Although the hotel website says it is close to Oxford Street (restaurants and fabulous shopping) I would not be walking back from there to the hotel at night!! Personally I would rather be located either down near The Rocks which is FANTASTIC (great Sunday street market, pubs, shopping, restaurants, history), more in the city centre (shopping) or Darling Harbour (restaurants) - (but not Haymarket which is the China Town area and exactly the opposite end of the city to Circular Quay (and a bit dodgy)).
The hotel is not impossible for your needs but, well . . .

The hotel has a website www.boulevard.com.au so you can check it out yourself.

mkpiry

Thanks for the website, Daneille, and like the other posts, I agree it's not what I'm looking for. I think I'm going to check into the Russell since it comes highly recommended from this board and seems to be what I'm looking for. Thanks everybody for your input!

Alan

Hi, mkpry!
Just about everything that needs to be said about this one has been said... you have been given very good advice. If you can't get into the Russell, try the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel (a couple of blocks away), which is very similar (even older!)
One point about the Boulevard that is worth recording -- for all its faults, it is a little piece of Sydney's modern history. Remember 1974, when Frank Sinatra made world headlines because, in Melbourne, he made an on-stage crack about the "hookers of the press", and some of these hookers -- sorry, press-people -- took offence? By the time he got to Sydney, all the unions had sided with the press-girls, and Sinatra found himself (and his entourage) holed up in his hotel, unable to get room service or (they threatened) lighting for his Sydney concerts, or his plane refuelled. The soon-to-be Prime Minister of Australia (Bob Hawke) had to visit Sinatra in his hotel suite to work out a compromise in which nobody lost too much face! Well, that hotel was the Boulevard -- Sinatra and his entourage took a whole floor. Back then it was one of the prestige hotels in Sydney; no longer, I fear!