I was dissapointed when our travel agents came back to tell us that our original hotel (the Four Points By Sheraton) was over booked and we had been transfered to the Crown Plaza, but the hotel was really good. It was nicely postitioned (we had booked a harbour view but it was not that good - Four Points had a better position for views) but it was a stoned throw from Darling Harbour (via a walkway). The staff were very friendly and helpful, apart from the receptionists when we booked in she must have been having a bad day! The rooms were quite spacious, clean and modern. We didn't use much of the hotel facilities as there was so much else available at Darling Harbour, which was fantastic.
Sydney was the highlight of our trip. It was lively, bright, clean and beautiful. The people were friendly and I would definitely go back there.

Positives:
Room was modern & nicely decorated.
Common areas were modern & nicely decorated.
Good location near Darling Harbour.
Only 5 minutes from the train.

Negatives:
No pool
Internet cost extra

My husband and I booked the Crowne Plaza in Darling Harbour for two nights. When we arrived after our evening flight from Tasmania the receptionist told us that they were overbooked and we don't have a room. That he proceeded to start searching for a room for us in other hotels. Eventually ( twenty-thirty minutes later) we were told that we can go to Rydges ( the night manager told us that is was a nice five star hotel and it was not!) and we had to switch hotels again next day. At least we got some taxi vouchers for all the hassle between the hotels. The night manager promised that we will be taken care of when we come back to Crowne Plaza the next day but I really did not notice anything different in the room than the any other Crowne Plaza room in any other city in any other country. The check out process was easy and seamless.

In June I spent 2 days exploring Sydney at the end of a long business trip. I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour. The hotel lobby and dining area's were all really new and nice. I strayed down to the bar to have a few glasses of wine and was surprised at how expensive it was. The wine served at the resturants around the city seemed much cheaper then at this hotel. The food on the dine in menu was the same way. I wouldnt reccomend spending the money and eatting or drinking at the hotel. However Darling harbour is right across the street and there are plenty of nice resturants and places to eat.
The rooms with a view of the harbour are more expensive then the rooms that do not have a view. In general, the room was clean, however they very small and very dark. So dark that it was acutally difficult for me to put my make up on in the a.m.

Overall, the hotel was clean and the most resonably priced for that particular neighborhood but you are really just paying for the location as the hotel is right across the street from the famed Darling Harbour.