I am going to stay in Sydney for 4 nights and have a choice of Parkroyal, Four Points and Star City. <BR> <BR>Which one of them is more convenient for sightseeing and provides better services? <BR> <BR>Thanks.

I wouldnt stay at Star City as this is in a tacky casino complex and not really walking distance to the CBD, although there is a tram stop under the hotel. Where are the other hotels as i think they have more than one parkroyal and 4 points in sydney?

The 4 Points is in a good location, Bordering Darling Harbor, although not right in Darling Harbor, it's on the main city side. It looks very nice, and formally was the Nikko. although I wasn't in it, it seems like a very good choice

I stayed at Star City in April. It is very busy, bright, loud on the casino floors etc., but we enjoyed it. I had my family with me (mother, husband, sister, brother-n-law) and we choose it largely for the three bedroom suites w/ kitchehette. The rooms are on higher floors with restricted access, so they were quiet and relaxed. We were normally exhausted after busy days, and it was nice to come "home" to a big suite which we had stocked with all our favorite snacks and just wind down in front of the TV. We had room service for dinner one night, and they actually come in and set the table with a cloth and flowers (Sydney has many great resturants to enjoy, so we didn't eat at the hotel much). Also, I like to workout a little on vacation and the gym and lap pool were nice and usually pretty vacant. It's walking distance form the Aquarium & IMAX, but not from the Opera House/Rocks, etc. There are bus stops there (regular bus line & Sydney Explorer). Overall, I can certainly see why some people wouldn't enjoy Star City - it's not exactly romantic or anything. But we found it very nice, excellent service, large comfortable suite, lots of fun stuff to do right there when you just have an hour to kill, etc. I don't know how your tastes run, but I hope that helps with your decision making. If you had a specific question, I'd be glad to answer it. <BR> <BR>Have a great time in Sydney!

Melanie, first thing is to discard all thoughts of Star City. It is not in a good area, and you would need to get the shuttle bus every time you wanted to go anywhere. What's more, it is a casino, so the ambience is rather Las Vegas. The one thing it has going for it is that the theatre in the complex is one of the few places left in Sydney where you can see big, live shows (they just finished playing "Annie" and are about to open "The Wizard of Oz".) <BR> <BR>The Nikko is probably the easiest place if you want to walk quickly to shopping centres or the main railway station. It is in Chinatown, near the huge Entertainment Centre complex, but it's not a great area either. <BR> <BR>There are several Parkroyals, so I presume you mean the one at 55 George St, in the historic Rocks area. This is down near the Harbour Bridge and within walking distance of a great many must-see sights such as the Opera House, and the ferries which will take you to just about everywhere you'd want to go. I'd stay there, if I were you, but be warned: Sydneysiders go down there to look, but they eat and shop six or eight blocks away where the prices are more reasonable. However, you will never be more than a few meters from the water, and you may well have a room with a view to die for. <BR> <BR>I have heard a lot of nice reports about another hotel near the Parkroyal, called the Russell. It's not as swank, but it's a genuine old hotel, and might be worth comparison-shopping before you "lock yourself in". But you will definitely like the Rocks area! Have a great time!

I agree with the above poster about The Russell - it has a web-site as does the whole of the Rocks area. Another Hotel that I stay at is the Menzies which is moderately priced but very well situated as you only have to walk across the road for a bus and go down stairs for the underground railway which will take you to Circular Quay. The Russell on the other hand is just opposite Circular Quay and is a lovely old private hotel.

It's good to see that Liz agreed with my comment about the Russell... but I'll bet she wouldn't agree with what I said about the Nikko being in Chinatown, because I was at least four blocks out. I mixed it up with the Mercure. The Four Points is much closer to the Harbour Bridge... though on the same level, near Darling Harbour... and about the same distance from the shopping areas. It looks pretty good, and if you get a room facing west you will have a nice view of the Darling Harbour area. However, there are just as many rooms facing east, which look straight into the building across the very-narrow street. <BR> <BR>Another possibility which no one seems to mention, because it's a bit down-market to advertise its wares in the tourist mags, is the Grand Hotel in Hunter Street. It's not as expensive as these others, it's quite small and VERY well-located across from the subway and ten minutes walk from the harbour foreshores. But, if not what you'd call "grand" it seems very nicely kept, and it is certainly more "Australian" than the other hotels mentioned so far (except, of course, the Russell.)

The four points is an excellant location with walkways to the Darling harbour stuff and the explorer buses (very good deal).