Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel & Conference Centre

This hotel is a great layover stop. It's about a 15-minute walk from the domestic airport. Check-in is in the afternoon, but you can store your luggage if you arrive in the morning. We went to the new fish market in the city and picked up our bags when we got back to the hotel in the evening, but we had to take them to our room ourselves – they didn't help us with that. The hotel is a bit old, and the cleanliness is just so-so. It's suitable for those who have an early flight the next day.

I was in Sydney for a couple of nights for personal matters before flying to the Gold Coast, so I booked this hotel near the airport after a lot of searching. After arriving at T1 International Terminal, I followed the airport signs to the free shuttle bus to T3. From the T3 arrivals hall, it's about a 10-minute walk to the hotel according to the map. It's manageable if you don't have too much luggage, not a big deal. To get back to the airport, it's the same route. On the day I left, it was raining, so I took the hotel's airport shuttle, fearing my luggage would get wet if I walked. It cost $14, which isn't cheap, but a taxi would probably be similar. Facilities: It's an older hotel, so the furniture and appliances are a bit dated. The bathroom has a bathtub, so you need to be careful getting in and out. You have to turn off the lights one by one. They don't provide complimentary bottled water; even the mini-bar water costs money. There's one free carton of milk. If you need a toothbrush and toothpaste, you have to ask the front desk. I always bring my own, so it wasn't an issue for me, but it's something to note if you don't. The room overlooks the airport terminal, and it's not too noisy. Cleanliness: The housekeeping service was excellent and very thorough. They even tidied up my messy data cables and placed them neatly on the desk. The room looked very clean overall, even though the hotel is old. Service: My early morning flight arrived, and by the time I cleared customs and walked to the hotel, it was past 10 am. I couldn't check in yet, but I could store my luggage. The public restrooms in the lobby were also very clean and spacious. I used the restroom to change clothes, quickly freshened up and put on some makeup, then left my luggage and went out to take care of my business. Other: The hotel is near the airport. If you're heading into the city or elsewhere by train, the closest Mascot train station is about a 15-minute walk. It's not super close, but for younger people, this walking distance is acceptable. There are restaurants and a supermarket near the train station. Overall, it's quite convenient to stay here if you have an early morning flight or a short stopover.

I chose to stay here because I had an early morning flight the next day. I arrived at the hotel close to midnight, and the staff said I could pay $50 for early check-in. I felt $50 was a bit steep for just two extra hours, so I declined. There's a large supermarket and a food court about a 15-minute walk from the hotel, and the Thai food there was pretty good. The room was reasonably clean, but the facilities were old. The biggest issue was the lack of complimentary bottled water. A bottle of water that sells for $2 at the supermarket costs $5 in the room, which is really unacceptable for a hotel of this caliber. Also, you can walk to the hotel from T2 and T3 terminals in about 20 minutes, but it's further from T1 (international terminal), requiring a shuttle bus. The $12 per person fee is a bit expensive; if it were free, I think more people would choose to stay at this hotel.

There's no complimentary bottled water in the room, and a single bottle costs five dollars. The hotel is quite old, so the facilities are a bit dated. As the name suggests, it's a hotel with an American style. Its main advantages are its proximity to the airport and the wide beds in the twin room.

The hotel was okay. I picked it because I had an early flight on my last day and wanted to be close to the airport. However, it's actually closer to the domestic terminal. Getting to T1 still takes about a ten-minute drive. That day, Uber was acting up, so I asked the hotel to call a taxi, and they charged an outrageous 45 AUD! Uber would have probably been around 10-something. If you're flying from the international terminal, I'd suggest looking at other hotels.