Beacon Inn at Sidney

We stayed at the Beacon Inn for two midweek nights in August. The rooms were clean and well equipped, but the toilets are old and don't flush very well. When we needed a plunger, there were no full-time staff on site, so we had to call the off-site contact and wait for one to be brought over. The staff member who arrived was friendly, but when I thanked her for coming to help, she said she wasn't clocked in yet and didn't work for free. That was a pretty shocking response. Breakfast is cold food to take back to your room, where there aren't proper tables. They apparently switched to cereal and yogurt when Covid hit and never brought back the hot breakfast in the shared room. It was okay, but at nearly $300 a night, with no bar or gym and limited front desk hours, I expected better. I'm not sure if the limited service is for cost savings or because it's hard to find staff, but I was dismayed.

The location made it easy to walk downtown, and parking was private. We stayed in a spotless, quiet third-floor suite and had no allergy issues. It came with a comfortable bed, lovely linens, air conditioning, a TV and a sitting area with a fully stocked kitchenette. There was also a soaking tub with bath salts as well as a separate shower. The staff were welcoming, breakfast was delivered to the room, and I highly recommend this rare gem.

We slept really well because the room was quiet, the bed was comfortable, and the air conditioning worked well. The window had a lovely view, and the fridge, stove and microwave all worked as they should. Daily housekeeping was excellent, and the fifth-floor laundry room was clean and easy to use. The location was ideal, with the subway, Central Park, markets and great restaurants all within walking distance. Staff were attentive, generous and helpful, and check-in and checkout were smooth. The lobby was well staffed, so we always felt safe and looked after.

The staff still give the kind of customer service that's missing at many hotels. The person who checked us in was personable and pleasant, and there was always fresh coffee and plenty of snacks. Our bed was comfortable too. The hotel has a cool mix of historic charm and modern amenities. I highly recommend it to anyone staying in Sydney.