Adina Darling Harbour: Sydney, AUSTRALIA

When staying in Sydney, I play for a few groups that have put me up in this Adina serviced apartment on the edge of Darling Harbour, just next to the ferry wharf. It is spectacularly convenient as it is a short walk from here to the ferry which would take me most places... a short walk up the hill to the train station, and the concert hall, and nearby lots and lots of restaurants and cafes as well.

.... but far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the main CBD. As a bonus, it is really easy to get to from the motorway for the times that I'm driving in... with easy hotel parking under the building. Expensive, but still cheaper than other places in the CBD.

The lobby is clean and modern... and quite spacious, they do run a few conferences out of this floor.... with the added bonus that there is somewhere comfortable to sit and kill time if my room isn't ready yet!

Sadly, the corridors are a touch bland... and nothing really that interesting... but most places are like this anyway.

In the interior, we have a small entryway that will open out to a larger living space... I do wish that they would clean out the intake vents for the cooling though, they wheeze something horrible, and it would be much more efficient if they weren't clogged with dust!

A small kitchenette for the longer stays... I do like to cook generally, but it isn't really that much fun cooking for only myself... and with limited cooking materials as well. The meals that I cook when I'm away tend to be pretty bland and not that appetising... but at least they are filling.

The beds at Adina are Queen-sized ones... I always sleep on the regular side that I normally sleep on at home. Something quite comforting about that habit... I gather that when I'm away, my wife uses the whole bed... I find that a bit disconcerting.

... and then the living area, which is a touch wasted on me. When I'm lounging around, I will prefer to sit on the bed to watch a movie, work, or play a game... I guess I should use the couches a bit more... especially during the concert days, when I don't have anything else to do for the whole day... and I end up sitting in the bed for a good chunk of hours!

... and finally the view... it looks more dire than it actually was. You aren't quite on the ground level with the crowds... so, they can't see in... but it isn't really a great roof view either!

What is a bit annoying is the fact that Darling Harbour has occasional fireworks in the evening... I'm not sure why, but they are there... and they are audible inside. Not a big deal, as they they don't go too late... but it always a bit of a surprise.