Shangri la Sydney

This is a lovely hotel that lives up to the term luxury. We were only here one night on the last night of our honeymoon, and used a points program to get a 29th floor "grand view" room (bridge + opera house, the whole harbor essentially). The room was really great, and definitely worth having this view for at least one night. The bed was sublimely comfortable, like a giant feather pillow, with a down comfortor and down pillows on top. The room was very spacious and had luxury level furnishings and finishings, bathrobes and slippers, pretty bathroom fixtures, etc. There was a fridge (mini-bar), pot to boil water for coffee/tea, teabags and coffee (instant, surprisingly), free (wired) internet in the room. If you value luxury and a view and will be in your room enough to enjoy it, this is a great choice in Sydney. We were more than happy to bring a bottle of champagne to the room and just take in the view from our own private space rather than going out searching for a decient bar to have a drink in. The location is excellent too, just a couple of blocks from the Quay, train station, everything in The Rocks, etc., so you really can't do better for central Sydney. We don't usually go in for such luxury hotels so we always feel a bit out of place since we prefer to carry our own bags and so forth, and we were probably the only people in jeans (so many suits - why?!), but once in our room we just relaxed and enjoyed the comfort. The hotel was fine with a late checkout (12:30 pm) which was also nice (although our keys expired at the usual time and we had to take an extra trip downstairs to get them reactivated).

hotel was amazing, staff were very friendly and attentive. This is my fouth time to sydney and this is definately one of the best hotels ive stayed in with fantasic views of the opera house and bridge and within easy walking distance to all the main attractions. There were a few comments on here about the slope down to the quay, but this really wasnt an issue we just had a gentle stroll back up to the hotel from the quay. Hopefully going back to austrailia again next year and would definately book to stay here again.

Many thanks to the author for their kind words and compliments - I was thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and appreciate your positive comments. Thank you for your kind words on our staff - I will certainly pass on your comments to the front desk staff as we pride ourselves on the hotels employees. In order to offer our guests the best possible service and hospitality, we are soon starting our renovations project which will include a new health club and day spa as well our refurbished food & beverage outlets - areas we look forward to introducing you to and other guests on their next stay.

I thank you once again we do look forward to welcoming you back to Shangri-La Hotel on your next visit to Sydney

Kind Regards,

Ashley Hunt

Front Office Manager

Lived in Sydney for 40 years and this is by far the best CBD hotel we have stayed in. We stayed in the Executive Grand Harbour suite and it was the nicest Sydney accomodation we have ever used (and we have used a few). The staff, food, accomodation were outstanding.

Many thanks for your recent review - I was thrilled to hear you enjoyed your stay with us here at Shangri-La Hotel Sydney.

Our spacious Executive Grand Harbour Suites offer fantastic views of Sydney's harbour, The Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and extend to the Blue Mountains. They also offer that extra space for longer stay travellers, or simply somewhere to spread your legs and relax.

Thank you also for your comments about our staff and food - we train our staff to represent true Shangri-La Hospitality and offer a broad range of delectable cuisines to please all guests and customers.

We do hope to welcome the author back to Shangri-La Hotel Sydney sometime in the near future and continue to offer a true Shangri-La Experience.

Kind Regards,

Ashley Hunt

Front Office Manager

We stayed at this hotel for 4 nights with our 3 kids. We have traveled all over the world and I have to say we really enjoyed this hotel. Great location, great service, great view, helpful staff, comfy beds, and quiet. Even though there seems to be a lot of business travelers at this hotel- we did not feel out of place with our three children. The only thing we didn't care for was the breakfast buffet - we noticed some of the guests touching the food instead of using tongs provided (which probably happens at all buffets) but it was a tad bit disconcerting since we just happened to be visiting when the media was focusing on the arrival of swine flu in Australia. But the hotel did offer a-la carte menu so we chose that instead. Overall a great stay and we would definitely choose this hotel again!

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. We do welcome children into the hotel at all times and treat them just as we would treat our adult guests. We realise that the children that come in with their parents today will hopefully be our guests tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't choose the buffet due to other guests using their hands. We do of course try to avoid this but I would have to ask you to indulge us on this occasion.

