We arrived at 7:30am and, of course, our room was not ready. We had to wait until 1pm before it was ready, and by this time, we were drooping, so we went straight to bed. The room consisted of two twin beds, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibar, and bathroom with wash basin, toilet, and shower over the bath. There was also an iron and board.

The swimming pool was on the roof, and the deck area was quite small and could have done with more sunbeds. The first day we went to the pool, there were no beds at all, and the floor was very hard. We realised afterward that, as it was New Years Eve, the sunbeds had been cleared in preparation for the celebrations.

There was an offer whilst we were there whereby we got two free breakfasts, which we took advantage of. Breakfast was a buffet where you could help yourself to hot and cold dishes, squeeze fruit or vegetables for juice, and make your own toast. There was an abundant supply of everything.

As it was New Years during our stay, we also received a bottle of champagne. The hotel allowed the fireworks to be viewed from the roof, and on our way up, we were presented with a glass of champagne.

The foyer was equipped with plenty of leather sofas, and there was a small bar in one corner. There is also free Internet access in this area. A room on the eighth floor was turned over to the laundry, with coin-operated machines. Everywhere was spotlessly clean, and all the staff were very polite and friendly.

It is certainly our first choice of hotels in Sydney, for those and other reasons. Not making this review very personal is difficult. For a number of years, business regularly took us to the Old Sydney, where from the beginning the staff always made us feel right at ‘home’. In 1986 the "Old Sydney Harbour Inn" was owned by others, today by Holiday Inn. We love it just as we did almost twenty years ago.

Entering the hotel from George Street, the beauty of the six-story atrium lobby immediately strikes one. Above and around you are the floors where 178 rooms are located. The lobby is different as well. Unlike guests in most hotels in the USA, people enjoy gathering there to read the daily Sydney papers or to just hang out, day and night. This one was built for the purpose. It is gracefully furnished with overstuffed leather couches and chairs.

The 178 rooms in the Old Sydney are comfortable and also well furnished, with larger than expected bathrooms. Housekeeping means business at the Old Sydney and the place is spotless. On our first visit we were astonished to have the maid offer to personally wash and iron our soiled clothing in the washers provided on each floor.

We always try to reserve a room at the front and on an upper floor whenever possible. Those rooms have broad windows opening upon the street below with a view beyond worth more than a few photographs. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a room fronting on George Street, a trip upstairs to the rooftop pool will give you an eyeful of the beauty in and around the magnificent harbor, considered by many as the best natural harbor in the world.

The only sore spot about the hotel is the restaurant overlooking the lobby, where neither the food nor service deserves much mention. Not to worry, cross George Street and walk a short distance downhill to Harbour side, where you’ll discover several excellent restaurants with outstanding food and service and an unmatched view.

The hotel boasts of all the usual expectations for travelers. Internet connection, bar, valet, concierge who can and does do everything asked, sauna, rooftop pool, and room service. Arriving very late one night after a 14-hour flight from the West Coast, we asked about the bar. It was closed. But we found that was not a problem for the hall porter. He took our order and returned in minutes with, not one but two, of the drinks we had ordered, then graciously refused our proffered tip.