Disappointing stay in a superior location.

Another hotel that the website states it has had a "full refurbishment in late 2007" Where?? The walls in the corridors are all badly marked, and to my eyes the hotel is very tired looking.

As I checked in behind an African gentleman, the receptionist told him that he had to pay a $350 "security deposit" on top of his room rate. He was naturally quite shocked, but I thought this was perhaps a risk management strategy for Africans.

But I too got stung with a $50 per day charge as a "security deposit"...maybe their mini bar selection is just too tempting?

The receptionist assured me it was just a 'hold' for this amount and not a charge, however, this money certainly DID get taken from my Debit Card account - and you would think that you would get it back on the day of departure? Oh no, it takes FIVE DAYS to do that!!

Oh and is the mini bar too tempting - no chance - there isn't anything in the fridge, not even milk when I checked in.

ACCOR - you have really hit the lows here!

Firstly I will state that I gave the Accor Group 2 months to send me a feedback form. As they failed to do so – I am putting my honest review here.

So – first complaint: The rooms no longer have a feedback for in them. Instead there is a card that you put your email address on and they promise to email you a feedback form. They never did. I requested one from their website 2 weeks ago – still no feedback form.

My booking was for 6 nights in February. Initially I attempted to book via the Accor website (which I have done many times before without issue) in early January. The system kept crashing after I entered credit card number. Eventually I rang their call centre and made the booking over the phone. I was told I would be upgraded to a top floor room on the harbour side – on one of the newly renovated floors. I was told over the phone my credit card had been approved and debited.

Upon check in I confirmed that I was definitely being put in a newly renovated room. It was confirmed that was the case.

My room was 519 on 5th floor. It was May 2005 when I last stayed at the Ibis and I honestly couldn’t see any difference in the look or furnishings.

The room was miniscule. Nowhere to put your suitcase once it was unpacked. The doorless wardrobe was 10 to 12 inches wide and that included the space the ironing board was taking up. I hung 3 tops and 2 jeans in there and it was already overcrowded.

Bathroom: tiny. Shower stall only. Rust all around the bottom joins. Two very small towels provided – no bigger than hand towels – thin and sandpaper-like, far from plush.

When I first washed my hands the sink retained the water. I looked everywhere for a lever or knob that controlled the sink plug (which was a smooth silver circle). Eventually I rang reception and asked for assistance. They said they would send somebody up immediately. 30 minutes later I rang again. They stated they could get it fixed the next day. I advised I wanted to use the sink that night. Eventually someone came up at 11.35pm. He plunged his hands into the dirty soapy water and twisted and twisted the silver circle until it came undone. He advised it was a “new style plug”.

TV: No complimentary TV stations – just the free to air ABC, SBS, 7, 9 & 10. No volume control available so you could barely hear it. TV was a flat screen wall mounted LCD approx 14 inches wide (my laptop is bigger!). It was viewable only when sitting in one position on the bed. It could not be seen from anywhere else in the room.

No security lock or chain on the door so if you succeeded in sleeping through housekeeping knocking on your door (or if you were in the shower – with the bathroom door open due to lack of ventilation), housekeeping were able to stroll right on in.

The door frame was crooked (or else the door had way too many coats of paint) and needed a good elbowing to open it. Judging by the sounds up and down the hallway - everyone had the same problem.

The “do not disturb” door signs do not actually say “do not disturb”. Just to be different they say “shhhhh I am sleeping”. This advice however did not stop housekeeping from banging down your door every 30 minutes from 8.30am onwards.
Even when I got a texta and wrote “I really truly am sleeping PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB” – they still knocked.

Bedding: Pillows were the $2 variety from a market stall. Soft and so floppy it took four of them to get my head 2 inches from the mattress. I noticed a tiny smudge of what appeared to be old hair dye on one of the spare pillows upon checkin. At the end of the week that same pillow case was still there. I gathered my sheets and pillow cases had not been laundered at all in 7 days.

