This is the other property Hilton has in Sydney. They have a very limited footprint over here. I wish that they could expand. Sydney can definitely do with a Conrad, seeing how premium the market is. I figured that I would give this property a try since I already stayed at the Hilton Sydney the previous time. They are both very central, with the West Hotel being closer to Darling Harbour. I have heard plenty of good reviews as well and am keen to give it a try. It also offers a nice bargain on the wallet as compared to. This makes sense since I will be out most of the time and off for a road trip on one of the days, too. It will be a good opportunity to give it a try and see how it is. From my pre-stay communications with the staff, it does seem like they are treating hotel and elite members very well over here.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I will be staying here for 2 nights and got the base level Acacia room. I got some AMEX credit, which makes it even sweeter. I also got some information from the staff ahead of time. Before the stay, I got an automated upgrade to their Banksia Deluxe Plus room. I also received a pre-arrival message from the hotel asking about my preference and my arrival time so that they could plan everything. This is outstanding and unexpected. They have exceeded my expectations. The night before, they upgraded me to another level to their best room available over here, which is the Waratah Premium Room. This would have cost 425 AUD a night. Special mention to Valerie, the staff member who communicated with me and sent the pre-arrival email. She also nicely inquired about our wine preference. West Hotel Sydney features 182 guest rooms and suites spread across 5 categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia | No | 23 Sqm |
| Banksia Deluxe | No | 23 Sqm |
| Banksia Deluxe Plus | No | 23 Sqm |
| Waratah Premium | No | 23 Sqm |
| The West Suite | Yes | 46 Sqm |
Checking In
I came over after having lunch came over after having lunch at Cafe Sydney. We got an Uber from Four Seasons to make things easy, since we had huge bags. Upon arrival, the hotel has a rather discreet and modest entrance and exterior. We managed to get a staff member to help us with our bags. They do not have a proper driveway, but rather just a curbside drop-off. The hotel has a very cool and chic look. I was immediately helped by the lovely staff, and thank you for being a diamond member. My reservations were confirmed, and they also proactively offered a late check-out till 2pm, which works well for my late departure from Sydney.
Information about the hotel and breakfast was provided. I love the high ceilings over here, which feel so warm and homely, especially in this cold season. This is a boutique hotel, so do not expect a grand lobby with plenty of seating. You can find the hotel restaurant and bar on the side.
Waratah Premium Room
I was assigned a Waratah Premium Room over here on the highest floor. I got room 809, to be exact. This is their best room type over here and just below the suites. It is just a short walk away from the lift. The highlight of this category is the view, which is unavailable in the other categories. It also comes with a complimentary minibar. Most of the rooms here are of the same size, so don’t expect much of that to be a difference.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the look of the place and how nice it is when I first enter the room. It felt very modern and lovely. I love the contrast of the dark green emerald look. Right upon entering, you can find the open concept wardrobe towards the right. It is more of a space-saving concept here. They do not have a proper wardrobe, but rather just some hangers and hooks for you to store your items. They also have some racks above and a little cabinet with the ironing kit, a safe and laundry bags.
The little minibar chest area is connected to it, and despite the small size, it comes with a kettle, a proper Nespresso coffee machine and packaged tea. Below, there are also some snacks and a mini fridge that comes with some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There are some beers and canned cocktails. The minibar is complimentary, and everything is replenished daily, too. Plenty of drinking water is provided, and more can be requested.
On the other side of the entrance way, you can find the bathroom. It is on the smaller side, but it has a great use of space. It comes with plenty of amenities, and they are using Mr Smith’s toiletries. The bathroom comes with a lovely standing shower with ample space. The water pressure and temperature control are excellent. The only aspect I didn’t like was the wall-mounted shower head. I really wish that they had a handheld shower head, too. There seems to be more than enough space for a rain shower head, too. This is a little lacking.
I found a little note in the bathroom sharing on their Dyson feature where guests can use a Dyson Airwrap, Corrale and Supersonic. I do love the concept, but the implementation is a little funny since you can only use it for 3 hours and will have to head down to the front desk to do so.
Moving back to the main space of the room, which is a rectangular configuration, by the side, you can find a full mirror and then mounted on the wall is a large, high-quality smart screen television. It supports casting capabilities and also comes with plenty of apps that you can use. The television comes with a good number of both local and international cable TV channels.
Over in the corner, there is a little working desk alongside an armchair that provides decent back support for a short period of working. There’s also a lamp and all sorts of power and plugs located within reach. Later on in the evening, the hotel staff brought over a welcome amenity consisting of a personalised note and a bottle of wine. What a lovely touch from the hotel.
On the other side of the room, you can find a plush king-size bed. The sheets were high-quality and smooth. The same goes for the pillows that provide excellent neck support. I got some firmer ones and slept really well. Flanking both sides of the beds are also nightstands with controls for the lighting. The power outlets are a little out of reach, given that it is all the way at the bottom. They also provide an international adaptor in each room, which definitely comes in handy.
In the corner here, there’s also another little couch. It is always nice to have an additional sitting area in the room.
The Waratah room comes with a view of Darling Harbour. It is semi-blocked.
Fitness Centre
The gym is rather simple with just a room and some equipment. It is open 24 hours. Water and towels are provided. Everything is also well-maintained. You can access it with your key cards and get a workout anytime you fancy. Great spot if you want to have a simple workout. If not, Sydney and the nearby area provide a great space for a run outdoors.
Breakfast at Solander
Breakfast is offered here from 6.30am to 10am daily. This is extended till 10.30am on weekends. As per usual in this part of the world, they play by the continental rules and offer a rather basic experience. I am not sure if they have an upcharge over here since I was not informed about it during my stay. It was pretty quiet at first, but it does get pretty crowded later on. The breakfast selection is definitely on the smaller side here, but at least everything is high-quality and delicious. I enjoyed making myself a little muffin. Here are some pictures of the selections.
Here are some of the food items that you can find on the buffet: cheese, cold cuts, pastries, fruits, juices and filtered coffee. For hot food, they just have some tomatoes, bacon, eggs, and sausages. That is about it! It is nice if you have breakfast included. If not, simply head to a cafe outside, which is much better in Australia.
Conclusion
It was a very lovely stay. I enjoyed it! The West Hotel offers a great balance between price and quality. The location is just slightly out of the core but still very walkable everywhere. You are just steps from Darling Harbour and George St. I will have no qualms coming back here for another stay. I appreciate the elite recognition and how well they treat me. The room is just on the smaller side. I appreciate the quality fittings in the room, and the Dyson aspect was a nice touch, though. Great option for Hilton members.
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