Sigh. This was supposed to have gone up yesterday but you know how it is with technology. You never know when it’ll trip you up and leave you with egg on your face! That said, maybe it was providential because I actually didn’t have a post scheduled for today haha! Guess it all works out eh?
For my quick trip to Sydney, I was put up at The Darling Hotel, which is a new hotel attached to The Star, a casino and shopping complex down on Pyrmont St, near Darling Harbour. I’m told that at time of writing, it is just 18 months old! I’m not sure if I’d be able to put up here again (far too out of my budget!) but it was a nice experience.
This here is the Junior Suite and the bed was humongous! Also very high. I felt like the Princess and the Pea as i climbed up lol! The room is pretty large, with a sitting area, a small kitchenette and importantly, a Nespresso machine! YES!
Yes, I’m one of those who needs her coffee in the morning to jump start the engines or I’d get a terrible headache.
I must say the bathroom was the other thing I liked. There was a very large, high tub in there which served me well as I’d just gotten off an 8 hour flight filled with numerous crying and screaming babies, I was asked to switch my seat to accommodate people who wanted to sit together, and my new seatmate didn’t like me reclining my seat. What the hell? But you know what? There is nothing good ear plugs will not cure!
Still, a bath came in very handy to soak away all the stress and kinks. It is only about 19 Celcius here, which is cold by my tropical standards so I was looking forward to a nice hot bath. It was nice and warm, and I had a good long soak.
Toiletries were by Molton Brown. Mmm…. Nice! I shouldn’t have brought any hehe… My room didn’t have much of a view, except for a distant view of Anzac Bridge. Well, i did have a view of a giant TV.
I thought the decor was interesting. Certainly food for thought when I’m doing my own home decorating soon. I liked the black frames and the black and white photos in them. One more thing that thrilled me. Auto-closing blinds at a touch of a button! Ok, I’m easily amused 😛
Oh I had lunch in room and picked the catch of the day from the Sydney Fish Market which was Barramundi! It was a nice thick slab of fish, nicely grilled so it was crisp around the edges yet juicy on the inside and so fresh it tasted of the sea. This is what reminds me most of Sydney because the last time I was here years and years ago, my family and I spent so much time at the fish market trying all the various fresh seafood.
I took a walk in The Star next door but it was mostly high end designer stores and some random food although there was a famous patisserie Zumbo and Messima gelato. I tried the latter. Wasn’t bad although I was told at a different outlet, people queue for hours to buy the gelato!
It’s been a lovely stay at The Darling Hotel. The weather has been a little dreary but the room more than made up for it. Loved the chance to experience it because the odds of me returning aren’t high. Too luxurious even for my champagne tastes 😉
But if you have recommendations for other more wallet friendly hotels/accommodation in Sydney I’m all ears!
Who knows when I’ll be back again to visit and spend more time exploring the city 🙂 oh and what were the odds that I had 4, count it, 4 crying and screaming babies in my section of the plane on my flight over? Enough to drive anyone mad, I swear! Not something I’d wish on anyone.
Paris B
Firn says
November 13, 2013 at 9:31 amThat’s why they should have a parents-with-kids-only section of the plane. And make it soundproof so that the parents (who have willingly signed on for about 7 years of crying in public) need be the only ones to suffer the screams and howls of each others’ precious angels. Give them discounts on the seats too!
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 10:31 amI hear ya Firn! They really should separate infants and children because not all of us can spring for Business Class! 😛 Oh and I endured crying children all the way back too – Praise the inventor of ear plugs!
Applegal says
November 13, 2013 at 9:55 amThe room looks amaaaayyyzinnnng!!! Is this even a hotel room? Love the bathroom mosaic and the TV area! A bit weird that they put the phone next to the nespresso machine, imaging taking a call when your machine is going psshhhttttquiirrsshhhhh XD
Enjoy your stay!! I stayed at the YMCA on the Rocks, affordable, clean, good location. You can buy your own food and keep it at their kitchen, and cook up your own breakfast, or buy their breakfast sets.
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 10:32 amThat was my thoughts exactly Applegal! “OMG It’s like an apartment!” But it was absolutely an amazing room! I didn’t think about the phone LOL! But you’re absolutely right – what a racket it would have been 😀 Thanks for the YMCA rec – when I next go back I will look that one up 😀
xin says
November 13, 2013 at 10:07 amthat’s a room fit for a king! we can even party in it! I am not sure whether I will ever be able to afford such luxurious hotel room, but definitely would love to visit aus before I am tempted to visit NZ again! if all else fails, there’s still geek and tine to count on! XD
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 10:34 amIt could fit so many people and yes, definitely a party! I know I’ll never be able to afford it myself (nor want to pay for it coz I’d put my money towards food) It’s a nice place to visit. I want to go back and visit vineyards! 😀
Isabel says
November 13, 2013 at 10:12 amOooh swanky!
