There are tons of luxury hotels in Sydney itself and Four Seasons is one of them. Given the status of Sydney being the financial hub and a huge tourist destination, this is the city where you can find the most luxury hotels and most of the huge names are available. Four Seasons sits on prime estate and just off Circular Quay within minutes of the ferries, rocks and the Opera House. Prices are surprisingly rather affordable when you’re speaking about a Four Seasons. It got to be one of the more affordable ones out there. Furthermore, for the night that I am looking at, I was considering staying here or at Fullerton. With the cost being only a mere 60 bucks. It is worth the premium. This will be my first ever stay at a Four Seasons Hotel. The best way to book a stay at an FS is via a luxury agent on a Four Seasons Preferred Partner rate. Four Seasons does not operate with any loyalty programme, points collection or whatsoever as they believe that everyday guests should be treated with the utmost loyalty and privileges. I am excited.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked a Four Seasons Preferred Partner rate for my stay via an advisor. The nice part about FSPP is that it can be applied to any direct rate available. Simply by doing this, you will get to enjoy extra benefits such as a 100 USD credit, breakfast and priority for early check-in and late check-out. A special benefit of FFSP also allows you to enjoy breakfast via In Room Dining if you prefer. Given how this is their in-house program, upgrades or status is above other programs such as Virtuoso. Upgrades are also extended upon booking rather than at check-in. My travel agent has provided all my information and also got some information prior from the hotel. I booked myself into the base level Superior room which cost 535 AUD. I was then upgraded to the Deluxe Partial Harbour View Room which would have cost 705 AUD a night. Four Seasons Sydney features 531 rooms and suites spread across 10 categories. While it might seem like a lot of categories, a lot of them are just by view. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Lounge 32 Access | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior City | No | Yes | 26 Sqm | 40 |
| Deluxe City | No | Yes | 26 Sqm | 122 |
| Deluxe Partial Harbour | No | Yes | 26 Sqm | 164 |
| Deluxe Full Harbour | No | Yes | 26 Sqm | 84 |
| Premier City | No | Yes | 53 Sqm | 33 |
| Premier Partial Harbour | No | Yes | 53 Sqm | 30 |
| Premier Full Harbour | Yes | No | 53 Sqm | 22 |
| Four Seasons Full Harbour Club Suite | Yes | Yes | 53 Sqm | 22 |
| One Bedroom City Club Suite | Yes | Yes | 53 Sqm | 6 |
| One Bedroom Opera Club Suite | Yes | Yes | 53 Sqm | 2 |
| One Bedroom Full Harbour Club Suite | Yes | Yes | 53 Sqm | 2 |
| One Bedroom City Royal Suite | Yes | Yes | 107 Sqm | 1 |
| One Bedroom Opera Royal Suite | Yes | Yes | 107 Sqm | 1 |
| One Bedroom Presidential Suite | Yes | Yes | 107 Sqm | 1 |
| Two Bedroom Presidential Suite | Yes | Yes | 156 Sqm | 1 |
Checking In
I arrived at the hotel rather early since my flight landed at around 8am. It did get delayed slightly and took quite some time for the baggage to arrive. Taking an Uber at Sydney Airport is also quite a hassle. We ended up only arriving at the hotel at around 10.15am. It cost us 53 AUD. This is certainly recommended over the train if you are in a group. Upon arrival, the polished bell boy immediately came over to help us with the bags. He is very attentive and takes extra care to ensure that our bags are not dropped when the boot is opened. This is what a polished staff can make a difference and what makes a Four Seasons stand out.
The lobby is grand and comes with plenty of seating around the area. Staff are always on hand to help guests with any queries or offer assistance. Despite the early hours, the hotel is already very busy. The check-in counters are straight ahead and I was immediately helped by a friendly lady who congrats me on my first ever Four Seasons Stay. She also took note of all our requests and provided us with the benefits of booking an FSPP rate. The credit was converted to the equivalent of 150 AUD and this can be used anywhere in the hotel, minibar and even room service. Late check-out is also extended till 3pm. This ended up being extended till 4pm on the day of checkout. I took a little walk around the Circular Quay area before receiving a message at 11.30am that my room was ready.