Thank you again for your review and I do hope to welcome you back to the hotel soon.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We stayed in the Deluxe Grand Harbor View room with a fantastic view of the Harbor Bridge, Opera House and Sydney Harbor. The rooms are huge and well appointed. The hotel is located in the Rocks and we easily walked to all the sites we wanted to see. My wife and I both loved the breakfast buffet. The fresh fruit was bursting with flavor! The staff is freindly and efficient and we highly recommend this hotel.

Thank you to the author for your kind review of the hotel. We enjoy the most commanding views over Sydney Harbour and we are positioned just a short stroll from all the attractions. I'm glad you chose the Deluxe Grand Harbour View Room for your stay which enjoys the uninterrupted views over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Thank you once again for your review and I do look forward to welcoming you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

Loved it. Great views of the Opera House from our room. Stunning bar on the 36th floor is a must for sunset drinks - get there early for a seat by the window. Swimming pool clean and relaxing (and no extra charge as in some chain hotels - tut, tut). Fab busiess facilities - we used the internet for free on several occasions - lovely lady runs the business suite, no waiting, no extra charges. Easy wander from hotel down to Circular Quay which is the touristy part of town. Bit further from CBD but we weren't interested in that. We were lucky to get a really good rate with my husband's company, guess it would be expensive otherwise.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed every aspect of your stay with us.

Our position between the Harbour Bridge and Opera House lets us enjoy uninterrupted views of the harbour and sights. Just a 5 minute stroll from the hotel and you are right down in Circular Quay.

Thank you once again for taking the time to review the hotel and I do hope that you will choose us again for your next visit to Sydney.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

Fantastic hotel - we were there for 4 days at the end of March.

Just back from a mega tour of Australia and the far east hence the late posting.

We had a Horizon Club room that looked down on the harbour and Opera House.

Fantastic staff, food, room, service and location.

Brilliant choice for Sydney

Thank you to the author for your kind review of the hotel. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and I do hope you enjoyed the facilities of the Horizon Club Lounge on level 30. The views are second to none from the lounge with 180 degree views from the heads of Sydney Harbour to the Blue Mountains.

I do hope that I can welcome you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future and thank you again for your review.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

If you want an unbelievable view of the Opera House, this is the place to stay. The location in The Rocks District was perfect. The friendly lady at the check-in desk was right. Our room overlooked the Opera House, which was in full view. It also included a view of the popular Sydney bridge. The hotel is just a short walk (5-10 minutes) away from tour boats, not far from the Opera House. No need to rent a car if you stay here, as The Rocks area is a vibrant area with shops, cafes, restaurants, all set in a European style. The hotel's concierge set a reservation based off my description of the restaurant, and without me remembering the name of the place, then proceeded to highlight the map as to how to get there. When we arrived at the restaurant, about a 10-minute walk away, the restaurant staff was there to greet us. What's not to love? This hotel actually exceeded our expectations. We've had great views in hotels before, but this was definitely the best. Would definitely stay there again!

the hotel is extremely good for both business or leisure travellers. my wife and i stayed at 4 nights and we were allowed to checked in earlier at 12noon time instead of 3pm to allow us get some sleep after tired overnight flight. we booked opera view room but during check in were upgrade to great harbour view room. the room with fantastic view for both opera house and harbour bridge. room was big with very comfortable bed and bathroom was big too with separate shower. free broadband Internet provided. the only downside are room a bit dated with ordinary TV not flat TV and also TV channels limited with not many choices for different nationals travellers.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you enjoyed our hotel.

I'm pleased to announce that this year will see the installation of flat screen televisions in all of our guestrooms. Currently, our Horizon Club rooms have flatscreens and this will be rolled out over the whole hotel shortly.

Thank you once again for taking the time to review the hotel and I do hope I can welcome you back soon to Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager

We stayed four nights at the Shangri-la at a free upgraded room on the 23rd floor corner room. Overlooking Sydney Harbor with the bridge and opera house and watching the marine traffic both day and night represented the best urban view in the world. It was mesmerizing! We had a 270 degree view and could have stayed in the room looking out day and night. Service was excellent and location near The Rocks great. It is on a hill with a 3 block climb from George St. But there is an effortless shortcut.

Thank you to the author for your review. Our Premier Grand Harbour View Rooms have the most amazing views over the harbour and one can just about spend all day watching the traffic on the water come in and out of Circular Quay.

