More Traveler Reviews of The Russell Hotel Sydney
A great place to stay
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-10-04
The Russell is a great little hotel. No, it is not much like all the huge, characterless, multinational hotels found in Sydney in abundance, but it is a slice of old Sydney with a perfect location and extremely helpful staff. It is somewhere you'll remember the detail of. The breakfasts are excellent, and so are the evening restaurant meals. We have stayed there several times over the past few years, and have recommended it to others who have enjoyed it as well. The room sizes do vary, but are clean and tidy with subtle, old fashioned furnishings that are a pleasure to come back to after a day's sightseeing.
Quality jelly beans- inadequate room
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-07-27
Great location that's about it though. We stayed in a double room however, the double bed was pushed up against the wall and we did not have an ensuite bathroom although we had requested one. Carpets were dirty and there is no one to help with luggage to get up all those stairs. I think the hotel would be a hot property if they just refurbished the rooms. The lighting in the rooms was also insufficient. There should be a main ceiling light and in addition to the lamps.
Perhaps the worst hotel I've ever stayed in
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-06-03
One of the worst hotels I've ever stayed in.
I agree with TripAdvisor: the location was the only good thing about this hotel. Apart from that, we found the hotel noisy (loud traffic outside our room late at night and early the next morning, not helped by the old-fashioned windows that wouldn't close properly), our room was cramped and dirty, and the staff were unhelpful. It was also astonishly expensive considering the poor quality. After the first night we moved along the block to the Four Seasons... what a relief: nice rooms with proper bath and shower and enough space to unpack, great views over the harbor, friendly staff and not even more expensive. Moral: be careful when you try to save money. Sometimes poor quality costs more.
Skip it
from karenlast on 2004-03-15
The only good things about this hotel were the jelly beans in the lobby and the location! We heard the restaurant was good, but never ate there. It's a very small hotel in a very old building. The carpets were all old and worn down. We stayed on the 3d floor and there were no elevators and no one was around to lug our luggage up the 3 flights of stairs. For $260/night, you can find a much better hotel close by. Our room had a "beautiful view" of an office buiding which was so close that we could read the screen saves on the computer. Thankfully, we were so busy touring the city that we did not have to spend much time in our room!
Fantastic value boutique accommodation
from A TripAdvisor User on 2004-03-11
WE stayed at the Russell for 4 nights last month. This is a very good value little boutique hotel. Fantastic location in Rocks precinct . we walked everywhere- very close to the markets, good cafes and attractions. Staff were terrific.
Horrible, Horrible Experience
from A TripAdvisor User on 2003-10-15
We had booked four nights at this hotel in the two most expensive rooms, the "Suite" and the "Apartment". Both were located overlooking the main street in the Rocks, and the windows didn't close! It was so noisy we couldn't sleep. Also, the kitchen was unusable, knobs missing from the stove, pathetic dishes and cutlery were provided and the furniture was run down. The only good thing were the jelly beans in the lobby. After one night, we checked out and moved into the Intercontinental. Thanks, Frommers, for the bad advice!
Perfect Location in Sydney
from A TripAdvisor User on 2003-07-22
The Russel is a small, quaint, comfortable little hotel which is ideally located in "The Rocks" area of Sydney. Just walk across the street and you're on the sidewalk around Sydney harbor with a perfect view of the Opera House and Sydney Harbor bridge. I only stayed two nights, but wish it had been more. I'd stay there again in a heartbeat.
Quaint hotel in The Rocks
from A TripAdvisor User on 2003-07-16
We stayed at The Russell in 1990. If it's still the same, I heartily recommend it. Everything is small in this quaint little hotel in the historic district of The Rocks --- the narrow stairway (no elevator), the dining room (delicious food), and the rooms (clean) --- but we loved it. It's within easy walking distance of the famous Opera House and plenty of pubs for good eating (and Aussie beer) and public transportation to take you anywhere in Sydney, and the views of the beautiful bay are just outside your door. This many years later (2003), this hotel remains one of our favorites.
What a wonderful place!
from A TripAdvisor User on 2003-01-21
I stayed at the Russell for 10 nights about 3 years ago and absolutely loved it! It is charming, comfortable, and very centrally located with a warm and helpful staff. Lovely breakfast available each morning. When I travelled to Melbourne for a couple of nights, I felt "homesick" for the Russell. :)
I hope to return to Australia within a couple of years, and if my plans end up including a stay in Sydney, there is no question that I will stay at the Russell.
Wonderful little hotel
from A TripAdvisor User on 2002-12-04
We stayed at The Russell for three nights on the occasion of the Sydney Writers' Festival. It was a wonderful experience. The hotel is very well situated, in the heart of Sydney, close by all major sights, shopping, etc. It is a very attractive little old hotel, with beautiful rooms, ranging from small and cosy to large and elegant. It was quiet, peaceful, the staff were very pleasant, breakfast was good and prices were great. We'll certainly return!
