Hotels in the CBD area of Sydney tend to be quite expensive, especially those that are on the water. But for some reason, the ParkRoyal was having a large discount promotion during the time that I needed a place to stay in Sydney... and so, I thought that I may as well treat myself. Well, technically... it didn't really matter, seeing as I wasn't paying for the place anyway.
But the price that was being offered meant that it was a similar price to places that were further out.
Entering the reception revealed a modern looking hotel with a clean and inoffensive aesthetic everywhere. I have started to also enjoy hotels more and more in comparison to AirBNBs... something that seems to be an accelerating trend as AirBNB starts down the path of rent extraction from both sides of the short-stay equation.
Sure, the hotels don't have the individual "charm" of individual BNBs... but there is something just reliable and expected about the standardisation of quality and service.
... and you do get moments of pretty impressive construction to compensate for the lack of character! It does help to foster that feeling that a "holiday" albeit a working one, is something special away from hoe.
Many hotels have endless corridors with rooms lining both sides in an effort to maximise rooms space, and minimise "unused" space. Definitely built with cold economic rationalist principles in mind.... a school of thought that attempts to substitute poor design choices in favour for countable metrics... speaking of which, it is a philosophy that has essentially ruined much of modern life!
The ParkRoyal have these lovely wide corridors that line an inner atrium area. It creates a lovely sense of openness and wonder that other closed corridor hotels lack.
In the room, you have a pretty standard set up... what was noticeable was the sheer size of the bed! I'm pretty sure that we could have it our entire little family in it!
A decent but not the best view from out the window... perhaps higher up I would have gotten a much more spectacular sight... but the view of the water was blocked by the buildings in between. Ah well, a pity.. but I only would use the room for sleeping in, and so a stunning view would be a bit wasted on me!