5 amazing Sydney hotels in summer to park your wheels

Summer is officially here in 7 weeks (and a few days) and there is no better Australian city than Sydney to experience the sunshine and all the action the fun of the warmer months.

So whether you're flying into town and grabbing a car rental, or wheeling your way into town by road, here are 5 hot hotels worth looking at right now and booking in for your summer of fun in the New South Wales capital.

Felix Hotels by 8 Hotels (Mascot)

Sometimes you just need something right next door to the airport to provide the home base to explore. In which case you can’t go past the nearby Felix, only 10 minutes walk from the baggage collection area of the Sydney airport domestic terminal. It's a hotel oozing simplicity and a Catch-Me-If-You-Can feel from yesteryear. It's hip, simplistic, and there's easy access to hit the road yourself, by Uber, catch a train or bus. Felix Hotel’s design is a nod to the golden era of air travel and is set to turn the airport hotel category on it’s head with guests checking in at the top floor penthouse rather than a ground floor lobby. The stylish penthouse is decked out with a cocktail bar, 24-hour food shop and outdoor rooftop cinema.  It also has one of the best views of the Sydney Domestic Airports runways ... if that's your thing.

Pier One Sydney Harbour - Autograph Collection (The Rocks)

Sydney waterfront? Tick. Luxurious? Tick. Stepping up in style means you will not be disappointed with the mighty Pier One. Built on and over the water, Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection, mixes Federation-style decor with contemporary elements, and its enviable location right alongside the Sydney Harbour Bridge allows for spectacular water views from guest rooms and suites, The Gantry Restaurant. Try a Harbour View Suite for 52 square metres of bliss with full views of the harbour including the famous Australian landmarks of Luna Park, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House. The Rocks tourist and dining precinct is basically at the front door, access is a breeze to Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and Sydney Centrepoint Tower making it top central location.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel (Sydney CBD)

Radisson Blu Hotel Sydney is an old-fashioned beauty in O’Connell St. It’s a boutique five-star hotel with a vintage sandstone facade and set within a heritage-listed building in Sydney central. With 336 stylish guest rooms and 26 chic suites there is a great range of room types, all furnished in welcoming tones with upscale amenities. Free Wi-Fi throughout, there’s also a relaxing health club and spa along with a gym, pool, jacuzzi and steam room.

The Old Clare (Chippendale)

Every been stalked on Instagram only to walk into your room where a framed photo of your pet pooch and some complimentary dog toys are on the table waiting for you? Oh yeah, and a hand written note along the lines of "we thought you might miss your gorgeous baby while away in Sydney so we thought it would be nice to take home some treats"? It's absolutely a golden touch in customer service (though some may think it's a little spooky). I loved it. The Old Clare Hotel, on the southern edge of Sydney’s CBD in "happening" Chippendale and five minutes from Central Station, is not your traditional 5 star hotel experience. There’s a rustic charm about this old girl in a part of town once known as a no-go zone for its world of drugs, prostitution, crime and the smell of hops wafting through the air courtesy of the Carlton & United Brewery building and its big iron gates.  The Old Clare is the first Australian hotel from the unconventional Unlisted Collection in a small suburb that packs a punch for quirkiness and character. The hotel has 62 rooms with open plan living spaces, Art Deco in style with exposed bricks and concrete walls in the rooms. Think free-standing baths, king beds and high ceilings, as well as a rooftop bar and one at the entrance.

QT Sydney (Market St, CBD)

QT Sydney is something special before we even set foot on the premises. It has a big reputation for the quirky and blazes a trail with the little extras one experiences in such a cool hotel in the heart of town. With 200 guest suites carefully crafted within the historic Gowings and State Theatre buildings, this boutique Sydney accommodation retains many of the building’s most distinctive features, such as the blend of Gothic, Art Deco, and Italianate influenced architecture that form the impressive exterior of the building. Extras like the Spa, a barber’s shop (wet shaves and trims in a modern take on old-fashioned traditions), concierge, free WiFi and valet parking are highlights.

Check out How To Enjoy A Luxury Holiday In the Sydney

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