I do hope you will stay with us again when you return to Sydney and thank you for your review.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

Great hotel! My husband and I traveled to Sydney for a friend's b-day party. Had a blast and I have to say, the hotel was great. We were coming in on an overnight flight and arrived at 9am in the morning, completely exhausted. We just needed to sleep for a few hours before taking on Sydney. Our room wasn't available so they put us in another room type so that we could sleep. This was really nice and especially appreciated since they have no obligation to let us into a room until 3 pm. Honestly, it made our trip. The room was great and had an awesome view of the Sydney Opera House. The staff was always very nice and accommodating. Rooms were very clean and the bed was very comfortable. Only downside is that it is a bit of a hike up a hill to reach the hotel so if you have small kids you would need to take a taxi back to the hotel each time. (We actually enjoyed the hike since we didn't see the gym much on this trip!) Highly recommend this hotel!

Thank you to the author for your review. I can see that you enjoyed your stay nearly as much as we enjoyed having you.

When our guests arrive early, we do all possible to get you into your room as we know the toll that long haul travel has on people. I'm thrilled to hear that we were able to accommodate you early and that it made your trip.

I hope I can welcome you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future and thank you again for taking the time to review our hotel.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

From the moment i pulled into the entrance, everything was amazing. Valet parking assistants were polite, receptionist served me immediately and escorted me up to the horizon private reception where staff there were very attentive and polite. They even provided a complimentary bottle of champagne. When i arrived in the room (Horizon Premier Grand Harbour View), the view was breathtaking and you could see every point of Sydney Harbour. The room was spotless and the huge bathroom had all the bathroom amenities you need during the stay.

Drinks and H'or dourves in the Horizon club was a great way to start the evening before heading to dinner. King size bed was one of the most comfortable beds i have ever slept in and waking up to an amazing sunrise over the harbour was incredible. Breakfast at the Horizon Club was relaxed and provided a great breakfast and refreshments.

From the moment i arrived to the moment i left, nothing was too much trouble and all staff were very polite and helpful, especially the horizon club receptionists. Will definitely be staying at the Shangri La again.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled to hear that you were pleased with all aspects of your stay with us.

I will be sure to pass your comments onto the Horizon Club Manager and team so that the staff can be commended for a job well done.

Thank you once again and I do hope we can welcome you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

This is our second trip to this great hotel and it has well and truly secured its place as our most fav hotel to stay at in Sydney.

After finishing our hoilday on a 12 night cruise on the Sun Princess, we checked into our Premier Grand Harbour View Room in the Horizon Club on the 30th floor. A great relief was the fact the room was ready at 9.30am. A real bonus! Horizon club guests can get their own private check in which made us feel that extra bit special. The room itself is amazing, its a corner room with panaromic views over the city, opera house and harbour. And the rooms i think are more pleasantly furnished than the others, with extras amentities in the bathroom, complimentary shoe shine and suit presssing. Not to forget the evening drinks and canapes are all built into the price. My only complaint of the room which is not really the hotels fault, but this room in particular between 10-1 gets extremely hot. There are literally 4 large picture windows that really attract the heat and although the day was not that hot, for that part of the day all we could do was close the blinds and curtains and wait for the sun to move. Perhaps the hotel might consider those see through white mesh blinds that could be put in these rooms so they can be lowered, thus avoiding the hot part of the morning. Even with the air-con, the area in question with the blinds shut still gets hot. Having said that, once the sun passes the blinds can be open and the beautiful view enjoyed. Its interesting that even the staff in the Horizon Club said that even they find the heat sometimes unbearable for that part of the day. I am sure there must be some solution where these blinds could be installed without jeopordising the view. As i said not really the hotels fault, the sunny weather is really an act of God, but perhaps additional blinds may be the way to go.

We utilised the services of the Blu Horizon bar and got to see first hand a massive storm coming across Sydney which is reason alone to stay for a drink or 3.

The staff in the morning were most kind in offering us a late check out of 12.30 as we had a late afternoon flight which i thought was very kind.

Travelling to the airport later that day we realised we had left a whole heap of proffesional photos we had taken on our cruise on the bench in our room, so making a frantic call we spoke with a Tiannee in the Horizon Club (my apologies if her name is spelt wrong) To ask her to locate these for us. Within 15 minutes she had called back to advise that they had been located and was even kind enough to go through them to ensure they wernt heat damaged (silly me, left them in front of the picture window and then closed the blinds) so they had spent a good 5 hours in the sun. She offered to have them bundled up and posted back immediatly. This type of immediate service is rare in such a busy hotel and i hope the hotel recognises the asset that they have.

