Hyde Park Inn

This 15-story hotel was built in 1967 and has a sleek, modern look both inside and out. Sliding glass doors lead into a bright lobby with contemporary leather sofas and patterned chairs, frosted glass wall panels, and a curved dark wood reception desk. There's a seating area next to floor-to-ceiling windows that provide great views of the busy street outside and across to Hyde Park. The vibe throughout is fairly straightforward, and while it's perfectly attractive, the hotel isn't the kind of place that begs guests to hang out in its many swank public areas. Instead, it's a solid base in central Sydney and attracts both leisure guests and business travelers alike.

Located in the Central Business District, this hotel is just across the street from Hyde Park and only a three-minute walk from the ANZAC War Memorial and the Australian Museum. There's plenty to keep guests busy in the neighborhood as the area is filled with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, and gardens. Darling Harbour is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Museum Station is a one-minute walk from the hotel and it’s a five-minute drive or 15-minute train ride to the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, and Harbour Bridge. Sydney Airport is a 15- to 20-minute drive depending on traffic, though it can also be reached by train in 30 minutes.

Room categories at the Hyde Park Inn range from Budget Standard to Family Rooms and large apartments, some of which can sleep up to seven people. All rooms are spacious and quiet, which is a pleasant surprise considering the hotel's busy location. Street-facing rooms are very light and bright. Some of the suites have a small verandah offering lovely views over Hyde Park. All rooms have modern decor with an abundance of greens and browns plus simple abstract wall art. Features include free Wi-Fi, free in-house movies, an iPod dock, fridge, microwave, DVD player, air-conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and electric kettles for coffee or tea. Some rooms have a lounge area and park views, and many have kitchenettes, while the Two-Bedroom Apartments have full kitchens. Contemporary bathrooms have dark tile floors and light tile walls with sleek fixtures and stylish light granite vanities (though not all bathrooms have vanities or counter space). Most have walk-in showers while others have shower/tub combos, like the Two-Bedroom Apartment that we visited. The Budget Standard Room that we saw is the only room without any view, and the tiny frosted glass windows make it feel a bit gloomy.

The Hyde Park Inn is well set-up for business guests as there's there’s a business center on the first floor with computer stations, two meeting rooms, a boardroom, and conference room. Printing and faxing services are also available, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There’s an Italian restaurant on-site which is open for lunch and dinner, and room service can be ordered from there six days a week. A free continental breakfast is provided daily too, although it is very basic and is to be eaten in the room rather than in a dining room (items are left in each fridge every day). Other freebies include laundry service, newspapers in the lobby, and on-site parking. Parking has to be pre-booked, but it’s still a great bonus in the city center.