Curtains: I had a view of Darling Harbour – which also meant I faced the rising sun. The curtains were simply 2 woven mat screens to pull across. My photos show that the city lights (and the rising sun) blazed through them. I mentioned this on several occasions to the front desk. I first asked if I could swap to a Pyrmont view room but the hotel was fully booked. I next asked if could get a blanket to peg up across the window. I was told there were no spare blankets. (Linen supply was clearly an issue as three days in a row I had to ring and ask for face clothes and towels as mine had been removed but not replaced!).

Finally on day 5 I yet again mentioned to reception (when they asked how my stay was going) that I had not slept all week due to the lights and sun. The guy said “oh haven’t you found the secret hidden rubber curtain yet – all the rooms on that side have one. You should have been shown how to find it when you checked in.”
D’oh ??????? Why on earth would you have a curtain that is secret and hidden ??? So he advised he would send housekeeping up to help me out with the curtain.

About 4 hours later housekeeping knocked on the door. A shy smiling man stood there and handed me a small box. I wondered if it was a special key or remote to would reveal the secret location of the curtain. I asked him if he was here to help me with the curtain. He nodded and pointed to the box and said “curtain”.

I opened the box and found 3 cotton buds (Q tips to some). I said “No – I need help with the curtain”, pointing to the window. He nodded and smiled and pointed to the box again and said “curtain”. I smiled, said thanks and closed the door.

Something tells me there is somewhat a gaping hole in the language barrier between the indian reception desk clerk and the Mauritian housekeeping that would never get beyond the difference between CURTAIN and COTTON !

After much searching and climbing on not so secure looking desk tops, I finally located a chain hiding behind a lip in the window frame, tugging it revealed a rubber curtain that did indeed block out the sun. My suggestion to the Ibis – put a freaking sign on the desk that tells people about the “secret hidden curtain”.

Also on day 5 of my stay I received a message under my door that stated my credit card booking had not been processed in January when I made my phone booking as their computers had been down. At no time in the next 5 weeks did they attempt to contact me by phone, email or mail (all provided with the booking), and at no time did they bother to re-input my transaction. Very unimpressed.

Breakfast: is not included in your room price. It’s an exorbitant $17 extra. To say it was a standard buffet breakfast would be insulting to all the standard breakfast buffets out there in the world. The hot food was stodgy and cold – if there was any. Most of the baine maries were empty. People were knocking on the kitchen doors asking for refills. Finding staff was basically impossible. The coffee/tea machine had so many knobs and buttons and controls you needed a pilots license to operate it. People stood and stared at it before again knocking on the kitchen door and demanding assistance.

Honestly – my suggestion is head out the back doors and walk along to the monorail station where you will find an elevator down to Harbourside shopping mall. Head to the food hall. Plenty of breakfast choices including Gloria Jeans. All more filling and cheaper than the Ibis.

Broadband (not wireless): As with so many Australian hotels (who lag behind the entire world in this regard) the cost is ridiculous. 50cents per minute or $27.50 per day. When you consider the average person pays that per month – I cannot fathom how hotels are permitted to charge this per day.

Its overpriced for its quality (or lack there of). It’s a 2 star pretending to be a 3 star but charging the same as the infinitely better quality 5 star Star City around the corner.

You are paying for its location and that’s all. Its convenient to Pyrmont, Star City, Darling Harbour, the monorail, and Harbourside shops.

Would I stay here again ? Probably only for 2 or 3 day stays. Not for a week again. Especially without the benefit of room service.

Although this Hotel is close to the Convention Centre in Darling Harbour it is more like a back packers hotel. The entrance foyer is so outdated and the corridors are dark and dingy. The hotel rooms are also small for the price paid. My room had a very noisy bar fridge if you call it a bar fridge at all. There were 3 tiny Long Life milk containers in it!! I got up during the night and turned it off so I could get some sleep. The hotel room smelled of cigarettes even though I had asked for a non-smoking room.
Don't even stay for breakfast - there are cheaper and better restaurants on the waterfront. I queried the price of my room after hearing on checkout someone getting a cheaper rate. I definitely would not bother staying here ever again.
This hotel needs a huge revamp immediately.

We have recently returned from our holiday in Sydney. The rooms in hotel Ibis are very very small - very unpleasant feeling. No good service and we had also bad experience with the staff on reception. Unpolite and very slowly working. By this hotel is excellent only his location and nothing more.