So as i said, this was the 2nd time we stayed and will now continue to stay at the hotel any chance we get. May i reccomend if you can afford it to upgrade to the Horizon Club, the rooms are nicer, the bathroom amentities and the access to the club lounge are reasons alone, why you should say `why not` Would reccomend this hotel to anyone wanting some luxury and top notch service where the staff just go that little bit further.

Thank you to the author for your wonderful review of the hotel. I am glad we were able to return your photo's to you and that they were not damaged. I will be sure to pass your comments onto the Horizon Club Manager so that the staff can be commended for a job well done.

It is true that the large windows get quite warm through the day when the sun shines directly in. It is a shame to have to close the curtains on the view but for the short period of time the windows get hot, we would hate to have to permanently obscure the view with blinds. The Horizon Club has blinds which come down the four storey windows to help with the heat through the day.

Thank you once again for your review and I do hope you will visit us again soon.

Kind Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We celebrated my wife's birthday with a weekend at the Sahngri la Sydney, in a Horizon Club room on the 32nd floor. This hotel is amazing. The room was excellent and they put in an extra bed for our 5 year old in the entrance foyer which worked wonderfully. On our arrival we were directed to the Horizon Club where a private check in area awaited. The process was simple, professional and very pleasant. If  views and food are your thing, this is the place. We dined at Cafe Mix for breakfast which was fantastic and had dinner at Altitude which was the best meal I have ever had. The staff at Altitude really added to the experience, they were simply superb.  In fact, all the staff were great, nothing was a problem. The views from the room were breathtaking and a lot of time was spent just looking at the ever changing vista. This is a quality hotel with great staff, top location and food and service to please even the hardest marker. Do yourself a favour and pamper yourself!

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled you enjoyed your break in Sydney and a Happy Birthday to your wife!

The Horizon Club is a poplular choice for those wanting that little extra luxury and the extras such as the evening drinks really make that special occasion.

I will be sure to pass your comments onto the Horizon Club Manager and the Director of Food and Beverage so that the staff in those areas can be commended for their work.

I do hope that you will return to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney in the near future and thank you once again for your kind review.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We stopped over the easter period and yes that hill is a killer but you get amazing views and we found the entire staff extremely helpful and friendly. We had a meal at Altitude which was well worth the money and the waitress was exceptional. The room was huge, the bed was one of the best I've slept in and the bathroom was nearly as big as the bedroom! The only slight issue we had was on Easter Sunday night we had gone to the lounge bar about 10pm, turned out the bars all shut early that night when a group came in who were exceptionally loud and assumed everyone was there just to serve them. The people who were sat closest to them had to leave as you couldn't hear yourself think. Its a shame someone on the reception area hadn't come and asked them to be a little more considerate of those around them. The bar staff were excellent but run off their feet as only one guy making the drinks and one girl delivering them. Overall we loved it and would definately stay there again.

Thank you to the author for your review and I'm glad you enjoyed your Easter break with us. We enjoy the largest guestrooms in the city and our full marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs are a feature.

My apologies that the bar was rowdy when you visited it. Being a long weekend over Easter, I would say that group were out celebrating it and got a little excited.

I do hope I can welcome you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney and thank you for taking the time to review the hotel.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

I just got back from a week long stay at the Shangri-La, Sydney and the experience was simply amazing. Situated right in the heart of Sydney, Shangri - La offers you a breathtaking view of the the city skyline. Overlooking the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, it offers the perfect comfort for business travellers and honeymooners alike. Din't need any city tour since I was staying on the 29th floor. It was like staying on top of a beautiful lighthouse overlooking the majestic city skyline which was a perfect combination of both - the historical look as well as the modern city centre. Spacious rooms and bathroom are a getaway from the matchbox like feeling of being in a big city. I specially loved the large windows in each room, an absolutely perfect place to spend with your morning tea. A spacious lobby, business centers and asthetically well designed resturants offer a perfect place for business meetings or a romantic evening out. With an in-door swimming pool, a well equipped gym and a spa, I dint miss a single day of my morning workouts. Above all, the courteous and hospitable staff went out of their way to make me feel at home. Shangri - La made prefect sense for a well deserved holiday

Thank you to the author for your review and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay with us.

