Breakfree On Broadway Sydney

Check-in was quick and easy, but after that the stay went downhill. I booked a double room with a city view and got a view of an industrial building instead. The windows were screwed shut, so I couldn’t get fresh air, and the walls were so thin I could hear the TV next door. There was no proper aircon, just a ceiling vent that never seemed to be on. Half the lights didn’t work either. The pillows had stains and were practically napkins, and so did the bedsheets. I stayed six days and housekeeping never checked the room or offered fresh towels. One morning I asked reception if there was any bottled water I could use. They said no, and told me to drink tap water or buy some there. A 4 star hotel? Definitely not. The whole experience was bad, and I wouldn’t book it again. Six days cost $1240, and I could easily get somewhere much better for the same price.

The bathroom smell was terrible, and the aircon was so noisy that, with no windows, I had to keep using it. The place was very dated, with no windows and no table to work at. I wish I’d known it was a “backpackers” rather than a hotel, because I would have booked somewhere more decent.

The hotel is close to Broadway Sydney shopping centre, and getting around is easy by bus, though it’s some distance from Central Station. The area around it isn’t very pleasant. Inside, the lobby was spacious and clean and the staff were helpful. Our two bedroom apartment had plenty of space for three people, but a quite small bathroom. There was a kettle and toaster, but no plates or cutlery except for a spoon in the room. The others were available in the lobby, which was very inconvenient.

There was no window, desk, chair, table or rubbish bin in my room. Half the light bulbs were out, and the bathroom had brown grime all over it. The drain was clogged, and there was no dental kit. A picture was just lying on the shelf instead of hanging on the wall. Breakfast costs 25 AUD for soggy eggs, if any are left, and you have to wash your own dishes. There’s no staff on site after 9pm, but sometimes the front door is left open at night, which felt dangerous.