Megaboom City Hotel

The location was handy for my booking, just a few hundred metres from The State Theatre, and there's a supermarket across the road. Check-in staff were friendly. It could work for a cheap night if being central is what you need. That said, it's a basic budget hotel with no frills, and I don't understand the 4-star rating. The place feels old and very dated, with grubby, dim rooms and a musty smell. My view was of dirty concrete and graffiti. The decor looks decades old, and there was no full-length mirror or iron. Anyone can walk in from the street because the room key isn't needed to operate the lift.

I was in town for two nights and the basic, fuss-free single room with its small ensuite suited my needs. It's right in the CBD, with buses, light rail, and trains handy.

The location was great, but the room and service let me down. There was a damp, old tobacco smell and no doona. The mattress was satisfactory, though the furniture and other amenities weren't appealing. I only needed the room for one conference night, so I could put up with it despite sleeping poorly.

I paid nearly $500 for a Sydney business stay around Feb 14. When my meeting was moved to Feb 21, I asked the hotel to shift my dates at the same price. I wasn't seeking a refund, and the change was due to work and outside my control, but they refused outright. The lack of flexibility and understanding was frustrating. At that price, I expected more reasonable support. The experience left a very negative impression.