Avonmore on the Park Boutique Hotel

The welcoming staff, location and price were all good. My room was the letdown. It felt more like a motel than a hotel, and the quaint decor seemed tired rather than intentional. The wardrobe wouldn't shut properly and needed to be wedged closed. There was enough dust on the furniture that turning on the ceiling fan made me sneeze. Soundproofing was poor too, so I could hear people coming and going all night. I paid a premium for a late booking, so the quality of the room, fixtures and fittings disappointed me. Around $150 might have felt fair, but I paid quite a bit more.

We were looking forward to two nights in a particular ground-floor room my wife had booked, one we'd stayed in before and liked for its size and location. When we arrived, they told us it wasn't available because they were "very busy". They'll have to find somewhere else for our accommodation money in future.

Avonmore is always a good time for me. It's in a lovely part of Randwick, with great cafes and restaurants within walking distance, plus a bus stop that can take you anywhere if needed.

The building has plenty of character and history to explore, and our garden view room had a lovely vintage feel. It made for a perfect Sydney stay, and we'll be back. The front desk service was welcoming, wholesome and respectful. The property looks over a quiet park, away from Sydney's bustle, while Coogee, Maroubra and the CBD are just a short taxi ride away.