Our near floor to ceiling windows with bench seat are a feature of the hotel and we get many comments on them from our guests. It certainly is a great spot to relax and enjoy the view.

It sounds like you were able to enjoy the many outlets and facilities that the hotel provides and again I am pleased that you enjoyed them.

Once again my thanks to you for your review and I do hope I can welcome you back soon to Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

This hotel is located three blocks from the Rocks area of Sydney. The Rocks is the main tourist areas, with many shops, restaurants, and of course the Opera House. It also within easy walking distance of the CBD, where the large shopping areas are. There are also many small sidewalk restaurants where you can get breakfast or lunch for reasonable prices. When we arrived I asked for a large enough room to accommodate a roll a way bed for my son who was with us for two days. They instead gave us a junior suite (two rooms) for the same price. The room was quite large and had huge windows overlooking the city. These are considered the less desirable rooms because they don't overlook the harbor and the opera house. We were thrilled with the space and the view we got. The bathroom is huge. Internet was free which is much better than other places we stayed in Australia where they charged $9.95 per day. This is a high service hotel where the staff can't do enough for you.

The main complaint I've read about on Trip Advisor is the fact you have to walk three long blocks uphill to return to the hotel from the Rocks. This is true, but after the 1st day, we just took a cab up the hill. It costs $5 AU and was the sensible thing to do after walking all day.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed your stay with us and enjoyed our large guestrooms which are the largest in the city.

I will pass on your comments to the staff who will be pleased that you found them extremely helpful.

Thank you once again and I do hope that you will visit us again soon should you return to Sydney.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

Stayed here March '09 on family vacation. Our gorgeous 270-degree views of Harbour and Sydney Opera house were complemented by stay in Horizon Club, where guests are all treated like VIPs. No service is unavailable. Hotel is very high-end, and feels like the place to stay for diplomats, high-end business transactions etc. In fact, a huge group of Chinese diplomats were in town during our stay. That said, this is not the choice for vacationers. Better choices would be any of a number of boutique hotels in the Rocks/Circular Quay area, a few with views of the Opera house. Also, hotel is on top of steep hill, so those who wish to avoid a ridiculously steep walk back to their rooms should choose the nearby Four Seasons (with smaller rooms but equally good service), or perhaps even the Intercontinental.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and found the level of service to be of a high standard.

I apologise that you found the incline up from George Street a struggle. There is in fact a short cut available which is through the two hotels next to us. I hope that we can welcome you back to the hotel soon and I will be sure to show you how to avoid that hill.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

I flew down to Sydney from LA for 2 1/2 days for a concert, and booked the Shangri-La on short notice. Great experience. I had previously stayed at the Four Seasons when it was the Regent - bad experience all around. The Four Seasons is in a slightly better location, since you don't need to walk up a hill, but because of the previous bad experience I chose the Shangri La this time. Great choice.

I arrived at 7:05am - easy train ride from the airport to Circular Quay and then a 3-block walk up to the hotel. They let me check in to my 17th floor Opera House view room immediately - nice surprise. Not a perfect view, since the side of the building blocked the Opera House from some parts of the room, but pretty darn good for under A$200/night. It was great watching the sunrise from there the first morning.

Everything was great. I would leave for an hour to get breakfast in the Rocks area each morning, and when I came back the room was always made up already. No waiting until 4pm like at some places. The internet was free, and worked perfectly. Bathroom was large, well laid out and spotless.

My last morning I requested a late checkout and it was granted immediately. I then went to the spa to see about getting a massage, and they fit me in only an hour later. One of the best massages I've gotten anywhere.

I did not try the restaurants or bar, since there are so many great places within a couple blocks of there, so I can't speak to the food. But everything else was great - no complaints at all.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were well looked after.

I do hope that we can welcome you back to the hotel soon and should you come back and visit us, be sure to ask about the shortcut that avoids the hill up to the hotel.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

POssibly the best hotel we have ever stayed in the world. There are no words to explain just how exquisite this hotel is. Excellent Service, magnificent rooms, views. Will always return to Shangri La Sydney.

Thank you to the author for your review. I will be sure to pass on your very kind comments to all of the staff here at the hotel.

