We have officially passed the midway point of the year and in my opinion, things can become a little monotonous, but I have the perfect fix to beat your midyear blues: a staycation.
I went on a winter staycation at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park, and it was the perfect choice.
I had never stayed at a Pullman Hotel or even a five-star hotel before, so this was a decadent and luxurious experience for me.
Right from the moment I arrived, and the staff were so kind and attentive, I knew I had chosen the right spot.
While there is parking on site for guests to use, I recommend utilising the train as well. Museum Station is so close to the hotel and frequently does a city loop while also connecting users to Central Station to explore the rest of the city.
I stayed in a Deluxe Park View Room, which was so spacious and overlooked a gorgeous scene of Hyde Park.
The view was even better at night, there is just something about the city lights that made the view even more special.
What also really caught my eye was the incredible ANZAC Memorial that sits in Hyde Park. It looked so impressive, and I really recommend checking it out during your stay.
After checking in, I just marvelled at the room I was given to stay in for the night, but the bathroom was the thing I was most surprised about.
If you are anything like me or my family every other time we have stayed at a hotel we cram as many people into one room to save a bit of money – which in my opinion is the way to go if you are on a budget – but this bathroom was so spacious that both my guest and I could have stood in there and not been anywhere near each other. The triangle bath was very decadent and added to the luxury feel of the stay.
While my guest and I waited for our dinner reservation we went for a walk along Oxford Street. If you know Sydney, then you know this street is a particularly bustling part of town. It is flanked by unlimited bars, paint and sip places and the iconic Oxford Art Factory, a thriving music venue.
My guest and I spent the evening relaxing in the hotel before checking out the rooftop pool.
At night, the surrounding city buildings provide a great view to look at while swimming or using the spa – perfect for a winter’s evening!
After a long sleep in – those block out curtains really do wonders – we went down to the breakfast buffet to refuel for the day before heading back home.
The selection of food available was endless, there was nothing you couldn’t get your hands on!
There were pastries, toast, cereal, bacon, eggs, fruit, yoghurt and juice amongst many other things.
It made me want to go back several times but there is only so much I can eat!
The best part about the breakfast was after being seated the attentive wait staff came over and took our coffee order. In my other experiences of a hotel buffet, I have never had my coffee order taken, so it was lovely to go and get food to come back to my table where a hot coffee was made exactly to my liking.
My guest and I were sad to go but if you have a staycation on your mind, I highly recommend a weekend at the Pullman Hyde Park.
The writer stayed as a guest of Pullman Hyde Park.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.