Harbour Rocks by Ode Hotels

You’re paying for the setting here, and it really is hard to beat: right in The Rocks, with the harbour between the Opera House and Harbour Bridge just a two-minute walk away. The hotel felt clean and cozy, with a charming atmosphere. Our room and bathroom were quite dated, though. The safe didn’t work and nobody fixed it, which made me think it had been an ongoing problem. The air conditioning was broken too. The location and convenience made the stay worthwhile for us, but the hotel needs to take better care of the rooms.

The location in The Rocks is ideal, and the service was average, neither especially good nor bad. The room, though, was in terrible shape. The carpet was dirty, the comforter looked very yellow between the sheets, and the air conditioner was coated in dust or mould and didn’t cool the room. The sink kept leaking regardless of how the knob was turned. Also, the bathroom window was frosted only on its lower half, so nearby buildings could see in. I’d save money on a cleaner budget stay or pay more for somewhere nicer.

The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the location made it easy to get to the sights and other things we wanted as tourists. The room itself was dated. Our bed was too small for two and much too soft, and we had to switch rooms because the old air conditioner buzzed. In the next room it barely worked. The plumbing was old enough that the toilet squeaked, and construction next door started early in the morning. If you’re a light sleeper, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Breakfast was very good, and the location was convenient for Circular Quay and the restaurants on George Street. But our basement room had no view and was very small for the price. New Year’s Eve cost NZ$ 2,500, and the other nights were $650. Even those rates felt too high for the room’s quality and size, so I can’t recommend the hotel.