The Best Views in the World: A Review of the Park Hyatt Sydney

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It's a bold statement to say that the Park Hyatt Sydney is the points hotel with the world's best room views, especially since I haven't been to every hotel in the world. But after my fourth stay at this hotel and countless stays at other hotels (some also with pretty epic views), I'm gonna say it: This points hotel has the most incredible views — what's better than gazing at the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge from your room? Agree or disagree? Share your picks (nicely) in the comments section — I'd love to hear your opinions on what points hotel has the best views in the world.

Read on for a review of my most recent stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney — since this is my second time reviewing the hotel, I mainly wanted to share new photos and some key information about what I loved about the hotel. At 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night, I might even go as far to say that it's one of my favorite points hotels in the world.

Booking

I booked a King room using 30,000 Hyatt points per night for seven nights. Unfortunately, you can't reserve rooms with views using points, but since I'm a Globalist member in the World of Hyatt program, there was at least a chance I'd get an upgrade. I stayed during peak season, and the hotel was fully booked. But since I was staying for seven nights, I was able to move mid-reservation to a new room — a King room with opera house views! I typically hate moving mid-stay, but it was definitely worth it this time around. I recommend trying to get a room upgrade regardless of your elite status level — it never hurts to ask. If you're paying in cash, the rooms — even without views — aren't cheap. A standard room costs around $750/night and rooms a view typically starts at about $900/night during peak season. Clearly, points is the way to go here. Remember that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt instantly, which is how I gained the 210,000 points needed for my seven-night stay.

Location

The Park Hyatt Sydney is about 20 minutes from Sydney Airport (SYD). The location right on the harbor is ideal for leisure travelers, as there are many major tourist attractions nearby. I especially loved the proximity to the Harbour Bridge, which I climbed for the second time during this stay. Although the climb isn't cheap, it provides views that are truly priceless.

Part of the reason I had planned to visit Sydney is because a friend of mine — singer and pianist Amy Lee of rock band Evanescence — was performing at the Sydney Opera house, and the hotel's location provided easy access to the venue — we walked there. I'd say this hotel caters best to tourists who want to take in the famous attractions of the city. You can easily get around on foot, and any place that's a little further can be reached in an Uber.

Check-in

The lobby was understated and had that typical Park Hyatt look — brown, beige and chic all over. The reception desks were located right at the entrance of the hotel, and I was promptly attended to immediately upon my arrival. The driveway is a bit small, so you'll need to time your Uber arrivals right otherwise they may have to pull into the street to wait for you.

Although the hotel was full and no upgrades were available at check-in, the staff was friendly and accommodating, telling me I would be notified immediately if a room with views became available during my stay, which it did.

The Room

I was able to move to a King room with opera house views, which was exactly the same as my previous room, but with views. As I mentioned before, only some of the 155 guest rooms have views, so I was really happy to get that upgrade mid-stay. I've always been a fan of the minimalist, elegant decor most Park Hyatt rooms have, and this one was no different. The room was about 450 square feet, but it felt spacious enough for me, even though the last time I stayed here I had an even larger suite.

Besides the large, comfortable king bed, small sofa and table with chairs, the room came equipped with a large TV, a Bose digital music system, a minibar, safe (which was large enough for my laptop) and coffee maker. I loved that the room came with electric drapes. Each morning, I would open them, revealing that sublime view.

Although the room lighting was a bit dim at night, it made the views even better. I loved my balcony, and I hung out on it both day and night to admire the opera house — a view I never tired of. The balcony came equipped with two comfortable chairs and an ottoman — perfect for lounging on my own or inviting a friend or two over for a cocktail.

Sliding doors separated the room from the bathroom, which featured a double vanity and Le Labo Bergamote 22 bath amenities. The shower passed the TPG shower test with flying colors, and the giant marble soaking tub was inviting.

Robes, slippers and scale were also in the bathroom, and the toilet was located in a small separate room.

Amenities

If you end up in a room without a view you can still enjoy the views from the rooftop pool and sundeck. Although the pool is a little smaller than I expected and there weren't a lot of free lounge chairs, it was still an amazing way to spend an afternoon. A gym is located on the third floor, but I didn't manage to use it.

The breakfast was free for me (saving me about $30-40 per day), since I'm a Globalist member, and it was a great spread of fresh fruit, hot dishes such as quiche, plenty of baked goods, cereals and more. Eating breakfast overlooking the harbor was a fantastic start to each day.

The hotel also has a very luxurious spa, but make sure to book services as soon as you can after booking your stay — it tends to fill up quickly.

The highlight of my stay (besides all the views) was the service — specifically the concierge. The staff was incredibly friendly and the concierge (especially Robbie Flint) really went above and beyond, scoring us a VIP tour of the Featherdale Wildlife Park where I got to play with a baby wombat, see snakes, koalas and much more for about $160 per person. They also helped organize the bridge climb and even helped us rent a boat for the day.

We certainly put them to task and they more than followed through. They even organized a visit to Wolgan Valley, where I was able to see some absolutely adorable kangaroos.

The trip included an epic helicopter ride over Sydney en route to the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley Hotel, which would have been a three-hour drive. I much preferred seeing the impressive views of Sydney and beyond, plus the trip was under 45 minutes. The round-trip helicopter ride with an exclusive lunch and a day pass at the resort, plus a short hike and 4x4 drive through the base of the Blue Mountains cost $1,500 per person. Considering that hotel rates at Wolgan start at over $2,000 per night, I found this to be a pretty good deal, especially considering we were short on time.

Views or no views, I'd stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney again and again solely for the excellent concierge service. I'm not sure if this was due to my Globalist status or not, but either way, I was thrilled with the fantastic staff.

Bottom Line

I loved my fourth stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney and this continues to be my go-to hotel any time I visit Australia's largest metropolis. In fact, I think it's one of my favorite points hotels in the world. However, I might try to visit on off-peak dates when the hotel may not be full so I'll be (almost) sure to get an upgrade, because it's the views that really made this hotel extra-special for me. If you're coming to Sydney for leisure and have Hyatt points to spend, use them here! Cash rates can be pricey, but when you sit on your balcony admiring the Sydney Opera House with a glass of wine, it'll all be worth it.