Finished 2014 with 140 odd night at IHG in Australia, thought I would post an update on my preferences:
IC Sanctuary Cove - Pool or Marina view rooms are closest, love the club and restaurant. Suites are so so.
CP Surfers - The "executive" rooms at each floor end are brilliant, massive bathroom.
CP Hunter Valley - Love the villas, but the property has some quirks, good value if under $150.
CP Newcastle - Port side rooms, especially ones with a balcony, my son and I spend a few hours just watching the port movements and then tracking them online.
IC Sydney - Eastern rooms are the pick although some may prefer the northern rooms with many offering nice Quay views, the club is worth the money. Despite the ancient bathroom with shower in the bath, I always enjoy staying here.
IC Double Bay - Why oh why close the pool at sunset, any room is good here but with only 160, there are not too many options, village view is,once with its balcony.
HI Potts Point - the only IHG property in SYD with a guest laundry, go for a harbour view room. Popular with flight crew
. If you stay and like Greek, a short stroll to Apollo is a must. No Pool.
HI Darling Harbour - Exec rooms are nice but no pool and a good walk to most locales.
HI Old Sydney - not a great Saturday night option wi the local pub crawls noisy and then the Sunday market setups, best left for the tourists.
HI Sydney- Quiet but dead area, and pool is really a spa bath in the basement.
CP Coogee - great locale for a holiday but noisy if ATC decide to load share the jets, go for an ocean room. And Coogee is not the same as Clovelly when your looking for the last bus of the night after AFF trivia with a few drinks
.
HI Warwick Farm - nice but a WIP, will be better when renovations are done. Often cheap, quiet but rubbish internet.
HI Parramatta - One of the few businesses still trading in Parramatta outside of Westfield, close to trains and usually quiet, Platinums usually get a suite even on reward stays. Staff are very good.
CP Canberra - Nice with park room views the best.
IC Rialto - Exec rooms are nice but club is poor value.
HI flinders Lane - Nice bit watch the base room facing West, they are tiny.
CP Melbourne - Old and tired but locale is getting better.
HI Melbourne Airport - sometimes a good option when downtown is 2x the price, and is quiet.
CP Adelaide - soulless, but just around the corner from the mall.
IC Adelaide - Go the club, hard to get a bad room here and with it's three atriums very quiet, small pool and parking is expensive.