Meriton Suites North Sydney

We spent a week here while seeing Sydney’s sights. It’s outside the city centre, but not far, and buses and trains were easy to reach, so getting around was no trouble. The room was a decent size and clean, and reception staff were keen to help. A bathroom drain gave us a small issue, but it was fixed in no time. I’d stay here again for a Sydney holiday.

The view was fantastic, and the room was spacious and conveniently located. But the service and hygiene were disappointing. I found a nasty stain on the furniture, a fake eyelash on the toilet floor and little finger marks on the mirror. Some basic complimentary items weren’t already in the room, so I had to ask the service desk, and getting a pair of slippers took more than 20 minutes. The pillows were so high and uncomfortable that my husband and I both slept badly. Google lists it as a 5 star hotel, and I expected service at a 4 star level, but it wasn’t close. The floor carpet felt cheap and the floor was uneven, which knocked off half a star for me. Next time I’d rather choose harbour view hotel for a cheaper option, or four season.

We spent one night in a one bedroom corner apartment to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. There was a bottle of sparking wine and a card waiting for us when we entered. The view was gorgeous, the apartment was clean, and the reception area and lifts looked very modern. Customer service is just a phone call away 24/7 for whatever you need. Treat yourself to a night or two here for a special occasion, you won’t regret it.

The location and amenities were fine, but the card surcharge was disappointing, around 1.6%. Staff told us all foreign credit cards incur an extra fee in Australia. We found out soon after buying our first item outside the hotel that this definitely wasn't true.