Ibis, Darling Harbour, Sydney

The Ibis is what it is.

A basic hotel for those who want a clean place to sleep, a buffet breakfast and a decent location at a reasonable price.

The rooms are very small (I'm talking only enough room to take in your hand luggage), very basic and we would only recommend booking if you are primarily in Sydney to spend your time outside of the hotel and mearly sleep and shower in your room.

These hotels are good for the business traveller or conference delegate or for those who really just need a place to rest their head and have faith in the large hotel chain.

The hotel shares facilities such as the pool with sister hotel the Novotel. However, guests will have to make a trek to get to the pool - not the nicest when you are dripping wet, looking not so fabulous in your soggy swimmers

Occasions: After a show at the entertainment centre, if you are intending on spending most of your time exploring and just need the basics but want the guarantees of a large chain hotel.

Palazzo Versace, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise QLD

OK so most people know about this hotel as it is currently (but not for long) the ONLY Versace hotel in the world (a second will soon be gracing the ever expanding Dubai shortly).

Lets not beat around the bush, the rooms are expensive. And, for the Gold Coast, where there are more and more serviced apartment blocks springing up, with modern facilities and decor, this hotel may not be for everyone.

At Palazzo Versace the entry level rooms are without balconies and the views may not live up to expectations. The entry level rooms are just that - standard rooms. However, the decor in the rooms is anything but your usual hotel trimmings. The marble floors & Versace products from floor to ceiling really make you feel you are living in the lap of luxury. The bathroom is opulent and the separate shower and VERY large spa bath are great.

Obviously the more you pay, the more you get. The rooms do go up in size and facilities with 72 condominium suites providing a much larger accommodation option equipped with full kitchen facilities as well as a plunge pool or spa.

The hotel has 3 award winning restaurants which provide great food with exceptional service to boot. One of the best buffet breakfast I have ever experienced. Big ticks for the made to order omelettes and pancakes.

The Palazzo Versace breakfast has an enormous range of options all of which are fresh and tasty - we've all been to hotels that had half a mushroom, some spaghetti and a hash brown stuck in the scrambled egg that has been left out so long it has a crust like a meringue - well not at Palazzo Versace (but of course you'd expect it to be fantastic).

Vie Bar & Restaurant is a great place which we have dined at a number of times. The view from the outdoor deck is fantastic. The food is modern Australian with a well designed menu full of options for most dinners. They know how to prepare & present food to the highest quality with the eye fillet steak cooked to perfection every time we have ordered it. They have an extensive wine list that would impress any sommelier, as well as a broad range of alternate drinks such as assorted local & imported beers and well made cocktails.

The pool is beautiful, designed to look like a small intimate beach on an island somewhere. The turn down service each night, with complimentary chocolates and Versace bath products is lovely. The staff are helpful and look after your every whim. They will take care of dinner and spa reservations, taxis and chauffeured cars and assist you with any plans you may wish to make during your stay.

During our stay we came back to our room one night and found we had been treated to a plate with hand pipped 'Happy Birthday' and beautiful chocolates and strawberries as we advised on booking it was a special occasion. This is what you pay extra for - the staff are friendly and attentive and although your every need is met they manage to do it without you even noticing - seamless and effortless making the stay relaxing and much less pretentious than most would think.

When staying at the hotel you do not need to leave for anything - and why would you want to. Casually stroll downstairs after six and you will find the lobby filled with candles and a pianist, a lovely casual and relaxed atmosphere perfect for pre or post dinner drinks or late night hot chocolates (always a favourite) .

While it is quite hard on the hip pocket, I believe you should stay here at least once. It is a unique hotel, so even the rarity alone is worth the try. You would be hard pressed finding a more luxurious & professionally run hotel in Australia. Go on, give it a try!

What to wear: A lot of people will be put off with the grandeur of this hotel. However, in our experience, the is little to no evidence of the pretentiousness that can be found even in hotels of lesser quality. Dress however you like, but do take note that a lot of people do dress well there, especially if you are attending one of their restaurants.
How much: Basic rooms start at around the $475 - $550 per night mark, depending on the season. Condominiums start at $1200 and go to $1900 per night. If you are feeling extra wealthy you could always go for the Imperial Suite which fetches $3000 - $4000 per night.
Appropriate occasions: Romantic getaway, birthday surprise, anniversaries.

Radisson Hotel, Sydney

There are two Raddisson Hotels in Sydney and having stayed at both it is absolutely IMPERITIVE that you do not get them confused. One a 4 star near China town, the other a 5 star near circular quay.

The Radisson Plaza on O'Connel Street near Circular Quay is by far and away the best of the two hotels. It's a short stroll to Circular Quay and not too far to the shops.

The breakfast is fantastic. I awlays love a buffet breakfast that allows guest have made to order omlette and pancakes - big tick there.

The facilities of the hotel are great, of course they have a fitness centre, pool, and restuarnat all of which are good. The rooms are decent sizes - some quite large and are clean and comfortable and the large marble bathroom with separate bath and shower are quite a luxury.

The 4 star Radisson Hotel and Suites Sydney on Liverpool Street near Darling Harbour was very dissappoiting. After staying at the Radisson Plaza I was expecting a similar level of hotel and service. OK I understood this was a 4 star property but based on my experiences here i would rate it at 3 star. The room we were allocated smelt like stale cigarette (although it was designated no smoking) and our view was the less than desirable sight of an alley way and dierectly opposite looking at me, looking at them, some tennants of a shabby looking apartment block. The bathroom was average, the whole experience was average to be frank. I mean I wasn't expecting anything grand but just a clean and fresh looking and smelling room would have been good.

