Strathfield Hotel

The check-in staff were blunt and slow, but the room and hotel really impressed me. My room was immaculate, the bed was comfortable, and the showers were spotless, with a private, spacious cubicle. I was in Sydney for a concert, but I'd choose this hotel again if I wanted a break. I recommend it.

The location worked wonderfully for seeing the Matildas at Olympic Park, and the price was great. I usually stay with friends or family on Sydney's outskirts, but this was a lovely, clean option. The bed was comfortable, and it was fairly quiet despite being above a pub. I appreciated the tea and coffee, and the room also had a small fridge, air conditioning and a TV, though I couldn't figure out how to use the TV. The showers were hot, towels clean, and soap and shampoo were supplied. Leaving was easy, with a box to drop the keys in. This is where I'll stay next time I visit Olympic Park.

We booked a Double Room with Ensuite Bathroom through Booking.com, but on arrival we were given a double room with a shared bathroom because the hotel was fully booked. Showing our booking details got us nowhere. They just told us to contact Booking.com. There are lots of restaurants nearby, which is convenient, but the stay itself was a complete disaster. They required a pre-authorization payment, but the EFTPOS machine ran out of paper and the afternoon staff didn't know where the rolls were. I complained to Booking.com, and they contacted the hotel by phone and email for an explanation. We had to rush to a concert, so the afternoon manager said she'd pass the issue on to the next manager. Afterward, the duty manager refused to read Booking.com's email and again told us to deal with Booking.com only. She also refused to reprint the EFTPOS receipt, saying a pre-authorization receipt couldn't be provided. I believe that is illegal. After checkout, the hotel never contacted us or apologized. They don't care about customers. Stay away.

Really good value and a great spot right across from the train station. The room was clean, with fresh towels and shower supplies provided. My only real complaint was the fridge compressor was pretty loud, though I still managed to sleep.