Short review
Note: 3 is average
Value for money: 5/5
Services: 4/5
Bedroom: 4/5
Sleep quality: 4/5
Bathroom: 3.5/5
Facilities and amenities: 4/5
Pros
- Tennis court
- Comfortable bed
- Very good value for money
Cons
- Not much, perhaps the distance to Parramatta CBD is a bit too far for walking
Long review
We recently came back to this 4-star hotel located on the fringe of Parramatta CBD. As usual, we arrived at the hotel by car. The lobby was relatively small, but I liked its interior design. There were high windows on one side of the lobby, allowing plenty of sunlight to penetrate the space. The staircase was framed by plants and a cascade waterfall, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
During check-in, a staff gave me a welcome gift bag, containing three bars of chocolate, a bottle of water, and a welcome letter. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that we could use the car park for free throughout our stay even though there was a sign stating that parking is $15 per night.
Our room was a privilege twin room, featuring 2 double beds located on the highest floor of the hotel. The room was sufficiently large and equipped with the usual amenities, such as ironing facilities, a hair dryer, and tea and coffee-making facilities. A Nespresso coffee machine was also provided.
Looking out through the window, I could see the swimming pool and tennis court. Other than that, the view was unexciting and limited to some houses and apartments.
The beds were firm, which we liked. The air conditioning was quiet and excellent in maintaining the temperature in the room. We could hear people playing in the pool though, but the noise level was low and it didn’t really disturb us. By the way, I couldn’t believe that people actually swam in an outdoor pool in winter. I know perhaps winter in Sydney is relatively mild (around 15C in the afternoon), but still …
The bathroom was clean and functional. It had no bathtub as expected. The water from the shower was soft on the skin, and it was easy to adjust the water temperature to find the right one.
Other facilities in the hotel were a good-sized outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court as I alluded earlier. The tennis court (hardcourt) looked rather dilapidated but was still functional as I could see people playing on it. I must say that it is a rarity to have a tennis court in a hotel nowadays. The hotel had a small gym too, which is a good addition.
The location of the hotel was reasonable. There were McDonald’s, KFC, and a Woolworths supermarket in front of the hotel. Still within a walking distance, there was an indoor play centre called Lollipop’s Parramatta. We spent half a day there with our daughter.
Another place of interest is the Hambledon Cottage, about 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Hambledon Cottage is a New South Wales State Heritage listed historic cottage built in 1824. The Colonial Georgian cottage is filled with authentic nineteenth century furniture and objects. The trees in the surrounding garden were planted in 1820s. We had an enjoyable private tour there thanks to a wonderful lady there. I encourage you to see the virtual tour of this heritage building here.
The Parramatta CBD was about 5 minutes drive from the hotel. Parking could be a challenge, especially due to the infrastructure construction around. We managed to find parking relatively easily though. We also enjoyed many delicious dinners, particularly Japanese foods.
Overall, we had a good and relaxing experience. The hotel offers an excellent value for money. We are keen to return here again in the future.