My advice - if staying at the Raddison be sure to check it is the one closest to Circular Quay

Artique Resort, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Artique resort is a 4 1/2 star resort of serviced apartments in Surfers Paradise.

The resort is well looked after and having stayed here 6 times in total we have always found it to be excellent. The rooms are airy and full of natural light, the furniture, although varies from room to room, is always modern and fresh. Having the convienience of apartment living on the Gold Coast is great and you will struggle to go back to the old hotel rooms after staying here.

The resort is run as a serviced apartment facility which is serviced every seven days. If you are staying less than seven days be prepared to wash your towels unless you enjoy reusing them). This is still no drama as each aprtment has a washer and dryer as well as adequate balcony space to use the airers provided. Having these facilities also means you can pack light as you can wash and wear your clothes.
The resort is fairly new, only a few years old, and is very modern in design. As mentioned previously, the furniture varies due to the fact that the apartments are investment properties and rented out seperately. There is also the odd few people that actually live there. (I'm quite envious)
The apartments boast water views of either the river or the beach, some can see both. We recomend trying to get an apartment on the south east corner of the property on a high level to ensure the best view. From the resort it's a 5-10 minute walk to the centre of Surfers (just enough space to keep the late night partiers from disrupting your sleep).
The resort is located on Enderly Avenue, approximately three blocks from the Cavill mall. It is also just back from the beach which is very handy for all the holiday-makers. I would recommend this resort for people that want the convienience of having a kitchen and a little more space to relax in than a hotel room. Some of the fantasitic facilities include:

• Gym
• All rooms have full kitchen, washer & dyer, vacuum cleaner, ironing board
• Virtual Golf
• Pool
• Spa
• Sauna
• Free undercover Parking (available for all guests)

On the whole we would highly recommend this facility. Prices vary according to season, so check out the website.

Samuels, Thirroul

This is a pretty white oasis surrounded by fairy lights in the town of Thirroul near Wollongong.

The restaurant is small an intimate and with a decent sized menu offering plenty of sides. Staff are friendly and make you feel comfortable. Due to the size of the restaurant its almost as if you are at a dinner party with friends - very relaxing and pleasant.

The décor is clean and fresh – wooden floors with crisp white linen. Fairy lights adorn the trees outside - always a favourite. Indoor and outdoor seating (weather permitting) is available.

Not quite up to the better Sydney restaurants but definitely one of the best in the Illawarra - well worth a visit

Type of food: Modern Australian
What to wear: Smart casual
How much money to take: for 2 people $100 - $150
Appropriate occasions: All occasions

Best bits: Small and intimate

Worst bits: The toilets although clean, are outside the resturant in a renovated 'outhouse' building. Couldnt find direct website for the restaurant

Wildfire, Circular Quay, Sydney

We have frequented this restaurant a number of times since its opening in 2002, the year in which it received the 'Best New Restaurant' award. The restaurant has a great website with a copy of the current menu and wine list which gives you a good idea of what you are in for prior to dining, which is always very helpful.

For the purpose of this blog we will discuss our last visit at which we opted to try the churrasco. The churrasco comes with a mixed tapas style entrée and the main consists of fire-roasted meats, poultry, homemade sausages, seafood and seasonal green vegetables, served with a variety of sauces and salsas the meat and seafood are spit roasted or wood oven baked. This is Wildfires signature dining experience.

The meats are cooked to perfection……. and they just keep on coming, yes that's right it is basically all you can eat of these fire roasted delights. The staff are knowledgeable, helpful and very attentive. If you like your meat well done they will ensure you get the outer meat when they carve, alteratively if you prefer rare they will come to you when the meat is closer to the centre of the spit. If you are planning on ordering the Churrasco please allocate at least 2 hours for your dining experience.

The decor is impressive, but do not let this and the grandeur of the restaurant put you off – it is by no mean pretentious and I have dinned there in outfits ranging from a suit to jeans and polo shirt.

For pre-show nibbles the restaurant also serves a tapas menu at the Ember bar- no reservations required. The restaurant has an excellent wine list, comprehensive cocktail list, and if it’s not in there they will often still be able to make it for you – just ask

The restaurant is not well suited to dining with children. There are no 'kids meals' and with meats on giant metal skewers probably not the best place for them to be running around.

There is an area of this restaurant that is currently (but did not used to be ) below par and that is the toilets. In my opinion they need renovating and more regular checks for cleanliness. It is not sufficient to have them cleaned at the start of the night and expect a restaurant with a 300 person capacity at any one time to remain clean throughout the entire service.

In summation this restaurant is recomended for those who want a full dining experience in a comfortable atmosphere with a great view of the Opera house (be sure to check when you make you reservation that no ships are in port as this will compromise or eliminate your view)


What to wear: Smart casual, you can be dressed up or in jeans with collared shirt
How much $: for 2 people $150- $220
Occasion: All occasions. If you are on a first date or dining with someone you feel conversation may run dry then I recommend you request seating at the seafood bar. Here you will sit next to not opposite you dining partner and have the seafood chefs preparing all manners of meals in front of your eyes – entertaining and gives you something to chat about.