Sydney, Australia Hotels And Resorts

The accommodation choices in the heart of Sydney city are many, so traveling with family does not mean you have to lower your standards. The best hotels offer five-star service and are located within easy reach of attractions. They also provide cribs and baby cots in the rooms and can organize baby sitting. Here’s one local mom’s up close view of Sydney’s top hotels for families traveling with kids in Australia’s gateway city.

Park Hyatt Sydney
7 Hickson Road, The Rocks
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
(61/2 9241 1234)
$$$$$
Uniquely situated beneath the Harbour Bridge on Sydney Cove, this property offers great views of the iconic Sydney Opera House. Every dining facility makes full use of the beautiful harbor views and there’s fun to be had in the sun at the rooftop pool. Families will appreciate that all rooms have balconies because there is plenty to see. The staff provides unbeatable personal attention, perhaps why this hotel always comes up in conversations regarding Sydney’s finest hostelries.

Shangri-La Hotel Sydney
176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
(61/2-9250 6000)
$$$
In a prominent harborside setting, with stunning panoramas of the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and city skyline, this gleaming 36-story highrise hotel is a Sydney landmark in it own right. Inside, it is very sophisticated and chic; dining venues are stylish and popular with the locals. The GM is raising his own teens on property and knows that families appreciate the hotel’s proximity to The Rocks (a hip neighborhood with cafes and shops) and the ferry to the Sydney Zoo. On site recreation centers on a large, state-of-the-art health club, neoclassical pool and sauna. Kids will have plenty of room for playing boats in the large marble baths (some of which have windows!) and many guest room types connect to other rooms or suites. Note that weekends are busiest at this property, which has a dedicated family clientele who follow the Family Packages advertised on the website.

InterContinental Sydney
CNR Bridge & Phillip Streets
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
(61/2-9253 9000; US toll free: 888/424-6835)
$$
An efficient hotel that offers a grand 19th-century structure near the ferries. The décor is a mix of historic mementos and new designer furniture. Kids will love the sky-lit, three-story atrium. Dining is at a choice of formal and informal restaurant and cafes and the rooftop lounge overlooks the harbor. This hotel sparkles after a recent AUD$30 million renovation. Bonus: There is a pool and sauna and across the road lie wonderful gardens.

Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour
150 Day Street
Sydney, New South Wales 2000
(61/2-9261 1188; US toll free: 877/227-6963)
$$
This no-frills, comfortable hotel is well-placed between the entertainment and leisure precinct of Darling Harbour and Sydney’s Central Business District. Energetic families can head to the pool or skip off to the nearby Aquarium. There’s a nice restaurant with a varied menu, and the hotel’s large rooms will be appreciated by the young and old alike.

The Sebel Pier One Sydney
11 Hickson Road
Walsh Bay, New South Wales 2000
(61/2 8298 9999; Australia toll free: 800/780 485)
$
This is in a great location near water, shopping, entertainment and the city’s historic areas. What’s fun here is that there is a strong nautical feel to this hotel — kids will love the unusual rooms with nooks and crannies to explore. Dining is on a sunny terrace overlooking the water, and there are parks nearby as well as a great waterfront.