Friendly, accommodating and well run

I was surprised to see such bad reviews! We had travelled from the UK and stayed there for 10 days and do not have even a single complaint. We have never experienced service like it in the UK! The staff went out of their way to help us and were extremely approachable. Rooms and restaurant were impeccably clean and service was efficient and to a high standard. Rooms are not enormous admittedly but what do you expect when spending such a small amount to stay in such a fab location!

Give this one a miss

This hotel suffers from poor service starting at the reception and rediculously small rooms (most definately the smallest room i've ever stayed in). It is really no better than a good hostel but about 10 times the price.

Great view

My wife and I stayed here very small but clean and after all we only slept there very helpful staff.good central location.would stay again and will this year.after all I think it is one of the best citys in the world.

The Same All Over the World

Just to balance some of the other reviews: Ibis hotels are the same around the world - same room layout, same format and all for very basic prices. This one in Darling Harbour is more expensive than the average Ibis, but its location is fantastic and for that, I think it's worth it.

The rooms ARE small for 2 for several nights, but for 1 or 2, they're fine and for one person, they're ideal.

Clean, practical - ideal base for city visits

Nice Hotel/Great Location

Stayed November 2004. Although the rooms were on the small size, the hotel is well run. The Location is excellent, convenient for getting about in Sydney. Would stay there again.

A big disappointment

Very disappointing. I had seen the hotel on many previous visits to Sydney and thought it looked very "posh". The room was tiny with a pathetic view over Sydney's back streets. The staff were unhelpful and, as others have already commented, there was nowhere to leave luggage except lockers that you had to pay for. The location is great but that's all. I would not stay here again and would not recommend it and I am usually very tolerant of small rooms but this was just ridiculous!

Great location, tolerable rooms

We got to the hotel by 8am and one of our rooms was available. From prior reviews we expected the rooms to be very small. They were, but tolerable. Rooms were clean but lamps, desk, etc. were cheap. Shower, no bath which was fine for us. Staff was pleasant and there was a convenient internet kiosk in the lobby. Hotel was a stone's through from Darling Harbor - loved the location. There was a large Novetell next door with is a more upscale version of the Ibis. I would try that next time although I thought the Ibis was a tremendous value.

Would not recommend

I was pretty disapointed with the Ibis Hotel. The rooms were tiny and cramped. After traveling for more than 24 hours we wanted to go to our room to settle in. We were told that we could not check in until 2pm.

we had to wait 5 hours to check in we luckly got the last 2 lockers to store our luggage in but the lockers were so small that not all of out luggage fit. Our view was of the back streets of Sydney(not great). The good thing about the Ibis was the location. Darling harbor is such a charming area. The hotel is connected by a walk way to a small mall like shopping center. In Darling Harbor there are nice resturants and any time day or night it is very clean, safe and friendly.

Utilitarian lodging with a view

Our four days in Sydney were spent here in early May. We arrived at the hotel ay 8:30 a.m. after some 24+ hours of travel, ready for a shower and a nap.We were told by the reservations clerk that our booked room would not be ready until after 2 p.m. (we expected this and were willing to pay for a room). The clerk said they were "chockers" (full up) and there were no rooms available. We asked where we could safely store our luggage and were told that we could basically take our chances by leaving it in their office behind the desk or, for a ridiculous sum, store our items in two big lockers in the lobby. From across the lobby, I asked what their record was for having items stolen from the office, and two clerks looked at each other as if I'd hit a nerve. Suddenly a manager was issuing us keys to an upgraded room with a city view which we could occupy immediately. Was it something I said?! Our room had a view of Cockle Bay Wharf and the Sydney CBD, which was nice by day and night. The room was very utilitarian, and there was no way to read by lamplight at night without going blind as there were no bedside lamps. Overall, it was a clean place to sleep, convenient to Harbourside, the ferries, monorail and other Darling Harbour activities. Don't pay the outrageous breakfast prices in the hotel or those surrounding the Ibis. Walk down the street toward the National Maritime Museum and turn left at the big intersection. Just a few doors up from the 7-Eleven is a little place called Rob's Cafe. Great cooked breakfasts, muffins, juices and lunch can be had here for less than $7. We went there every morning for breakfast. The pizza place across the street next to the pub is quite good for dinner, too. Also, the Ibis' concierge consists of a computer kiosk in the lobby. If you require real help from a concierge, step out the front door and head up the street to the Mercure, where a human concierge can assist you. The staff at the Ibis, aside from the one manager that helped us, seem a bit dull and ill rall, we found the Ibis to be in a great location with decent rooms for a 3-star accommodation.