Only three InterContinental can be claimed in a city, with few cities having one. Despite the new InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach opening, Australia’s largest city now has three outposts of IHG’S flagship brand.
At the moment, a phased opening is underway at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach. While the rooms, restaurants and gym are all open now, it will be launching its pool deck, cabanas and spa in April.
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But I was keen on seeing the property on a recent two-night swing through Sydney, so I booked the city’s latest hotel for an unplanned beach holiday during the Southern Hemisphere summer. How would you describe this and what future hotel guests should expect from here’s .
First impressions
Although Sydney is a major international business hub, its city-fringed harbour is an iconic landmark, it can be easy to forget that the beach destination in addition to being ‘one of the most important international businesses centres’. And it hit me as the Pacific reflected my drive through hilly subtropical hills and down into Sydney’s tony eastern suburbs You can be best of both worlds here, a world-class metropolitan experience and days of sun and sand.
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It’s the kind of a slogan that the new InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is trying to deliver The brand’s luxury facilities and service are at its core, but with an unrequited holiday vibe. It’s also a beach and business meeting, so you can get your beach met.
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This was the hotel that occupied the former Crowne Plaza (keeping it all within the IHG family), but has been completely rebuilt with a much more light-filled, coastal feel. A lobby tiled in creamy marble slabs, glossy ceramics like blossoming coral and plenty of natural light (and the sound of waves crashing if the windows facing Coogee Beach are open) all make a resort feel to the hotel when you arrive.
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The rooms
The classic L-shaped edifice has just 176 rooms and 22 suites these days.
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Their rooms are classic Classic with windows overlooking the surrounding beach town of Coogee (290 square feet), and suites, up to 1,346 square foot – with large balconies overlookting the towering Norfolk pines that line Arden Street and the Pacific beyond.
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A beachy new style tan and white walls, geometric carpeting in taupe and beige, rounded backlit mirrors reflecting the coastal light, bleached wood furnishings (and gray-veinered marble accents) and green-colored mosaic tiles are all on their shoreline. But of course, there are other welcome updates such as bedside USB-A and USB–C ports and buttons to control the lights and curtains (and even a few more), too.
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The hotel’s history is largely true, with only scanty closet space and small bathrooms. You won’t think much about a short vacation, though, for if you have. Please update the smart decisions, such as putting half-glassed walk-in showers (don’t worry, there’s little floor-flooding spray here) and stocking high-end Byredo products.
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The minibar is another upscale feature it features an Nespresso machine, oh-so-Australian sundries such as Random Harvest sweets and nuts (and also a full-stocked beverage selection that includes Australian wines and spirits).
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Dining
The Shutters, the hotel’s all-day restaurant, is a light-filled space past the reception area that includes coffee and cocktail bar along with two dining rooms – an enormous interior room with plenty of two or four-tops; sun parlor booths and tables.
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The breakfast is made up of a buffet of fresh fruits and cheeses, cold cuts and pastries such as almond-rhubarb croissants (made-to order eggs), and’make-your-own juice station’.
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Proffer specialties such as Moreton Bay bugs with spiraled troTtole pasta, chilis and vine-ripened tomatoes in a garlic-butter sauce ($29), crunchy salt–and-pepper squid from the south coast with lemon-myrtle Aioli ($15) for lunch and dinner.
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U was also lured to the hotel by a . Similarly, K K. An eponymous restaurant on Arden Street is open by chef Rick Stein, where the city’s eastern suburbanites gather for heaping seafood platters and specialties such as tender Abrolhos scallops from the coast of Western Australia (Hazelnut-coriander butter ($9 per cent), creamy seafood curry with prawns, cuttlefish, monkfish and lingcod served with green beans and grated coconut ($42)).
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The selection of Australian wines by the glass also spans many of the country’s best-known appellations.
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Amenities and service
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- Guests can borrow complimentary beach towels for lounging on Coogee’s strip of golden sand, a minute’s walk away.
- The hotel’s gym is small but contains a smattering of Technogym cardio and weight equipment.
- Each floor features water stations where guests can fill up provided bottles as a way to reduce plastic waste.
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The staff members will know you by name by the end of your first evening, and * Service is friendly but hard-working.
- The hotel’s soon-to-open sundeck will feature a stunning infinity pool, a bar and cabanas.
- The same floor will feature an Eliva Spa with five treatment rooms and the hotel’s Club InterContinental.
My first room had some kinks of early-days (such as malfunctioning air conditioning) but staff were quick to respond and happy to take me back to new (ocean-facing) rooms.
If you walk from Coogee to Bondi for a day, on the beach path that is designated and stops with swam at different beaches, spend.
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Location and logistics
In the city’s coastal eastern suburbs, the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is located in the intercontinental sea east suburb of. While quieter than the center city, you can still get many bus lines nearby for cheap transit to the rest of town. This is a 20-minute, $25 Uber ride away from Sydney Airport (SYD), which has the added advantage of its location.
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What it costs
My booking for the Classic room was $350 or 57,000 IHG One Rewards points per night, but that rate drops as low as $295 on some dates.
Platinum Elite status I was upgraded to a 4 King Premium Ocean View room ($418 per night) that would have been available through points. Moreover, it had a balcony overlooking the pool area and the beach.
To make the most of your stay, consider the following IHG cobranded cards:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
(see
rates and fees
)
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
(see
rates and fees
)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
(see
rates and fees
)
All of them have lucrative welcome offers, confer automatic elite status and have elevated earning rates at IHG properties.
In other words, you can transfer the Ultimate Rewards points from cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) directly to IHG One Rewards at a 11 ratio which could allow for an award stay within reach.
Accessibility
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A wheelchair-friendly public areas of the hotel are all wheelchair accessible, according to . Step-free entrance There is a ramp to Shutters and elevator, with guest rooms, pool deck, the gym and Rick Stein on the floors.
The hotel provides rooms in the Double Classic Coogee View, Double Premium Oceanfront and Double Junior Suite categories with roll-in showers and bathroom grab bars.
Bottom line
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
A couple of nights are the highlights for many Sydney visitors, including the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. But if you have some time, it’s worth spending a few days on the city’t coastline — its upmarket eastern suburbs and the beautiful beaches that dot this dramatic stretch of coastline. Another connipt of opening the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach is that it’s a convenient location for both city and airport, its proximity to namesake beach and some great coastal walks are another reason why we should do so.
This may be one of my new city stay-insight stays with reasonable paid and points rates, especially when I’m trying to mix business with beach time.
Related reading:
- The award travelers guide to IHG One Rewards
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
- Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- Best hotel credit cards
Thanks for reading InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach review
