Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel at Circular Quay

It's certainly not easy to miss the gleaming white tower that houses the Marriott Sydney Harbour at Circular Quay. Stepping inside, the cavernous lobby is no less striking, flooded with sunlight from a geometric glass ceiling and overlooked by a grand central staircase and tiered balconies. Combining polished brass accents, patterned marble flooring, and glowing hanging lantern-style lighting, this lofty atrium space, while impressive, also feels a little dated and showing its late-1980s origins. Renovations started in 2015, however, and promise to update many areas of the property. Like many of the big chain hotels in Sydney's CBD, there's a bustling vibe here, with guests constantly coming and going. Guests are an even mix of business travelers and well-heeled tourists, including couples and families with kids.

The hotel has an excellent location in Sydney's Central Business District, just a couple of blocks off of Circular Quay, a major station on the city's commuter rail network. For such a popular business and tourist area, there's a surprising lack of traffic in this part of town, and to one side of the hotel there is even a small leafy park with some historic relics from Sydney's first days. The Rocks, a historic neighborhood that's one of downtown's trendier locales for shopping and dining, is just five minutes away on foot, while it's a 10- to 15-minute walk to the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Hyde Park and Darling Harbour -- also lined with shops and restaurants -- are both about 15 minutes away on foot. It's a 10-minute taxi ride to Oxford Street, which has plenty of nightlife and is also home to the city's famous Mardi Gras parade. Expect a 15-minute drive to Sydney Airport.

The hotel has over 550 rooms spread across 32 floors, which can mean a wait for the elevators during busy times. The rooms are decorated in a relaxed, contemporary style, with a bright blue and gray color scheme that seems fitting for the abundant Sydney sunshine. Graphic print carpets have blue and gray floral silhouettes across them, while blonde and white furniture has clean, contemporary lines. Blue-upholstered mod chairs offer funky seating, and many rooms -- especially those on the upper floors -- feature great views of the harbor and Sydney Opera House. 

All rooms are spacious, with entry level City View Rooms providing 26 square meters of space (280 square feet). There are also suites with separate living and bedrooms, including a two-floor Duplex Suite. Standard amenities include minibars, electric kettles, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and pay movies. In-room Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Upscale touches include 300 thread-count linens and down-filled duvets. Bathrooms are done in white and gray, with tile floors and walls, generous vanities, and either shower/tub combos or separate showers and bathtubs in higher-category rooms. Executive Rooms are entitled to a host of extras detailed below.

This Marriott outpost offers a fairly predictable, upscale selection of features, though there are some that make it stand out. The indoor pool is a nice touch given the downtown Sydney location. A wall of windows let in a good deal of indoor light and there's a deck with lounge chairs. The pool is heated, and the hotel also has a hot tub and sauna. The fitness center has modern cardio and cable machines, though it's small for a hotel of this size. A range of breakfast options are available, including American-style breakfasts and continental buffets, but they are not included in room rates and breakfast service can get crowded during peak hours. The Icons Brasserie is also open for dinner buffets, while the hotel's 160-year-old pub attracts locals and serves lunch and dinner with an open-air terrace. A Executive Club is also open to those staying in the Executive Rooms; lounge perks include free breakfast, drinks, and snacks. The hotel has nine meeting and event spaces that can hold up to 250 people in the largest room. There is also a proper business center, but Wi-Fi is only free in the hotel's public areas.