We’ll be staying in Sydney for three nights in February 2026 after our Globus New Zealand tour and want to use HHonors points. We had planned on the Sydney Hilton at 70,000 points per night and were getting close to the amount we needed. But yikes today I learned that the standard points rooms are sold out and we’d have to spend 145,000 for the premium rooms. Nope, sorry.
Of course there might be cancellations and I will snap up the room if so. In the meantime, our choice is between the West Hotel Syndey, Curio Collection and
Ovolo Woolloomooloo, a boutique hotel. Points and ratings are almost identical. We booked the Ovolo to be sure we had something. Is anyone familiar enough with those two hotels and their locations to recommend we switch to the Curio? We’ll be out touring most of the time and never much use large hotel amenities. Comfort, convenience, and quiet are prime considerations.
Thanks for any advice!
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Here are some suggestions from someone we know who lives in Sydney:
Convenience & location: Definitely stay in the area of Circular Quay and The Rocks (which is adjacent to Circular Quay) area.
This will put you in the centre of Sydney’s historical/tourism/business/transport center, which is Circular Quay and the Rocks, adjacent and easy walking to the Sydney Harbour Bridge/Sydney Opera House/Botanic Garden/Art Gallery of New South Wales/Central Business District/Darling Harbour, etc and direct access to ferries, light rail, and train/subway which all depart from Circular Quay.
recommendations would be:
a) International brand hotels:
Shangri La the Rocks
Intercontinental Circular Quay
Marriott Circular Quay
Park Hyatt Sydney (the Rocks)
b) Boutique Hotels in the Rocks
Russell Boutique Hotel (preference by location/price)
Harbour Rocks Hotel
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Alas, none of the Hilton hotels are immediately in that area. The Ovoloo is a couple of blocks from the south entrance of the botanical gardens and, I gather, about 15 minutes more walk up to the Opera House or over to the Circular Quay. Hopefully we’ll still be able to walk that much at least! We’re not really looking for nightlife - good restaurants, yes.
The more we learn about the Ovoolo Woolloomooloo, the more interesting it sounds. It may not be all that close to transportation, restaurants, and nightlife. But it would give us a historical experience unique to Sydney, as opposed to being in the middle of a major metro business hub. We’re going to take a closer look at what we want to do and see if the Hilton would give us sizable advantages. If not, I think we won’t worry about trying for a room there.
Plus we’d save 45,000 HHonors points.
Plus we’d be in a hotel with the most O’s in its name in the world.
Plus we like saying Woolloomooloo.
Plus apparently Russell Crowe lives next door. Not that I particularly want to meet him like I would like to meet, say, Chris Hemsworth or Hugh Jackman. But still, movie star.
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That hotel looks great! When I went to Sydney two years ago we stayed in the Coogee Beach area and found public transportation (trains, buses, ferry’s) very easy to use and we were able to get anywhere we wanted to go. Their App (Opal) is very easy to use and the other riders were always very helpful.
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Given the program limitations, I would also recommend the Wooloomooloo location over the western CBD location.
Much more scenic, with the botanic gardens, the Domain, art gallery, state library, government house & gardens in your path on the way to the opera house, (semi) Circular Quay, the Rocks, harbour bridge etc.
Please note that Sydney is usually hot and humid in February. It is also business as usual with summer holidays over for schools and businesses.
HTH
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