I'm so glad that you enjoyed your stay that much and do hope that I can welcome you back to the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney very soon.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard.

Front Office Manager.

I don't know what else to say. We came to sydney and stayed at this hotel - we booked an Opera House view room and we got whole of circular quay view!!! (room 2909) As soon as we walked into the room the very first thing we saw was the sydney bridge straight in front of us, then we both raced to the almost floor to ceiling windows and saw the opera house to our right, bridge to our left and the rocks area right below us. We could watch the ferries coming in and out of the port, the view was out of this world and you would look out for what seems like seconds and hours had passed becuase it was that good. The hotel staff are lovely!!! especially the doorman who you can ask any question about sydney and they could give you a full answer, often including the ferry times of ticket price. The food was amazing we only had breakfast but that was all you needed with the range of cooked foods, fresh fruit and juicies, we drank litres of apple juice every morning. The rooms were very clean with internet points, two phones and massive bathroom with huge seperate shower. One important fact the hotel is on a very steep hill so go out the entrance to the right of the reception point and that comes out half way down the hill once you have go down a few steps. Butif you are not a step person go right out of the main entrance and that will take you to the rocks area. This hotel is in the perfect location for everything just ten mins from circular key, within 25 mins you can be sitting on the steps outside the opera house, and the bridge climb centre is on the same road, and if you are going to sydney - DO THE BRIDGE CLIMB - it is worth every penny as is the hotel!!! can't wait to go back!!!!!

Thank you to the author for your review. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay and I will pass your comments onto our doorman. Our doorman have all worked for us for many years and do have a great knowledge of the city. Thank you for highlighting them in your review.

I will also pass your comments onto our Director of Food and Beverage so that the restaurant staff and chefs can hear your feedback.

I'm glad that you found the shortcut up the hill which seems to come up in many reviews lately. The hill may be quite steep but as you would agree, the result is un-interrupted views over magical Sydney Harbour.

I do hope that you will return to Sydney in the near future and that you will choose to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney again.

My fiancee and I were absolutely thrilled with our experience at The Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney.

There is something rare and remarkable about this purebred Hotel, whose accolades seem to live in the wooden panels, the furnishings, and the service.

We stayed at the Horizon Club Deluxe Room (Darling Harbour Views). The room was really larger than the standard 5-star rooms, with a bathroom that immediately caught our attention on entry - we both stopped in amazement at the size of the bathroom! The surprises did not stop there. The view is amazing! The thoughtfulness of each item, right down to the note pad next to the bed...

This is a 5 star Hotel where the idea of luxury surely started in the architect's pen, and is continued today in the hands of the staff. Simply breathtaking!

Thank you.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm very pleased that you enjoyed the standard of the hotel and also the service that the staff provide. Our guestrooms are amoungst the largest in the city and due to our position, every room enjoys water views.

The Horizon Club on the 30th floor is a great choice for those wanting those extra little luxuries and as you enjoyed - amazing views!

Thank you once again for taking the time to review the hotel and I do hope that you will choose us for your next visit to Sydney.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We checked in a couple of hours ago - room 3215 - and have been nothing short of stunned with everything, from the service to the room, it has been perfect! Normally we write a review of hotels once we've checked out, but this place is so amazing I just want to let everyone about every aspect as we experience it. The view. The service. The robes. The location. Amazing. Here's hoping that they can keep it up.

Thank you to the author for your running review. I do hope that you continue to have a positive experience over your stay and I look forward to reading your follow up comments!

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We stayed at The Shagri La in Sydney for 5 nights at the end of February.We upgraded our room to the Horizon Club on the 30th to 35th Floors.

We had a great view over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House,it was so good we could have stayed in our room all day and watch the ferries ,traffic and people moving round the harbour.We had breakfast on the 30th floor but also tried the buffet on the 1st floor,both were good.Evening drinks and nibbles on the 30th floor were excellent.

They do have a rule of no shorts and sandles which was a bit of a pain.

Our check in could have been better , we arrived after a long flight delay to find our room was not ready but the staff were very friendly and efficient.

We loved our time in Sydney and this Hotel has a great location if you get the rooms with the view.We would stay there again.

Thank you to the author for your review. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the hotel and in particular, the Horizon Club Lounge on the 30th floor.