But what I’d really like to know is how in the world does your flight seatmate have a say in whether you recline your seat or not??? I generally don’t like reclining my seat very far back -just a teeny weeny bit so that it doesn’t feel like I’m leaning forwards. In fact, I find it more uncomfortable to sit in a seat that is reclined too much. Unfortunately, on my recent flight, I didn’t have a choice but to recline it all the way back because the selfish toad in front of me did it first. If I didn’t recline, I’d have her head rest right in my face! I honestly felt sorry for the person behind me but it was either my own comfort or theirs! What made it worse was that the woman in front of me kept throwing her blanket over the back of her seat when she didn’t want to use it and very nearly hit me in the face once! Honestly, some people have utterly no sense of their surroundings. Finally, I got up, poked her in the shoulder and told her off.
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 10:39 amThe one next to me overflowed his seat so maybe it was uncomfortable? I don’t know. The one at the back told me his legs were too long to which my response was “tough” I recline back if I’m going to sleep but if I’m watching in flight entertainment, it’s more comfortable to not recline too much. Anyway, I personally believe that as the seats are made to recline to a certain level, then that’s the limit of what we’re entitled to. The problems of flying cattle class eh? 😛
Jasmine says
November 13, 2013 at 10:53 amWelcome to Sydney babe! In fact you’re here at the right time coz a couple of days ago it was rain, rain & thunderstorms.
If you’re staying over the weekend, check out The Rocks and Bondi market and many more activities ard the city. Do wrap up yourself towards the evening coz it’ll be windy and could be cold. Have fun Paris ????
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 10:40 amThanks Jasmine! I left on the day it turned sunny in Sydney for a cold and wet Melbourne LOL! My timing was impeccable 😛 I did want to explore Sydney but will leave it for another time when I go back for a holiday. It’s always more fun on a holiday than on “work” 😉
Victoria says
November 13, 2013 at 2:07 pmLovely hotel room! I love Sydney and really miss it. I was there in 2008 for 2 weeks for a religious gathering and stayed with 2 different set of foster parents – the first one Malaysians who migrated to Sydney 14 years ago and the second one a lovely old Aussie couple of Scottish descent. I stayed in Manly and more or less covered a large part of Sydney including the Blue Mountains. Did not visit Bondi beach since it was winter time and it would have been too cold to stay by the beach anyway. Hahaha. Hope to visit Melbourne one day as I was told that the city is even better than Sydney 😉
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 3:17 pmWow I really do have to go back to Sydney for a holiday and visit some of the more popular tourist sights. I haven’t driven around and I really want to do the vineyards. Melbourne is nice. A little slower paced I think but then I only popped into the city for a short while. Spent most of my time in the suburbs.
Marina(Makeup4all) says
November 13, 2013 at 9:31 pmHave a nice time!!! 🙂
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 3:17 pmThanks Marina, I did 🙂
Leonard goh says
November 15, 2013 at 12:45 amLovely ! The room design and concept are lovely ! I love it ! Simple yet classy ! Even the five star hotel i’ve stayed in before can’t comepare to this !
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 3:22 pmThat’s what I thought too Leonard. The room was really nice. The bed was uber comfy and the tub was luxe. Soaked in there twice a day haha!
AnT says
November 15, 2013 at 9:57 amWow! Very nice! Yay to Nespresso!! LOL 😀
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 3:22 pmYay to Nespresso indeed! 😀
Jennifer says
November 16, 2013 at 4:06 pmWow, that’s a great stay. Love everyting about the hotel – tiles on the bathroom walls, Nespresso, toiletries, Nespresso, high bed and Nespresso 😀 Glad you put up in such a wonderful suite after the terrifying flight. When I was in Sydney, I stayed at a youth hostel and it rained all the time. Haha, my memory of Sydney is budget stay, cold and rainy. But it was a good trip nonetheless before everything fell apart.
Paris B says
November 21, 2013 at 3:40 pmI especially loved the bath area. The mosaic blew me away. I want it! Haha… I didn’t get to enjoy the room very much because we were so busy when we were there but when I did sink into bed at the end of the day, it was wonderful. Not likely I’ll ever stay there again but hey, the experience was priceless 🙂 Oh and it was wet, cold and rainy while I was there too! So your memory and my memory of Sydney is the same haha!
Nikki says
November 28, 2013 at 11:51 amOh my PB! You got me at Nespresso machine! I don’t care anymore about the high ceiling, or just put me in a super small enclosed space, just give me the coffee, I’ll be fine! 😀 Hope to chat with yo soon *winks*
Paris B says
December 2, 2013 at 3:14 pmOh yes, I owe you a chat my dear! Soon!