Deluxe Partial Harbour View Room
I was assigned a Deluxe Partial Harbour View Room located on the 10th floor. I got Room 1010 to be exact. This is one of the low-category rooms and two tiers up from the base-level superior room. It offers the second-best view of the hotel. Deluxe rooms are on the smaller side and measure just 26 Sqm. The room is so lovely and gorgeous. It is kind of an understated luxury. The cream finish fits in so well with the entire place.
Immediately upon entering, you can find the bathroom entrance to the right. It is on the smaller side but well-appropriate.
The bathroom does feel to be slightly dated as compared to the rest of the room. It comes with a single sink. All sorts of amenities are provided and additional items such as dental kits can be requested from housekeeping. Amenities are from Codage, a French brand in large pump-size bottles. They lather well and are high quality. The bathroom comes with both a standing shower as well as a bathtub. Water pressure is decent and temperature control is good. I had a lovely shower here but wish that the water pressure was better.
Along the entrance, You can also find a full-length mirror that would come in handy to check out your fit before leaving. I love the contrast between the cream colour and the wood finish along with the TV panels. It makes for a very modern luxurious look to the room. The room comes with a generous wardrobe that is stocked with whatever items you might require for your stay. Inside are bathrobes, bath slippers, laundry bags, an ironing kit, a safe and plenty of hangers for your stay.
The signature Four Seasons king-size bed takes up the centrepiece of the room. The FS signature bed is a dream to lie on and the same goes for the beddings. They are plush and comfortable. This is one of the most comfortable hotel beds out there. They are slightly on the softer side but still so comfy. They offer a range of pillows for you to customize your sleep experience.
Flanking both sides of the beds are nightstands with controls for the lighting and power outlets within reach. I appreciate that they provided power adapters preemptively in the room for guest’s usage. Bottles of water are also left on both sides of the bed.
Facing the bed is a large high-quality smart TV that is mounted on the wall. It is huge and great for watching from the bed. It comes with a good number of cable and international cable TV channels. You can also cast content from your phone. Under the TV is a luggage storage area with a portable rack. The spot is a little squeeze but will have no trouble fitting a large suitcase.
Next to the TV, you can find the minibar area which is generously stocked with various glassware and mugs. The minibar comes with a Nespresso coffee machine and a kettle. You can find coffee capsules alongside some packaged tea. The fully stocked mini fridge can also be found below and bottled of spirits.
The circular table in the corner acts as both the working desk and the dining area. It is equipped with an armchair and connected to the bay window sofa. This makes it suitable for dining too. This might just be the world’s best office with that jaw-dropping view.
Undoubtedly, the view is also my favourite part of the room. While this room only offers a Partial Harbour View, it is not disappointing at all. I got the Sydney Opera House right from my room. I could gaze at this all day long. The sofa would be perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee or wine with this gorgeous view. I am rather surprised that the blinds here are not electronically controlled. Amazing both in the day and at night.
Soon after I got to the room, the staff brought over a personalised welcome note from both the hotel and my travel agent. This was accompanied by a bottle of wine and a sweet treat. That is a very lovely welcome amenity.
Turndown service is not offered in the evening, even when they say it is been done from the app. I can’t believe that this is coming from Four Seasons. It might be a slight lapse at other properties but I will not expect this from a Four Seasons. Simply saying that it has been done when in fact it has not been is the worst form of service. Furthermore, I had dining reservations. They know exactly when I am out of the room.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is open 24 hours daily on the third floor. This allows you to get your workout at any time of your fancy. The sauna and steam rooms are open from 10am to 5pm and 6pm respectively. Besides the equipment in the centre, guests also have access to complimentary use of workout gear if they require it. The gym is very well equipped with numerous high-tech equipment of various types. They even had some snacks and apples for guests.