After 5pm in the Club Lounge, we do not allow shorts or sandles which one would usually find as standard in a club lounge in the evening. Throughout the day however, we do not have a dresscode as the atmosphere is more relaxed.

For guests arriving early morning, we do all possible to have your room ready for arrival, however, especially when travelling in high season, is not always possible. To ensure you get your room on arrival, you have the option of pre-registration whereby you book from the night before. This is advisable in the high season as the hotel runs at very high occupancies.

Thank you again for taking the time to review the hotel and I hope you will choose us next time you visit Sydney.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.

We stayed at the Shangri La for six nights from 8th March 2009 to celebrate our 41st wedding anniversary. We had booked a Darling Harbour View room but were upgraded to Room 1811, which had a Harbour Bridge and Opera House view. Views were amazing. Very large room with exceptionally comfortable bed and super large bathroom. The location of the hotel is very good, handy for Circular Quay and the rail transport system. In walking distance of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The Harbour Bridge climb starts about 100 metres away from the main entrance to the hotel (although we did not do it!) The staff were all brilliant, from the porters to the concierge, nothing was too much trouble. All in all a super stay at a great hotel. We woud certainly re-visit.

I'd researched and selected this hotel because of it's location, and the reviews here on TripAdvisor. I've previously lived in Sydney so I knew the location.

I selected the Premier Grand Harbour View room for the view and the welcome luxury after a series of long-haul flights.

The problems started with check-in - the receptionist didn't understand that "Advance Purchase" meant "purchased in advance" - basic English, I would have thought. I insisted that the room was already paid for and my card was to be used just for incidentals, and showed her the hotel confirmation email. She insisted that it wasn't already paid for and my card would be billed the entire amount. After a 27-hour journey, this wasn't the way I wanted to start my stay in Oz.

Eventually a supervisor appeared from a backroom on another errand, and sorted the problem out (card details for payment are on another screen...), but this bad start put me completely off using any of the hotel facilities - including the upgrade that started the whole discussion. The receptionist then got shirty with us and brushed off her mistake saying "Oh! It's so complicated!" Um, no, it's not, Advance Purchase means just what it says on the tin.

For a 5-star hotel, there are remarkably few concessions - the bottled water on the night-stand was $3.50, which annoyed me - I've frequently had complimentary bottled water at 3-star hotels, and it's precisely the sort of customer-care that I expect at a 5-star establishment.

And that seemed to be the theme for the entire stay - not so much "what can we do for you?" but more "what can we charge you extorbitant fees for?".

The room had the expected fantastic view, at least from one side. The other side looked out onto neighbouring apartment blocks and hotels, so the curtains on that side remained closed for the entire stay. Due to this I rather regretted not getting one of the rooms to the side, and saving a few hundred dollars a night. So if you are thinking of getting a corner room, do ensure it's one with views of the harbour from BOTH sides.

The room was was very nice and spacious with a big comfy bed and excellent bath-room. The hotel is modern enough, but due to the above billing problem I didn't bother trying out any of the bars or amenities, including the spa.

Location-wise it's at the top of a steep hill, not far from Wynyard, except that the usual route from Wynyard is closed due to building works.

All in all, the next time I think I will be checking out the Four Seasons or something like that, same view, same cost, but hopefully better trained staff.

GREAT VIEWS!!! Having stayed at several Shangri La Hotels world wide I must say Sydney Shangri La is rather disappointing. Booking completely messed up, even after calling the four times after an online booking. Had to find someone to park the car, waited 15 minutes to be acknowledged at the front desk on check in and need to wait until late afternoon for a room. Staff rarely smiled or said hello. Never in my life have I seen such a lack of staffing numbers in a hotel. Waited 25 minutes to be seated for breakfast. Very table was either full of people or mess left uncleaned. Similar in the Horizon Club. Hyatt is a far better choice. However the rooms, view, & location at Shangri La Sydney are second to none.

Thank you to the author for your review. My apologies for your stay being less than perfect. I am quite concerned to hear that you found the hotel understaffed. We recently conducted a survey of our competitor hotels and found that in many areas we had higher staffing levels.

Please rest assured that I will investigate these areas along with the Director of Food and Beverage so that we can improve the level of service we offer our guests. If I can kindly ask you to indulge us on this occasion.

Regards,

Leigh Shepheard

Front Office Manager.