Rydges Sydney Airport.

[Lord_Lenny]

Lady Lenny and I have used it twice before overseas trips (Honeymoon and quick NZ trip in July) For me it's totally worth it if we have a morning departure, anything to lessen the little stresses involved prior to travel is much appreciated. Even though we live in the Inner West, it can take for ever to get over to the airport either by taxi or by train (not keen on driving and mucking around with parking at the airport) so the simple fact that we can come home from work on a Friday, have a shower and finalise any last minute packing at home, taxi over around 6/7ish when the traffic has died down and grab dinner either at Rydges or in the Terminal and be ready to go in the morning is great.

Plus since I achieved actual status 2 years ago so the fact that we can wake up when we want, and be in the lounge within about 30min (depending on showers etc.) really makes a difference!! I expect us to use it more often when we leave the Inner West and move to the Blue Mountains in November.

 

[Daver6]

Currently there is a winter sale on with really good cancelable rates. $156/night fully refundable for the base room is what I just booked. So if you might need a room in future, it's worth checking it out now.

 

[Major]

They still want $300 for a room in October

 

[Melburnian1]

Rydges (including its airport hotels) has a sale on for the whole of April 2019 for its Rydges and Atura Hotels - good airport coverage in Oz and NZ. Its more expensive QT Hotels chain is not included from what I could quickly see. Refer to Rydges' website.

It gives savings if one stays two or three nights. Joining the free Priority Guest Rewards program maximises the claimed discount. See its website.

Wonder if any AFFers will check in during Easter or school hols for a spot of serious plane watching?

 

[Buzzard]

Thanks for the heads up @Melburnian1
Just rebooked some stays at a healthy discount

 

[Blinky]

Stayed there several times, all but the last overlooking the car park. Last time level 6 (I think) overlooking the runway. When my daughter stayed in a similar room she simply closed the blinds. I was transfixed. Not only by the awesome take offs of A380s etc, but the industry and efficiency of the operations. Even in the early morning before the first flights (I’m a very early riser).

Yeah, the room was okay. Room service menu quite good. Views sensational.

 

[CaptJCool]

Had. A New Years Eve stay here with two different separate consecutive bookings, one done direct the other by a hotel booking site.

managed to stay in the same room despite all that.

Loved the beds so comfortable. Nice large up-market shower suite. So I can recommend it as a good location.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks for the heads up @Melburnian1
Just rebooked some stays at a healthy discount

For those who patronise lots of hotels, it must be impractical to subscribe to every email offering.

However given Rydges has such a growing presence in Australasian cities (and airports), it probably justifies sending it one's details to get the 'specials.' That doesn't mean it'll be chaff free, but most of the patter I receive from it has fairly good to excellent deals. It's Australian owned so this chain may well understand our cynicism better than some foreign hotel chains, and so refrains from sending us rubbishy 'deals.'

Buzzard, from my quick calculations one needs about 15 stays before one is 'free.'

How do you perceive the PGR program both as a standalone rewards initiative and compared to other hotel chain reward programs?

 

[Buzzard]

I really like the PGR program. Better than Hilton IMHO and I'm a Hilton Diamond.
As a Black (only need 10 stays) I get 50% off dinner and drinks for up to 4 people when staying. Not sure about lunch.
+1 and I have had some slap up meals with drinks running up a $250 or so bill only to have it halved. Usually we get good room upgrades. Never been offered a 6:00pm check out but 1 or 2pm not a problem. I earn 20 points per night so it's no problem scoring a free night for 150 points. Just be aware that free nights don't seem to count towards your status. There is a way to get free breakfast too.
On 3 occasions I've made a mistake and Rydges have always taken care of me.

Edit to add:
As a Black you also get elite recognition with GHA group and it's the easiest way to get it. That will (or should) get me more at Pan Pacific MEL than when it was the Hilton.

 

[Melburnian1]

I really like the PGR program....Never been offered a 6:00pm check out but 1 or 2pm not a problem...

That's good because at some other chain or independent hotels or motels in Australia (including away from capital cities), I've been refused permission for a 1300 checkout on occasion.

Yet when I'm overseas a checkout an hour or even two after the official time is almost never a problem. Does not put Oz in a good light but great to hear that Rydges may be an exception.

 

[Melburnian1]

Rydges appears to have just added QT Hotels to its sale.

I haven't checked availability of the claimed discount rates but if available they are a huge discount on what this extremely highly rated and distinctive Rydges brand (QT) normally charges per night:

Stay Wild At QT This April | Priority Guest Rewards | QT Easter Sale 2019

 

[hossein_au]

...As a Black you also get elite recognition with GHA group...

How does one do this? Linking the two accounts? Sending a request in? ...

 

[Buzzard]

How does one do this? Linking the two accounts? Sending a request in? ...

Via your profile IIRC.
When booking a GHA property I do it via the PGR website being careful I get the members price.

 

[hossein_au]

Via your profile IIRC.
When booking a GHA property I do it via the PGR website being careful I get the members price.

Thanks.

But when I log into PGR website and under "Book a GHA hotel" in "Select Country" dropdown menu search for Australia, it comes back with "No results found" (cannot find Australia; indeed it cannot find ANY country). I have tried Safari, Chrome and Firefox, all with the same result! It is probably one of those web sites that only work with Windows (I am using a Mac at the moment).

 

[Buzzard]

Is it a temporary glitch?
Not sure as I use Windows + Firefox

 

[Buzzard]

@hossein_au I just logged in and did a dummy GHA booking without a problem.

 

[hossein_au]

Is it a temporary glitch?
Not sure as I use Windows + Firefox

Must be a Mac thing; I am still unable to search for Australia under 'Book a GHA hotel' section :-(