Pool
The facilities are all on the 3rd floor, similar to the pool. The hotel boasts a really lovely triangle-shaped swimming pool. This is also one of Sydney’s largest outdoor heated pools. It is a popular spot for both couples and families. By the side of the pool, you can find plenty of sunbeds and cabanas. These will be amazing for working up a tan. The guests also often go around offering drinks and refills. Great spot to catch some of the Sydney sun. There is also a whirlpool by the side.
Service is offered by the pool and you can order food and drinks. Towels are also automatically offered.
Mode Kitchen & Bar
They offer lunch from Wed to Sat, 12pm to 3pm and dinner daily from 5.30pm to 10pm. In addition, bar snacks are also served between the two services and they also do a mean Aperitivo from 4pm to 6pm daily. The restaurant is located on the ground floor. I grab dinner here during my stay to use up the credit. You can find the menu for the restaurant here. Do make your reservations in advance to prevent being disappointed. I was shown in by a polite host and the waitress later came by to introduce herself. She is an absolute gem and super polished with good knowledge of the menu.
She is also very good at engaging in small talk. The service started with some warm sourdough and butter. I also got some olive oil to go with the bread. We got some pasta and potatoes to share and an off-menu of the whole barramundi that is amazing.
We also got some desserts to share to end the meal. The Mango Baba is mind-blowing. The presentation is also on point and it was served table side. They also got us some petit fours to finish up the meal which consists of their homemade chocolates.
The food is extremely good and prices are rather fair too. We enjoyed everything. The meal nicely comes up to 150 AUD which is nicely covered by the credit.
In-Room Dining Breakfast
For booking via a Four Seasons preferred partner, you have your choice of having breakfast either at the restaurant or via in-room dining. How generous is that? Not a lot of hotels extend this benefit as breakfast from your room rate. In-room dining breakfast is served from 6.30am to 11.30am so it is the better choice if you want to have a later start to your day. How lovely to just dine straight in bed or after a brush of your teeth. You can order anything you want off the menu for up to 100 AUD. You can find the menu here.
Technically, you lose out 20 AUD of benefit by choosing room service but with that view that I have in my room. This is perfect.Simply order the night before or in the morning. You can do so via the FS app too.
The food arrived right on the dot as indicated. The staff also set up the table nicely. I got a selection of items to share and there is more than enough food for 2. How lovely is it to enjoy breakfast and kickstart your day with the most perfect view of the Opera House?
I wish a lot more top-tier properties could adopt this breakfast concept for their elite members.
Breakfast at Mode Kitchen & Bar
Breakfast is served at Mode Kitchen from 6.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and till 11am on weekends. Nothing short of this aspect of a Four Seasons. The additional time will be very much appreciated for guests who would like to sleep in on the weekends. Breakfast would have cost 60 AUD for adults and 30 AUD for children if not included in your rate. That further shows how good value it is for booking a Four Seasons Preferred Partner rate. You extract an extra 120 AUD just from breakfast alone. I got breakfast via room service as shared earlier.
I did check out what is offered in the restaurant and breakfast is served buffet style here. The selection is really good and here are some pictures of the selection.
Conclusion
Four seasons is different and a step above the rest. I loved the room and had a comfortable stay. Everything is top-notch here. It certainly lives up to its reputation. I can see the attractiveness and why people choose to stay at the Four Seasons. You receive extremely personalised service and the interactions are very polished. I am not only talking about simply the front office or the manager but rather everyone that you interact with the moment you step in. When I got back to collect my keys, they didn’t just ask for my ID but rather said “I am sorry, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, could I get your ID”. There are still some slight missteps like the housekeeping and some aspect of the front office. Turndown service is not done automatically and in fact, after asking for it. Furthermore, they even said that it has been done when it is not. I would have expected better coordination at an FS. I wish that I could afford more Four Seasons in my life. There must be a reason why people come back and stay loyal without a loyalty programme. Looking forward to my next Four Seasons stay. There is plenty of value for short stays on a Four Seasons Preferred Partner rate.
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