Hello,
Has anyone heard of the Avillion Hotel in Sydney and any thoughts on this hotel? It was recommended to me, but I have never heard of it and I can't quite seem to find too many reviews of the hotel. I've found this forum as a fantastic resource, so I thought I'd check in with everyone to see if anyone has an opinion on the property before I make our reservations. Just want to make sure that it's in a good, central location and that the rooms are clean and comfortable.

Thanks!

Hi, mc10!

I'm glad you asked about this one, because it gives me a chance to recount a little story against myself. The Avilion is VERY new, only about four years old (probably built for the Sydney Olympics), and the first time I saw it I had never heard of it, either. Being old and biassed, I take an instant dislike to these new hotels which are architecturally dull and usually made out of gloss and plastic which lasts just about as long as it takes for the builders to get into their truck and vanich with the cash; so when I saw this one, shiny and new, with the sign "AVILION" proudly displayed at the front door, I said, gleefully (and contemptuously), "Three weeks old and already the "P" has fallen off!" Am I glad I didn't give into my initial impulse, to walk up to the front desk and start poking fun!

Anyway, "Avilion" it is, and I eventually learned this when I saw a few other signs hanging around; it is, as already stated, shiny and new, so you won't have any complaints on that score; it is part of what will be, when it's eventually finished, the biggest commercial/residential complex in the city of Sydney, the World Centre (they've been building it, on and off, for about fifteen years, and for a while there it was just a hole in the ground while the overseas corporation that put up the money argued with the NSW government about something-or-other). There will probably be several sites with photographs of this huge complex, so a google search under "World Centre" might allow you to see exactly where the Avilion is. It fronts a quiet street, and is only a block from the George St cinema complex and the entrance to Chinatown. There are fast food centres almost opposite; also the Sydney Courthouse. The monorail goes past the door, which may be a minus: ask for a room which doesn't look straight onto the track (admittedly, I don't know whether ANY of the rooms look at the track; it may have been sympathetically-designed, but I wouldn't count on it). The monorail station is virtually a dozen paces away.

You can walk in seven minutes to Darling Harbour, and to the Queen Victoria Building in about five.

The area that it is in, however, has been a fairly depressed area in Sydney for a few decades: a lot of tiny shops changing hands and being boarded up, only to be opened again, often as Asian grocery stores. The idea of the World Centre, I guess, is to breathe new life into this area, which just seemed to be going further and further backward before it got underway; most of the hotels nearby are backpacker places like the A-One (or something).

It is about mid-way between Sydney Terminal Station and the Town Hall; the strip to the Town Hall is fast-food shops and cinemas, the area going to Sydney terminal is a bit grotty, but you probably won't need to head in that direction. You are on the "wrong end" for Sydney Harbour, even though this doesn't mean much in a city as small as Sydney -- you'll walk to Circular Quay in forty-five minutes and pass through just about all the major retail areas doing so. There are two subways (Town Hall and a minor one called Museum) within five or six minutes walk of the hotel. The southern entrance to Hyde Park is a couple of blocks up the road, and beyond that (going east)you walk towards Taylor Square and a host of interesting ethnic restaurants.

The best part of the Avilion is that, being in a not-too-desirable area, it can probably offer rates that the better-located Westin and Four Seasons can only dream about. And, certainly, I'd much rather stay here than in one of those places down at Darling Harbour! So, if you're getting a great rate, proceed with confidence.

Thank you sooo much for the details on the Avillion!!! Love your story. . . Anyhow, I'm torn as to where my husband and I should stay as I already have reservations at the Holiday Inn Old Sydney. Based on my search on this forum, it seems like the Holiday Inn is in a great location and if I were to base my stay on location alone, then I'd probably opt for the Holiday Inn. However, a friend of a friend recommended the Avilion, saying that it's a much better value than a "Holiday Inn". I'm getting the same rate at both properties, but can't decide if I should go with location/convenience and a basic motel/hotel or a newer, larger hotel in a less convenient location. I hope my assumption is correct in respects with the Holiday Inn Old Sydney (in that it's centrally located to most tourist attractions and sites). Alan, can you or anyone else confirm my assumption? Also, food is a huge factor for us and would like to be near good restaurants (or good hole in the walls!). My gut feeling is to stick with the HI Old Sydney, but am not completely sure! Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Hi mc10. The company I work for used to put our interstate staff up at the Avillion because of their great rates, however we stopped using them not because there was anything wrong with the hotel, but because of the area where it is located. Our female staff in particular did not feel safe around there at night. It is located between the Cinema district and China Town and there are a lot of undesirable characters that hang around this part of town at night (and indeed during the day).

My brother in law stayed there recently on a conference trip and I didn't think the rooms were great (just average hotel rooms).

The other hotel you mentioned is located not far from the Rocks area. Which is down by the harbour. It is surrounded by restaurants, both cheap and expensive. It is close to catch ferries, and Wynyard Station is right there. You would be near the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge - lots of pubs and cafes around too.

It is a touristy area - but I think this area would be nicer for you - especially at the same rates as the Avillion.

mc10, there is no question at all about this decision -- if only all the queries on this forum could be answered with such confidence! The OLd Sydney Holiday Inn is a fantastic location that just can't be bettered. I'll bet if you called the head office of the company they would agree: nowhere in the world did they manage to pull off a location coup like this one (it has only been a Holiday Inn for a few years). What's more, it is a far nicer building than you'd expect from a Holiday Inn. It's really not like a Holiday Inn at all. The Avilion isn't as nice a building, even -- never mind about the location (which, I'm sure you were savvy to, I was trying to put the best-possible "face" on -- some time ago, someone wrote in asking about the Boulevard and I wrote back saying it was in a lousy location, and the poor guy wrote back and said that he was committed to it, and I felt like I'd ruined his holiday before he even got here!) The Avilion is not in a street where I'd enjoy staying; but the Holiday Inn, on the other hand.... I just wish the company would grant me a free night there in return for all the plugs I've been giving them!

Can I end with just one word of caution: check the company's rules again. Are you quite dure the one they are offering at the same rates as the Avilion isn't the OTHER Holiday Inn, the one down in Chinatown, opposite the Entertainment Centre? THAT one, I would imagine, WOULD be on a par with the Avilion... and its location is far worse! Make sure the company has its facts straight, as I don't want you to arrive here and be disappointed like the Boulevard guy was! "Your" Holiday Inn MUST say "OLs Sydney".... or else it's back to the Avilion!

Hi Alan and Danielle,
The Holiday Inn reservation I have is on 55 George Street, which I believe is the right one. Thanks very much for the info on the Avilion. I feel much more comfortable in my choice of hotel (the Holiday Inn). Now to plan the rest of my vacation . . .

Thanks again!

55 George Street is the good one... so there's nothing more to say except that you are already half-way there to having a great holiday! Congratulations, and I hope you'll write us a report!