The Marriott Hotel College Street Sydney was right up to expectations. The staff are particularly customer aware and friendly. The hotel is well situated to the central CDB and the stroll across Hyde Park each morning and evening was very pleasant . Just a little gtrizzle- the In Room internet charge is too expensive. AUD$29.00 per 24/7. Don't connect- hop round the corner to the Vodafone internet cafe. Very clean and well set out. $2.00 for 30mins. All I needed for checking email etc.
Some nice restuarants nearby, Oxford Street has many, but the street is dirty and though I did not feel unsafe, it seems to be the gathering place for the gay and lesbian people and the homeless. The Museum Station ( underground rail) is on opposite corner of Hyde Park and ideal for taking the Airport train to Sydney Airport. $14.00 one way.
Would recommend Marriott for visitors wanting centrally located
accomodation and adjacent facilities.

Really recommend the hotel buffet breakfast. Especially the omlettes. Nice rooms. Great pool on the roof.

We stayed at the Marriott on Saturday night the 29th March, 2008. We arrived early to check in which was quick and easy and our luggage was stored. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was no wait at any stage for the lifts.
The room was very large with a sofa, desk, bed and cooking facilities such as hot plates and sink. Basic dishes and utensils were provided. The TV was old but worked well and had pay TV as well as free to air stations. The room was a little worn (or not brand new) but was spotlessly clean and very comfortable. I had four guests over to visit for a couple of hours and there was plenty of room.
The bathroom is very large - lots of bench space, a large spa bath and plenty of towels. Toiletries are good quality.
We did not have a room overlooking Hyde Park but as it was a corner room we could see the park from the side window. Our main view was to the Eastern suburbs and you could see a bit of the harbour as well. It was a very pleasant view. The room was extremely quiet. We did not hear any noise at all - either from the street or our neighbours.
There is an outdoor pool and an indoor spa. My daughter used the spa and said it was great.
The buffet breakfast, although not having a huge choice, had everything we wanted and the setting was very picturesque.
However the best feature of this hotel is the location. It is walking distance to the city and most facilities and attractions. But it is just far enough away from the hustle and noise of the centre of town. The walk in the other direction is also very interesting. Public transport is very close.
Overall we were very satisfied with our stay at the Marriott and we have already booked again for our next visit to Sydney.

My husband and I just returned from a five night stay at this hotel. There are many positive things to say about this Marriott................however!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all - we arrived early in the AM after a LONG overseas flight from the US. We were pleasantly greeted, and were thrilled to get an early check-in to our room. The room was very nicely appointed, although as previous reviewers have mentioned, the hotel is older and a little worn. The couch in our room definitely had some threadbare areas. However, our king-sized bed was very comfy!
Continuing on the positive note - we had a room overlooking Hyde Park. The hotel is in a beautiful and convenient location. Although it is about a mile from the harbor, we are used to walking, and enjoyed the exercise. This was wonderful for our needs - perhaps others might want to be located right on the waterfront. Public transportation is readily available nearby. We had no problem getting to most of the sights, once we became oriented to the area.
Food in the hotel is pricey. Once we got our bearings, we were able to find nice restaurants, although it took a little bit of searching. Sydney is a very walkable city - once you figure it out, it is fine. Just a tip - take the exployer bus on day one (you pay for it and pick it up at circular quay). It is a good value and will give you an excellent feel for the city.
On our last day in Sydney, we felt that there was quite a bit of activity and excitement in the hotel. We quickly learned that we were there for the day of gay and lesbian Mardi Gras. Our hotel was located literally at ground zero of the Mardi Gras parade. Prior to this, we could not figure out why we had to pay $310. for that night at the hotel! (our previous nights at the hotel were considerably lower in price!) I do wish that this had been explained to us when making the reservation!
Anyway, one could be (a) comfortable in this situation, or (b) uncomfortable in this situation. Since we were there only as visitors from the US ,and there by coincidence, it was a very uneasy situation for us. The hotel did its best to maintain security and limit excessive partying, but a very "lively" atmosphere prevailed!
Again - avoid this time in Sydney if Mardi Gras is not in your plans! I fault the Marriott Hotel for not explaining this in advance.
I would give this hotel a better review if they had explained this to us, and if we did not feel gouged regarding our room rate for that night.
Anyway - enjoy Sydney. It is a beautiful city to visit!