“Cheap hotel close to Sydney” - Aspire Hotel Sydney

This is a good hotel that is about 10-15 minute walk to Darling Harbour and a bit more to the CBD. The hotel was clean and rooms were a good size with a balcony (the east side has a view of the city). The beds were a bit soft for my liking and I ended up with a stiff neck but then again when you are paying just over $100 p/n for a place so close the CBD I am not going to complain about that too much. The rooms in general are what I would expect from paying this price, clean but dated bathrooms and living areas. There is a fridge in your room but no minibar, although you can purchase some items from a vending machine in the lobby.

The staff were mostly friendly although some of them could do with understanding and exhibiting some common sense. When I arrived at 1:50pm on the tuesday the staff member at first told me the room wasnt ready as "check in was at 2pm". I pointed out that 10 minutes shouldn't make a lot of difference and then she called housekeeping and found out the room was actually ready. To my mind it would have been better for her to check before making the statement? The other example was at checkout I had organised a shuttle to the airport, when I paid and the shuttle turned up they hadnt given me a ticket so I asked at reception.

The girl who had organised my checkout 15 mins prior (and I had stood out the front of the glass doors waiting for the shuttle in the meantime) told me there was no record of me staying at the hotel? I pointed out to her that she had just checked http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifme out at which point it seemed to click with her that what she had said was absurd. I got my ticket although I am not sure she knew what she was doing as she gave me a blank ticket, I think it was to save her any more embarrasment?
Other than these 2 experiences the staff were helpful with directions and the actual stay was good. Probably the other thing I thought was a bit strange was the TV only having analogue reception, and the 'new' release DVD's available included Titanic and Die Hard 4?

Overall this hotel was a good stay for the price!

Trip Advisor Reviewed 19 November 2011 (NEW)