My husband and I stayed here as the main part of our honeymoon stay in Sydney, due to its central location and its affordability. On arrival we were allocated our opera view room which was on the 6th floor, with a great view of the opera house. Could not have been a more central view, although it was often obstructed by cruise ships which docked in front of the window and blocked the opera view!

The hotel itself is pretty basic in terms of the rooms, but there is everything you need for a functional stay. I had to complain while I was there as the room was not as clean as it could have been. We had stayed there for 5 nights and the bathroom floor had not been cleaned once, nor had our carpet been vacuumed. This is not what I would expect, but once I had complained twice, this was rectified.

Breakfast was good, although pretty badly organised, with tables being allocated very slowly and everyone feeling a bit crowded. But the food was very good and varied. Most of the people who stayed at the hotel were older British couples who seemed to be there as part of a package.

The roof top pool is nowhere near as big as it looks on pictures but is still stunning with great views and is a lovely place to relax and get away from it all.

Overall, would return again without hesitation.

Those of us charged with the responsibility of organising travel itineries / accommodation for ones family are keenly aware of the pressure to "get it right"! This responsibilty becomes particularly onerous when the family includes young children.

My wife and 2 children ( aged four and seven) recently celebrated a relatives wedding in Thredbo, and decided to incorporate 4 days in Sydney prior to the event. The wife and kids had never been to Sydney so the trip was all about seeing the Opera House , The Bridge, Ferry to the zoo, monorail to China town......

Location was therefore a priority and this Hotel delivered in spades. Literally a stones throw away from Circular Quay, and under the shadow of the Harbour Bridge, all of the things we wanted to do and see were within walking distance from the hotel including restaurants, ferry services, and public transport.

The room that we stayed in ( 2 double beds) was very clean and the beds extremely comfortable. Our room was on the 3rd floor facing George st which offered a glimpse of the Harbour bridge.

The hotel is not new, but is tastefully appointed. For us mere mortals without access to expense accounts or superannuation draw downs this hotel delivers much bang for its buck. Under our package a cooked buffet style breakfast was included, and the kids ate all meals in the restaurant for free ( Meals were very tasty!). That certainly puts a bit more weight in the wallet!

The staff were attentive and polite and didn't miss a beat in terms of advice or help.

The kicker for the kids was the pool on top of the roof. The weather was slightly inclement but that didn't stop them ( and by definition dear old dad!) giving it a nudge. Granted the pool is smaller than those depicted on the hotels web site - but the view over Sydney taking in the opera house and over the bay is out of this world.

In terms of negatives - the security card swipers to gain entry into our room were a bit hit and miss having to sometimes swipe 2 or three times to unlock the door.

Thanks Holiday Inn for helping me get it right - a great experience!!

We were very surprised at the overall quality of this hotel. It was overall one the best we stayed in during our 2-month long trip. Located in The Rocks area steeped in history, the hotel a very short walk to the quays for trains and the ferry, the opera house and some of Sydney's best restaurants. The historical brick entry to the hotel, on a bend in the road at 55 George Street, belies the open lobby, spaceous modern rooms and comfy bar and dining room within. It was bright and welcoming. Room views were fantastic not to mention the view lying by the roof top pool watching the action in the distance over the entire harbor. This hotel is better located than the 4Seasons and other top hotels. Not inexpensive, the hotel rooms were quiet and lovely, the beds being so comfortable it was easy to sleep late! All of the hotel staff were welcoming, professional and very efficient. It was a treat to have them listen attentively and focus on our every request. Originally booked to stay two days, no wonder we returned twice more as we connected in Sydney for a flight to New Zealand and again on our way home to the US. Worth the price, we would highly recommend this hotel.

We stayed at the Old Sydney Holiday Inn for 3 nights. First off the staff were incredible! From the first minute you walk into the place they are right there to grab your bags and make sure you are taken care of. The rooms are very comfortable and stylish, new and modern. The bed was so yummy! The breakfast in the morning that was included with our room was fantastic! Made to order eggs or waffles or pancakes were the cherry on the cake of the day. The only thing I have to say negative about the place is that it's in the heart of the city and right on a busy street. On the weekends you'll hear all cars and people milling about looking for some fun. It wasn't that bad for us but for others might be a little annoying.