Ibis Sydney World Square

The Ibis Sydney World Square is a no-frills property that's best suited to leisure travelers who don't want to spend a lot of money, or businesspeople who don't plan on holding meetings on-site. Tucked among local businesses including little shops and massage parlors, the entrance to this corporate-like silver building is easy to miss from the street, despite having the chain's signature red signage. Once inside, there's a simple but bright and contemporary lobby with low-lying black easy chairs, red accent walls and benches, and a large red oil painting. The hotel bar, iBar, is off to one end of the lobby, and consists of a small white bar with red vinyl barstools. An elevator sits just beyond the bar. The very plain breakfast restaurant, iBistro, has wood floors and wood-laminate tables set with gray chairs; there's also an outdoor terrace with brick walls and tiled floors, set with black woven chairs and tables.  

The Ibis Sydney World Square is located in Sydney's Central Business District, across the street from a JB Hi-Fi -- an Australian electronics chain -- and near a Korean supermarket, liquor store, and massage place. The hotel is right next to the World Square Shopping Centre and Capitol Theatre, each within a few minutes' walk. Hyde Park is just over a five-minute walk from the hotel, and the Australian Museum takes around 10 minutes on foot. Bondi Beach and the Taronga Zoo are each a 15- to 20-minute drive away (without traffic). The Sydney Airport is a 15-minute drive away, or can be reached by train in 30 minutes via the Airport, Inner West & South Line (T2), which stops at the Museum station, just under a 10-minute walk away. 

There are 166 air-conditioned rooms at the Ibis Sydney World Square, and most come with a king or queen bed or two twins. Decor is about as basic as it gets, with navy carpeting, light-wood furniture and headboards, the occasional colored throw pillow, and walls that are nearly barren, with a framed print or two at most. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, desks, irons, mini-fridges, and electric kettles. Bathrooms have walk-in showers with either glass doors or plastic shower curtains, and come with small wall-mounted hairdryers; in some rooms, bathrooms also have windows. 

The hotel's small fitness center offers a few cardio machines and a weight machine, and although it's small, it's well-equipped enough to get a decent workout done. The hotel also offers coin-operated laundry facilities, and has lockers for guest use, as well as an Internet center with five desktop computers and a printer (for a fee). Wi-Fi, breakfast, and airport transfers are available for a fee. A buffet breakfast is available for a fee at the hotel's iBistro, and beer, wine, cocktails, and basic snacks are sold at iBar. There's also a "Grab and Go" feature letting guests order takeaway from the hotel restaurant and bring it to their rooms.